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Showing posts from February, 2019

After weeks of worry, Americans’ tax refunds are finally trending up

Myanmar government ups ante with military over political role

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Yangon, Myanmar – Officials bribed and bullied voters, stuffed ballot boxes and pushed ahead with a May 2008 referendum on a new constitution despite the deadliest natural disaster in Myanmar ‘s recorded history. For the generals, the charter was a vital step towards a carefully planned new system that would resemble a democracy but keep the military firmly in charge. And it could not be postponed. Even by Cyclone Nargis , which tore through the country’s Irrawaddy Delta leaving about 140,000 people dead. Political activist Tint Soe was in the minority, at least according to the official results, when he picked up a pen at a polling booth and voted “no” to the military government ‘s proposed constitution. “It was enacted by force when hundreds of thousands of civilians were dying,” Tint Soe told Al Jazeera. “It was a merciless act.” Tint Soe is now a legislator for the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), which last month began its boldest bid yet to wrest power from the

IRS: Pay ‘seriously delinquent tax debts’ or risk access to passport

Potential Landing Spots for Top 2019 NBA Free Agents

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0 of 7 Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe are key members of the Milwaukee Bucks who could hit the open market this summer, and the former is even coming off the first All-Star appearance of his career. Marc Gasol , Al Horford , DeAndre Jordan, Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and so many other notable names might join them, dancing with suitors before inking contracts that ensure their locations for the NBA ‘s 2019-20 campaign.  But this upcoming free-agency class is so overstuffed with elite talents that none of the aforementioned men register as top-10 players who could soon become available. We’ll worry about their landing spots another day, as we’re only concerned with the proverbial cream of the crop for the time being.  Yes, that means Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are under the microscope. So too are Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and others who routinely represent their conferences during the midseason festivities.  We just

Why did the Trump-Kim summit break down?

“Sometimes you have to walk.” This was how US President Donald Trump described the sudden end to his summit with North Korea ‘s leader, Kim Jong Un. The pair arrived in Vietnam with hopes of building on last year’s historic summit in Singapore. However, less than two days later, they left without signing an agreement, and it’s unclear when they’ll talk again. North Korea’s neighbours South Korea and China both said they were disappointed with the outcome. So what went wrong? And where does it leave the nuclear threat from North Korea? Presenter: Hoda Abdel-Hamid Guests: Se-Woong Koo – Publisher, Korea Expose Robert Gutsche – Associate Professor at Lancaster University Emil Dall – Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and Specialist on Nuclear Proliferation  Source:   Al Jazeera News Read More from Trend News Web https://ift.tt/2EFuxif

Trump claims ‘100 percent’ of ISIS caliphate defeated in Syria

Robo-advisor Wealthfront now offers a new high-yield savings account with a minimum deposit of $1 — here’s how it stacks up

Bryce Harper, Phillies Reportedly Agree to 13-Year, $330 Million Contract

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Nick Wass/Associated Press The  Philadelphia Phillies   have finally won the Bryce Harper sweepstakes after reportedly agreeing to a deal with the 2015 National League MVP Thursday.  Per MLB Network’s  Jon Heyman , Harper will sign with the Phillies. ESPN’s  Jeff Passan  reported the two sides were finalizing a record-breaking deal worth $330 million over 13 years with no opt-outs.  One source told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal  there aren’t any opt-outs because Harper “ didn’t want one.” Per Jared Diamond of the  Wall Street Journal , Harper’s deal will include a $20 million signing bonus with no deferred money.  Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said he heard the deal got done through fans who were sitting behind the Phillies dugout providing “minute-to-minute” updates, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times . All eyes have been on Harper’s free agency dating back to the start of the 2018 season. He struggled out of the gate, at least by his lofty standards, with a .214/

Bangladesh tells UN cannot take more Myanmar refugees

Bangladesh told the United Nations Security Council it cannot take any more refugees from Myanmar, some 18 months after more than 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims fled across the border amid a brutal military crackdown. Attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents in Myanmar ‘s Rakhine state triggered the violence that the United Nations, the United States, Britain and others describe as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies the accusations. Rohingya crisis: UN warns of ongoing genocide “I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar,” Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told the UN on Thursday . Haque accused Myanmar of “hollow promises and various obstructionist approaches” during negotiations on returns. “Not a single Rohingya has volunteered to return to Rakhine due to the absence of [a] conducive environment there,” Haque said. Myanmar says it has been ready to accept returning ref

Why India and Pakistan are fighting in Kashmir and what’s at stake

IDER Tell Us How They Wrote ‘Brown Sugar’ As A ‘Confident, Sexy, Empowered’ Alt-Pop Song

On a Friday evening earlier this month, Lily Somerville and Megan Markwick had just returned to the flat they share in London after a flight in from New York. In only another day, though, they’d be gone again, taking their electro-folk band IDER on a European tour. The inaugural stop? Back to their old college in South West England for the first time since their student days, when they met in a music course and began playing elegant, harmony-laden acoustic music together. They’re excited. “Feeling a bit full circle, you know?” Somerville told MTV News before they made the trek. The pair have plenty to feel sparky about. In the years since a 2013 Falmouth University campus piece described them as “a banjo and guitar wielding female folk duo who are snowballing to success,” Somerville and Markwick have gilded their analog sound with a digital edge: Synthesizers, keyboards, and electronic percussion feature on “Brown Sugar,” their R&B- and Kendrick Lamar-inspired latest single. It

As Luka Doncic Turns 20, NBA Marvels at Runaway Rookie of the Year

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Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press LOS ANGELES — With Dirk Nowitzki celebrating an unofficial farewell tour in his 21st NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks are starting anew with one of the best young international players in the world. Luka Doncic   was named the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November, December and January. He’s the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year, too. “He’s at a high level of no f–ks given when he plays basketball,”  Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers said.  “It’s fun to watch.” Doncic, who turns 20 on Thursday, is averaging 20.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists during his first year with the Mavericks. “He’s really an all-around package on the offensive end, whether it’s the shot, drives, floaters, the passes,” Nowitzki said. “He’s a big guard, he can see over some of those traps [teams are] throwing at him. His basketball IQ is out of this world for 19. … He’ll be fun to watch for Mavs fans for a very long time.” The Mav

The House Intelligence Committee plans to call Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to testify

Amazon will now let Prime members pick which day to get their items delivered, and it’s a stealthy way for the company to cut down on its fastest-rising cost

Now, Amazon day can be whenever you want it to be. Amazon Prime members can designate a day of the week to have all their shipments delivered. The initiative is called “Amazon Day.” Customers can also switch around their Amazon Day from week to week if their ideal delivery date changes. Here’s the way it works: Prime members designate a day of the week as their “Amazon Day.” When customers make an order, they can choose their Amazon Day as part of the shipping page. Or they can choose Prime shipping like normal. When the day arrives, all items that were designated for that shipment will arrive in as few boxes as possible. This can be convenient for customers for a few reasons. Those worried about theft can pick a day when they expect to be home. If they don’t need the item right away and are concerned about the environment, they can cut down on the environmental impact. It also can be more predictable than a bunch of separate orders. Read more : Anybody can now offer free 2-

Democrats, conservative group knock down Betsy DeVos ‘school choice’ plan

This Is An Official ‘S.O.S.’: The Jonas Brothers Are Back After A 6-Year Hiatus

Stop what you’re doing, Jonas Brothers fans: Nick, Joe, and Kevin are officially getting the band back together. This is not a drill. The Jonas Brothers are coming back with a brand new ~aesthetic~, single, and what will likely be an entirely new legion of fans, too. And we didn’t even have to wait until the year 3000 to see it happen. The bros took to social media on Thursday (February 28) with a surprise announcement: the trio are releasing new music on Friday (March 1) with their comeback single “Sucker.” It’s OK if you need to pinch yourself, because this sure feels dreamlike to us, too. “Sucker” will be available worldwide at 12 a.m. ET on Friday via your favorite music streaming service. Can the world handle another Jonas Brothers craze? But that’s not all. The trio will also be appearing on The Late Late Show with James Corden , which you can snag a sneak peek at ahead of its airing next week. It’s all part of a massive Jonas-centric takeover, which will run from Monday

NBA and WNBA Stars Are Asked About the First Time They Were Called the N-Word

Bleacher Report’s “Are You Listening?” series is about amplifying the voice of the modern black athlete, embracing their humanity and choosing to practice empathy… Read More from Trend News Web https://ift.tt/2SyEgKP

Demaryius Thomas Arrested on Vehicular Assault Charge Stemming from Car Crash

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David Zalubowski/Associated Press NFL wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has been arrested in Denver on a charge of vehicular assault related to a Feb. 16 car crash. CBS Denver reported the update Thursday, while Troy Renck of Denver 7 shared Thomas’ mugshot: Troy Renck @TroyRenck Denver Police release mugshot of former #Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas who is being held for investigation of Vehicular Assault, Driving Without Proof of Insurance, and Reckless Driving for a crash that occurred Feb. 16 in downtown Denver. #Denver7 https://t.co/xfUV65JTbY Police said at the time that Thomas and two passengers were transported to the hospital after suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the one-car rollover crash, per   Sam Tabachnik   of the   Denver Post . Michael Tafoya, an eyewitness to the incident, told   TMZ Sports   he was shocked when people emerged from the car after it launched 20 feet in the air and flipped over three times. “I thought those people were dead,” he s

A doctor’s office that charges a monthly fee and doesn’t take insurance wants to stop the ‘revolving door’ of appointments for sick kids

More than 9,000 marijuana convictions dismissed in latest case of cities taking action

Chris Watts, man who killed pregnant wife and daughters, provides new details on murders to investigators: Officials

How Rom-Coms Can Start Authentically Speaking To The Millennial Love Experience

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By Sara Radin Historically, our relationship with romantic comedies has been complicated. Though the popular film genre has been known to give the loveless a healthy dose of hope, these movies have been predominantly written and directed by men, thus spreading harmful stereotypes and warped, patriarchal perceptions of relationships. Films such as Annie Hall (1977), Sixteen Candles (1984), Jerry Maguire (1996), Runaway Bride (1999), and Failure to Launch (2006) have mirrored the ways in which society has been wired to see a woman’s worth only through the eyes of cisgender men: men may pursue women, but women may not pursue men; women have no agency in relationships; women are simply not enough when single, unmarried, or without children. Take Hollywood’s damsel in distress complex, in which only a man can save a woman from a poor circumstance (or turn her from a tomboy or nerd into a sexually attractive woman ). Or the hopeless romantic guy who falls for the beautifully quirky,

Donald Cerrone Teases Conor McGregor Fight at UFC 239 in Instagram Post

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Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone took to Instagram on Wednesday night to tease a potential fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 239 on July 6. Cerrone posted a photo of a bottle of Budweiser and a bottle of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey with the caption: “@budweiser   vs   @properwhiskey … July 6th.” Cerrone is sponsored by Budweiser, and McGregor is the founder of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. Also, UFC 239 is expected to take place on July 6 in Las Vegas, leading to speculation that a fight between the two stars has been agreed upon. After the 35-year-old Cerrone beat the up-and-coming Alexander Hernandez by second-round knockout in January, he called out McGregor. Per ESPN.com’s   Greg Rosenstein , Cerrone said after his return to the lightweight division: “ The old man has still got it. This is the fight that the UFC wanted. I wanted [a] Top Five [opponent]. I want   Conor   if he’ll agree to it. I’m coming for a belt. Cowboy is back.” McGrego

UBS is using laser beams and 5G to trade stocks in the latest escalation of a technological ‘arm race’

From fiber optic cables to dark fibre and microwaves, financial firms have spent the better part of a decade looking to slice fractions of milliseconds off how quickly they can trade stocks. But the latest chapter in how firms are aiming improve their trading speed and execute trades more efficiently for their clients reads like something out of a science fiction novel. UBS has begun in recent months to use laser beams and millimeter waves, also known as 5G technology , to send orders wirelessly for its US equity trading business. The Swiss bank tells Business Insider that the new infrastructure will allow it to send orders quicker and reduce the likelihood inclement weather could impact performance. The bank said it has been working with the three major equity exchange groups — NYSE, Nasdaq and Cboe Global Markets — to use the technology on their venues. The installation is in New Jersey where the majority of US equity trading occurs between a handful of data centers. Fiber optic