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The Latest: Trump at ceremony for Americans killed in Syria

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's trip to Dover Air Force Base (all times local):

Government shutdown: US federal workers turn to pawn shops for cash as stalemate goes on

US federal workers who are not getting paid during the longest government shutdown in the country's history are increasingly turning to pawnbrokers for short-term loans, according to shop owners. The turnout is small – a few people per day – pawnbrokers said, but many expect the numbers to increase amid the stalemate. About 800,000 federal workers have missed a paycheck during the nearly month-long shutdown.

Why the stock market is headed for a swift recovery

Everywhere I look, people seek negatives and ignore positives. When that happens, better times lie ahead for the stock market.

Woman fabricates attempted kidnapping story to Long Island police to cover up how baby was injured

Police on Long Island said a woman fabricated a story about an attempted kidnapping in order to cover up how her 1-year-old son was injured.

Winter storm disturbs travel as it rolls toward U.S. Midwest, Northeast

A major winter storm was expected to clobber a large swath of the northern United States with heavy snow, gusty winds and frigid temperatures making travel difficult and dangerous starting on Friday and through the weekend, forecasters said. The storm system will dump 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) of snow in the Plains and Midwest on Friday night and Saturday and as it moves east at least a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in several advisories. The system was expected to also bring freezing rain, wind gusts of 35 miles (56 km) per hour and quickly dropping temperatures that will to dip into the teens and even below zero Fahrenheit in several areas, the service said.

Divided over leadership, but united in goals, women march and rally in New York

Women in New York City on Saturday could march, rally or protest in a variety of locations under different auspices, but the messages, and even one of the messengers, were similar.

Congo opposition leader declares himself president as court upholds election result

Congo's political standoff deepend on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader. As Mr Tshisekedi's supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had opened the way to a “constitutional coup d'etat”, raising fears of more violence. Rwandan President Paul Kagame - the chair of the African Union which has said it has “serious concerns” about the vote and called for the results to be delayed - was due to arrive in Kinshasa with an AU delegation to discuss the crisis on Monday. Last month's delayed election was meant to mark the first democratic transfer of power in the vast central African country, where conflicts have regularly destabilised the region. Felix Tshisekedi, leader of Congolese main opposition party, the UDPS Credit:  BAZ RATNER But monitors pointed to major flaws in the poll. Unrest over the vote has already killed 34 people, wounded 59 and led to 241 “arbitrary arrests” in the past week, according to the U.N. human rights office. In the early hours of Sunday, the Constitutional Court ruled that a legal challenge to the result filed by Fayulu was inadmissible. “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth president of the republic,” government spokesman Lambert Mende said as he welcomed the judgement. Mr Fayulu issued statements dismissing the ruling. “The constitutional court has just confirmed that it serves a dictatorial regime ... by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d'etat,” he said in one. “I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added in another statement. He called for people to mount peaceful demonstrations - though the streets of the capital were calm on Sunday afternoon. Mr Fayulu says Mr Tshisekedi and outgoing President Joseph Kabila made a deal to cheat him out of a more than 60-percent win - an accusation they both dismiss. The provisional results, announced on Jan. 10, showed Mr Tshisekedi winning with a slim margin over Fayulu. In a speech, Mr Tshisekedi welcomed the victory and said he would seek to mend divisions in the country. “This is the end of one fight and the start of another in which I will enlist all the Congolese people: a fight for well-being, for a Congo that wins,” he said. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a bloc which includes South Africa and Angola, congratulated Tshisekedi and called for a peaceful transfer of power. “SADC calls upon all Congolese to accept the outcome, and consolidate democracy and maintain a peaceful and stable environment following the landmark elections,” it said. On Thursday, SADC eased pressure on Congolese authorities by backing off earlier calls for a recount. Independent monitors flagged major problems with the election, including faulty voting machines and polling stations where many were unable to vote. The Catholic Church, which had a 40,000-strong team of observers, denounced the provisional result. A tally from the church reviewed by Reuters from about 70 percent of polling stations suggested a victory of 62 percent for Mr Fayulu, a former Exxon Mobil country manager.  MrTshisekedi and Mr Ramazani were virtually neck-and-neck second place with 16.93 percent and 16.88 percent, respectively. Congo - which was ruled by kleptocratic dictator Mobutu Sese Seko for 32 years before tumbling into chaos and war in the late 1990s - is a vital source of copper and other metals, including cobalt.

US spy satellite launched into orbit from California

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A powerful Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying a U.S. spy satellite lifted off Saturday from California.

The First 1500 Toyota Supra Buyers Get This Special Launch Edition

With visual tweaks and a commemorative plaque, this car is a bid to make the new 2020 Supra more collectible.

Trump attends repatriation of four Americans killed in Syria

Trump flew to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, where they walked slowly up the cargo ramp of the grey C-17 cargo plane that had brought home the remains. Trump and the rest of his delegation, which included senior army and navy officers, emerged from the plane after several minutes to stand at attention, saluting.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to Aaron Sorkin’s demand for newly elected Democrats ‘stop acting like young people’

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress has responded to producer Aaron Sorkin’s demand that the new intake of Democrats ‘stop acting like young people’ - saying if politicians do not show up and fight for them, they cannot expect their vote. Speaking on CNN, where he was promoting his Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway, the 57-year said he liked the newly elected young Democrats in Congress, but suggested they needed to act differently. “I really like the new crop of young people who were just elected to Congress.

Four aid volunteers found guilty of dropping off water, food for migrants in Arizona desert

Friday's verdict is the first conviction against humanitarian aid volunteers along the U.S.-Mexico border since 2009.

Merkel's Bavarian allies elect new head, ushering in new era

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavarian allies elected a new leader Saturday, a change that offers Germany's center-right a chance to move past their persistent bickering over recent years.

Winter storm to hit U.S. northeast with up to two feet of snow

The Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings or advisories for a swath of the eastern United States that is home to 100 million people, said meteorologist Rich Otto of the U.S. Weather Prediction Center.

10 ways to make your binge-watch as comfortable as possible

In Binged, Mashable breaks down why we binge-watch, how we binge-watch, and what it does to us. Because binge-watching is the new normal. * * * Binge-watching is basically an endurance sport, so you need to be sure you're prepared. After all, if you're going to watch You until your eyes fall out (recommended), why not make the experience as pleasant as possible? That means paying close attention to the conditions under which you watch: the couch, the temperature, the vibe, and (most importantly) the snacks. Some hot tips: ## 1\. Assemble your snacks before the binge-watch begins To truly maximize your experience, I recommend selecting one salty snack, one sweet snack, and one wild-card snack. Some suggestions from my colleagues, whose tastes range from great to truly horrifying: * Takis * Sno-Caps in popcorn * Uncrustables * Plain Lay's chips and Greek yogurt * Chocolate-covered pretzels * Trader Joe's olive oil popcorn * Literally a ham-and-cheese sandwich dipped in orange juice (cursed) * Celery and peanut butter * Peanut butter straight from the jar Note: you can always sub in pizza for any category (or all three). ## 2\. Keep no less than three beverages in front of you at all times One of the beverages should be water. For the other two, I like to choose a large, gulp-able beverage -- like Gatorade or, if I am feeling brave, seltzer -- as well as a fancy, small beverage, like a blood orange San Pellegrino or one of those high-end lemonades with cursive lettering on the bottle. SEE ALSO: Watching your favorite TV show a million times isn't compulsive. It's a comfort binge. ## 3\. Get up every hour to stretch You don't have to do a full yoga class, but it's nice to remind your body that it is, in fact, capable of movement.  > Netflix: are you still watching? > Me: pic.twitter.com/yUbJ6KjVct > > -- sara reinis (@SaraReinis) March 7, 2018 ## 4\. Consider the two-blanket approach I have radiators in my apartment and do not control my own heat, which means that sometimes my living room is 1,000 degrees. This is too hot. If I open the window, though (see #7), it becomes too cold. That's why I prefer to have two blankets near me when I binge-watch: one thick blanket for the cold times and one thinner cotton blanket for the medium times. During the hot times, I use no blanket at all. ## 5\. Consider your spinal column If you need to bring a bed pillow onto the couch for back support, so be it. If you're binge-watching in bed, consider acquiring a backrest pillow. Maybe one ... with a cupholder? ## 6\. If you're watching a show featuring heavy subject matter, take more breaks While there is certainly no shame in binge-watching, it can have adverse effects on your mental health -- especially if the show you choose deals with emotionally fraught topics. In these cases, treat yourself to a few more breaks than you normally would. We're not saying go outside (imagine!), but maybe do a few more stretches, check in with your friends, and drink some extra water. ## 7\. Open a window Let your binge-watching farts (different than regular farts) fly freely into the atmosphere. ## 8\. Text people about what you're watching If you do not have a binge-watching partner literally sitting next to you, it can be fun to live-text the show with a fellow binge-watcher in another location. It also reminds you that you have friends. Crucial!  What you should not do, however, is send texts about the show to someone who has not seen the whole show yet. Avoid committing this friendship crime at all costs. > When Netflix freezes to ask if you're still watching and you see yourself reflected in the screen pic.twitter.com/tDdSSN6PR5 > > -- Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) February 16, 2018 ## 9\. Switch positions When you have a nest, you have a nest, so switching rooms isn't necessary. But alternating between sitting up and lying down, or even just lying down on the other end of the couch, can be kinda nice. After all, lying down in a second location is a fun twist on lying down. ## 10\. Respect the air If you've chosen some really good snacks (and also haven't left the couch for six hours), the room can start to smell a little ... rank. That's when it's time to light a candle. On the off-chance Gilmore Girls is your binge-watch, there is a Gilmore Girls candle designed to burn in tandem with the 2016 revival. There are also Stranger Things-themed candles. Or you could just burn a regular one. It's your binge-watch, after all! ## WATCH: Netflix is raising its prices ##

George W. Bush Calls for an End to Government Shutdown With a Secret Service Pizza Delivery

“It’s time for leaders on both sides to put politics aside, come together, and end this shutdown"

Prince Philip 'could be sent on driving awareness course' as police investigate crash

The Duke of Edinburgh could be sent on a drivers’ awareness course, it has emerged, as police continue to investigate a crash which left two women hospitalised. The Duke, 97, is understood to have no intention of giving up driving, having been photographed on public roads driving a new car less than 48 hours after the accident. He is understood to be complying with a Norfolk Police investigation, which will see him interviewed about what happened. Two women, aged 45 and 28, will also be asked for their recollections of the accident, after their Kia Carens collided with the Duke’s Land Rover Freelander on the A149 on Thursday. Both police and palace have emphasised that the investigation will be conducted in the same way as any other traffic accident, despite one of the involved parties being married to the Queen. That process would see him interviewed in the coming days, before police officers recommend whether to proceed with charging anyone involved. The scene of the crash, on the A149 at Sandringham The Duke has already passed an eye test as part of the investigation, celebrating by defiantly driving himself around the public roads near to Sandringham alone less than 48 hours after the accident. He was caught on camera driving in dark glasses without wearing a seatbelt, in a gesture that has been criticised by onlookers. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of the photograph. “Suitable words of advice have been given to the driver and this is in line with our standard response when being made aware of or receiving such images showing this type of offence.” The law states that drivers can be fined up to £500 if caught without a seatbelt. The Duke of Edinburgh drives the Queen and Barack and Michelle Obama during their visit to Windsor Credit: Geoff Pugh If the Duke was found to be at fault for the Sandringham accident, he could be charged with driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum penalty of nine points on a driving record and a £5,000 fine. It is thought unlikely that a prosecution would come to court. A police source said yesterday that non-royal drivers involved in a similar collision would more likely be offered a drivers’ awareness course, with improving their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case. The Duke reportedly said "I'm such a fool" after being pulled from his wrecked Land Rover Freelander on Thursday after it flipped on its side following the collision with a Kia close to Sandringham. Witnesses claim he had told police at the scene he had been “dazzled” by the low sun at 2.45pm. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “As is standard procedure with injury collisions, the incident will be investigated and any appropriate action taken.”

Trump travels to Delaware base to honor four Americans killed in Syria

Trump, locked in a battle with congressional Democrats that has led to a nearly month-long partial government shutdown, announced his trip via a pre-dawn tweet, saying he was going "to be with the families of 4 very special people who lost their lives in service to our Country!" Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House prior to departure that he planned to meet the families, a duty which he said "might be the toughest thing I have to do as president." He was greeted by military staff at Dover Air Force Base after a short flight from Joint Base Andrews, but did not speak to reporters before entering his motorcade. Flanked by military officials, Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan filed up a ramp leading onto a military transport aircraft, where a prayer was given to honor the memory of Scott Wirtz, a civilian Department of Defense employee from St. Louis.

E-cigarettes could be banned in US, FDA says

E-cigarettes and vaping products face an "existential threat" in the US if their use among young people continues to rise, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned. Scott Gottlieb spoke on Friday at a public hearing in Maryland focused on eliminating the use of "electronic cigarette and other tobacco product use" among American youth, at a time when the agency has threatened stores selling e-cigarettes to minors and seized thousands of documents from Juul Labs, the maker of a popular vaporising product, during a surprise inspection of the company's corporate headquarters. If the youth use continues to rise, and we see significant increases in use in 2019, on top of the dramatic rise in 2018, the entire category will face an existential threat,” Mr Gottlieb said.

Clashes in Athens as tens of thousands protest Macedonian name deal

Clashes broke out between police and a group of masked protesters in Athens on Sunday as tens of thousands demonstrated against a name change deal with neighbouring Macedonia that the Greek parliament is due to ratify in days. The violence flared as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attempts to face down a political storm over his championing of a landmark agreement with Macedonia aimed at ending a 27-year dispute with Athens over the country's name. Police estimates put the number of demonstrators at 60,000 while organisers said 100,000 people had arrived for the rally, with hundreds of buses bringing demonstrators, especially from the region of northern Greece that also claims the Macedonia name.

Snow: Flight cancellations now stretch into Sunday

Airlines are already canceling flights ahead of a new winter storm forecast to bring snow and ice from the Great Plains to the Midwest and Northeast.

The Latest: Slick road leads to 15-vehicle Missouri pileup

DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on a winter storm in the Midwest and New England (all times local):

Damage from EF2 tornado reported in Wetumpka, Alabama

Severe thunderstorms rumbled across the Deep South on Saturday afternoon, with one storm producing a tornado that caused extensive damage in the town of Wetumpka, Alabama.

Lebanon uses Arab summit to call for Syrian refugees' return

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon used an Arab economic summit on Sunday to call for the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas of their war-torn country, where the nearly eight-year civil war is still underway despite a recent series of government victories.

Australian rallies demand safe streets for women after Israeli student murder

Several thousand people marched through major Australia cities on Sunday calling for safety for women after an Israeli exchange student was murdered in Melbourne. The marches, part of the Women's March rallies held around the world in support of women's rights, gathered some 3,000 people in Sydney, who in their chants demanded safe streets for women in Australian cities. Aiia Maasarwe, 21, was killed when walking home after a night out with friends in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, earlier this week.

One-pot pumpkin and chickpea stew

This works well with butternut squash, or parsnip – any of the hearty, fleshy winter gourds and root veg in season at the moment. It couldn't be easier to make – just throw everything in and leave it to cook. SERVES Four INGREDIENTS 400g pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and diced 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained 1 punnet of cherry tomatoes 1 garlic clove, crushed and chopped 1 tsp grated fresh ginger Juice and zest of 1 orange Pinch each of ground cumin, ground coriander and chilli flakes 200ml plain yogurt, seasoned Chopped coriander, to serve Toasted pitta bread, to serve METHOD Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas 6. Add all the ingredients, except the yogurt, coriander and pitta, to a large ovenproof dish. Season and mix well. Place in the hot oven and cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. Check halfway through cooking that it is not drying out – add a dash of water if so. Remove from the oven and scatter over the chopped coriander. Serve with the seasoned yogurt and toasted pitta bread. Angela Hartnett's one-pot wonders

Students in Trump hats mock Native American; school apologizes

The students from private, all-male Covington Catholic High School in northern Kentucky were in Washington for an anti-abortion rally on Friday when they were filmed surrounding Nathan Phillips and mocking the Native American's singing and drumming. Fellow students, many in clothing bearing President Donald Trump's "MAGA" slogan, cheered him on and chanted, "build that wall, build that wall," Phillips said.

Girl, 12, dies when snow fort collapses on her outside Rothem Church in Arlington Heights

A 12-year-old girl died Sunday after a snow fort collapsed on her in Arlington Heights, police said.

Syria says air defence responds to Israeli raids

Syrian air defences on Sunday responded to Israeli air raids in the south of the country, state news agency SANA reported quoting a military source. The air defence systems "prevented Israeli air strikes from achieving their objectives in the south" of the country, the report said without giving further details. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said the region targeted was south of Damascus near the Kisweh area.

Coming Soon: Is Boeing's 'New' F-15X Fighter Really Joining the Air Force?

Brace yourselves: the Department of Defense is eyeing a brand new variant of the storied F-15 Eagle to rule the skies, the U.S. military’s first purchase of the storied aircraft in more than 15 years.

Airlines already canceling flights into Monday from Winter Storm Harper

Flight headaches were on the rise Saturday as a winter storm moved toward the Northeast. Cancellations spiked into the thousands, with more likely.

After the storm: Dangerous stretch of subzero AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to grip northeastern US

A polar plunge of brutal cold has descended on the northeastern United States, which can threaten lives and complicate travel and cleanup efforts following the weekend snowstorm.

Shutdown leads to delays in lawsuits against government

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — During the longest-ever government shutdown, the federal judiciary has remained open, allowing the wheels of justice to keep turning in most criminal cases. But many civil cases have come to a halt because the U.S. Department of Justice doesn't have enough attorneys working to handle them.

Ghosn awaits fate after vowing to stay in Japan if bailed

Carlos Ghosn will learn his fate Monday as a Tokyo court rules on his bail request after he vowed to remain in Japan if released and offered to provide more collateral. The ousted Nissan boss has pleaded for bail after languishing in custody for 64 days as he fights charges of financial misconduct that he strenuously denies. "As the court considers my bail application, I want to emphasise that I will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the Court concludes are warranted," Ghosn said in a statement released by his US-based representatives.

Can Democrats afford to turn down a border security proposal that includes a DACA deal?

Democratic strategist Joel Rubin and District Media Group president Beverly Hallberg weigh in on whether or not Democrats will agree to Trump’s new border security deal.

ProSieben sees pressure easing as Netflix raises prices

ProSiebenSat.1 Media believes that price increases by U.S. streaming giant Netflix could ease competitive pressures on the German group's core TV business and is bullish on growth at its e-commerce arm, CEO Max Conze said. Conze took the helm at the Munich-based broadcaster last June but has had a rough welcome from investors who have sent its shares to seven-year lows on doubts that he can revive its ailing free-to-air TV business. The former CEO of UK appliances company Dyson told Reuters that plans to relaunch a German streaming venture in cooperation with Discovery Inc, public broadcaster ZDF, publisher Axel Springer and possibly others were on track for late summer.

Shutdown sojourn: Free museums, music for furloughed U.S. workers

With the shutdown in its fourth week with no end in sight, cultural institutions from Massachusetts to Oregon are moving to help unpaid federal workers spend some of their otherwise idle hours with loved ones enjoying art, science history or music. Museums in at least 27 states, along with at least 19 orchestras, offered free admission to federal workers who have unpaid time on their hands. Institutions range from The Metropolitan Opera in New York to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, home of the Apollo IX Command Module, which helped pave the way for man to walk on the Moon.

May to Brief Cabinet on Where She Goes Next: Brexit Update

(Bloomberg) -- Theresa May is preparing to set out where Brexit goes next after the overwhelming rejection of her deal a week ago. She’s due to present a plan to Parliament on Monday, where members are already working on plans to take control of the process.

Tornado causes significant damage in downtown Wetumpka, Alabama

Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said a senior center is severely damaged and the police department also was damaged.

Photos: Deadly winter storm blankets Midwest, Northeast, knocks out power, grounds flights

A major winter storm moved across the Midwest and Northeast this weekend, blanketing areas of the region with snow and bringing some of the coldest temperatures of the season.

5 Terrifying Ways to Sink a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier

Here are five problems that the next generation of aircraft-carrier architects will need to worry about.

'SNL' pokes at Trump with shutdown-themed 'Deal or No Deal'

This week's opening sketch on 'Saturday Night Live' gave President Trump 'Deal or No Deal' options to end the partial government shutdown.

Coffee clash brewing in China: startup Luckin takes on Starbucks

When Starbucks came to China two decades ago it promised to open a new store every 15 hours. Now a homegrown rival, Luckin Coffee, plans to build a high tech-driven shop every three and a half hours to dethrone the US giant. The Chinese upstart is burning through millions of dollars to lure customers with steep discounts, challenging Starbucks' dominance by targeting office workers and students who prefer to have their java on-the-go or delivered to their doorstep.

Model in Russian court apologizes for US election claim

MOSCOW (AP) — A Belarusian model and self-styled sex instructor who last year claimed to have evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election said Saturday that she apologizes to a Russian tycoon for the claim and won't say more about the matter.

Get Prepped for the Camping Days Ahead With REI's Clearance Sale

Hiking gear, backpacks, and campsite upgrades are all part of REI's clearance sale.

Two dead from heart attacks as strong quake jolts Chile

A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit north-central Chile on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, with police reporting the deaths of two people from heart attacks. The quake struck at a depth of 53 kilometers (33 miles) with an epicenter some 15 km southwest of Coquimbo, USGS said. An elderly man and an elderly woman from Coquimbo suffered cardiac arrests as a result of the quake, police said, while there were several landslides reported on national highways.