Palm Desert

Laverne Cox Responds To Possible Trump Anti-Transgender Move: 'I Choose Love Not Fear'

Actress Laverne Cox condemned a proposal reportedly under consideration by

Saudis Used Mole At Twitter To Track Dissidents For Troll Farm: Report

The Saudi government apparently groomed a mole inside Twitter to keep tabs on

Trump will lead rally for Cruz, keeping hatchet buried

The president’s visit is also likely to invoke memories of the bitter 2016 primary fight between Cruz and Trump, one of the ugliest campaigns in recent memory.

Kmart employee gives emotional announcement before the store closed permanently

The once-beloved American retailer Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy earlier

Dozens Injured After Floor Collapses During Party Near Clemson University

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- The floor of a condominium clubhouse near Clemson

Taiwan rail crash kills 18 as train flips

At least 18 people were killed and 171 others injured on Sunday when one of Taiwan's newer, faster trains derailed on a curve along a popular weekend route, officials said. The Puyuma express train was carrying more than 366 passengers from a suburb of Taipei in the north toward Taitung, a city on Taiwan's southeast coast, when it went off the tracks at 4:50pm, the Taiwan central government said in a statement. Hours later, one of the train's eight cars was seen tipped over at about a 75-degree angle, with the entire right side destroyed. Firefighters with lights on their hard hats, fearing people may be trapped beneath the car, were looking underneath as a crane prepared to upend it. The National Fire Agency cited the Cabinet spokesman's office as saying 22 people were killed and 171 injured in the disaster, but then lowered the toll to 18 saying there had been a miscalculation. Some passengers were crushed to death, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Chen Chung-chi said. "Their train car turned over. They were crushed, so they died right away," General Chen said. Soldiers have been removing bodies to identify them, he added, but nightfall was complicating rescue work. Photos from the scene just south of the city of Luodong showed the train's eight cars in a zig-zag formation near the tracks. Five of the cars are turned over on their sides. The train fell in a zig-zag shape Credit: CNA PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images Most of the deaths were in the first car, which flipped over, a government spokesman said. It was unclear how many people may still be trapped in the train, said the spokesman, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. Some 120 soldiers joined firefighters in their rescue work. On a live feed provided by Taiwan's United Daily News, rescuers were seen carefully carrying what appeared to be a body wrapped in white plastic away from the site. Local television reports said passengers were trying to escape through train windows and that bystanders had gathered to help them before rescuers arrived. The Puyuma was launched in 2013 to handle the very difficult topography of Taiwan's east coast and is distinct from the high-speed rail that runs on the west coast. The trains travel up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, faster than any other in Taiwan except for high-speed rail. The train that derailed is 6 years old and its most recent inspection and major maintenance took place in 2017, Taiwan Railways Administration Director Lu Chie-shen said at a televised news conference. Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment.

Remains of 63 Fetuses Found Hidden in a Detroit Funeral Home, a Week After a Similar, Separate Discovery

In total, officials said they found 36 fetuses stored in boxes and 27 found in freezers.

Jordan cancels part of peace agreement with Israel

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday said he has decided not to renew parts of his country's landmark peace treaty with Israel.

The women’s wave is coming. Republicans should be worried

The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in.” – Rosa Parks, Montgomery, Alabama, 1955. Every lawmaker who continues to do this, or to advance policies that harm women, workers, the environment, and our democracy will pay the price at the ballot box.

Jamal Khashoggi's Fiancée Put Under 24-Hour Police Protection In Turkey

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has reportedly been placed under 24-hour police protection in Turkey.

5 Moments From Trump's Nevada Rally That Need A Fact Check

Continuing his efforts to rally support for Republican candidates ahead of the

Special police force deployed in Nigerian state of Kaduna: Buhari on Twitter

A special police force has been deployed to flashpoints in the northern state of Kaduna on Sunday in the wake of communal violence over the last few days that has killed 55 people, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Twitter. The Kaduna state government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Sunday after violence broke out on the streets of the state's capital city, also called Kaduna.

These are the top 10 moneymaking cities from travel and tourism

A new report reveals that Shanghai made the most money from tourism in 2017, raking in USD $35 billion mostly from domestic visitors. 

Counting under way in Afghan poll marred by deadly violence, chaos

Afghan election workers began counting votes on Saturday following a partial legislative ballot tarnished by scores of deadly militant attacks, technical glitches and administrative chaos. Nearly 170 people -- civilians and security forces -- were killed or wounded in election-related violence, official figures showed, and there are fears of more bloodshed when voting resumes Sunday in 401 polling centres. "Inevitable" problems with biometric verification devices, which were introduced at the eleventh hour, as well as missing voter registration lists and lack of staffing delayed or even prevented voting at those polling sites, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) told reporters.

Matt Gutman: Caravan is a 'mass of humanity' heading toward U.S. border

ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman reports from the Mexico-Guatemala border where hundreds of migrants are trying to move toward the United States.

The Latest: 2 suspects charged in Georgia officer's slaying

SNELLVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of a Georgia police officer (all times local):

Is Costco's Same-Day Fresh Food Delivery Worth It?

Costco recently added produce, meats, fish, dairy and other fresh groceries—including its popular rotisserie chicken—to the roster of items available for same-day delivery.  If you're a member an...

Germany Stops Exporting Arms to Saudi Arabia After Killing of Jamal Khashoggi

Germany announced plans to stop exporting arms to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The Yenko Chevrolet Camaro Returns with up to 1000 Horsepower

It's also available with only 835 horses.

Judge Won`t Dismiss Lawsuit Against Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church Claiming `Ritualistic Sex Abuse`

A judge is refusing to dismiss a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by a woman against imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, the Fundamentalist LDS Church, and others.

Russia: U.S. Withdrawal From Nuclear Treaty Would Be A ‘Very Dangerous Step’

The risks to global security could be severe if the U.S. pulls out of the

Oreo Candy Canes Are Finally Hitting Shelves

Suddenly, we're SO excited for Christmas.

6 shot on street near north Florida stadium before NFL game

Six people have been wounded in a street shooting blocks from the Florida stadium where the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars play.

Fenty Beauty is here to help you shimmer into the holiday season

Rihanna sprung another surprise on her 'Navy' of fans over the weekend, with the announcement of a new Fenty Beauty launch. The superstar's cult cosmetics brand is bringing back its ‘Fairy Bomb Shimmer Powder,' which launched as a limited-edition body shimmer back in the summer. "These 3 hyper-reflective shades come in the same superfine all-over highlighting powder formula from #FAIRYBOMB Pom Pom, but now available in loose powder form to glow all over your face and body!" Fenty Beauty has confirmed via Instagram.

From blackmailing princes to murdering journalists: how Saudi Arabia’s spy network has expanded under Mohammed bin Salman

Inside the Georgian mansion in Mayfair that houses Saudi Arabia’s embassy in London, two offices of Saudi intelligence operatives are busy at work.  The first office belongs to the General Intelligence Presidency, Saudi Arabia’s foreign intelligence agency. Its staff are engaged in the “normal” work of spies, meeting with MI6 to discuss Britain and Saudi Arabia’s shared fight against al-Qaeda or to swap secrets on Iran.  The second office has a darker purpose. There the staff of the Mabahith, Saudi Arabia’s secret police, are tracking people of interest inside the UK.  Its operatives are watching obvious targets like Saudi dissidents who have gone into exile in Britain, or London-based Islamists whose ideology is seen as a threat to Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy. But they are also keeping tabs on Arab businessmen and the decadent lives of Gulf royals living the UK. The Mabahith’s spies are especially interested in compromising material they can use as blackmail to further Riyadh’s interests.       “These guys gather the dirt and they hold it until directed,” said a former Saudi embassy employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They want to know who is sleeping with who, who is drinking and doing drugs, who is spending money they don’t have.”  Saudi spies and secret police work out of the kingdom's embassy in London Credit: Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images The set-up in the London embassy is replicated at Saudi diplomatic posts around the world, forming a vast web of spies watching the kingdom’s enemies and surveilling its own people.  While this apparatus has existed for years, it has become more aggressive and more violent under Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince, who controls the Saudi security services.  His ambition to silence critics abroad and stomp out political rivals at home has depended on a new ferocity in the intelligence agencies. The murder of Jamal Khashoggi is just the most extreme example.   “For many decades Saudi Arabia had a system in which the king sought to develop a policy consensus within the royal family, the clerical establishment, and the entrepreneur elite,” said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer who now heads the Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institute.  “That has changed profoundly in the last few years. Instead of a consensual system they have moved to a very autocratic system, which relies much more on the intelligence services hounding out dissent at home and abroad.”  Maher Mutreb, a Saudi intelligence officer, was allegedly part of the squad that killed Mr Khashoggi Credit: Sabah via AP  Mr Khashoggi was no stranger to the craft of the secret police or how its methods changed over time. In the mid-2000s he worked at the Saudi embassy in London as an advisor to the ambassador, Prince Turki bin Faisal. The prince was Saudi Arabia’s spy chief before moving to the UK.   One of Mr Khashoggi’s embassy colleagues was Maher Mutreb, a Saudi intelligence officer stationed in London. Mr Mutreb is now under arrest in Saudi Arabia as part of the 15-man squad accused of Mr Khashoggi’s murder.    In his Washington Post column, Mr Khashoggi noted the aggression of Saud al-Qahtani, a senior aide to Crown Prince Mohammed who was sacked over the weekend amid the fallout out of the killing. The prince’s aide made no secret of his hatred for dissidents and once asked his 1.35 million Twitter followers to give him names for a blacklist. Mr Khashoggi pointed to the tweet as an example of how unrestrained Saudi repression had become in the last two years. “Writers like me, whose criticism is offered respectfully, seem to be considered more dangerous than the more strident Saudi opposition based in London.”  Saudi Arabia’s spies have always focused on the UK, which has given safe harbour to many Saudi dissidents as well as Islamists and anti-monarchists from across the Middle East.  One of their targets has been Sa’ad al-Faqih, the leader of Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, a UK-based Saudi opposition group that campaigns to replace with the royal family with an Islamic government. Saad al-Faqih, a Saudi dissident based in London, has been a target for Saudi intelligence Credit: AP Photo/Richard Lewis Dr Faqih was attacked at his home in Willesden Green, northwest London, in June 2003 by two men who he said claimed to be plumbers. They tried to spray chemicals in his face and then attacked him with a spanner but he was able to fight them off.  He believes the two white men were British gangsters hired by Saudi Arabia to kidnap him, a claim that the kingdom has always denied.   Dr Faqih has not faced any more physical attacks since 2003. But he has felt a heightened threat since Crown Prince Mohammed began to gather power three years ago and he started taking new security precautions. “We feel extra danger because we know that this boy is reckless and impulsive,” he said.  Saudi dissidents were rattled by an incident in August this year on the pavement outside Harrods in central London. Ghanem al-Masarir, a popular Saudi political satirist who often mocks Crown Prince Mohammed, was confronted and attacked by two Saudi men.  يا شين المهايط فـ الخلا ما يحمّس يبربر على اسياده .. ولا احدٍ درا به ٰ سلامي على يـدٍ عطته ( المخمّس ) هذي اصغر ردود السعودي والاجابه��������#جلد_الكلب_غانم_الدوسري@GhanemAlmasarirpic.twitter.com/axejGsqNAt— بيع قصايد جزله .. (@Be3_600) September 9, 2018 “They were shouting about the king and Mohammed bin Salman and they said: ‘how dare you insult al-Saud?’” Mr Dosari said. He is convinced that the men were put up to the attack by Saudi intelligence.  “I don’t think they were trying to kill me or kidnap me but they wanted to insult me and to send a message that I was not safe where I was,” he said. Video footage of the attack was widely shared by pro-Saudi Twitter accounts under a hashtag celebrating the attack. The Saudi embassy in London did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Saudi Arabia insists that Mr Khashoggi's death was the result of "a rogue operation" which was not ordered by the government.   Before the killing in Istanbul made global headlines, the starkest example of the Saudi intelligence's new aggression was an apparent campaign to kidnap rebel princes in Europe and bring them back to Saudi Arabia.  According to the BBC, three princes who had fallen out with the royal family have been captured since 2015. One, Prince Sultan bin Turki, a grandson of King Abdulaziz, accepted a flight on a Saudi government private jet from Paris to Cairo in January 2016.     The prince went to sleep on the flight and when he awoke he realised the jet was in fact heading Saudi Arabia. He was dragged off the plane by Saudi agents and is believed to be under house arrest to this day.  Saudi dissidents joke darkly that Mr Khashoggi’s death probably means they are safer now than they have been in years because Riyadh will be unwilling to risk another international scandal. But none believe the danger has fully passed.  Over the weekend, King Salman ordered his ministers to prepare reforms of the Saudi intelligence services to prevent another incident like Mr Khashoggi’s death. No one should expect sweeping changes: the head of the reform committee is none other Crown Prince Mohammed himself. 

The 2019 Nissan Maxima Is Getting a New Look

The updated sedan will have more active-safety tech, and we'll learn the full details at the Los Angeles auto show.

Trump Says Anybody Voting Democrat ‘Is Crazy’ At Arizona Rally

President Donald Trump declared that anyone voting for Democrats in the 2018

Israel reopens people, goods crossings to Gaza after lull

Israel ordered the country's goods and people border crossings with Gaza to be opened on Sunday, just four days after shuttering them following a Palestinian rocket attack that sparked retaliatory air strikes. The move followed efforts to prevent an escalation in violence that has raised fears of a new war between Israel and the Palestinian territory's Islamist rulers Hamas. "The decision comes after a decrease in the violent events in Gaza over the weekend and efforts Hamas made to restrain" demonstrators, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's office said in a statement.

School Cook Fired After Serving Students Kangaroo Meat Chili

He argues that it's a lean, healthy meat.

Discover the secret ingredient for creating a great chili

Ground beef chili is way more convenient than chili made with whole chunks of meat, but a truly great version requires a few tricks. To keep the meat moist and tender, we treated it with salt and baking soda.

Thomas Markle Found Out About Meghan Markle's Baby News From The Radio

Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle's father, said he found out his daughter and

AstraZeneca's Lynparza shown to put brakes on ovarian cancer

An AstraZeneca drug that blocks a cancer cell's ability to repair its genetic code greatly reduced the risk of ovarian cancer worsening in a phase III trial, underpinning its lead against two U.S. rivals in the same class. Given as a maintenance therapy to reinforce initial chemotherapy, Lynparza halted or reversed tumor growth in 60 percent of patients three years into the trial. At year four, the progression-free survival (PFS) rate in the Lynparza group was still above 50 percent, against 11 percent for chemotherapy alone.

Saudi explanation of Khashoggi death not 'credible': UK minister

Saudi Arabia's account of the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul consulate is not credible and the culprits must be "held to account," a British minister said on Sunday. After a fortnight of denials, Saudi authorities admitted Saturday that the Washington Post columnist, a prominent critic of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed after entering the consulate in Turkey on October 2. "I don't think it's credible," Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC, adding there was a "serious question mark over the account that has been given".

US, Turkey to soon begin joint patrols in north Syria

AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — Turkish and American troops could begin conducting joint patrols in a matter of days around the northern Syrian city of Manbij within the coming days, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East said Sunday.

First Florida Governor’s Debate Becomes The Donald Trump Debate

TAMPA, Fla. ― The All-Donald Trump primary election strategy of Ron DeSantis,

The 2019 Volvo S60 Shrink-Wraps Volvo's Best Stuff into One Smart Package

And in doing so, displays a unique and likeable character.

Israel delays eviction of West Bank Bedouin village

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday postponed the forced eviction of a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank, a government official said. The fate of Khan al-Ahmar has drawn international concern after Israel said it planned to raze the village, a ramshackle camp housing 180 residents. Its residents, backed by foreign activists who have gathered at the site, have been waiting for bulldozers to move in at any time after an Oct. 1 deadline from Israel for the villagers to demolish their own homes expired.

Man Pulls Off Surprise Proposal at Tennessee Football Stadium

He wanted to propose at a place that had special meaning for his wife-to-be.

8 combatants, 6 civilians die in Kashmir battles, clashes

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Three local rebels were killed in a gunbattle with Indian government forces in disputed Kashmir on Sunday, and six civilians were killed in an explosion at the site after the fighting was over, officials and residents said.

Duchess of Sussex rejoins Duke for walkabout after rest from Australian tour as pregnancy 'takes its toll'

The Duchess of Sussex joined her husband for a walkabout on Fraser Island, having spent the morning resting as her pregnancy "takes its toll". Meghan, wearing a striped dress by Reformation and brown leather lace-up sandals, clutched her baby bump for part of the walk under blue skies in Queensland. The Duke had attended three of the day's engagements on his own, including an unveiling of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, where he joked about plaque-unveiling running "in the family". He had told his pregnant wife to take it easy as the couple carry out a 16-day tour across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, telling Invictus Games athletes on Sunday: "Being pregnant takes its toll". It is understood that the Duchess of Sussex is to resume her full royal tour programme as of now and will undertake the full schedule in Fiji and Tonga unless circumstances change again.  The Duchess of Sussex clutched her baby bump for part of a walk along a jetty in Kingfisher Bay with her husband Credit: DARREN ENGLAND /AFP The Duchess was glowing as she arrived by car to meet her husband, having spent the morning at their hotel recuperating from the heavy schedule of the first week of their tour. A royal aide said: "She isn't sick, she just had a tiring few days and we were concerned about the roads on the island which are incredibly bumpy and uncomfortable for anyone, let alone a pregnant woman. "But the Duchess was very keen to re-join the duke at the last engagement of the day to greet the people of the island." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet wellwishers along a Kingfisher Bay walkabout  Credit: Chris Hyde /Getty The Duchess, who has modified her programme to take into account her pregnancy, was absent from engagements most of the day, which required a bumpy four wheel drive journey across sandy roads. The couple flew into Hervey Bay on Monday morning, before boarding separate boats for their different days out. After a day of learning about the island's natural beauty, the Duke travelled to Kingfisher Bay by boat, where he was joined by the Duchess for a walk along the jetty. The Duke and Duchess walk hand-in-hand along the jetty Credit: PHIL NOBLE /Reuters The parents-to-be were given gifts including flowers and bears during the walkabout and the Duke was taken by a sign reading "Rangas rule", an Australian slang reference to his ginger hair. Jada Quinn, nine, said: "My dad is a ranga and I'm a little bit a ranga and he appreciated the sign." Her sister, Ella, 12, said: "It was a bit overwhelming, I started to cry a little bit. She was so kind and she shook my hand." The Duchess of Sussex arrives at Kingfisher jetty by boat Credit: Catherine Lyn Finch /Getty Julianne, Ebony and and Lily Reid gave Meghan a home-made baby changing mat, with Harry asking if it had koalas on. The Duchess also bent down to speak to Noeline Walk, 85, Fraser Island's oldest and longest-living resident at 45 years. Mrs Walk said: "She asked me since I was local what i would suggest she have for tea," Mrs Walk said. "'Seafood, of course!' I told her. 'Oh, I'll have to give it a try', she said." Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tour of Australia - in pictures Unveiling plaques 'runs in the family', jokes Harry The Duke of Sussex joked that being skilled at unveiling plaques "runs in the family" as he took part in a dedication ceremony on Fraser Island in Queensland on Monday. Harry was greeted by the Butchulla People and took part in a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony on Fraser Island. He spoke under the island's satinay trees in Pile Valley, some up to 1,000 years old and used to build the London docks in the 1930s. Before Harry began speaking, local Marilyn Clarke called out: "You are better looking in person!" - to which he replied: "I will take that as a compliment." The Duke of Sussex unveils a plaque, joking that the technique 'runs in the family' Credit: Chris Jackson /Getty Dedicating the Forests of K'Gari to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, the Duke said the initiative was "established in honour of my grandmother, the Queen's lifetime of service to the Commonwealth". "This is actually the second time this plaque has been unveiled which I know is highly unusual," he said. "The first time was by my father the Prince of Wales in Bundaberg earlier this year when he was visiting. "I now have the privilege of unveiling it in situ. I know that my father came to K'Gari in 1994 for a day off during a royal tour so he has an appreciation of the importance of this place. "Luckily we are both highly skilled when it comes to unveiling plaques... It runs in the family." Duke meets local elders to learn about island's history The Duke visited one of Fraser Island’s lakes to meet local elders and national park rangers to learn about the Island’s natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural significance. He also heard about the history of the Island’s logging trade, as well as its use as a training base for the Australian Z Special Unit during World War II. The Duke of Sussex poses for a photo with the Butchulla People Credit: Phil Noble /AP The Duke meets locals in the forests of K'gari Credit: PHIL NOBLE /Reuters The Duke of Sussex watches a traditional dance by the Butchulla People Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth /AP The island is still open to members of the public on Monday, although the network of winding bumpy sand roads have been closed to all but the royal household and accredited media. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and has a total of 206,970 acres of protected forest. Duke urges public to protect Queensland rainforest The Duke of Sussex has urged the public to protect the Queensland rainforest “for our children and our children’s children”, as he embarked on a morning out without his wife. Harry was welcomed to Pile Valley on Fraser Island with a traditional smoking ceremony to ward off evil spirits by members of the Butchulla People, the traditional owners of the land, which they call K’gari - meaning paradise. Aaron Henderson and Darren Blake wafted smoke from a bucket of burning Paper Bark and Blue Gum leaves towards him, while songman Fred Bulanyu Leone called out to their ancestors and tapped out a rhythm with a pair of bar gan - “killer boomerangs” - traditionally used for hunting. The Duke was there to mark the forest’s dedication to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative, a growing area of protected forests across the organisation’s 53 member states. He gazed up in awe at the 1,000 year old Satinay trees as they led him into the forest to a clearing around a sacred Spirit Tree. Keep up to date with all that's happening in the Royal family with our weekly, newsletter, Your Royal Appointment. Sign up here. 

Turkey's Erdogan Promises Details on Khashoggi Case for Tuesday

“Why did 15 people come here, why did 18 people get arrested?” Erdogan said in an Istanbul speech quoted by Haberturk. Separately, Istanbul’s chief prosecutor called 28 more Saudi consulate staff, including Turkish and foreign nationals, to give testimony on Monday in the Khashoggi’s case, TRT World News said in tweet, citing unidentified sources familiar with matter.

Denver Police Officer Arrested for Assault Has Long History of Accusations

A Denver police officer arrested for second-degree assault has been accused of inappropriate force 21 times in his 28-year career.