Author: Sunfire

RT

While bitcoin’s 1,700 percent rally seems impressive, there is a cryptocurrency whose value grew much faster this year – litecoin.

On Tuesday, litecoin set another record high of $341, up an astounding 85 percent in the last 24 hours. On January 1, the virtual currency was worth just above $4.

Litecoin is significantly faster than the world’s most popular cryptocurrency. The litecoin network aims to process a block every 2.5 minutes, compared to bitcoin’s 10 minutes, which allows litecoin to have faster transaction confirmation.  Continue reading “Bitcoin rival litecoin smashes record, value up astonishing 6,000% this year”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican tax plan will deliver a swift adrenaline shot to the economy that will send hundreds of billions pouring into federal tax coffers, the Trump administration asserts in a new analysis. But nonpartisan analysts make a less rosy projection of new revenue from the tax legislation now before Congress.

House and Senate negotiators are rushing to finalize the tax legislation and deliver the promised measure to President Donald Trump before Christmas. Trump will try on Wednesday to sell the American people on a GOP tax overhaul that is unpopular with many. His pitch: the plan will lift all economic boats, bringing a brighter future for taxpayers and their families, according to spokeswoman Lindsay Walters.  Continue reading “Admin says big revenue from GOP tax plan; analysts less rosy”

RT

Communism failed in the 20th century, but is allowing the super-rich to dictate to the rest of humanity the only alternative system? Perhaps we need to design a socialist system, which also recognizes achievement.

Bill Gates, the second-richest person on Earth, has repeatedly criticized capitalism. Back in 2015 he explained his reasoning was based on a simple ecological calculation: the use of fossil fuels has to be radically reduced if we are to avoid a global catastrophe, and the private sector is too selfish to produce clean and economical alternatives to fossil fuels, which means humanity has to act outside market forces. Gates himself plans to spend $2 billion of his own money on green energy, even though there’s no fortune to be made from it, and he called on fellow billionaires to help make the US fossil-free by 2050 with similar philanthropy.   Continue reading “Is it true that only progressive billionaires can save humanity?”

RT

Following Donald Trump’s controversial Jerusalem move, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has told EU leaders there is no other place for the capital – and that the Bible proves it. As protests continue, he also urged the Palestinians to embrace “reality.”

During his visit to Brussels on Monday, Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate its embassy, saying that it was based on the recognition of reality. The controversial decision triggered protests in the Middle East and across the globe, and was met with international condemnation. Nonetheless the Israeli Prime Minister said that the decision promotes peace, and called on EU states and the Palestinians to follow suit.   Continue reading “‘Where else?’ Netanyahu cites Bible to justify Trump’s Jerusalem move, urges EU to follow suit”

RT

A former Oklahoma City mayor has drawn the ire of the LGBTQ community after controversial comments made on a political talk show. He not only stated that homosexuality is “wrong” but that its acceptance is a tacit endorsement of pedophilia.

During a heated discussion on Sunday about the slew of sexual harassment and assault allegations within the world of US politics, Co-Chairman of Oklahoma University’s Board of Regents Kirk Humphreys challenged guest co-host, and Democratic representative, Emily Virgin.   Continue reading “‘If homosexuality is OK, so is pedophilia,’ former Oklahoma City mayor tells TV show”

Mail.com

CHICAGO (AP) — The first-ever bitcoin future jumped after it began trading Sunday as the increasingly popular virtual currency made its debut on a major U.S. exchange. The futures contract that expires in January surged more than $3,000 to $18,580 eight hours after trading launched on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The contract opened at $15,000, according to data from the CBOE.

The CBOE futures don’t involve actual bitcoin. They’re securities that will track the price of bitcoin on Gemini, one of the larger bitcoin exchanges. The start of trading at 5 p.m. CST overwhelmed the CBOE website. “Due to heavy traffic on our website, visitors to www.cboe.com may find that it is performing slower than usual and may at times be temporarily unavailable,” the exchange said in a statement. But it said the trading in the futures had not been disrupted.   Continue reading “Bitcoin futures rise as virtual currency hits major exchange”

RT

Mankind has had a good innings: people have become physically stronger, average life expectancy has risen in almost all nations, global population has topped 7 billion. But now scientists have issued a dire warning – the only way is down.

Humans have reached the maximum limit for physical performance, height and lifespan, according to a new scientific review conducted by the Paris Descartes University in France.  Continue reading “Only way is down: Man has reached his physical peak, says French study”

RT

The US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital may become a “legitimate reason” to attack American troops in Iraq, Shia paramilitary group Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba said.

“Trump’s stupid decision… will be the big spark for removing this entity [Israel] from the body of the Islamic nation, and a legitimate reason to target American forces,” said Akram al-Kaabi, the Iraqi organization’s leader, as cited by Reuters.   Continue reading “US troops may become targets after US Jerusalem decision – Iraqi paramilitary group”

Mail.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan sports doctor is getting the first of three prison sentences that will likely keep him locked up for decades for assaulting female gymnasts and possessing child pornography.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a 60-year sentence Thursday for Larry Nassar, who had more than 37,000 images of child porn on electronic devices. Separately, he’ll be sentenced in state court in January for molesting gymnasts with his hands.   Continue reading “Michigan sports doctor facing long sentence for child porn”

Mail.com

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado state lawmaker arrested at Denver International Airport had a loaded handgun in her bag that was discovered by an airport security officer, police said Wednesday. State Rep. Lori Saine “knowingly brought the handgun to the checkpoint” at the airport on Tuesday, according to a report written by Denver police officer Gregory Zimmerman. The report did not explain how he made that determination.

According to police, a Transportation Security Administration agent saw the Kahr Arms 9mm semi-automatic handgun when a bag belonging to Saine went through an X-ray machine, according to the arrest report. It had four rounds in its magazine but none in the chamber.   Continue reading “Lawmaker says she accidentally brought gun to Denver airport”

RT

Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he will seek another term in office in next year’s presidential election.

“Yes, I will run as a candidate for the Russian presidency,” Putin said. He was meeting with workers at the country’s historic manufacturer, GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday.   Continue reading “‘Yes, I will’: Vladimir Putin announces run for re-election in 2018”

Mail.com

OS ANGELES (AP) — The nation’s homeless population increased this year for the first time since 2010, driven by a surge in the number of people living on the streets in Los Angeles and other West Coast cities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released its annual Point in Time count Wednesday, a report that showed nearly 554,000 homeless people across the country during local tallies conducted in January. That figure is up nearly 1 percent from 2016.   Continue reading “US report underscores West Coast homeless crisis”

Mail.com

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — A dramatic new wildfire erupted in Los Angeles early Wednesday as firefighters battled three other destructive blazes across Southern California. Flames exploded before dawn on the steep slopes of Sepulveda Pass, which carries heavily traveled Interstate 405 through the Santa Monica Mountains where ridge tops are covered with expensive homes.

Firefighters were providing structure protection as helicopters flying in darkness made water drops on the flames on the east side of the pass. Northbound traffic was halted, but southbound lanes remained open.   Continue reading “New blaze erupts in wildfire-plagued Southern California”

Mail.com

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing President Donald Trump’s third travel ban to take effect — at least for now — has intensified the attention on a legal showdown Wednesday afternoon before three judges in Seattle who have previously been cool to the administration’s efforts.

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Ronald Gould, Richard Paez and Michael Hawkins are scheduled to hear arguments in Hawaii’s challenge to the ban, which restricts travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries and has been reviled by critics as discriminatory.   Continue reading “Temporary OK for travel ban puts focus on Wednesday hearing”

RT

Donald Trump has informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of his intention to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a spokesperson for Abbas said. The Palestinian president told Trump the move would have “dangerous consequences.”

“President Mahmoud Abbas received a telephone call from U.S. President Donald Trump in which he notified the President (Abbas) of his intention to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said in a statement, which did not specify when the move could happen.    Continue reading “Trump informs Abbas of intention to move US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — His vote likely to decide the outcome, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy voiced competing concerns Tuesday about respecting the religious beliefs of a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, and the gay couple’s dignity.

Kennedy, the author of all the court’s major gay-rights cases, worried early in a riveting argument at the high court that a ruling in favor of baker Jack Phillips might allow shop owners to put up signs saying “We do not bake cakes for gay weddings.”   Continue reading “Kennedy wrestles with wedding cake case at Supreme Court”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Arrests at border crossings plunged to a 45-year low, but detentions by deportation officers away from the U.S.-Mexico border soared during President Donald Trump’s first months in office, as his efforts to overhaul the nation’s immigration system took effect.

In all, the Border Patrol made 310,531 arrests during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a decline of 25 percent from a year earlier and the lowest level since 1971. But U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose officers pick up people for deportation, made 143,470 arrests, an increase of 25 percent. After Trump took office, ICE arrests surged 40 percent from the same period a year earlier.   Continue reading “Border arrests drop, deportations soar in Trump’s first year”

Mail.com

DETROIT (AP) — Besieged by allegations of sexual harassment, Democratic Rep. John Conyers resigned from Congress on Tuesday, bringing an abrupt end to the Detroit liberal’s nearly 52-year career in the House.

The 88-year-old civil rights leader becomes the highest-ranking figure on Capitol Hill to be brought down by the sexual misconduct allegations that have toppled powerful men in Hollywood, the media and politics in recent weeks.   Continue reading “Conyers resigns from Congress amid harassment allegations”

RT

Florida sheriffs arrested a 33-year-old man on Friday after a “disturbing” drawing depicting a mass school shooting was found in an elementary school student’s homework.

Teachers at a Port St. Joe Elementary School contacted authorities after discovering a picture on a student’s homework that depicted a burning school building with people lined up outside being shot by a gunman. Two people are pictured on the ground in what are presumably pools of blood. The words “Pew Pew Pew” and “AHHH! It burns!” were scrawled alongside the gruesome scene.   Continue reading “Mass shooting scrawled on child’s homework leads to 33yo man’s arrest”