Alexandra Olson / AP (NEW YORK) — Amazon has signed a lease for a new office space in Manhattan that will house more than 1,500 employees, less than a year after pulling out of a deal for a larger headquarters in the borough of Queens after politicians and activists objected to nearly $3 billion in incentives. The new office almost immediately renewed a debate over whether the tax breaks and other incentives were excessive, given the likelihood that Amazon would continue to expand in New York City regardless because of the city’s large talent pool. The online retail giant received … Continue reading Amazon Signs New Lease for Large New York City Office Space, Renewing Debate Over Tax Breaks

YURAS KARMANAU and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV / AP (MINSK, Belarus) — The leaders of Russia and Belarus spent more than five hours Saturday in sensitive talks on deepening ties between the two allies — a meeting that triggered a protest in the Belarusian capital among those who fear Russia’s intentions. No immediate deal was announced after the talks in Sochi on Russia’s Black Sea coast between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, but a senior Russian official said they edged closer to an agreement. More than 1,000 opposition demonstrators rallied in Minsk to protest closer integration with Russia, … Continue reading Protests Erupt as Russia Seeks Closer Ties With Belarus

Associated Press (UNITED NATIONS) — North Korea said Saturday that denuclearization has “already gone out of the negotiation table” and it does not need to have lengthy talks with the United States now. North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Kim Song accused the Trump administration of persistently pursuing a “hostile policy” toward the country “in its attempt to stifle it” — and of using claims that it is engaged in a “sustained and substantial dialogue” with Pyongyang solely for “its domestic political agenda.” Song’s statement was a response to Wednesday’s condemnation by six European countries of North Korea’s 13 ballistic missile launches … Continue reading North Korea Says Denuclearization Is Off Negotiating Table

John Leicester / AP (HONG KONG) — Only after finding safety in numbers, joining hundreds of other pro-government protesters in Hong Kong on Saturday, did Reddy Lin drum up the courage to slip into her red T-shirt marked, “China, I love you” and glue a heart-shaped Chinese-flag sticker on her face. But for the train ride home, the teacher said she’d be taking all her pro-China garb off again. The risk of running into supporters from the rival camp, those who oppose China’s communist rulers, was simply too great, she said. “It’s very dangerous. They’ll beat you,” she said. “They’re … Continue reading Pro-China Protesters in Hong Kong Denounce Anti-Government ‘Rioters’

Madeleine Carlisle The Peloton woman is back and she’s just as stressed as you thought she was. After a commercial of a man gifting his wife a Peloton stationary bike for Christmas went viral for having cringe-y, Black Mirror-y undertones, actor Ryan Reynolds wanted to have the last laugh. On Saturday morning, Aviation Gin, which is owned by Reynolds, released a video with the same actress who played the “Peloton Wife,” seemingly playing the same role, chugging gin as concerned friends look on. Exercise bike not included. #AviationGin pic.twitter.com/jYHW74h81l — Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 7, 2019 If there was any … Continue reading ‘Peloton Wife’ Returns in a New Aviation Gin Ad — And She Definitely Needs A Drink

Associated Press (ST. CLOUD, Minn.) — The Minnesota National Guard says the three soldiers who were killed when their helicopter crashed near St. Cloud this week were part of a unit that returned last May from a nine-month deployment to the Middle East. The Guard identified the men who were killed in Thursday’s crash as Chief Warrant Officers 2nd Class James A. Rogers Jr., 28, and Charles P. Nord, 30, and Sgt. Kort M. Plantenberg, 28. The Guard tweeted that during their unit’s recent Middle East deployment, it conducted medical evacuations in support of operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve. … Continue reading Minnesota National Guard Identifies the 3 Soldiers Killed in Helicopter Crash

Associated Press (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) — Authorities in North Carolina say they’ve charged an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl with involuntary manslaughter after they got into a physical altercation with another child who was struck by a vehicle and killed. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police announced the charges late Friday. Police said that on Thursday evening, the two youths and an 11-year-old boy were involved in a physical altercation by a road when the victim entered the roadway and was hit by a vehicle. Police said the youths were taken to police headquarters and interviewed by detectives. Both were later charged with involuntary … Continue reading 2 Children in North Carolina Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter