WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump made an untenable case Saturday that a Mexican border wall would be a magic bullet for America's drug problem.
A polar plunge of brutal cold is following this weekend’s blockbuster winter storm, which can threaten lives and complicate travel and cleanup efforts.
Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on Saturday the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia cannot move forward until Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is "dealt with", without being more specific. Speaking in Ankara a day after meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Graham also said Congress will reintroduce sanctions against those involved in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "The relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia cannot move forward until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is dealt with," Graham said.
BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavarian allies elected a new leader Saturday, a change that offers Germany's center-right a chance to move past their persistent bickering over recent years.
“Let’s go back and forth on this and see where we can find common ground,” House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said on “Fox News Sunday.” He spoke a day after Trump made his offer, which was rejected even before he presented it by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats.
The Weather Service issued winter storm warnings or advisories for a swath of the eastern United States that is home to 100 million people, said meteorologist Rich Otto of the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. The storm system, which was moving from west to east and was strengthened by arctic air from Canada, hit many parts of the Midwest on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. In Chicago, where some neighborhoods received 8 inches (20 cm) of snow, a third of flights were canceled at the city's two main airports, said Mark Duell, vice president of operations for tracking firm FlightAware.
Israel and Chad have renewed diplomatic ties decades after they were ruptured, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday during a visit to the African state. Netanyahu and Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno have "announced the renewal of diplomatic relations between Chad and Israel", a statement from the Israeli premier's office said. Ties between Israel and the Muslim majority nation were broken in 1972.
In Binged, Mashable breaks down why we binge-watch, how we binge-watch, and what it does to us. Because binge-watching is the new normal.
* * *
Binge-watching is basically an endurance sport, so you need to be sure you're prepared. After all, if you're going to watch You until your eyes fall out (recommended), why not make the experience as pleasant as possible?
That means paying close attention to the conditions under which you watch: the couch, the temperature, the vibe, and (most importantly) the snacks.
Some hot tips:
## 1\. Assemble your snacks before the binge-watch begins
To truly maximize your experience, I recommend selecting one salty snack, one sweet snack, and one wild-card snack. Some suggestions from my colleagues, whose tastes range from great to truly horrifying:
* Takis
* Sno-Caps in popcorn
* Uncrustables
* Plain Lay's chips and Greek yogurt
* Chocolate-covered pretzels
* Trader Joe's olive oil popcorn
* Literally a ham-and-cheese sandwich dipped in orange juice (cursed)
* Celery and peanut butter
* Peanut butter straight from the jar
Note: you can always sub in pizza for any category (or all three).
## 2\. Keep no less than three beverages in front of you at all times
One of the beverages should be water. For the other two, I like to choose a large, gulp-able beverage -- like Gatorade or, if I am feeling brave, seltzer -- as well as a fancy, small beverage, like a blood orange San Pellegrino or one of those high-end lemonades with cursive lettering on the bottle.
SEE ALSO: Watching your favorite TV show a million times isn't compulsive. It's a comfort binge.
## 3\. Get up every hour to stretch
You don't have to do a full yoga class, but it's nice to remind your body that it is, in fact, capable of movement.
> Netflix: are you still watching?
> Me: pic.twitter.com/yUbJ6KjVct
>
> -- sara reinis (@SaraReinis) March 7, 2018
## 4\. Consider the two-blanket approach
I have radiators in my apartment and do not control my own heat, which means that sometimes my living room is 1,000 degrees. This is too hot. If I open the window, though (see #7), it becomes too cold. That's why I prefer to have two blankets near me when I binge-watch: one thick blanket for the cold times and one thinner cotton blanket for the medium times. During the hot times, I use no blanket at all.
## 5\. Consider your spinal column
If you need to bring a bed pillow onto the couch for back support, so be it. If you're binge-watching in bed, consider acquiring a backrest pillow. Maybe one ... with a cupholder?
## 6\. If you're watching a show featuring heavy subject matter, take more breaks
While there is certainly no shame in binge-watching, it can have adverse effects on your mental health -- especially if the show you choose deals with emotionally fraught topics. In these cases, treat yourself to a few more breaks than you normally would. We're not saying go outside (imagine!), but maybe do a few more stretches, check in with your friends, and drink some extra water.
## 7\. Open a window
Let your binge-watching farts (different than regular farts) fly freely into the atmosphere.
## 8\. Text people about what you're watching
If you do not have a binge-watching partner literally sitting next to you, it can be fun to live-text the show with a fellow binge-watcher in another location. It also reminds you that you have friends. Crucial!
What you should not do, however, is send texts about the show to someone who has not seen the whole show yet. Avoid committing this friendship crime at all costs.
> When Netflix freezes to ask if you're still watching and you see yourself reflected in the screen pic.twitter.com/tDdSSN6PR5
>
> -- Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) February 16, 2018
## 9\. Switch positions
When you have a nest, you have a nest, so switching rooms isn't necessary. But alternating between sitting up and lying down, or even just lying down on the other end of the couch, can be kinda nice. After all, lying down in a second location is a fun twist on lying down.
## 10\. Respect the air
If you've chosen some really good snacks (and also haven't left the couch for six hours), the room can start to smell a little ... rank. That's when it's time to light a candle.
On the off-chance Gilmore Girls is your binge-watch, there is a Gilmore Girls candle designed to burn in tandem with the 2016 revival. There are also Stranger Things-themed candles. Or you could just burn a regular one. It's your binge-watch, after all!
## WATCH: Netflix is raising its prices
##
In a morning Twitter storm, Trump also said he would not seek the removal of millions of illegal aliens living in the United States, while bashing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for turning down an offer he made on Saturday, including for Dreamers, the undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. "No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer. It is a 3-year extension of DACA.
This works well with butternut squash, or parsnip – any of the hearty, fleshy winter gourds and root veg in season at the moment. It couldn't be easier to make – just throw everything in and leave it to cook. SERVES Four INGREDIENTS 400g pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and diced 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained 1 punnet of cherry tomatoes 1 garlic clove, crushed and chopped 1 tsp grated fresh ginger Juice and zest of 1 orange Pinch each of ground cumin, ground coriander and chilli flakes 200ml plain yogurt, seasoned Chopped coriander, to serve Toasted pitta bread, to serve METHOD Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas 6. Add all the ingredients, except the yogurt, coriander and pitta, to a large ovenproof dish. Season and mix well. Place in the hot oven and cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. Check halfway through cooking that it is not drying out – add a dash of water if so. Remove from the oven and scatter over the chopped coriander. Serve with the seasoned yogurt and toasted pitta bread. Angela Hartnett's one-pot wonders
Washington (AFP) - A white former Chicago police officer was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison on Friday for fatally shooting a black teenager in 2014, an incident that triggered months of protests in the city.
Donald Trump has cited San Antonio as proof that border walls make the US safer, despite the Texas city not having a border wall and being 150 miles from Mexico. Mr Trump’s comments on Saturday were intended to justify his demand for $5.7bn to fund a US-Mexico border wall. The president may have intended to refer to El Paso, a Texas border city he used as an example in a similar anecdote last week.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Latest on the criminal case against a white Nashville police officer who shot and killed an armed black man who was fleeing (all times local):
Arab states at an economic summit in Beirut called on world powers on Sunday to step up efforts to enable Syrian refugees to return home. The United Nations says that 5.6 million Syrian refugees live in five neighboring countries - Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq - and it is not yet safe for them to return. Since conflict broke out in Syria in 2011, more than 1 million people have fled across the border to Lebanon, where aid agencies say most live in extreme poverty.
Brace yourselves: the Department of Defense is eyeing a brand new variant of the storied F-15 Eagle to rule the skies, the U.S. military’s first purchase of the storied aircraft in more than 15 years.
By Abdul Matin Sahak MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Dozens of families displaced from their homes in the northern province of Sar-e Pul by Taliban pressure have arrived in the provincial capital, as the insurgents have tightened their grip around the city, residents and officials said. Taliban fighters have been threatening oil fields around the city of Sar-e Pul as they have stepped up operations with the apparent aim of strengthening their position during peace talks with U.S. officials. ...
When Starbucks came to China two decades ago it promised to open a new store every 15 hours. Now a homegrown rival, Luckin Coffee, plans to build a high tech-driven shop every three and a half hours to dethrone the US giant. The Chinese upstart is burning through millions of dollars to lure customers with steep discounts, challenging Starbucks' dominance by targeting office workers and students who prefer to have their java on-the-go or delivered to their doorstep.
The Duke of Edinburgh could be sent on a drivers’ awareness course, it has emerged, as police continue to investigate a crash which left two women hospitalised. The Duke, 97, is understood to have no intention of giving up driving, having been photographed on public roads driving a new car less than 48 hours after the accident. He is understood to be complying with a Norfolk Police investigation, which will see him interviewed about what happened. Two women, aged 45 and 28, will also be asked for their recollections of the accident, after their Kia Carens collided with the Duke’s Land Rover Freelander on the A149 on Thursday. Both police and palace have emphasised that the investigation will be conducted in the same way as any other traffic accident, despite one of the involved parties being married to the Queen. That process would see him interviewed in the coming days, before police officers recommend whether to proceed with charging anyone involved. The scene of the crash, on the A149 at Sandringham The Duke has already passed an eye test as part of the investigation, celebrating by defiantly driving himself around the public roads near to Sandringham alone less than 48 hours after the accident. He was caught on camera driving in dark glasses without wearing a seatbelt, in a gesture that has been criticised by onlookers. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of the photograph. “Suitable words of advice have been given to the driver and this is in line with our standard response when being made aware of or receiving such images showing this type of offence.” The law states that drivers can be fined up to £500 if caught without a seatbelt. The Duke of Edinburgh drives the Queen and Barack and Michelle Obama during their visit to Windsor Credit: Geoff Pugh If the Duke was found to be at fault for the Sandringham accident, he could be charged with driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum penalty of nine points on a driving record and a £5,000 fine. It is thought unlikely that a prosecution would come to court. A police source said yesterday that non-royal drivers involved in a similar collision would more likely be offered a drivers’ awareness course, with improving their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case. The Duke reportedly said "I'm such a fool" after being pulled from his wrecked Land Rover Freelander on Thursday after it flipped on its side following the collision with a Kia close to Sandringham. Witnesses claim he had told police at the scene he had been “dazzled” by the low sun at 2.45pm. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “As is standard procedure with injury collisions, the incident will be investigated and any appropriate action taken.”
Central Athens turned into a sea of people holding blue and white Greek flags as thousands came from all over the country to rally against the accord to name the ex-Yugoslav state North Macedonia. Many Greeks believe the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over their country's own northern region of that name. The issue evokes strong emotions among Greeks who consider Macedonia, the ancient kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great, to be an integral part of their homeland and heritage.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials confirmed Friday that a prominent American-born anchorwoman on Iranian state television was jailed in the U.S. as a material witness and has not been charged with any crime, according to court papers.
Elon Musk's electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors announced Friday it was cutting its workforce by about seven percent in a push to keep the Model 3 affordable for middle-income consumers. Shares plunged following the announcement, which also signaled a tough profit road ahead for Tesla. The round of job cuts -- which follow an earlier downsizing announced in June -- comes as the envelope-pushing company faces pressure in its home market on prices from the phasing-out of a tax credit for electric car purchases.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- A few weeks ago I made my predictions for 2019. Now I’d like to offer a few words of advice to some of this year’s likely newsmakers. To do so, I am returning to the double-dactyl format that I have used before.
Forensic experts attempted to separate and count charred heaps of corpses in central Mexico on Saturday after a massive fireball erupted at an illegal pipeline tap, killing at least 79 people.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Revolutionaries in the streets give way to black-and-white images of blindfolded American hostages. Two enemies sign a peace deal after years of hostilities. And one of the world's two superpowers invades its southern neighbor, launching a bloody, decade-long conflict.
AbbVie Inc said on Friday its blockbuster cancer treatment in combination with chemotherapy agents failed to meet the main goal in a late-stage study of patients with a form of pancreatic cancer. The treatment, Imbruvica, failed to show statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, compared with the combination of placebo and two chemotherapy agents. The American Cancer society estimates that pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers in the United States and about 7 percent of all cancer deaths, and expects that 56,770 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019.
A Belarusian model who claimed she had proof of Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign, had her detention in Moscow extended by three days by a Russian court on Saturday. Anastasia Vashukevich, also known as Nastya Rybka, has been held for questioning since Thursday after she was deported from Thailand as part of a group convicted of participating in a "sex training course". "The court has decided to extend her detention by 72 hours," judge Natalya Borissenkova was cited as stating by the Ria Novosti news agency.
Syria now has a good opportunity to reach a political solution to its devastating eight-year war as ceasefires have brought calm to many areas of the country, Syria's chief opposition negotiator said on Saturday. "I think now that we have an opportunity, because nearly in Syria we have a ceasefire now, in the northeast of Syria and the north of Syria, and the efforts of fighting terrorism has achieved good results," Nasr Hariri told Reuters in an interview in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, where he is based. Hariri, the opposition's chief negotiator in U.N. peace talks, met with the newly appointed United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen on Friday.
In an alley in Jerusalem's Old City, a three-storey building has become a symbol of Palestinian fears they are losing precious ground in the historic area. Adeeb Joudeh al-Husseini says he did nothing wrong, but even his status as a member of one of Jerusalem's most prominent Palestinian families did not shield him from the blowback. The 55-year-old was accused of being behind the sale of the Mamluk-style building in the Old City's Muslim quarter to Israeli settlers -- something most Palestinians consider treason.
