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Experts say there is a better way to get fit than counting your steps. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BFfcJT

The James Bond and Paddington star "adores" his new role as the treacherous Marcus Brutus. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BFtA4A

As the worldwide demand for used and worn clothing plummets, what do we do with our unwanted clothes? from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2EqeIKC

Kenya's main opposition leader stages his own "swearing-in" after two disputed elections. We explain. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2E0X0Q0

After the revelations around Volkswagen human testing, just what are the methods and regulations? from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2nmwJlL

A look at the challenges facing Theresa May if she wants to remain the UK's prime minister. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DX0uTL

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT U.S. http://ift.tt/2GtzxFw

By DINA LITOVSKY and STEPHANIE PEARSON from NYT Magazine http://ift.tt/2GwgBpM

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By CECILIA KANG from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2FszNn0

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By NICK WINGFIELD, KATIE THOMAS and REED ABELSON from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2rTY8Qw

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By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE, GABRIEL J.X. DANCE, RICH HARRIS and MARK HANSEN from NYT Technology http://ift.tt/2DCNvTz

By FIROOZEH DUMAS from NYT Opinion http://ift.tt/2DJ75le

Top places to see the 'super blue blood moon' in Bay Area" Published on January 30, 2018 at 08:30PM by Amy Graff Before dawn is a godawful time to start your day but, on Wednesday morning, getting up while it's still dark will be well worth it.

Porous defense dooms Warriors in blowout loss to Utah" Published on January 31, 2018 at 11:54AM by By Connor Letourneau SALT LAKE CITY — In becoming the class of the NBA, the Warriors leaned on stingy defense just as much as three-pointers or assists. They have ranked among the league’s top-5 defenses each of the past four seasons. But in its 129-99 loss Tuesday night to Utah, Golden State appeared disengaged from start to finish, ultimately wrestling with its most lopsided defeat of the season. The Jazz shot 58.2 percent from the field, including 14-for-28 from three-point range, for the Warriors’ worst opposing shooting percentage of the season. On a night Utah’s Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio shot a combined 27-for-38 from the field, Golden State’s Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry finished a combined 9-for-26.

Jeff Bezos made $1.59 billion today" Published on January 31, 2018 at 01:32AM by Bill Disbrow Three of corporate America's heaviest hitters — Amazon, Warren Buffett and JPMorgan Chase — sent a shudder through the health industry Tuesday when they announced plans to jointly create a company to provide their employees with high-quality, affordable care. The announcement was short on details about precisely what the independent company will do. But given the three players' outsize influence — and Amazon's ability to transform just about everything it touches — the alliance has the potential to shake up how Americans shop for health care, and the stocks of insurance companies, drug distributors and others slumped in reaction.

SF thief's winning defense: He exposed candy, not penis" Published on January 31, 2018 at 04:45AM by By Jenna Lyons San Francisco prosecutors and public defenders have agreed to disagree on whether a transient man was trying to remove stolen candy from his pants or playing with his penis in public. Eugene Childs, 59, was found not guilty Friday of indecent exposure and committing a lewd act in public following an Oct. 4 incident outside of a Walgreens in the Castro neighborhood, according to the public defender’s office. Childs reportedly tried to steal M&Ms, chocolate bars and Skittles, and he managed to avoid the detection of Walgreens employees by stuffing the candy down his shirt. The sweets eventually slipped into his trousers, said Tamara Barak Aparton, a spokeswoman for the public defender’s office.

Third East Bay man drowns off Maui beach in 2 weeks" Published on January 31, 2018 at 12:16AM by Michelle Robertson A third East Bay man has drowned off Maui's beaches, the ninth drowning fatality reported on the Hawaiian island in two weeks.

Emotional support peacock pouts after United Airlines rejection" Published on January 31, 2018 at 02:15AM by Chris McGinnis United Airlines is drawing media attention for telling a female passenger that she could not bring her emotional support animal onto a flight out of Newark – even though the passenger said she actually purchased a separate ticket for her companion.

The US dollar is tanking in Europe" Published on January 30, 2018 at 05:00PM by Chris McGinnis The outlook is bright for travelers hoping to snag deals on flights to Europe this year, but there are clouds on the horizon. That's because the US dollar is weakening across the pond which will make the region a lot more expensive for Americans in 2018.

6 new hotels: Los Angeles, Napa, Las Vegas, New York, Atlanta, Nashville" Published on January 29, 2018 at 05:00PM by Chris McGinnis Los Angeles has a new Kimpton ; a new hotel recently opened in downtown Napa, California; Hilton's Tru brand comes to Las Vegas Airport; Manhattan adds an Embassy Suites and a Fairfield Inn; Atlanta gets a new Omni; and an Art Deco building in Nashville is converted into a Hyatt affiliate.

MIT is making a new kind of 3D printer that can change the colour of the objects you print. from BBC News - Technology http://ift.tt/2DOb2Fs

7 reasons to take the train instead of the plane in Europe" Published on January 28, 2018 at 05:00PM by Chris McGinnis Taking the train instead of a plane might not be much of an option in most of the U.S., but it's hugely popular in Europe – and often almost as fast or even faster than flying.

After a fitness app "heatmap" revealed military information, what are your devices saying about you? from BBC News - Technology http://ift.tt/2nni2yE

Routes: Southwest, Interjet, Frontier, China, Hainan, Emirates + more" Published on January 27, 2018 at 05:57PM by Chris McGinnis Southwest joins Alaska and United in planning service form a "new" Seattle-area airport; low-cost Frontier will expand its network to Mexico with a code-sharing partner; China Airlines has optimistic plans for an unlikely southern California gateway; China's Hainan Airlines is coming to Vancouver; Emirates boosts its Newark schedule; Icelandair adds another U.S. gateway; and JetBlue expands in the Caribbean.

Calif. pol: Elon Musk's flamethrower 'incredibly insensitive'" Published on January 31, 2018 at 05:06AM by Peter Holley, The Washington Post Inventor and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk claims he's sold thousands of flamethrowers in recent days, turning a online gag into a marketing ploy worth millions. But a California assemblyman said he plans to introduce legislation to block the distribution of the devices before they end up in customers' hands. In an email to The Washington Post, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said he thought the flamethrower idea was a joke when he first heard about it. Santiago - whose home parish was recently damaged by fire - was surprised anyone would hawk a flamethrower in a state in which devastating fires have recently displaced thousands, causing more than $1 billion in damage.

Scientists discover 'the Holy Grail of dinosaurs'" Published on January 31, 2018 at 02:17AM by Amy B Wang, The Washington Post Paleontologist Matthew Lamanna can still remember the day in 2014 when a colleague, Hesham Sallam, emailed him detailed pictures of fossils that had just been unearthed by his team in Egypt. From one photo, depicting the remains of a large lower jaw bone, Lamanna knew right away that Sallam had found a dinosaur. "No pun intended, my jaw did almost literally hit the floor when I saw that," Lamanna, the principal dinosaur researcher at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, told The Washington Post. "When you stare at dinosaur bones for a lot of your life, you learn to recognize parts of dinosaur bones pretty instantaneously." But this wouldn't just be any dinosaur.

Ex-‘Glee’ star dies 3 months after child-porn plea" Published on January 30, 2018 at 11:28PM by Tim Kenneally, provided by Mark Salling, an actor best known for playing Puck on the Fox series “Glee,” has been found dead, according to multiple media reports. He was 35. Salling’s body was found near a riverbed in Sunland, California, according to TMZ. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of death, though TMZ reported that it initially appeared to be the result of suicide. According to TMZ, Salling was found hanging from a tree, after police were called to do a “welfare check” and discovered the actor at a baseball field. Salling had been dead “for some time,” TMZ reported. TheWrap has reached out to the LAPD, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County coroner’s office for comment on Salling’s reported death.

Analysis: Trump didn't offer a real infrastructure plan" Published on January 31, 2018 at 08:52AM by Jared Bernstein, The Washington Post How can you tell when an infrastructure plan is not real? Here's a three-part test: 1) does it provide a meaningful boost in our stock of public goods, 2) does its funding design shift the historical federal responsibility for public investment to states and private investors, and 3) when it includes "pay-fors," are they budget cuts taken from programs that support low-income families? We got almost no details in Tuesday night's State of the Union address, but based on what we do know, President Donald Trump's infrastructure plan handily fails this test. On the first point - will Trump's proposal lead to significant net additions to our stock of public goods? - though the president cited $1.

Trump donors can have names on screen during speech" Published on January 30, 2018 at 04:50PM by Alex Lockie, provided by DonaldJTrump.com President Donald Trump's official campaign website is offering his supporters the chance to buy a brief mention on-screen Tuesday night during his first State of the Union address. "Make a special State of the Union contribution to have your name broadcast on the Official Donald J. Trump for President livestream," the website says, offering supporters a range of donations from $35 to $2,700, the legal limit, and the chance to make the contribution a monthly recurrence. The names will be flashed on the White House's livestream of the event, which is also expected to be televised by all the major broadcast and cable news networks. Early reports indicate that Trump's speech will focus on national unity.

Trump signs order to keep Guantanamo military prison open" Published on January 31, 2018 at 08:45AM by By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order announcing his intent to keep the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay open, the White House announced Tuesday. Trump made it clear during his 2016 campaign for president that he wanted to keep Guantanamo open and "load it up with some bad dudes." But the White House announcement, just before the president's first State of the Union address, marked a formal reversal of President Barack Obama's eight-year effort to close the detention center. The order says the U.S. maintains the option to detain additional enemy combatants at the detention center in Cuba, when necessary.

Full text of Trump's 2018 State of the Union address" Published on January 31, 2018 at 07:09AM by Full raw, unedited text of President Trump's State of the Union address as released by the White House on January 30th, 2018:

Disagreement on policy could derail choice for ambassador to SKorea" Published on January 31, 2018 at 09:04AM by Anne Gearan, The Washington Post WASHINGTON - The White House's original choice for U.S. ambassador to South Korea is no longer expected to be nominated after he privately expressed disagreement in late December with the Trump administration's North Korea policy, according to people familiar with the matter. Victor Cha, an academic who served in the George W. Bush administration, raised his concerns with National Security Council officials over their consideration of a limited strike on the North aimed at sending a message without sparking a wider war -- a risky concept known as a "bloody nose" strategy. Cha also objected to the administration's threats to tear up a bilateral trade deal with Seoul that Trump has called unfair to American companies.

GOP Rep. wants undocumented immigrants arrested at address" Published on January 31, 2018 at 03:15AM by Elise Viebeck, The Washington Post WASHINGTON - Democratic lawmakers and activists frustrated with the pace at which Congress is moving on protections for "dreamers," undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, often point to fears of deportation. Stories of undocumented immigrants being arrested at courthouses while seeking protections from crimes, or meeting with officers to apply for legal residency have only stoked those fears. Now they may also have to fear the chambers of Congress, with one conservative lawmaker confirming their anxieties ahead of the State of the Union speech Tuesday night. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., tweeted that he contacted the U.S.

Fire strikes scrap metal facility in Richmond" Published on January 31, 2018 at 10:26AM by By Annie Ma A fire at a scrap metal facility Tuesday night in Richmond prompted a shelter-in-place order as firefighters worked to put out the blaze. The fire was reported around 5:40 p.m. at the Sims Metal Management recycling center at 600 Fourth Street in Richmond. A large plume of smoke could be seen rising from the facility from miles away. Contra Costa County Health Services said it had a hazardous materials team on the scene to conduct air quality monitoring. The Richmond Fire Department said that the air quality was “unhealthy” and instructed residents to stay indoors.

Source: Washington reaches deal to acquire Alex Smith" Published on January 31, 2018 at 10:52AM by Associated Press Kansas City has agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to Washington, a move that spells the end of Kirk Cousins’ time in D.C. and hands the Chiefs’ job to Patrick Mahomes. Two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the move to the Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the transaction can’t be completed until the start of the new league year in March. One person told the AP that Washington had agreed to a four-year extension with Smith, who has one year left on his contract. Smith, 33, spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the playoffs four times while throwing 102 touchdown passes and 33 interceptions.

Use of weighted vest at Berkeley school raises questions" Published on January 31, 2018 at 08:26AM by Natalie Orenstein, Berkeleyside A Berkeley father has alleged his five-year-old daughter was punished by being forced to wear a weighted vest in class, and made other allegations of abuse.

Longtime baseball GM Kevin Towers dies of cancer at age 56" Published on January 31, 2018 at 09:33AM by Staff and News Services Kevin Towers was a seat-of-the-pants, throwback type of man who did whatever it took to make the San Diego Padres competitive, almost always with a limited payroll. A 1982 first-round draft pick who blew out his elbow and did not pitch in the major leagues, Towers advanced through the Padres’ organization and spent 14 years as general manager, a tenure that included four NL West titles and an appearance in the 1998 World Series. Known around baseball simply as KT, Towers died Tuesday morning from cancer complications with his wife, Kelley, at his side. He was 56. Towers was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer a little more than a year ago.

Giants, agent Scott Boras see different sides of baseball’s stalled market" Published on January 31, 2018 at 08:36AM by By John Shea The Giants are trying to trim payroll to avoid paying luxury taxes, and they aren’t alone. Several other traditionally large payroll teams, notably the Yankees and Dodgers, are cutting back for the same reason. While fans root for major upgrades from last year’s 98-loss team, the Giants continue to conduct business with the $197 million luxury tax threshold in mind, citing the long-term benefits to keep the payroll below the threshold for the first time in four years. A renowned player agent suggested in a Chronicle interview that fans who have packed AT&T Park deserve more from a team with immense resources.

Giants sign infielder Andres Blanco to minor-league deal" Published on January 31, 2018 at 05:19AM by By Susan Slusser The Giants are cornering the market on Blancos, signing outfielder Gregor Blanco to a minor-league deal Monday and doing the same Tuesday with infielder Andres Blanco. Andres Blanco, 33, signed for $1.1 million, and he can earn another $400,000 in incentives, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. He has an out in his deal if not on the big-league team by an undisclosed date. Blanco, who like Gregor Blanco is from Venezuela, has played in 536 big-league games, with stints with the Phillies, Royals, Rangers and Cubs, and he has a .256 lifetime average and .310 on-base percentage; the switch hitter batted .192 with the Phillies last year.

Fox News Breaking News Alert Trump says he’s ‘100 percent’ behind releasing FISA surveillance memo 01/31/18 12:34 AM

Fox News Breaking News Alert Trump: 'I am keeping another promise' by signing order to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open 01/30/18 10:15 PM

Fox News Breaking News Alert Trump invites Dems to help protect all US citizens 'because Americans are dreamers too' 01/30/18 9:54 PM

Fox News Breaking News Alert Trump says honoring veterans is ‘why we proudly stand for the national anthem’ 01/30/18 9:37 PM

Fox News Breaking News Alert Clinton, moments before SOTU, explains why she didn't fire campaign adviser 01/30/18 9:31 PM

By Unknown Author from NYT U.S. http://ift.tt/2Epj1FU

By JAY CASPIAN KANG from NYT Magazine http://ift.tt/2DYVjCG

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The Wikipedia article of the day for January 31, 2018 is Cape sparrow . The Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus) is a southern African bird. A medium-sized sparrow at 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in), it has distinctive grey, brown, and chestnut plumage, with large pale head stripes in both sexes. The male has some bold black and white markings on its head and neck. The species inhabits semi-arid savannah, cultivated areas, and towns, from the central coast of Angola to eastern South Africa and Swaziland. Cape sparrows primarily eat seeds, along with soft plant parts and insects. They typically breed in colonies, and search for food in large nomadic flocks. The nest can be constructed in a tree, bush, cavity, or disused nest of another species. A typical clutch contains three or four eggs, and both parents are involved, from nest building to feeding the young. The species is common in most of its range and coexists successfully in urban habitats with two of its relatives, the native southern

deep state , n : (politics, conspiracy theories) A large group of people, typically members of government agencies and the military, believed to have long-lasting political influence that is difficult for an administration voted into power to counter.

Personal Income and Outlays, December 2017 Personal income increased $58.7 billion (0.4 percent) in December according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $48.0 billion (0.3 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $54.2 billion (0.4 percent). Full Text Published January 29, 2018 at 06:30PM Read more at bea.gov

Women business leaders at Davos give the BBC their tips to reach succeed in the corporate world. from BBC News - Business http://ift.tt/2Ed4NHX

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police said on Wednesday they had raided properties and made arrests across the country in an operation to crack down on human traffickers. from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2rU77kJ

The finance ministry will check whether a 70% discount that led to "riots" broke trading laws. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2nkAUhP

Eddie Adams captured one of the most famous images of the Vietnam War but he was haunted by it. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2BCSgL4

Donald Trump's move to withhold payments to the Palestinian refugee agency is causing alarm in Gaza. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2Gtsmx2

Older models are the latest fashion trend, thanks to social media and an aging society. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2Gt1QnC

Why a Spanish woman credited with saving the lives of thousands of migrants is facing prison. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2rQypZm

Both India and Pakistan have blamed each other for the steep rise in ceasefire violations. from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2rLlaJk

Why have African literary fans rallied around author Chimamanda Ngozi Achide after her interview in Paris? from BBC News - World http://ift.tt/2rNy8pZ

soft-spoken , adj : Having a pleasant, gentle, mild manner of speech; speaking gently or quietly.

A leaked paper suggests slower growth - but government sources say its preferred deal was not analysed. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DNkcSx

Police say the violent burglar behind raids at seven expensive homes used military-style planning. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DJL3Pg

MPs publish evidence from women as a pay cap of £320,000 for news presenters is said to be proposed. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2npV613

The CIA boss tells the BBC he is as worried about Chinese efforts to influence the West as he is about Russia. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2nlkupj

Eddie Adams captured one of the most famous images of the Vietnam War but he was haunted by it. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BCSgL4

Rescuers were lowered from a helicopter to help up to 150 skiers stuck on a mountain in Austria. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DNsFFr

Criminal gangs smuggle 160 million tablets out of the UK's protected supply chain over three years. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BD2LhJ

David Beckham's fans are cheering, but will they show up on match days? And what about a stadium? from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2GwBBwr

The May vote will decide whether to change the constitution to reform a near-total ban. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DKYWIZ

The two-day visit will be the duke and duchess's first official visit to the country. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2FqNine

Around 1.6 million cases will be looked at, with 220,000 claimants expected to receive more money. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DPmu3m

A new report finds many couples keep having children until they get a longed-for boy. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2GtIYVu

The chancellor is sent a letter asking for more cash, as a school threatens reduced hours over funding. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BER3mG

Tuesday's front pages report 'unrest' among Tory donors and a police probe into a series of raids in the Home Counties. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BCmEp0

Your morning briefing for 30 January 2018. from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2FrKDcJ