State of the Union, Syria, the Moon: Your Wednesday Briefing

By PATRICK BOEHLER from NYT Briefing http://ift.tt/2Erk0FH

What’s on TV Wednesday: ‘Animals With Cameras’ and ‘Happy!’

By ANDREW R. CHOW from NYT Arts http://ift.tt/2DOSR2m

Gearing Up for Distance and Form in Nordic Combined

By By from NYT Magazine http://ift.tt/2EpqmW3

Melania Trump, Traveling Again Without Her Husband, Emerges at State of the Union

By KATIE ROGERS from NYT U.S. http://ift.tt/2rVQMw5

Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter Lead Knicks in Rout of Nets

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports http://ift.tt/2nkLndi

Corrections: January 31, 2018

By Unknown Author from NYT Corrections http://ift.tt/2DPRYXj

Trump’s Boring, Utterly Terrifying Warmongering

By MICHELLE GOLDBERG from NYT Opinion http://ift.tt/2nnmyNO

Breakingviews TV: Prime health

Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are setting out to shake up the U.S. healthcare market. Robert Cyran and Richard Beales explore why, and ask whether the three big employers can succeed where others haven’t.

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GOP Congressman Calls For Undocumented SOTU Guests To Be Arrested On The Spot

WASHINGTON ― About 30 young undocumented immigrants are attending the State of the Union on Tuesday as guests of lawmakers ― and one of their colleagues wants to use the opportunity to have those guests arrested.

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North Korea Pulls Out of a Cultural Event With South Korea Ahead of the Winter Olympics

North Korea pulled out of a joint cultural event with South Korea planned for at the North's Diamond Mountain on Feb. 4

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Trial starts for woman charged with killing her twin

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — A murder trial began Monday for a woman accused of deliberately driving off a cliff in Hawaii and killing her identical twin sister.

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State Officials Fire Employee Who Sent False Missile Alert In Hawaii

The emergency worker responsible for sending a false missile alert to people in Hawaii earlier this month actually believed there was an incoming ballistic missile, The Washington Post reports.

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Taiwan holds live-fire drills as tensions with China mount

Taiwanese troops Tuesday staged live-fire exercises simulating a response to an invasion, as China steppeds up pressure on the island's President Tsai Ing-wen and a row over airline routes escalated. The ministry did not specify that the annual drill simulated an invasion by China but said it was intended to "show determination to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait and national security". Tsai last month warned against what she called Beijing's "military expansion" -- the increase in Chinese air and naval drills around the island since she came to power in May 2016.

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U.N. employees in Gaza demonstrate against U.S. aid cut

By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Schools, clinics and food distribution centers in the Gaza Strip were closed most of Monday by a demonstration by thousands of employees of the United Nations agency that serves Palestinian refugees. Palestinians have been angered by a U.S. decision to cut aid to the United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency (UNRWA), saying it will cause worse hardship in Gaza. More than half the enclave's two million residents depend on support from UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies.

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Gold! Treasure lost at sea in 1857 shipwreck goes on display

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — More than $50 million worth of gold bars, coins and dust that's been described as the greatest lost treasure in U.S. history is about to make its public debut in California after sitting at the bottom of the ocean for more than 150 years.

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7 Glass Mosaics Around the World That Take Design to New Heights (Literally)

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Paul Ryan defends Republican memo release

On Tuesday, January Paul Ryan defended the vote by the U.S. House Intelligence Committee to release a classified memo the GOP says shows anti-Trump bias by the FBI and DOJ

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Lawmakers Wear Black To Donald Trump’s State Of The Union Address

Democratic lawmakers wore black and sported pins in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment and assault on Tuesday as President Donald Trump was set to deliver his first State of the Union address.

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Shaky start to Syria peace talks in Russia as opposition delegates refuse to leave Sochi airport

A Russian-organised peace conference aimed at ending the war in Syria had a shambolic start on Tuesday, after dozens of opposition delegates refused to leave the airport in Sochi and others backed out at the last minute. Moscow, a staunch Assad ally, is hosting what it has called a Syrian Congress of National Dialogue in the Black Sea resort that it hopes will launch negotiations on drafting a new constitution for Syria after almost seven years of war. But the conference, which is running in parallel to the United Nations-negotiated talks, looked in jeopardy after more than 70 rebel delegates refused to leave the airport until all logos and emblems representing the government were removed. A rebel source told the Telegraph Russia had promised to change or remove the symbol of the congress, which read “Peace to the People of Syria” but only featured the regime flag, only to be greeted by them at the arrivals gate. Sochi conference logo (w/only regime flag) causing problems. Apparently a group of opposition members refused to board one of the buses with it at the airport. They sat at the terminal until other transport was arranged. pic.twitter.com/hjSVlH0uR1— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) January 30, 2018 The Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), the country's main opposition group, meanwhile said following two days of UN-led talks in Vienna last week that it would not attend the Sochi congress. Turkey, which backs the opposition and is co-sponsoring the talks with Iran, which supports Bashar al-Assad’s government, said it would represent the rebels. Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Saud of Idlib's Free Syrian Army claimed the opposition delegation was mistreated by Russian authorities at the airport, where he was detained for several hours Credit: Twitter/CombatChris1 Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, was heckled during his opening statement, with several delegates accusing Moscow of killing civilians in Syria with its air strikes. “In Russia, it's polite to say ‘please’ first,” Mr Lavrov responded, saying they would have a chance to speak later. The conference was initially billed as a two-day event but was cut down to one. Observers noted that much of Tuesday’s programme was taken up with a long lunch and dinner, leaving little time for discussion. Attendees shout slogans prior to a plenary session at the Congress of Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi  Credit: AFP Britain, the US and France did not send any official delegates because of what they say is the government's refusal to properly engage. Western powers support the UN process, which is now in its ninth round but has so far failed to make any major headway. The conference was also also boycotted by Kurdish delegates over Turkey’s offensive on the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, a northern Syrian enclave on the border with Turkey. A few Kurdish officials attended in a personal capacity and reportedly met in private with Russian counterparts on the sidelines of the conference. The main aim of the Sochi talks is to establish a committee to create a post-war constitution for Syria with UN backing, according to a draft statement. However, any deal agreed without he Kurds, which control some 25 per cent of territory in Syria, will unlikely succeed.  The poor start is a blow to Russia, which has been positioning itself a Middle East peace broker and trying to consolidate influence in the region as the US increasingly takes a step back from the Syrian crisis under President Donald Trump. "The whole point of the congress was to have a serious negotiation with the Kurds, or at least the Higher Negotiating Committee (the most relevant opposition body)," Neil Hauer, s security analyst focused on Russia-Syria relations, told the Telegraph from Sochi.  "Neither of them are here, and as such there's not much that can be discussed. Nor will anything announced here have much legitimacy. It will be very difficult for the Russians to spin this as a win." The opposition has accused Russia of not being an honest broker after failing to uphold a deal made in previous round of talks in Kazakhstan. Both sides agreed to so-called de-escalation zones across Syria, which government forces have since violated. Hours before the the congress got underway, nearly a dozen civilians were killed in a pro-government air strike on the largest market in rebel-held Idlib province. The government is now focused on the northwestern province of Idlib, which is dominated by al-Qaeda-linked militants and home to more than 2.6 million people, nearly half of whom have fled from other areas. It appears to have stepped up its bombing campaign in Idlib in recent days. The Observatory reported 90 airstrikes in Idlib on Monday alone.

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India's 'Unwanted' Girls Number In The Millions, New Report Finds

Indian families’ traditional preference for sons over daughters has led to the existence of millions of “unwanted” girls in the country, a new government report estimates.

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China denies report it hacked African Union headquarters

By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - China and the African Union dismissed on Monday a report in French newspaper Le Monde that Beijing had bugged the regional bloc's headquarters in the Ethiopian capital. An article published Friday in Le Monde, quoting anonymous AU sources, reported that data from computers in the Chinese-built building had been transferred nightly to Chinese servers for five years. After the massive hack was discovered a year ago, the building's IT system including servers was changed, according to Le Monde.

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Lockheed Martin Has Delivered 265 F-35s (And the Profits are Pouring In)

The future is looking bright for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is set for massive growth as the program finally reaches maturity and enters into full rate production. “Our F-35 program, during the fourth quarter we met our joint government and industry commitment by delivering the 66 aircraft in 2017,” Marillyn Hewson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin, told investors. Lockheed Martin expects that the program will continue to expand in 2018.

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Hong Kong democracy candidate cleared to run in fraught vote

A Hong Kong pro-democracy candidate has been given last-minute clearance to stand for election after public anger at government meddling in vote nominations, as Beijing increases pressure on the city's activists. The decision to approve the nomination of Edward Yiu on Monday, hours before the deadline, came two days after fellow pro-democracy candidate Agnes Chow, 21, was barred from standing because her party supports self-determination for Hong Kong. Around 2,000 people gathered outside government headquarters Sunday night to protest at Chow's disqualification.

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GOP Rep. Gaetz joins the 'Infowar' against the FBI

“We’re called conspiracy theorists because we see this cabal right in front of us,” said Gaetz. “We aggregate these data points and show what was really going on.”

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Everything you need to know about tomorrow's super blue blood moon

A rare celestial phenomenon will take place January 31, when a super moon, blue moon and total lunar eclipse take place at the same time.

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Amazon, eBay Remove 'Chinese Boy' Costumes Featuring Racist 'Slant-Eye' Images

Amazon UK and eBay UK have received immense backlash after social media users recently noticed “Chinese Boy Fancy Dress Costumes” for sale through the e-commerce sites.

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Correction: Ex-Stanford Swimmer Rape story

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a story Jan. 29 about a sexual assault victim deciding not to participate in the creation of a plaque marking where she was attacked on the Stanford University campus, The Associated Press reported erroneously when her assaulter was sentenced. Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Brock Turner in June 2016, not in January 2016.

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North Korea cancels joint performance with South Korea, blames South media: Seoul

By Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has canceled a joint cultural performance with South Korea scheduled for Feb. 4 blaming South Korean media for encouraging "insulting" public sentiment regarding the North, South Korea's unification ministry said on Monday. The North said it had no choice but to call off the performance, which was to be held in the North Korean territory of Mount Kumgang, as South Korean media continued to insult what Pyongyang called "sincere" measures regarding the Winter Olympics Seoul will host next month, the ministry said.

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ICE Deports Palestinian Man Living In The U.S. For Almost 40 Years Despite Outcry

Weeks of confusion and inconsistencies from immigration officials ended on Monday after authorities deported a Palestinian man who had been living in the U.S. for nearly 40 years.

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What to watch for in Trump's first State of the Union

The big question looming over President Trump's first State of the Union speech is whether he will mention the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. But what he says will also give clues to his agenda for 2018 and his strategy for the midterm elections. Here's what to look for.

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State of the Union: Trump hails 'new American moment'

The president speaks of "one American family", but Democrats say he has left the nation "fractured".

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State of the Union: Congress divided on Trump speech

The contrasting reactions to the president's speech tell the tale of a deeply divided Congress.

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I'm not a quitter, says Theresa May amid leadership questions

The PM issues a defiant response to critics, as she begins a trade mission to China.

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'Overwhelming' evidence for adding folic acid to flour

The B vitamin, which can prevent birth defects, will not harm the general public, a study says.

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Taliban threaten 70% of Afghanistan, BBC finds

The Islamist group's power and reach have surged since foreign combat troops left, the BBC finds.

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The killer whale that can say 'hello' and 'bye bye'

A killer whale that can mimic words such as "hello" is thought to be the first of its kind to copy human speech.

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Sydney seaplane crash: Sharp turn 'inexplicable', operator says

The aircraft was not on its usual path to Sydney when it crashed, killing six, the operator says.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BEV1eY

Drop in consumer demand hits UK car manufacturing

Lower demand in the UK and confusion over diesel policy are blamed by the industry trade body.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BGECqk

'Dangerously' drunk tourists may not win insurance claims

Drinking excessive alcohol can invalidate travel insurance cover, but the burden of proof is on the insurer.

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Super blue blood moon: Get ready for a rare celestial show

A lunar eclipse, supermoon and blue moon are about to happen at once. Here's what you need to know.

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Glee actor Mark Salling, 35, found dead

The actor, who had admitted possessing child sex abuse images, is believed to have killed himself.

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Logan Paul 'more popular' than Zoella with children

Study suggests children are seeking edgier content on YouTube, their favourite online site.

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News Daily: Trump's address and May 'not a quitter'

Your morning briefing for 31 January 2018.

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The Papers: BBC pay 'backlash' and speeding 'crackdown'

The front pages report the reaction to the wage review and a police call to end "soft" treatment for speeding drivers.

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The make-up artist making designs with dead insects

Jasmine Ahumada, from California, attaches spiders and bees to her face to create her distinctive looks.

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Skywatchers await 'super blue blood Moon'

A blue blood supermoon and lunar eclipse across Asia heralds a year of lunar science milestones, say scientists.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DNjDYM

'Baby brain': Myth or reality?

"Four in five" women undergo changes in memory and concentration during pregnancy, new research suggests.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2FxUj5J

RSPB Minsmere winter starling murmuration

Starlings take to the skies to create a spectacular aerial ballet before settling on roost.

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Why did this council leader just quit?

Claire Kober announced she wouldn't be standing in May's election.

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You're on the verge of losing everything - but you don’t understand why

A run of bad luck left one man struggling to make sense of the UK benefits system - and at risk of losing his home.

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Post-Brexit data sharing crucial, say ex-intelligence heads

Former intelligence chiefs say UK's security expertise should not be bargaining chip in talks with EU.

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'Forget walking 10,000 steps a day'

Experts say there is a better way to get fit than counting your steps.

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Why Ben Whishaw has murder in mind

The James Bond and Paddington star "adores" his new role as the treacherous Marcus Brutus.

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Used clothes: Why is worldwide demand declining?

As the worldwide demand for used and worn clothing plummets, what do we do with our unwanted clothes?

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Why did Kenya's Raila Odinga 'inaugurate' himself as president?

Kenya's main opposition leader stages his own "swearing-in" after two disputed elections. We explain.

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Monkeys? Humans? The ethics of testing diesel fumes

After the revelations around Volkswagen human testing, just what are the methods and regulations?

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Why is there talk about threats to Theresa May's job?

A look at the challenges facing Theresa May if she wants to remain the UK's prime minister.

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Trump says U.S. "stands with the people of Iran", calls China and Russia "rivals"

In his first State of the Union address, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Congress to address what he called the “fundamental flaws” in the Iran nuclear deal, and said China and Russia were U.S. “rivals”. Rough Cut (no reporter narration)

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Trump pledges to keep Guantanamo prison open

In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump pledges to keep the Guantanamo Bay prison facility open, saying “enemy combatants” should be “treated like the terrorists they are”. (no reporter narration)

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Trump vows not to "repeat mistakes" with N.Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the parents of an American student who died after being imprisoned in North Korea, while vowing not to "repeat the mistakes" of his predecessors during his State of the Union address. Rough Cut (no reporter narration.)

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Trump claims "extraordinary success" in first year

In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump says that his administration embarked on a "righteous mission” to make America great and has achieved “extraordinary success” (no reporter narration)

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