2019年1月9日星期三

Yahoo! News: Iraq

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Iraq


Walled-In Trump Eyes Emergency Powers Gambit

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 03:12 AM PST

Walled-In Trump Eyes Emergency Powers GambitThe president — who's considering declaring a national emergency to circumvent an unwilling Congress and build the barrier — plans a prime-time television address tonight ahead of a trip to the area on Thursday. Exercising emergency powers to combat what he's deemed is a "national security crisis" at the southern border would test the limits of presidential authority, Justin Sink and Jennifer Jacobs report. Some White House insiders believe Trump may act despite an almost inevitable legal challenge — raising the stakes of a partisan brawl with the Democrats, who took control of the House last week and are keen to land a blow on Trump ahead of the 2020 presidential race.


U.S. top court's Ginsburg misses oral arguments again

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 08:21 AM PST

U.S. top court's Ginsburg misses oral arguments againU.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's first absence from the bench extended into a second day on Tuesday.


Australia to consider taking in Saudi teen who fled family 'abuse'

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 04:27 AM PST

Australia to consider taking in Saudi teen who fled family 'abuse'SYDNEY/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would consider taking in a 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family, which she accused of abuse, would kill her. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday appealing for asylum. Australia said on Tuesday it would consider resettling her if the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deemed her a refugee.


Egypt border closed to Gazans leaving amid Palestinian feuding

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 03:36 AM PST

Egypt border closed to Gazans leaving amid Palestinian feudingThe Egyptian border crossing was closed for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza on Tuesday, a border official said, as infighting between Palestinian factions increases. Gazans seeking to return from Egypt would still be allowed through but no one would be able to leave the Palestinian enclave, a spokesman for the Hamas-run authority in charge of the border crossing said. "For now, it is just for one day, it is not clear if it will be extended," spokesman Wael Abu Omar told AFP.


The Latest: Congo begins announcing results of election

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 04:59 PM PST

The Latest: Congo begins announcing results of electionKINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The Latest on Congo's presidential election (all times local):


May Is Cornered by Parliament as She Fights for Her Brexit Deal

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 09:00 PM PST

May Is Cornered by Parliament as She Fights for Her Brexit DealThe premier has five working days to overcome political opposition to the exit agreement she's negotiated with the European Union before the deal is put to a vote in Parliament on Jan. 15. If the House of Commons defeats her plan, May says Britain will be facing an economically damaging no-deal Brexit in March. The prime minister is stepping up preparations for leaving the EU without an agreement, amid warnings that such an outcome could crash the pound by 25 percent and hit house prices by as much as 30 percent, risking a recession.


Colorado`s Jared Polis Makes History as First Openly Gay Governor

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 07:09 PM PST

Colorado`s Jared Polis Makes History as First Openly Gay GovernorColorado democrat Jared Polis` inauguration Tuesday marked history as he became the first openly gay U.S. governor.


9 of the Wildest Hotel Rooms in Africa Where Animals Are Right Outside Your Door

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 02:49 PM PST

9 of the Wildest Hotel Rooms in Africa Where Animals Are Right Outside Your Door


TSA agents fall victim to government shutdown. And they just happen to be protecting our airport security.

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 09:51 AM PST

TSA agents fall victim to government shutdown. And they just happen to be protecting our airport security.Transportation Security Administration employees who keep air travel safe lose their pay during a federal shutdown over a border security standoff.


Woman with concealed carry license fatally shoots attempted robber: police

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 10:25 AM PST

Woman with concealed carry license fatally shoots attempted robber: policeAuthorities in Illinois say a woman with a concealed carry license fatally


GM won't budge on closing Oshawa, as workers protest and walk off the job

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 07:00 AM PST

GM won't budge on closing Oshawa, as workers protest and walk off the jobSays Unifor boss after meeting company leaders: 'I'm furious right now.'


Clemency decision sparks praise, political questions

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 03:17 PM PST

Clemency decision sparks praise, political questionsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee governor's decision to grant clemency to a woman who killed a man when she was 16 had the potential to pit political interests against widespread support for her cause. Yet the governor says the decision came down to doing the "right thing."


Saudis blast 'guardianship' laws after woman's escape

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 05:16 AM PST

Saudis blast 'guardianship' laws after woman's escapeA Saudi teen's live-tweeted asylum plea has cast a renewed spotlight on women's rights just months after women won the right to drive, and sparked rare criticism of restrictive "guardianship" laws -- from men. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, arrived in Thailand at the weekend after fleeing what she called an abusive family in the deeply conservative kingdom and staved off deportation after her tweets drew global attention. Qunun's impassioned cry for help set off a media frenzy, prompting angry denunciations and death threats from many in a kingdom where guardianship laws are still widely supported.


Manafort Responded Under Seal to Lying Claims, Spokesman Says

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 07:29 AM PST

Manafort Responded Under Seal to Lying Claims, Spokesman SaysThe lawyers for Donald Trump's former campaign chairman were given a midnight deadline by the judge to file the documents. No response appeared on the electronic filing system in Washington federal court by the cutoff. "We filed our opposition yesterday under seal," said Jason Maloni, a spokesman for Manafort.


Nissan Leaf electric car gets longer range: 40% boost to battery power for Leaf e+

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 04:53 AM PST

Nissan Leaf electric car gets longer range: 40% boost to battery power for Leaf e+Nissan is set to offer a long-range version of the Leaf in a long-awaited move that places it in competition with the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt.


Boeing's 'Transonic Wings' Will Power Your Commercial Flights at Just Under the Speed of Sound

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 09:42 AM PST

Boeing's 'Transonic Wings' Will Power Your Commercial Flights at Just Under the Speed of SoundHow about sitting back and flying at just under Mach 1?


Russian lawyer in Trump Tower meeting has ties to Kremlin

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 08:30 AM PST

Russian lawyer in Trump Tower meeting has ties to KremlinThe Russian lawyer who attended the infamous Trump Tower meeting during the 2016 US election campaign has been charged with obstruction of justice over an unrelated case.  Natalia Veselnitskaya, 43, was among a group of Russians who met with top Trump campaign figures in June 2016 after an intermediary suggested they had incriminating information on Hillary Clinton.  The meeting is being scrutinised by Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating whether Mr Trump's campaign team conspired with Russians to influence the 2016 election.  On Tuesday, Ms Veselnitskaya was accused in a court filing of secretly working with Russian government figures over a statement which misled the US courts in a money laundering case.  The indictment claims that Ms Veselnitskaya, representing a firm caught up in the scandal, did "corruptly influence, obstruct and impede" the process of justice through her statements.  The case in question is unrelated to the Trump Tower meeting. Ms Veselnitskaya's actions which triggered the charge took place in 2014 and 2015 - well before the gathering.   However the alleged ties between Ms Veselnitskaya and Russian prosecutors revealed in the indictment are one the clearest indications yet that she had deep links with that country's government.  It raises questions about who Ms Veselnitskaya was representing when she attended the meeting. Russian state television on Tuesday described the charges against Veselnitskaya as an attempt to "revive the case for Russian interference in the US election" and broadcast a telephone recording in which the lawyer claimed that US prosecutors were trying to silence her. "This is directed toward not allowing me to conduct my professional activity on a topic that is very painful for the United States, namely connected with the Magnitsky Act," Veselnitskaya said, referring to the ban on corrupt Russian officials instituted after the death of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009. She claimed that her work was exposing lies perpetrated by the US congress and justice system, and the charges against her were meant to "not allow these facts to become public". The development comes with the Mueller probe, which has been investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election for more than 18 months, continuing to hang over Mr Trump's presidency.  The Trump Tower meeting, as it has come to be known, is one of the most discussed and speculated on events which have fallen under the suspicion of investigators.  It saw Donald Trump Jr, the then-candidate Trump's son, Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and Paul Manafort, then Trump campaign manager, meet with a group of figures with links to Russia.  During the meeting, Ms Veselnitskaya lobbied against the Magnitsky Act during her meeting with Donald Trump Jr. She did not pick up repeated calls from The Telegraph on Tuesday evening.  The meeting took place in Trump Tower, Mr Trump's skyscraper in New York, the summer before the November 2016 election.  At the time Mr Trump was preparing his campaign battle against Ms Clinton, soon to be confirmed as the Democratic presidential nominee. The meeting had been setup after Rob Goldstone, a British publicist for the pop-star son of a Russian oligarch, had emailed Mr Trump Jr offering "information that would incriminate Hillary". Mr Trump Jr responded "if it's what you say I love it".  Ms Veselnitskaya attended the meeting, as did Mr Goldstone and other Russian lobbyists. What they discussed behind closed doors remains a point of intense interest and speculation.  Ms Veselnitskaya has previously stated she was acting in a private capacity during the meeting and not as a Russian government representative.  In the indictment revealed on Tuesday, Ms Veselnitskaya's involvement in a separate incident – her work defending a company caught up in a money laundering scandal – was outlined in detail.  She was advising Prevezon Holdings Ltd, an investment firm accused of using New York real estate to launder a portion of the profits from an elaborate $200 million Russian tax fraud scheme. During the court battle, Ms Veselnitskaya cited a response the Russian government had given to the US government's request for legal assistance in the case which pointed the finger of blame at others.  However, Ms Veselnitskaya actually secretly helped draft the response with a Russian prosecutor, according to the indictment, which claims she sent emails making changes to the statement.  Ms Veselnitskaya has been accused of making misleading statements about her involvement in the response to the US courts during the case.


What We Know about Byton, a Chinese EV Startup with Sights Set on the U.S.

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 09:01 AM PST

What We Know about Byton, a Chinese EV Startup with Sights Set on the U.S.


Arrest warrant issued for homeless man at center of GoFundMe scandal

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 03:16 AM PST

Arrest warrant issued for homeless man at center of GoFundMe scandalThe court issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for the homeless veteran at the center of a GoFundMe scandal.


Britain says airports need to do more to tackle drone menace

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 06:30 AM PST

Britain says airports need to do more to tackle drone menaceAirport operators need do more to counter the illegal use of drones after flights were disrupted at Heathrow and Gatwick, Prime Minister Theresa May's de-facto deputy said on Wednesday. Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said the government would consider toughening laws that ban the use of drones near airports but that operators could also invest more in protection systems. Departures from Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, were halted for an hour on Tuesday evening after a drone was sighted, raising fears that operations could face the serious levels of disruption that hit London's Gatwick last month.


Storm to return mudslide, flood danger in Southern California Friday, Saturday

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 09:09 AM PST

Storm to return mudslide, flood danger in Southern California Friday, SaturdayA storm is forecast to dip far enough south to bring soaking rain to much of the California coast, including Southern California from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.


Five things we learned from Ghosn's day in court

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 01:22 AM PST

Five things we learned from Ghosn's day in courtFor the first time since prosecutors stormed his private jet seven weeks ago, former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn appeared in public to deliver a passionate defence, rebutting allegations that have seen him languishing in Japanese custody. Perhaps unsurprisingly given Carlos Ghosn's profile as the most-recognised foreign executive in Japan, the public interest was enormous. Journalists staked out positions from well before dawn at the court and the detention centre, hoping -- in vain as it turned out -- to catch a glimpse of the former Nissan boss.


The Latest: 2nd suspect charged in Houston girl's death

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 12:53 PM PST

The Latest: 2nd suspect charged in Houston girl's deathHOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl in Houston (all times local):


Supreme Court Gets New Filing in Case Seen Linked to Mueller

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 10:11 AM PST

Supreme Court Gets New Filing in Case Seen Linked to MuellerA new filing on the high court's online docket promises an appeal of a lower court ruling that upheld fines against the company for not complying with a grand jury subpoena. It also asks the Supreme Court to let a redacted version of that appeal be made public, according to the court's docket. The Supreme Court is already considering a request to block the ruling while the case is on appeal.


Tom Steyer has a platform for a post-impeachment America

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 02:32 PM PST

Tom Steyer has a platform for a post-impeachment AmericaThe progressive activist and philanthropist tells Yahoo News that he will announce Wednesday whether he will seek the presidency in 2020.


Here Is Mercedes-Benz’s Answer to Tesla's Model X

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 02:28 PM PST

Here Is Mercedes-Benz's Answer to Tesla's Model XMercedes-Benz's EQC 400 is a direct competition to Elon Musk's Tesla SUV—but the designs of the two cars are very different


Pick up a 5-piece Instant Pot accessory kit for less than $20

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 06:26 AM PST

Pick up a 5-piece Instant Pot accessory kit for less than $20There were so many great sales this past holiday season on Instant Pots, and the most advanced and versatile Instant Pot multi-cooker is actually still on sale now at a deep 25% discount. But whether you just got a new Instant Pot or you've had one for years, there's a sale right now on Amazon that you should definitely take advantage of. The California Dons Instant Pot 5 Piece Silicone Accessories Set has a bunch of high-quality accessories that you really need to get the most out of your Instant Pot. And somehow, it's only $19.75 right now on Amazon! Here's what you need to know from the product page: * THE ONLY INSTANT POT BUNDLE THAT OFFERS 5 SILICONE ACCESSORIES ON AMAZON- SAVE MONEY BY BUNDLING! We have bundled a vegetable steamer, oven mitts, a pot holder, a steam release diverter and an egg bites mold into one cooking lover's dream kit. Created from silicone because silicone is flexible, lightweight, heat resistant and easy to clean. Dishwasher safe, no stains, no rust, no rough scrubbing. The chemical-free, odor-free, aesthetic and hygienic solution for your cooking needs. * THE VEGGIE STEAMER AND EGG BITES MOLD WILL HELP UPGRADE YOUR MEALS- Steam your veggies to lock nutrients in and retain natural vitamins and minerals with our silicone steamer that allows you to steam your favorite vegetables straight in your instant pot. Use the silicone egg bites mold to create divine sous vide eggs and use the mold as a reusable container and freezer tray with lid, for your on the go breakfast egg delights. Use the Egg Bites Mold for DYI Babyfood as well * OVEN MITTS, POT HOLDER AND STEAM RELEASE DIVIDER WILL GUARD YOU AND YOUR KITCHEN- The silicone mitts are heat resistant, waterproof, easy to clean and extremely protective. The silicone table protector is slip and skid resistant and can be used to move the hot pot around and set it on the counter, and the steam release diverter protects your kitchen cabinets and wallpaper from discoloration and damage by diverting the steam away. * THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR THE INSTANT CROCK POT FANATIC IN YOUR LIFE- Know someone who just loves to cook in a pressure cooker, instant cooker or a crockpot? This bundle can be the perfect addition to their kitchen! This kit makes the ideal gift for your cooking enthusiastic loved ones. The cooking set is stylish red and can be a great housewarming gift, birthday gift, and wedding gift. Fits 5.6 or 8qt Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker, 8.25" Diameter. * YOUR SATISFACTION AND EXPERIENCE IS OUR #1 PRIORITY FULL 30 DAY NO HASSLE RETURNS - We created this instant pot bundle entirely from food grade silicone to improve your experience and increase comfort and functionality when using an instant pot. If you're not 100% satisfied we will give you a full refund or free exchange, no questions asked. We strive to be the best in the industry and in our customer service, contact us directly, and we will be happy to assist!


UK's Brexit vote planned for January 15, no plans to delay EU exit

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 10:20 AM PST

UK's Brexit vote planned for January 15, no plans to delay EU exitBritain plans to hold a vote in parliament on the government's deal to leave the European Union on Jan. 15, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Tuesday after a meeting of senior ministers. May again told her cabinet it was not government policy to delay Brexit by extending the so-called Article 50 notice, the spokesman said, adding the idea may have been discussed by EU officials but not by British officials.


Saudi Arabia says vast oil reserves even bigger than thought

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 07:20 AM PST

Saudi Arabia says vast oil reserves even bigger than thoughtOPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that its huge oil reserves, already the second largest in the world behind only Venezuela, are even bigger than previously thought. The energy ministry said proven oil reserves stood at 263.2 billion barrels at the end of last year, up from the figure of 261 billion barrels that has been used for almost three decades. The kingdom has another 2.9 billion barrels of crude in a border zone shared with neighbouring Kuwait, bringing total oil reserves to 266.1 billion barrels, the ministry said.


Detailed Photos of the Redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 04:25 PM PST

Detailed Photos of the Redesigned 2020 Ford Explorer


Gavin Newsom sets a bold — and costly — agenda for California, staking the future of his party on its success

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 09:17 AM PST

Gavin Newsom sets a bold — and costly — agenda for California, staking the future of his party on its successNew California Gov. Gavin Newsom mounted the stage in Sacramento Monday to take his oath of office and deliver an inaugural address.


Manafort accused of sharing 2016 election data with Russians

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 10:14 PM PST

Manafort accused of sharing 2016 election data with RussiansWASHINGTON (AP) — Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort shared polling data during the 2016 presidential campaign with a business associate accused of having ties to Russian intelligence, and prosecutors say he lied to them about it, according to a court filing .


Man accused of locking 10-year-old daughter in basement for months now fit for trial

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 05:48 AM PST

Man accused of locking 10-year-old daughter in basement for months now fit for trialA Waukegan man who, with his wife, is accused of confining their 10-year-old daughter to their basement because they thought she was possessed by demons, has been found fit for trial.


No plans seen to bring Brexit deal back to parliament: junior minister

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 03:32 AM PST

No plans seen to bring Brexit deal back to parliament: junior ministerBritish junior Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris said on Wednesday he had not seen any plans to suggest Prime Minister Theresa May would ask parliament to vote again on her Brexit deal if it is rejected next week. May postponed a planned vote on the deal in December in order to seek further reassurances from the European Union, but it still looks set to be rejected and some British media have reported that she would then ask parliament to vote again, possibly several times.


Andy Samberg confirms that Sandra Oh is the best person on the planet

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 03:32 AM PST

Andy Samberg confirms that Sandra Oh is the best person on the planetListen, we already knew that Sandra Oh was up there as one of our very favourite people on the planet.  And, now we've got final confirmation of that.  Her co-host at the Golden Globes, Andy Samberg, told Jimmy Fallon that "Sandra Oh is the best person on earth." He talked about what it was like getting to know her: We met briefly, we presented at the Emmys, and we spent like the past week and a half working on the Globes but we didn't know each other that much and we just sort of liked each other so much from that one experience that we decided to go for it," said Samberg.  "She's so warm and magnetic and I felt so into her energy,"he added. "We were all backstage when she won and they were like, 'Sandra Oh' and I was like 'yeaaaaaahh!' and started crying."  Join the club, Andy.


Scientists say they could genetically engineer spicy tomatoes

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 09:06 PM PST

Scientists say they could genetically engineer spicy tomatoesTomatoes are a lovely addition to a sandwich or burger, and they're used to create all kinds of sauces and condiments that have become a staple of a western diet, but they're also a bit, well, bland. A tomato on its own doesn't have much bite, but scientists who specialize in genetics could change that, and perhaps even change the way tomatoes are used in the process. In a new paper published in Trends In Plant Science, researchers suggest that by studying the DNA of the chili pepper, which is a cousin of the tomato, they could give the veggies a potent kick. By altering tomatoes to produce capsaicinoids -- the compounds that cause the burning sensation in our mouths when we eat something spicy -- the scientists believe they could make mass production of capsaicin for various commercial uses. "Engineering the capsaicinoid genetic pathway to the tomato would make it easier and cheaper to produce this compound, which has very interesting applications," Agustin Zsogon, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "We have the tools powerful enough to engineer the genome of any species; the challenge is to know which gene to engineer and where." Capsaicin has a number of uses that go beyond adding spice to your dinner. The compound has shown promise in pharmaceutical trials as a treatment for nerve damage and associated pain, and it's also used in the production of pepper spray and as a pest deterrent. A tomato plant that produces capsaicin could make it easier and cheaper to produce large quantities of the compound more rapidly. However, the process of genetically tweaking a tomato species to generate the compound naturally is challenging, and determining which genes are directly responsible for its production will take time. That said, researchers are indeed working towards that goal, and it might not be too long before we see a tomato that bites back.


Rain to return mudslide threat to Southern California by the weekend

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 02:09 AM PST

Rain to return mudslide threat to Southern California by the weekendA storm will slide into Southern California with soaking rain by the weekend, putting burn-scar areas at a renewed risk for life-threatening flooding and mudslides.


Half those 600,000 residents aided by NYC Care are undocumented immigrants

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 09:31 AM PST

Half those 600,000 residents aided by NYC Care are undocumented immigrantsThe comprehensive health care plan ceremoniously unveiled by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is drawing skepticism from some voices in his city.


Hear the Lexus RC F Track Edition's V-8 Roar Before Its Debut

Posted: 09 Jan 2019 01:47 PM PST

Hear the Lexus RC F Track Edition's V-8 Roar Before Its DebutThe 2020 RC F Track Edition is coming soon with a big wing and plenty of performance tweaks.


Full transcript of Donald Trump's Oval Office address on border security

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 09:10 PM PST

Full transcript of Donald Trump's Oval Office address on border securityA transcript of President Donald Trump's Tuesday night address about security along the U.S. southern border, as provided by the White House: My fellow Americans: Tonight, I am speaking to you because there is a growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. Every day, Customs and Border Patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country. We are out of space to hold them, and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country. America proudly welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich our society and contribute to our nation. But all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled, illegal migration. It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages. Among those hardest hit are African Americans and Hispanic Americans. Our southern border is a pipeline for vast quantities of illegal drugs, including meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Every week, 300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90 percent of which floods across from our southern border. More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War. In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 violent killings. Over the years, thousands of Americans have been brutally killed by those who illegally entered our country, and thousands more lives will be lost if we don't act right now. This is a humanitarian crisis - a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul. President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House as he gives a prime-time address about border security Credit: Reuters Last month, 20,000 migrant children were illegally brought into the United States - a dramatic increase. These children are used as human pawns by vicious coyotes and ruthless gangs. One in three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. Women and children are the biggest victims, by far, of our broken system. This is the tragic reality of illegal immigration on our southern border. This is the cycle of human suffering that I am determined to end. My administration has presented Congress with a detailed proposal to secure the border and stop the criminal gangs, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. It's a tremendous problem. Our proposal was developed by law enforcement professionals and border agents at the Department of Homeland Security. These are the resources they have requested to properly perform their mission and keep America safe. In fact, safer than ever before. The proposal from Homeland Security includes cutting-edge technology for detecting drugs, weapons, illegal contraband, and many other things. We have requested more agents, immigration judges, and bed space to process the sharp rise in unlawful migration fueled by our very strong economy. Our plan also contains an urgent request for humanitarian assistance and medical support. Furthermore, we have asked Congress to close border security loopholes so that illegal immigrant children can be safely and humanely returned back home. Finally, as part of an overall approach to border security, law enforcement professionals have requested $5.7 billion for a physical barrier. At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall. This barrier is absolutely critical to border security. It's also what our professionals at the border want and need. This is just common sense. It was the first prime-time Oval Office address by US President Donald Trump  Credit: Bloomberg The border wall would very quickly pay for itself. The cost of illegal drugs exceeds $500 billion a year - vastly more than the $5.7 billion we have requested from Congress. The wall will also be paid for, indirectly, by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico. Sen. Chuck Schumer - who you will be hearing from later tonight - has repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past, along with many other Democrats. They changed their mind only after I was elected President. Democrats in Congress have refused to acknowledge the crisis. And they have refused to provide our brave border agents with the tools they desperately need to protect our families and our nation. The federal government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only: because Democrats will not fund border security. My administration is doing everything in our power to help those impacted by the situation. But the only solution is for Democrats to pass a spending bill that defends our borders and re-opens the government. This situation could be solved in a 45-minute meeting. I have invited Congressional leadership to the White House tomorrow to get this done. Hopefully, we can rise above partisan politics in order to support national security. Some have suggested a barrier is immoral. Then why do wealthy politicians build walls, fences, and gates around their homes? They don't build walls because they hate the people on the outside, but because they love the people on the inside. The only thing that is immoral is the politicians to do nothing and continue to allow more innocent people to be so horribly victimized. A television monitor in the White House press briefing room broadcasts U.S. President Donald Trump's address on border security  Credit: Bloomberg America's heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien, who just came across the border. The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country. Day after day, precious lives are cut short by those who have violated our borders. In California, an Air Force veteran was raped, murdered, and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history. In Georgia, an illegal alien was recently charged with murder for killing, beheading, and dismembering his neighbor. In Maryland, MS-13 gang members who arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors were arrested and charged last year after viciously stabbing and beating a 16-year-old girl. Over the last several years, I've met with dozens of families whose loved ones were stolen by illegal immigration. I've held the hands of the weeping mothers and embraced the grief-stricken fathers. So sad. So terrible. I will never forget the pain in their eyes, the tremble in their voices, and the sadness gripping their souls. How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job? To those who refuse to compromise in the name of border security, I would ask: Imagine if it was your child, your husband, or your wife whose life was so cruelly shattered and totally broken? To every member of Congress: Pass a bill that ends this crisis. To every citizen: Call Congress and tell them to finally, after all of these decades, secure our border. This is a choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice. This is about whether we fulfill our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve. When I took the oath of office, I swore to protect our country. And that is what I will always do, so help me God. Thank you and goodnight.


Thai, Saudi officials meet over case of young Saudi woman

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 07:21 AM PST

Thai, Saudi officials meet over case of young Saudi womanBANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's immigration police chief met Tuesday with officials from the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok, as Saudi Arabia tried to distance itself from accusations that it attempted to block a young woman's effort to flee from her family and seek asylum abroad.


We promise you’ve never had mac n’ cheese like this before

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 02:00 AM PST

We promise you've never had mac n' cheese like this beforeWelcome to Best Bites, a twice-weekly video series that aims to satisfy your


Venezuela's armed forces declare 'loyalty' to Maduro

Posted: 08 Jan 2019 12:59 PM PST

Venezuela's armed forces declare 'loyalty' to MaduroVenezuela's armed forces declared "absolute loyalty" to President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday, just two days before the socialist leader is sworn in for a second term of office. Maduro will be sworn into office on Thursday by the Supreme Court despite the country's laws stating this is the job of parliament.


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