Stung by years of failure to stop Syria’s bloodshed, the United States is now but a bystander to the civil war as President Barack Obama leaves office. Secretary of State John Kerry still is speaking sporadically with Russian, Turkish and Arab foreign ministers about cease-fire efforts, and there are occasional consultations with the opposition.
Month: January 2017
Israel Cuts $6 Million to UN Over Settlement Vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement in front of a new construction, in the Jewish settlement known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim, March 16, 2015 Israel says it is withholding about $6 million from its annual United Nations dues, following a U.N. Security Council resolution last month calling for an end to Israel’s “settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.” The United States abstained from voting on the measure, opening the way for the other 14 members of the Council to unanimously pass the resolution.
Immigration Dept Nabs 35 Illegals In Penang
The Penang Immigration Department detained 35 illegal immigrants during ‘Ops Ikrar’ at several locations in the state yesterday. In the five-hour operation beginning 1am, the department spokesperson said 16 people were nabbed at construction sites in Permatang Pauh, Perai, Sungai Dua, Juru, Seberang Jaya and Alma.
FBI deletes details about hacking effort in document release
The FBI has released 100 pages of heavily censored documents related to its agreement with an unidentified vendor to hack into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters, but it did not identify whom it paid to perform the work or how much it cost. The records were provided Friday in response to a federal lawsuit filed against the FBI by The Associated Press, Vice Media and Gannett, the parent company of USA Today.
Showbiz stars invited to White House farewell bash
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are throwing a going-away party Friday with a guest list that includes Beyonce, Jay Z and Bruce Springsteen, the showbiz weekly Variety reported. US President Barack Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama will throw a star-studded farewell party with a guest list including Beyonce, Jay-Z and more on January 6, 2017 The Obamas, who leave the White House on January 20 to make way for Donald Trump, threw a private party in June 2015 at which the late pop star Prince performed.
Billy Joel’s ex-wife Katie Lee hits the beach in Miami in tiny…
PICTURED: Discharged military vet, 26, who shot dead five at Ft.Lauderdale airport baggage claim after telling FBI two months ago that he was being forced by the CIA to fight for ISIS Family of Ft.Lauderdale shooting suspect reveals how he ‘lost his mind’ after Iraq tour, was being prosecuted for strangling his ex and had been hospitalized with psychiatric problems Grandfather, 62, and a great grandmother celebrating her husband’s 90th birthday are the first two victims identified in Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting My laptop saved my life: Passenger at Ft.
State election systems to get more federal aid for security
Citing increasingly sophisticated cyber bad actors and an election infrastructure that’s “vital to our national interests,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is designating U.S. election systems critical infrastructure, a move that provides more federal help for state and local governments to keep their election systems safe from tampering. “Given the vital role elections play in this country, it is clear that certain systems and assets of election infrastructure meet the definition of critical infrastructure, in fact and in law,” Johnson said in a statement Friday.
Unemployed MAFS star Erin Bateman flaunts sideboob and drinks Vodka Cruisers
PICTURED: Discharged military vet, 26, who shot dead five at Ft.Lauderdale airport baggage claim after telling FBI two months ago that he was being forced by the CIA to fight for ISIS Family of Ft.Lauderdale shooting suspect reveals how he ‘lost his mind’ after Iraq tour, was being prosecuted for strangling his ex and had been hospitalized with psychiatric problems Grandfather, 62, and a great grandmother celebrating her husband’s 90th birthday are the first two victims identified in Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting My laptop saved my life: Passenger at Ft.
California Focus: Did Obama deportations cost Dems the White House?
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump now only weeks away, and the fall election receding into the rear view mirror, one thing becomes ever more clear: The scope of the Latino vote majority Democrats needed and expected to get was significantly less in 2016 than in many earlier elections. And while outgoing President Barack Obama has spent some of the last few weeks skirting this fact by whining about how Democrats didn’t turn out, the diluted Latino vote very possibly means he cost his party the White House.
Iraq war veteran accused of killing five at Ft. Lauderdale airport
News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector An Iraq war veteran took a gun out of his checked luggage and opened fire in a crowded baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale’s airport on Friday, killing five people, months after he showed up at an FBI office behaving erratically, Reuters reported. Esteban Santiago, 26, who was taken into custody immediately following the shooting and questioned at length, was expected to face federal charges in the shooting rampage, said George Piro, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s office in Miami.
Florida airport shooter said he heard voices urging him to violence, family says
Special Agent in Charge George Piro said that investigators have found “no specific reason” why that the gunman chose Fort Lauderdale. Agents have not identified any “triggers” that spurred the attack.
State lawmakers ready to go back to work
It’s often said that there are no new ideas in the Colorado Legislature, but occasionally there are some old ideas that come from new sources. Such is to be the case with Rep. Dan Thurlow, R-Grand Junction, and Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, when the Colorado Legislature convenes for the 2017 session on Wednesday.
Suspect in Fort Lauderdale airport shooting had visited FBI office in Alaska last year
People hide behind a column at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International after a gunman opened fire in the baggage claim area at the airport, killing several people and wounding others before being taken into custody. An Iraq War veteran who had complained that the government was forcing him to watch Islamic State videos pulled a gun from his checked bag and opened fire Friday afternoon at Fort Lauderdale’s international airport, killing five people and injuring eight, authorities said.
US veteran arrested in airport shooting; 5 dead, 8 wounded
An Army veteran who complained that the government was controlling his mind drew a gun from his checked luggage on arrival at the Fort Lauderdale airport and opened fire in the baggage claim area Friday, killing five people and wounding eight, authorities said. He was taken into custody after throwing his empty weapon down and lying spread-eagle on the ground, one witness said.
T.I. Pens Open Letter to President Barack Obama: ‘You Shook Up and Woke Up a Generation’
T.I. has entered a real realm of political and social awareness as of late, in and out of music, and his latest releases will be a series of open letters to President Obama, President-elect Donald J. Trump and all of America. The rapper and actor’s step towards activism is due in large part to the continued killings of unarmed black men and women in America, as well as the country’s divisive political climate, which explored in depth on his Us or Else EP and the Us or Else: Letter to the System album that followed.
Daily Beast Exposes Racist Alt-Right Conspiracy Theory About Fort Lauderdale Shooter
Daily Beast exposed how fake news purveyors pushed a race baiting alt-right conspiracy theory about accused Ft Lauderdale shooter, Esteban Santiago, which alleged that CNN doctored a photo of Santiago. In reality, CNN has not shown a picture of Santiago, and right-wing media outlets that ran with the racist conspiracy theory, namely Gateway Pundit, have had to repudiate their own false claims.
US report: Putin ordered effort to help Trump, hurt Clinton
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, left, talks with National Security Agency and Cyber Command chief Adm. Michael Rogers on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at the conclusion of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: “Foreign Cyber Threats to the United States.” WASHINGTON >> Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a hidden campaign to influence America’s presidential election in favor of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, U.S. intelligence agencies declared Friday in the government’s first formal allegation supporting sensational claims that Trump and his supporters have staunchly resisted.
What we know about the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect
The man suspected of killing five people Friday at Fort Lauderdale’s airport has been identified as Esteban Santiago, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and multiple law enforcement officials. – Upon arriving at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, he picked up a bag at baggage claim, took out the gun and started firing, according to law enforcement sources.
SpaceX gets green light days before scheduled launch
SpaceX has received the FAA go ahead to launch a fresh rocket into space, just days before it is scheduled to blast off. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch with 10 Iridium NEXT satellites.
Report reveals why Putin wanted to undermine Hillary :0
Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered an unprecedented cyber campaign to undermine Hillary Clinton and boost Donald Trump during the presidential election, an intelligence report claimed Friday. The 25-page report prepared by the CIA, FBI and National Security Agency said Russia has consistently tried to disrupt “the US-led liberal democratic order” but the recent hacking “demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity and scope of effort compared to previous operations.”
Why Robots Always Turn Out Sexist
As highlighted by Donald Trump’s rhetoric and Hillary Clinton’s treatment by some in the media , sexism is still alive and well . Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that artificial intelligence -something coded by humans-is also sexist.
Putin ordered campaign to influence prez election: US intel
The United States intelligence community in a new declassified file has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering an “influence campaign” to help Donald Trump win the White House and denigrate his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a bid to undermine public faith in the American democratic process. US President-elect Donald Trump was quick to refute the conclusion, saying hacking did not impact the November 8 presidential polls outcome.
Trump says Mexico should reimburse US for border wall
His tweet followed media reports that his transition team and Republican leaders in Congress are considering a plan to fund the wall through the appropriations funding process as early as April. President-elect Donald Trump repeated his promise to make Mexico pay for a border wall in his latest wide-ranging Twitter storm early Friday morning.
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Five people were shot dead and eight wounded in a baggage claim area at Fort Lauderdale’s airport, and law enforcement sources tell CNN the suspect, identified as Esteban Santiago, had brought the firearm in his checked luggage The man suspected of killing five people Friday at Fort Lauderdale’s airport has been identified as Esteban Santiago, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and multiple law enforcement officials. – Upon arriving at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, he picked up a bag at baggage claim, took out the gun and started firing, according to law enforcement sources.
Veteran Allegedly Kills 5 at…
A military veteran opened fire in a baggage claim at the Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport in Florida Friday, killing five and wounding eight others, in a horrific scene that sent people running for their lives, officials and witnesses said. The motive for the shooting, just before 1 p.m. in the baggage claim area at Terminal 2, remained unclear and the alleged gunman appears to have acted alone.
President Obama’s Farewell Party: Nick Jonas, Jordin Sparks & More A-List Guests
The best of the best stars were in attendance at President Obama’s farewell party on Jan. 6! From Nick Jonas to Jordin Sparks, these are the A-listers who celebrated with the Head of State one last time! We have all of the pics and the details here! Well this is it! The countdown has reached the last 14 days of President Barack Obama’s , 55, epic presidency.
Why does Trump go googly-eyed for Putin?
Coming from a presidential candidate, Donald Trump ‘s misty-eyed admiration of Russia and its autocratic leader was weird. Coming from a president-elect, it’s nothing short of alarming.
Airport shooter exposes security vulnerabilities
The gunman who killed five people at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport exposed security vulnerabilities at airport public areas that were once an afterthought, experts say. When National Guardsman Esteban Santiago allegedly killed five people and injured eight others after grabbing a gun from his luggage and loading it in a bathroom, his murderous spree highlighted a point of weakness: areas outside of screening checkpoints such as baggage claims, check-in counters and passenger pickup zones where security is comparatively light.
Pencea s chief of staff seeks return to Indiana utility board
The chief of staff for outgoing Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is seeking to remain in state government by returning to the commission that oversees utility companies. Jim Atterholt told the Indianapolis Business Journal he has applied for an opening on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Will Trumpa s promised wall become taxpayer-funded fence?
The Observer-Reporter is excited to announce new digital offerings, including our new e-Edition apps, available for download in the iTunes & Google Play stores.
Inquiry Points Toward a Pentagon Plot to Subvert Obama’s Syria Policy
Airstrikes by the United States and its allies against two Syrian army positions Sept. 17 killed at least 62 Syrian troops and wounded dozens more.
Michelle Obama issues emotive parting message
Michelle Obama urged young Americans not to fear the future but fight for it, delivering an emotive farewell speech Friday in which she said being first lady was the greatest honor of her life. Michelle Obama gives her final remarks as US First Lady at the 2017 School Counselor of the Year event at the White House in Washington DC, January 5, 2017.
What are conservatives doing voting to increase debt by $9 trillion?
Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have been adamant – the federal debt is way too high and has got to be tamed fast. Cruz, a Republican from Texas, helped lead the 2013 fight against raising the debt limit , a fight that resulted in a partial government shutdown.
Nunes rebukes Obama administration for not responding to Russian hack threats sooner
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept.
Exclusive – Rand Paul: Will a GOP Congress Ever Balance the Budget?
Two months after the election heard around the world, I’m worried that the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same in Congress. Voters swept the Republican Party into full control of the federal government, expecting us to honor our promises to put a stop to a reckless status quo that is mortgaging their futures.
5 dead, 8 wounded in shooting at Florida airport
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. >> An arriving airline passenger pulled a gun from his luggage and opened fire in the baggage claim area at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday, killing five people and wounding eight before throwing his weapon down and lying spread-eagle on the ground, authorities and witnesses said.
Malloy: ‘Everything Has to be on the Table’ For Budget Talks
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, facing the prospect of negotiating a budget agreement with fewer fellow Democrats, said Friday that “everything has to be on the table” if lawmakers from both parties want to truly fix the state’s continuing spate of budget deficits and reduce the size of state government. “If we’re going to have a meaningful, bipartisan discussion about who we are, where we are and where we want to get to, then everything has to be on the table,” Malloy told reporters during a meeting in his state Capitol office, two days after he delivered his State of the State address to the General Assembly.
Trump meets with Vanity Fair, New Yorker editors
President-elect Donald Trump met with the top editors at Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and other Conde Nast magazines on Friday for a wide-ranging discussion on policy matters. The meeting, which was organized by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, a Hillary Clinton supporter, marked a rare and perhaps fleeting truce between the incoming president and some of his most outspoken critics.
5 dead, 8 wounded in shooting at airport in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
An arriving airline passenger pulled a gun from his luggage and opened fire in the baggage claim area at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday, killing five people and wounding eight before throwing his weapon down and lying spread-eagle on the ground, authorities and witnesses said. Authorities gave no details on a possible motive for the shooting, which sent panicked passengers running out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, baggage in hand, and forced the shutdown of the entire airport.
Santa Fe mayor: Sanctuary city will still applya
Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales says the city will continue to seek federal grants despite President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities. Santa Fe mayor: Sanctuary city will still apply for grants SANTA FE – Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales says the city will continue to seek federal grants despite President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities.