Here’s a little known fact about supermoons: They’re made up and a complete waste of everyone’s time. Supermoons are a by-product of an always-on media machine that demands a constant stream of things to comment on and—in the absence of actual commentary-worthy items—is more than willing to completely fabricate them. The term “supermoon” refers to a full moon that occurs when the moon […]
While many animals walk on the balls of their feet, humans use a heel-first stride. Researchers suggest that this gives humans the advantage of longer ‘virtual limbs.’ Source
By Ayesha Rascoe and Matt Spetalnick | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON The White House on Monday insisted that Washington’s “one China” policy should not be used as a “bargaining chip” with Beijing after President-elect Donald Trump said the United States did not necessarily have to be bound by its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of China. Signaling further resistance Trump will face in Washington if he tries to […]
International heads of state named on the rolls of clandestine companies in tax havens. Canada’s big banks facilitating tax avoidance through thousands of offshore enterprises. Strawmen fronting businesses to mask the identities of the real owners. After a year-long investigation into 11.5 million leaked tax haven documents, the Panama Papers were finally made public last April — and they landed like a bomb. […]
12 December 2016 The Roads and Transport Authority – Majdi Abu Zaid: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has recently announced the formal operation of a solar-powered abra, considered the first of its kind in the Middle East. The introduction of this sophisticated abra, which is being deployed at Al Mamzar, follows several trial runs to verify the possibility of changing speed. The scheme is part of Dubai […]
Researchers,for the first time, have revealed why the shape of the feather shaft changes from round to square when it’s put under stress. (via WSJ)
A Lufthansa flight headed to Germany from Texas was diverted to a New York City airport on Monday night after a bomb threat was called in to the airline’s headquarters, officials said. Flight 441 to Frankfurt from Houston landed safely and was taken to a remote area of John F. Kennedy International Airport around 8:30 p.m. local time, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman […]
Photo Kayla Harrison plans to take up mixed martial arts in the World Series of Fighting, and hopes “to see it go more toward the professional route.” Credit Earl Wilson/The New York Times Only one American has ever won an Olympic gold medal in judo: Kayla Harrison. And she has won two, in London in 2012 and in Rio this year. Yet despite her achievements, Harrison is […]
MEXICO CITY China and Mexico pledged on Monday to deepen ties at a meeting between their top diplomats following last month’s U.S. presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who has tested Washington’s relationship with both countries. Before arriving in Mexico on Sunday, Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi met with members of Trump’s team in New York, including his pick for national security adviser, retired Army Lieutenant General […]
By Nick Carey and Ginger Gibson | CHICAGO/WASHINGTON CHICAGO/WASHINGTON U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s challenges to China on trade and Taiwan are rattling American companies who have long benefited from stable relations between the two countries but now fear retaliation by Beijing if Trump were to act. Trump jarred Chinese officials on Sunday by saying the United States did not necessarily have to stick to its long-standing position […]
SHANGHAI China will appoint “river chiefs” to prevent pollution in the nation’s waterways, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday, in the latest step taken by Beijing to rein in environmental damage. With the evolution of China from an agricultural nation to an industrial one, toxic pollutants from factories have increasingly seeped into the environment, leading to health problems among the population. A detailed system for […]
The top Republican in the US Senate has backed an investigation into allegations that the Kremlin engaged in a hacking campaign to influence November’s presidential election. It is the most serious break yet between President-elect Donald Trump and his party’s traditional leaders in Washington. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said that Congress would probe the allegations following the disclosure of a Central Intelligence Agency report which […]
By Doina Chiacu and Gina Cherelus | WASHINGTON/NEW YORK WASHINGTON/NEW YORK The front-runner for secretary of state in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson, faces a struggle getting confirmed by U.S. senators concerned about his close ties to Russia. Lawmakers from both major parties also raised questions on Monday about former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, who has been mentioned as a possible […]
Minecraft arguably stands as one of the biggest names in gaming today, an impressive feat since its history harks back to a lone developer working on a project that would one day end up being bought by Microsoft for a hefty sum. A lot of factors contribute to Minecraft‘s popularity, one of which is the effortless accessibility with which players can let their creativity run amok. But what would […]
By Alastair Macdonald | BRUSSELS BRUSSELS European Union leaders will set out plans this week for negotiating Britain’s exit, diplomats said, after national officials met late on Monday to prepare an EU summit statement. After the 28 national leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May will leave and the other 27 will dine without her and agree principles on how negotiations with London […]
By Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON President Barack Obama’s administration has decided to include a massive report on the CIA’s use of waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation techniques” in his presidential papers, meaning it may eventually be declassified. The White House wrote to Senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, the Republican chairman and ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Dec. 9 informing them of its […]
By Tom Bergin and Jim Finkle | LONDON/BOSTON LONDON/BOSTON Cyber attacks on the global banking system have continued – and succeeded – since February’s heist of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank, underscoring the continuing vulnerability of the SWIFT messaging network, a SWIFT official told Reuters. The network, which handles trillions of dollars in transfers daily, has warned banks of the escalating threat to their systems, […]
By Alwyn Scott | SEATTLE SEATTLE Donald Trump on Monday widened his attack on defence contractors, slamming Lockheed Martin Corp’s (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet program as too expensive as aides to the president-elect said he intends to keep pushing to cut the costs of military hardware. Trump’s latest Twitter broadside sent defence shares tumbling and fanned concerns that the incoming administration will reduce defence contractors’ profit margins […]
Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the Formula One championship showdown race last month helped raise the fortunes of hoteliers in the emirate, according to data from industry analysts STR. Despite a year-on-year decrease, the absolute level of average daily rates would be the highest in Abu Dhabi since last November, boosted by visitors coming to see Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg go head-to-head for the world title, STR […]
“It was horrible.” For New York City commercial litigator Donald J. Tobias, those three words have been the bane of his existence. Some time earlier this year, a Google user named “Mia Arce” posted those words as a review of his boutique legal practice in Manhattan. The three-word review accompanies a one-star rating that Google users can find just by searching Mr. Tobias’s name. The lawyer says […]
WASHINGTON The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Monday his committee has been conducting “vigorous oversight” of the investigations into election-related cyber attacks and he did not see any benefit in opening more probes. “At this time I do not see any benefit in opening further investigations, which would duplicate current committee oversight efforts and Intelligence Community inquiries,” Representative Devin Nunes said […]
A month ago, India asked more than 1.2 billion people to turn out their pockets and turn in their old bank notes, all in an effort to stamp out corruption and tax evasion. A colossal undertaking by any standard, the experiment has unfolded in ways that few nations’ administrators might have been able to predict. That has forced the Indian government to adapt, sometimes without warning, to […]
WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John McCain said on Monday that he personally backs Washington’s decades-old “one China” policy and that no one should “leap to conclusions” that President-elect Donald Trump would abandon it. “I do not respond to every comment by the president-elect because it may be reversed the next day,” McCain told Reuters when asked about Trump’s statement over the weekend that the United States did not […]
“It’s just abnormal,” said Doc Rivers, the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. “I never even spent one second thinking about what I was going to say,” said Kevin McHale, the former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. Continue reading the main story A flash of insight? A burst of banter? Those are considered monumental successes in the in-game interview genre, which tends to consist […]
