4 children dead in Texas in pesticide spraying incident

January 3, 2017

Amarillo Fire Department officials say other people who were in the home are “not out of the woods” yet.
Fire officials say a chemical reaction occurred when one person tried to wash off a pesticide that had been sprayed under the house. Poisonous Phosphine gas was released.
Capt. Larry Davis said in a statement Monday that crews responded to a medical call at the home about 5 a.m. One child died at the scene and three others died at a hospital. Officials didn’t release any identifying information, including the children’s ages.
Other family members and first responders are being treated.
Toxic Phosphine gas is produced when aluminum phosphide is mixed with water or moisture, CBS Amarillo affiliate KFDA reports. Aluminum phosphide is a dangerous “restricted-use pesticide,” and it’s used to kill mice, prairie dogs and gophers. A license is needed to buy it.
The Amarillo Fire Department said in this case it was clearly purchased from an unlicensed dealer, since the person who used it didn’t know that mixing it with water could be damaging, KFDA reported. Once inhaled or ingested, the respiratory system is attacked and it only takes a few PPM (parts per million) to cause death.
“This is known, this happens across the United States and it’s when people get a hold of stuff they don’t know how to use and they don’t do enough research and figure out that water is bad for it,” said Lieutenant Josh Whitney. “And then with the moisture that we have in our air and the moisture that he applied to it, it was just a recipe for a bad situation.”

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Long lines, frustration after U. S. Customs system outage at airports

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January 3, 2017

Last Updated Jan 2, 2017 10:38 PM EST
A U. S. Customs and Border Protection system outage Monday at some airports caused long lines and delays for those trying to enter the United States.
A CBP spokesperson confirmed the outage in a statement to CBS News, saying its processing systems at various airports of entry were experiencing a temporary outage.
Systems are back online, CBP said on Twitter late Monday.
“No indication the disruption was malicious in nature,” CBP said.
All airports are back on line after a temporary outage of #CBP ’s processing systems. No indication the disruption was malicious in nature.
“CBP took immediate action to address the issue and CBP officers continued to process international travelers using alternative procedures at airports experiencing the disruption,” CBP spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. “Travelers at some ports of entry experienced longer than usual wait times as CBP officers processed travelers as quickly as possible while maintaining the highest levels of security.”
It is unclear how widespread the outage was, but issues were reported in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Washington Dulles International Airport. The outages began around 5 p.m. EST and ended around 9 p.m. EST, CBP said.
Miami Airport said on Twitter that it will take time for passengers to be processed.
@CustomsBorder system up & running. Will take time for passengers to be processed. Thx 4 UR patience. Many airports affected 2nite.
Dozens of social media users took to Twitter to share photos of the long lines and large crowds.
@iflymia – 100’s stuck in customs lines. Please make an announcement and/or update pic.twitter.com/KNx24m4ioE
Disappointing Miami International Airport @MiamiHerald – all systems down at US customs. No global entry, no mobile, NOTHING! pic.twitter.com/0pK7UMsblM
Nightmare at the #Miami airport for all incoming int’l flights: all systems were down at immigration. Hours of wait #miamiairport pic.twitter.com/MOorFyfv9x
Passport control line at Miami Intl Arprt at standstill & literally 1k+ ppl long. Bad look, @CustomsBorder cc: @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/TrT5Hb37g2
And some said that they had been waiting for hours.
Craziness @iflymia Immigration sys down… Hundreds in line… Very dangerous. Been here for 180 min & no progress… Mob rule soon. pic.twitter.com/BT2PsYxky9
In Atlanta, CBP public affairs officer Robert Brisley says the outage at the city’s airport lasted about an hour from late afternoon into early evening. He said that officers were working to recover quickly afterward but even short outages can lead to backups at the airport, one of the world’s busiest.
He said the agency apologizes to travelers who were delayed getting into the country after long flights.
Brisley said the cause of the outage was still being evaluated.

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Israeli Police Question Netanyahu Over Corruption Allegation

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January 3, 2017

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was grilled by police investigators for over three hours at his official residence Monday night, opening what could be a politically damaging criminal investigation into suspicions that he improperly accepted gifts from wealthy supporters.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, but the involvement of the national fraud squad indicated questions raised about him are considered serious enough to merit an investigation. Police said Netanyahu was questioned « under caution, » a term signaling that anything he said could be used as evidence against him.
Israel’s Justice Ministry later issued a statement saying Netanyahu was questioned « on suspicion of receiving benefits from business people. »
The ministry said investigators also had looked into suspicions of campaign finance irregularities and double billing for travel expenses, but determined there was not enough evidence to merit criminal charges.
Netanyahu has denied what he calls « baseless » reports about the investigation.
« We’ve been paying attention to reports in the media, we are hearing the celebratory mood and the atmosphere in the television studios and the corridors of the opposition, and I would like to tell them, stop with the celebrations, don’t rush, » he told a meeting of lawmakers from his Likud Party earlier Monday. « There won’t be anything because there is nothing. »
Israel’s Channel 2 TV has said that Netanyahu accepted « favors » from businessmen in Israel and abroad and that he is the central suspect in a second investigation that also involves family members.
The newspaper Haaretz said billionaire Ronald Lauder, a longtime friend of Netanyahu’s, was linked to the affair. Channel 10 TV has reported that Netanyahu’s oldest son, Yair, accepted free trips and other gifts from Australian billionaire James Packer.
In late September, Lauder was summoned by police for questioning « related to a certain investigation conducted by them and in which Mr. Lauder is not its subject matter, » said Helena Beilin, Lauder’s Israeli attorney. « After a short meeting, he was told that his presence is no longer required and that there shall be no further need for additional meetings. »
Netanyahu, who took office in 2009, has long had an image as a cigar-smoking, cognac-drinking socialite, while his wife, Sara, has been accused of abusive behavior toward staff. Opponents have portrayed both as being out of touch with the struggles of average Israelis.
Over the years, reports have been released about the high cost of the Netanyahus’ housekeeping expenses.
In one case, he was chided for spending $127,000 in public funds for a special sleeping cabin on a flight to London. Even their costly purchases of scented candles and pistachio-flavored ice cream have been derided.
But he has never been charged with a crime. However, a mounting investigation could put pressure on him to step down, as his predecessor, Ehud Olmert , did in 2008 just months before he was formally indicted on corruption related charges. Olmert is now serving a prison sentence after being convicted of accepting bribes.
A campaign is underway by Erel Margalit, an opposition lawmaker of the Zionist Union party, seeking for Netanyahu to be formally investigated over suspicions of prominent donors improperly transferring money for the prime minister’s personal use as well as reports that Netanyahu’s personal attorney represented a German firm involved in a $1.5 billion sale of submarines to Israel.
The Netanyahus have denied any wrongdoing, and say they are the target of a witch hunt by the Israeli media.

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© Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israeli-media-police-question-netanyahu-corruption-44508059
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House GOP votes to gut independent ethics office

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January 3, 2017

House Republicans on Monday voted to eviscerate the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent body created in 2008 to investigate allegations of misconduct by lawmakers after several bribery and corruption scandals sent members to prison.
The ethics change, which prompted an outcry from Democrats and government watchdog groups, is part of a rules package that the full House will vote on Tuesday. The package also includes a means for Republican leaders to punish lawmakers if there is a repeat of the Democratic sit-in last summer over gun control.
Under the ethics change pushed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the non-partisan Office of Congressional Ethics would fall under the control of the House Ethics Committee, which is run by lawmakers. It would be known as the Office of Congressional Complaint Review, and the rule change would require that « any matter that may involve a violation of criminal law must be referred to the Committee on Ethics for potential referral to law enforcement agencies after an affirmative vote by the members, » according to Goodlatte’s office.
Lawmakers would have the final say under the change. House Republicans voted 119-74 for the Goodlatte measure despite arguments from Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., against the change. They failed to sway rank-and-file Republicans, some of whom have felt unfairly targeted by the OCE.
« The amendment builds upon and strengthens the existing Office of Congressional Ethics by maintaining its primary area of focus of accepting and reviewing complaints from the public and referring them, if appropriate, to the Committee on Ethics, » Goodlatte said in a statement.
Democrats, led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, reacted angrily.
« Republicans claim they want to ‘drain the swamp,’ but the night before the new Congress gets sworn in, the House GOP has eliminated the only independent ethics oversight of their actions, » the California lawmaker said in a statement. « Evidently, ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress. »
Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters, said Ryan should be ashamed of himself and his leadership team.
« We all know the so-called House Ethics Committee is worthless for anything other than a whitewash — sweeping corruption under the rug. That’s why the independent Office of Congressional Ethics has been so important. The OCE works to stop corruption and that’s why Speaker Ryan is cutting its authority. Speaker Ryan is giving a green light to congressional corruption. »
The OCE was created in March 2008 after the cases of former Rep. Randy « Duke » Cunningham, R-Calif., who served more than seven years in prison on bribery and other charges; as well as cases of former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who was charged in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal and pleaded guilty to corruption charges and former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., convicted on corruption in a separate case.
—
AP Congressional Correspondent Erica Werner contributed to this report.

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Часть повстанцев замораживает переговоры по Сирии

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January 3, 2017

Сирия
Из открытых источников
Несколько сирийских повстанческих группировок заявили, что замораживают переговоры о своем участии в мирной конференции в Казахстане, обвинив силы Асада в нарушении режима прекращения огня, сообщает BBC.
В заявлении говорится, что повстанцы строго придерживаются условий перемирия, однако правительственные силы при поддержке иранских союзников многократно нарушали их в пригородах Дамаска – Восточной Гуте и в долине Вади-Барада.
Новости по теме: Франция призвала Россию соблюдать перемирие в Сирии
Повстанцы заявили, что выйдут из соглашения о перемирии, если силы Асада попытаются использовать его, чтобы отбить территории у повстанцев.
Мирные переговоры, как ожидается, должны начаться в этом месяце в Астане.
Новости по теме: ИГИЛ взяло на себя ответственность за вчерашний теракт в сирийском Тартусе
31 декабря Совет Безопасности ООН единогласно принял резолюцию в поддержку договоренностей о прекращении огня в Сирии и начала переговоров Дамаска с оппозицией.
Резолюция призывает к политическому урегулированию конфликта путем переговоров между правительством и повстанцами.
С полуночи 30 декабря соглашение о перемирии вступило в силу.

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В Германии задержали мигранта по подозрению в подготовке теракта на Новый год

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January 3, 2017

38-летнего мигранта, который прибыл в ФРГ в 2014 году, задержали в его квартире в Саарбрюккене утром 31 декабря, сообщает Der Spiegel. Как стало известно полиции, Хасан А. собирался врезаться в толпу на полицейском автомобиле.
Задержанный с помощью мессенджера Telegram c представителем террористической организации « Исламское государство » в Ракке, который обещал ему 180 тысяч доларов на подготовку теракта. Деньги должны были пойти на приобретение автомобиля, который следовало « декорировать » как полицейский. Теракты якобы планировалось организовать в Берлине, Штутгарте, Мюнхене, Эссене и Дортмунде, передает Die Zeit.
Сам задержанный утверждает, что он не собирался совершать теракт, а хотел обманным путем выманить деньги у ИГИЛ, чтобы передать их своим родственникам в Сирии. Как сообщается, полиция не обнаружила ни оружия, ни взрывчатке в квартире Хасана А. Автомобиль он также не приобрел.
Как сообщалось, вечером 19 декабря, около 20 часов по местному времени грузовик въехал в толпу людей на рождественской ярмарке у Мемориальной церкви кайзера Вильгельма в Берлине. Грузовик врезался в толпу на скорости 60-80 км/ч и, давя людей и руша торговые палатки, проехал от 50 до 80 метров.
В результате умышленного наезда тяжелого грузовика на посетителей берлинской рождественской ярмарки в понедельник погибли 12 человек, ранения получили еще 70.

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Парубий о безвизе с ЕС: Вопрос не снят с повестки дня, он отсрочен

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January 3, 2017

Украина получит безвизовый режим с Европейским союзом в течение нескольких месяцев – этот вопрос должны рассмотреть на одном из ближайших заседаний Европарламента. Такое мнение в эфире 5 канала высказал председатель Верховной Рады Андрей Парубий.
« В ближайшие месяцы на пленарных заседаниях Европарламента этот вопрос должен быть решен. Я могу сказать одно наверняка: когда он появится на повестке дня, у нас будет большинство депутатов. Я это знаю от депутатов разных фракций, и об этом могу говорить уверенно. Могу твердо говорить: вопрос не снят с повестки дня, он отсрочен », – заявил Парубий.

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Трамп не допустит успеха КНДР в разработке ракеты

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January 3, 2017

Избранный президент США Дональд Трамп обещал не допустить ситуации, когда межконтинентальная баллистическая ракета КНДР будет способна достичь территории США. Об этом он написал в Twitter.
« Северная Корея заявила, что находится на завершающей стадии разработки ядерного оружия, способного достичь территории США. Этого не будет! « , − подчеркнул Трамп.
Также избранный президент США обвинил Китай в том, что его власти недостаточно помогают в урегулировании вопроса с КНДР.
« Китай получил большую прибыль в результате выгодной лишь для него торговли с США, но не может помочь с Северной Кореей », − отметил Трамп.

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Теракт в Стамбуле: появилось фото подозреваемого

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January 3, 2017

Турецкое государственное информагентство Anadolu опубликовало в Tvitter фотографии подозреваемого в исполении теракта в ночном клубе Reina в центре Стамбула.
Работы по установлению личности террориста продолжаются. По информации турецких СМИ со ссылкой на полицию, террорист является гражданином Узбекистана или Киргизии.
Департамент по борьбе с организованной преступностью и терроризмом генеральной прокуратуры Стамбула продолжает расследование инцидента.

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Eight Immigration Victories Won for Americans in 2016

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January 3, 2017

Here are a handful of wins from 2016—victories achieved by Americans in the face of opposition from the media, big business, the political establishment, and progressives.
1) The collapse of Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio. Bush infamously called illegal immigration an “act of love” and wanted to force middle-class Americans to compete with an unlimited supply of foreign professionals for decent jobs. He said he wanted to grant legal status, and U. S. citizenship, to tens of millions of illegal aliens. He declared enforcing immigration law was not an “American value.” Rubio, of course, pushed for the nation-killing “Gang of Eight” bill that would have flooded America with 33 million new migrants seeking U. S. jobs and granted amnesty plus an unlimited supply of foreign college graduates and refugees — after swearing to the Tea Party voters who put him in the Senate he would never vote for an amnesty bill. GOP voters reacted by tanking Bush in South Carolina and dealing Rubio a humiliating defeat in Florida during the Republican primaries.
2) Electing Donald Trump as President of the United States. Voters elected Trump not because he was a billionaire celebrity who writes his own tweets, but because he campaigned at great personal expense and risk to build a wall, deport illegal aliens, reform contract-worker programs, halt the illicit drug trade, prevent Islamic terrorism, renegotiate trade deals outsourcing U. S. jobs, and curb American involvement in never-ending Middle Eastern conflicts. Rubio and Bush were comically out of touch with Americans’ concerns about these issues. In a mere 18 months, the conventional wisdom about ratcheting up immigration and handing out amnesty to illegals was swept away. Trump’s first term is very promising for pro-American immigration reformers—and at the very least, Hillary Clinton will never have the chance to make her open borders “dream” a reality.
3) Victims of illegal alien crime and their families receiving national awareness, sympathy, and outrage on their behalf. Forget reporters calling them a “hate group” and a “hate rally” —for the first time these long-suffering families told their stories directly to their fellow citizens on the national stage and asked for justice. Celebrities are told they’re “so brave” for posing nude and tweeting about women’s’ rights, but it takes real courage to recount your son’s death at the hands of an illegal alien, publicly, in the hopes no parent is ever made to suffer such a loss. Illegal alien crime is almost completely preventable, and Americans rewarded the only candidate who took their side in this crisis with the presidency.
4) Fewer Americans trust the media and its stealthy pleas for amnesty and mass immigration. Despite wall-to-wall media propaganda about mass immigration and the aggressive denials that any drawbacks exist , over half of all voters are openly insisting they want immigration levels halved or reduced to zero. Another 58 percent believe illegal aliens should not be allowed to stay in the U. S., period. Breitbart News previously reported on a poll that found 75 percent of voters want unemployed Americans to receive U. S. jobs, compared to only three percent who think the U. S. should import more foreigners to fill them. Sixty-one percent said politicians “who would rather import foreign workers to take jobs rather than give them to current U. S. residents [are] unfit to hold office.” Meanwhile, trust in the media continues to hover at an all-time low .
5) The facts about immigration continue to “come out of the shadows.” There is now no excuse for leftists and the media to sneer at anyone who questions mass immigration as “demagogues.” Forty-two million migrants is an enormous number of people to fit into a country in only a few decades. Businesses got cheaper workers and Democrats got more voters, but the nation got millions of new residents who have little incentive to assimilate. Voters are finally allowed to ask: Do we want to live in a country where barbaric practices — such as beheadings , animal sacrifice , and female genital mutilation — take place? Do we want our children to learn “the value of diversity” instead of math, reading, science, writing, and American history? The media can no longer cover up these stories so easily, and political correctness lost much of its power over the immigration debate.
6) The nomination of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Thanks to the Democrats’ nuclear option, the well-liked Sessions is almost certainly a “lock” for Attorney General. A Sessions-run Department of Justice will crack down on lawless sanctuary cities, help craft tougher sentences to penalize drug trafficking, and overhaul the department to answer voters’ calls for law and order.
7) Paul Ryan abandoning the H-2B visa program. This visa program would have given 198,000 blue-collar jobs to migrants instead of unemployed or underemployed Americans. Ryan’s decision to not continue the pink-slip program may be a sign that one of the nation’s leading advocates for importing foreign workers may have learned a lesson or two.
Ryan has retreated on his “ Pink-Slip Plan ” before Trump assumed office, but cautious voters should still assume that he adheres to his long-held, pro-mass immigration and amnesty beliefs.
8) The death of the bill promising to slash prison sentences for drug traffickers, including many illegal aliens. As murders rise in major cities and a raging opioid epidemic claims tens of thousands of lives, some Republicans partnered with Democrats to spring federal drug traffickers from prison. As Breitbart News has previously reported : Nearly a quarter of all inmates in federal prison are non-citizens, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, most of which are Mexicans. The bill would have released illegal alien drug traffickers into American communities without requiring their deportations. Fortunately, under a Trump administration, the bill has virtually no chance of becoming law.