Australian students in mass climate protest

Thousands skip school to urge action on climate change, despite criticism from Australia's PM.

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Michael Cohen in court: Trump ex-lawyer admits lying to Congress

Michael Cohen says he lied "out of loyalty" to Mr Trump, while the president says he is "weak".

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Merkel's plane makes unscheduled landing after technical hitch

The German chancellor will miss the start of the G20 in Argentina after her flight had to turn back.

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Southwest Airlines apologises for mocking girl's name

Southwest Airlines has offered its "sincere apology" after staff mocked five-year-old Abcde Redford.

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Georgia woman jailed as 'cops mistake candy floss for meth'

A Georgia woman was charged with meth trafficking due to a faulty police drug test, says a lawsuit.

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G20: So how does the summit work?

The G20 summit of the world's most powerful leaders begins in Buenos Aires on Friday.

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Michael Cohen: What Trump lashing out at his ex-lawyer reveals

Michael Cohen is a liar and a "weak person", according to the president. Anthony Zurcher analyses his response.

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How Disney's Wreck It Ralph is challenging Disney's stereotypes

Why Ralph Breaks The Internet is the Disney sequel that is not afraid of poking fun at a Disney stereotype.

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'Miss Environment': The 11-year-old girl 'saving Lagos'

Misimi Isimi is an 11-year-old environmentalist on a mission to clean up Lagos.

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Syrian on 'sound and smell of freedom' after months in airport

Syrian Hassan al-Kontar had not been outside for nine months - but now has a new home in Canada.

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How do you make a vinyl record?

Watch behind the scenes as a vinyl record is processed from start to finish.

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Like Ali v Frazier, how Magnus Carlsen kept his World Chess title after 50 hours and 12 draws

Norway's world number one Magnus Carlsen retains his World Chess Championship after 12 draws and more than 50 hours of play - eventually beating Fabiano Caruana in a tie-breaker.

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Starbucks to block porn on free wi-fi in US

The coffee chain says watching porn has always been banned, but it will now block access to content.

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Shenzhen Half Marathon: Traffic cameras catch cheats taking shortcut

Almost 250 runners in the Shenzhen Half Marathon are caught cheating by traffic cameras that show them taking a shortcut through bushes.

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China employees fined for walking fewer than 180,000 steps

Staff at a real estate firm had to walk 6,000 steps a day in order to avoid a fine.

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Sabarimala: India activist held for 'explicit' thigh photo

Rehana Fathima made an unsuccessful attempt last month to enter one of Hinduism's holiest temples.

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The French village that fears for its British community

Alet-les-Bains has benefited from a British influx and many there fear the aftermath of Brexit.

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Carmichael project: Visiting Australia's controversial Adani mine

The BBC's Vineet Khare visited the controversial Carmichael project by Indian energy giant Adani.

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'Hermione has taught me how to be angry'

The actress Noma Dumezweni, best known for playing Hermione Granger in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, says women need to learn how to be angry.

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Africa's week in pictures: 23-29 November 2018

A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week.

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Cohen Pleads Guilty and Details Trump's Involvement in Moscow Tower Project - New York Times

New York Times

Cohen Pleads Guilty and Details Trump's Involvement in Moscow Tower Project New York Times WASHINGTON — Donald J. Trump was more involved in discussions over a potential Russian business deal during the presidential campaign than previously known, his former lawyer Michael D. Cohen said Thursday in pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Mueller starts to piece together Russia puzzle in most significant move yetCNN 'The perfect witness': Dems want Cohen to testify on the HillPolitico Cohen's plea deal renews scrutiny of Republicans' Trump-Russia reportWashington Post USA TODAY -Yahoo News all 2,787 news articles »

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Sheryl Sandberg Is Said to Have Asked Facebook Staff to Research George Soros - New York Times

New York Times

Sheryl Sandberg Is Said to Have Asked Facebook Staff to Research George Soros New York Times Sheryl Sandberg asked Facebook's communications staff to research George Soros's financial interests in the wake of his high-profile attacks on tech companies, according to three people with knowledge of her request, indicating that Facebook's second ... Sheryl Sandberg reportedly told Facebook staff to research George SorosCNBC Facebook's Sandberg asked company to probe George Soros following his critical remarksNBCNews.com Facebook confirms Sandberg directed staff to research Soros' financial activityPolitico Mashable -Bloomberg -Slate Magazine -New York Times all 60 news articles »

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GOP Senator Tim Scott opposes Trump's judicial nominee, ending his chances of confirmation - USA TODAY

USA TODAY

GOP Senator Tim Scott opposes Trump's judicial nominee, ending his chances of confirmation USA TODAY WASHINGTON – Sen. Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, announced Thursday he would oppose a controversial President Donald Trump judicial nominee, killing the judge's chances of confirmation to be a federal judge. In announcing his ... Senator Tim Scott Sinks Thomas Farr's Judicial Nomination Amid Racial ControversyNew York Times Trump Judicial Nominee Set To Fail Amid Voter Suppression ChargesNPR GOP Sen. Scott to Oppose Trump Court Pick, Blocking NominationWall Street Journal Slate Magazine -Washington Post -Salon -CNN all 283 news articles »

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CNN severs ties with liberal pundit Marc Lamont Hill after his controversial remarks on Israel - CNN

CNN

CNN severs ties with liberal pundit Marc Lamont Hill after his controversial remarks on Israel CNN (CNN) CNN said Thursday that it had severed ties with contributor Marc Lamont Hill following controversial comments the liberal pundit made about Israel. "Marc Lamont Hill is no longer under contract with CNN," a spokesperson for CNN confirmed in a ... CNN fires Marc Lamont Hill following controversial Israel commentsNew York Post CNN Drops Marc Lamont Hill After Contributor Criticizes Israeli GovernmentHuffPost CNN ends contract with contributor Mark Lamont Hill after speech on IsraelThe Guardian Mediaite -YouTube -Jewish Journal all 353 news articles »

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Years After Plea Deal in Sex Case, Jeffrey Epstein's Accusers Will Get Their Day in Court - New York Times

New York Times

Years After Plea Deal in Sex Case, Jeffrey Epstein's Accusers Will Get Their Day in Court New York Times MIAMI — The sordid case against Jeffrey E. Epstein, who was accused of paying dozens of underage girls for sexual massages in Florida, appeared to end a decade ago. The wealthy New York financier struck a deal to avoid any federal criminal charges, ... Report sinks labor secretary's hopes of being Trump's attorney generalPress Herald Alexander Acosta gave Jeffrey Epstein the deal of a lifetime | Miami HeraldMiami Herald all 172 news articles »

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Netflix cancels Marvel's 'Daredevil' after three seasons - USA TODAY

USA TODAY

Netflix cancels Marvel's 'Daredevil' after three seasons USA TODAY "Daredevil" is the latest Marvel casualty at Netflix. The streaming service Thursday confirmed it won't be going ahead with a fourth season of the superhero drama, issuing a statement to USA TODAY. "'Marvel's Daredevil' will not return for a fourth ... Is Disney's Streaming Service to Blame for Netflix's Marvel Cancelations?IGN Daredevil Cancelled By NetflixScreen Rant Netflix cancels Daredevil after three seasonsThe Verge IndieWire -Newsweek all 154 news articles »

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High-speed border patrol chase: 3 die after pickup carrying 11 crashes - USA TODAY

USA TODAY

High-speed border patrol chase: 3 die after pickup carrying 11 crashes USA TODAY Three people died and another eight were injured after a high-speed Border Patrol chase ended in a crash near San Diego on Thursday. The chase involved a Chevrolet Silverado with two people in the cab and nine in the bed, the San Diego Union-Tribune ... At least 3 people killed when a truck carrying passengers in cargo bed overturns while fleeing from Border PatrolBusiness Insider 2 dead and several others hurt in crash possibly tied to Border Patrol in San Diego CountyThe San Diego Union-Tribune all 30 news articles »

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Alleged kingpin 'El Chapo' Guzman once made Forbes billionaires list. He now dons Kmart suits at his trial - CNN

CNN

Alleged kingpin 'El Chapo' Guzman once made Forbes billionaires list. He now dons Kmart suits at his trial CNN New York (CNN) The late mobster John Gotti, the self-styled "Dapper Don," was a natty dresser known for his custom-tailored, double breasted suits, silk ties with matching pocket squares and handmade shoes. If the first week of testimony in Joaquín ... and more »

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Comey asks court to quash House subpoena - CNN

CNN

Comey asks court to quash House subpoena CNN (CNN) Former FBI Director James Comey has filed a motion in federal court in Washington to quash a congressional subpoena issued just before Thanksgiving soliciting his testimony on the FBI's actions leading up to the 2016 election. Comey has said ... Comey challenges House GOP subpoena in federal courtThe Hill James Comey challenges GOP congressional subpoena as 'partisan harassment'USA TODAY all 136 news articles »

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St. Louis Police Officers Charged With Beating Undercover Detective at 2017 Protest - New York Times

New York Times

St. Louis Police Officers Charged With Beating Undercover Detective at 2017 Protest New York Times Three St. Louis police officers were charged on Thursday with beating up an apparent protester who turned out to be an undercover detective on their own team, the authorities said. The officers were accused of attacking their own colleague during a ... and more »

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Carphone Warehouse faces Black Friday backlash

Problems with credit checks led some customers to be wrongly refused smartphone contracts.

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Nintendo smashes its rules for gaming vloggers

The gaming giant will now let players share videos on YouTube, Twitch and others.

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Facebook's UK political ad rules kick in

Facebook starts to enforce its tighter political advertising rules in the UK following a delay.

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Raids mounted on fake Indian tech support centres

Microsoft complained to local police, who arrested more than 50 people in call centres.

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Smart meter fitting slows as deadline looms

Fewer smart meters are being fitted despite the government insisting all homes will have one by 2020.

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SoftBank sets indicative share price of 1,500 yen for next month’s IPO

In a regulatory filing today, SoftBank Group said it has set an indicative price of 1,500 yen ($13.22) per share for the initial public offering of its domestic telecoms unit next month. This means the offering is potentially worth 2.4 trillion yen (about $21.16 billion), making it one of the largest IPOs ever. The price is the same as the tentative one SoftBank disclosed in a previous filing earlier this month.

The IPO is set for Dec. 19 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and its final price will be determined on Dec. 10. The record for the largest IPO is currently held by Alibaba Group, which raised a total of $25 billion in 2014. If there is enough demand for SoftBank Group’s shares, a overallotment can potentially increase its offering’s total by 240.6 billion yen (or about $2.12 billion), bringing it closer to the amount Alibaba raised.

One interesting aspect of this initial public offering is SoftBank Group’s efforts to reach retail investors. For example, brokerages have run television ads for the offering in Japan.

SoftBank’s brand recognition may appeal to individual investors, but at the same time it may also have to answer questions about how investments by its Vision Fund are performing, as well as the $100 billion fund’s reliance on Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Its biggest backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) put $45 billion in the Vision Fund and may put the same amount into the second Vision Fund. The PIF is led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been implicated by the Central Intelligence Agency and Turkish officials the planning of Khashoggi’s death.

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Don’t miss out on free tickets to Startup Battlefield Africa 2018

Sorry folks. If you wanted to buy a ticket to Startup Battlefield Africa 2018 you’re out of luck. We’re sold out. However, you could be one of the lucky few to score a free ticket to our day-long startup-pitch extravaganza in Lagos, Nigeria on 11 December. We have a limited number of tickets available, so apply for your free ticket here — before they’re all gone.

Don’t miss 15 of the continent’s top early-stage startup founders as they launch their companies on a global stage in front of a live, enthusiastic audience. Choosing the Startup Battlefield competitors from hundreds of applications was no easy feat — a testament to the depth and creativity of the region’s growing startup scene.

A quick reminder of how Startup Battlefield works. The 15 teams compete in three preliminary rounds — five startups per round. They get only six minutes to pitch and present a live demo to a panel of expert technologists and VC investors. After each pitch, the judges have six minutes to grill the team with tough questions. That’s when all the free pitch-coaching they received from TechCrunch editors will come in handy.

If you’re curious about the judges, here are just a few of the many experts we’ve tapped to pick the Startup Battlefield champion.

• Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, founder and chief executive of blueMoon, Ethiopia’s first youth agribusiness/agritech incubator and seed investor
• Erik Hersman, CEO of BRCK, a rugged wireless Wi-Fi device designed and engineered in Kenya for use throughout the emerging markets
• Sangu Delle, co-founder and managing director of Africa Health Holdings, based in West Africa and focused on “building Africa’s healthcare future”

And if you’re curious about the stakes, the winning founders receive the Battlefield Cup, US$25,000 in no-equity cash plus a trip for two and the opportunity to compete in Startup Battlefield at a TechCrunch Disrupt in 2019.

While the Startup Battlefield is the crown jewel, it’s by no means the only event of the day. We’ve scheduled an impressive agenda filled with presentations from the region’s leading experts discussing a range of topics. For example, Kola Aina, CEO and founder of Lagos-based Ventures Platform, will be on hand to discuss venture capital investing. And Flutterwave’s IIyinoluwa Aboyeji will share his take on blockchain.

The competitors are busy preparing for battle, the speakers are ready to dive deep on their respective topics. You’re the remaining piece of the puzzle. Apply now for a free ticket to Startup Battlefield Africa 2018 and join us on 11 December in Lagos, Nigeria to celebrate these exceptional African startups.

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“Daredevil” will not be renewed for a fourth season, the latest Marvel series cancelled by Netflix

Despite strong reviews and a fan petition, Netflix said today that it is cancelling “Daredevil” after three seasons. This is the latest Marvel series, after “Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist,” that Netflix has cancelled recently, and is a sign that Marvel TV and Netflix’s multi-series agreement, signed in 2013, may be hitting some bumps.

Centered around a blind lawyer-turned-superhero in New York City, played by Charlie Cox, “Daredevil” was the first series released as part of the Marvel-Netflix deal in 2015. This leaves “Jessica Jones” and “The Punisher” as the two remaining Marvel series on Netflix.

Netflix said in a statement sent to Deadline, which first broke the news, that “we are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note. We are thankful to our partners at Marvel, showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew, and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years.”

The streaming service added that the three seasons will remain on Netflix for years, while “the Daredevil will live on in future projects for Marvel,” leaving open the possibility that the character might appear in “Jessica Jones” or “The Punisher.” Another possibility is the series moving to Disney’s upcoming streaming service, Disney+, expected to launch late next year (the Walt Disney Company owns Marvel Entertainment).

The abrupt cancellations of three Marvel series over the last new months may point to hiccups in the partnership between Netflix and Marvel TV. Potential conflicts between the two include the cost of producing Marvel-Netflix shows, the success of Netflix’s own original content, and disagreements about the length of seasons. The Marvel seasons had 13 episodes each, but newer Netflix shows are only 10 episodes per season.

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Insurance startup Bright Health raises $200M at ~$950M valuation

A flurry of digital-first insurers are betting they can surpass industry incumbents with a little help from technology and a lot of help from venture capitalists.

The latest to land a massive check is Bright Health, a Minneapolis-headquartered provider of affordable individual, family and Medicare Advantage healthcare plans in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, New York City, Ohio and Tennessee. The company, founded by the former chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare Bob Sheehy; Kyle Rolfing, the former CEO of UnitedHealth-acquired Definity Health; and Tom Valdivia, another former Definity Health executive, has brought in a $200 million Series C.

The funding values Bright Health at $950 million, according to PitchBook — more than double the $400 million valuation it garnered with its $160 million Series B in June 2017. Sheehy, Bright Health’s CEO, declined to comment on the valuation. New investors Declaration Partners and Meritech Capital participated in the round, with backing from Bessemer Venture Partners, Greycroft, NEA, Redpoint Ventures and others. Bright Health has raised a total of $440 million since early 2016.

Insurance startups have raised billions as industry players fight tech disruptors

VCs have deployed significantly more capital to the insurance technology (insurtech) space in recent years. Startups in the industry, long-known for a serious dearth of innovation, have raked in nearly $3 billion in private capital this year. U.S.-based insurtech startups have raised $2 billion in 2018, a record year for the sector and more than double last year’s total.

Deal count, meanwhile, is swelling. In 2016, there were 72 deals conducted in the space, followed by 86 in 2017 and 94 so far this year, again, according to PitchBook’s data.

Oscar Health, the health insurance provider led by Josh Kushner, is responsible for about 25 percent of the capital invested in U.S. insurtech startups this year. The company has raised a total of $540 million across two notable deals in 2018. The first saw Oscar pulling in $165 million at a $3 billion valuation and the second, announced in August, had Alphabet investing a whopping $375 million. Devoted Health, a Waltham, Mass.-based Medicare Advantage startup, followed up with a massive round of its own. The company nabbed $300 million and announced that it would begin enrolling members to its Medicare Advantage plan in eight Florida counties. Devoted is led by Todd Park, the co-founder of Athenahealth and Castlight Health.

Bright Health co-founders Bob Sheehy, CEO; Tom Valdivia, chief medical officer; and Kyle Rolfing, president

VC’s interest in insurtech isn’t limited to healthcare.

Hippo, which sells home insurance plans at lower premiums, officially launched in 2017 and has brought in $109 million to date. Earlier this month the company announced a $70 million Series C funding round led by Felicis Ventures and Lennar Corporation. Lemonade, which is similarly an insurer focused on homeowners, raised $120 million in a SoftBank-led round late last year. And Root Insurance, an app-based car insurance company founded in 2015, itself raised a $100 million Series D led by Tiger Global Management in August. The financing valued the company at $1 billion.

Together, these companies have raised well over $1 billion this year alone. Why? Because building a health insurance platform is incredibly cash-intensive and particularly difficult given the breadth of incumbents like Aetna or UnitedHealth. Sheehy, considering his 20-year tenure at UnitedHealthcare, may be especially well-positioned to disrupt the industry.

The opportunity here for investors and startups alike is huge; the health insurance market alone is forecasted to be worth more than $1 trillion by 2023. Companies that can leverage technology to create consumer-friendly, efficient and, most importantly, reasonably priced insurance options stand to win big.

As for Bright Health, the company plans to use its $200 million infusion to rapidly expand into new markets, planning to triple its geographic footprint in 2019.

“Bright Health has continued to execute at a fast pace towards our goal of disrupting the old health care model that places insurers at odds with providers,” Sheehy said in a statement. “[Its] current high re-enrollment rate shows that consumers are ready for this improved healthcare experience – especially when it is priced competitively.”

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Nine companies will compete to help NASA astronauts return to the moon

NASA is ready to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time in more than 40 years. It won’t be doing it alone, however. The agency is enlisting nine companies, large and small, to compete for a combined maximum contract value of $2.6 billion over the next 10 years.

NASA released the list of names today, including aerospace stalwart Lockheed Martin, along with Astrobotic Technology, Deep Space Systems, Draper, Firefly Aerospace, Texas Intuitive Machines, LLC, Masten Space Systems, Inc., Moon Express and Orbit Beyond — all American companies.

“Today’s announcement marks tangible progress in America’s return to the Moon’s surface to stay,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press release. “The innovation of America’s aerospace companies, wedded with our big goals in science and human exploration, are going to help us achieve amazing things on the Moon and feed forward to Mars.”

Baby steps. The teams will start with lunar payload missions, which could kick off as early as next year. Learnings from that first crop will be used to inform future missions to the moon and, eventually, Mars.

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