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The Latest: GOP politician defends Facebook in hearing

An unusual partisan divide has quickly opened during Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's hearing in front of Congress. From President Donald Trump on down, Republicans have been among Facebook's sharpest critics, complaining that the social network is biased against them — generally without offering evidence.

The Latest: Truck with 39 dead has Bulgarian registration

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry says the tractor-trailer truck found in southeast England with 39 dead people inside it has a Bulgarian registration. The Swedish-made Scania truck is registered in Bulgaria's Black Sea port city of Varna to a company owned by a woman from Ireland, the ministry said. The bodies were found overnight Wednesday in the town of Gray's, east of London.

As teachers strike, Chicago mayor to unveil city budget plan

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to detail how the nation's third-largest city should deal with an $838 million budget deficit when she delivers her first budget address Wednesday morning as striking teachers march through the city's downtown. Lightfoot's speech to the City Council comes on the fifth day of canceled classes for Chicago Public Schools' students as the Chicago Teachers Union and the district remain at odds over teacher pay, class sizes and additional staff for schools.

Police sergeant testifies he was told to tone down 'gayness'

A St. Louis County police sergeant has testified that he was told to "tone down his gayness" to secure a promotion to lieutenant. Keith Wildhaber testified at trial Tuesday that former St. Louis County Police Board of Commissioners member John Saracino issued the guidance in 2014. Wildhaber sued the department for employment discrimination in 2017.

Murder probe in Britain after 39 dead found in back of truck

Police in southeastern England launched a murder investigation after 39 people were found dead early Wednesday inside a large cargo truck that authorities believe was registered in Bulgaria and came into the country via Ireland. The truck, which British police said entered the U.K. on Saturday via the Welsh port of Holyhead, was found across the country at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, a town 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of London on the River Thames. Police did not formally tie the deaths to human trafficking but a link was assumed because of the way the victims were crammed into the truck's container.

Former AP civil rights reporter Kathryn Johnson dies

Kathryn Johnson, a trailblazing reporter for The Associated Press whose intrepid coverage of the civil rights movement and other major stories led to a string of legendary scoops, died Wednesday. Johnson was the only journalist allowed inside Martin Luther King Jr.'s home the day he was assassinated. When Gov. George Wallace blocked black students from entering the University of Alabama, she sneaked in to cover his confrontation with federal officials.

South Carolina police find remains of missing 5-year-old Nevaeh Adams

Authorities in South Carolina say they have found the remains of a 5-year-old girl, more than two months after the man suspected of slaying her mother allegedly admitted to killing the child, too. The body of Nevaeh Lashy Adams was found last Friday at a landfill near the town of Elgin, South Carolina, some 40 miles southwest of the city of Sumter where she lived with her mom. The Sumter Police Department announced Tuesday that DNA tests had confirmed the human remains were those of the little girl.

Reese Witherspoon shares some Halloween costume inspo from some of her past roles

Reese Witherspoon shares some Halloween costume inspo from some of her past roles originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.comReese Witherspoon is embracing the festive season.The actress, 43, shared some Halloween inspiration on Instagram Tuesday, posting some of the past costumes she's worn in hits like "Legally Blonde" and "Big Little Lies.""I'm here for all your #halloween costume inspiration needs... " she captioned her post. ...

Luke Bryan begins night raising breast cancer awareness, ends with Album of the Decade award

Luke Bryan kicked off the Grand Ole Opry show not only by raising breast cancer awareness but also walked away at the end of the night with the Album of the Decade award on Tuesday. During Bryan's performance the iconic barn turned pink for the Opry Goes Pink show in support of breast cancer awareness.

First-Term Democrat, Rising Star in House, Denies Relationship With an Aide

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Katie Hill, a first-term Democrat widely considered a rising star in her party, on Tuesday denied reports that she had a sexual relationship with a member of her congressional staff but refused to comment on an allegation that she was intimately involved with a campaign aide, saying that a nude photograph of her and another woman was published on the internet without her consent.Hill, 32, of California, made her comments in a brief interview and a statement in response to a report on conservative news site RedState alleging that she had been intimately involved with her legislative director and separately in a three-way sexual relationship with a young campaign aide and her husband, whom she is divorcing.Members of Congress are barred by House rules from engaging in sexual relationships with their aides, but the rules do not cover campaign staff. Hill said the photograph, which appears to show the congresswoman seated and brushing the hair of another woman, was the subject of a police investigation."Intimate photos of me and another individual were published by Republican operatives on the internet without my consent," Hill said in the statement."I have notified Capitol Hill police, who are investigating the situation and potential legal violations of those who posted and distributed the photos, and therefore will have no further comment on the digital materials," she said.Conservative critics of Hill have called on her to resign, saying the photographs posed a national security risk and could have exposed her to blackmail. But Hill said she had no intention of quitting. Supporters said she was a victim of "revenge porn" -- technically known as nonconsensual pornography -- which is illegal under California law.Hill said the stories, which she called "a smear campaign," were being driven by Republican operatives and a "husband who seems determined to try to humiliate me." Her husband, Kenny Heslep, did not respond to a phone message requesting comment.She said she had spoken to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenant, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, about the matter. Hoyer declined to comment, and a spokesman for Pelosi said the speaker was on her way to Baltimore on Tuesday for the funeral of her brother.Hill, who campaigned to make history as the first openly bisexual congresswoman from California, unseated a Republican, Steve Knight, in the so-called blue wave that carried Democrats to power in the House in 2018. She is a favorite of Pelosi, who named her vice chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, an unusually high-ranking position for a freshman on a panel that is playing a crucial role in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.Hill represents parts of the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, the most conservative district in Los Angeles County, and is expected to have a tough reelection race there. Since the RedState report, her Republican critics have been circulating the nude photo on Twitter, which has taken the posts down for violating the platform's rules against sharing explicit images of someone without their consent."She's a victim of revenge porn, which is a form of domestic violence and psychological abuse," said Kat Walker, a gun control activist and Hill supporter, who said she had spent the past several days reporting Twitter users who posted the photo. "We worked very hard for her. I already know I'm going to have to work very hard for her again, scandal or no scandal."The report involving Hill -- and the House leadership's muted reaction to it -- comes in the context of the MeToo movement, amid heightened sensitivity about the conduct of men in positions of power, including members of Congress. It raises questions about whether there is a double standard for men and women who engage in intimate relationships in the workplace.RedState also published what it characterized as text messages between Hill and the campaign aide, who was not identified, that suggested Hill was breaking off their apparently consensual relationship so she could focus on her duties in Washington. If that is true, experts in workplace law said, it might be inappropriate but not illegal."Clearly there is an inherent power differential between Congresswoman Hill and a young campaign staffer who worked for her, but there's nothing unlawful about having a relationship with people who work for you as long as it is consensual," said Debra Katz, a Washington lawyer who represents victims of sexual harassment. "But clearly this shows bad judgment."Some male Democrats said privately Tuesday that if Hill had been a man, there would have been an immediate uproar that would most likely have ended in a forced resignation. In recent years, several men have resigned from Congress after stories about their sexual conduct, but those resignations often involved allegations of harassment.The handling of such incidents tends to vary case by case. In November 2017, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, announced that he would not seek reelection after a nude photo of him was published, along with explicit text messages between him and a female constituent.Also that November, Al Franken, D-Minn., was forced out of the Senate after he was accused of groping women, and Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan lost his post as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee -- and was eventually forced to resign after several former aides accused him of harassment.A month later, Ruben Kihuen, a relatively unknown Democratic House member from Nevada, was accused of propositioning his campaign finance director for sex despite her protestations. Within hours, Pelosi, then the Democratic minority leader, demanded his resignation.Hill's critics have been making vague threats on social media suggesting that more revelations about the congresswoman are to come. On Tuesday, RedState published an additional trove of text messages purportedly among Hill, the campaign aide and her husband.This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2019 The New York Times Company

Trial delayed in Milwaukee Masonic temple shooting plot

The trial for a man accused of plotting a mass shooting in defense of Islam at a Masonic temple in downtown Milwaukee has been delayed. The trial was set to begin Wednesday in federal court in Milwaukee, but prosecutors have appealed a judge's decisions to exclude certain evidence. Attorneys for 26-year-old Samy Hamzeh planned to argue that FBI informants encouraged him for months to purchase weapons for the attack and entrapped their client, who they say never owned a gun, has no criminal record, and was incapable of mass murder.

Skincare brand Sunday Riley settles with FTC over allegations the company faked reviews on Sephora's website

Popular skincare brand Sunday Riley has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after allegations that the company posted fake reviews on Sephora's website. Sunday Riley was charged with two violations which included false or misleading endorsement claims as well as deceptive failure to disclose material connections with endorsers. The settlement does not force Sunday Riley to admit any wrongdoing.

The Latest: Striking teachers march toward Chicago City Hall

Striking Chicago teachers are marching toward City Hall for a downtown protest timed with Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first budget address. Classes at Chicago Public Schools were canceled for the fifth day on Wednesday as the Chicago Teachers Union and the district remained at odds over teacher pay, class sizes and additional staff for schools. Striking teachers and staff have been on the picket line outside schools since Thursday but are ramping up pressure on Lightfoot with Wednesday morning's march through the city's downtown streets.

US stocks hang close to records after mixed profit reports

U.S. stock indexes held close to their record highs following a mixed set of earnings reports Wednesday, where some big companies topped Wall Street's expectations and others warned that the slowing global economy and trade tensions are hitting their profits. Overseas stock markets were mixed as the United Kingdom's pending exit from the European Union appeared set for yet another delay. Treasury yields fell, as did the price of oil.

Botswana votes as ruling party faces surprising challenge

Botswana faced its tightest election in history on Wednesday as the long-peaceful southern African nation wondered if the ruling party would be toppled for the first time since independence. The ruling party and President Mokgweetsi Masisi have been presented with a surprising challenge after former President Ian Khama broke away and announced his support for an opposition coalition instead. Khama hand-picked Masisi as his successor when he stepped down last year following two terms in office in the diamond-rich country.

2 being charged in death of missing girl found in trash

Police say they will charge two people in the death of a 3-year-old Alabama girl whose body was found amid trash 10 days after being kidnapped outside a birthday party. Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith told a news conference that 39-year-old Patrick Devone Stallworth and his 29-year-old girlfriend, Derick Irisha Brown, will be charged Wednesday with kidnapping and capital murder in the death of Kamille McKinney, called "Cupcake" by relatives. Stallworth was previously charged with child pornography, and Brown was charged with a probation violation involving a prior kidnapping arrest.

Putin aims to boost Moscow's clout with Russia-Africa summit

As Putin and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi hosted the two-day summit attended by leaders of 43 of the continent's 54 countries, two Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers landed in South Africa in the first-ever visit to the continent to underline Moscow's bid for influence. Russia's annual trade with African nations doubled in the last five years to exceed $20 billion, Putin said, and expressed his wish that trade will double again "as a minimum" in the next four or five years.

Trump, claiming 'big success' in Syria, to make White House statement

President Donald Trump, facing harsh criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his abrupt decisions on Syria, announced on Twitter Wednesday morning that he will make a statement at the White House at 11 a.m.

Cameron Douglas says candid interview with dad Michael Douglas was 'really healing'

Cameron Douglas found his way home after a years-long drug addiction that landed him in federal prison, but the journey back to his family took a toll on his relationship with his father, actor Michael Douglas. After sharing his story alongside his father in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer, Cameron Douglas joined "Good Morning America" to expand on the emotions that came with being so vulnerable.

Driver arrested after 39 dead bodies found in tractor-trailer near London, police say

A murder investigation has been launched after 39 dead bodies were discovered in a tractor-trailer about 20 miles east of London, police said Wednesday. Emergency services were called to an industrial park in the town of Grays in Essex, southeast England, at around 1:40 a.m. local time, when the vehicle was discovered to have people inside. A 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths, according to Essex police.

Kylie Jenner files to trademark 'rise and shine' after song to daughter goes viral

Following the viral success of her three-second song "Rise and Shine," Kylie Jenner is seeing dollar bills. Jenner filed papers last week to trademark that phrase and a stylized version, “Riiise and Shiiinnee," for both beauty and clothing products. Around the time she filed for the trademark, she released two $65 hoodies bearing the phrase on her official online store, which sold out almost immediately.

5 headline-making moments to watch in the Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan documentary

5 headline-making moments to watch in the Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan documentary originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.comPrince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made headline-making comments on everything from motherhood to mental health, grief and media scrutiny in the new documentary "Harry and Meghan: An African Journey."The couple's comments and their candidness about their lives behind the scenes have since sparked a debate about what should be expected of them, both in their royal duties and in what they reveal publicly. ...

Google claims 'quantum supremacy'; others say hold on a qubit

Google said on Wednesday it had achieved a breakthrough in computer research, by solving a complex problem in minutes with a so-called quantum computer that would take today's most powerful supercomputer thousands of years to crack. Official confirmation of the breakthrough in quantum computing came in a paper https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1666-5#Sec4 published in science journal Nature, after weeks of controversy following the leak of a draft, over whether Google's claim of "quantum supremacy" was valid.

Northern Ireland woman acquitted of buying abortion pills for daughter following a landmark law change

A Northern Ireland woman acquitted of buying abortion pills for her daughter following a landmark law change has expressed relief she can now “finally move on with her life”. A judge directed a jury at Belfast Crown Court to find the 39-year-old mother not guilty following the decriminalisation of abortion in the region earlier this week. With the law change including a direction that any ongoing prosecutions were discontinued, the Crown offered no evidence to the court on Wednesday morning. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons to protect the identity of her daughter, could have faced a potential five-year jail term if she had been convicted of securing pills for her then 15-year-old daughter in 2013. The mother had been charged with two counts of procuring and supplying the abortion drugs with the intent to procure a miscarriage, contrary to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. The relevant sections of the 19th-century legislation fell away at midnight on Monday when abortion was decriminalised. Abortion milestones in the United Kingdom The move came as a result of legislation passed at Westminster in the ongoing absence of a powersharing executive in Belfast. Following the verdict, the woman at the centre of the controversial case hailed the law change. "My emotions are all over the place and I find it hard to put into words how I am feeling," she said in a statement. "For the first time in six years I can go back to being the mother I was, without the weight of this hanging over me every minute of every day, and I can finally move on with my life. "I am so thankful that the change in the law will allow other women and girls to deal with matters like this privately in their own family circle." Earlier judge David McFarland said that, despite the law being repealed, he was required to go through the legal formalities and swear in a jury. He explained the law changes to the jury of eight men and four women. "Some of you may be aware that the law was changed in Northern Ireland at midnight on Monday whereby the sections under which she was charged were repealed," he said. "In addition to that, Parliament directed that any ongoing charges in relation to those sections should be discontinued." Emotions run high as bitter divides are laid bare in Ireland's abortion referendum The judge said for those reasons the prosecution would not proceed. Crown barrister Kate McKay also referenced the terms of new law as she confirmed the end of the prosecution. "The prosecution offers no evidence in this case," she said. The judge then told jurors to find the accused "not guilty by direction". He then confirmed the woman was formally discharged by the court. While no evidence was presented during the criminal proceedings, the circumstances of the case were outlined last year in a separate High Court challenge taken by the woman. Judgment has yet to be delivered in that judicial review, in which the mother claimed the decision to prosecute her contravened her human rights. During those proceedings, the woman's barrister told the court her daughter was "extremely vulnerable" at the time of her pregnancy, claiming her then ex-boyfriend was "physically and emotionally abusive" toward her. The lawyer said the GCSE student had gone to her local doctor a week after taking the abortion medication. Her court heard she was subsequently referred to a mental health counselling service, which in turn informed Social Services. Social Services then alerted the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Young women with partners are the most likely to seek UK abortions The barrister told the High Court investigating police officers then arrived at the child's school and removed her from a classroom to speak to her in the absence of her parents. After her acquittal on Wednesday, the woman's solicitor, Jemma Conlon, of Chambers Solicitors, said: "Today is a day of immense relief for my client, who now finds herself free from the burden of this prosecution that has been in her life for six years. "It is a day that she will forever remember and a day that allows her to finally move on with her life privately without anguish and criminalisation." Outside court, Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty International, which had been supporting the woman, said the outcome was evidence of a new "compassionate" legal framework in Northern Ireland. "Today we are relieved that she can go back to being a mother," she said. "What we are seeing today is our new abortion law taking effect. No longer will women be hauled through the courts and treated as criminals for accessing this healthcare service. "This is the beginning of a new era for Northern Ireland - a more caring and compassionate Northern Ireland. This mother is now free to move on from this ordeal and go back to her family." The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 which decriminalised abortion also paved the way for the introduction of same-sex marriage in the region, with the first weddings expected in February. The Act also includes provisions for a new pension paid to injured victims of the Troubles.