- U.S.Olivier KnoxDefying critics, Obama nominates Cuba ambassador
Secretary of State John Kerry, right, is greeted on the tarmac by Jeffrey DeLaurentis at José Martí International Airport in Havana, Aug. 14, 2015. Facing down congressional opponents of his historic outreach to Cuba, President Obama announced Tuesday that he has chosen highly respected career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Havana in 55 years. DeLaurentis is currently the top official at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.
- PoliticsLiz GoodwinClinton: Trump ‘bragged’ about not paying taxes
“He actually bragged about gaming the system to get out of paying his fair share of taxes,” Clinton told the crowd of roughly 1,500 at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. “I think there’s a strong possibility he hasn’t paid federal taxes a lot of years, and this is a man who goes around calling our military a disaster, who goes around criticizing every institution from health care to education, our vets,” Clinton said. During the debate, Clinton brought up that the last tax returns Trump turned over to the public — from the 1970s — show that he paid nothing in federal income tax for several years.
- BusinessThe DriveHere's Our First Look at Mercedes-Benz's Futuristic Electric Concept Car
Automakers across the board are filling more and more of their lineups with utopian people-movers for the 21st Century, and Mercedes-Benz is no exception. To tease its new electric concept car before its full reveal at the Paris Motor Show this week, Mercedes-Benz released a short clip of the vehicle showing off a few details and hinting at other clues on the new car. Previously, The Drive reported on how Daimler, Mercedes-Benz's parent company, has been looking to start up its own electric car sub-brand to rival Tesla.
U.S.Reuters'Bridgegate' witness says Governor Christie knew of lane closuresBy Joseph Ax NEWARK, N.J. (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was aware of a politically motivated scheme to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as it was unfolding, a key prosecution witness testified on Tuesday at the criminal trial of two former Christie associates. David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who masterminded the plot, told jurors in Newark federal court that he and Bill Baroni, another Port Authority executive, discussed the lane closure with Christie before a memorial service marking the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center. The testimony marked the first specific evidence federal prosecutors have presented to back their contention that the Republican governor knew at the time about the scandal known as "Bridgegate," despite his repeated denials.
- U.S.Christian Science MonitorWhy did an Ohio cop drive a man 100 miles to his sister's funeral?
A man rushing to meet up with his family after the sudden death of his 15-year-old sister was shown some kindness from an Ohio state police officer who sympathized with him, offering to escort him on the 100-mile journey back home. “Everybody knows how much I dislike Cops but I am truly Greatful for this Guy,” Mark Ross wrote in a Facebook post Sunday. In a time when tensions between white police officers and the black community run high, the heartwarming story was a breath of fresh air for many, quickly becoming a viral Facebook post that was shared nearly 100,000 times as of Tuesday afternoon.
- WorldForeign Policy MagazineRussia Is In Tailspin Over MH17 Shootdown Report
A new Dutch-led investigation of the 2014 deadly shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in a separatist-held area of Ukraine corroborates what was already widely documented: A Russian Buk missile system caused the crash. Prosecutors stopped short of directly blaming Moscow, which has denied involvement. Moscow’s spin machine quickly took flight after the inquiry’s report became public.
BusinessAssociated PressHow the Dow Jones industrial average fared on TuesdayNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed higher after a survey showed consumer confidence is at a nine-year high, a sign Americans will keep spending in the months to come. Technology and consumer stocks made the largest gains.On Tuesday:The Dow Jones industrial
- U.S.Yahoo News PhotoDeadly house explosion in the Bronx
A battalion chief who had been considered a rising star in the New York Fire Department was killed Tuesday when a row house exploded as he was supervising an evacuation following the report of a gas leak. Authorities are looking into whether the building
WorldAFPTourists flee volcano at popular Indonesia hiking spotHundreds of tourists have fled a volcanic eruption at a popular Indonesian hiking destination, an official said Wednesday, expressing fears some may have stayed behind to document the natural wonder. Around 1,000 tourists, including about 600 foreigners, were believed to be in the area when Mount Barujari sent columns of ash and smoke shooting high into the sky over holiday island Lombok Tuesday, according to the official disaster agency. Barujari is a small cone within the crater of Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano and a major attraction for foreign tourists visiting the archipelago.
U.S.ReutersCongress rejects Obama veto, Saudi September 11 bill becomes lawBy Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama's veto of legislation allowing relatives of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, the first veto override of his presidency, just four months before it ends. The House of Representatives voted 348-77 against the veto, hours after the Senate rejected it 97-1, meaning the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act" will become law. The vote was a blow to Obama as well as to Saudi Arabia, one of the United States' longest-standing allies in the Arab world, and some lawmakers who supported the override already plan to revisit the issue.
- PoliticsLiz GoodwinClinton pokes fun at Trump for ‘defective’ mic complaint
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Hillary Clinton poked fun at Donald Trump on Tuesday morning for complaining about his microphone after the first presidential debate. “Anybody who complained about the microphone is not having a good night,” Clinton told reporters in a brief question-and-answer session at the back of her plane before taking off for a rally in Raleigh, N.C. Monday night, Trump entered the spin room at Hofstra University after a tough first debate and complained that his mic had been “defective.” He mused whether that was on purpose.
- BusinessThe DriveMercedes Is STILL Running "Self-Driving Car" Ads For The NOT Self-Driving E-Class
Just when you thought the saga of Mercedes-Benz claiming the 2017 E-Class was a “Self-Driving Car” was over, well, it’s not over. The saga began with early ads for the new E-Class stating “Introducing A Self-Driving Car from a very Self-Driven Company.” As I pointed out in my review of Mercedes’ DrivePilot, in no universe does the Mercedes system make it a Self-Driving Car, or anywhere near Level 4 Autonomy. Mercedes DrivePilot is no more than ADAS, and nowhere near Tesla’s state-of-the-art Autopilot system, which is at or slightly above Level 2.
WorldReutersDeath toll in migrant shipwreck off Egypt rises to 202Thirty-three bodies were recovered on Tuesday as a wreck of boat that sank off Egypt last week with hundreds of migrants aboard was lifted from the depths, raising the confirmed death toll to 202, a local official said. Rescue workers and fishermen said they had rescued at least 169 people, but uncertainty remains over how many might still be missing. Regional governor Mohamed Sultan said the number of bodies recovered was "almost final" but rescue workers were still looking for human remains at sea.
- EntertainmentABC News VideosFirst Look at Starliner Capsule
Astronaut Bob Behnken gives us a first look at the Starliner capsule. Lima Bob bank and I am an astronaut at the Johnson Space Center and one of four astronauts identified as the commercial crew cadre. Doug Hurley Eric both Sonny Williams and myself Bob Franken are all assigned to work with those basics and mowing the develop the next vehicles that we'll take astronauts of the International Space Station.
- WorldForeign Policy MagazineSitRep: Russia Implicated in Airline Shoot Down; U.S. Strike in Afghanistan Under Investigation
Russia shot down airliner. A Dutch-led investigation to be released Wednesday has concluded that a Russian surface-to-air missile system shot down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine two years ago, killing all 298 on board.
- WorldChristian Science MonitorIn Timbuktu, a nine-year jail sentence for destroying ancient shrines
The first Muslim rebel to be tried in an international court for a war crime for destruction of cultural heritage was sentenced to nine years in prison. Ahmad al-Fahdi al-Mahdi was handed the sentence by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday. Mr. Mahdi admitted guilt and expressed regret at the start of the trial in August when he said he was swept up by an “evil wave” during the 2012 Mali conflict, and led a team armed with pickaxes and shovels to raze 14 adobe mausoleums that date to the 14th century.
WorldAFPTough anti-corruption law takes effect in S. KoreaA tough new anti-graft law came into force in South Korea Wednesday with many hailing it as a milestone to help root out widespread low-level corruption. Dubbed the Kim Young-Ran law after the former supreme court judge who drafted it, the sweeping legislation covers some four million public servants and employees of education institutions in the country of 50 million. The law targets teachers bribed by parents to give better grades, journalists paid to give favourable publicity and officials bought off by businessmen to speed up bureaucratic processes.
U.S.AFPHundreds flee as wildfire scorches California hillsidesA fierce wildfire south of San Francisco has forced hundreds of people to flee their homes as fast-moving flames fed by withering temperatures have consumed nearly 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares). Several cannabis plantations are also threatened by the wildfire, with several already reduced to ashes, the AFP photographer said.
- U.S.Reuters'Bridgegate' witness casts more doubt on NJ Governor Christie's denials
By Joseph Ax NEWARK, N.J. (Reuters) - In December 2013, as the "Bridgegate" scandal was unraveling, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's chief spokesman learned the truth: that lanes had been closed at the George Washington Bridge to punish a local mayor for political reasons. Wildstein has said several key figures in Christie's inner circle knew about the plot as it was occurring or soon afterward - including Christie himself, who was told of the closures by Wildstein as they unfolded in September 2013, according to Wildstein's testimony on Tuesday. Christie, who is not accused of wrongdoing, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the plot at the time, but Wildstein's testimony has bolstered the government's assertion the governor knew about the scandal earlier than he has acknowledged.
PoliticsCaitlin Dickson‘There was no sniffles,’ Trump says after debateWas Donald Trump sniffling throughout his first presidential showdown with Hillary Clinton Monday night? “There was no sniffles,” he said. Trump has recently attacked Hillary Clinton’s health, using his Democratic rival’s recent bout of pneumonia to question whether she has the “stamina” to be president.
- BusinessThe DriveThe Bugatti Type 35 by Pur Sang Is the Only Real Replica
The problem with history’s greatest automobiles is that there simply aren’t many of them around. Some are one-off, coach-built wonders like the Mercedes SSK Count Trossi, combining sublime beauty with simple rarity, and leading to a priceless work of
- U.S.ABC News VideosCongress To Attempt Override Presidential Veto of 9/11 Saudi Bill
Congress is expecting to override President Obama's veto of the 9/11 Saudi Bill, which would allow victims' families to the sue the Saudi government for its ties to terrorism. At least to seek justice against Saudi Arabia yet the bill would have paved the way for the families to sue the Saudi government. The president vetoed a bill allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia in US courts.
TechnologyBGR NewsGalaxy Note 7 explosions in China sends customers running to the iPhone 7China is the one major market that was not affected by the massive Galaxy Note 7 recall. Samsung said the phones in the region are safe because they contain batteries made by a local supplier, not Samsung SDI. The Samsung subsidiary made the exploding batteries that equipped Galaxy Note 7 units sold outside of China, which is why Galaxy Note 7 sales were not interrupted in the country.
- U.S.U.S.News & World ReportFill Out the FAFSA Early
The first step in receiving student aid for college is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is one of a number of changes to this application this year. Don't wait to complete your application, even if you're a high school senior currently evaluating colleges.
U.S.Associated PressThe Latest: Friend: Starbucks victim was naturalized citizenThe man killed in a shooting at a Starbucks coffee shop in Las Vegas was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Tblisi, Georgia, where he served in the military and learned not to back away from conflict. The defendant in the slaying case, 34-year-old Pedro Jose Garcia, made an initial court appearance Wednesday on murder and other charges in the Sunday slaying.
