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You'll be shocked at which common eating habits and foods make you sleepy. Here's how to switch to high-energy foods. You don't snack You'll be shocked at which common eating habits and foods make you sleepy. Here's how to switch to high-energy foods. When starting a weight-loss plan, you may want to cut out as many calories as possible; yet Mayo Clinic warns against this tactic. Going more than four hours between meals can leave blood sugar in the basement and you feeling lifeless. A healthy and well-planned diet allows for snacking. Try noshing on fruits and veggies with hearty fiber to fill you up. Here are some healthier snack ideas . You rely on coffee more and more Coffee provides you with a morning wake-up call, and maybe an early afternoon pick-me-up. However, if you find yourself reaching for the coffee cup throughout the day, you might be compensating too much. Skipping the afternoon java could also boost your energy, along with these other fatigue-fighting tricks . Before drinking that fourth cup, reevaluate your diet and try to add more energy-rich foods . You're avoiding red meat Before you nix hamburgers entirely, think of what your mom always told you: 'Everything in moderation.' Red meat is a great source of iron; without this energizing mineral, your body cannot circulate enough oxygen to fuel your cells. This makes you feel sluggish and tired, according to WebMD. Instead of going cold turkey on red meat, enjoy a nice piece of iron-rich steak or a small burger once or twice a week. You've sworn off all sugar Yes, sugar is the health villain du jour right now. Yes, you should be conscious of hidden sugar in packaged and frozen foods. And yes, if you are eating too much sugar , take steps to cut back. But be conscious that your body also needs some sugar to function. Avoiding an apple as a snack because it has natural sugar, for example, is a sign of taking diet restrictions too far. Foods like fruit or milk naturally have some sugar along with a wealth of energizing nutrients. You're not eating carbs Don't fear carbs. Your body needs grains to function well and not feel sleepy 24/7. The key to a successful diet is a well-rounded source of fiber-rich and complex carbs, according to WebMD. Check out these healthy carbs that nutritionists want you to eat . You skip breakfast You might be in the habit of grabbing a cup of coffee and running out the door, but if you find yourself feeling sleepy mid-morning or late-afternoon, it's a good idea to reevaluate your morning eating habits. A protein-packed breakfast helps balance your blood sugar and provides a steady stream of energy throughout the morning. Check out these suggestions for healthy breakfast ideas . You're exercising too much Too much exercise and too few calories can put your body in starvation mode, says livestrong.com. Rather than losing more weight, your body will go into crisis mode. This causes you to store more calories as fat and leaves you feeling like a zombie. Rather than becoming obsessive about burning calories, try to live an active lifestyle and walk as often as you can during your regular day. Here are 16 ways you can lose weight by walking . | 7 | 98,600 | health |
The Orioles crushed the Royals 9-1 Tuesday in a game that saw a benches-clearing brawl stemming from a Yordano Ventura bean ball thrown at Manny Machado. | 1 | 98,601 | sports |
By Alwyn Scott The head of aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney countered criticism on Tuesday from Qatar Airways and Lufthansa about Pratt's new Geared Turbofan engine, saying early teething issues that have delayed delivery of some Airbus (AIR.PA) planes have been fixed. "I'm not going to debate the CEO of Lufthansa or the CEO of Qatar. I'm just going to state the facts to you as I know them," Bob Leduc, president of Pratt & Whitney, said at a media event in Connecticut. The chief executive of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, said last week he had canceled one Pratt-powered A320neo, part of a large Airbus order, over concern that the engine required extra time to start under certain conditions. Some A320s are at Airbus' factory in Toulouse, France, awaiting engines, and Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) is not flying the plane into some airports because of the slow start issue. Pratt, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), is one of the world's biggest aircraft engine makers, along with General Electric Co (GE.N) and Britain's Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc (RR.L). Leduc ticked off Pratt's numbers: three airlines flying seven A320s with the engine, known as the PW1100G, which is demonstrating a 16 percent cut in fuel burn and 75 percent noise reduction compared with prior engines. In more than 2,000 takeoffs and landings so far, it has shown no major in-flight or takeoff issues, Leduc said, and it has dispatch reliability of 99.75 percent, meaning it was able to leave the gate on time. "This has been a phenomenal entry into service" second only to the Boeing (BA.N) 777 in 1995, he said. The GTF's performance is critical as Pratt speeds up production from about 200 engines this year to 1,200 annually by the end of the decade, working through a backlog of 7,100 firm orders and commitments, enough to keep its factories running for eight years and generate $750 billion in revenue over 25 years. The GTF engine is being used on new commercial jetliners from Airbus, Brazil's Embraer SA (EMBR3.SA), Canada's Bombardier Inc, Japan's Mitsubishi and Russia's Irkut. To ensure the ramp-up goes smoothly, Pratt is buttoning down its network of 1,600 suppliers, which provide about 80 percent of the engine's content. Pratt is holding them to such a high standard that many do not quite measure up. "About 44 percent of that (1,600) is what we would consider to be underperforming," said Gregory Hayes, chief executive of United Technologies Corp. "That is, they don't deliver at 95 percent on time and they don't deliver with (quality of) 500 parts per million or better." If a supplier is not meeting standard, Pratt will send engineers to help fix the problem, part of a multibillion-dollar investment in the new engine. The company is about halfway through investing $1.3 billion in new facilities. At a sparkling white plant here, workers were assembling five engines on Tuesday. Each 7,000-pound (3,175 kg) machine hung in a cradle from an overhead track, allowing workers to maneuver them for easier assembly, a trick learned from auto plants. Two engines stood near the door, wrapped in white plastic, ready to ship to Airbus. A similar line exists in West Palm Beach, Florida, part of Pratt's strategy of having no single point of failure on its lines. The company also has doubled up on suppliers, trying to find second or third sources for parts to ensure it will always have what it needs on time, Leduc said. Leduc said Pratt is looking more deeply into its supply chain. It is shifting to monitoring suppliers 100 weeks ahead of when parts are due to arrive, up from 20 weeks in January. If suppliers are not ready "and you're six weeks out, you're dead in the water," he said. (Editing by Matthew Lewis) | 3 | 98,602 | finance |
Now that Hillary Clinton has the necessary delegates to top her party's ticket, her next set of challenges won't be that different from past presidential nominees. She'll have to raise money, build out a national campaign, and define her opponent. But before all that, Clinton will face one more great task: Convince supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders to join her team. It's not uncommon for winners of competitive primaries to see some party fallout afterward. Clinton knows this challenge well from 2008, when many of her supporters remained sour over her loss to now President Obama. But experts say the path forward for Clinton is a bit more complicated because many of Sanders' supporters are not Democrats. "In 2008 there were a high number of Clinton supporters who were still dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, and there was no way they were going to vote Republican," said Lis Smith, a Democratic consultant who served as deputy campaign manager to Martin O'Malley's presidential campaign. "But with Sanders, many of his supporters are new voters and independents, so it is not as obvious they will just vote Democratic. "That being said, I don't believe that when it comes to November that they are going to pull the lever for Donald Trump." In the five months until Election Day, there are a few things that Clinton can do to make sure Sanders' supporters pick her over Donald Trump or don't leave their presidential ballots blank. 1. Make inroads with the youth vote As the Democratic primary moved from Iowa to California over many months, the demographic makeup of who supported Sanders and Clinton didn't change all that much. Women predominantly supported Clinton; more men supporters Sanders. The greatest disparity between the two candidates was among members of minority groups, who favored Clinton, and among young people, who overwhelmingly backed Sanders. "If you look at the polling, the one group of Sanders supporters that should organically drift to Clinton are younger voters, but at the moment that is not a given," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Her honesty and trustworthy poll numbers are the reason why these young people weren't going with her before. She needs to win them over." Malloy points out that most of these new, younger don't even know Clinton all that well at least compared to their parents, who first came to know Clinton as first lady. Memories of Whitewater, Monica Lewinsky, and Clinton's tribulations with health care are distant, if they even exist. "It's possible that for her to win this group over, she just needs to introduce herself for the first time," Malloy said. 2. Highlight more of the issues that Sanders has highlighted During his campaign, Sanders didn't sell himself as much as he did the concept of a political revolution. This is an opportunity for Clinton. "One way to appeal to Sanders supporters is to emphasize the issues that Sanders did and do it in a big way," Smith said. "She agrees about expanding Social Security, robust Wall Street reform, and the need for campaign finance reform. The good news for her is that these are issues that will also help her in the general election." There are some policy items like free tuition at public universities on which Clinton doesn't agree with Sanders. But at least she can give the impression that the Sanders political revolution can live on through her hypothetical administration. 3. Back some of Sanders' ideas at the Democratic National Convention Sanders and his supporters have been very specific about changes they want in the political process. One way Clinton could appease these supporters is to remove Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who Sanders has said he would replace if he were president. Beyond that, there are some specific changes Clinton could agree to in the weeks ahead of July's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanders wants every state to allow independent voters to participate in presidential primaries and caucuses. He also wants to end the practice of superdelegates, or at least minimize their role. If Clinton backed any of these changes, it would give Sanders supporters an immediate win, and they might feel more comfortable about going to her side. 4. Convince Sanders backers that Donald Trump is the real enemy The final and most likely way that Clinton could try to lure Sanders' backers to her side may be to convince them that Trump cannot be elected president. While the next few weeks will be critical for how Clinton manages her relationship with Sanders, it will also be an important time for her define the presidential race as a choice for the rest of the country. If Sanders supporters cannot see Trump or a third party as a viable option, they will have nowhere else to go but to Clinton. | 5 | 98,603 | news |
Move over Bernie, it's Hillary Clinton's time to catch fire. The former secretary of state, former U.S. senator and former first lady, who just a night earlier added another title to her resume presumptive Democratic nominee cruised to an easy victory in the New Jersey primary Tuesday and set her sights on Donald Trump as the early stages of the general election race got underway. Clinton was declared the winner in the Garden State race about one hour after polls closed. With 13% of precincts in, she had 59% support, compared with 41% for Sanders. Results were expected later in the evening in New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and, most pivotally, California, where the Vermont senator had planned on making an extraordinary last stand. Sanders, who despite winning an impressive 21 contests throughout the primary season trailed Clinton in total delegates the entire race, had hoped a win in the Golden State would help keep his candidacy alive and aid in convincing superdelegates, who can support whomever they choose, to switch from Clinton to him. But a comprehensive accounting of the controversial cohort's allegiances late Monday found that enough of them had decided to support Clinton to provide her with the 2,383 total delegates she needed to formally clinch the nomination. Clinton herself had hoped to use an anticipated string of victories Tuesday night as fuel for an epic campaign rally in Brooklyn, where she would ceremoniously assume her place as her party's presumptive nominee. She is still scheduled to deliver a speech at her planned pomp-filled party later in the night, although it will likely occur with less of a climax that the campaign had hoped. Despite the air-letting AP call, her New Jersey win she will add a proportional amount of the state's 142 delegates to her pledged total was still a solid cap to a Democratic primary process that was much more vigorously challenged that many had anticipated. But Sanders, for his part, didn't appear to signal that Clinton's new mantle as the party victor would change his well-documented intention to remain in the race until the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next month. In an interview with NBC News Tuesday night, the persistent progressive again railed against the superdelegate system and refused to reject the argument that continuing efforts to win the nomination despite winning less pledged delegates than Clinton would reject the wishes of American voters. "I believe that if those superdelegates are honest with themselves, if they look at all of the national polling, all of the state polling, the nature of our organization, they will conclude that if we want to beat Donald Trump, and it's absolutely imperative that we defeat Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders is the strongest candidate," Sanders said. When told by interviewer Lester Holt that staying in the race could amount to "defying the will of the voters," Sanders was unrepentant. "Defying history is what this campaign has been about," said Sanders, who scheduled a last-minute rally for late Tuesday night and canceled plans to returns home to Vermont. In the aftermath of the damning math for Sanders, an increasing number of Democrats amped up their calls for the Vermont senator to exit the race. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said Sanders "should stand down now," while Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said he owed it to the party "to do all he can to make sure" presumptive GOP nominee doesn't "become President." Other high-profile Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) avoided firing at Bernie, choosing to simply endorse Clinton. "I'm a voter in California and I have voted for Hillary Clinton for President of the United States and proud to endorse her for that position," Pelosi said Tuesday morning on ABC, adding that she felt it was "fine" for Sanders to "want to influence the platform." On the Republican side, meanwhile, Trump, who secured enough delegates to earn his own spot as the GOP presumptive nominee last month, cruised to an easy victory in New Jersey, and was expected to win his party's contests in California, New Mexico, South Dakota and Montana. He was scheduled to speak Tuesday night from Trump National Golf Club Westchester, in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. | 5 | 98,604 | news |
I've never had a dishwasher in my adult life, and I'm a food writer. It's a pretty hilarious scenario, given the amount of recipe developing and testing that goes on for my job. I've always lived in big cities - LA, NYC, San Francisco - in old-timey apartments that have always lacked technology from this century (all right, I'm exaggerating some). They have never come equipped with dishwashers, so I've become chummy with a sponge and a set of gloves. Now, I'm not going to play with you. I loathe washing dishes, even more so than having to walk down five flights of stairs to throw out the recycling. And yet, dishes are an inescapable part of cooking. So how can you cook wonderful homemade meals AND avoid having to do a ton of dishes? Here are my little tricks that make a big difference. Clean as you go. This sounds like such an obvious tip, but it makes a hell of a difference. Did you just use that taster spoon? Give it a quick wash. Finish with that cutting board? Don't let it hang in the sink! Keeping your sink dish-free is the key to your sanity. I try to have all my dishes done except for the bowl I'm eating out of and the pot/pan I cooked the meal in, because nothing is worse than being confronted by a sink full of dishes after you've just finished breakfast or dinner. Prioritize one-pot/pan dishes. One-pot and one-pan recipes are your saving grace as a home cook with no dishwasher. The best part is you can always give your one pot/pan a good overnight soak if need be, thus procrastinating your dishwashing duties in the most glorious way. That being said . . . Never let the dishes hang out in the sink. When it comes to all other dishes other than cooking vessels with caked-on foods, never leave them in the sink for long periods of time. The longer the dishes remain dirty is directly proportional to how difficult it will be to scrub them clean later. Your brain tricks you into thinking you are avoiding a time-consuming duty, but the truth is, if you wash the dish immediately after using it, it will take only seconds to clean versus sweat-inducing minutes. | 4 | 98,605 | lifestyle |
People love pizza, and we mean LOVE it. We get the obsession - it's bread plus cheese, after all, which is just about the most perfect marriage we can think of. If you think being healthy (or vegan or gluten-free or low-carb) means a life without pizza, we are here to prove you wrong. Related: 25 Classic Comfort Foods Lightened Up Low-Carb Cauliflower Pizza The secret to this low-carb, grain-free pizza ? An addictive crust made from grated cauliflower and parmesan cheese. This pizza is crisp and flavorful - unlike anything you've ever tasted (which is a good thing). Chia Seed Pizza This pizza crust is made with whole-wheat flour and chia seeds, which gives the crust a nice hit of crunch and texture. Besides its taste appeal, it's loaded with extra fiber and protein. Mini Mexican Pizza If you love Taco Bell pizza, this Mexican pizza recipe will have your taste buds thanking you. The lightened-up version is made with protein-packed beans and ground turkey. Wheat-Free Chickpea Crust This hefty cornmeal and chickpea-based pizza crust is wheat-free and packed with protein. Quinoa Basil Crust For another crave-worthy crust alternative that you won't believe is gluten-free, try this fiber-rich quinoa pizza crust . The soft and doughy crust is packed with protein and full of flavor. English Muffin Pizza Incredibly simple yet satisfying, these English muffin pizzas only require five ingredients and 10 minutes to make. Quinoa Pizza Bites These quinoa pizza bites are a gluten-free way to get your pizza fix in a single bite. Serve alongside spicy marinara sauce. Eggplant Arugula Pizza This healthy low-carb pizza subs crust with veggie-powered eggplant. Sweet Potato Pizza Tuck in to a savory slice of pizza made with a gluten-free sweet potato crust . Full of protein and vitamin A, the crust is crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy in the center. Gluten-Free Mini Pizzas For a quick pizza fix without the gluten, pile your favorite fresh ingredients onto two slices of gluten-free English muffins and bake in the oven until the flavors meld to make piping-hot gluten-free minipizzas . Avocado Pizza Look at this: it's a pizza made with beautiful avocados . Quinoa Polenta Pizza Bites Party guests will flip for these healthy quinoa pizza bites . Get premade polenta from Trader Joe's to make prep a painless process. Mostly Whole Wheat Pizza Aside from being delicious, this mostly whole wheat dough recipe packs in some major health benefits. Top it off with some homemade sauce and load it up with veggies for a quiet night in or a party with your pals! | 4 | 98,606 | lifestyle |
NEW YORK -- A former chief at New York's notorious Rikers Island jail complex and four of his underlings were convicted of felony charges Tuesday after authorities said they beat an inmate at the chief's behest because the man had stared him down during a search of his cell. Former Assistant Chief for Security Eliseo Perez and the four officers were convicted Tuesday of attempted gang assault and other charges in connection with the June 11, 2012 attack on inmate Jahmal Lightfoot. Perez retired from his position in 2013. The officers -- Alfred Rivera, Tobias Parker, Jose Parra and David Rodriguez -- remain on modified duty Tuesday, officials said. A sixth officer, Jeffrey Richard, who prosecutors had alleged aided in covering up the attack, was found not guilty. Prosecutors said the altercation with Lightfoot started when the officers conducted a contraband search - patting down inmates, tossing over mattresses and rifling around cells for any prohibited items. They said that during the search, Lightfoot locked eyes with Perez. Angered by the stare-down, Perez shouted out to a captain and five officers that Lightfoot "thinks he's tough" and should be beaten, prosecutors said. Authorities said the guards led Lightfoot into a small cell and then pummeled him so severely he had two fractured eye sockets, a broken nose and bruises that left his eyes swollen shut. Prosecutors also alleged the officers filed false reports claiming Lightfoot had slashed an officer with a sharpened piece of metal, in an effort to explain Lightfoot's injuries. The judge presiding over the case signed a gag order in February prohibiting lawyers in the case from commenting. In a statement Tuesday, Norman Seabrook, president of the union that represents rank-and-file correction officers, said the verdict is unfair and unjust. "Today's verdict is an absolute travesty and yet another example of how Correction Officers are treated differently and disrespected for doing the job they are sworn to do -- protect New Yorkers," he said. New York City Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte said he had "zero tolerance for any illegal behavior on the part of staff" and that officers convicted of felonies would be terminated. He said he's confident the department is taking the right step toward reforming Rikers. The trial came just weeks after New York lawmakers called for the closure of the notorious jail complex. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, has said those calls are "noble" but that the proposal raises major financial and logistical issues. Located in the middle of the East River, Rikers holds about 10,000 inmates. Concerned by a number of inmate deaths and a stream of alarming reports about Rikers, Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, launched a two-year investigation into the jail complex. "We found in an alarming number of cases there was no discipline with respect to officers at all," Bharara told "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker in April. "You had an officer who had dozens of complaints against him and was never disciplined once, or maybe just one time, and that's something that has to change. People have to understand that there are consequences for their actions, not just the inmates, but the officers as well." The city recently initiated a number of policy changes, like installing more cameras and reducing the use of solitary confinement. A federal monitor was appointed to insure the reforms are implemented. | 5 | 98,607 | news |
Historians have long debated exactly when the first humans in North America left Alaska and moved south into the rest of the continent. Scientists have long thought that humans first migrated south 15,000 years ago along a coastal Pacific path. However, many hypothesized that there was a second route, along the Rocky Mountains. A new study suggests use of the Rocky Mountain path occurred as many as 2,000 years after the Pacific route was used. | 8 | 98,608 | video |
Amazon Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said on Tuesday the company would invest an additional $3 billion in India, boosting its committed investment in the country to over $5 billion. Bezos told an event in Washington attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who met earlier on Tuesday with President Barack Obama - that India was Amazon's fastest growing region. "I can assure you it's only the beginning and as we say in Amazon, it's only day one," Bezos said, adding that the investments would help start-ups in India and accelerate the country's role as a hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship. He said Amazon would open a Web Services Cloud Region in India this year and the country would soon become home to the firm's largest software engineering and development center outside of the United States, located in Hyderabad. Bezos said Amazon had so far built 21 fulfillment centers with more than 5 mln cubic feet of storage space. He said its link-up with India Post enabled it to reach all serviceable postal codes in the country. He said the Hyderabad center would create jobs and career development opportunities for thousands of people and a "significant" number of jobs would be created over time because of the deployment of Amazon Cloud Services. Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man, made the comments the same day Warren Buffett, the world's third richest man, praised him for embodying the potential of small business owners who build their companies. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Leslie Adler and Andrew Hay) | 3 | 98,609 | finance |
John McEnroe thinks that Andy Murray can stand to benefit from hiring another super coach to assist him, and it sounds like the former tennis champion would be interested in the gig. McEnroe talked about Murray's game following the Scotsman's loss to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the French Open. You get the sense from the comments that Johnny Mac might want to help out Murray . "When you look at someone who's that good, you're always interested. Andy is extremely professional. He won a couple of majors. So you're talking about the cream of the crop. "I don't recall ever getting a call," McEnroe added via The Telegraph. "It depends on what type of commitment you're talking about and for how long. There was never any discussion. I never heard from anyone. It's been a win-win for Boris [Becker] and Novak as an example. I think clearly my old rival Ivan Lendl made a positive difference with Andy." McEnroe isn't available to coach Murray since he recently signed on to help Milos Raonic prepare for Wimbledon. What's interesting is that in 2014, McEnroe made similar comments about having interest in coaching Murray if he reached out. At that time, McEnroe also identified Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov as two emerging players who could be the stars of the next era, so it's no surprise he's now helping Raonic. With McEnroe thinking Murray needs another super coach, he even brought up the possibility of Murray reuniting with Ivan Lendl as long as their relationship is still solid, which is an unknown. Murray recently parted ways with Amelie Mauresmo and is being coached by assistant Jamie Delgado. | 1 | 98,610 | sports |
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Manny Machado had no intention of taking a 99 mph fastball in the back without retaliating. BOX SCORE: ORIOLES 9, ROYALS 1 So when the inevitable occurred, the Orioles young infielder charged the mound with his fists clenched. Kansas City right-hander Yordano Ventura hit Machado with a pitch to spark a bench-emptying fray, and Baltimore extended the Royals' losing streak to a season-high six games with a 9-1 rout Tuesday night. Mark Trumbo homered and drove in four runs, and the Orioles also got long balls from Ryan Flaherty, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. But the game's most striking moment came in the fifth inning, when Ventura (4-4) drilled Machado just under his No. 13 as the two-time All-Star turned away. In the second inning, with Baltimore leading 5-0, the two exchanged words after Ventura twice threw inside pitches. So before Machado headed to the plate in the fifth, he got a word of warning from manager Buck Showalter. ''I thought he was trying to hit him the at-bat before,'' Showalter said. ''That's why I talked to him before he took his last at-bat. I wanted him to be aware of it.'' An instant after the ball hit him, Machado charged the mound. Ventura prepared for the onslaught by slinging aside his cap and glove, but Machado landed a solid punch before the pitcher tackled him. ''I don't regret anything,'' the 23-year-old Machado said. ''When somebody's throwing 99 at you, it's going to hurt. You can ruin someone's career. You don't think in that situation. You just react to it.'' Both dugouts and bullpens emptied before peace was restored. Machado was restrained by teammate Chris Tillman after the initial thrust. Ventura insisted the errant throw was unintentional and implied that Machado has a reputation as a hot head. ''Everybody knows what kind of player he is,'' Ventura said through an interpreter. ''One just got away and he came at me, and I have to defend myself at that point.'' Machado and Ventura were ejected with the score 5-1. It is likely both will ultimately receive suspensions. ''I don't think that should be in order,'' Ventura insisted. Machado said, ''You got to deal with the consequences once you cross that line.'' When play resumed, Trumbo greeted reliever Chien-Ming Wang with his major league-leading 20th home run, and Davis followed with a solo shot. Ubaldo Jimenez (3-6) gave up one run and nine hits over five-plus innings to end a three-game skid. Baltimore has won six of seven. This was the only victory in that stretch in which the Orioles never trailed. The Royals stranded 13 and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. It's been a difficult losing streak for the defending World Series champions, and Ventura made that apparent with his actions in the fifth inning. ''There's a little frustration when things like this happen,'' manager Ned Yost acknowledged. Baltimore opened the bottom of the first with four straight hits and took a 4-0 lead with only one out. The big blow was a two-run double by Trumbo, who scored on a single by Jonathan Schoop. The damage would have been worse if leaping center fielder Lorenzo Cain didn't reach far over the 7-foot wall to rob Pedro Alvarez of a potential two-run homer. Flaherty led off the second with his first home run of the season, a drive that traveled an estimated 446 feet before landing on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall. TRAINER'S ROOM Royals: 3B Cheslor Cuthbert was in the starting lineup after bruising his elbow Monday night on an errant throw by Schoop. ... Monday night starter Danny Duffy, drilled in the left calf by a line drive, said Tuesday: ''It was a little tender but nothing to write home about.'' ... OF Alex Gordon (wrist) has started a throwing regimen but there is no timetable for his return. Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder tendinitis) allowed three runs and four hits over five innings in his second and perhaps final rehabilitation start. Showalter said Gallardo has lost 11 pounds since going on the DL on April 23. UP NEXT Royals: Edinson Volquez (5-5, 4.03 ERA) will attempt to lift Kansas City out of its season-long funk in the series finale Wednesday night. Orioles: Unbeaten in nine starts since April 14, Tillman (7-1, 3.33 ERA) attempts to complete the three-game sweep for Baltimore. | 1 | 98,611 | sports |
A senior State Department official tells Reuters that Pyongyang has reactivated a plant to recover plutonium for the purpose of making nuclear weapons. Gavino Garay reports. | 5 | 98,612 | news |
UNITED NATIONS The U.N. General Assembly president hinted Tuesday that he would like to see groups and individual countries in the world body come up with shortlists of candidates to become the next U.N. chief now that the 11 current contenders have made their case to the 193 member nations. According to the U.N. Charter, the secretary-general is chosen by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the 15-member Security Council. In practice, this has meant that the council's five permanent members the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France have veto power over the candidates. But assembly president Mogens Lykketoft told reporters the more that members express their preferences, "the more they raise the probability that out of the Security Council will come a name which is generally accepted also in the membership." Asked whether he will recommend that assembly members come up with shortlists, Lykketoft replied, "I will not recommend. I will certainly look at it with great sympathy if it happens." He added, to some laughter, that he was being very diplomatic. Lykketoft spoke after the last two candidates Argentina's Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra and Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak answered questions from assembly members for two hours in separate sessions. Lykketoft urged other candidates to come forward quickly, but said the assembly will offer the same question-and-answer opportunity "however late they arrive." He told reporters he plans to send a letter to the Security Council with his impressions of the first-ever opportunity for member states to question candidates to lead the U.N. Lykketoft said his first point will be "this is a procedure that has come to stay for future selections of secretary-generals." Another impression, he said, is that "there is a strong wish from the membership of a strong personality at the helm of the United Nations, an independent one, a courageous secretary-general who will use all powers provided by the (U.N.) Charter in order to advance peace and security, development and human rights." Lykketoft said he believes ambassadors and diplomats from all countries have "gotten a clearer picture of the personalities and priorities of the candidates" and the questions have also pinpointed priorities that members see for the future of the United Nations in peace and security, human rights, and "in the way the whole United Nations works." Malcorra, a former chief of staff to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said in her session that if she is selected "my job will be being faithful to the Charter which means being faithful to member states." She said the secretary-general must also be "an early warner to the organization" and a forceful advocate for human rights. "My vision calls for a United Nations that is centered on people, the planet and prosperity; driven by issues and focused on delivering a positive impact," she said. Lajcak, a former high representative in Bosnia, said "for me, the United Nations is about peace and that should be a priority" because there can be no development or human rights without peace. He called for greater emphasis on preventing conflict and mediation, saying he has spent many years as a mediator. "The secretary-general is the communicator," Lajcak said, stressing the importance of the U.N. chief talking to nations, peoples, and improving interaction between agencies in this globalized, interconnected world. | 5 | 98,613 | news |
BALTIMORE As family and friends gathered Tuesday for a meal after the funeral of Antonio Addison, a 22-year-old man gunned down in West Baltimore last month, violence broke out in their midst when police say Addison's brother pulled out a gun and shot their father. The 47-year-old father was shot in the abdomen but was expected to survive, listed in serious but stable condition. His 26-year-old son was taken into custody, police said. Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith said early reports indicate the father and son may have gotten into an argument over the content of an obituary written for Addison. The shooting occurred in a vestibule area inside the New Song Worship & Arts Center, in the city's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, police said. As more than a dozen officers and detectives converged on the church, several funeral attendees dressed in all white stood outside the building on the church grounds comforting each other. Blood stained the white pants and top of one woman who stood shaking her head outside the crime scene. She tried to re-enter the church before officers stopped her and turned her away from the active investigation. "I really can't even describe how unnecessary and senseless this situation is," Smith said. The shooting occurred when a lot of people were in the building, taking part in a repast, or gathering, after a funeral that typically involves a shared meal, Smith said. "There's still food on the table inside this place," Smith said while standing outside the crime scene. (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Gunfire has marred other services to mourn deceased victims of violence in Baltimore. In 2009, 34-year-old Virginia McGhee was fatally shot after stepping outside during a viewing for her boyfriend, who had been fatally shot a week before. That incident occurred at the Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home, about a half-mile north of New Song. Two people were shot in April 2008 outside Unity Methodist Church, where about 300 mourners had gathered for the viewing of a 26-year-old man who had been killed in a triple shooting. In 2001, a man was shot at while leaving another funeral home after a viewing for his brother, also a murder victim. (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Addison was found shot multiple times about 5:48 p.m. on May 25 in a home about a half-mile from the New Song center. Police did not immediately identify Addison's father or brother. The shooting drew a large police presence to the scene, including top police brass including the commissioner and deputy commissioner. With emotions high among family members at the repast, police commanders worried retaliatory violence could erupt and officers from across departments were summoned to the scene. No one else was injured, police said. Smith expressed frustration that an event that was "supposed to be a celebration" of Addison's life was ruined by "a family dispute that turned violent." "This is not a random act of violence. This is not a situation where we have to go back and look at our deployment strategies to see if we had officers in the right spot," Smith said. "This was a funeral." Smith said charges are pending against the suspect in the shooting, which he called an "open and shut" case. (EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE) The New Song center is part of the New Song Community Church. A person who answered the phone at the church said Pastor Louis Wilson did not wish to comment. (The Baltimore Sun's Tim Prudente and Jonathan Pitts contributed to this report.) | 5 | 98,614 | news |
Our "We Need To Talk" analysts remember boxing legend Muhammad Ali. | 1 | 98,615 | sports |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The old Ryan Howard showed up after a difficult week. BOX SCORE: PHILLIES 3, CUBS 2 Howard hit a solo homer, Jerad Eickhoff threw seven impressive innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Tuesday night. Eickhoff (3-8) allowed one run and two hits, striking out eight. Jeanmar Gomez pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and got the final six outs for his 19th save in 20 tries. Howard hit his ninth homer way out to right-center to make it 2-0 in the fourth. The 2006 NL MVP started for the first time since a fan threw a plastic beer bottle at him after Saturday's game. Rookie Tommy Joseph has replaced the struggling Howard at first base and started the previous six games. ''I wasn't thinking about the week or the last 10 days,'' Howard said. ''I was just thinking about that moment. I got a good pitch, he hung me a breaking ball, and I was able to hit it out.'' Howard nearly went deep again in the eighth, but his fly ball to deep center was caught on the warning track. Though he's only batting .153, Howard has hit homers in four of Philadelphia's one-run victories, including two 1-0 wins and a walk-off homer in a 4-3 win. ''From what he's been going through, it was nice to see him hit that home run,'' manager Pete Mackanin said. ''I think it gave him a little more confidence. He almost had another one. Good to see.'' Kyle Hendricks (4-5) gave up two runs and four hits, striking out six in five innings. Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera had RBI singles for the Phillies, who lost the first four games against the Cubs this season. Trailing 3-1, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs against Hector Neris in the eighth. Gomez entered and retired Dexter Fowler on a sacrifice fly. Jason Heyward then grounded into a double play started by second baseman Andres Blanco, who made an excellent grab on the sharply hit ball and a nifty flip to shortstop Freddy Galvis. ''Wow, that was a special play,'' Mackanin said. Gomez retired David Ross on a grounder to shortstop to end the game with runners on first and third. ''You don't have to try to do too much,'' Gomez said. ''Just attack the hitter because you need an out quickly.'' Batting third for the first time in his career, Galvis hit a two-out double in the first inning. Franco followed with an RBI single to right to make it 1-0. Herrera's RBI single with two outs in the seventh increased the lead to 3-1. Eickhoff kept the Cubs off-balance by changing speeds. He struck out Kris Bryant twice on slow curves. ''He was really good,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ''Had good stuff and was able to throw his breaking ball for strikes. I know he's young but he's going to be good.'' CLIMBING THE LADDER Howard's home run was the 366th of his career, tying him with Lance Berkman for 80th place on baseball's all-time list. His first-inning walk was the 695th of his career, moving him past Willie Jones into seventh place in franchise history. STANDINGS The Cubs lead the majors with a 40-17 record while the Phillies improved to 29-30 with just their fifth win in 18 games. TRAINER'S ROOM Cubs: OF Jorge Soler was placed on the 15-day DL because of a left hamstring strain. He was injured running to first base in Monday night's game. OF Albert Almora Jr. was called up from Triple-A Iowa to take his roster spot. He grounded out as a pinch-hitter in his major league debut. UP NEXT RHP John Lackey (6-2, 2.88 ERA) starts for the Cubs against Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez (5-2, 3.67) on Wednesday afternoon. | 1 | 98,616 | sports |
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. Senator Bernie Sanders plans to lay off at least half his campaign staff Wednesday as his battered presidential bid continues on despite Hillary Clinton's being declared the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to two people close to the campaign. Many of those being laid off are advance staff members who often help with campaign logistics, as well as field staff members who have been working to garner votes for the senator, according to both a campaign official and a former campaign staff member, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. Some campaign workers may move into jobs at Mr. Sanders's Senate office, but others will be terminated, they said. Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter The changes come as Mr. Sanders defiantly continues to campaign while Mrs. Clinton celebrates her acquisition of a majority of the delegates needed for the nomination. Mr. Sanders insists that he is prepared to challenge Mrs. Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in July, holding out hope that his lobbying of superdelegates party officials and state leaders who cast their final votes at the convention will siphon support from Mrs. Clinton as he makes his case that he is a stronger candidate against Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. Latest election updates from BreakingNews.com Mr. Sanders's spokesman, Michael Briggs, said Tuesday that Mr. Sanders planned to travel to his home in Vermont on Wednesday and then travel to Washington on Thursday. Campaign aides say he plans to hold rallies in Washington, the last contest on June 14. It was unclear how the layoffs will affect his Washington operation. Word of the cutbacks came a day after The Associated Press declared Mrs. Clinton the presumptive Democratic nominee. And Tuesday night Mrs. Clinton won a commanding victory in the New Jersey primary, widening her delegate lead over Mr. Sanders. Find out what you need to know about the 2016 presidential race today, and get politics news updates via Facebook , Twitter and the First Draft newsletter . | 5 | 98,617 | news |
By Stanley White Japan's economy grew faster than initially estimated in the first quarter as capital spending fell less than was first reported, but worries remain over slow consumer spending and weak exports. "The upward revision is very slight, and when you exclude the impact of leap year growth is not that strong," said Shuji Tonouchi, senior fixed income strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. "We expect growth to slow in the current quarter. The government should focus on steps to help low-income earners, but consumption may not rise much if consumer sentiment worsens." Further gains in the yen could lower export profits and discourage companies from increasing investment and wages. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will announce additional economic measures this autumn, but economists worry his piecemeal approach to policy means that not enough money will be allocated to reversing population decline and speeding up growth. Japan's economy expanded at an annualized 1.9 percent rate in the first quarter of this year, revised up from a preliminary reading of 1.7 percent growth, the Cabinet Office data showed. The revised January-March GDP matched the median estimate in a Reuters poll of economists. Compared to the previous quarter, GDP rose 0.5 percent, which was more than the preliminary reading of 0.4 percent growth and the same as the median estimate. Excluding the impact of leap year, which added an extra day to February, GDP probably expanded around 0.2 percent, Tonouchi said. Capital expenditure, a major component of GDP, fell 0.7 percent, less than a preliminary decline of 1.4 percent. That compared with the median estimate for a 0.3 percent decline. Private consumption rose 0.6 percent, slightly above the preliminary 0.5 percent increase recorded. Abe announced last week a widely expected two-and-a-half year delay in hiking sales tax because of weak consumer spending, although economists worry that postponement signals the government is losing control of fiscal discipline. (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Eric Meijer) | 3 | 98,618 | finance |
Four-star quarterback Mac Jones flipped to Alabama Tuesday from Kentucky. The Crimson Tide is making more noise on the recruiting trail. Four-star quarterback Mac Jones flipped his commitment from the Kentucky Wildcats to Alabama Tuesday evening. Jones, the nation's No. 8 quarterback, had been pledged to the Wildcats since July of 2015 but decided it was in his best interest to don crimson and white instead of blue and white. He released a statement on Twitter to announce his decision. "I would like to thank the University of Kentucky for recruiting me, however, an opportunity of a lifetime has presented itself to my family and me. I am happy to say I will continue my football and academic career at The University of Alabama. I am 100% committed, Roll Tide! [sic]" The addition of Jones is a big one for Nick Saban and his staff, who added 4-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in early May. The Tide lost 4-star quarterback Jake Fromm, who flipped his commitment from Alabama to Georgia in March. Of the four quarterbacks listed on the Tide's roster, only one of them, Cooper Bateman, is an upperclassman. Saban's 2017 class now stands at 11 commits and sits at No. 3 in the class rankings behind Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively. Note: Scout rankings and ratings used in this article. WATCH: Nation's No. 6 WR Drops Top 4 Schools | 1 | 98,619 | sports |
June 8 (Reuters) - Officials were investigating on Wednesday the deaths of five cyclists and injuries of four others after a pickup truck plowed into their group along a southwest Michigan road, the state's governor said. The driver of the pickup, who has not been named, is in custody and charges against him could be filed on Thursday after the investigation into the crash is concluded, the local prosecutor said on Tuesday night. Michigan State Police were called in to help determine what happened, Governor Rick Snyder said in a statement on Wednesday. The cyclists were struck at about 6:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday along the shoulder of a rural road north of Kalamazoo, by a pickup driven by a 50-year-old man, Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting told a news conference on Tuesday. The man was taken into custody a short distance from the collision, Getting said. Five bike riders were pronounced dead at the scene while four riders were taken to hospital. The identification of those killed and injured will not be made public until families are notified, Getting said. All cyclists killed and injured were adults, Getting said. He gave no further details about the bike riding group. Local ABC affiliate WZZM reported that one rider was in critical condition and another was in fair condition. The condition of the other two injured riders was unclear, the news station said. Several local law enforcement agencies received calls reporting that the vehicle was being driven erratically about 30 minutes before the collision, according to Getting and local media reports. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas told local broadcaster WOOD, an NBC affiliate, that the driver fled on foot after the collision. | 5 | 98,620 | news |
CLEVELAND They authored their greatest achievement of these 2016 playoffs on the road, emerging from crazy-loud Oklahoma City with an epic, season-saving victory. They also buried Houston on the road (without Stephen Curry) and outlasted Portland on the road (because of Curry). But the Warriors, for all their wondrous feats, often seem vulnerable away from Oracle Arena, at least in the postseason. They lost by 12 points in Portland, then by 28 and 24 in OKC. They are 11-1 at home in the playoffs but only 3-4 on the road. Those numbers were presented to center Andrew Bogut on Tuesday, as he fielded questions on the court at Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cavaliers. Bogut was surprised to learn the Warriors have a losing record on the road in this year's playoffs. "Three and four? Really?" he said. Told this was true, he replied, "That's not good." This uneven recent history merits mention as the NBA Finals resume in Cleveland with Game 3 on Wednesday night. The Warriors looked untouchable in building their 2-0 series lead, winning those games by a combined 48 points in Oakland. Still, momentum can change abruptly in the postseason. The Warriors know, because they bounced back from their lopsided losses to eliminate the Thunder. Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned Golden State's comeback to his players the past few days, hoping they will find inspiration and spring to life in the Finals. The Cavs cling to hope in these numbers: They're 7-0 at home in this year's playoffs. They won the seven games by an average of nearly 21 points, though the Warriors are a whole lot better than the Pistons, Hawks and Raptors. Even so, the Warriors occasionally don't play like the Warriors on the road. They stop moving the ball on offense, relax on defense and suddenly find themselves trying to claw their way out of an early hole. Forward Draymond Green takes this personally. "It's on me to make sure guys are ready to play," Green said. "Make sure guys come out with a lot of energy and ready to fly around. The margin of error is a lot slimmer on the road. … "You come into a home game and maybe you're not ready to play from the jump or you don't have that energy level, it's a lot easier to battle back than it is on the road. On the road, it's almost impossible." The Warriors will try to conquer another historical nuisance Wednesday night: their Game 3 drought. They've lost four consecutive Game 3s, all on the road, dating to last year's Finals against the Cavs. Head coach Steve Kerr was reluctant to identify a common thread in those losses, though he acknowledged the Warriors might have "let their guard down" when they were up 2-0 in previous series (against Houston and Portland). Now they're up 2-0 again, amid widespread media reviews all but declaring the Cavs dead. "I think obviously it's easy to feel good about ourselves right now," guard Klay Thompson said. "We've protected home court and won by a big margin, but we haven't played an away game yet. … We expect the Cavs to come out with great desperation and hunger, and we've got to match that." Cleveland clearly needs to crank up its moribund offense. The Warriors played smothering defense in Games 1 and 2, holding the Cavs to an average of 83 points. They scored 104.3 per game during the regular season. Another disconcerting thought for James and Co. is the quiet performances by Curry and Thompson in the first two games. Curry is averaging 14.5 points in the series, with Thompson at 13.0. That probably won't last. But first the Warriors need to find their mojo in a hostile environment. They won twice at Quicken Loans Arena in last year's Finals, and they won Game 6 in Oklahoma City on May 28, dodging elimination by wiping out an eight-point, fourth-quarter deficit. So they're more than capable. They also don't figure to coast past the Cavs as merrily as they did in Oakland. "Road games are tough, period," Bogut said. "And then in a playoff series it goes up a notch. Teams don't want to lose at home, whether they're down 2-0 or 3-0 or whatever." Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: ronkroichick NBA Finals Warriors vs. Cleveland Warriors lead series 2-0 All games on Channel: 7 Channel: 10 Game 1: Warriors 104, Cavs 89 Game 2: Warriors 110, Cavs 77 Wed.: at Cleveland, 6 p.m. Friday: at Cleveland, 6 p.m. Mon.: at Oracle Arena, 6 p.m.* June 16: at Cleveland, 6 p.m.* June 19: at Oracle Arena, 5 p.m.* * if necessary | 1 | 98,621 | sports |
Baltimore Orioles All-Star third baseman Manny Machado likely assured himself a multi-game suspension when he charged the mound and landed a punch on Kansas City Royals starter Yordano Ventura, who a moment earlier drilled Machado in the back with a pitch. Both players were ejected during the fifth-inning incident Tuesday at Camden Yards, which came one at bat after Machado lingered at home plate to see if a fly ball to left ended up a home run. It resulted in a fly out, and Ventura and Machado exchanged words. There was little ambiguous about Ventura's first pitch to Machado the next time up, and Ventura quickly dropped his glove and awaited the charging Machado, who appeared to land a right hand to the pitcher's cheek. Machado and Ventura ended up at the bottom of a pile, but order was restored relatively soon, and no other playres or managers were ejected. It also did not appear that neither bench was warned by home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez. Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor recently served a seven-game suspension reduced by a game upon appeal -after he landed a punch in a standoff with Toronto's Jose Bautista. The early sentiment from the Orioles clubhouse indicates that Machado's punishment may well be worth it. Center fielder Adam Jones, in fact, said he'd pay Machado's fine from Major League Baseball. "You throw 100 mph and you are trying to hurt someone intentionally, that is not part of the game," Jones told reporters after Baltimore's 9-1 victory. "You see the reaction by his players, they weren't too happy that he did something so stupid. I'm glad for Manny for defending himself. "Screw it, defend yourself. Someone is trying to hurt you maliciously, you go out there and defend yourself. I hope the league reviews what happened. When you have a weapon at 100 mph and you don't have to hit, and you are trying to hurt somebody, that is not part of the game. "Tonight, Manny handled it himself and I couldn't be happier for him. ... I knew it was going to happen. The guy has electric stuff and the talent is all there, but between the ears, there is a circuit board off balance. I don't get it. I don't get it." Ventura and Machado aren't strangers to bench-clearing incidents. Ventura received a seven-game suspension in April 2015 after he barked at Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton and appeared to instigate a bench-clearing brawl. He also stared down Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout on a play at the plate, resulting in a bench-clearing scrum last June. Machado served a five-game suspension after a June 2014 incident during which he intentionally threw his bat toward third base after an apparent brushback pitch against the Oakland Athletics. Tuesday night, his team seemed to get the best of this exchange. After the hit-by-pitch, Mark Trumbo hit a two-run home run and Chris Davis followed with a solo homer as Baltimore took an 8-1 lead in the fifth inning. Ventura suggested he did not hit Machado intentionally. "I don't think that should be in order," he said of a possible suspension. "My plan was to pitch inside and one got away. And things happened." The Orioles beg to differ. "We knew how his temper is," Machado said of Ventura. "I was just going up there to put more runs on the board. He hit me with a 99 mph fastball and 99 is no joke. You can ruin someone's career like that. I don't regret anything. It is part of the game. Reactions fly. "I mean, there is probably going to be a suspension coming. Who knows what it is. You know, you have to deal with the consequences once you cross that line. Deal with it. It will suck that someone will be down but this is all part of the grind, part of being a team and being a family." Ventura, who turned 25 on Friday, now has a 5.32 ERA and, despite flashes of brilliance and several key playoff outings in his three seasons in Kansas City's rotation, has yet to develop consistency start to start. He has, however, developed a reputation, and Jones indicated the disconnect between performance and comportment does not bode well for Ventura. "He wants to be Pedro Martinez. Cool, be Pedro Martinez," Jones said. "Go out there and have a damn sub 2.00 (ERA) like Pedro Martinez. Don't go out there to hurt somebody. That is what Pedro didn't do. So, hopefully the league catches on to it. I've got Manny's fine and the rest is history. Manny is not at fault for nothing. You get hit with 95 or 98 and see what you do." | 1 | 98,622 | sports |
Sean Rooks, a former Arizona Wildcats star who played center for 12 seasons in the NBA, died Tuesday at age 46, according to multiple reports. No cause of death has been announced. It saddens to report Sixers assistant coach & ex-NBA center Sean Rooks, 46, passed away in Philadelphia today, sources told @TheUndefeated . Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 7, 2016 RIP Sean Rooks, a league source confirms that the former #Sixers assistant passed away today in Philly Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 7, 2016 The 6-foot-10 Rooks was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft and also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Lakers and Clippers, Orlando Magic and New Orleans Hornets. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in his career. RELATED SLIDESHOW: Notable sports deaths of 2016 Rooks went into coaching after his retirement, first as an assistant in the NBADL and then with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, where he coached the Sixers' young big men the past couple of seasons. Rooks' son Kameron plays for the Cal Bears. Sickened that Sean Rooks has died. Did as much as any Cat to make Arizona Basketball relevant. @APlayersProgram refers to guys like him. Tom Duddleston (@TomDudd) June 7, 2016 Damn man. RIP Sean Rooks. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Sad crazy news! Condolences to his family. Quentin Richardson (@QRich) June 7, 2016 @MarcJSpearsESPN NO... Big bro #RIP Earl J Watson (@Earl_Watson) June 7, 2016 As a big man player-dev assistant, Rooks worked closely with Embiid, Okafor and Noel. Was beloved by the players. https://t.co/oVn9e3TCL2 Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 7, 2016 | 1 | 98,623 | sports |
U.S. asset managers and hedge funds are wary about pouring more money into China until the government addresses its stock market crash last year and wild swings in the yuan, they said on Tuesday, as China unveiled measures to attract U.S. buyers of its assets. China will give the United States a 250 billion yuan ($38 billion) investment quota for the first time to buy Chinese stocks, bonds and other assets, officials said, deepening financial ties and interdependence between the world's two largest economies. China's regulators have been pushing to expand foreign investors' access to domestic financial markets to make its markets broader and attract more capital inflows. But foreign interest has waned after a near meltdown in Chinese stock markets last year and heavy-handed official intervention to shore them up. "I would imagine that investors would look for certain financial reforms in order to dive in," said Gregory Peters, a senior investment officer at Prudential Fixed Income with more than $621 billion of assets. "A consistent application of the rule of law is paramount. ... Not sure China is quite there yet." Carson Block, the head of Muddy Waters Capital LLC who gained prominence for short-selling shares of Chinese companies, was more skeptical. "China increased the quota in an effort support the country's equity, credit and fixed asset bubbles," he said in an email. U.S. investors are cautious about investing in China, saying they worry about regulatory issues including when the government would reintroduce a circuit breaker mechanism to stabilize the country's stock markets. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index (.SSEC) has tumbled more than 40 percent over the past year on fears that slowing economic growth would hurt profits. William Kirby, a Harvard Business School professor with ties to several funds that invest in China, said "the fundamental governance and political issues that destabilized the Shanghai exchange last summer remain unaddressed. Caveat emptor." Michel Del Buono, managing director at Makena Capital Management, which oversees $20 billion of assets, noted that China was dealing with an investment outflow. "There are questions about regulatory snafus and there are questions about valuations. It is a stock picker's market there," he said. "What they really want is to make their markets more credible. They want more foreign investors to come in and they see it as patient money, you see it as patient money." The investment quota is part of a recent Chinese program called Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor, or RQFII. The program allows approved fund managers overseas to use funds raised outside the mainland, in Chinese yuan, to invest in China's financial markets. An older program, called Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor, or QFII, set quotas in dollars, which could be converted into yuan for investments. "For an institutional investor this announcement doesn't change much, though to the extent it makes their markets deeper and more liquid, it represents an improvement," Del Buono said. Another big catalyst for foreign investment flow is on the horizon. Index compiler next week MSCI is expected to announce whether it would include Chinese shares in its benchmark index. Vanguard, the largest U.S. mutual fund manager, said in a statement that it was premature to discuss its plans in the wake of China's announcement. "China is one of the world's key emerging economies and the second-largest stock market in the world by market cap," Vanguard spokeswoman Linda Wolohan said. "With the world's second-largest GDP, China accounts for 11 percent of global trade and 8 percent of global consumption. As a result, China can offer significant long-term benefits for investors." Vanguard's Australian affiliate was granted a RQFII quota earlier this year. (Reporting by Jennifer Ablan and Ross Kerber; Editing by Richard Chang) | 3 | 98,624 | finance |
NEW YORK Even before the polls closed in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton knew she was in for a very bad night. The establishment worrywart caucus was freaking out, and the media was rife with speculation of an imminent staff shake-up. Was she once again being set up for a fall, a lumbering front-runner about to be toppled by a charismatic outsider? Her answer: Get me a bigger plane. Robby Mook, her penny-pinching campaign manager, blanched. But Clinton insisted that she did not want her aides trickling back to the Brooklyn campaign headquarters, one by one, nursing their dejection. Everyone would fly together. As 30 or so aides boarded, Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, stood at the top of the stairs, shaking each one's hand and thanking them. It was not just a gracious gesture. Clinton wanted to send a signal, one that would be understood internally, even if it took the rest of the political world a while to catch on. She and her team had a plan. She believed in it. They were sticking to it. Hillary 2.0 would be very different from her 2008 operation, which had run aground in part because her campaign had failed to master the fundamentals. All over the map, they had been outmaneuvered; even where Clinton won, Barack Obama's more nimble and sophisticated team had somehow managed to squeeze out extra delegates. Like Mook, Marlon Marshall had been a part of that failed effort. When he joined the 2016 campaign as its director of state campaigns and political engagement, Marshall recalled, "one of the first things that Robby and I talked about was, what is our delegate strategy?" Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont proved to be a formidable opponent. His anti-establishment message was in tune with the disgruntled left, and he raised money by the boatload. The first sign came in September, when he raised more than $25 million just $3 million less than she did. They also knew that the money and the enthusiasm of his supporters meant that Sanders could stay in the fight even as Clinton built up her delegate lead and methodically snuffed out any realistic chance he had of securing the nomination. Track the Democratic delegate count The real surprise was how things played out on the other side. Clinton's advisers had expected the Republicans, with their enormous field of candidates backed up by super PACs, to also have a drawn-out battle. Although her campaign chairman, John Podesta, had been predicting privately since last summer that Donald Trump would be the GOP standard-bearer, none of her advisers expected him to clinch it as suddenly and decisively as he did. After Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) beat Trump in Wisconsin, Clinton's advisers even held a planning session to get up to speed on how a contested Republican convention would work and figure out what that meant for them. Instead, when Cruz dropped out in early May, Clinton was effectively running two campaigns at once the final stages of a primary race and the opening ones of a general election. Clinton has never been a dazzling campaigner. Not one for mega-rallies, she prefers small, scripted settings where she can discuss the policy intricacies of heroin addiction, mental health treatment, college debt or gun control all the while keeping her campaign press corps at arm's length. There have also been times when her tone-deafness could be spectacular. In March, during a CNN town hall in Ohio, she boasted that she was the "only candidate which has a policy about how to bring economic opportunity using clean renewable energy as the key into coal country," and added: "We're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business." Those words came back to haunt her in West Virginia. "I do feel a little bit sad and sorry that I gave folks the reason, or the excuse, to be so upset with me, because that is not what I intended at all," she told an out-of-work miner who confronted her about that comment. Meanwhile, old questions about her character have been revived by an FBI probe into the security issues raised by her unauthorized use of a private email system while she was secretary of state. And Democrats, unlike Republicans, are not generally receptive to do-overs by their failed candidates. They prefer to turn the page. So it was both poignant and ironic that the day Clinton would celebrate making history as the first woman to clinch a major party's nomination was also the eighth anniversary of her concession to Obama. That speech is remembered mostly for the line in which she declared that she had put 18 million cracks the number of votes she had gotten in "that highest, hardest glass ceiling." But there was also what, in retrospect, sounded like a declaration that she would be back. "Life is too short, time is too precious and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been," Clinton said. "We have to work together for what still can be." Iowa: A test of lessons learned "What have you done for Iowa today?" read the message Mook had scribbled on a whiteboard in Brooklyn. Whenever someone would erase it, he would write it again. The way they ran Iowa was to be the test of whether Clinton and her team had really learned from their mistakes. And in the end, it was also a caution. They barely squeaked by Sanders, who had gotten a late start there and who did not have anything close to Clinton's organization. His huge rallies, and the fire he lit with young people in particular, stoked worries that Clinton might be in for a replay of 2008. "We said from the beginning it was going to be close, that we weren't going to take anything for granted and that we were going to have to compete for every single supporter" in Iowa, recalled Matt Paul, her state director. "All of those things turned out to be true." Still, a win was a win, and it was also a little bit of insulation against Sanders's 22-point blowout eight days later in New Hampshire. Conceding in New Hampshire, Clinton was already looking forward to South Carolina and Nevada, both of which have more racially diverse populations than the first two states. "Crack down on corporations that game the system. Stop other countries from taking advantage of us with unfair trade practices," she said, in a nod to Sanders's populist lines. "But even all that is not enough," she added. "We also have to break through the barriers of bigotry. African American parents shouldn't have to worry that their children will be harassed, humiliated, even shot because of the color of their skin. Immigrant families shouldn't have to lie awake at night listening for a knock on the door. LGBT Americans shouldn't be fired from their jobs because of who they are or who they love." It was within the minority communities that she would gain traction. Her campaign had considered Nevada's caucuses what one aide called "a coin flip," but she won by a surprisingly comfortable five points. And in South Carolina, the margin was a staggering 48 points. Averaging across all the primaries, Clinton won 78 percent of African American voters, to Sanders's 21 percent, and Latinos by 60 percent to his 39 percent. Among whites, he narrowly edged her out, 49 percent to 48 percent. The age disparity was also significant and worrisome for Clinton, who needs younger voters to rally around her this fall, as they did for Obama. Sanders won Democrats ages 18 to 29 by a 43-point margin in primary season. The two candidates ran close to even among voters in their 30s and 40s. Clinton carried older voters handily, winning the 45-to-64 age group, which made up 40 percent of the Democratic primary electorate, by an average of 28 points. But Mook's mantra remained the same: It's all about the delegates. After his loss in South Carolina, Sanders barely contested delegate-rich states in other parts of the Old South, concentrating instead on places where he could beat Clinton such as Oklahoma. That made sense in some way, in that it maintained the appearance of momentum and kept his supporters' enthusiasm going. "They were going for wins, instead of spreading out their resources to narrow the margins everywhere," a key calculation, given the Democrats' system of proportionally allocating delegates, said one top Clinton campaign aide, giving a frank assessment in return for anonymity. "It was a strategy for staying in the race. It wasn't a strategy for winning," the aide added. At one point in April, Sanders could count seven victories out of the previous eight contests. But that string of wins did little to cut into Clinton's delegate lead, thanks to the way the Democrats' proportional system works. In Wyoming, for instance, he got 56 percent of the vote, but he and Clinton came out with seven delegates each. Yet Sanders's superior financial resources required Clinton's campaign to make some calculations of its own. Clinton had to be careful, for instance, in deciding where to buy television advertising. Instead of running spots in the expensive Dallas market, for instance, the campaign bought time in Waco, which was cheaper and had the potential to yield more delegates. Macon, Ga., made more sense than Atlanta because the campaign could reach into more congressional districts while spending less. "Even though no one would have fathomed it, we ended up being the leaner, meaner campaign and were more efficient," said spokesman Brian Fallon. In accumulating delegates, Mook thought there were three big milestones: March 1, a.k.a. Super Tuesday, when there were contests in a dozen states and territories, including Texas and Georgia; March 15, another big round, including Florida, Ohio and Illinois; and a smaller trove on March 26, which would make her lead all but insurmountable. In retrospect, those contests turned out to be as decisive as she had hoped. As of last weekend, Clinton held a lead of roughly 290 pledged delegates nearly half of which could be attributed to Texas and Florida alone. But there were also miscalculations, the biggest of which was Michigan. Just days before the March 8 primary, public surveys had Clinton up by double digits; Sanders ended up winning by a point and a half. Clinton strategists do not have an explanation for what went wrong. They say their internal polls had the race much closer. But they also acknowledge that they made a mistake by concentrating their efforts in Detroit and Flint, while neglecting the rest of the state. It was a mistake they vowed not to repeat. By the beginning of May, they faced a delicate dilemma. Clinton did not want to appear dismissive of Sanders or the fact that there were more primaries to go. But with the GOP contest over, they could not afford to wait any longer to get on a general-election war footing. The campaign started quietly staffing up in the battleground states and now has state directors, as well as communications and organizing operations, in 10 of them. Looking ahead to Trump One of the things that has worried some Democrats is the question of how a by-the-book candidate like Clinton would deal with someone as wildly unconventional as Trump. When violence broke out ahead of a Trump rally in Chicago in March, forcing him to cancel, he took to television to encourage his fans to blame Sanders's supporters. Clinton remained silent for hours, and her initial response was tepid. It was not until the next day that she accused Trump of setting the tone that encouraged the melee. "If you play with matches, you're going to start a fire you can't control," she said in St. Louis. But she found her footing more quickly the night of the Pennsylvania primary. Trump, with the GOP nomination in hand, had been vowing to recalibrate his style and become more presidential. His chief strategist, Paul Manafort, had assured members of the Republican National Committee in a closed-door briefing that the real estate mogul had merely been playing a part in the primary, that Trump would begin "evolving into the part that you've been expecting. The negatives will come down, the image is going to change." That was exactly what Clinton and her team expected as well and it worried them. But so far, those fears haven't been realized. In the car on the way to the airport in Philadelphia, they heard of Trump's latest fusillade. "Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5 percent of the vote. The only thing she's got going is the woman's card," Trump said. "And the beautiful thing is, women don't like her. Look how well I did with women tonight." On the short flight to Teterboro, N.J., they deliberated what to do. Should she express outrage? Should she dispute the fairness of what he had said? As it happened, the campaign's digital staff had already prepared a video of one of Clinton's often-used lines, which she had repeated that night: "If fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in." "That," communications director Jennifer Palmieri told the others on the plane, "is our only response." In retrospect, Palmieri said, "that was the night he became the Republican nominee. It was important to freeze that moment in time." The next two days saw the biggest online fundraising of the entire campaign. In San Diego last week, Clinton eviscerated Trump in a speech billed as a foreign policy address. Her technique was to use Trump's own words to make the case against him. Her allies cheered. "It put a lot of Democratic bed-wetting on pause," said one campaign official. "Now they can visualize how we will take the fight to him." Campaign officials said they are already planning a similar speech focused on the economy. But they also insist that they cannot count on the Republican nominee to be his own undoing. "We can't go into it thinking our opponent will excite our base. We have to give people a reason to vote for us, too," Marshall said. "We have an opportunity to go out there and earn it." Clinton has already made history by locking up the nomination. And she has shown that she can learn from her own mistakes. Now comes the biggest chance of all, and this time, there will be no margin for error. Anne Gearan in New York, Abby Phillip in Los Angeles and Scott Clement in Washington contributed to this report. | 5 | 98,625 | news |
The Mercedes Benz G350 is known for its off-road prowess, and the newly updated G350d Professional model adds to the off-road functionality of this trail conquering SUV. This diesel-powered version Professional version packs everything we love in a capable off-road machine. Did we mention it has a diesel engine? It's powered by a V-6 turbodiesel that's pumping out 245 hp at 3600 rpm and 442 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm, with a top speed of a 160 km/h (99 mph), which is plenty of power to haul this SUV up step mountains with a load of camping gear. Mercedes has even improved the fuel economy of this diesel to an impressive 23.8 mpg a 15.4 percent improvement over the previous model, which means drivers can explore even further without having to haul extra fuel. The diesel engine wasn't the only thing that received attention; the off-road capability was improved too. With almost a 1/2-inch more of ground clearance and a set of 265/70R16 all-terrain tires, the G350d can handle even harsher terrain. With a Fording depth of more than 23 inches, water crossings aren't a problem, and a breakover angle of 24 degrees, an approach angle of 36 degrees, and a departure angle of 39 degrees mean obstacle aren't a problem. With plenty of ground clearance, three electronically selectable locking differentials and diesel power, getting this SUV stuck should be nearly impossible. The Professional Off-Road package was designed with the owner that spends most of their day off the pavement. A protective grille for the front headlights and signal indicators give you peace of mind early morning and late-night journeys. A cargo area with a wood base gives you a place to store dirty equipment without ruining the carpet, with a payload capacity of more than 1,200 pounds. A roof rack adds even more storage and a ladder means easy accessibility. Running boards making getting in and out a breeze, and add additional tie-down points for the roof rack. The interior of the G 350 d is comfortable yet functional, adjustable seating makes for a comfortable and ergonomic driving position for daily off-road use. The carpet has been removed and a bed-liner like surface as been added with drain holes for easy cleanup. Not to worry, though, if you still want the luxury Mercedes interior -- you can add that for a charge, of course. With a starting price of $89,000, this capability and luxury wont come cheap, but that's not the bad news. So far there hasn't been word of the G350d Professional coming stateside. If you're still interested in this SUV, visit mercedes-benz.com. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook | 9 | 98,626 | autos |
ISEO, Italy (AP) It's taken nearly 2,000 years, but regular folks will soon get to feel what it is like to walk on water thanks to a project by the artist Christo, who may or may not have had his namesake in mind when envisioning his latest project: "The Floating Piers. | 8 | 98,627 | video |
A New York State Police investigator says that Angelika Graswald was not a suspect in the disappearance of her fiancé during a kayaking trip on the Hudson River last year until she allegedly told an investigator that she removed a small plug on the top of his kayak and "sabotaged" his paddle, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal and The Times-Herald Record . "I had no idea she was going to confess" to anything, Aniello Moscato testified Tuesday during a pretrial hearing in an Orange County, New York court, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. The hearing is to determine if statements Graswald made to investigators can be admitted at trial. Vincent Viafore, 46, drowned on April 19, 2015 in the Hudson River after his kayak capsized in rough seas and windy conditions. He and Graswald were kayaking back to the mainland from an afternoon on on island in the Hudson called Bannerman's Island. Graswald, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Viafore, whose body was recovered on May 23, 2015. Prosecutors have said that Graswald was the primary beneficiary on Viafore's two life insurance policies, and stood to gain $250,000 if he died. Graswald's attorney, Richard Portale, has said that Viafore, who was not wearing a life vest, died accidentally when his kayak capsized and he fell into the frigid water. Kayaking and hypothermia experts have told PEOPLE that it was a dangerous day to be out on 46-degree waters without a life jacket or wet suit, and that the kayaks Viafore and Graswald used were not suited to handle the turbulent Hudson. In the days after Viafore disappeared, state police investigators worked closely with Graswald, who even invited them to a gathering at a nightclub to honor Viafore, Moscato testified during questioning by Portale, according to reports. "For nine or 10 days we were all on an emotional rollercoaster," Moscato said, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. "I kind of felt some of the pain she was experiencing, as well as the Viafore family ... and she was being treated like a grieving widow." On April 29, 2015, Graswald met investigators on Bannerman's Island. She had gone there to lay a wreath for Viafore, while the police were there to look for evidence. Portale asked if Moscato recalled telling Graswald that "what you're holding inside of you is burning a hole in you" to which he replied "Something like that," according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. Graswald started opening up about "relationship trouble" between her and Viafore once police told her they "thought something was bothering her," according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. While she was speaking to another investigator alone on the island that day, Graswald then allegedly confessed to tampering with Viafore's kayak and a ring on his paddle. Graswald was acting "happy-go-lucky" after this alleged confession not like someone who just confessed to murder, Moscato testified, according to reports. As Graswald headed off the island with police in their boat to state police barracks, she joked with them about whether they were worried she'd jump out, and she tossed a flower in the water in Viafore's memory, Moscato testified, according to The Times-Herald Record. "We watched the flower sail away into the Hudson," he said. Testimony resumes Thursday. | 4 | 98,628 | lifestyle |
Spain should raise their heads after losing their warmup match to Georgia and look ahead to the Euro 2016 challenge, del Bosque says | 1 | 98,629 | sports |
A POLYAMOROUS pastor with two 'sister wives' has become a father for the twelfth time - after his 20-year-old 'bride' gave birth to a baby girl. Reba Miller, who 'married' Thom Miller, with his 44-year-old wife Belinda's permission, gave birth to her first child, Catherine Angelica, last month. Videographer / director: Ruaridh Connellan Producer: Emma Pearson, Nick Johnson Editor: Sonia Estal | 5 | 98,630 | news |
A survey by the Pew Research Center suggests that support for the European Union has fallen in several EU states. In Germany, the EU's popularity has fallen eight points to 50 percent in just a year. The Pew survey revealed that 48 percent of British voters had an unfavorable opinion about the EU, compared to 44 percent who were in favor, a similar figure to recent national opinion polls. But the research went further than simply polling the UK public, ahead of their referendum on EU membership on June the 23. It revealed that voters elsewhere in the 28-member bloc are also losing faith in the European project. The data revealed a growing skepticism in France, with support for the EU falling 17 percent in a year to 38 percent. Only Greece, which has suffered deep austerity imposed by Brussels, viewed the EU more negatively that the French. Favorability ratings also fell by 16 points in Spain to 47 percent and by eight points in Germany to 50 percent. Public support for the EU was strongest in Poland and Hungary, countries which ironically have two of the most EU-skeptical governments in the entire bloc. Around 72 percent of Poles and 61 percent of Hungarians view the EU favorably, according to the Pew data. Economy, migration singled out The pollsters interviewed voters in 10 EU states, including Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Young voters and those who support left-wing parties are generally more favorable towards the European Union than the elderly or right-wing populists. The EU's handling of the migrant crisis was viewed negatively by some 94 percent of Greeks, 88 percent of Swedes, 77 percent of Italians and 75 percent of Spaniards. At 92 percent, Greeks were also the most disapproving of the EU's handling of the economy, followed by the Italians at 68 percent and French at 66 percent. But, despite a mounting tide of euroskepticism, most voters in Europe would regret seeing Britain leave. Majorities in the other nine countries - including 89 percent of Swedes - oppose Brexit. | 5 | 98,631 | news |
Manny Machado was not happy about being hit by a pitch in the back by Yordano Ventura during Tuesday's Orioles-Royals game, and he responded by charging the mound and getting physical. For some background, Ventura threw inside on Machado during the Orioles third baseman's at-bat in the second. After flying out that at-bat, Machado stared down Ventura and the two exchanged words. Then on the first pitch of Machado's at-bat in the fifth, Ventura nailed him with a 99-mph fastball. Machado did not hesitate in rushing the mound and throwing a punch: Machado charging the mound on Ventura pic.twitter.com/zE1jmaBgxV Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) June 8, 2016 Benches cleared after Machado charged the mound, but only Machado and Ventura were ejected. It was Machado's fourth career ejection, and Ventura's third. Machado's machismo seemed to motivate the O's, as they went back-to-back on home runs afterwards. This sort of thing is nothing new for Ventura, who has had beef with Mike Trout , gotten into a fight with Brett Lawrie , and started a brawl with the White Sox in the past . You can expect suspensions to come as a result of the brawl. | 1 | 98,632 | sports |
Golf is about as hard as it gets, but it's even harder when a bird tries to destroy your golf ball. Check out this ridiculous scene. | 1 | 98,633 | sports |
Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) has hired boutique investment bank Black Stone IP LLC to sell about 3,000 of the internet company's patents, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The company has sent letters to a number of potential buyers for the patents, which date back to when the company was founded in 1996 and also include its original search technology, the report said. The deadline for bids for the patents has been set for mid-June by Yahoo, according to the Wall Street Journal. In March, Yahoo said it would explore the sale of $1 billion to $3 billion of patents, property and "non-core assets". Yahoo and Black Stone IP were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Diane Craft) | 3 | 98,634 | finance |
PITTSBURGH (AP) Steven Matz knew very quickly that it wasn't going to be his day. BOX SCORE: PIRATES 3, METS 1 The Mets left-hander had his seven-game winning streak snapped as Jon Niese pitched seven scoreless innings against and Josh Harrison had three hits as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat New York 3-1 on Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader. Matz (7-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings while losing for the first time since his season debut April 11 against the Miami Marlins. He struck out eight and walked two while losing on the road for the first time in nine career starts after compiling a 6-0 record. ''He didn't command his fastball and you've got to command your fastball to make it work,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''He was up in the zone, up in the zone. He couldn't get the fastball down.'' Matz sounded like someone fortunate that he didn't give more runs. ''I had nothing out there,'' he said. ''I was scuffling from the inning on. I tried to go as long as I could but to go five innings on a day of a doubleheader really disappoints me. ''It was one of those days. I don't know why it just happens in baseball sometimes.'' Niese (6-2) gave up four hits, walked two and struck out two in helping the Pirates win for the just the second time in seven games. The lefty is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last five starts. He was drafted by the Mets in 2005 and spent his entire career in the organization, including eight seasons in the major leagues, before being traded to the Pirates on Dec. 9 for Neil Walker. ''It was a little weird because It's the only organization I knew,'' Niese said. ''All those guys are great over there. I got along with all of them. I definitely miss them but I'm enjoying my time here, too. I had a good game plan going on. I tried to live at the bottom of the strike zone.'' It continued a string of five starts in which Niese has allowed two runs or less. Walker was 1 for 4 in his first time facing the Pirates for the Pittsburgh-area native. He was their first-round draft pick in 2004, made his major league debut in 2009 and spent the last six seasons as the starting second baseman. The doubleheader was the result of Monday night's scheduled game being rained out. Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 18th save in 19 chances. Harrison tripled to lead off the bottom of the first inning and scored the game's first run on David Freese's single. Harrison then singled, stole second and came home on Andrew McCutchen's single in the fifth to make it 2-0. The Pirates' Jordy Mercer hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his second of the season and first at PNC Park since Aug. 31, 2014. McCutchen, Freese and Jung Ho Kang each had two of the Pirates' 10 hits. Curtis Granderson accounted for the Mets' run with a leadoff homer in the eighth, his 10th, off Neftali Feliz. Granderson had been 2-for-53 against the Pirates since signing as a free agent with the Mets prior to the 2014 season. The Mets have lost six of nine, scoring a total of just 22 runs. A total of 14 of their 21 outs against Niese were on ground balls. ''The thing about Jon Niese is that he's going to get his share of ground balls,'' Collins said. ''If you don't go up there with a good approach and try to pull him, he's going to get a lot of easy outs.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Mets: CF Yoenis Cespedes returned to the lineup and went 0 for 3 with a walk after sitting out Saturday at Miami and being limited to a pinch-hitting appearance Sunday against the Marlins. Pirates: LF Starling Marte was removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning because of a bruised left ankle. C Francisco Cervelli (bruised right foot) was back in the lineup after missing three straight games and Freese (bruised right hand) started at first base after sitting out four games in a row . RHP Ryan Vogelsong rejoined the team a week after undergoing surgery to repair facial fractures sustained May 23 when hit by a pitch by Colorado's Jordan Lyles. THE 26TH MEN The Mets recalled INF Eric Campbell from Triple-A Norfolk and the Pirates recalled RHP Wilfredo Boscan from Triple-A Indianapolis as both teams took advantage of the rule in which an extra player can be added to the roster for a doubleheader. Both players were only allowed to be active for the second game because the doubleheader was scheduled with less than 48 hours' notice. UP NEXT Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.62 ERA) will start the second game. He is winless in his last six starts despite allowing three earned runs or fewer five times. Pirates: RHP Juan Nicasio (4-4, 4.75) is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last five starts. | 1 | 98,635 | sports |
Leading up to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday, news broke that San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl would miss out for the second consecutive game (after Monday's game, Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer reported that Hertl's status will be day-to-day). And the chatter on whether Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby actually did cheat on winning those faceoffs over Logan Couture and others would finally die down. But before the drama could unfold on the ice, Metallica was in the building and that's all it mattered to the fans inside SAP Center before Monday's game. The San Francisco Bay Area-based Rock & Roll Hall of Fame heavy metal band, who has stacked up everything from records to ticket sales to a massive hardcore fan club and of course their names in Cleveland, were invited back to the 'Shark Tank' to help pump up the fans and team, who needed as much hype as possible just to get even in the series. But while NBC was still airing commercials, CBC - in conjunction with Rogers Media's "Hockey Night in Canada" - showed the pre-game intros in its entirety LIVE. Waiting by the locker room doors and ready to open them for the team to come out onto the ice was drummer Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo. One by one, players pounded fists with both members as they came out for the start of Game 4. NBC came back on a minute later to show just a snippet of what their audience here in the U.S. missed out before cutting back to their LIVE feed inside the arena as the duo of vocalist / rhythm guitarist James Hetfield and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett performed the Star-Spangled Banner. And man, Hetfield and Hammett nailed it and got the crowd to its feet with pictures and video taken from their smartphones. That's right...video recording their performance on their smartphones which stunned HNIC game analyst Glenn Healy, who - while on the air - shared his criticism to his entire Canadian audience (including a portion of the U.S. - me included) by what he saw. For those without sound cards in your computer especially if you are in a library watching this, follow along with what he said (transcript below): "Well like no other building in the National Hockey League, I thought - Game 3 - this building had energy. Game 4? No, it wipes it right out of the park. Lots of energy from the crowd, and a national anthem like I have never seen - almost to a man or a woman - everybody holding phones to video the national anthem. No one videotapes the national anthem. Certainly not 20,000 (fans). And nothing says D-Day like a salute to Metallica, I guess. But this building is alive." For those wondering why he mentioned D-Day was that Monday was the 72nd anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy. But in case you forgot, Glenn, its 2016 and as long as the fans are standing up to the anthem, let them. Once in a lifetime moments like these are meant to 'record' on their phones just so they could cherish and remember being there. But it does remind people of what happened when Metallica went after the now-defunct online music service, Napster (which was bought out by Rhapsody in 2011), when many fans were downloading the band's songs off the internet music service without getting charged. I highly doubt Metallica will seem to care today even if fans do use their smartphones to record them perform, especially on Monday afternoon. Or maybe Lars Ulrich just found a new legal spokesman for the band? Lorenzo Z. Villalobos Jr. covers college hockey and other general hockey content for the Seattle Sin Bin, and is the play-by-play internet audio voice of University of Washington Huskies hockey club. | 1 | 98,636 | sports |
Tomorrow's front page: I'M WITH RACIST! Ryan still supports Trump, "definition of racist" https://t.co/0C1JIaQxwN pic.twitter.com/AxlnLYWcv2 New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 7, 2016 The New York Daily News isn't mincing words with Wednesday's cover. The message: Paul Ryan and Donald Trump are in this together. "I'm with racist!" the cover says, with a split-screen photograph of the House speaker pointing and looking at a smirking Trump. The cover was tweeted out Tuesday night by the Daily News . The article begins : "Donald Trump is a racist, but he's our racist, the Republican speaker of the House said." On Tuesday, Ryan condemned Trump's comments but said he would still support him because he was better than Clinton. "I disavow these comments," Ryan said. "Claiming a person can't do the job because of their race is sort of like the textbook definition of a racist comment. I think that should be absolutely disavowed. It's absolutely unacceptable." | 5 | 98,637 | news |
All out brawl Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles and Yordano Ventura #30 of the Kansas City Royals fight in the fifth inning during a MLB baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday in Baltimore, Maryland. Machado and Ventura were ejected from the game. Baltimore Orioles won 9-1. Horsing around Assistant Trainor Julie Clark handles Exaggerator after a training session prior to the 148th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on Tuesday in Elmont, New York. Wipeout Kirk Flintoff of Australia wipes out as he competes during the Red Bull Cape Fear surfing event at Cape Solander, Kamay Botany Bay National Park on Tuesday in Sydney, Australia. Ghost buster New York Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran chases a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Kole Calhoun for a two-run home run as fan attempt to catch it during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday in New York. US rolls over Costa Rica United States' Bobby Wood, left, battles Costa Rica's Fancisco Calvo during a Copa America Centenario group A soccer match at Soldier Field on Tuesday in Chicago. The U.S. won 4-0 Contador in yellow Race leader Alberto Contador rides in the third stage of the 68th edition of the Dauphine Criterium cycling race, between Creches-sur-Saone and Chalmazel-Jeansagnière on Tuesday in Chalmazel-Jeansagniere. Ready for the long haul New Zealand's Brandon Hartley in his Porsche 919 Hybrid N°1, France's Benoit Treluyer in his Audi R18 Hybrid n°7, take part in a free practice session of the 84th Le Mans 24 hours endurance race, on Tuesday in Le Mans, western France. Sixty cars with 180 drivers will participate on June 18 and 19 in the Le Mans 24-hours endurance race. Tempers flare A fight breaks out between the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals after Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura hit the Orioles' Manny Machado with a pitch during the fifth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday in Baltimore. The Orioles won 9-1. I got it Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina and Taylor Fritz of USA lose a point in their loss against Florian Mayer of Germany and Philip Oswald of Austria at the Mercedes Cup on Tuesday in Stuttgart, Germany. Eyes on the prize New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, winds up for a pass during an NFL football practice Tuesday, in Foxborough, Mass. Taking the scenic route Racers ride kayaks during the 20th Corsica Raid race in Porto on Tuesday on the French island of Corsica. One hundred and twenty-one competitors from 12 countries will participate from June 4 until June 8 at the 20th edition of the Corsica Raid Aventure, one of the toughest of the combined extreme sport events in the world, announced on June 1 its organizers. Cruz in control Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz watches his two-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday in Seattle. The Mariners won 7-1. Officer Pechstein Speed skater and police officer Claudia Pechstein leaves after judgement at the Federal court of justice in Karlsruhe, southern Germany, on Tuesday. The German Federal Court of Justice refused the skater the right to seek damages from the International Federation (ISU), which had suspended the skater two years for doping. Walk-off homer Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with teammates after hitting the game-winning home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning of the game at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds defeated the Cardinals 7-6. Victory is sweet Movistar's Spanish rider Jesus Herrada (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the third stage of the 68th edition of the Dauphine Criterium cycling race, between Creches-sur-Saone and Chalmazel-Jeansagnière on Tuesday in Chalmazel-Jeansagniere. Showing their colors United States fans cheer before a Copa America Centenario group A soccer match against Costa Rica at Soldier Field in Chicago, Tuesday. Safely in New York Yankees' Brett Gardner (11) slides past Los Angeles Angels catcher Carlos Perez to score on an Alex Rodriguez single as umpire Dan Bellino watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game on Tuesday in New York. The Yankees won 6-3. Long reach LSU outfielder Antoine Duplantis (20) dives to grab a line drive out by Rice's Ford Proctor in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball regional tournament in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday. Tuneup for Wimbledon Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki competes during the first round at the Aegon Women's Open at the Nottingham Tennis Centre in Nottingham, England on Tuesday. Visualize this Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) and quarterback Cody Kessler (5) during NFL football mini camp at the practice facility Tuesday in Berea, Ohio. Big hitter Baseball great Ken Griffey Jr. watches a shot during the pro-am prior to the start of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at the Sahalee Country Club on Tuesday in Sammamish, Washington. Leaders of the pack The pack rides during the third stage of the 68th edition of the Dauphine Criterium cycling race, between Creches-sur-Saone and Chalmazel-Jeansagnière on Tuesday in Chalmazel-Jeansagniere. Safe at second LSU's Jake Fraley reaches second base as Rice infielder Grayson Lewis (22) reaches for the ball on a throwing error, advancing Fraley to third, in the eighth inning in an NCAA college baseball tournament regional game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday. LSU won 5-2 to advance to the Super Regionals. Celebration Colombian style Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez (10) celebrates his goal scored against Paraguay during the first half in the group play stage of the 2016 Copa America Centenario. on Tuesday at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. Colombia won 2-1. Crazy fan A football fan is taken out from the field during the Copa America Centenario football match Paraguay vs Colombia on Tuesday in Pasadena, California . | 1 | 98,638 | sports |
CHICAGO The fans stood and cheered when Clint Dempsey headed off the field in the second half, and the forward responded with his own round of applause. Brad Guzan held his arms in the air after the final seconds of his happy homecoming. After days of questions and criticism, it was a couple of perfect pictures for the United States. Dempsey had a goal and two assists, and the U.S. rebounded from its opening loss in Copa America with a convincing 4-0 victory over Costa Rica on Tuesday night. "Goals change games, and the guys up front took care of that," said Guzan, who only had to make one save in his 16th international shutout. Dempsey, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood scored in the first half and substitute Graham Zusi added another goal in the 87th minute as the U.S. moved into prime position to grab one of two spots in the knockout round coming out of Group A in South America's championship. A victory against Paraguay on Saturday night in Philadelphia and the Americans are through to the next stage. It was quite a response to days of questions after the U.S. allowed a goal off a corner kick and committed a costly hand ball in a 2-0 loss to Colombia on Friday night. Another loss against Costa Rica and the U.S. would have been eliminated on the fifth day of the tournament. "I see a team progressing. I see a team that badly wants to prove itself with these caliber teams in the Copa America," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "It was a very, very encouraging performance by us against Colombia. Obviously, the result, especially here in the U.S., that's all that matters to a lot of people. ... The team, they know where they stand." Costa Rica, which played a scoreless tie against Paraguay in its Copa opener on Saturday in Florida, looked sluggish for long stretches of the first half and was unable to recover. It played without key defender Kendall Waston after he got a red card in the previous game. The loss to Colombia ramped up criticism of Klinsmann, who said last month the Copa goal for the Americans was the semifinals. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati told a group of reporters before the match that recent results for the men's team "haven't been what we would have hoped for, especially in the official competitions." But Klinsmann and his players insisted they felt pretty good in the team's performance on Friday night in Northern California, and the coach doubled down on the positive vibe by sending out the same starters against defensive-minded Costa Rica. And it worked -- in a big way. Moments after DeAndre Yedlin's poor clearing attempt almost set up an early goal for Costa Rica's Joel Campbell, the Americans started to find their way. Wood was pushed in the back by Cristian Gamboa when he attempted to go after a cross into the box, drawing a penalty kick despite a series of protests in front of referee Roddy Zambrano. Dempsey then drove it past Patrick Pemberton on the goaltender's left side for a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. It was Dempsey's 50th international goal. He also scored his first at the home of the NFL's Chicago Bears on May 28, 2005, against England. "You know where you kind of are in terms of the goals you've scored for the team," Dempsey said. "Yeah, it's good to be part of that club of getting to 50 goals. But the most important thing is we got the win tonight." The United States seemed to get stronger as the first half went along, and an alignment change to four midfielders helped fuel another flourish in the final minutes. Jones stole the ball at midfield and passed to Dempsey, who carried it deep into the Costa Rica side. The forward then nudged it back over to Jones, who shot it on the ground past a diving Pemberton in the 37th minute. With Costa Rica looking a little ragged, the U.S. kept up the attack. Dempsey passed to Wood in the middle, and he turned away from defender Oscar Duarte before beating Pemberton on the ground for a 3-0 lead in the 42nd minute -- delighting the crowd of 39,642 that filled most of the lower bowls on a cool, cloudy night in Chicago, but left wide swaths of empty seats in parts of the stadium. Guzan, playing near his hometown of Homer Glen, Illinois, clapped as he headed off the field after the halftime whistle, and Costa Rica barely challenged in the second half. Midfielder Bryan Ruiz sent a header off the left post in the 67th minute on the Ticos' best opportunity of the night. "I think it was, overall, a very, very pleasant performance," Klinsmann said. "It confirms the spirit of the group. The spirit is excellent. They're there for each other. The whole bench is jumping up and down. Everybody wants the other one to do well. It's a good group of guys we have together." | 1 | 98,639 | sports |
Researchers used food as a reward to train the fish to be able to distinguish between human faces. | 5 | 98,640 | news |
Oklahoma City Thunder part-owner Aubrey McClendon's death has been ruled a vehicular accident, Oklahoma City police announced Tuesday. McClendon died in March in a one-car crash. His car struck a bridge and then burned completely. After his death, police said there was "no indication McClendon tried to stop his car from wrecking." Before his death, McClendon was indicted on conspiracy charges. He was alleged of conspiring to suppress oil and gas prices while serving as CEO of Chesapeake Energy, the company that owns the naming rights to the Thunder's arena. McClendon was an original member of the ownership group that bought the franchise and moved it from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. | 1 | 98,641 | sports |
The Pirates beat the Mets 3-1 in Game 1 of a doubleheader Tuesday behind seven scoreless innings from former Met Jonathan Niese. | 1 | 98,642 | sports |
Donald Trump on Tuesday used his first big speech since Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee to take sharp aim at his November opponent. "The Clintons have turned the policies of personal enrichment into an art form for themselves," Trump said at a victory rally at the golf club bearing his name in Briarwood Manor, N.Y., after racking up wins in the New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico primaries. Election 2016: live results from the June 7 primaries "Hillary Clinton turned the State Department into her own private hedge fund," he added. "Why would politicians want to change a system that keeps them in power?" "We can't fix a rigged system by relying on the very people who rigged it," Trump said, before promising "a major speech probably next Monday" in which he said he would build on a list of criticisms of his general election rival. Trump's speech was his first since Clinton was minted her party's presumptive nominee. The former secretary of state, like Trump, also cruised to a win in the New Jersey primary. Results were expected later in the evening in the Republican primaries in Montana and California. In his speech Trump in the midst of a challenging week during which he's faced blistering criticism from members of both parties regarding his comments about the "Mexican heritage" of the federal judge presiding over a case over Trump University said he understood "the responsibility of carrying the mantle and I will never ever let you down." "We're only getting started and it's going to be beautiful," he said. But the mogul, flanked by wife Melania and daughter Ivanka and using a teleprompter, also hinted at a handful of lines and strategies he could use during the general election race. "To those who voted for someone else in either party, I will work very hard to earn your support," he said adding, specifically to "Bernie supporters" that his campaign "welcomes you with open arms." "Some people say I'm too much of a fighter. My preference is always peace, however," he added. "I'm going to be your champion. I'm going to be America's champion" | 5 | 98,643 | news |
Mike Leach has some pretty strong feelings about Donald Trump. After befriending him in 2004, the Washington State head football coach keeps a framed, autographed picture of Trump on the wall in his office in Pullman, Wash. He calls him a "world-class problem solver "and recently endorsed him for U.S. president despite the risks he faces because of it, including the possibility of alienating those who might be offended by the controversial Republican candidate from New York. "I was vouching for a friend who I think is good for our country," Leach told USA TODAY Sports. "This is my opinion, not Washington State's opinion. But there's a point that we've got to get to in this country where people are willing to exchange ideas and discuss ideas. Right now, there's this contest on who can be offended and how fast. Everybody is offended by everything. I'm offended by people who get offended by everything." It's a touchy situation for a college head coach like Leach, a state university employee who gave a speech on Trump's behalf last month in Spokane, Wash. Like other popular public figures with large followings, college football and basketball coaches can help build support for candidates, Democrat or Republican. But few are willing to make a public political stand because there's just too much to lose. Not only do university policies limit the political activity of employees, but even when high-profile college coaches are allowed to speak their minds about political issues, they risk significant blowback that could blister them and their employers as a result. It happened in 1988, after Penn State football coach Joe Paterno gave a speech at the Republican National Convention. It also happened in 1992, after Colorado football coach Bill McCartney held a news conference on campus explaining his involvement with a political group against gay rights. Coaches know they can't appease everybody, said Todd Berry, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. They also know they've got a pulpit and have to be careful how they use it. Coaches are "obviously dealing with a broad base of individuals who are supporters of a university or athletic program," Berry said. "Your desire is not to alienate one of those groups." In Leach's case, some WSU followers on social media expressed disappointment about his support for Trump and wondered if it would hurt recruiting. WSU professor Craig Hemmens also criticized Leach for misusing his celebrity as the Cougars coach, writing in the Spokane newspaper that it was a "sad day to be a Coug." Leach responds by challenging those who disagree with him to declare their own preferred candidate and then have a civil debate about which is better. He says his football players are "pretty fired up, even the ones that I'm sure will vote for (Democratic candidates) Bernie (Sanders) or Hillary (Clinton)." "They're interested and think it's neat that I know him," Leach said. Leach also said he doesn't think it will hurt recruiting. "His picture has been in my office since I got here," said Leach, who has coached four seasons at WSU, including last year's 9-4 team. "There's not a recruit in our program who hasn't walked past that picture. It's on the wall. Maybe it's helped." Leach was invited to speak at the Trump rally in Spokane by Don Benton, the state director of the Trump campaign in Washington. Benton, a Republican state senator, wanted to reach voters who otherwise might not pay as much attention. He said former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight had a similar effect when he spoke at a Trump rally in Indiana. "It's very important to have a way to speak to people who aren't as engaged politically but still have a deep love for their country and for what's right and what needs to be done to win globally," Benton told USA TODAY Sports. "I think sports is another avenue of getting that message out to those people who won't sit and listen to a political speech for an hour." For Benton, it helped that Leach knows Trump personally after reading one of his books and then calling his office one day in 2004. Trump since has endorsed two of Leach's books, and the two occasionally have kept in contact by phone or in person. At the rally, Leach said the past 10 years of politics haven't worked for America. "America needs different results," Leach told the crowd. "We need to make America great again." Trump returned the love in Spokane, saying Leach is a "great coach, great guy" and "I love him." "When people like me, I like them," Trump said. Trump is expected to face Clinton or Sanders in the general election in November, and Benton hopes Leach will help Trump win Washington for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1984. By using his name to support the cause, Leach is taking a path worn by a different friend of his Barry Switzer, the legendary former football coach at the University of Oklahoma. In 2002, Switzer delivered a textbook example on just how much influence a popular coach can have on a local election. Unlike Leach, Switzer was retired and out of coaching when he campaigned for Brad Henry, a state senator and Democrat. Henry successfully ran for governor of Oklahoma that year, beating Republican Steve Largent, a former NFL player. A survey later showed that 16% of those who voted for Henry said they were influenced by Switzer. "What Barry Switzer gave to a state senator from a small town outside of Oklahoma City was instant credibility," former Oklahoma Democratic party CEO Pat Hall told USA TODAY Sports. "Nobody in Oklahoma knew who Brad Henry was." At Texas A&M, the employment contract for football coach Kevin Sumlin says that Sumlin "will not publicly endorse any political figure or cause." This has been a university policy for A&M employees since 2008. "The rationale is that coaches are state employees, and they cannot be seen as attempting to influence, elections or political donations," said Jason Cook, senior associate athletics director at A&M. Similarly, various laws restrict the political activity of employees at taxpayer-funded institutions, which are supposed to serve the larger population, not any particular party or candidate. Such laws generally prohibit campaigning by state employees while on duty. In the private sector, partisanship can be risky for business, too, simply because it can turn off a wide swath of the market. Hall cites another example from 1994, when he hoped Switzer would help the gubernatorial campaign of Jack Mildren, a former Sooners quarterback. It didn't happen, Hall said, because Switzer was employed as head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The team "wouldn't allow him to, and it hurt our campaign," Hall said. Mildren, a Democrat, lost the election to Republican Frank Keating. Several former coaches have entered the political fray recently, including former NFL coach Mike Ditka and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, both of whom endorsed Trump. Active coaches are playing it safer. In March, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer became one of the few active college coaches to endorse a presidential candidate when he vouched for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who since has dropped from the race. But the decision wasn't quite as controversial as Leach's. "If Urban likes his boss, and it sounds like he does, why wouldn't he endorse him?" Leach quipped, referring to Kasich. At Washington State, Leach talked to his athletic director about his desire to endorse Trump before he did so. The school later issued a statement that said it values having a diversity of opinion and supports the right of faculty and staff to "express their views in their personal capacities on any issue." The school also said that the "opinions of any one employee … do not in any way speak for the institution." To those who say he misused his celebrity as the school's coach, Leach says being in a high-profile position "doesn't mean you relinquish your opinion." It's the same case made by Paterno nearly 30 years earlier. In 1988, the Penn State coach gave a rousing speech in New Orleans on behalf of Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush, who successfully ran for president that year against Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis. Paterno had a big stage that night speaking to a televised audience from the Republican National Convention. Supporters behind him waved signs that said, "Joe-Pa for Bush." "I'll be damned if I'll sit still while people who can't carry George Bush's shoes ridicule him," Paterno said from the convention floor. "After a lifetime of being around great competitors, I know a winner, and I know a leader." His comments drew cheers from the partisan crowd but later got a colder reception back home. Robert Casey, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, said the speech was "probably not a good thing for the university." The Associated Press also quoted a Penn State student government president saying, "It's wrong for an academic institution to actually involve itself in partisan politics." It got so bad for Paterno that Bush even called him and said, "I hope I didn't get you into a mess up there," the coach said then. He responded to the criticism by saying, "Being a football coach doesn't make me a non-citizen." He's right, but the resulting rancor is much noisier than it is for the average voter. Public school head coaches receive compensation from institutions funded by taxpayers, intensifying the controversy when they use their influence to take political positions. In 1992, McCartney wore a University of Colorado sweater in a university building when he called homosexuality "an abomination of almighty God," stoking protests and tension on campus. The school president reprimanded him for improperly using such a platform to espouse his personal views. McCartney apologized about those comments in 2010. In the current campaign, Trump's candidacy also has drawn protests because of his controversial statements on Muslims, Mexican immigrants and women. "Any candidate who's under siege like they all are in a campaign, I think a lot of that is embellished and overblown but it's not possible to agree with everything anybody says," Leach said when asked about Trump's controversies. "I clearly support his overall vision and direction for the country." Leach, 55, said that in order to find the "best course for our country," everybody needs to "define their own opinion, not be afraid to express them and don't step on anybody else's." He notes that "all candidates are divisive" and says he respects those who disagree but is endorsing Trump because of his relationship with him and his appeal as an anti-establishment candidate. People "want something different," said Leach, who is known as a nonconformist disrupter in college football, much like Trump is in politics. "Is something different going to be better? I don't know, but it's worth a try. … We have just kind of stagnantly plodded along (as a nation), not getting much accomplished." He wishes more people would feel free to speak out, including coaches no matter their political viewpoint. "I think people in general are afraid to take a position on things, and I think it's sad that our country drifted in that direction," Leach said. "Some of that started with political correctness. You know, nobody is allowed to say anything unless everybody agrees on it, and we have to guess whether or not they're going to agree on it before we ever say it. That's ridiculous. That's not the country we signed on for and that's not why not we say the Pledge of Allegiance and have the First Amendment." Contributing: Steve Berkowitz Follow sports reporter Brent Schrotenboer on Twitter @Schrotenboer . E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com | 1 | 98,644 | sports |
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following mock drafts come from a pair of Red Line Report scouting sources. Note that the mock drafts have a number of significant differences from Red Line's own value board. The purpose of Red Line Report is to be a pure scouting service, and ultimately rank prospects in the order we would select the available players if we lived in a vacuum where "needs" and other outside forces never entered the equation. The purpose of mock drafts, on the other hand, is vastly different. These mock drafts represent a fun exercise in scenarios that we think might actually play out on draft day.) The 2016 NHL Draft takes place June 24-25 in Buffalo. 1. Toronto Auston Matthews . Leafs kick-start their rebuild with a franchise center-in-waiting who got valuable pro experience in Switzerland with Zurich. 2. Winnipeg Patrik Laine . The Jets are the first winners of "Draft Lotto Jackpot" and move up four spots under the new rules to snag this beast of a winger. The NHL needs finishers and Laine could be a future Rocket Richard Trophy winner. 3. Columbus Jesse Puljujärvi . The Blue Jackets consider taking Matthew Tkachuk here, but in the end, Puljujarvi's size and ability make him the best player available for Jarmo Kekalainen and Co. 4. Edmonton Matthew Tkachuk . The Oilers continue to stockpile talent. Keith's kid will do some major damage with Connor McDavid and it won't take long. Below the dots, there aren't any bigger threats in this class than this power winger. 5. Vancouver Pierre-Luc Dubois . The Canucks have a lot of holes, but this is one decision general manager Jim Benning won't have trouble making, adding a skilled, versatile and very smart player who can play in the middle or on the wing. 6. Calgary Tyson Jost . He was dominant at the U-18 tourney and zooms up the board to become another top forward for the Flames. He did a nice job of setting aside any concerns about his British Columbia Hockey League pedigree with that showing in Grand Forks. 7. Arizona Olli Juolevi . First defenseman off the boards is what the Desert Dogs need, and he boosted his stock at the Memorial Cup by giving scouts an extended look at his skating and hockey sense. 8. Buffalo Alex Nylander . Buffalo gets a skilled offensive complement to Jack Eichel and an interesting sibling rivalry in the Atlantic Division is born. 9. Montreal Jake Bean . He could have gone as early as No. 6 to his hometown Flames but the Canadiens get superb value here with Red Line Report's top-rated D. No defenseman in this draft is a more dangerous scoring threat from the back-end than he is. 10. Colorado Mikhail Sergachev . Avalanche get arguably the best blueliner out of the Ontario Hockey League and possibly the entire draft and smile. The "Russian Factor" won't be an issue here. 11. New Jersey Jakob Chychrun . His stock may be down, but fans hoping he'll continue his slide are disappointed as the Devils snap him up. Even with some of the concerns about a down season, Chychrun still represents impressive value. 12. Ottawa Logan Brown . Six-foot-six skilled centers who can skate and pass like Brown does don't grow on trees! Sens like his upside and the area connection with his dad in charge of the 67's. 13. Carolina Clayton Keller . This small but dynamic table-setter has been highly productive with the U.S. National Team. The Hurricanes are happy to bring Keller into the fold, but he's off to Boston University first. 14. Boston Dante Fabbro . He's got the talent, speed, poise and hockey IQ to make a difference, and character is a bonus for the talent-needy Bruins' defense. 15. Minnesota Kieffer Bellows . Edina native's hometown roots and scoring ability makes him a good fit here. And it doesn't hurt that dad was a big scoring star for the North Stars back in the day. 16. Detroit Michael McLeod . The Wings have an exciting pivot in Larkin, and now they get a real two-way guy and leader to lock it down. McLeod represents fine value if he slips to the middle of the round. 17. Nashville Charlie McAvoy . With the trade of Seth Jones, the Preds have room to add another young, offensively skilled D-man to their mix. His defense is still a work in progress, but McAvoy will generate chances. 18. Philadelphia German Rubtsov. The Flyers pounce on a talented pivot who can beat you any which way. GM Ron Hextall is building an impressive stable and this Russian horse is a thoroughbred. 19. NY Islanders Julien Gauthier . Big, fast and skilled even with second-half scoring woes. The Isles stop the slide at 19 and hope his second half was an aberration. 20. Arizona (from NY Rangers) Logan Stanley . Arizona grabs a potential shutdown defender to go with Juolevi. Keeping pucks out of the net has been a major issue for them of late. 21. Carolina (from Los Angeles) Max Jones . After picking a small playmaker earlier, the 'Canes add a power forward with some bite and nasty to his game. 22. Winnipeg (from Chicago) Riley Tufte . He's got big-time upside even if he will take a while to develop. The Jets can afford to be patient after getting Laine. 23. Florida Tage Thompson . We wouldn't take him here, but the size and potential points to a first-round landing spot for the UConn power play ace. 24. Anaheim Luke Kunin . How did he fall to a very good Ducks team? Doesn't matter bottom line is the rich get richer with a player who impressed a lot as a Badgers freshman. 25. Dallas Dennis Cholowski . Big-time riser hit a major growth spurt and his two-way game has really progressed enough to put him in the late first round. 26. Washington Pascal Laberge . He just finds ways to score goals, and the Caps look to add more speed and quickness after being outskated in the second round. 27. Tampa Bay Alex DeBrincat . Likely losing a lot of goals if Steven Stamkos leaves, so why not grab the draft's most dangerous pure scorer? 28. St. Louis Kale Clague . With Kevin Shattenkirk likely on the way out via trade or free agency in 2017, it's a great time to add this impressive potential replacement as a puck moving threat. Clague is underrated and he's a fine value for the Blues here. 29. Boston (from San Jose) Markus Niemelainen . Boston's defense corps rebuild adds a big man who can really skate and might just be coming into his own with some untapped offensive potential. 30. Toronto (from Pittsburgh) Cameron Morrison . After getting the big horse in Matthews up the middle, why not go with a power winger with major upside here? | 1 | 98,645 | sports |
LONDON The most eagerly awaited play in modern theatrical history has begun with a bang, a whizz, and plenty of shocking plot twists. Just a few hundred people now know what happened to Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the decades after leaving Hogwarts. All three characters and their children star in the eighth installment of the Harry Potter series, which J.K. Rowling has chosen to present as a live theatrical production in London. Harry's denouement, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , is so epic that it will be performed in two parts. Part I played to a paying audience for the first time on Tuesday and induced squeals, gasps, and laughter, according to the Harry Potter super fans who secured tickets. They will have to wait until Thursday to see the second 2 1/2-hour show. The play starts with the same scene that ends the books and films Harry Potter is on Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station in London, waving his son Albus off to Hogwarts for the first time. Rowling herself, who has asked the audience to keep the plot secret, hinted that Scorpius, the son of Draco Malfoy, would also play a prominent role. "I was totally surprised by the story," said Anna Sampson, 28, one of the lucky people who saw the first night. "The special effects really do make it magical." The actors are hurled about on wires, sometimes vanishing into a puff of smoke and transforming into one another. A real owl even swoops over the audience. The only real first-night hiccup saw the owl escape from its handler and spend the end of the first half flapping around the auditorium . Samantha Kent, who was dressed in a Hogwarts school uniform, had come down from Birmingham to see the show. "The choreography and stagecraft was stunning," she said. The 26-year-old Harry Potter fan-fiction writer said she had spent years imagining what might have happened to Harry and his friends. "I kind of had an idea how it would go," she said. "I was completely wrong!" One plot shock gives rise to an entirely new Harry Potter symbol. "I'm going to have to get a new tattoo," said Kent, motioning toward the deathly hallows, snitch, and dark mark already inked into her left forearm. The play was written by Jack Thorne and its described as being "based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany." Rowling may not have written the script herself, but she was closely involved throughout. "I would say it's assisted and approved fan fiction," said Kent, an expert in the genre. The story will be published as a book at the end of July, to coincide with the show's official first night after eight weeks of previews. Harry Potter fans unable to get their hands on the most sought-after tickets in West End history will have to wait. Before the show opened, there was a furor about the casting of an award-winning black actress to play Hermione Granger, but Rowling has vigorously defended that decision, and the audience agreed unanimously that Noma Dumezweni was spectacular. Chris Bewsher, 18, and his mother, Amanda, from North Wales, said the new play was better than the Hollywood interpretation. "It now goes books, play, movies, in that order," said the student. Stuart Williams, 27, said he was surprised by how often he had laughed. "The films got progressively darker, but there was always humor in the books. It was a lot funnier than I expected," he said. It was also more shocking with a genuinely gasp-inducing surprise at the end of Part I. "That was a good cliffhanger," Williams said. One theatergoer, who asked to remain anonymous, warned Harry Potter fans that the twist may force them to "imagine the impossible." | 6 | 98,646 | entertainment |
Danica Patrick finished 32nd at Pocono on Monday, after a wreck involving her Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart. No doubt eyes rolled again, dismissing Danica as girly fluff in a man's game. There are valid points to be made: Danica is still is a backpacker, currently 26th in the Cup standings, with three dreaded "DNFs" (Did Not Finish) on her resume. And she has shown very little progress, in this, her fourth full-time Cup season. But here's another slice of reality for people screaming that she needs to improve or she will never make it in NASCAR: She's already made it, and has no reason to worry about job security even if she finishes last in every race. Danica Patrick is a keeper. She is a marketable asset for NASCAR. She continues to bring in sponsors smitten by her big-picture appeal. Consider this factoid: Ben Alamar, ESPN's director of sports analytics, uses a formula that combines salary and endorsements with social media following and Google search popularity to create the ESPN World Fame 100 rankings. Danica ranks 63rd among all athletes in the world, just six spots behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Patrick is one of the most followed drivers in NASCAR on social media platforms. That includes 1.42 million followers on Twitter, (third only to Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr.) 1.4 million Facebook likes, and 275,000 Instagram followers. Why? Danica pulls in fans from a diverse group who may not be so smitten about the dynamics of a restrictor plate or a splitter on a car. It's all about diversity, on and off the track. Just a few days before playing bumper cars in Pocono, Danica rolled into Daytona International Speedway for a promotional event in conjunction with next month's Coke Zero 400. She unveiled her Coke & Lime Cilantro Shrimp Wrap, a dish that will be featured during Coke Zero week, culminating with the race on July 2. "It turned out really good," she said. "We marinated the shrimp in Coke, mixed it with a little bit of honey to make a Coke glaze. Used cilantro red bell peppers, jalapenos ... and bam you've got a meal." Danica and her marketing machine expertise have given fans (and the media) some unique experiences over the last year. She invited journalists to attend a yoga class just days before the Daytona 500. She was a pretzel. And as I noted, I was a frozen popsicle. Cooking is also in her wheelhouse. She planted a garden this week, which was "awesome," she said, raising the pitch in her voice for emphasis. "Tomatoes, edible fennel, zucchini, squash, cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, pesto basil, cucumbers, Japanese eggplant, jalapenos, red bell peppers and sweet potatoes." So, yes, we just took a stereotypical turn chatting about a woman and cooking. But as long as she races every weekend, she belongs in that stereotypical man's world, too. Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle are all ahead of her in the standings. In a world that is fair, fans would pay more attention to them, and Danica Patrick wouldn't gobble up a disproportionate amount of headlines and attention. But the world has never been fair. Danica moves the needle. There will always be a home for her in NASCAR. gdiaz@orlandosentinel.com Read George Diaz's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/enfuego Danica Patrick PrettyFamous Popularity Score | PrettyFamous | 1 | 98,647 | sports |
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Juan Nicasio was pretty much a one-pitch pitcher, and the fastball was all he needed against the slumping New York Mets' offense. BOX SCORE: PIRATES 3, METS 1 Nicasio retired his first 12 batters and got his second win in six starts, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Mets 3-1 on Tuesday night to complete a doubleheader sweep. The Pirates also won the first game 3-1 behind seven scoreless innings from Jon Niese against his former team. Josh Harrison had three hits and Jordy Mercer hit his first home run at PNC Park since Aug. 31, 2014 in the first victory. Nicasio (5-4) allowed a run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He had gone 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his previous five starts, and manager Clint Hurdle acknowledged last week that he was considering moving the right-hander to the bullpen. ''The rhythm was good the entire evening,'' Hurdle said. ''For a guy that threw 89 pitches, 75 or more were fastballs. He didn't throw very many sliders or very many changeups. He just threw the fastball. He had some swing-and-miss stuff. It was a strong outing.'' Jacob deGrom (3-2) is winless in his last seven starts after he allowed three runs in six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks in the second game. He has not won since April 30 against San Francisco despite allowing three earned runs or fewer six times. The Pirates had lost five of six prior to the twinbill sweep - the doubleheader was necessitated because of a rainout on Monday night. The Mets have lost seven of their last 10 games and scored just 24 runs in that span. They are missing third baseman David Wright, first baseman Lucas Duda and catcher Travis d'Arnaud because of injuries. ''One thing we have not really been doing is applying some of the stuff we're working on,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''We're striking out too much. We need to make better contact.'' John Jaso, Jordy Mercer, Sean Rodriguez and Stewart had two hits each in the nightcap for the Pirates. Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth, duplicating his first-game performance, for his 19th save in 20 opportunities. In the opener, Niese (6-2) gave up four hits, walked two and struck out two. The lefty is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last five starts. He was drafted by the Mets in 2005 and spent his entire career in the organization, including eight seasons in the major leagues, before being traded to the Pirates on Dec. 9 for Neil Walker. ''It was a little weird because it's the only organization I knew,'' Niese said. ''All those guys are great over there. I got along with all of them. I definitely miss them, but I'm enjoying my time here, too. I had a good game plan going on. I tried to live at the bottom of the strike zone.'' The Pirates snapped left-hander Steven Matz's seven-game winning streak. Matz (7-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings while losing for the first time since his season debut April 11 against the Miami Marlins. He struck out eight and walked two while losing on the road for the first time in nine career starts. ''He didn't command his fastball and you've got to command your fastball to make it work,'' Collins said. ''He was up in the zone, up in the zone. He couldn't get the fastball down.'' Walker, a Pittsburgh native, was a combined 2 for 8 in his first time facing the Pirates. He was their first-round draft pick in 2004, made his major league debut in 2009 and spent the last six seasons as the starting second baseman. ''It was long day, 18 innings, and emotional,'' Walker said. TRAINER'S ROOM Mets: CF Yoenis Cespedes started both games and went a combined 0 for 7. He sat out Saturday at Miami and was limited to a pinch-hitting appearance Sunday against the Marlins because of a sore hip. Pirates: LF Starling Marte was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning because of a bruised left ankle then sat out the second game. ... C Francisco Cervelli (bruised right foot) was back in the lineup after missing three straight games and David Freese (bruised right hand) started at first base after sitting out four games in a row. ... RHP Ryan Vogelsong rejoined the team a week after having surgery to repair facial fractures sustained May 23 when he was hit by a pitch from Colorado's Jordan Lyles. UP NEXT Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (6-2, 1.91 ERA) will start Wednesday night in the finale of the three-game series. He is 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA in his last five starts. Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his major league debut. He was the second overall pick in the 2010 draft but sat out the 2014 and 2015 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a sports hernia. | 1 | 98,648 | sports |
CONCORD, N.H. Can the cap and gown worn by high school graduates coexist peacefully with military uniforms worn by classmates destined for the armed services? Until recently, the answer in New Hampshire was no. A law went into effect last month allowing graduates the opportunity to wear their uniform at commencement ceremonies if they have completed basic training. New Hampshire joins Pennsylvania and California, which passed similar laws in 2011 and 2009 respectively. The debate about appropriate attire for a rite of passage is not as simple as it seems. The idea of military dress breaking up a uniform sea of school colors speaks directly to deeply held convictions about school spirit, patriotism, the role of the military and the significance of graduation. "I would love for other kids to see this law and be motivated by it. I would like Brandon's Law to be an inspiration for other high school students to strive to succeed and be rewarded for it," said Jessie Kelley, mother of the young man killed in action for whom the New Hampshire law is named. "They are putting their lives on the lines, so I feel it's the least we could do." Her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Garabrant, fought unsuccessfully to wear his uniform to his 2013 graduation from ConVal Regional High School. The school worried he would outshine his classmates and said the uniform represented achievements beyond the classroom. Reaction was swift and fierce. Commenters raged on Facebook, with some even posting personal details about the principal who denied Garabrant and encouraging emails to him. Reporters camped out at graduation. The brouhaha came into poignant focus when the 19-year-old was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan the following summer. In McHenry, Illinois, last month, Pvt. Megan Howerton was not allowed to walk in her graduation from McHenry West High School when, minutes before the ceremony, she asked to collect her diploma wearing her Marine Corp dress blues. She was told she would have to wear it under her gown, so she chose not to participate. Her case inspired a hashtag, #letmeganwalk, with commenters split between those who felt her service should be recognized and those who argued she should follow school policy as rigidly as military protocol. The Marine Corps Recruiting Station Chicago said in a statement that the decision was rightly left up to the school because "graduations recognize the academic accomplishments of the class and the class's final chapter at that institution." In New Hampshire, Brandon's Law passed with none of the angry words that surrounded his bid. The concerns at legislative hearings included the impact it would have on a school's ability to set policy and a few complaints that uniforms would be a distraction. Kate Williams, a family friend who cut Garabrant's hair for years, led the campaign and put a sign in her salon that said, "Brandon deserves to wear his uniform." Many community members couldn't understand why the school wouldn't make an exception, given what he was doing for the country, she said. Brian Pickering, the principal at Garabrant's school, supports the new law. Even though he also got the blessing from Marines and other veterans for his decision, Pickering said, the threats he endured "nearly ruined my career and family." "I'm thankful for the law because, at the time, there was no law," Pickering said. "There was nothing to fall back upon." Colleges have also dealt with the issue. The Army ROTC at the University of New Hampshire, which covers nine universities, said students can wear military dress or their cap and gown. So far this graduation season, only one New Hampshire high school student is known to have worn a military uniform during graduation Michael Joy, of Prospect Mountain High School. But he wore it under his gown when he graduated Friday, opting instead for a red sash over his gown representing the Army National Guard. Joy, who will be a member of the military police in the Guard, said he didn't want to stand out from his fellow seniors. "I didn't want to make myself like, 'Oh, I'm better than you guys,'" Joy said. "It could be an opportunity to celebrate patriotism and stuff. But I feel like joining and actually serving, that is my way of showing patriotism. I don't have to wear the uniform to show people that I'm in the service." | 5 | 98,649 | news |
In the business world, everyone is worth whatever someone is willing to pay them. That's basic free-market economics, and something a Harvard man like Ryan Fitzpatrick can surely understand. So far, the NFL free market has told Fitzpatrick he's worth $24 million over three years. That's what the Jets have reportedly offered the 33-year-old to return for a second season. This is on the lower end of starting quarterback money and, for some reason, it has left Fitzpatrick, a lower end starting quarterback, miffed. He has refused to sign the deal. As a free agent, that's his prerogative. But in no way is there a victim card to be played here. Pro football isn't about charitable contracts; if the Jets were to offer Fitzpatrick more money out of "good faith," they'd be ridiculed for wasting cash and cap room. What makes Fitzpatrick a lower end starting quarterback is that he's erratic both his throwing mechanics (and therefore accuracy) and his decision making. He's a poor man's Brett Favre, which is to say, he can be a liability. Not surprisingly, Fitzpatrick's career has traveled down a classic journeyman path. The 2015 Jets were his fourth different team in four years. Of the many systems he has encountered, the one he's had the most success in, without question, is Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's. Before playing under Gailey in New York, Fitzpatrick served as Gailey's starter during his three-year stint as Buffalo's head coach. • THE TROUBLE WITH ANDREW LUCK (IT'S NOT HIS FAULT): The Colts' QB has all the talent to recapture his old magic, but he needs the right pieces around him and a better system, too. The scheme's defining feature: spread formations. Last season the Jets went four-wide receiver personnel on about a third of their snaps far and away the most in the league. When you spread out, the defense has to spread with you. That compromises the D's ability to disguise, both in blitz and in coverage. This, plus the increased spacing that naturally comes from spreading out, simplifies the game by defining throwing lanes and minimizing the types of crowds that Fitzpatrick, when he gets reckless, is wont to attack. Ryan Fitzpatrick Passing Yards and TDs in 2015 | PointAfter When you spread, you also detach your eligible receivers from the formation, which leaves no one in to help the O-line pass protect. So most of the plays are structured for the ball to get out quickly. This is an indirect, but highly effective method for managing a quarterback's decisions. If Fitzpatrick does indeed sit out this season (and history says he won't; almost no players in their primes have ever actually done that), then Geno Smith will be tasked with keeping the seat warm while the coaches and front office monitor second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg's development behind the scenes. When Smith entered the NFL, he played in a Marty Mornhinweg system that was almost antithetical to Gailey's. Instead of spreading horizontally and going with quicker drop-back timing, Mornhinweg stretched vertically and asked Smith to make deeper drops. On the surface, this seems more challenging and, in some ways, it is. Deeper drop backs demand more patience and mental toughness in the pocket. A quarterback must be able to make throws with bodies around him. Smith has turned the ball over entirely too much in his career, particularly under Mornhinweg (35 interceptions and seven lost fumbles in 31 career games). But those are just some of the results . When evaluating Smith's process , the outlook is much brighter. For an inexperienced player, he's pretty adept from the pocket. The foundation is there; the question is whether Smith can be steady enough and give himself a chance to build on it. This is where it gets complicated. Smith fits in a deeper drop passing game, but not necessarily in a spread game like Gailey's. The upside of deeper drop backs is the reads can be more defined. Deeper drops come with more bodies in protection and so fewer eligible receivers to consider downfield. Plus, the reads naturally develop slower, which can help an inexperienced quarterback. In a system where the ball comes out quickly, more of the QB's decision-making process gets transferred to the pre-snap phase. Pre-snap awareness usually comes from experience, which Smith still lacks. • HOW THE JETS LANDED HACKENBERG: The Penn State quarterback won over Todd Bowles & Co. during a secret workout in early April, but he still wasn't a sure thing. At the last minute, New York thought it would lose its man to his old college coach. This is why a spread works for Fitzpatrick. Choices in the pre-snap phase are made more through logic than instincts. There's a greater emphasis on football IQ (Fitzpatrick's strength) and a lesser emphasis on what you might call moxie (Fitzpatrick's double-edged sword). The Jets are committed to being a spread offense. This off-season they signed long-time Bears running back Matt Forte not just for his smooth running prowess, but also his flexibility in the passing game both from the slot and split wide. This, plus the healthy return of lithe (albeit unproven) third-year tight end Jace Amaro from the torn labrum that sidelined him for all of last season, will add dimension to Gailey's spread sets. The only difference is those sets will now occur out of three-receiver personnel instead of four-receiver. Depending on how well Amaro does as a blocker, this could also give the Jets more freedom for using non-spread formations. Most likely, Fitzpatrick will re-sign and start in the season opener. Other quarterback-needy teams have passed on him. All that can happen from here is the Jets lowering their existing offer. Don't expect that, however. That would be a slap to a veteran QB who already values the "principle" of things enough to play chicken with eight figures sitting on the table. Anger Fitzpatrick more and he really might walk. That's a problem because the Jets are built to win now, and win with a spread passing game. Like a couple of co-dependent high school sweethearts, Fitzpatrick and the Jets need each other too much. | 1 | 98,650 | sports |
The Phillies pulled off a 3-2 win over the Cubs Tuesday behind Jerad Eickhoff's seven-inning, eight-strikeout performance. Ryan Howard went deep in the winning effort. | 1 | 98,651 | sports |
It seems the only thing missing from the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child preview performances Tuesday in London was Harry Potter himself -- well, Daniel Radcliffe, that is. The franchise that launched Radcliffe's career has received a new installment, and theatergoers who saw Tuesday's preview took to Twitter to sing its praises , but don't expect to see Radcliffe among them. The "boy who lived" shared an honest and heartwarming explanation as to why he wasn't in attendance to cheer the new entry. "I could be completely wrong in this, but I feel like if I went to see it that night, there's going to be a lot of Harry Potter fans there in the audience obviously and would that then become a thing," said Radcliffe in an interview with E! News . "Would it be more about them watching me watch the show or would it take away from the show. I would never want to do anything that would distract or take away from the show." Leave it to Mr. Potter to make us feel warm and fuzzy inside even when he's not donning the black-rimmed glasses and lightning bolt scar. The Cursed Child officially opens July 30, and the text of the play will be released on July 31. Fans of Radcliffe can catch him in Now You See Me 2 , which is now playing in theaters nationwide, and Swiss Army Man, July 1. | 6 | 98,652 | entertainment |
OKLAHOMA CITY Auburn didn't panic. Even trailing by seven runs with its season on the line. Tiffany Howard's spectacular grab over the left field fence took away Shay Knighten's home run in the sixth inning, and Emily Carosone's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth lifted Auburn to a stunning 11-7 victory over Oklahoma on Tuesday night to force a deciding Game 3 for the NCAA softball championship. Oklahoma led 7-0 after scoring six runs in the top of the second, but Auburn scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Auburn's Kasey Cooper hit a two-run homer to tie the score at 7 in the bottom of the fourth. Knighten appeared to have hit a two-run homer that would have given Oklahoma the lead in the sixth inning, but Howard leaped and snagged the ball with her glove over the fence to end the inning with the score still tied at 7. "I've literally dreamed that my entire life," Howard said. "I'm not even kidding. I dreamed that exact picture and everything. We've worked on it so much. I'm talking about we would have bruises on our arms working on the wall in practice, so we've done it a gazillion times, so I knew if I could find the wall and get up and put a glove on it, I knew I could catch it." Oklahoma was playing 25 miles from campus, and the crimson-clad fans were celebrating at first, not realizing that Howard caught the ball. "It was a great catch," Knighten said. "She made a great play. There was no doubt about that." The grab set the stage for Carosone two innings later. "Right before I got in the box, I was thinking, 'Hit it hard,' because if I hit it hard and it went somewhere, Victoria (Draper) was going to score no matter what. "But I don't know, that pitch was just there. It was softball is a game of inches, and my bat was there. It's amazing. God is good. God is good." After Oklahoma went up 7-0, Auburn coach Clint Myers helped his team regroup. He said it was too early to get worried. "We went out there in the circle and we had some words of encouragement, and we just said basically there's so much of this game left," he said. "We can score bunches. But we've got to play defense. We've got to get the people in the circle back trusting that we're going to make plays, and we know what we're doing, and we've got to communicate the little things. "The little things go a long way, and they just give pitchers so much confidence when they're out there making the plays behind them." Howard also had four hits and scored three runs. Carosone had three hits and Jordan and Cooper had two. Sydney Romero and Kady Self each had two hits for Oklahoma, and Erin Miller scored twice. Oklahoma's school-record win streak was snapped at 31 games. The Sooners had last lost on April 2. Game 3 is Wednesday night, and Oklahoma will be ready with star pitcher Paige Parker. The Sooners rested their ace, instead going with Kelsey Stevens and Jayden Chestnut. "Paige having this night off I think will help her tremendously for tomorrow, and like I said, whether we have gas in our tank or not, we're going to do everything we can tomorrow as a team," Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. Auburn is looking forward to the matchup with Parker. The Tigers had some success against her in the seventh inning of Oklahoma's 3-2 win on Monday. "We were on her that last inning, and I don't think it will take us that long to get on them," Carosone said. "I think what it's going to come down to is the defense and taking away the bunts that they were getting on." Oklahoma expects to bounce back. "It's about resiliency," Oklahoma's Erin Miller said. "It's about how you answer. I think we've done a great job of that all season. Someone throws a punch, you throw it back. That's the game of softball, I think. You're going to see a dogfight tomorrow. It's for a national championship; why wouldn't you?" ___ Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . | 1 | 98,653 | sports |
Check out Tuesday's best MLB highlights, which includes a huge brawl in the Orioles 9-1 win over the Royals. | 1 | 98,654 | sports |
The Dodgers beat the Rockies 4-3 Tuesday. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth before Trayce Thompson hit a walk-off homer. | 1 | 98,655 | sports |
Colombia advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario courtesy of a 2-1 win over 10-man Paraguay on Tuesday. Captain James Rodriguez overcame a shoulder problem to score the match-winner in the first half after Carlos Bacca gave Colombia an early lead at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The goal was James' second in as many Copa America games as the Real Madrid attacker extended his goal-scoring tally for Colombia to 16. Paraguay made things difficult for Colombia in the second half as substitute Victor Ayala pulled a goal back with a stunning strike, but a red card to Oscar Romero dented their chances of finding an equaliser. The Lanus midfielder received two yellow cards in as many minutes, with Colombia holding out for victory. The win means Colombia advances to the last eight of the centenary tournament, while Paraguay must beat the United States in its final Group A fixture to go through to the quarterfinals. Colombia coach Jose Pekerman named an unchanged lineup, with James keeping his spot in the side despite concerns over his fitness following a shoulder injury sustained against the USA last week. Paraguay counterpart Ramon Diaz made just the one change, replacing Derlis Gonzalez with Miguel Almiron for the 22-year-old's international starting debut. Colombia looked the livelier of the two sides in the opening stages and James threatened with a shot from distance before Bacca gave them the lead in the 12th minute. Cristian Zapata won a corner after his header was blocked, and James delivered a perfect ball for Bacca to head home the opener. James had the chance to score himself in the 16th minute but his effort was saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Colombia shot-stopper David Ospina hardly touched the ball in the opening half, and a Robert Piris Da Motta strike was the only shot they had on goal in the opening 22 minutes, but even that was blocked by defender Jeison Murillo. However, Colombia eventually did double its advantage through James, after Edwin Cardona's brilliant lay-off inside the box set up the Madrid attacker to smash home the second. Paraguay managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through a Paulo da Silva header, but he was adjudged to have been offside by the assistant referee in a tight, but correct call. Cardona set up Bacca with a delightful curling cross a minute later but the Milan forward could not collect with the ball properly, before Ospina was forced into his first save of the half approaching the break, putting out his hand to deny a bouncing free kick. Paraguay was unlucky not to go into the half at least one goal down, after Dario Lezcano smashed a free kick in a dangerous position off the crossbar. Colombia thought it had scored a third when Bacca put the ball into the net in the 69th minute but the goal was ruled out for offside, and Paraguay struck back just two minutes later. Substitute Ayala received the ball from distance but unleashed a thunderous effort past Ospina to reduce the deficit with just under 20 minutes remaining. However, the task at hand became even more difficult for Paraguay when the team was reduced to 10 men after Romero received two yellow cards in as many minutes. Cardona almost buried the game a minute later but his strike came off the post, however Colombia was able to run out the game as Paraguay pushed hard for an equalizer to no avail. | 1 | 98,656 | sports |
The White House is saying that President Obama called both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and congratulated them on their campaigns Tuesday. The White House also said the president would meet Sanders at Sanders' request on Thursday. CBSN's political panel explored what might be discussed between the two. | 5 | 98,657 | news |
LeBron James knows it's hard to come back from 0-3 especially in the NBA finals. | 1 | 98,658 | sports |
Law enforcement departments have reportedly been fighting for months over which was responsible for releasing a mugshot. | 5 | 98,659 | news |
Hillary Clinton directly appealed to Bernie Sanders supporters to unify behind her in a Tuesday night speech that embraced her historic role as the first woman to be nominated by a major political party as president. "It may be hard to see tonight, but we are all standing under a glass ceiling right now, but don't worry we're not smashing this one," Clinton told a roaring crowd in Brooklyn. "Thanks to you we've reached a milestone, the first time in our nation's history that a woman will be a major party's nominee," she said. Clinton won't formally be the Democratic Party's nominee until she is nominated at the party's convention next month, but she has won enough delegates to clinch the nomination. She spoke Tuesday after a victory in New Jersey's primary. Clinton was also leading contests in New Mexico and South Dakota, while Bernie Sanders was expected to win contests in North Dakota and Montana. The two are locked in a tight race in California, where polls close alter on Tuesday night. Clinton had one eye on Sanders and another on presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in her remarks. "Whether you supported me or Sen. Sanders or one of the Republicans, we need to keep working toward a better, fairer, stronger America," she said. "I want to congratulate Sen. Sanders for the extraordinary campaign he has run. He has spent his long career in public service fighting for progressive causes and principles and he's excited millions of voters, especially young people," she said. "Let there be no mistake: Sen. Sanders, his campaign and the vigorous debate that we've had about how to raise income, reduce inequality, increase upward mobility, have been very good for the Democratic Party and for America." She then launched into a repudiation of Trump, repeating a line she first used last week labeling him as "temperamentally unfit" to serve in office. | 5 | 98,660 | news |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a study showing the number of internet media jobs has surpassed that of newspaper jobs for the first time. | 3 | 98,661 | finance |
TEHRAN, Iran Iran said Tuesday it would not grant visas to three U.S. congressmen opposed to the nuclear deal, calling their request to monitor the accord a "publicity stunt." The three Republican lawmakers Reps. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Lee Zeldin of New York all voted against the deal and are part of a GOP backlash against the pact negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. The accord limited Iran's ability to enrich uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a letter it refused the request over "the completely inappropriate way you have demanded to visit Iran and interfere in what is of no relevance to (your) official functions.'" "Despite what you seem to presume, (members) of the U.S. Congress do not get to dictate the policies of other countries," the letter read. The congressmen asked in February to observe Iran's parliamentary elections, see "American hostages" and visit three nuclear facilities. Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency also said they wanted to discuss Iran's brief detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors in January. LoBiondo said it was "deeply disappointing, though not surprising" that Iran denied "our legitimate request with insults and deflections." Pompeo said he still wanted Iran to grant him a visa, even though the country continues to "act as a rogue and hostile nation." Zeldin, meanwhile, said Iran's response "spits in the face of the freedom-loving world." "While Obama and (Secretary of State John) Kerry prop up the wrong regime, one opportunity after another is being missed to replace these Iranian thugs with true leaders and peaceful actors," Zeldin said. ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. | 5 | 98,662 | news |
Donald Trump used the night of Hillary Clinton claiming the Democratic nomination to reach out to crushed Bernie Sanders fans and encourage them to vote Trump. "For all of those Bernie Sanders voters who will be left out in the cold by a rigged system of superdelegates, we welcome you with open arms," Trump said in remarks on Tuesday at Trump National Golf Club Westchester in New York. Related: 'History made': Hillary Clinton claims Democratic nomination Trump supporters, resplendent in cocktail dresses, pastel polo shirts, suits with red ties and Make America Great Again caps, cheered as the Republican presumptive nominee extended the olive branch to Sanders supporters. "The terrible trade deals, that Bernie was so vehemently against and he's right on that will be taken care of far better than anyone ever thought possible. And that's what I do. We're going to have fantastic trade deals," Trump said. His wife and adult children were by his side as he read off a polished speech from two teleprompters, which listed his future policies on energy, trade and foreign policy as "America first" ideas in a clear attempt to try and unite the Republican party, which is currently arguing over comments Trump made regarding federal judge Gonzalo Curiel's Mexican heritage . "I will make you proud of the party," Trump said. "For those who voted for someone else, in either party, I will work hard to earn your support," he added. Track the Democratic delegate count Track the Republican delegate count After days of being slammed for his comments about Curiel Trump said the judge was treating him unfairly in the case against Trump University because of his plan to build a wall between the United States and Mexico Trump did not address the issue directly, although he did speak about being a "fighter". "I know some people say I'm too much of a fighter. My preference is always peace, however, and I've shown that, I've shown that for a long time," Trump said. House speaker Paul Ryan, who was reluctant at first to endorse Trump for president, on Tuesday denounced the candidate's remarks as "the textbook definition of a racist comment". However, he said that he would still vote for Trump. But Trump tried to turn his history of aggressive comments into a positive tonight. "If I'm forced to fight for something I really care about, I will never, ever back down and our country will never, ever back down," he told the gathered crowd, to huge cheers. "I've fought for my family, I've fought for my business, I've fought for my employees, and now I'm going to fight for you, the American people, like nobody has ever fought before," he said. "Just remember this: I'm going to be your champion, I'm going to be America's champion," he said to supporters sitting under huge chandeliers in his opulent gold club. Trump also targeted Clinton and husband Bill, declaring that the pair have gotten rich off selling access to themselves (although Trump himself has also become wealthy by selling himself as a personal brand). "The Clintons have turned the politics of personal enrichment into an art form for themselves, he said promising a speech about the Clintons next week, probably Monday. "I think you're going to find it very informative," he said. He walked out with his family to the same song he entered to, Queen's classic We Are The Champions. | 5 | 98,663 | news |
If you've been following alligator headlines recently, this may not be that peculiar of a story to you. | 5 | 98,664 | news |
"Waste not, want not" applies to soccer perhaps more than any other sport. The United States men's national soccer team roared back into Copa America 2016 contention Tuesday with a resounding 4-0 victory over Costa Rica. Clint Dempsey led the way with the goal and two assists in the first half, helping Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood turn a must-win game into U.S. soccer's revival party. The game already was out of reach when Graham Zusi joined the fun by scoring late in the second half, but his goal made the outcome unforgettable for the Copa America 2016 hosts. The United States ditched history and left last Friday's loss to Colombia in the same dustbin by submitting a stunning reaction to defeat. The result was Team USA's largest-ever victory in 34 meetings against CONCACAF rival Costa Rica and its biggest-ever win on the world stage. The United States' 4-0 win sets a team record for margin of victory in Copa América or World Cup ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 8, 2016 Team USA leads Group A on goal difference pending the outcome of Tuesday night's Colombia-Paraguay game and has positioned itself to progress to the quarterfinal. That is, assuming the U.S. can can deliver a similar performance Saturday when it takes on Paraguay in the group finale. Meanwhile, Costa Rica finds itself stuck in the past, and the form it showed during its surprising run to the quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals is gone, perhaps for good. Costa Rica have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 Copa América matches dating back to last summer. STATS Football (@STATS_Football) June 8, 2016 Here's how it happened. Dempsey's delight With Team USA's back against the wall, Dempsey, 33, had one of his best games in his 12-year international career. His ninth-minute goal from the penalty spot was his 50th for Team USA. Only Landon Donovan has scored more with 57. Dempsey's early goal eliminated Costa Rica's early momentum, and his ensuing playmaking highlighted an under-appreciated element of his game. 1-2 - In just 45' @clint_dempsey is the only player with two assists and one goal in a game of the last 3 editions of #CopaAmerica . Leader OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 8, 2016 This is the 1st multiple-assist game in a competitive tournament (World Cup, Gold Cup, Copa America) in Clint Dempsey's USA career ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 8, 2016 Coming in to the tournament, we wrote Team USA will only go as far as Dempsey and the other veterans take it. If Dempsey and Co. keep this up, Team USA will likely remain in the tournament for the knockout rounds. Congrats to @ussoccer 's @Jermainejunior , @Budweiser Man of the Match- https://t.co/yS2uIf0V3z pic.twitter.com/7rldycKGmX Copa América 2016 (@CA2016) June 8, 2016 Killer instinct Wasting chances is one of soccer's cardinal sins. Team USA made the most of their opportunities and might have scored more if Gyasi Zardes had shown more composure in front of goal. 4 - @ussoccer scored 4 goals against #CostaRica with their first 4 shots on target. Aim #USAvCRC pic.twitter.com/qjUbixWMd1 OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 8, 2016 Costa Rica's shortcomings Patrick Pemberton is Costa Rica's starting goalkeeper because Keylor Navas, who helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League last month, is injured. We don't need Hope Solo to tell us Navas would have saved the long-distance shots on which Jones and Wood scored. Dempsey might not have scored on Navas from the penalty spot. Costa Rica's first-choice goalkeeper is that good. Pemberton was anything but against the United States, conceding two goals at the near post, a big "no no" for goalkeepers anywhere. Impact substitutions Costa Rica made all three personnel changes by halftime. Zusi scored in a substitute appearance. Kyle Beckerman made a goal-line clearance seconds after replacing Alejandro Bedoya. U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann used untested Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic as his first two substitutions against Colombia. Klinsmann's reliance on veterans helped his team manage Costa Rica's brief second-half charge. The game situations were vastly different from each other, but so were the contributions of the U.S. players who entered the fray in-game. | 1 | 98,665 | sports |
The World Bank is reducing its forecast for the global economy this year again. The aid agency predicted Tuesday that the world economy will expand 2.4 percent this year, down from the 2.9 percent it expected in January and unchanged from a tepid 2015. "The global economy is fragile," said World Bank economist Ayhan Kose, who helped produce the forecast. "Growth is weak." In the years since the world began recovering from the 2008 financial crisis, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have repeatedly proved too optimistic about the world economy and have had to downgrade their previous forecasts. The World Bank's latest 2016 forecast is more pessimistic than the IMF's outlook for 3.2 percent global growth this year, a projection made in April. Since then, it's become clearer that low commodity prices continue to vex many developing countries whose economies depend on exports of those commodities. And advanced economies are still struggling to gain momentum as they contend with aging workforces and lackluster productivity growth. The World Bank expects the U.S. economy to grow 1.9 percent this year, down from 2.4 percent in 2015. The downgrade for the United States reflects a weak first quarter: Growth from January through March reached a negligible 0.8 percent annual rate. U.S. manufacturers have been especially hurt by a strong dollar, which has made their goods more expensive overseas. The bank expects developing and emerging market economies as a group to grow 3.5 percent this year, down from the 4.1 percent it forecast in January and barely changed from last year's 3.4 percent. World Bank economists are drawing a distinction between emerging market countries that export commodities and those that import them. The exporters, crushed by tumbling prices of oil and other commodities, collectively grew just 0.2 percent last year and are expected to expand 0.4 percent in 2016. The importers, which benefit from lower raw materials prices, are still growing at healthy rates 5.9 percent last year and a predicted 5.8 percent this year. Latin America has been particularly hard hit. The World Bank predicts that the region's economy will shrink 1.3 percent this year after sliding 0.7 percent in 2015. Brazil, mired in political scandal, is expected to suffer a 4 percent economic contraction in 2016 after shrinking 3.8 percent last year. The 19 countries that use the euro the eurozone will grow 1.6 percent, the same as last year, the World Bank says. Eurozone growth has been constrained by the weakness of European banks, which are still saddled with bad debt and aren't making many new loans. Japan will expand 0.5 percent, a bit slower than last year, the World Bank predicts. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's aggressive plans to rejuvenate growth partly through the Bank of Japan's easy-money policies have had only mixed results so far. The World Bank left its forecast for China's economic growth unchanged at 6.7 percent. The Chinese economy, the world's second-biggest, has been decelerating for six years as Beijing has sought to move away from dependence on investment in factories and real estate toward slower but steadier growth built on consumer spending. | 3 | 98,666 | finance |
CARACAS, Venezuela Until recently, Julio Noguera worked at a bakery. But he now spends his evenings searching through the garbage for food. "I come here looking for food because if I didn't, I'd starve to death," Noguera said as he sorted through a pile of moldy potatoes. "With things like they are, no one helps anyone and no one gives away meals." Across town, unemployed people converge every dusk at a trash heap on a downtown Caracas sidewalk to pick through rotten fruit and vegetables tossed out by nearby shops. They are frequently joined by small business owners, college students and pensioners people who consider themselves middle class even though their living standards have long ago been pulverized by triple-digit inflation, food shortages and a collapsing currency. Venezuela's poverty had eased during the administration of the late President Hugo Chavez. But a study by three leading Caracas universities found that 76 percent of Venezuelans are now under the poverty line, compared with 52 percent in 2014. Staples such as corn flour and cooking oil are subsidized, costing pennies at the strongest of two official exchange rates. But fruit and vegetables have become an unaffordable luxury for many Venezuelan families. "We're seeing terrible sacrifices across many sections of society," said Carlos Aponte, a sociology professor at the Central University of Venezuela. "A few years ago, Venezuela didn't have the kind of extreme poverty that would drive people to eat garbage." While some search through the garbage piles for food they can eat, many more are drawn by the opportunity to fetch a few bolivar bills by rescuing and reselling bruised produce. On a recent evening, Noguera managed to retrieve a dozen potatoes. "I'm a trained baker, but right now there's no work anywhere here. So I make do with this," he said. The trash pickers aren't just people who've lost their jobs. Jhosriana Capote, a vocational student, comes to the trash heap to supplement her pantry. She recently completed an internship with a Coca-Cola subsidiary. "I used to be able to find food, but not anymore. Everything is lines," she said after an evening picking through the refuse. Dumpster diving isn't a new phenomenon in Venezuela, but it is a growing one. Venezuela was once the richest nation in South America, but a fall in oil prices combined with other economic problems has sparked desperation. Nearly half of Venezuelans say they can no longer afford to eat three meals a day, according to a recent poll by the local firm Venebarometro. The poll surveyed 1,200 adults at their homes the first week in April and had a margin of error of plus or minus of about 2 percentage points. The government blames the political opposition, accusing it of waging an "economic war" to stir unrest and oust President Nicolas Maduro from power. The administration has launched an aggressive program to build urban farms in an effort to address food shortages. One recent night, two young girls found some cilantro, lemons and remains of a cabbage in the garbage. Their mother, Monica Espinosa, said the scavenging helps them get by since her husband walked out on the family. Espinosa said she still owns two apartments, but makes ends meet by cooking sauces from the vegetables she finds and selling them to stores, earning about $6 a week. "I'm a single mother with two children, and this is helping me get by," she said. ___ Follow Sanchez on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fisanchezn | 5 | 98,667 | news |
Locked in a tight divisional race with the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles will soon be without their best player, and one of the most valuable players in the game, as suspensions loom for shortstop Manny Machado and Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura following a brawl between the two in Tuesday night's 9 1 Orioles win at Camden Yards. Ventura and Machado both have a history of getting into on-field dust-ups, but there was no known conflict between the two prior to Machado's second at-bat of the game against Ventura. In the bottom of the first inning, Ventura worked away from Machado, falling behind 3 1, at which point Machado dropped the bat-head on a low two-seamer that tailed inside, hitting it down the leftfield line for an RBI double that started the scoring in what would be a four-run inning for Baltimore. When Machado's turn in the order came back around in the second, Ventura fired in two more two-seamers that tailed in to Machado at 98 miles per hour, the first starting over the plate then tailing up and in. The second was belt-high, but further inside, forcing Machado to jump backward. That second pitch got Machado's attention, drawing a cold stare from the Orioles shortstop. After Machado hit Ventura's next pitch, a 97 mph two-seamer over the plate, into a stiff wind blowing in from leftfield, he called out to the pitcher while jogging down the line, getting Ventura's attention then issuing him a warning in Spanish. That at-bat set up what came in the fifth. With one out, the bases empty, and the Orioles now up 5 1, Ventura's first pitch in Machado's third plate appearance was a 99 mph fastball that hit Machado in the small of the back. Machado immediately discarded his bat and helmet and, with a slight limp, charged the mound, where Ventura, who had similarly tossed aside his glove and cap, was waiting for him. Both players threw one round-house right, Ventura missing badly, Machado being partially blocked by Ventura's left arm, after which Machado put Ventura in a headlock and the two fell to the ground as the benches rapidly emptied on top of them. The fighting was limited to those two combatants, however. Despite the speed with which the players and coaches flooded the field, the intent of all appeared to be to break things up. When the dust cleared, only Machado and Ventura had been ejected and no apparent injuries had been suffered. However, suspensions are clearly coming for both Machado and Ventura, and in that the Orioles will have gotten the worst of this affair, losing a far more valuable player in a much tighter divisional race. Baltimore entered Tuesday's action with a mere half-game lead on the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, while Machado entered the day ranked fourth in the American League in Baseball-Reference.com's wins above replacement, to which he added an RBI double, a run scored, and an excellent defensive play in Tuesday night's game. Ventura, by comparison, entered Tuesday night's start with a 4.82 ERA (89 ERA+), which rendered him a replacement-level player on the season according to bWAR, and he had failed to make consecutive quality starts all season, a fact confirmed by his poor performance on Tuesday night. Whatever it is the Royals need to close their 2 1/2 game deficit to Cleveland in the AL Central, Ventura has not been providing it. • VERDUCCI: Fernandez-Harvey duel was a classic 1 0 showdown Hitting Machado didn't help, either, as Chien-Ming Wang, forced into the uncomfortable position of warming up on the game mound, gave up home runs to the first two men he faced, Mark Trumbo, who added a sixth run to Ventura's line in the process, and Chris Davis. Ventura was suspended for seven games last April after being ejected from consecutive starts, the first for hitting then-Athletic Brett Lawrie with a 99 mph pitch , the second for inciting a brawl with the Chicago White Sox by shouting at White Sox centerfielder Adam Eaton after Eaton hit a comebacker. In his start prior to those two, Ventura had also attempted to pick a fight with Mike Trout . His suspension was thus a reaction to his accumulated bad behavior. After the White Sox incident, I wrote that Ventura needed to learn that "there's a difference between being intense and being confrontational, and Ventura has crossed the line in three of his four starts this year." He made it through the remainder of that season and the first third of this one without further incident. However, Tuesday night's kerfuffle remains part of a pattern of behavior that has to be troubling for Major League Baseball, particularly given that it is coming from a player who effectively takes the mound in possession of a deadly weapon in the form of a fastball that can hit triple-digits . Ventura's suspension in this case should be longer than his last. There is precedent for that. Ian Kennedy was suspended for 10 games for throwing at Zack Greinke in 2013. That stands as the longest suspension for an on-field incident in the last decade. Machado isn't just an innocent victim here, however. When the notoriously hot-headed Lawrie was hit by a 99 mph Ventura pitch last year, he dropped his bat and headed to first without so much as looking at Ventura. Machado could have done the same. Instead he charged the mound with the clear intent to hurt Ventura. This is not an isolated incident for Machado either. Machado first displayed his tendency to react badly to perceived slights in a series at home against the A's in June 2014. In the Friday night game of that series, he took offense to what he perceived as an unnecessarily hard tag from A's third baseman Josh Donaldson, getting in the clearly bewildered Donaldson's face after the play and prompting the benches to empty . Two days later, he reacted to a low and inside pitch from A's lefty Fernando Abad, by attempting to throw his bat at Abad via a delayed swing , again causing the benches to empty. Machado was suspended for five games for the latter incident, a suspension that likely would have been longer had Machado not missed by so much. Machado did manage to keep his wits about him when drilled in the shoulder by a 93 mph Jonathan Papelbon fastball last September , yelling at the pitcher, but not charging him. Perhaps even in a fit of pique, Machado was able to discern the difference between the burly 6'5" Papelbon and the lanky 6'0" Ventura. Either way, a suspension for Machado is clearly in order, as well, though that seems unlikely to be more than another five games. Still, Machado is so important to the Orioles that losing him even for that brief span could significantly impact their season. Not only is he one of the best hitters in the majors, ranking seventh with a 157 OPS+ entering Tuesday's game, but he's also one of the game's best fielders and has been filling in at shortstop for the injured J.J. Hardy for the last month. Hardy, out with a fractured left foot, isn't expected back until the end of the month, if then. Losing Machado would thus leave the left side of the Baltimore infield completely in the hands of replacement-level bench players such as Paul Janish, who replaced Machado after his ejection in Tuesday night's game, and Ryan Flaherty, who started the game at third base. Flaherty did homer off Ventura Tuesday night, but even with that, the two have hit a combined .198/.299/.257 in 117 major league plate appearances this season. • PODCAST: Has Manny Machado reached Trout/Harper levels of value? If the Orioles fall a game or two shy of the Red Sox for the division title or, worse, a game or two shy of a wild-card berth come October, Machado's inability to take the high road against Ventura could well have made the difference. Just because Ventura was the aggressor in this situation doesn't excuse Machado from taking the bait and lowering himself to Ventura's level. Ventura's issues go beyond Tuesday night's incident, and the Royals are clearly growing frustrated with his behavior just watch Salvador Perez's frustrated reactions in the various video clips above as well as his disappointing performance on the mound . Machado, however, is a nearly perfect player, and though he won't turn 24 until next month, he needs to realize that his constant presence on the field is more important than any perceived slight. He's good enough to let his outstanding play serve as his retaliation. Here's hoping he does just that going forward. | 1 | 98,668 | sports |
Mexico's government announced Tuesday measures to reduce smog in the capital by preventing corruption at emission inspection centers that have allowed polluting cars to stay on the road. The environment ministry unveiled the new rules three months after authorities issued the first air quality alert in 13 years in the greater Mexico City area. Normally, cars that pass emissions tests are allowed to drive every day while those that fail have to stay off the streets at least once a week. But corruption has allowed polluters to stay on the road. The smog got so bad in March that authorities responded by temporarily expanding the traffic restrictions, forcing all cars to stay home at least once a week. The extraordinary measure will end June 30. President Enrique Pena Nieto, meanwhile, demanded tougher emissions controls for the 5.4 million vehicles that circulate in the metropolitan area. The new measures, which will apply from July 1 and last at least six months, will require that inspectors check emission levels recorded by a car's onboard computer instead of measuring them through the tailpipe. Cars made after 2006, or two thirds of those circulating in the capital, have such computers, which the ministry says are more reliable. Older cars will still be inspected through their tailpipes, but a central monitoring system will be established to prevent inspectors from "cheating" or "manipulating the test," said deputy environment minister Rodolfo Lacy. Environment Minister Rafael Pacchiano said environmental protection authorities will visit inspection centers to ensure they follow the rules. The tougher emissions tests also set new limits for public transport buses and heavy trucks. | 2 | 98,669 | travel |
Do you cringe every time someone says "hoverboard" and mutter under your breath "Actually, it's a self-balancing scooter"? Do you believe that Elon Musk is our lord and savior sent to this earth to make our commutes faster, cleaner, and infinitely more terrifying? Do you have $10,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Then do I have the product for you. Arx Pax , the Silicon Valley-company behind the Hendo Hoverboard , just announced that its HE3.0 hover engine is now available to be purchased for the low price of $9,999. That price might be suspiciously low, though, because according to the manufacturer, this is an engine that can make anything from a heavy box in a warehouse to (eventually) an entire building in an earthquake-prone neighborhood hover a few millimeters above a surface. So forgive me, but ten grand seems pretty cheap when it comes to preventing future earthquake fatalities or jamming through Hill Valley with the McFlys. Maybe that's because, aside from the few lucky idiots ( myself included ) who got to "ride" the Hendo hoverboard, most people have never seen Arx Pax's technology in action. (To be clear, you don't really ride the Hendo, you just drift aimlessly across a copper-plated surface while someone from Arx Pax gently pushes you back-and-forth.) The company's CEO, Greg Henderson, much like his Silicon Valley peers, is very good at making bold proclamations about his product's societal benefits but it's probably too soon to tell whether the HE3.0 will live up to that promise. "This is the most efficient way to separate an object from the earth," Henderson told me yesterday. "When you have something that actually hovers, it sells itself." Arx Pax The Magnetic Field Architecture Bundle Along with the hover engine, Arx Pax is also selling something called the Magnetic Field Architecture bundle, which includes hover engines, mounting brackets, servos, and a system controller, for $1,589. Together, these products can be used in a variety of fields, Arx Pax says, including "entertainment, industrial automation, [and] transportation or seismic isolation." Two private companies, Ball Aerospace and Pampa Technologies , have already placed orders, joining SpaceX and others that have purchased beta versions of the technology. The Hyperloop the Musk-envisioned, tube-based transportation system is another emerging industry where Arx Pax hopes to sell its engines . Henderson said he has provided hover engines to several of the participants in this summer's SpaceX-sponsored Hyperloop pod competition, including rLoop, the team that formed on Reddit. "Our hover engines provide an incredible suite of capabilities," Henderson said. "And they are the only thing that come with their own form of propulsion and braking." Arx Pax The hope is to convince Hyperloop engineers, especially those employed by the two LA-based startups that are actively builiding their own prototypes Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies to see the benefits of Arx Pax's hover engines, Henderson said. But that has yet to happen. "What's curious is that with all the money they have, what they've been able to demonstrate so far is a linear induction system," Henderson said, referring to Hyperloop One's recent public, open-air test of its propulsion system in the Nevada dessert . "When it comes to really showing something that hovers, they have yet to do that." | 5 | 98,670 | news |
Check out Tuesday's craziest moments, which includes this Just Ridiculous catch from Astros OF Jake Marisnick. | 1 | 98,671 | sports |
Phil Jackson is the Zen Master. But what does that mean? Shaquille O'Neal gave fans an idea Monday night. Jackson and O'Neal, who helped the Lakers reach four NBA Finals and win three championships from 1999-2004, appeared on a panel with ESPN's Hannah Storm. When Jackson was asked about the team's spiritual endeavors, he took a jab at his former center. "He used to sleep while we meditated," Jackson said. This perked Shaq up. The three-time NBA Finals MVP recounted his early experiences with meditation. "Phil would come in with this incense," O'Neal said. "It's called sage. When I smelled the incense, I pulled him to the side. I was like, 'Coach, I don't mean no disrespect, but that smells like weed.' He goes, 'No, Shaq. That's the cousin of cannabis.' I'm like, 'Cousin of cannabis?' We're being there high or meditated and it worked. I got to be so enlightened. He'd be like, 'OK, concentrate. I hear some of you snoring, Shaq!' "Coach, I don't mean no disrespect, but that smells like weed." - @SHAQ on @PhilJackson11 's meditation sage #AmexNBA https://t.co/ORJPXql2xN ThePostGame.com (@ThePostGame) June 7, 2016 The crowd at the Altman Building in New York City had a good laugh about Jackson's mysterious herbs. Storm related to a personal experience with Jackson. "I got to say, last time I was in your house, you had those packets ...," she started. Shaq interrupted. "Shhh," he breathed into his microphone. "Snitches get stitches, Hannah." O'Neal's sense of humor was a theme of the night. In one story, Jackson referenced O'Neal coming to practice nude with the exception of his shoes. "I don't remember," Shaq responded with a laugh. . @PhilJackson11 reminiscing about @SHAQ coming to practice naked... https://t.co/FHv0eseb3z ThePostGame.com (@ThePostGame) June 7, 2016 The Triangle Offense is weird. The panel was an exclusive American Express experience. Highlights from the discussion will appear on ESPN's SportsCenter on June 10 after Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and it will appear on NBA.com on June 11. More NBA: -- Klay Thompson: We're Better Than Showtime Lakers -- Riley Curry Rules Stephen's Emoji App -- Here's What Curry Said To Durant After Game 7 Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband . | 1 | 98,672 | sports |
The proceeds of a $3 billion bond sale by a troubled Malaysia state wealth fund didn't pass through any Singapore bank, the city-state's central bank said Wednesday. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said its statement was in a response to a "media inquiry," but it did not name the news outlet. The statement appeared to contradict a key element of a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday into financial transactions by 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The WSJ cited people familiar with the matter as saying that Goldman Sachs (GS) , which led 1MDB's March 2013 bond issue, faced an investigation over whether it broke the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act by not reporting the fund transfer as a suspicious transaction. Sources told the WSJ that sending the $3 billion in proceeds to a Singapore branch of Swiss private bank BSI, rather than to a large global bank, should have triggered concerns that the money wouldn't be used for its intended purpose. The MAS' statement appeared to call into question the first link in the reported chain of transactions that the WSJ said took the funds to offshore havens. The MAS declined to comment further. A representative of BSI Bank in Switzerland declined to comment on the WSJ report or Wednesday's MAS statement. The Wall Street Journal later issued a correction to say that the bond-sale proceeds were transferred to 1MDB's account at BSI in Switzerland, not Singapore; it cited a person familiar with the matter. The office of Malaysia's prime minister issued a strongly worded response to the MAS statement. "The Wall Street Journal's false allegations against Malaysia have been proven to be lies yet again," Tengku Sariffuddin, the press secretary for the prime minister's office, said in a press release, which alleged the newspaper had become the "willing tool" of Malaysia's political opposition in an "openly declared campaign" to unseat the government. In response to the correction, Tengku Sariffuddin added, "I wonder how much else from the WSJ's reporting would need 'correcting' if it wasn't publicly proven wrong by a credible authority who happens to know the facts, and who is also willing to publicly say that the WSJ is wrong. Obviously, no Malaysian authority is credible to the WSJ." Malaysian authorities have often complained that the Wall Street Journal's coverage of 1MDB often uses unnamed sources. In response to the statement from the prime minister's office, Dow Jones said - as it had on previous occasions when Najib's office had accused the newspaper of lies and collusion with the opposition - that it stood behind the Wall Street Journal's reporting, calling it "responsible, appropriate, and in the public interest." The publisher added, "If we ever get anything wrong, we correct it in the interest of being 100 percent accurate. We remain committed to providing robust, even-handed coverage of events in Malaysia." The WSJ cited bank-transfer information that it said showed some of the $3 billion went to Devonshire Funds, which then sent $210 million to a now-defunct British Virgin Islands shell company Tanore Finance. Around the same time that Goldman sold the 1MDB bond, Tanore transferred $681 million to the private bank account of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, the WSJ reported, citing investigative documents. Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the WSJ story or the MAS statement. Last month the MAS ordered BSI to shut down its Singapore operations, with prosecutors in the city-state and in Switzerland weighing criminal charges against the bank. The MAS said the Switzerland-based bank had lost its status as a merchant bank in Singapore due to "serious breaches of anti-money laundering requirements, poor management oversight of the bank's operations, and gross misconduct by some of the bank's staff." It was the first time since 1984 that MAS had withdrawn a merchant bank's approval. While Singapore's authorities did not mention 1MDB at the time of BSI's closure, Swiss authorities said the move was related to its investigation of the fund. BSI Bank in Switzerland issued a statement at the time in which it said it had cooperated with both Swiss and Singaporean regulators in their investigations into the troubled wealth fund. Questions about movement of funds from 1MDB came to widespread attention in July, when the WSJ reported that in 2013 nearly $700 million had flowed from the debt-ridden fund to Najib's personal bank account. Najib has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and, under pressure from the outcry caused by the WSJ report, said the funds were a private donation from a Middle Eastern country he declined to name. He has denied benefiting personally from the funds. In January, Malaysia's Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali said that Saudi Arabia's royal family gave Najib a $681 million gift, of which Apandi said about $600 million was later returned. Apandi said that no criminal offense had been committed. But globally, investigations into 1MDB in locales as varied as US, Switzerland, Singapore and the Seychelles have continued. A representative of 1MDB referred questions on Wednesday to the WSJ, saying the matter was related to the news outlet's reporting. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook . By CNBC.Com's Leslie Shaffer; Follow her on Twitter @LeslieShaffer1 | 3 | 98,673 | finance |
Singapore confirmed Wednesday it would cut off Internet access for government work stations within a year for security reasons, a surprise move in one of the world's most wired countries. The decision will not disrupt government operations, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) said after local daily The Straits Times reported that some 100,000 computers would be affected. "We have started to separate Internet access from the work stations of a selected group of public service officers, and will do so for the rest of the public service officers progressively over a one-year period," the IDA said in a written reply to AFP queries. Industry sources said the measure was aimed at preventing cyber attacks as well as the spread of malware that might enter the government email network thought Internet-enabled work stations. Singapore is one of the world's most Internet-savvy societies, offering broadband speeds envied by many. A wide range of government services are available online, including registering for marriage, filing complaints to the police and video consultations with doctors. Government services will not be disrupted by the security measures, sources familiar with the plan said. The Straits Times said public servants would still have access to the Internet on their personal devices such as tablets and smartphones. Dedicated Internet-linked terminals will be issued to civil servants who need them for work, the newspaper added. The IDA said the government regularly reviews measures to make its network more secure. "There are alternatives for Internet access and the work that officers need to do, does not change." Singapore announced in 2014 it was stepping up IT security measures following attacks on a section of the prime minister's website, as well the website of the presidential residence. | 5 | 98,674 | news |
(Bloomberg) -- Oil rose to the highest level in more than 10 months in New York as government data showed U.S. crude supplies declined, reducing a glut. Crude stockpiles dropped by 3.23 million barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in line with analysts' projections in a Bloomberg survey. Futures briefly reversed direction after the report showed unexpected gains in inventories of gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that includes diesel and heating oil. An upsurge of unrest in Nigeria also buoyed crude prices. "Our expectation is that inventories will continue to draw," said Cavan Yie, senior equity analyst at Manulife Asset Management Ltd. in Toronto. "We expect supply and demand to come closer into balance, which will result in higher oil prices through the end of the year." Oil has surged more than 90 percent from a 12-year low in February amid unplanned disruptions and a steady slide in output from the U.S., which is under pressure from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' policy of pumping without limits. West Texas Intermediate for July delivery rose 87 cents, or 1.7 percent, to settle at $51.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest close since July 15. Brent for August settlement climbed $1.07, or 2.1 percent, to end the session at $52.51 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark traded at a 67-cent premium to August WTI. Crude Stockpiles Nationwide crude supplies fell to 532.5 million barrels in the week ended June 3, according to the EIA. Stockpiles reached an 87-year high of 543.4 million barrels in the last week of April. Analysts had projected a 3 million-barrel decline for last week. Crude stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI and the nation's biggest oil-storage hub, dropped by 1.36 million barrels. WTI will find it "very difficult" to exceed $55, Dennis Gartman, an economist and editor of the Suffolk, Virginia-based Gartman Letter, said on "Bloomberg Surveillance." Prices at that level would spur increased U.S. output, he said. Crude production increased by 10,000 barrels a day to 8.75 million, the first gain in 13 weeks, EIA data show. The number of active oil rigs in the U.S. increased by 9 to 325 last week, only the second gain this year, according to data compiled by Baker Hughes Inc. Despite the one-week uptick in output, U.S. crude production is still well below last year's peak, and explorers have idled more than 1,000 oil rigs since the start of last year. Too Low "Production is down big and will only decline further given where the rig count is," said Matt Sallee, who helps manage $14.1 billion in oil-related assets at Tortoise Capital Advisors in Leawood, Kansas. "The rig count is too low to maintain production." Refineries bolstered operating rates by 1.1 percentage point to 90.9 percent of capacity, the highest in two months. U.S. refiners typically boost utilization in May and June as they prepare for the summer peak driving season. Gasoline supplies rose 1.01 million barrels, while stockpiles of distillate fuel grew 1.75 million barrels, the first gain in eight weeks. Oil producers in Nigeria are facing a renewed wave of violence in the delta region that accounts for most of the country's crude. Nigeria's output dropped to the lowest in almost three decades as armed groups intensified attacks to rupture pipelines in recent months. Total volume of crude shut due to the attacks range from 700,000 to 800,000 barrels per day, according to the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. Oil-market news: Canadian oil producers Cenovus Energy Inc. and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. have shut some production just as output was being restored in other parts of Alberta due to a renewed wildfire threat. Repairs are being carried out at two different sites on the Forcados export pipeline operated by Shell in Nigeria, which was hit by explosions in February and again last week, according to a person familiar with the situation, who asked not to be named because of security concerns. U.S. gasoline demand will average a record 9.5 million barrels a day during the second and third quarters, up from 9.48 million forecast in May, the EIA said in its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook on Tuesday. China imported 32.24 million metric tons of crude in May, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. That's equivalent to 7.62 million barrels a day, down 4.3 percent from the previous month and the lowest since January. To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Shenk in New York at mshenk1@bloomberg.net, Jessica Summers in New York at jsummers24@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Marino at dmarino4@bloomberg.net, Debarati Roy, Anne Riley ©2016 Bloomberg L.P. | 3 | 98,675 | finance |
A 24-year-old French woman has been charged with attempted fraud for allegedly impersonating a victim of the deadly Paris attacks that killed 130 people to claim financial aid. The series of coordinated shootings and explosions across cafes, recreation areas and the national football stadium in the French capital also wounded 413 people in November 2015. The tragedy prompted a crackdown on suspected Islamist or extremist activity in France, which remains under a state of emergency. One woman, who hasn't been named, sought 20,000 euros ($22,733) in assistance to treat injuries she claimed were sustained during the attacks and will appear in court on Monday, a prosecutor from Versailles told newspaper Le Parisien . The French government apparently received 2,800 applications requesting compensation for the attacks by March, worth a total of up to 35 million euros ($39.8 million). The young woman from Yvelines, Versailles was among the applicants who aroused suspicion during the investigation process as she claimed to have sustained injuries to her arm from an explosion while in Paris at Le Carillon bar, which also apparently forced her to miscarry. The establishment, in the Parisian 11 arrondissement, was a genuine target for the attackers, passing through it on their way to the assault on the nearby Bataclan concert venue. However, prosecutors noted that there was no explosion at Le Carillon, where the group fired their rifles but did not detonate their suicide belts. They also noted her behavior during the application process did not betray any signs of the shock other victims of the attacks exhibited. She will appear in court Monday without a lawyer and faces up to five years in jail and a fine of 375,000 euros ($426,000) if found guilty. | 5 | 98,676 | news |
Four Malaysian sailors held for more than two months by a notorious kidnapping-for-ransom gang in the strife-torn southern Philippines were released on Wednesday, the Philippine military said. The Abu Sayyaf, a loose network of Islamic militants that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings in recent years, released the sailors just after midnight on Jolo island, one of its strongholds, according to regional military spokesman Filemon Tan. The sailors were then taken by speedboat about 300 kilometres (200 miles) back to Malaysia, Tan said. He confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped the sailors, but could not say if ransoms were paid. "We have yet to confirm whether ransom money was paid in exchange for the safe release of the victims," said Tan. Formed in the early 1990s, the Abu Sayyaf is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines. The militants regularly abduct foreigners and locals to extort money for their release. In May, the Abu Sayyaf released 14 Indonesian sailors who had been kidnapped in two high-seas raids similar to the abduction of the Malaysians. The kidnappings prompted Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to launch joint patrols in their waters and set up a security hotline. In April, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded Canadian hostage John Ridsdel after a deadline for paying a ransom of $6.4 million passed, and in November last year killed a Malaysian man. Ridsdel was kidnapped along with a Canadian friend, a Norwegian man and a Filipina from aboard yachts at a marina in the southern Philippines in September last year. The Abu Sayyaf has warned it will kill either the Canadian or the Norwegian if a multi-million-dollar ransom is not paid by Monday. The Abu Sayyaf is also holding a Dutch birdwatcher kidnapped in 2012. The Abu Sayyaf's leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, but analysts say it is more focused on kidnappings for ransom than setting up a caliphate. | 5 | 98,677 | news |
An Eritrean dubbed "the general", suspected of controlling a migrant trafficking network responsible for shipping thousands of people to Europe and sending some to a watery grave, has been extradited to Italy. Medhanie Yehdego Mered, 35, who had been on a wanted list since 2015 for international people smuggling, was arrested in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and flown to Italy late Monday. He is "the accused ringleader of one of the four largest criminal migrant trafficking organisations", the Sudanese interior ministry said in a joint statement with the country's British and Italian embassies. Referred to in wiretapped conversations between his subordinate alleged traffickers as "the general" for his control over a large area and number of "troops", Mered is accused of organising the smuggling of up to 8,000 people a year on migrant boats. Investigators believe his organisation was responsible for packing migrants onto a boat that sank in 2013 off the Italian island of Lampedusa, claiming at least 360 lives in one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean. He reportedly described the sinking as "Allah's will" in a wiretap. His arrest is "a key turning point in the fight against people trafficking," prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi told a press conference, while Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano dubbed it "an extraordinary result" in a bid to stop "merchants of death". It is the first time a suspected top smuggler has been arrested in Africa and brought to face justice in Italy, which has been overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people since the migrant crisis began in 2008. Mered allegedly directed operations in Africa but also kept fellow operators in Italy up to date on the arrival of boats, so migrants could be picked up and squeezed for more money to continue to their final destinations in Europe. Between 2012 and his capture, he also played a key role in helping migrants escape from Libyan jails and detention centres, bribing guards to let them out and then holding them to extort money from their relatives back home, police said. - 'Beaten with iron sticks' - Mered was tracked down by the Sudanese intelligence services, with support from Italy's organised crime police and Britain's National Crime Agency. A top Sudanese police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity that Mered was "accused of smuggling youngsters from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan across the Mediterranean through Sudan or Libya or Egypt". Wiretaps of Mered's conversations revealed he was in contact with traffickers in northern Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and held a "senior position in a criminal network operating in several continents", Italian police said. The taps followed smugglers who were constantly on the move between Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan, the UAE and Europe. Mered was a contact point for people worried relatives may have disappeared during the perilous Mediterranean crossing. He was loving with his family on the telephone, making several references to leaving Libya and moving to Sweden to be with his wife, but showed "utter disregard for the lives of the migrants, appearing cynical and unscrupulous", Italian police said. There have been numerous reports from survivors of people being forced to board boats and dinghies on Libyan beaches at gunpoint, as well as reports of people being shot dead if they refuse or try to escape. According to the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR), over 48,500 people have arrived in Italy by boat so far this year. More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014. On Wednesday, rescuers were hard at work off Libya, pulling at least 800 people to safety. Doctors Without Borders, which picked up 226 people, quoted on Twitter a survivor who said "we're happy to be alive but our brothers are still in Libya". "Last night they were beating us with iron sticks". | 5 | 98,678 | news |
Earlier in the season we met Nancy and shared her incredible weight loss story. | 7 | 98,679 | health |
From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to TOO CUTE Cute couple alert! Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos step out in New York's Central Park on Monday. SUMMER DAYS Hilary Duff is all smiles as she films scenes for season 3 of her show, Younger, in N.Y.C. on Tuesday. DO THE WAVE Bella Thorne greets photographers as she stops by Extra in L.A. on Tuesday. MINI REUNION Former Will & Grace costars Sean Hayes and Debra Messing embrace on Monday at the opening night after party for An Act of God in New York. CROWNING AROUND Newly crowned Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber, breezes through midtown Manhattan on Tuesday. ON THE MIC Freddie Prinze Jr. can't contain his grin as he stops by N.Y.C.'s AOL Studios to discuss his new cookbook, Back to the Kitchen, on Tuesday. PUPPY LOVE Star Wars star Carrie Fisher hugs her dog, Garry, as she attends an event in London for the #StopYulin campaign, which petitions the Chinese government to end the Yulin Festival, in which thousands of animals are slaughtered. MOM ON THE GO Model Chrissy Teigen opts for distressed jeans and beige jacket for a windy walk through N.Y.C. on Tuesday. SO MUCH FUN Jessica Alba, husband Cash Warren and their daughters, Haven and Honor, attend family fun day at Jessica Biel's Au Fudge restaurant in West Hollywood on Sunday. GLAMOUR GIRL Susan Sarandon strikes a pose as she arrives at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London on Tuesday. BABE CITY Broad City stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer crack each other up as they attend the CFDA Fashion Awards in N.Y.C. on Monday. DOUBLE TROUBLE Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart put on a show for photographers at the Spanish photo call for their upcoming film, Central Intelligence, in Madrid on Tuesday. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Jamie Foxx speaks passionately onstage at a rally in support of Hillary Clinton in L.A. on Monday, in an attempt to encourage people to vote in the Democratic primaries. MIC CHECK Ryan Seacrest is all smiles as he attends the launch party for his Ryan Seacrest Distinction Rio collection at Macy's Herald Square in N.Y.C. on Monday. PEACE AND LOVE Eva Longoria flashes a peace sign and her new wedding bands as she leaves the Hillary Clinton event. NOW SEE THIS Actress Lizzy Caplan is wildly aware of Mark Ruffalo's camera at the Now You See Me 2 premiere in New York on Monday. HEY THERE! Morgan Freeman gives a wave at the Now You See Me 2 premiere in N.Y.C. on Monday. T-SHIRT WEATHER Leonardo DiCaprio takes it all in on Monday as he casually walks through New York's East Village neighborhood. LEGS FOR DAYS Model Hailey Baldwin struts her stuff in N.Y.C.'s Soho neighborhood on Monday. HATS ALL, FOLKS Beyoncé accepts The CDFA Fashion Icon Award in a striped Givenchy suit at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards in N.Y.C. FAMILY AFFAIR Sisters Ashley, Mary-Kate and Elizabeth Olsen make quite the trio on Monday at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards. RED-Y TO SHINE Also at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards, actress Jennifer Hudson who stunned at the event held at the New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. LAUGH FACTORY Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars Tituss Burgess and Ellie Kemper laugh it up on Monday as they attend a panel for their show in L.A. HOT SEATS Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard have a ball on Monday at a promotional event for their show, Empire, in Johannesburg, South Africa. EASY BEING GREEN Jamie Lee Curtis sports a serious costume at the film premiere of Warcraft on Monday. HAIR-RAISING PERFORMANCE Meryl Streep transforms into Donald Trump at the 2016 Public Theater Gala in N.Y.C. on Monday. NOTHING TO WINE ABOUT Kate Upton dances alongside Auction Napa Valley chairman Agustin F. Huneeus at the world's top wine event on Saturday. WIGGING OUT Daniel Radcliffe looks completely unrecognizable as he goofs off with Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on the Tonight Show on Monday. PIANO MAN John Legend sings his heart out as part of the "Hillary Clinton: She's With Us" concert in L.A. on Monday night. CENTER STAGE Later in the night, Ricky Martin can't help but smile after his own performance. FLOWER POWER Meanwhile, Chloë Grace Moretz gives photographers a smile on her way home from the concert. LIFE'S A BEACH Modern Family star Ty Burell shoots a campaign for Gain in Malibu, California. NEW YORK MINUTE Dakota Fanning beats the summer heat in a breezy outfit and an iced coffee while out and about in New York on Monday. DATE NIGHT Vanessa Hudgens and boyfriend Austin Butler attend Cinespia's screening of Mean Girls on Saturday in Hollywood. PITCH POWER Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee throws the first pitch at the Saturday Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners game in Arlington, Texas. CITY GIRL Karlie Kloss leaves her apartment in the West Village neighborhood of N.Y.C. on Monday. HORSING AROUND Actress Marion Cotillard takes in the Longines Athina Onassis Horse Show in Saint Tropez, France on Saturday. AS FRESH AS IT GETS First Lady Michelle Obama joins students for a White House Kitchen Garden harvest Monday in Washington, D.C. GOOD POINT The Night Shift's Scott Wolf is ready for his close-up while stopping by SiriusXM Studios on Monday in N.Y.C. MERMAID VIBES Olivia Culpo heads to the ocean during the ME Cabo resort grand re-opening on Saturday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. CUTE REUNION They meet again! Clueless stars Stacey Dash and Donald Faison reunite at the SiriusXM Studios on Monday in N.Y.C. KNOCK-OUT Prince Harry jokes around with a trainee at the Double Jab Boxing Club where he shows his support for Sport for Social Development initiatives in London on Monday. BETTER TOGETHER Model Irina Shayk and boyfriend Bradley Cooper go for a Saturday stroll in N.Y.C.'s Battery Park. BALLIN' TIME One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan enjoy their time on the field at the Soccer Aid to raise money for UNICEF on Sunday in Manchester, UK. LACY LUNCH Kim Kardashian West heads out after having lunch with husband Kanye West and daughter North in N.Y.C. on Sunday. JUMPING FOR JOY Terry Crews is as enthusiastic as ever on the red carpet for Spike TV's 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards. COSTAR CONNECTION Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci accept the "Guy Movie Hall of Fame" award for Casino at Spike TV's 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards on Saturday in L.A. GRIN & BEAR IT Glee alum Matthew Morrison also competes at the fundraising event on Sunday. MAKING IT RAIN Also at the Guys Choice Awards, which are slated to air Thursday at 9 p.m., Chrissy Teigen finds herself in the middle of a cash downpour. BIG THINKERS Nicole Kidman and Jude Law pose at the Johnnie Walker Blue Label-sponsored premiere of Genius on Sunday in N.Y.C. ANGEL & DEMON Elle Fanning dons an angelic white dress and floral headpiece to a photocall for her new movie, The Neon Demon, in Villa Borghese, Rome on Monday. QUITE THE SIGHT Ed Helms and Amanda Seyfried grimace while filming in L.A. on Saturday. HOT MAMA Candice Swanepoel is a glowing mom-to-be as she's spotted grabbing food with friends on Sunday in N.Y.C. FACING OFF Dermot Mulroney, Julia Roberts and Matt Bomer show off their best duck faces at Spike TV's 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards on Saturday in L.A. TAKE THE STAGE Cohosts Terrence J and Julianne Hough speak onstage during the 2016 Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday. THE BOYS ARE BACK Blast from the past! The Backstreet Boys perform at the 2016 Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas on Sunday. GUYS' NIGHT OUT Adam DeVine (left) and Zac Efron mugged for the camera at the 2016 Spike TV Guys Choice Awards in Culver City, California, on Saturday. LOOKIN' GOOD On Saturday, Michael B. Jordan attended the 9th annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in New Jersey. LIVING LEGENDS (From left) Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro and Julia Roberts linked up at Spike TV's Guys Choice Awards in Culver City, California, on Saturday. FEELING BLUE Elizabeth Olsen attended the 9th annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in New Jersey on Saturday. BROTHERLY LOVE Chris Hemsworth (left) and Tom Hiddleston attended the "Brotherly Love, Asgard Style" Q&A discussion during the Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia on Saturday. LIFE OF PABLO Kanye West performed onstage at the Power 106 Powerhouse show in Anaheim, California, on Friday. BEAUTY BASH (From left) Haya Khadra, Gigi Hadid and Sama Khadra attend the Maybelline New York celebration of their latest collection with an LA beauty bash at The Line Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday. DAY AT THE RACES Queen Elizabeth II attended the Investec Derby in Surrey, England, on Saturday. COUPLE OF CUTIES Anna Kendrick and John Krasinski attend the premiere and a VIP afterparty hosted by Sony Pictures Classics for their new film The Hollars, held during the Los Angeles Film Festival in Culver City, California, this week. SHINE ON On Friday, Ellie Goulding performed in Miami. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Michelle Obama is all smiles as she delivers her final commencement speech as First Lady on Friday at the 2016 City College of New York graduation ceremony. CHEERING SECTION Leonardo DiCaprio wearing his customary newsboy cap and sunglasses takes in some tennis on Friday at the French Open in Paris. PRETTY IN PINK Orange Is the New Black's Laverne Cox is the epitome of glamour in a pale pink minidress and gold jewelry at the L.A. premiere of Free CeCe on Thursday. GOT THE BLUES Victoria Justice is all smiles as she attends the premiere of FREE CeCe! during the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival on Friday. SIMPLE AND CHIC Girls star Jemima Kirke goes for a monochromatic look as she attends the Chanel Fine Jewelry Dinner at the New York Public Library on Thursday. WHITE HOT Olivia Palermo and Chanel Iman strike a pose at the official debut of the Renaissance Hotel in N.Y.C. on Thursday. STAR SCHOLAR Matt Damon delivers the commencement speech at Friday's MIT graduation in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ON THE AIR Shawn Mendes stops by "The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show" in N.Y.C. on Friday. MODEL BEHAVIOR Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley dresses in an all-black ensemble while out and about in L.A. DON'T LOOK NOW Mr. Robot star Rami Malek photo bombs co-star Portia Doubleday as the pair walk the red carpet at the Television Academy's 70th Anniversary Gala on Thursday in L.A. ROCKIN' OUT Gwen Stefani delivers a memorable performance at the Samsung 837 concert in N.Y.C. on Thursday. SELFIE ESTEEM Luke Bryan makes time for a quick picture with Al Roker during his performance on the Today Show on Friday as part of their summer concert series. | 6 | 98,680 | entertainment |
Elon Musk has announced that his SpaceX program will reuse one of its Falcon 9 rockets for the first time, a major step in the development of the billionaire's space exploration firm. Musk took to Twitter Tuesday to show the four Falcon 9 rockets, which have all been launched and landed back safely, and touted the potential launch dates of September or October. Traditionally a rocket would launch into space, drop off its payload, and then discarded. But the return landings of rockets could dramatically cut costs of space missions, something that SpaceX and rival Blue Origin , which is headed up by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, hope to achieve. So far there have been four successful landings of Falcon 9 rockets. The first happened in December, followed by another three earlier this year in which the rocket landed on a drone ship in the sea. Now the plan is to take one of those rockets and re-launch it with cargo. Musk did not reveal who the customers or what the payload would be. Musk's ambitions don't stop at the earth's orbit. Last week, the billionaire outlined plans to take humans to Mars by 2024 . | 3 | 98,681 | finance |
Russian majority state-owned oil giant Rosneft (@ROSLFDC16N-GB) posted a swingeing 75 percent drop in first-quarter net profit, raising questions over how much money the government will be able to glean from its crude producers as commodity prices continue to lag. Rosneft missed analyst forecasts, reporting 14 billion rubles ($216.8 million) in net profit, against Reuters consensus polls predicting 33 billion roubles in net income. The drop didn't seem to worry equity investors, with Rosneft's Moscow-listed stock jumping around 2.8 percent to 30-day highs by 4:30 a.m. ET. However, the plunge is likely to disappoint Moscow, which is banking on state-owned companies like Rosneft to bolster revenues. The Russian government holds a 69.5 percent stake in Rosneft through state-owned firm Rosneftgaz. In April, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced he had signed a resolution requiring state-owned companies to distribute no less than 50 percent of their net profit in dividends. He said the budget was likely to receive an additional 100 billion roubles ($1.6 billion) as a result. | 3 | 98,682 | finance |
Somewhere between breakfast and lunch lies "Brunchfast." At least that's the view of Jack in the Box, which recently trademarked the term. The chain didn't respond to a request for comment about its plans for "Brunchfast," though an industry observer said it seems to make sense given that breakfast is the fastest-growing and most lucrative "daypart" for the quick-service or fast-food restaurant industry. Moreover, Jack in the Box CEO Len Comma recently admitted to investors that McDonald's recent successful introduction of all-day breakfast had hurt his company's business between 10:30 a.m. and noon even tough its morning operations were doing well overall. "Jack in the Box could do something similarly limited between 10 a.m. and noon every day or just on weekends," according to BurgerBusiness.com . "Perhaps it will bring back the Waffle Breakfast Sandwich it offered in 2012." Expanding its breakfast business, though, may be easier said than done. Bob Goldin, vice chairman of restaurant consulting firm Technomic, noted that a variety of chains including Wendy's, Burger King and Subway have found that building a business around the morning meal was harder than they anticipated. "McDonald's owns that daypart," Goldin said. "They just have been extremely good at defending their turf." Jack in the Box also isn't the first fast-food chain to consider a move into brunch. As BurgerBusiness noted, McDonald's trademarked the term "McBrunch" in 2014, though the chain has yet to use it. Burger King tested a menu it dubbed "Burger King Brunch" in 2010, which included at ciabatta breakfast sandwich and a nonalcoholic mimosa. That test didn't catch on. San Diego-based Jack in the Box certainly is no stranger to the morning meal. The chain's president, Frances Allen, joined the company in 2014 from breakfast powerhouse Dennys. Earlier this year, Jack in the Box, which also owns the Qdoba Mexican food chain, overhauled its menu, changing the recipes for 30 items and adding higher-end offerings to attract new customers. The company also is improving its customer service. However, these efforts haven't yet benefited Jack in the Box's bottom line. In fact, same-store sales at the company's namesake restaurants fell 1 percent during the most recent quarter . Jack in the Box expects this key metric, which tracks sales at locations opened for at least a year, to gain 1 percent at most during the current fiscal year. But Wall Street sees better times ahead, thanks in part to Jack in the Box's cost-controls and plans to sell off company-owned stores. Shares of Jack in the Box have risen 11 percent this year, outperforming McDonald's, which are up about 3 percent, and Wendy's, which have fallen about 6 percent. Jack in the Box has vowed to be more competitive in all dayparts, including breakfast. The question now is: Would adding "brunchfast" to the menu bring more tasty returns to shareholders? | 3 | 98,683 | finance |
A 2017 redesign brings a lighter, shorter GMC Acadia to the mid-sized SUV segment. However, this SUV does little to stand out among its competitors from Jeep, Honda and Toyota. | 9 | 98,684 | autos |
China said imports fell in May at their slowest pace for 19 months, fuelling hopes of a pick-up in demand, but traders in Hong Kong and Shanghai gave a muted reaction Wednesday. Beijing said imports declined just 0.4 percent in dollar terms in May, the slowest rate since October 2014, and beating estimates of 6.8 percent in a Bloomberg News survey. It also said exports slipped a slightly-more-than-forecast 4.1 percent, indicating some stability is setting in. The figures raised hopes the world's number two economy, a key driver of global growth, could be near the end of a slowdown that has had dire knock-on effects internationally. "Recovering commodity prices and relatively resilient domestic demand are driving a recovery in import growth," Julian Evans-Pritchard, an analyst with research firm Capital Economics, said in a note. However, after a recent rally the figures were overshadowed by profit-taking, which saw Shanghai end 0.3 percent lower while Hong Kong shed 0.1 percent. Among other markets Sydney was marginally lower but Seoul gained 0.8 percent. Investors were given a positive lead from Wall Street. The Dow and S&P 500 shifted higher, led by energy firms as crude pushed above $50 to sit at 11-month highs thanks to a weaker dollar and output disruptions in key producer Nigeria. Japan's Nikkei swung back and forth through the day before ending up 0.9 percent following news that the country's economy grew a little more than first thought in January-March. However, Koya Miyamae, an economist at SMBC Nikko Securities in Tokyo, said before the report was released: "Even with the...revision, there's no change to the picture that Japan's economy has plateaued and has no clear driver to boost momentum in the months ahead." - Dollar retreats - While the news does not flag a rebound in the world's number three economy, it could sway the Bank of Japan against unveiling any fresh stimulus for the time being. That in turn gave upward momentum to the yen. In afternoon trade the dollar bought 106.97 yen, against 107.39 yen in New York late Tuesday. The greenback was also weighed down by the prospect of US interest rates staying low until later in the year. The euro was at 121.60 yen from 121.97 yen. The pound dipped slightly against the dollar after recent volatility, with few traders able to gauge whether a June 23 referendum will result in Britain remaining in or leaving the European Union. Recent polls have shown momentum with the exit camp, fanning worries that such a decision will spur significant market turmoil and slow or stall the British economy. The World Bank issued a downbeat outlook on the global economy, slashing its forecast for 2016 growth to 2.4 percent this year, the same lethargic pace of last year and much slower than the 2.9 percent tipped in January. The Bank cited a slower-than-expected rebound in advanced economies, which was holding back developed countries, with world trade and investment both depressed. It also said there were doubts that the aggressive monetary easing in developed countries, with negative interest rates in several, was firing up economic activity as intended. In early European trade London was down 0.1 percent, Frankfurt lost 0.4 percent and Paris slid 0.3 percent. - Key figures around 0800 GMT - Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.9 percent at 16,830.92 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 2,927.16 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.1 percent at 21,297.88 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,277.03 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 106.97 yen from 107.39 yen late Tuesday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.4522 from $1.4540 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1368 from $1.1358 New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 17,938.28 (close) -- Bloomberg News contributed to this report -- | 3 | 98,685 | finance |
MOSCOW/CAIRO, June 8 (Reuters) - An EgyptAir passenger plane en route from Cairo to Beijing was forced to make an emergency landing in Uzbekistan on Wednesday after receiving a security threat that the airline said turned out to be a hoax. All 118 passengers and 17 crew members on board the Airbus plane were evacuated in Urgench, western Uzbekistan, after the threat was made three hours into the flight, EgyptAir said in a statement. The plane and passengers were searched by Uzbek authorities who confirmed that the threat was a hoax, it said. "The necessary actions are underway to resume the journey to Beijing Airport," it said. The emergency landing comes weeks after an EgyptAir flight crashed into the Mediterranean on May 19, killing all 66 people on board. An investigation is underway into the causes of the disaster. EgyptAir has received a number of bomb threats since the crash, all of which have turned out to be hoaxes. An EgyptAir official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the hoaxes had caused numerous delays and cost the company a lot of money. "It is a conspiracy against EgyptAir," he said. "It is very costly." Last month's crash was the third major aviation incident for Egypt since a Russian plane was brought down by a bomb in late October. In March, a man wearing a fake suicide belt hijacked an EgyptAir plane and diverted it to Cyprus. Wednesday's false security threat, which was unusual in that it was made after the plane had taken off, could add to a climate of uncertainty that has already put off visitors. The number of tourists visiting Egypt fell 54 percent in April 2016 compared to a year earlier as Egypt has struggled to restore confidence and lure visitors back to its sandy beaches and pharaonic relics. Egypt's tourism industry, a cornerstone of the economy and a critical source of hard currency, has been struggling since the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule and ushered in a period of political and economic upheaval. Egyptian forces are also battling to end an Islamist insurgency that is raging in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where the Russian plane crashed. Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Anton Zverev in Moscow and Lin Noueihed and Amina Ismail in Cairo; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov and Amina Ismail; Editing by Andrew Osborn) | 5 | 98,686 | news |
Residential housing is robust again, perhaps even bubbly. But instead of threatening to inflict another economic collapse on the U.S., rising home prices in fact may be reflecting a lopsided market where the wealthy are ensconced in cities that are mostly unaffordable to everyone else. Ineed, it appears that inequality and lack of demand for cheaper homes characterize the housing market nowadays. First, a comparison between median home prices and median household income shows that one year's worth of income buys as small a percentage of a house (less than 20%) as it did at the peak of the bubble. But comparing median income to the median sales price, though important, may not reveal all the nuances of the market. For example, according to a recent report from the Urban Institute (UI), the housing market looks healthier in that total housing equity now exceeds total housing debt, $13.2 trillion to $10 trillion. By contrast, from late 2006 through mid-2012 debt had exceeded equity. Similarly, tighter lending standards have resulted in low default rates on mortgages issued in recent years, according to the UI report. Moreover, outstanding Alt-A and subprime securitizations are around $500 billion, as opposed to $1.8 trillion at their peak in mid-2007. Non agency securitization volume constituted less than 2% of new securitizations compared to the 2004-2006 period when it constituted more than half of new securitizations. Also, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), which had accounted for as much as 27% of new originations at the peak of the crisis, fell to 1% in 2009, grew again to 7.2% in May 2014, and declined again to 4.1% in February 2016. ARMs were so much a part of the crisis because they were sold to strapped buyers who only had to make interest payments for two years. Then, when the rate reset or adjusted to include principal, buyers were told they could take out a new loan on a home that, it was assumed, would have appreciated in price. The thinking was that home prices never decline. Overall, the UI report observes, the market isn't overladen with debt, including bad debt, despite renewed median income and median home price separation. In fact, home affordability is still high, according to the UI, even though home prices are increasing at a faster clip than income and prices in major cities on both U.S. coasts are particularly high. Low interest rates, of course, have contributed to affordability. The rich seem to be segregating themselves in expensive, affordable-only-to-them coastal cities. Not affordable everywhere Still, even if U.S. housing isn't about to inflict another financial crisis on the world through a debt-fueled bubble, the UI report hints at another problem wealth inequality. Home prices aren't affordable everywhere, and the rich seem to be segregating themselves in expensive, affordable-only-to-them coastal cities. Affordability is defined as the maximum affordable price is the house price that a family can afford putting 20% down, with a monthly payment of 28% of median family income, at the Freddie Mac prevailing rate for 30-year fixed rate mortgage, and property tax and insurance at 1.75% of housing value. Moreover, FICO scores (consumer credit ratings) and down payments measured by loan-to-value (LTV) statistics are higher in the most-expensive markets (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose), where households struggle less to make payments, than they are in the cheaper markets (Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland). In fact, the data show unaffordability in 13 of 37 MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas). And, according to a Zillow report using data from Harvard's Equality of Opportunity Project, the worst affordability is in areas that historically have given parents the best opportunities to ensure better futures for their children. According to Zillow, "home values have increased sharply in the very same metro areas that offer a path to a prosperous future and incomes have not kept up." Real estate appreciated by 21% in the most expensive zip codes, and by 13% in the bottom 90% of zip codes Big returns on well-located residential real estate So powerful is the return on real estate that a recent Brookings Institution paper refuting the thesis of controversial economist Thomas Piketty (that greater return accrues to capital rather than to labor), allowed for an exception in residential real estate as an asset that has appreciated meaningfully. The Brookings paper didn't focus on where real estate has appreciated the most. But from 2004 through 2015, real estate appreciated by 21% in the most expensive zip codes, and by 13% in the bottom 90% of zip codes. The price disparity in housing between the high- and low ends of the housing market is as large as it's been since World War II. So while it's unlikely there's another debt-fueled real estate crisis that will tank the global economy, real estate now reflects a different set of problems. | 3 | 98,687 | finance |
A car bomb attack hit a police station in the southeastern Turkish province of Mardin on Wednesday, wounding many people, security sources said, a day after 11 people were killed by a bomb targeting police in Istanbul. The blast in the town of Midyat, in the mainly Kurdish southeast, destroyed the facade of a five-storey building, damaged other buildings, and sent a plume of thick black smoke rising over the area, footage from the Dogan news agency showed. Clashes broke out between the members of the security forces and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants after the explosion, the security sources said. The PKK has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in the southeast and violence has spiralled since a ceasefire collapsed almost a year ago. Ambulances rushed to the scene and reinforcements from the security forces were being sent to the area from around Mardin province, the security sources said. There has been no claim of responsibility for Tuesday's attack in Istanbul, in which a car bomb ripped through a police bus during the morning rush hour. But Kurdish militants have staged similar attacks on the security forces in the recent past, including in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. (Reporting by Seyhmus Cakan and Daren Butler; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk) | 5 | 98,688 | news |
Here are low-cost and DIY Father's Day gift ideas. | 8 | 98,689 | video |
Your tattoo could help police put you in prison and violate your privacy. Here's how . * How Prisoner of Azkaban Changed the Harry Potter Franchise & Young Adult Cinema Forever. * The True Story Of The Fake Zombies .The Texas version of the Zombies was made up of musicians Mark Ramsey, Seab Meador, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. * 10 Terrible Cases of Mistaken Identity . Innocent people have been accused of drug abuse, theft, and even murder. * How an Australian Neighborhood Reduced Food Waste By 90 Percent . Except it's not being eaten, but composted instead. * Fashionable London Street Portraits from the '70s and '80s. Photographer Al Vandenberg gets to the heart of the era. * The ugly secret of working moms . Trying to do both, they feel confident about neither. * The West Virginia Town Where Wireless Signals Are Illegal . The 143 residents are okay with it, although there may have been others that moved away long ago. | 4 | 98,690 | lifestyle |
MOSCOW A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly denied allegations that the sports ministry might be personally involved in covering up doping cases in the country. A documentary by Germany's ARD to be broadcast later Wednesday alleges it has evidence that Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has personally intervened to bury a leading soccer player's positive test and video footage of banned coaches working with elite athletes. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia is committed to working with international bodies to battle doping but that it views the allegations against Mutko as libel. Peskov says "until there is hard evidence to back up those claims, that libel, we will treat this as libel." | 1 | 98,691 | sports |
Black students are nearly four times as likely to be suspended as white students, according to new federal data. The sweeping bi-annual survey of more than 50 million students by the US Department of Education found that suspensions overall have dramatically decreased by nearly 20% between the 2011-12 and 2013-14 school years. But the data revealed a discrepancy between suspension rates across demographics. As early as preschool, black children are 3.6 times as likely to receive one or more suspensions as white children. According to the data, black girls represent 20% of female preschool enrollment, but account for 54% of preschool children suspensions. Black students were also twice as likely to be expelled as white students. Liz King, director of education policy at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said the findings on discipline for black preschool children were "disturbing". "We wonder what message that sends to those four-year-olds about their value in the school," King said. The new data collection highlighted issues not covered in previous years by the education department, including chronic student absenteeism and the lack of resource officers in some schools. Though 95% of high school students have access to at least one school counselor, the data found more than 20% of schools have none. What's more, 1.6 million students attend a school with a police officer but no school counselor. King said the lack of counselors reinforces the fact that inequities exist across public schools. "Schools should be equalizers of opportunity but instead we're seeing them reinforce inequity." The federal government has collected and published findings on civil rights data from schools since 1968. As it did for 2011-12, the data collection covered more than 50 students enrolled from nearly every school across the US. The findings came ahead of initiatives from the US education and housing and urban development departments to boost diversity in schools. The agencies on Wednesday will host an educational policy session. Related: New report is 'huge warning sign' that desegregation has failed in US schools "Diversity benefits all students in schools," John King Jr, the US education secretary, said in a statement. "Our schools, as well as our communities, should reflect the increasing diversity in our nation." The education department's new data also for the first time shed light on chronic absenteeism among students and teachers. In the 2013-14 school year, 6.5 million students or 13% of all students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 15 or more school days. The data found 3.5 million elementary school students are chronically absent, as well. Chronic absenteeism is particularly common for minorities in schools where their teachers also miss class, according to the findings. Black students represent 15% of all students in the US, but account for 21% of chronically absent students in schools where more than 50% of teachers were absent for at least 10 days. Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, said chronic absenteeism plays a significant impact in school achievement and advancement. It reduces the likelihood of reading on grade level by third grade, he said, and for teenagers, "it's a better predictor of dropping out than test scores". "Its impact is greatest on high-poverty students, the very students who benefit most from being in school on a regular basis," he said. "This undercuts the impact of school reform, as many of the students who the reforms are designed for are not there on a regular basis to receive them." Nationwide, access to advanced courses isn't universal and again, racial disparities were prevalent. Only 48% of high schools in the US offer calculus, according to the data, while roughly three-quarters offer chemistry and algebra II. The data showed black and Latino students accounted for 38% of student population at high schools with advanced placement (AP) courses, but only 29% enrolled in at least one AP class. In a press call with reporters ahead of the data's release this week, King, the education secretary, said the new data suggests more work needs to be done to ensure children in the US receive an adequate education. "Our systemic failure to educate some groups of children, as well others, tears at the moral fabric of the nation," King said. "What sets the US apart from any other country in the idea that opportunity is universal. These data show that we still fall far short of that ideal." | 5 | 98,692 | news |
An EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Beijing made an emergency landing in Uzbekistan on Wednesday after a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax, the airline said. Uzbek authorities checked the Airbus A330 and found no explosives on board, EgyptAir chairman Safwat Musallam told AFP. "The authorities there cleared the plane for departure after they searched the plane and found no threats," he said. Musallam said an anonymous call was received warning there was a bomb on board after flight MS955 had left Cairo, and it landed at the nearest airport. Uzbek authorities confirmed the plane had made an emergency landing at an airport in Urgench in the west of the country. The flight had left Cairo five minutes before midnight on Tuesday, and the plane was scheduled to land in Beijing at 3.34 pm on Wednesday, according to EgyptAir's website. It is the latest in a series of incidents involving Egyptian planes or airports. An EgyptAir plane crashed in the Mediterranean with 66 people aboard on May 19 while en route from Paris to Cairo. In October a Russian airliner with 224 people on board was downed by a bomb over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. | 5 | 98,693 | news |
Domino's Pizza says it has been working with the New York Attorney General's Office for more than three years to ensure franchisee compliance with wage and hour laws but is disappointed that AG Eric Schneiderman ultimately decided to file a lawsuit against it. Schneiderman announced on May 24 that his office is suing Domino's Pizza Inc., Domino's Pizza LLC and Domino's Pizza Franchising LLC because their franchisees have allegedly underpaid workers more than $500,000 at 10 stores in New York. Also named as defendants are three franchisees. He claims that DPZ is a joint employer of these allegedly underpaid employees. Thus, DPZ should be liable for the underpaid wages, he says. DPZ asserts differently. It is the first time Schneiderman has alleged that a fast food corporation is liable as a joint employer for labor violations at its franchise stores. "(T)hose franchisees are solely responsible for the hiring, firing, and payment of their own employees, we (DPZ) had been working with the Attorney General's office for quite some time more than three years to see what we could do to help our franchisees understand and comply with some of the many complex wage and hour laws that apply to their employment decisions," said Jenny Fouracre, director of public relations for Domino's. Fouracre told Legal Newsline in an email that the lawsuit "disregards the nature of franchising and demeans the role of small business owners instead of focusing on solutions that could have actually helped the individuals those small businesses employ." "We will continue to take those steps which we are permitted to take to foster our franchisees' compliance with the wage and hour laws, not because we are obligated to do so, but because we think it's the right thing to do." Fouracre added. She said DPZ looks forward to responding to the allegations in court. Schneiderman is alleging Domino's "micromanaged" employee relations at franchisee stores. He also claims the company urged franchisees to use payroll reports from its system even though the company knew that system under-calculated gross wages. "At some point, a company has to take responsibility for its actions and for its workers' well-being. We've found rampant wage violations at Domino's franchise stores. And, as our suit alleges, we've discovered that Domino's headquarters was intensely involved in store operations, and even caused many of these violations," Schneiderman said. Schneiderman said the investigation found Domino's played a role in the hiring, firing and disciplinary actions of employees at franchisees' stores while also pushing an anti-union stance. Fouracre also provided Legal Newsline with a copy of a letter sent by DPZ local counsel, Eric Corngold, to Schneiderman in March in which three measures to support franchisee compliance are proposed. First, DPZ is willing to fund and require that the New York franchisees attend a legal compliance training covering the wage and hour laws. Even though DPZ itself would not conduct this training, it would be willing to work with Schneiderman's office to develop the training and to determine the frequency and format. The second measure would require New York franchisees to become certified to ensure compliance with wage and hour laws. Again, DPZ would work with the office to determine the frequency this certification would be required. Finally, DPZ would require the New York franchisees to be monitored. This monitoring could take the form of an attorney or group of attorneys to regularly review the franchisees' records and guide each franchisee to ensure compliance with the law. Another option would be an independent monitor selected in consultation with the office. DPZ maintains that the franchisor cannot pay restitution to the underpaid franchisee employees. In the settlement discussion letter, Corngold notes, "while it is not the purpose of this letter to debate the law, courts considering the responsibility of a franchisor like DPZ have overwhelmingly found that the franchisor is not liable for employment-related violations by its franchisees. See, e.g., Patterson v. Domino's Pizza, LLC, 333, P.3d 723 (Cal. Sup. Ct. 2014. )" That California Supreme Court decision found Domino's wasn't liable for alleged sexual harassment at a franchisee's store. Schneiderman has already settled cases with 12 Domino's franchisees, representing 61 stores. They have agreed to pay approximately $1.5 million to date. Schneiderman says his investigation uncovered internal documents produced by Domino's showing that over a two-year period, 78% of New York franchisees listed rates for at least some employees below the required minimum wage, and 86% listed rates below the required overtime rate. | 3 | 98,694 | finance |
Two Turkish police officers have been killed and several others wounded in a car bomb attack on a police station in the country's southeastern province of Mardin. Hospital sources said more than 20 people including police officers and civilians were wounded in Wednesday's attack in the town of Midyat, a region where government forces are battling Kurkish separatists. According to images posted on Twitter, glass from blown-out windows littered the streets and plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the building. Turkey has been hit by a series of similar attacks in recent months. Rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have targeted police and military personnel since July, when a fragile peace process between the rebels and the government collapsed. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep, said there's been an increase in attacks since the Turkish army launched operations against PKK fighters in the area. In May, three people were killed in a car bombing by Kurdish rebels against a gendarmerie station in Midyat and in April, a soldier was killed and six others were wounded in a car bomb attack against their outpost in Mardin. Wednesday's attack comes a day after a car bomb hit a police vehicle in Istanbul, killing 11 people during the morning rush hour. No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has also been blamed for a series of deadly bombings in Turkey, which is part of the US-led coalition bombing its positions. | 5 | 98,695 | news |
Uncertainty looms on all fronts should the U.K. on June 23 vote to leave the European Union , leaving the country's cherished top grade triple A sovereign rating susceptible to a cut, a senior Standards and Poor executive said Wednesday. Citing short-term financial markets volatility as an immediate risk, global ratings director of the agency's corporate and government ratings, Taron Wade, told CNBC's " Capital Connection " that the risk of the UK losing its rating should it vote to leave the EU would be "great". Accompanying worries include a depreciation in the sterling (GBP=) . In the medium-term, companies may cut down on capital investment as companies would not know how to invest in the new environment. "We've actually already seen a decline in forecast capex spend for the U.K. relative to Europe," she said. A reduction in capital spending would make companies less competitive over time. As for the long-term, there will be uncertainty over regulation and trade barriers following a Brexit. "It's concerning if you don't know what the regulatory environment will be in terms of competition commission and also U.K. companies could get left out of European consolidation trends," she said. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook . | 3 | 98,696 | finance |
COLUMBIA, S.C. Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after a midair collision overnight in eastern Georgia, the Guard said. The collision happened Tuesday night around 9:15 p.m. during routine night-flying operations over a military operating area in Jefferson County, Georgia, the Air National Guard said in a news release. The jets were assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, which operates out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina. The two male pilots were brought to a hospital, said 1st Lt. Stephen Hudson, a spokesman for the Guard. "They were taken to a local hospital for observation," Hudson said. "Apparently there were no major injuries." There were no immediate reports of injuries on the ground. The pilots were conducting a training mission over Georgia airspace in an area known as the Townsend Range, Hudson said. The region is used by the South Carolina Air National Guard for such training. Hudson said it appeared the two aircraft crashed in separate locations, apparently wooded areas. "We are dealing with two crash sites," Hudson said, adding that officials from the South Carolina Air National Guard were traveling to the area Wednesday morning. Local first responders were securing the area and providing emergency services, the Guard's news release said. The release also said the Air Force would conduct a safety investigation. The collision comes after both of the military's precision flying teams suffered crashes last week. A Blue Angels F/A-18 crashed last Thursday near Nashville, Tennessee, while taking off for a practice session. The pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, was killed. Also Thursday, a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, but that pilot, Maj. Alex Turner, ejected safely. The Thunderbirds had just performed over the open-air graduation ceremony at the nearby Air Force Academy, where President Barack Obama spoke. | 5 | 98,697 | news |
Ice and foam: two potential ways you can feel ripped off by Starbucks if your cup is filled to the brim with either. Though a Starbucks employee claims it's not a company-endorsed policy , I'm all about wising up to avoid the dreaded $5 cup of ice (or foam). And you can, too, if you order the right way. Ask for "light ice" or "light foam" or even "no ice" or "no foam." You can also ask for your preferred drink size but in a bigger cup. I've done this with coffee, and it means you have tons of room for milk while still getting the most coffee possible. It also works in your favor for barista-made drinks. "I'll take a grande latte in a venti cup." Baristas will usually pour the entire amount of steamed milk in the cup, giving you a larger drink. The same goes for matcha lattes and Frappuccinos. Isn't it wonderful to know you're getting the most bang for your buck? | 0 | 98,698 | foodanddrink |
It's like "Fight Club." | 8 | 98,699 | video |
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