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• Saudi foreign minister says Iran main sponsor of global terror
• Flood fears renewed as California is pounded by storm
• Nigeria urges AU to intervene over 'SAfrica killings'
• Shocker! World’s first self-driving car race ends in a crash
• Families flee as Pakistan cracks down along Afghan border
• Atlanta, other cities eye test tracks for self-driving cars
• Police expand search for suspect in 2 Indiana girls' deaths
• Pence reassures Europe, demands NATO funds
• Solar-powered Africa “never more possible and less expensive”: energy chief
• ‘That’s how dictators get started’: McCain, critics blast Trump’s view of the media as ‘the enemy’
• Photos of the day - February 18, 2017
• It’s not just Jet Black iPhone 7 models that are getting all scratched up
• Aide says senators want materials saved for Russia probe
• New Zealand court rules Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can be extradited to U.S. for alleged fraud
• Greece compromises on bailout reforms: officials
• The geekiest signs from the 'Stand up for Science' rally
• NZ court rules Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can be extradited to U.S. for alleged fraud
• This new iPhone 8 feature might end up blowing our minds
• The best way to expand your iPhone’s storage is discounted right now on Amazon
• Parts of South Sudan experiencing famine: government official
• ‘Pokémon GO’ Tips And Tricks To Maximize Gen 2 Pokémon Update Experience
• Gambia's new president commits to end human rights abuses
• Schaeuble denies 'Grexit' threat, says Greece on right path
• Hundreds of Rohingya 'return home' from Bangladesh
• Australia and UAE to explore deeper defense ties, A$1 billion in sales

Saudi foreign minister says Iran main sponsor of global terror Posted: 20 Feb 2017 02:08 PM PST Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday rejected Iranian calls for dialogue saying Tehran was the main sponsor of terrorism in the world, a destabilizing force in the Middle East and wanted to "destroy us." "Iran remains the single main sponsor of terrorism in the world," Adel al-Jubeir told delegates at the Munich Security Conference. "It's determined to upend the order in Middle East ... (and) until and unless Iran changes its behavior it would be very difficult to deal with a country like this." Al-Jubeir said Iran was propping up the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, funding the Houthi separatists in Yemen and violent groups across the region. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Flood fears renewed as California is pounded by storm Posted: 20 Feb 2017 01:50 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Downpours swelled creeks and rivers Monday in Northern California, threatening to cause even more flooding in the already soggy region. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Nigeria urges AU to intervene over 'SAfrica killings' Posted: 20 Feb 2017 01:32 PM PST Nigeria on Monday urged the African Union to step in to stop what it said were "xenophobic attacks" on its citizens and other Africans in South Africa. "This is unacceptable to the people and government of Nigeria," a senior presidential aide on foreign affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said in an emailed statement. There was no independent verification of the claimed number of deaths, which may have been the result of wider criminal activities rather than anti-immigrant sentiment. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Shocker! World’s first self-driving car race ends in a crash Posted: 20 Feb 2017 01:17 PM PST The world's first race on a professional track involving self-driving cars ended, not surprisingly, with a crash. As part of the Roborace competition held in Buenos Aires over the weekend, one of the two self-driving Devbot vehicles involved in the race slammed into a wall after miscalculating a particularly sharp turn. While the Devbot vehicles weren't going all out, they weren't exactly driving at a leisurely pace either. At their best, both cars were driving in excess of 100 MPH, with one reaching a top speed of 115 MPH at one point. In addition to racing around the track at high speeds, it's worth noting that each car can communicate with the other as to prevent them from crashing into each other. Unfortunately, the racetrack wall proved to be an insurmountable foe. As for the software malfunction that caused the crash, Roborace's Justin Cooke explained what happened in an interview with the BBC: One of the cars was trying to perform a manoeuvre, and it went really full-throttle and took the corner quite sharply and caught the edge of the barrier. It's actually fantastic for us because the more we see these moments the more we are able to learn and understand what was the thinking behind the computer and its data. Indeed, for as far along as self-driving software and hardware has progressed, it's clear that there's still a lot of work to be done before self-driving cars can replace human drivers completely across all driving environments. While the DevBot vehicles are designed such that they "can be driven by a human or a computer", the versions used in the race over the weekend did not have any humans inside. Photos of the crash can be seen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSbSUeKEj00 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Families flee as Pakistan cracks down along Afghan border Posted: 20 Feb 2017 12:58 PM PST Hundreds of families were fleeing from both sides of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan Monday, officials said, as Islamabad continued a violent crackdown on extremists after multiple attacks last week raised fears of a militant resurgence. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring the militants who carried out last week's attacks, which killed more than 100 people across the country. The Pakistani military said it used heavy artillery to fire at militant hideouts in Afghanistan Monday, after carrying out airstrikes on both sides of the border over the weekend. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Atlanta, other cities eye test tracks for self-driving cars Posted: 20 Feb 2017 12:22 PM PST ATLANTA (AP) — Self-driving vehicles could begin tooling down a bustling Atlanta street full of cars, buses, bicyclists and college students, as the city vies with other communities nationwide to test the emerging technology. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Police expand search for suspect in 2 Indiana girls' deaths Posted: 20 Feb 2017 12:03 PM PST DELPHI, Ind. (AP) — Authorities said Monday they are expanding the search for a suspect in the killings of two girls who were found dead near a northern Indiana trail last week. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Pence reassures Europe, demands NATO funds Posted: 20 Feb 2017 11:48 AM PST US Vice President Mike Pence told nervous Europeans Monday that Donald Trump will remain committed to transatlantic ties, but warned NATO allies they must boost their defence spending in return. Capping a European trip aimed at allaying fears about the new administration's support, Pence said Washington's backing for the EU remained "steadfast and enduring". "Today it is my privilege on behalf of President Trump to express the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union," Pence said after talks with EU president Donald Tusk in Brussels. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Solar-powered Africa “never more possible and less expensive”: energy chief Posted: 20 Feb 2017 11:29 AM PST By Maina Waruru ABU DHABI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A "solar revolution" is coming to Africa, comparable in scale and importance to the rapid surge in mobile phone use on the continent two decades ago, predicts the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Fast-dropping costs for solar power, combined with plenty of sun and a huge need for electricity on a continent where many are still without it, means solar has huge potential in Africa, said Adnan Amin, the director general of IRENA. "Africa's solar potential is enormous," he said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

‘That’s how dictators get started’: McCain, critics blast Trump’s view of the media as ‘the enemy’ Posted: 20 Feb 2017 10:51 AM PST Critics on both sides of the aisle are blasting President Trump's assertion that the media is "the enemy of the American people" — and comparing his escalated attack on the press to that of a dictator. "That's how dictators get started," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said in an interview that aired on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. McCain stopped short of calling Trump one. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Photos of the day - February 18, 2017 Posted: 20 Feb 2017 10:33 AM PST Riot Police officers apprehend a protester during clashes at a demonstration against alleged police abuse, in Paris; a model displays a 2017-18 Fall/Winter creation by Spanish designer Andres Sarda during the Madrid's Fashion Week in Madrid, Spain; and Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout speaks during a news conference at spring baseball practice in Tempe, Ariz. These are some of the photos of the day. (AP/EPA/Getty/Reuters) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

It’s not just Jet Black iPhone 7 models that are getting all scratched up Posted: 20 Feb 2017 10:13 AM PST I have always been incredibly careful with my smartphones. I've never shattered a display or had a phone that saw any serious damage from a drop. In fact, I've always been so careful with my smartphones that until this past fall when I switched from a 4.7-inch iPhone 6s to the larger iPhone 7 Plus (since it's the only real flagship iPhone now), I never even bothered to use a case on my smartphones. Even now, I use this paper-thin case on my iPhone 7 Plus. It offers no real protection from drops, but I use it just to add some grip since the phone is so large and can be tricky to use with one hand. In years past, my iPhones have always been pristine when I've gone to sell them or trade them in while upgrading to a new model. But this year, with the iPhone 7 Plus, my phone has looked like it's been through a war zone since a week or two after I got it — and I haven't dropped it a single time. I don't have a Jet Black iPhone and I haven't been any less careful with this iPhone than I have with any other. So what's going on here? If you choose the Jet Black finish when buying an iPhone 7 or an iPhone 7 Plus, odds are pretty good that you know what you're getting yourself into. Long story short, Apple's Jet Black finish is going to get scratched up like crazy no matter how careful you are. Just look at the horrific photos of Jet Black iPhones that people have been sharing online. In fact, Apple even has a disclaimer on its website warning people that the Jet Black finish on its new iPhones is prone to scratching. Covering a Jet Black iPhone with a case completely defeats the purpose and I have no interest in using a scratched up iPhone, so I opted for matte black when I bought my iPhone 7 Plus. Little did I know, however, that it wasn't the back of the phone I needed to worry about. Threads on Reddit, Facebook, Twitter and even Apple's own support forum detail a problem that just about everyone seems to be having with their iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models: the screens are ridiculously prone to scratching. iPhone owners have been talking about it ever since Apple first released its new iPhone models this past September, and the issue doesn't appear to be confined to any particular iPhone models. Everyone's screens are getting scratched up, it's just a question of whether or not they notice it. In the case of my iPhone, the only time the display comes in contact with anything other than my fingers or the side of my face is when it's sliding in or out of my pants pocket. And yet after just a week or two of usage, the display was already covered with fine scratches and swirling. While Apple doesn't specify its glass supplier for any iPhone models, it is believed that Corning's latest-generation Gorilla Glass is used on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. And from the looks of things, Corning has a serious problem with the finish on its new glass. Using a glass screen protector on your iPhone is really the only way to prevent the scratching problem, and there are plenty of well-review options out there like this one. For me personally though, this isn't an option. Screen protectors rarely have a good feel, they never resist oil as well (though the oleophobic coating on Apple's iPhone screens has also been known to disappear in no time), and they spoil the smooth lines on the face of the iPhone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Aide says senators want materials saved for Russia probe Posted: 20 Feb 2017 09:53 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Intelligence Committee has sent formal requests to more than a dozen organizations, agencies and individuals, asking them to preserve all materials related to the committee's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and related issues, according to a congressional aide. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

New Zealand court rules Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can be extradited to U.S. for alleged fraud Posted: 20 Feb 2017 09:38 AM PST A New Zealand court ruled on Monday that internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom could be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to his Megaupload website, which was shutdown in 2012 following an FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion. The Auckland High Court upheld the decision by a lower court in 2015 on 13 counts, including allegations of conspiracy to commit racketeering, copyright infringement, money laundering and wire fraud, although it described that decision as "flawed" in several areas. Dotcom's lawyer Ron Mansfield said in a statement the decision was "extremely disappointing" and that Dotcom would appeal to New Zealand's Court of Appeal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Greece compromises on bailout reforms: officials Posted: 20 Feb 2017 09:20 AM PST Greece on Monday agreed to compromise on new bailout reforms in a bid to break a deadlock with its EU-IMF creditors that has sparked fears of a new Grexit crisis. Officials representing the lenders will return to Athens shortly for talks on new measures, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijssebloem said after talks in Brussels. Austerity-hit Greece's eurozone and International Monetary Fund lenders have been locked for months in a standoff over debt relief and budget targets. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The geekiest signs from the 'Stand up for Science' rally Posted: 20 Feb 2017 09:02 AM PST At a rally full of scientists, things were bound to get a bit geeky. On Sunday, thousands scientists and supporters gathered in Boston's Copley Square to "stand up for science" under the Trump administration.  Their signs were, predictably, quite clever.  My favorite sign so far. #standupforscience pic.twitter.com/2pSlU5UPdz — Tomas Green (@TomasWGreen) February 19, 2017 I can't tell you how many older people have come up to me today to say, "I remember polio. Thank you." #standupforscience #AAASmtg pic.twitter.com/hrkIY3d5wh — Kathleen Bachynski (@bachyns) February 19, 2017 #standupforscience (and other essentials) pic.twitter.com/Hy1buB2IWY — Karin (@Sage_Risotto) February 19, 2017 #standupforscience pic.twitter.com/wZforidd1s — Caitlin MacKenzie (@CaitlinInMaine) February 19, 2017 Many rally-goers were in Boston for the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society. "You don't usually see these kinds of rallies and demonstrations at scientific meetings," Kishore Hari, a chemist-turned-science educator, said ahead of Sunday's rally.  "It's a sign that scientists are feeling not just under attack, but like the integrity of their work is in question," he said.  "We must indeed hang together, or we will hang separately." #standupforscience pic.twitter.com/g8gUNGvOQ6 — Clapback Nation (@clapbacknation) February 19, 2017 Lots of clever signs, as expected. #standupforscience pic.twitter.com/uJUmo7BfuA — Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) February 19, 2017 The most Boston of signs. #StandUpForScience #Boston https://t.co/tmBqgeI7gT pic.twitter.com/8CAi5T3REs — Adam Salsman (@asalsman) February 19, 2017 My dad repping it at the #StandUpForScience rally today. #AAASmtg #Boston #ScienceNotSilence pic.twitter.com/Fcwo16PrqB — Luca Shapiro (@LuccheseCrime) February 19, 2017 #standupforscience #factsmatter A post shared by Miles Grant (@thegreenmilesgrant) on Feb 19, 2017 at 9:36am PST Some signs from the #StandUpForScience rally in #Boston. . . . . #igboston #igersboston #followingboston #bostonbill #boston_community #bostonusa #narcityboston #cityscapeboston A post shared by Juan Ramos (@3_2_juan_) on Feb 19, 2017 at 11:19am PST Scientists at the rally voiced concerns about what they say is President Donald Trump's "anti-science" administration. Trump has tapped cabinet officials who deny the mainstream scientific consensus that climate change is happening, and that human activity is largely to blame. The newly confirmed head of the Environmental Protection Administration, Scott Pruitt, called himself the "leading advocate against the EPA" during his tenure as Oklahoma's attorney general. Since taking office, Trump has also moved to curb the flow of information from key government agencies involved in environmental issues. Along with the EPA, the departments of Interior and Agriculture were ordered to stop sharing information with the public, including through social media accounts. In response to the Trump administration's actions, U.S. scientists have taken the relatively rare step of banding together. Last December, a few hundred scientists held a rally outside the annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. That event — plus the widespread Women's Marches in January — have inspired the larger March for Science, a demonstration planned for Earth Day on April 22. "Scientists usually like to be in their labs or their offices, just doing their thing, and rarely do they come together to fight for something," said Astrid Caldas, a climate scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a science advocacy organization. Caldas noted that rallies aren't the only way scientists can speak out. Some people may feel more comfortable engaging directly with policymakers, penning articles, or working behind the scenes. "I think it's important that every scientist's voice is heard," she said. "There are many ways of advocating for science." Hari, the science educator, said he is organizing more than 260 satellite events to coincide with the main March for Science in Washington this spring. "Usually you hear the phrase 'let the science do the talking,'" he said. "I don't think that's going to be the case any more." BONUS: Harvard scientists have created the rarest material on earth This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

NZ court rules Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can be extradited to U.S. for alleged fraud Posted: 20 Feb 2017 08:41 AM PST A New Zealand court ruled on Monday that internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom could be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to his Megaupload website, which was shutdown in 2012 following an FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion. The Auckland High Court upheld the decision by a lower court in 2015 on 13 counts, including allegations of conspiracy to commit racketeering, copyright infringement, money laundering and wire fraud, although it described that decision as "flawed" in several areas. Dotcom's lawyer Ron Mansfield said in a statement the decision was "extremely disappointing" and that Dotcom would appeal to New Zealand's Court of Appeal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

This new iPhone 8 feature might end up blowing our minds Posted: 20 Feb 2017 08:23 AM PST Amid rumors that the iPhone 8 will incorporate advanced facial recognition features, the Hebrew-language website Calcalist (via Times of Israel) is reporting that Apple recently acquired Realface, an up-and-coming Israeli startup with impressive real-time facial recognition software. Lending credence to rumors that the iPhone 8 may forgo the use of Touch ID in favor of facial recognition, Realface's software is said to be sophisticated enough such that it can reliably be used as a foundation for mobile-based biometric authentication. As is often the case when Apple acquires a company, Realface's web presence has already been wiped from the web. Still, thanks to the magic of Google, we were able to poke around and dig up some intriguing nuggets of information about the company's promising technology. Realface boasts that it's AI software rests upon deep learning methods and is so reliable and quick that the end-result is an absolutely seamless user experience. "Our technology provides our customers and end-users with the highest level of authentication and security available on all platforms," says Realface. "We have proprietary IP in the field of frictionless face recognition and effective learnings from facial features." Incidentally, Realface's technology is also capable of filtering out photos of faces and advanced sculptures designed to trick the software into thinking that a device's camera is honed in on an actual human face. Further, Realface claims that its software can recognize faces with a 99.67% success rate, an impressive figure that is even higher than the average 97.5% success rate exhibited by humans. To this point, a profile on Realface from last year relays that the company's technology is so advanced that it can even distinguish between identical twins with alarming and impressive accuracy. Below is a quick and dirty demo of the software in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNlkxGmIgW0 What's particularly interesting is that Realface's technology is not only capable of discerning individual faces, but can also analyze specific facial expressions as a means to determine a user's mood. If this sounds somewhat familiar, Apple last year acquired Emotient, a company with similar AI technology of its own. Now as for what Apple is planning to do with its growing portfolio of AI-based facial recognition software, well, that's the million dollar question. While initial speculation centered on Apple rolling out augmented reality features, perhaps similar to what the beloved MSQRD app does, more recent rumblings suggest that Apple wants to position facial recognition as a means to identify users and securely authorize sensitive transactions. Again, there are even reports that facial recognition might ultimately serve as a replacement for Touch ID. While this seems far-fetched, Ming Chi-Kuo -- an analyst with the best track record regarding Apple rumors -- seems to think otherwise. In a recently issued research note, Kuo claims that the iPhone 8's rumored edgeless design cannot, for whatever reason, coexist peacefully with Touch ID. Consequently, Kuo relays that Apple wants to eventually replace Touch ID with a facial recognition solution. When it comes to Apple, the old adage that when there's smoke, there's fire is generally true. That being the case, it stands to reason that facial recognition will be a huge and incredibly exciting component of the iPhone 8 user experience. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The best way to expand your iPhone’s storage is discounted right now on Amazon Posted: 20 Feb 2017 08:04 AM PST Apple was apparently just as tired of hearing customers complain as we were of seeing "not enough storage" errors on our iPhones, because last year the company finally doubled the internal memory on all of its iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models. As is always the case with smartphone storage, however, it's never enough. Phones have a tendency to fill up with photos and videos no matter how much internal storage they have, and that's why microSD slots are so important in mobile devices. Of course, Apple will never kill its massive iPhone profits by adding microSD support, so third-party solutions are the best we can hope for — and our favorite third-party solution, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive, is on sale right now on Amazon. Some key details from the product page: Free up space on your iPhone by moving photos and videos to your iXpand flash Automatically back up photos and videos from your camera Automatically back up your contacts Watch popular video on your iPhone or iPad Designed with a flexible connector to fit through most iPhone cases High-speed USB 3.0 transfer to and from your computer Secure file storage across your computer, iPhone and iPad Videos automatically saved to the drive if captured from within the iXpand Drive app This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Parts of South Sudan experiencing famine: government official Posted: 20 Feb 2017 07:47 AM PST By Denis Dumo JUBA (Reuters) - Parts of war-ravaged South Sudan have been hit by famine, a government official said on Monday, saying nearly half the country's population would lack reliable access to affordable food by July. Oil-rich South Sudan has been mired in civil war since 2013, when President Salva Kii fired his deputy. Since then the fighting has increasingly split the country along ethnic lines, leading the United Nations to warn of a potential genocide. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

‘Pokémon GO’ Tips And Tricks To Maximize Gen 2 Pokémon Update Experience Posted: 20 Feb 2017 07:29 AM PST There are a lot of things the Pokémon GO team said about the Gen 2 Pokémon Update, but these are the things they did not tell Trainers. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Gambia's new president commits to end human rights abuses Posted: 20 Feb 2017 07:14 AM PST BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — As Gambia enters a new era of democracy, President Adama Barrow has reiterated his commitment to ending human rights abuses in the country. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Schaeuble denies 'Grexit' threat, says Greece on right path Posted: 20 Feb 2017 06:56 AM PST By Erik Kirschbaum BERLIN (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble denied on Sunday that he had said Greece would have to leave the euro zone if it failed to implement economic reforms. Schaeuble said in an ARD television interview that Greece would not have problems if it implemented agreed reforms, but would if it fails to carry these out. "I never made any ('Grexit') threats," Schaeuble told ARD's Bericht aus Berlin program just before the network played recent comments in which he said Greece was "not yet over the hill" and the "pressure needed to stay on" Greece or it "couldn't stay in the currency union". This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Hundreds of Rohingya 'return home' from Bangladesh Posted: 20 Feb 2017 06:38 AM PST Hundreds of Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution in Myanmar have returned home, community leaders said Sunday, adding that most had gone back temporarily to fetch relatives. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled across the border from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since October to escape a bloody crackdown by troops and police. Dudu Mia, a refugee camp leader in the coastal town of Teknaf, said nearly 1,000 Rohingya -- mostly young men -- had returned to their home villages to collect elderly family members left behind earlier. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Australia and UAE to explore deeper defense ties, A$1 billion in sales Posted: 20 Feb 2017 06:23 AM PST Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will explore closer defense ties after a meeting on Sunday between a senior Australian government minister and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Australia's Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met on the sidelines of the biennial International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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