- WorldYahoo News
Will Barcelona secede from Spain? Catalan independence is up for a vote — and Russia is stirring the pot
Here in Spain’s second-largest city, long a magnet for American tourists, life on the surface appears as festive as ever, from the beach terraces laden with pitchers of sangria to the crowds browsing the kiosks on the pedestrian median of La Rambla, which almost immediately returned to normal after last month’s terror attack. But the tension brewing just below the surface of Catalonia, the wealthy northeast region of 7.5 million of which Barcelona is capital, burst into the open Wednesday morning with a series of raids by national police on the regional ministry of finance, leading to at least a dozen arrests of senior officials, followed by hours of flag-waving marches and demonstrations. At issue is a wave of Catalan nationalism culminating in a referendum on secession, scheduled for Oct. 1.
- NewsHuffPost
Virginian Charters Jet To Rescue 300 Pets Stranded On Virgin Islands After Irma
When Hurricane Maria took aim at the U.S. Virgin Islands last week, Sali Gear knew she had to move fast. Gear, the co-founder of Virginia Beach’s Island Dog Rescue, grew up in the islands. To make this happen, Gear initially aimed to fly 20 animals to the continental U.S. every day for one week, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
- NewsHuffPost
Muslims More Likely Than Americans Overall To See Discrimination Against Black People
Muslims are more likely than Americans overall to acknowledge the discrimination that black Americans face in the country, a Pew Research Center study suggests. Most American Muslims (67 percent) said the country needs to continue making changes to give blacks equal rights, Pew reports. In addition, Muslims were more likely to say that there is a lot of discrimination in the U.S. today against black people (71 percent).
- NewsAOL.com
Grandfather hands stranger's toddler $20 bill in Target for most tragic reason
A mother shopping with her young son in Target was caught off guard when an elderly man gave the toddler a $20 bill -- but when he explained himself, she was reduced to tears. Alyssa Hacker, of Coweta, Oklahoma, says she was visiting the Fort Smith Target with her son Owen when the gregarious child struck up a conversation with a fellow shopper. "We were at target waiting on Grammi and we found some dinosaurs," Hacker wrote on Facebook.
- WorldYahoo View
Trump Leaning Towards Not Re-Certifying Iran Deal, Sources Say
President Trump has accused Iran of violating the spirit of the agreement, which requires the country to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.
- NewsHuffPost
George W. Bush's Ethics Chief: This 'May Be What Puts An End To This White House'
If it turns out it was to block the Russia investigation, that would be obstruction, Painter said on MSNBC on Wednesday. “The president once again has the right to fire the FBI director,” Painter said on MSNBC.
- WorldInside Edition
Mexico Schoolgirl's Wiggling Fingers Bring Hope After 2 Others Rescued From Quake Rubble
Rescuers scrambled to dig through the rubble of a Mexico City school into Thursday morning in a rescue attempt that intensified when signs of life were spotted against all odds. The school was leveled, along with around 40 other buildings across the Mexican capital. Throughout the area, more than 50 people have been rescued alive from beneath rubble.
NewsAssociated Press10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. WHERE HURRICANE MARIA IS HEADINGThe strengthening Category 3 storm is lashing the Dominican Republic and is expected to pass near the Turks and Caicos
BusinessAFPGE to sell corporate jets in cost-cutting move
General Electric plans to sell its corporate jets in a cost-cutting move amid sluggish activity in key industrial divisions, a spokesperson said Wednesday. "As we have said, we are executing on a plan to take out $2 billion in cost by the end of 2018," the GE spokesperson told AFP. The company plans to sell the fleet, the spokesperson said.
- NewsYahoo News
New riots over police shooting raise the question: What is it about St. Louis?
For the past four nights in St. Louis, peaceful daytime protests over the acquittal of a former police officer charged with the fatal shooting of a black motorist in 2011 have degenerated into violent clashes with police, resulting in more than 100 arrests. St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced Tuesday that in anticipation of a fifth evening of protests, she would postpone scheduled town hall events where she was expected to discuss various issues — including crime and the police. In the wake of Ferguson, protests over police shootings in cities including Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Minneapolis made clear that the problems between police and the black community, in particular, exist well beyond Ferguson.
- NewsHuffPost
A Lot Of Americans Don't Know That Puerto Ricans Are Americans, Too
Maria “will essentially devastate most of the island,” Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said earlier this week. “After Irma, the people of Puerto Rico stood up and helped others,” he said, according to USA Today. Fewer than half of Americans, however, even realize that Puerto Ricans are American citizens.
- LifestyleYahoo News Photo Staff
Breathtaking shots of king penguins marching in golden sunrise
Wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever, 45, visited the Falkland Islands this year to shoot pictures and scout the area for future tours. Wim’s breathtaking images show a small group of king penguins before they head out to sea at sunrise. Wim said: “The sunrise created beautiful vibrant colors and amazing reflections.
- NewsHuffPost
Linked By Their Choice To Become Single Mothers, Two Women Share Their Stories
Brenda Torres, a 34-year-old mom of one in Caldwell, Idaho, and Kriss Kokoefer, a 50-year-old mom of two in Oakland, California, always knew they wanted to be mothers. Brenda and Kriss are single moms by choice. Kriss adopted her two daughters, who are 9 and 5, from China.
- WorldYahoo News Video
Russia warns US, says special forces helping Syrian troops
Russia on Thursday issued a stern warning to U.S. forces and their allies in Syria, saying it has deployed Russian special forces alongside Syrian government troops in the battle for the oil-rich Deir el-Zour province and that Moscow would retaliate if the Russians come under fire.
- PoliticsYahoo News
Bipartisan health care fix dies in Senate
That talk of a bipartisan health care bill was a pleasant dream while it lasted. The day after Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., shelved their effort to reach an agreement on how to improve upon the Affordable Care Act, observers of the process gave varied explanations for why Republicans and Democrats failed once again to solve the problem. Republicans have been talking about repealing former President Obama’s 2010 health care law for nearly a decade, and Alexander’s focus was on preventing harm to Americans who might be hurt by rising premiums in the next year.
- NewsHuffPost
Man Shot Dead By Oklahoma City Cop Was Deaf (UPDATED)
An Oklahoma City police officer shot and killed a deaf man who was holding a metal pipe on Tuesday night, authorities said. According to police spokesman Capt. Bo Mathews, neighbors told Sgt. Chris Barnes that 35-year-old Magdiel Sanchez could not hear his commands. “He can't hear you!” – what witnesses yelled to police before an officer shot and killed a deaf man in Oklahoma City.
NewsAssociated PressNew fight in California water wars: How to update old system
In California's long-raging water wars, pitting north against south and farmer against city dweller, the one thing everybody agreed on Wednesday was that the outdated method of shipping water throughout the most populous state needs a serious upgrade. A group of influential California farmers shook up the debate a day earlier, backing out of Gov. Jerry Brown's $16 billion plan to build two massive water tunnels, re-engineering the delivery system. Westlands Water District in Fresno said it was too expensive and came with too few guarantees.
- NewsInside Edition
Why Woman Who Had Affair With Serial Killer Todd Kohlhepp Fears She Could Have Been Next
The woman who had an affair with one of America’s most notorious serial killers fears she would have been his next target had he not been caught. Holly Eudy is still coming to terms with the terrifying trail of bodies left by Todd Kohlhepp, the man she was in love with for 10 years. Kohlhepp is the real estate broker from Spartanburg, S.C., whose crimes shocked the nation.
- NewsTime
1-Year-Old in 'Extremely Critical Condition' After Being Thrown From Vehicle
Maj. Stephen Oliver with Memphis Police Felony Response unit told The Commercial Appeal that the child’s parents have been detained, but no charges have been filed. “The child was thrown from the vehicle and is at Le Bonheur in extremely critical condition and this is an ongoing investigation,” Major Stephen Oliver with the Memphis Police Felony Response unit told The Commercial Appeal.
- PoliticsHuffPost
Trump Uses RNC Funds To Pay For His Russia Defense -- Thanks To Hillary Clinton's Lawyer
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump, a billionaire, is reportedly using money raised by the Republican National Committee to cover legal fees associated with the Department of Justice investigation into his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has used over $230,000 in money raised by the RNC for his own legal defense, according to Reuters. In a bit of an ironic twist, the RNC money with which Trump is paying for his legal defense is available for him to use thanks to the work of Clinton’s campaign lawyer, Marc Elias.
BusinessReutersOil up 2 percent despite U.S. crude build; set for best third quarter since 2004
By Julia Simon NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices settled up 2 percent on Wednesday despite a rise in U.S. crude inventories, with the market heading for its largest third-quarter gain in 13 years after the Iraqi oil minister said OPEC and its partners were considering extending or deepening output cuts. Brent crude futures rose $1.06, or 1.9 percent, to $56.20 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 93 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $50.41. U.S. crude oil stockpiles jumped last week as imports and production increased, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said, as operations resumed from the impact of Hurricane Harvey which hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 25.
- CelebrityHuffPost
Navy Hospital Staffers Removed After Sharing Disturbing Photos Of Newborns
“It’s outrageous, unacceptable, incredibly unprofessional, and cannot be tolerated,” the hospital said, without identifying the corpsmen by name. One video posted to Snapchat shows a woman holding up a newborn and forcing it to dance to rap music like a puppet, First Coast News reported. Attorney Sean Cronin, who has filed medical malpractice lawsuits against the Naval hospital in the past, told News 4 Jax that he was left “utterly shocked” by the content.
- WorldNewsweek
Russia Accuses U.S. of Working With Al-Qaeda Affiliate
Russia's military has accused U.S. intelligence of ordering militants affliated with Al-Qeada to attack government forces in order to divert their attention from a battle they are fighting against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS). Bashar al-Assad's regime is battling ISIS in Deir Ezzor, once a stronghold of Islamist extremists. Since officially entering the Syrian conflict to support Assad's faltering regime in late 2015, Russia has repeatedly said it is fighting "terrorism," though its broad definition of the term includes no explicit list of organization.
- WorldThe Independent
Mexico earthquake: Barack Obama sends a 'big hug for everyone' in Mexico City after devastating quake
Barack Obama has tweeted to say he wants to send a "big hug for everyone" affected by the devastating earthquake which struck Mexico. Twenty-two bodies were pulled from rubble at a school in Mexico City. President Enrique Pena Nieto visited the school and said in comments broadcast online by Financiero TV that 30 children and eight adults were still missing.
- HealthHuffPost
Virginia Republican Flip-Flops Almost Immediately On Opposing GOP Health Care Bill
Ed Gillespie, Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, walked back comments opposing the congressional Republican health care bill mere minutes after he made them Tuesday night. In a televised debate with his Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D), Gillespie said he did not support the Graham-Cassidy bill, which is the latest attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “Virginia cannot be punished in any legislation for not being an expansion state and for being fiscally prudent with our Medicaid dollars,” Gillespie said.
