Witnesses say troopers were telling cars to turn around on the bridge and minutes later, it collapsed
The 2-alarm fire burned Thursday afternoon on I-85 near Georgia 400 in Atlanta, CBS affiliate WGCL reports. After the fire burned for about 45 minutes, part of the roadway collapsed.
Witnesses say troopers were telling drivers to turn around on the bridge because they were concerned about its integrity. Minutes later, the bridge collapsed.
Atlanta police said the fire is burning piles of plastic wiring under the I-85 overpass near the Lindbergh MARTA station.
*Emergency* Interstate 85 in Atlanta GA has just collapsed due to fire under bridge. All lanes blocked. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/5Pa5yJN9YI
Traffic was backed up for miles in the area and witnesses said they saw people abandoning their vehicles on the roadway and opting to walk.
Governor Nathan Deal said officials have called in the company that originally built the bridge to assess the damage. It wasn’t immediately clear how long it would take to repair the damage.
Officials confirmed to WGCL that no one was injured in the fire.
Black smoke can be seen for miles.

Similarity rank: 2.1

Sentiment rank: -1.6

© Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-i-85-fire-overpass-collapse/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

President Trump went after specific House members in a series of tweets Thursday afternoon
Has the atmosphere in Washington become so toxic that reaching across the aisle is considered out of the question?
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, known for bipartisanship, decried the bickering Thursday over the failed health care bill, tweeting in response to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s comments during an interview on “CBS This Morning” Thursday about not wanting to work with Democrats.
We have come a long way in our country when the speaker of one party urges a president NOT to work with the other party to solve a problem.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz indicated he supported reaching across the aisle, saying Thursday that Republicans need to stop aiming their cannons at each other, CBS News’ Chip Reid reports.
After the health care bill failed last week, President Trump was quick to cast blame on the Democrats. In remarks shortly after the bill was pulled, Mr. Trump said “I think the real losers here are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer because they own Obamacare.” He said he was “disappointed” in the House Freedom Caucus, but he called them “friends of mine.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan told „CBS This Morning“ co-host Norah O’Donnell that he is against President Trump working with Democrats to pass a new h…
But on Monday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Mr. Trump has received calls from both parties and is willing to work with Democrats if necessary. Ryan told CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell that he “doesn’t want that to happen.”
“I want a patient-centered system. I don’t want government running health care,” Ryan said.
Mr. Trump bookended Thursday with tweets attacking the House Freedom Caucus, declaring war on his “friends.” On Thursday morning, Mr. Trump tweeted that “we must fight” the conservative band of representatives.
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!
By late Thursday afternoon, he tweeted at specific members, Reps. Mark Meadows, Jim Jordan and Raul Labrador, saying they needed to “get on board” for “both great health care and massive tax cuts and reform.”
If @RepMarkMeadows , @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador would get on board we would have both great healthcare and massive tax cuts & reform.
Where are @RepMarkMeadows , @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador ? #RepealANDReplace #Obamacare
Additionally, Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a Freedom Caucus member, said Mr. Trump threatened to support a primary challenger to run against him in next year’s elections, according to Reid.
The House Freedom Caucus pushed back on Trump’s criticism. Rep. Justin Amash tweeted Thursday that “it didn’t take long for the swamp to drain @realdonaldtrump. No shame, Mr. Trump. Almost everyone succumbs to the D. C. establishment.”
Later, Amash called the President a “childish bully,” saying, “It’s constructive in the 5th grade. It may allow a child to get his way, but that’s not how our government works.”
Labrador, meanwhile, tweeted late Thursday that the Freedom Caucus “stood with you when others ran. Remember who your real friends are. We’re trying to help you succeed.”
@realDonaldTrump Freedom Caucus stood with u when others ran. Remember who your real friends are. We’re trying to help u succeed.

Similarity rank: 4.3

Sentiment rank: -1

© Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/war-between-trump-house-freedom-caucus-escalates/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

The departure of Pravin Gordhan comes after speculation that has hit South Africa’s markets.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan after days of speculation that rocked the country’s markets and currency.
Mr Gordhan will be replaced by Malusi Gigaba, said a statement issued late on Thursday by the president’s office.
Earlier this week, President Zuma recalled Mr Gordhan from planned events in the UK.
Sfiso Buthelezi will become Deputy Finance Minister, replacing Mcebisi Jonas.
President Zuma also made a number of other changes in the cabinet.
„I have directed the new ministers and deputy ministers to work tirelessly with their colleagues to bring about radical socioeconomic transformation and to ensure that the promise of a better life for the poor and the working class becomes a reality,“ President Zuma’s statement said.
Last October, Mr Gordhan was charged with fraud – but the charges were later dropped.
He has described the allegations as politically motivated.
Mr Gordhan has been seen as standing up to President Zuma in cabinet and has warned against corruption becoming rampant.
The South African Communist Party, an ally of the governing African National Congress, had earlier lodged a formal objection to plans to dismiss Mr Gordhan, who is widely respected internationally.
Many senior ANC figures also opposed the finance minister’s removal.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, said it would call a vote of no-confidence in President Zuma in parliament.
Mr Gordhan’s recall from the UK caused South Africa’s rand to lose nearly 5% of its value against major currencies earlier this week.
Pressure has been growing on Mr Zuma to step down amid numerous allegations of corruption.
He denies the claims.

Similarity rank: 4.2

Sentiment rank: -1.1

© Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39451040
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Michael Flynn’s lawyer says the ex-national security adviser must guard against „unfair prosecution“.
President Donald Trump’s fired national security adviser reportedly wants immunity to testify at hearings into alleged Russian election meddling.
Michael Flynn’s lawyer says his client „has a story to tell“, but needs to guard against „unfair prosecution“.
The Senate opened its hearing earlier, with one member warning of Kremlin „propaganda on steroids“.
Mr Flynn was sacked in February after misleading the White House about his conversations with a Russian envoy.
His links to Russia are being scrutinised by the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
„General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit,“ said his attorney, Robert Kelner.
He said he would not comment on his discussions with congressional panels investigating claims Moscow sought to help Donald Trump win the US presidential election.
The lawyer said the media was awash with „unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo“.
„No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution,“ said the written statement.
Mr Kelner did not explicitly comment on a Wall Street Journal report that Mr Flynn wants immunity from prosecution.
The Senate Intelligence Committee opened its hearing on Thursday with one member saying Moscow had sought to „hijack“ the US election.
Ranking Democrat Mark Warner said Russia may have used technology to spread disinformation, including fake news for voters in key states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Panel chairman Richard Burr, a Republican, warned: „We are all targets of a sophisticated and capable adversary. “
Mr Burr also confirmed there had been „conversations“ about interviewing Mr Flynn, but his appearance had not been confirmed.
The Trump presidency has been unable to shake off allegations that members of its team colluded with Russian officials during the election campaign.
The president regularly dismisses the claims as „fake news“ and Russia has also ridiculed the allegations.
President Putin did so again on Thursday at an Arctic forum, describing them as „nonsense“ and „irresponsible“.
Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed US sanctions against Russia with the country’s ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.
But he stood down after details of his phone call emerged, along with reports the Department of Justice had warned the White House about him misleading officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail.
At last summer’s Republican party convention, Mr Flynn led chants of „lock her up“ aimed at Hillary Clinton over her private email server.
In September, he said in a TV interview it was unacceptable that some of the Democratic candidate’s aides had been granted immunity from prosecution.
„When you get given immunity that means you’ve probably committed a crime,“ he told NBC News.

Similarity rank: 6.3

Sentiment rank: -0.3

© Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39451358
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.