A survivor of the Istanbul nightclub attack said she saw many dead people.
Dozens of people were killed, with at least 69 injured when a gunman targeted the Reina nightclub.
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Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found Sunday at a home south of downtown.
The woman, who has not been identified, was found dead just before 6 p.m. at a home in the 3000 block of Trulley.
Although the cause and manner of death have not been determined, Houston police said there are enough questions to warrant a criminal investigation.
Police have not identified a possible suspect or motive in the ongoing case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS or Houston police homicide detectives at 713-308-3600.
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(CNN) Two Dakota Access Pipeline protesters unfurled an anti-DAPL banner from the rafters high above the Minnesota Vikings game Sunday, but the game went on.
Crazy dude hung a #NoDAPL banner from the rafters and is still up there just swinging around. Seats below were cleared out. Dude is crazy. #Vikings #nflsunday
A photo posted by Jordan Proctor (@procto42) on Jan 1, 2017 at 11:35am PST
Favre Arrested: pic.twitter.com/kz327WaHwM
Female protester down and arrested: pic.twitter.com/rPAUYCWxyh
Was just emailed this press release about the protest at US Bank Stadium. pic.twitter.com/kQ4lxA1hOl
CNN’s Carma Hassan, Vivian Kuo, David Williams, Jason Durand and Tony Marco contributed to this report.
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Gunman in New Year slayings at Istanbul club still at large
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish police struggled Sunday to track down a gunman who attacked New Year’s Eve revelers at a popular Istanbul nightclub, killing at least 39 people, most of them foreigners. Close to 70 more were wounded.
The attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the Reina club around 1:15 a.m. before entering and firing at people partying inside, Istanbul Gov. Vasip Sahin said.
«Unfortunately, (he) rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were there to celebrate New Year’s and have fun,» Sahin told reporters.
Nearly two-thirds of the people killed were foreigners, many from the Middle East, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said. It said the bodies of 25 foreign nationals killed in the attack would be delivered to their families Monday.
Countries from India to Belgium reported their citizens among the casualties.
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Obama boosted White House technology; Trump sees risks
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Barack Obama began preparing to leave office, the first smartphone-toting U. S. president ordered his team to upgrade the White House’s aging technology for his successor. New computers were purchased and faster internet was installed.
Not included in the modernization plans? A courier service.
But that delivery method of a bygone era may be in for a comeback under Donald Trump. Despite his voracious use of Twitter, the president-elect appears to be leaning toward old tech to ensure the security of sensitive messages.
«It’s very important, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way because I’ll tell you what, no computer is safe,» Trump told reporters Saturday in response to questions about Russia’s alleged hacking of Democrats during the presidential election. Trump, who doesn’t email or surf the internet, said days earlier that computers «have complicated lives very greatly. »
Trump’s skepticism of some technology marks a sharp contrast from the president he’ll replace on Jan. 20. Obama, who was a youthful 47 years old when he took office, carries a specially outfitted Blackberry, emails with a small number of friends and aides, and has received some of his daily security briefings on an iPad. He celebrated technological innovations at an annual science fair, created the job of chief technology officer in the White House and viewed technology as key to making the sprawling federal government more efficient and responsive to the public.
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Obama has few options to protect young immigrants
WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama is under pressure during his final weeks as president to do something — anything — to secure the future of hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U. S. as children who could face deportation under the Trump administration. His options appear few.
At least 50 congressional Democrats are pushing Obama to take the rare if not unprecedented step of granting pardons to the young immigrants who have stepped forward to identify themselves in exchange for a promise that they’d be safe from deportation. The White House, though, has repeatedly ruled that out.
Several Republican lawmakers are crafting legislative proposals to solidify the place of these immigrants, sometimes called Dreamers, before Donald Trump takes office Jan. 20. Similar efforts have repeatedly failed, even with Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress, so the likelihood of a legislative Hail Mary isn’t great.
That leaves more than 741,000 immigrants wondering what’s next.
Trump’s plans for Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are unclear. As a candidate, he pledged an immediate end to what he called an «illegal executive amnesty. » But as the president-elect, he has softened that stance.
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Q&A: The GOP’s path to repealing health care law
WASHINGTON (AP) — The stakes confronting Republicans determined to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health care law were evident in one recent encounter between an Ohio congressman and a constituent.
«He said, ‘Now you guys own it. Now fix it. It’s on your watch now,'» recalled GOP Rep. Pat Tiberi, chairman of a pivotal health subcommittee. «And this is a supporter. »
Republicans have unanimously opposed Obama’s law since Democrats muscled it through Congress in 2010. They’ve tried derailing it scores of times but have failed, stymied by internal divisions and Obama’s veto power.
With the Republicans controlling Congress and Donald Trump entering the White House on Jan. 20, their mantra of repeal and replace is now a top-tier goal that the party’s voters fully expect them to achieve — starting this week.
But by unwinding the statute, the GOP would kill or recast programs that provide coverage to 20 million Americans who will be wary of anyone threatening their health insurance. That and continuing Republican rifts over how to reshape the law, pay for the replacement and avoid destabilizing health insurance markets mean party leaders have a bumpy path ahead.
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US general praises Iraqi forces fighting in Mosul
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A senior U. S. military commander on Sunday praised Iraqi forces fighting to recapture the northern city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, saying they were «at their peak» and adjusting well to changing realities on the battlefield.
Brig. Gen. Rick Uribe told The Associated Press he agrees with the forecast given by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that it would take another three months to liberate Mosul, the last Iraqi urban center still in the hands of the extremist group.
«We are on pretty close to where we want to be,» Uribe said, adding that military planners knew that while the initial push toward the city would be quick, progress would become «significantly» slower on the city’s fringes.
Speaking in Irbil, capital of the self-ruled Kurdish region in northern Iraq, Uribe said Iraqi forces north and south of Mosul have made progress since a new advance was launched last week after a two-week lull in fighting.
A government campaign to liberate Mosul and surrounding areas in Nineveh province began in mid-October, but most of the major fighting inside the city has been done by Iraqi special forces, known as the Counter Terrorism Service.
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Illinois law enlists hairstylists to prevent domestic abuse
CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois law that takes effect Sunday aims to take advantage of the trusted relationship between hairstylists and their clients to prevent domestic violence.
Stylists, barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, hair braiders and nail technicians in Illinois will receive an hour of mandated abuse-prevention training as part of the licensing process. The law does not require them to report any violence, and it shelters them from any liability.
Instead, the training provides beauty professionals with information about local help and resources they can share with clients. The Illinois measure appears to be the first of its kind in the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Hairstylists are well situated to notice signs of abuse, said Vi Nelson, spokeswoman for the industry group Cosmetologists Chicago.
Abusers «tend to try to find places where it could be an accident or it’s not as visible,» Nelson said. «They may hit them in the back of the head, and there’s a bruise or a bump. The hairdresser is touching you and can see things that cannot be visible to the casual observer. »
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In red states, businesses gearing up to fight bathroom bills
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sean Henry, the president of Tennessee’s NHL team, is stunned he even has to explain why he hopes state legislators will snub bills similar to North Carolina’s transgender bathroom law, which has consumed that state for months and scared off businesses and sporting events.
The Nashville Predators team is among about 300 companies, ranging from health-care giant HCA to FedEx, joining under the moniker Tennessee Thrives to oppose bathroom and religious objection bills, which they consider discriminatory and bad for business. Companies in other GOP-led states have had success voicing opposition under similar names: Georgia Prospers, Opportunity West Virginia, Missouri Competes.
«I honestly cannot believe that in 2016 I’m actually asked a question as to why I would support anti-discrimination groups,» Henry said. «I think the real question is: who hasn’t joined? »
After the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, social conservatives turned to statehouses, seeking state laws to let businesses, pastors and government refuse services to LGBT people based on their religious objections to same-sex unions.
Social progressives hoping to hold back that tide appealed to citizens’ sense of equality and people’s pocketbooks.
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Oil pipeline protesters unfurl huge banner at Vikings game
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Protesters trying to stymie the Dakota Access oil pipeline sneaked up on a truss connected to the roof and rappelled down to unfurl a huge banner inside U. S. Bank Stadium during the Minnesota Vikings’ season finale against the Chicago Bears.
Play was not interrupted on the field during Sunday’s game, but eight rows of fans seated below the banner were cleared as a precaution. The two protesters — a man and a woman — were later arrested for trespassing, Minneapolis police spokesman Officer Corey Schmidt said.
The banner urged Minneapolis-based U. S. Bank to divest from the four-state, $3.8 billion pipeline. Opponents contend the pipeline could affect drinking water and Native American artifacts. Texas-based developer Energy Transfer Partners says the pipeline will be safe.
The protesters rappelled into place during the second quarter, and then hung in a seated position about 100 feet above the seats that were evacuated for safety. The pair watched the rest of the game, occasionally shifting positions or waving at people in sections behind the east end zone. One wore a purple Brett Favre Vikings jersey.
Authorities declined to aggressively remove them out of safety concerns.
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Carey’s New Year’s show is latest mishap in the spotlight
Few singers can match the career of the multi-octave superstar Mariah Carey, the winner of five Grammys who has sold more than 200 million records worldwide.
But sometimes, life gets a little strange in the spotlight. .
She cursed on television during a 2013 appearance in Central Park that aired on «Good Morning America,» a performance also disrupted by a tear in the back of her dress. While singing «Always Be My Baby» on the «Today» show in 2014, she seemed to suffer from temporary voice freeze, as her mouth moved but for several seconds no sounds came out.
TV watchers also remember her wacky «ice cream cart» cameo on MTV and the sight of her needing four people to put on her shoes during a scene from the reality program «Mariah’s World. »
Then there was the humiliation of «Glitter,» Carey’s disastrous 2001 foray into film stardom, which was lambasted by the critics and public alike.
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Vandalized Hollywood sign briefly reads ‘HOLLYWeeD’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — No, Los Angeles residents, it wasn’t your hangovers playing tricks on you. The Hollywood sign really did read «HOLLYWeeD» for a few hours on New Year’s Day.
Police were investigating Sunday after a prankster used giant tarps to turn two of the iconic sign’s white Os into Es sometime overnight.
The vandal, dressed in all black, was recorded by security cameras and could face a misdemeanor trespassing charge, said Sgt. Robert Payan.
The person scaled a protective fence surrounding the sign above Griffith Park and then clambered up each giant letter to drape the coverings, Payan said.
The prank may be a nod to California voters’ approval in November of Proposition 64, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana, beginning in 2018.
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The United Kingdom’s national security minister warned the Islamic State wants to use chemical weapons against the country, and it is quite possible the infamous terrorist group has the ability to do it.
ISIS wants to engage in “mass casualty attacks,” explained Ben Wallace in a Sunday Times interview. He added that the group’s goal is to “terrorize” and kill as many people as possible, and it’s quite possible the group will use chemical weapons to do so.
“They have no moral objection to using chemical weapons against populations and if they could, they would in this country,” said Wallace. “The casualty figures which could be involved would be everybody’s worst fear.”
A terrorist group using weapons of mass destruction is often considered the worst-case scenario for security officials. Such attacks are generally rare, but ISIS is already suspected of manufacturing and using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria.
ISIS prioritized the stockpiling of chemical weapons during its rise in 2014 and 2015, creating a senior position within its ranks to oversee the process. The Pentagon confirmed in September that the terrorist group targeted U. S. troops in Iraq with gas weapons.
U. S. and Operation Inherent Resolve forces are well aware of the threat posed by an ISIS chemical attack. U. S. forces bombed two ISIS chemical weapons factories in March in order to prevent its spread across the so-called caliphate. They used intelligence gathered from Sleiman Daoud al-Afari , the captured former head of ISIS’s chemical weapons program, in order to discover the locations of the factories.
Despite Afari’s capture, the ISIS chemical weapons threat is still very real. While the terrorist group has yet to engage in a chemical attack in the West, Wallace noted that British intelligence confirmed ISIS had an “aspiration” to use chemical weapons against European targets.
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Police say a 16-year-old girl is dead and her mother was hurt in an attack in their Ellicott City home, just west of Baltimore.
Officers say the alleged 15-year-old gunman is in critical condition after shooting himself in the head.
The Howard County Police Department said in a news release that 52-year-old Suzanne Zaremba heard a scuffle in her daughter’s bedroom about 2 a.m. Sunday.
Investigators say Zaremba went to Charlotte Zaremba’s bedroom and saw a man. Police say he shot Suzanne and Charlotte Zaremba, then himself.
Charlotte Zaremba died at a local hospital; Suzanne Zaremba was treated and released.
Police say the alleged gunman is being treated for life-threatening injuries at Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Authorities say it is not clear if he has any connection to the victims.
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The Colombian defence ministry says it has rescued eight child soldiers recruited by the National Liberation Army guerrilla group.
The group were found during an army operation in a remote northern region, in which at least 12 rebel fighters were captured.
The ELN has been fighting the government for more than five decades.
Proposed peace talks broke down in October when the rebels failed to release a hostage they were holding.
A fresh attempt to arrange talks is due to take place in neighbouring Ecuador this month.
According to the ministry the operation took place in the municipality of Montecristo in the northern department of Bolivar.
Who are the ELN
ELN takeover
The minors have been placed under state protection and a ministry statement said the ELN «continued to infringe international human rights with the continued forced recruitment of under age recruits»
The ministry said a cache of weapons and field communication equipment had also been captured.
On Saturday, the ELN released a businessman it had been holding hostage since March .
Octavio Figueroa was freed close to the Venezuelan border, after an undisclosed ransom was paid.
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In a game that couldn’t have gone much worse, Oakland lost its latest starting quarterback, Matt McGloin, to a shoulder injury, then fell 24-6 on Sunday to Denver, a team with nothing to play for and facing the possible exit of coach Gary Kubiak for health reasons.
Combined with Kansas City’s win over San Diego, the Raiders (12-4) squandered the AFC West title and the first-round bye that went with it — and instead fell to the No. 5 seed.
The Raiders came into the last week of the regular season with a chance at the AFC ‘s top seed. Now, they are a wild card with a rookie third-stringer as their only fully healthy quarterback.
Earlier in the day, New England locked up the top seed.
Leading Oakland into next week’s game at Houston could be rookie Connor Cook if the injury to McGloin proves serious.
McGloin , who got the start when Derek Carr broke his leg last week, left late in the second quarter. He completed six passes for 21 yards, missing virtually every throw downfield. He stood on the bench in a stocking cap for the second half.
A fourth-year player out of Penn State, McGloin was making his first start since 2013. He was hurt when Jared Crick slammed him to the turf, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty. Moments before that play, McGloin overthrew a wide-open Amari Cooper.
Cook was 14-of-21 passing with a touchdown to Cooper, an interception and a lost fumble against the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos (9-7), who ended a three-game slide.
Devontae Booker became the first Broncos rookie with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since Clinton Portis in 2002.
Before the game, there was speculation Kubiak will step down after the season. He’s 11 months removed from leading Denver to a Super Bowl win over Carolina. The 55-year-old Kubiak suffered a complex migraine on Oct. 9 following Denver’s loss to Atlanta.
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With his game still in doubt, Seattle coach Pete Carroll made what he described as an uncomfortable decision. With the chance of a first-round bye all but gone with Atlanta holding a comfortable lead, Carroll pulled quarterback Russell Wilson and other key players to keep them fresh for next week’s playoff game.
Wilson threw for 258 yards and a touchdown before being replaced in the fourth quarter and the Seahawks rallied from an early 11-point deficit to beat San Francisco 25-23 on Sunday in what was coach Chip Kelly’s final game with the 49ers.
Hours after the game, the team announced that Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke had been fired.
«I hate backing off any time ever,» Carroll said. «I can’t remember doing it very many times. I just thought we were able to do something to protect ourselves for next week. I did not want to be planning for that. It just kind of happened and it just seemed like we (were) able to do something to help, and it worked out fine. »
The Falcons wrapped up a bye with a 38-32 win over New Orleans, sending the NFC West champion Seahawks (10-5-1) to the playoffs as the third seed. The Seahawks will host the loser of Sunday night’s game between Detroit and Green Bay next week.
Seattle had control of the race for the No. 2 seed before losing at home last week to Arizona but heads into the playoffs with the confidence of a team that has been to two of the past three Super Bowls, winning it all after the 2013 season.
«Sometimes you get it and it knocks you off your rhythm,» cornerback Richard Sherman said. «Sometimes you get it and it gives you a chance to rest. At this point we’re about as healthy as we’re going to be. We don’t need it. »
The loss capped a disappointing season for the 49ers (2-14), who matched the franchise record for losses in a season previously reached in 1978, ’79 and 2004.
«It’s a bottom line business,» Kelly said before getting the news from CEO Jed York. «So, we probably didn’t win enough games. »
The Niners started fast with touchdowns on two of their first three drives, but were outgained 366-99 over the final three quarters as Wilson delivered numerous big plays and Seattle shut down Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco offense.
Trevone Boykin, who replaced Wilson, converted a pair of third downs with Seattle protecting a two-point lead to help run out the clock.
«It was a great job of getting in there and get it done,» Carroll said. «He put together a great drive with the guys up front, to finish the game. »
FAST START, SLOW FINISH: Kaepernick completed his first 10 passes and Shaun Draughn scored on a pair of 1-yard runs to give the Niners a 14-3 lead. That marked the fifth time this season San Francisco led a home game by at least 11 points in the first half, but the Niners won only the opener against the Rams. San Francisco blew 14-point leads to Dallas, Tampa Bay and the Jets.
MILESTONE: Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin caught two passes for 44 yards, tying the franchise record for catches in a season with 94. Baldwin tied Bobby Engram’s mark set in 2007 with an acrobatic 41-yard catch in the second quarter.
DUBIOUS RECORD: Jimmy Graham used his basketball skills to box out safety Antoine Bethea on a 42-yard catch in the second quarter that set up Thomas Rawls’ go-ahead 1-yard run. With that play, San Francisco broke the franchise record for most yards allowed in a season. The Niners had already set franchise worsts for most points and yards rushing allowed in a season. This year’s team gave up 6,502 yards, breaking the mark of 6,259 set in 2005. The Niners had already set franchise worsts for most points and yards rushing allowed in a season.
FIGHT: Seattle defensive tackle Jarran Reed was ejected after a scuffle following an extra point. Reed was called for a personal foul for throwing a punch in the fourth quarter. Reed then got into a yelling match with teammate Frank Clark near the Seattle sideline as he walked off the field. Teammates had to separate the two.
«Somewhere in there he threw a punch,» Carroll said. «So he deserved to get ejected. »
DRAFT POSITION: San Francisco will have the second pick in the draft, the highest for the team since taking Alex Smith No. 1 overall in 2005. The Niners had a shot at the No. 1 pick if Cleveland won, but the Browns lost 27-24 in overtime at Pittsburgh.
ROUGH WARMUP: The 49ers lost tight end Je’Ron Hamm to a broken leg in warmups. Hamm had an air cast placed on his left leg and was carted off the field following the injury. San Francisco also lost cornerback Rashard Robinson to an ankle injury in the first half.
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ATLANTA — During a timeout with 4:10 left in the third quarter Sunday, chants of «M-V-P, M-V-P» rang loudly throughout the Georgia Dome.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan seemed oblivious to the roars as he huddled with his teammates and clapped his hands, ready to move on to the next play. But certainly he had to be moved by the respect and appreciation displayed by the home crowd.
Ryan certainly did nothing but boost his MVP candidacy with yet another masterful performance. He completed 17 of 19 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns in the first half to stake his team to a 35-13 halftime lead en route to a 38-32 triumph over the rival New Orleans Saints.
«Feels pretty good,» Ryan said of the MVP chants. «That was nice of our fans to do that. It was a pretty cool moment out there today. It felt really good.»
The win means the 11-5 Falcons secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC behind the Dallas Cowboys. A berth in the Super Bowl is a legitimate possibility with the way the offense is clicking.
«I think the most important thing is we’ve given ourselves a chance,» Ryan said. «We have an opportunity in front of us now, and it will be fun.»
The Falcons now get a first-round bye, giving banged-up players such as Julio Jones (toe), Taylor Gabriel (foot), and Vic Beasley Jr . (shoulder) and an extra week to recover before the home playoff game in the second round. Beasley said he’s scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday but sounded confident about playing through whatever pain is in his left shoulder.
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What Ryan & Co. did Sunday was show the rest of the playoff field, including the Cowboys and Patriots, just how unstoppable this offense can be. The Falcons scored touchdowns on their first five offensive drives, including a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Tevin Coleman , a Devonta Freeman 75-yard touchdown run and a 1-yard fade from Ryan to Jones. Ryan, who completed 27 of 36 passes for 331 yards, fell just 56 yards shy of reaching 5,000 for the season but still set a new franchise record regardless (4,944).
The Falcons entered Sunday’s game averaging a league-best 33.5 points per game. Counting Sunday, they scored 35 or more points in eight games this season and won all eight. Five of those games were 40-point efforts. Score 40-plus in the playoffs and the Falcons just might find themselves in Houston for the Super Bowl.
Winning the MVP would be a nice way for Ryan to cap his magical season, but he couldn’t care less about individual honors. All he has talked about all season is wins, and his arm helped the Falcons reached 11 wins for the first time since 2012.
And the fact the defense surrendered 32 points to the Saints and gave up three fourth-quarter touchdowns only emphasized why the Falcons need to score, and score, and score. The defense has shown progress but still has lapses, probably attributed to youth.
The way things are lined up now, the Falcons just might get a rematch with the No. 3 seed Seattle Seahawks , the team they lost to 26-24 in Week 6. But the Falcons are a much better team now.
The offense has been good all season long, thanks to Ryan.
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