Facebook, Google and more unite to let you transfer data between apps

The Data Transfer Project is a new team-up between tech giants to let you move your content, contacts, and more across apps. Founded by Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Microsoft, the DTP today revealed its plans for an open source data portability platform any online service can join. While many companies already let you download your information, that’s not very helpful if you can’t easily upload and use it elsewhere — whether you want to evacuate a social network you hate, back up your data somewhere different, or bring your digital identity along when you try a new app. The DTP’s tool isn’t ready for use yet, but the group today laid out a white paper for how it will work. Creating an industry standard for data portability could force companies to compete on utility instead of being protected by data lock-in that traps users because it’s tough to switch services. The DTP could potentially offer a solution to a major problem with social networks I detailed in April: you can’t find your friends from one app on another. We’ve asked Facebook for details on if and how you’ll be able to transfer your social connections and friends’ contact info which it’s historically hoarded. From porting playlists in music streaming services to health data from fitness trackers to our reams of photos and videos, the DTP could be a boon for startups. Incumbent tech giants maintain a huge advantage in popularizing new functionality because they instantly interoperate with a user’s existing data rather than making them start from scratch. Even if a social networking startup builds a better location sharing feature, personalized avatar, or payment system, it might be a lot easier to use Facebook’s clone of it because that’s where your profile, friends, and photos live. If the DTP gains industry-wide momentum and its founding partners cooperate in good faith rather than at some bare minimum level of involvement, it could lower the barrier for people to experiment with new apps. Meanwhile, the tech giants could argue that the government shouldn’t step in to regulate them or break them up because DTP means users are free to choose whichever app best competes for their data and attention.

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Apple Watch currently set to face 10% import tariff on arrival from China

The original Apple Watch is currently set to face an import tariff of 10% under the latest edition of tariff proposals seen. While iPhones, iPads and Macs should be exempt, the smartwatch is one of a number of devices currently slated to fall foul of the Trump administration’s trade war with China … NordVPN Others include several Fitbit activity trackers and three Sonos speakers, including the popular Play 5, reports Reuters. The devices have all been determined by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials to fall under an obscure subheading of data transmission machines in the sprawling list of U.S. tariff codes. And that particular subheading is included in the more than 6,000 such codes in President Donald Trump’s most recent round of proposed tariffs released earlier this month […] The specific products listed in customs rulings are the original Apple Watch; Fitbit’s Charge, Charge HR and Surge models; and Sonos’s Play:3, Play:5 and SUB speakers. The bizarre categorization of the devices, and particularly the seemingly arbitrary nature of them (why the original Apple Watch and not others?), seems to point to a bureaucratic SNAFU rather than any deliberate targeting, but some say the latter possibility cannot be ruled out. “The way the president has been using his trade authority, you have direct examples of him using his authority to target specific products and companies,” said Sage Chandler, vice president for international trade policy at the Consumer Technology Association. Trump once called for a boycott of all Apple products, and the company has criticized a number of his administration’s policies, especially in the area of immigration. Tim Cook was particularly forthright in his condemnation of family separations at the border, labelling the policy ‘inhumane.’ However, Apple no longer sells the Series 0 model in the US, so it is hard to see what the measure would achieve in practice, other than perhaps sending a message. Experts say that this is just the latest draft of the tariff codes to come to light, and that it’s possible there has been a subsequent amendment. If that’s not the case, there would still be options. But if companies have products whose tariff codes are on the list, they have three options, experts said: Advocate to get the code dropped from the list during the public comment period, apply for an exclusion once tariffs go into effect, or try to have their products classified under a different code not on the list. The last option could prove difficult due to the thousands of codes covered, said one former U.S. trade official.

Read Original Article     ON:   9to5mac

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What Trump and Putin agreed to in Helsinki

The only agreement reached between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday was to meet again later this year, a National Security Council official tells CBS News' "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan.

The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media. I look forward to our second meeting so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed, including stopping terrorism, security for Israel, nuclear........

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 19 de julio de 2018

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Thursday on Twitter that Mr. Trump has asked national security adviser John Bolton to invite Putin to Washington this fall. The news seemed to surprise even Mr. Trump's own director of national intelligence. "President Trump asked Ambassador Bolton today to invite President Putin to Washington in the Fall to follow up on and review the two sides' progress on the issues they discussed in Helsinki," the NSC official told Brennan. Analysis: New Trump-Putin meeting with "complicate" Russia message, midterms Exactly what Mr. Trump and Putin discussed, and what agreement or agreements they reached, has been the topic of much discussion and confusion. Only one other American, State Department translator Marina Gross, was in the room with the American and Russian presidents, and the White House has offered few details about what was discussed. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Voice of America this week that the Russians made proposals on "a number of things" in Helsinki. The White House did ultimately object to one proposal from Putin to hand over two Americans, including former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Mike McFaul, for questioning. On Tuesday, Russia suggested there had been more than one agreement forged by two leaders and even said it was ready to implement agreements reached by Mr. Trump and Putin. "The Russian Defense Ministry is ready for practical implementation of the agreements in the sphere of international security reached by Russian and US Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, at their Monday's summit in Helsinki," the Russian embassy tweeted. Back in March, the NSC had discussed the possibility of inviting Putin to Washington. Separately, a senior administration official told Brennan that Mr. Trump is telling his team that he held a firm line with Putin regarding Syria, and said U.S. troops will not leave until Iran leaves. That indefinite timeline contradicts Mr. Trump's earlier stated desire to draw down the roughly 2,000 American troops there...

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Will the Galaxy X kill Samsung’s iconic Galaxy Note phones?

The Galaxy Note 9 is coming soon, but the Galaxy Note 9 is not exciting enough. At least, that’s what smartphone buyers continually looking for a brand new design will tell you. The Galaxy S9, an almost identical copy of the Galaxy S8 but with much better specs and features, failed to become the best-seller that Samsung wanted it to be. The Note 9 isn’t expected to fare any better than its predecessor. New reports from South Korea reveal that Samsung has been looking at whether the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S line should be unified in the future, considering that Galaxy S+ phones look more and more like the Note. Technology advanced to a point where it’s possible to make all-screen smartphones with tiny bezels. Whether you curve the phone’s edges to achieve the result or whether you put a notch on it, you can make a relatively compact phone with a big screen nowadays. Right now, the Galaxy Note’s only advantage over the Galaxy S Plus is the inclusion of the S Pen. The Galaxy Note 9 will have the same specs as the Galaxy S9+, and a similar size. The new Note’s 6.38-inch screen is slightly bigger than the 6.22-inch screen on the Galaxy S9+, and almost as big as the rumored 6.40-inch display on the Galaxy S10+. According to The Bell’s sources, Samsung has been looking at whether to merge the two flagship lines into a single product for a while now, but there’s no definitive conclusion on the matter. The talks aren’t just internal, as Samsung has been talking to partners as well. One strong argument is that Samsung could cut development costs especially in a saturated smartphone market where buyers hold on to their devices for more extended periods than before. A different argument is that Samsung will introduce foldable handsets next year as a pilot program, but foldable handsets will become mainstream in the years after that. The Galaxy X is supposed to feature a 7-inch display that’s as big as a small tablet when folded out, as well as a much bigger battery. Larger screens and bigger batteries are two features that were once available only on Note-sized phones. The Galaxy X will launch in early 2019, soon after, or before the Galaxy S10 is unveiled. Galaxy Note 9 sales may help Samsung decide whether the Galaxy S Plus and Note lines should be unified or note. Next year, Samsung is already rumored to launch three distinct Galaxy S10 versions, including the Galaxy S10+ phone that could easily pack an S Pen stylus. But Galaxy Note 9 isn’t expected to break any records. A different story on The Bell says that Samsung wants the phone to sell at least as good as the Note 8. Samsung shipped 11 million Note 8 units last year, and it plans to sell just a million more Note 9 units this year.

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Trump Is Ready To Go All In On Trade War With China

President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on every product imported from China, dialing up the pressure in the growing trade dispute between the world's two economic superpowers.

....The United States should not be penalized because we are doing so well. Tightening now hurts all that we have done. The U.S. should be allowed to recapture what was lost due to illegal currency manipulation and BAD Trade Deals. Debt coming due & we are raising rates - Really?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 20 de julio de 2018

In an interview with CNBC broadcast this morning, Trump said "we're down a tremendous amount," referring to the trade imbalance between the US and China. "I'm ready to go to 500." The U.S. imported $505 billion worth of goods from China in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. exported $130 billion worth of goods to China. In the interview, which was recorded Thursday, Trump also indicated his willingness to endure stock market volatility as he pursues an aggressive trade agenda with China. Asked about the potential of a market downturn over his trade policies, he said: "If it does, it does. Look, I'm not doing this for politics." He said the United States is "being taken advantage of, and I don't like it." Trump's views on issues such as guns and abortion have shifted throughout his public life, but on trade he has been a consistent protectionist, dating back to the 1980s. The U.S. has already slapped tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese exports, targeting China's advanced manufacturing capacity, with levies on machinery, electronics, engines and engine parts. China has responded in kind with tariffs on farm products, notably soybeans, as well as quintessential American goods such as bourbon and motorcycles, taking direct aim at Trump's base of support in farm states and blue collar regions of the country. Another wave of tariffs on an additional $16 billion of Chinese goods could go into effect in coming weeks. But much larger tariffs loom ahead. The U.S. has a list of $200 billion worth of Chinese goods that may be slapped with levies. And those products move beyond specialized equipment to consumer goods purchased by everyday Americans. U.S stock prices were mixed this morning following the president's latest barbs on trade. Excerpts of the CNBC interview were released yesterday in which President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates. "I'm not thrilled," he said. "Because we go up and every time you go up they want to raise rates again. I don't really — I'm not happy about it. But at the same time I'm letting them do what they feel is best."...

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2019 Porsche 911 Reveals Sleek Rear End In Spy Photo

It's the Nine Eleven we're all familiar with, but a little bit more modern to keep up with the times. Back In February, an image of a very yellow Porsche 911 (992) made the Internet rounds to reveal its completely exposed rear end. Fast forward to today, a similar prototype has been caught on camera by our agile spies to show more of coupe’s sleek derrière. Just like before, there’s no camouflage on the test vehicle, with only the car cover and three Porsche employees getting in the way. It’s a good opportunity to see the full-width taillights similar to those of the outgoing 911 Carrera 4S, but the clusters are considerably slimmer than even those of the latest Panamera and Cayenne. Judging by the quad exhaust system, which by the way looks a bit unfinished, we could be dealing with the aforementioned Carrera 4S. That being said, you can never be too sure when dealing with prototypes since in many cases automakers use parts from various types of models. Compared the car spotted a few months ago which had the centrally positioned “Porsche” rear lettering in all-black, this one had a more visible silver finish. Not that many people will care about, but the 992 seen here lacks the rear parking sensors of the previous prototype. As you may recall, Porsche has already previewed its next iteration of the Nine Eleven and it is believed the peeps from Stuttgart will introduce the first versions of the 992 as early as this fall, probably after unveiling the production-ready Speedster special edition based on the 991.2. Beyond the usual versions you’d come to expect, the already vast lineup will be expanded furthermore to include a couple of plug-in hybrid derivatives. As for a fully electric 911, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. The Paris Motor Show scheduled for October will allegedly be the venue where Porsche is going to take the wraps off the 992-based Carrera 2S and 4S, with many other versions to follow in the years to come.

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Comic-Con 2018: New Better Call Saul Season 4 Trailer Is Dark And Awesome

Although Better Call Saul started as a spin-off from the hugely acclaimed Breaking Bad, over three seasons it has become an exceptional show in its own right. Season 4 is set to premiere this fall, and the first trailer has been revealed at San Diego Comic-Con. The new season is set to pick up after the death of Chuck, the estranged brother of shady lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), and the trailer reveals that the show is getting closer to the events of Breaking Bad. Giancarlo Esposito will reprise his role as villainous Gus Fring, and there are appearances from Breaking Bad characters Lydia (Laura Fraser) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks). Check it out above. In a recent interview with The Independent, creator Vince Gilligan confirmed that Better Call Saul Season 4 would have more in common with Breaking Bad than the previous seasons of the newer show did. "In season 4, it's very much like Breaking Bad," he said. "There's some great stuff coming up. As with [Breaking Bad], there's humour wherever we can find it provided it's legitimate and well-earned. But those moments of earning it are now fewer and far between." Better Call Saul Season 4 premieres on AMC on August 6.

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Instagram now lets you see when your friends are online

Now your friends can see exactly how much time you spend lurking on Instagram. Instagram announced Thursday the rollout of a new feature that will let your followers see when you're using the app. The concept is similar to Facebook Messenger: when someone you follow or have previously messaged with, is "active" in the app, Instagram will show a small green bubble next to their name to let you know that they're online. Instagram explained that the goal of the feature is to make it easier for users to chat within the app. "This update gives you the ability to have more of those realtime conversations while giving you the control to hide your status altogether," the company wrote in a blog post. But while it makes chatting a little more immediate, it may also push users to spend even more time in the app. Instagram users already swap a ton of messages, and adding these status indicators will likely only encourage more messaging. Instagram's CEO has said the company is working on features to fight tech addiction and ensure that users' time in the app is "positive and intentional." If this all sounds a little creepy to you, don't worry. You can opt to turn the feature off entirely. Just go to "activity status" in the app's main settings to disable activity status (when disabled, you won't be able to view which of your friends are online, either).

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Apple Confirms 2018 MacBook Pro Keyboard Has 'Membrane' to 'Prevent Debris From Entering the Butterf

In an internal document distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers, obtained by MacRumors from multiple reliable sources, Apple has confirmed that the third-generation keyboard on 2018 MacBook Pro models is equipped with a "membrane" to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." The relevant excerpt from Canadian and European versions of Apple's internal 2018 MacBook Pro Service Readiness Guide: Keyboard and Keycaps The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. The procedure for the space bar replacement has also changed from the previous model. Repair documentation and service videos will be available when keycap parts begin shipping. While the U.S. version of this Service Readiness Guide does not mention the membrane, it contains a link to a separate internal document titled "Butterfly Mechanism Keycap Replacement MacBook Pro (2018)" that states: Caution: The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. Be careful not to tear the membrane. A torn membrane will result in a top case replacement. In its teardown of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar last week, the repair experts at iFixit were first to discover the thin, silicone barrier underneath the keycaps, and theorized that it was to prevent dust indeed. Apple filed a patent for a contaminate-resistant MacBook keyboard back in 2016. Publicly, Apple has only confirmed that 2018 MacBook Pro models feature an "improved third-generation keyboard for quieter typing," but many suspected that the silicon membrane was actually to prevent "contaminate ingress," fancy speak for the crumbs from your sandwich that you ate at your desk for lunch. Following years of anecdotal complaints from customers, and a few class action lawsuits, Apple initiated a worldwide service program last month, offering free repairs of 2015-and-later MacBook and 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro keyboards, which are equipped with low-profile butterfly switch mechanisms. We've already reported about the service program in more detail, but the gist is that those particular MacBook and MacBook Pro models can experience issues with sticky, unresponsive, or inconsistently functioning keys when small particles like dust or crumbs get stuck underneath the shallower keycaps. Apple confirmed to MacRumors that third-generation keyboards will not be offered as replacements under its service program for 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro second-generation keyboard repairs, likely due to a tweaked top case design.

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THE VIVO NEX’S NOTCH-KILLING TRADE-OFFS ARE WORTH IT

How much do you really hate the notch? Companies like Oppo and Vivo, which are devoting serious engineering resources to find creative solutions to avoid 2018’s most conspicuous design trend, are hoping that the answer is “a lot.” The Oppo Find X and Vivo Nex both use complex moving parts to hide and reveal components like selfie cameras and face scanners that would otherwise have to be housed in a notch in an “all-screen” phone. I was in Shanghai and Shenzhen a few weeks ago, and one thing that struck me was the huge, ubiquitous marketing for these two phones. They may not be expected to sell the most units, but they’re also far from wild experiments. They need to execute on their futuristic promise in order to establish each brand as an innovator. And, based on my time with the flagship Vivo Nex S at least, I can say that it’s a seriously impressive device that essentially delivers on the full-screen phone dream. The headline feature of the Nex S — its elevating selfie camera — first appeared on Vivo’s Apex concept phone that I saw at Mobile World Congress in February, so that aspect of the hardware wasn’t too novel for me. The biggest change is how the blocky Apex has morphed into an attractive and surprisingly slim premium phone with curved glass and a holographic back panel. The phone does pick up a lot of fingerprints, but the way it shimmers and diffracts in different lighting conditions is just really cool and feels appropriate for a phone positioning itself on the cutting edge. So, too, does its spec sheet. Inside there’s a Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 4,000mAh battery, a dual-camera setup with a 12-megapixel f/1.8 primary module, a headphone jack, a USB-C port, and a huge 6.6-inch 2316 x 1080p OLED screen. Along with the mediocre haptics and lack of wireless charging, that screen is actually the only part of the phone that doesn’t feel as high-end as it could. Its color reproduction, contrast, and viewing angles are all fine — great, even — and the bezels are almost nonexistent all around (except for the bottom edge, which is roughly twice as thick as the rest). But the resolution is slightly insufficient to be stretched over such an expansive canvas; it’s a PenTile screen, and you can see jagged edges on text if you look closely. This isn’t a huge deal, and I tend to think 1080p is the right choice for most phones, but I feel like Vivo could have sprung for a 1440p panel like Samsung and LG if it really wanted to push the Nex S as the most advanced phone on the market...

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Fortnite's Season 5, Week 2 Challenges Delayed A Bit

Update: They're live, a little bit earlier than the countdown suggested. So hard to tell what's going on. My current working theory is that the countdown paused during the server downtime, and that the game just re-ran those hours once servers went back up. This morning, it appears that Epic Games is shifting its schedule for the popular weely battle pass challenges a little bit. Usually, these things go live at 4:00 a.m. unless there's server downtime, like there was this morning. If there's server downtime, the challenges go live as soon as the servers come back online. That's what it looked like was going to happen this morning after a bit of longer-than-usual downtime, but now the in-game challenge list appears to have moved back the Season 5, Week 2 challenges until 10:00 a.m. Eastern. You can take an early look at the challenges her, knowing that they're subject to change. Moves like this aren't without precedent. Epic Games has followed a fairly strict schedule with challenges as well as updates, but it's also bounced the weekly challenge reveal from Thursday to Tuesday and then back to Thursday again, where appears to be resting comfortably for the foreseeable future. It's unclear if this is a permanent change or not, and I've asked Epic Games to clarify. Those who write Fortnite guides on the eastern seaboard would be totally fine with that. If this is indeed a permanent change, it would make a kind of sense. Epic Games is based in North Carolina and thus the Eastern Time Zone, and even if it has offices around the world the core Fortnite team is at headquarters. That means that there probably needs to be at least someone up making sure that the challenge reveal goes smoothly, even if the actual time is already scheduled. That might not be the case, but the fact would still remain that the game is doing something at 4:00 a.m., and whenever the game is doing something there's the potential for it to do something wrong. Leaving minor problems around is the sort of thing you might have a little bit more leeway with when you're not making the most popular game in the world, but there's just a little more pressure when you're as big as Fortnite, and we've seen various challenge bugs pop up from time to time over the past few months. Moving the challenge reveal up to normal working hours would mean that more of the team would be on hand to deal with anything that went wrong. This is speculation, but it would stand to reason. Again, this might just be a one-day thing, but such changes have been permanent in the past. We'll hear more soon.

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Ford recalls 550,000 vehicles, including some Louisville-made Escapes

Ford Motor Co. issued two safety recalls for vehicles made in North America, including some Louisville-made Escapes. The issue involves shifter cable bushings in about 550,000 2013-16 model year Ford Fusion and 2013-14 Ford Escape vehicles. In a statement, Ford said the bushing that attaches the cable to the transmission may detach, allowing the transmission to be in a gear that's different than the position selected by the driver. The faulty cable could result in unintended vehicle movement. Ford said it isn't aware of any injuries or accidents related to the faulty part. The recall covers: 2014 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant between June 18, 2013 and Sept. 15, 2013 2014-16 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly Plant between June 2, 2014 and Aug. 31, 2015 2013-14 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant between May 15, 2013 and Sept. 15, 2013 2014-16 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant between June 2, 2014 and Aug. 31, 2015 2013-14 Ford Escape vehicles built at Louisville Assembly Plant between May 15, 2013 and Sept. 15, 2013 Ford also is recalling about 160 2018 Ford stripped chassis incomplete vehicles with 22.5-inch wheels and 22,000-, 24,000- or 26,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating for front-wheel studs that were not heat treated properly. These vehicles were built at the Detroit Chassis Plant between June 13-22, 2018. Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford operates two plants in Louisville. It builds Navigators, Expeditions and Super Duty F-Series trucks at the Kentucky Truck Plant and Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC at the Louisville Assembly Plant.

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Tesla Model S vs. Dodge Challenger Drag Race Ends With Expected Winner

The Tesla Model S and the Dodge Challenger found themselves on opposite sides of a drag race, and the expected winner easily won after the quarter mile. Tesla electric vehicles are no strangers to drag races, with the Tesla Model X beating the Lamborghini Aventador SV in a drag race last year while setting the quarter-mile record for SUVs. Does the Dodge Challenger have what it takes to beat the Tesla Model S? Tesla Model S vs. Dodge Challenger The Tesla Model S is a silent electric family sedan, while the Dodge Challenger is a loud muscle car. The two went up against each other in a drag race, which was captured on video by YouTube channel Wheels. In January 2015, the Tesla Model S went head-to-head with the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. The electric vehicle handily beat the muscle car, with the Tesla Model S then setting a new world record for being the quickest and fastest production electric car. It appears that the Dodge Challenger driver forgot about that when he challenged the Tesla Model S to a drag race. For a moment, it even looked like the Dodge Challenger could pull off the upset. The video starts with the red Tesla Model S and the yellow Dodge Challenger rolling into their positions on the quarter-mile racing strip. When the race started, the Tesla Model S actually found itself behind due to a bad launch. The Dodge Challenger raced ahead of the Tesla Model S off the line, but in a matter of seconds, the electric vehicle caught up and overtook the muscle car. The Tesla Model S finished the quarter-mile run in just 10.96 seconds, while the Dodge Challenger, which looked like it suffered a misfire in the middle of the run, took 14.29 seconds to complete the race. Tesla Model S Problems Speed has never been the problem of the Tesla Model S, especially with the appropriately named Ludicrous Mode that allows the electric vehicle to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. The Tesla Model S, however, has recently been involved in a series of accidents involving Autopilot, the company's semi-autonomous driving feature. In May, two separate incidents saw the Tesla Model S crash into the back of a firetruck in Utah and into a parked police SUV in California while Autopilot was engaged. However, for drivers who prefer to be in control of their vehicles, the Tesla Model S should satisfy their cravings for speed.

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Judge insists timeline be met to reunite children at border

A judge insisted on Friday the Trump administration stick to a deadline to reunite children separated from their parents at the border, instead acknowledging that more time may be justified only in specific cases. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw ordered the administration to share a list of the 101 children with the American Civil Liberties Union, which successfully sued to force the reunions, by Saturday afternoon. The two sides will try to determine over the weekend which cases merit a delay in an effort to present a unified front in court on Monday morning. "The government must reunite them," the judge said. "It must comply with the time frame unless there is an articulable reason." The administration said it needed more time to reunite 101 children under 5 years old to ensure the children's safety and to confirm their parental relationships. "There's always going to be tension between a fast release and a safe release," said Sarah Fabian, a Justice Department attorney. The administration has matched 86 parents to 83 children and 16 are not yet matched, Fabian said. The deadline is July 10 for parents with children under 5 and July 26 for everyone else. More than 2,000 children were separated from their parents after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in May that the zero tolerance policy was in full effect, even if it meant splitting families. While parents were criminally prosecuted, children were placed in custody of the Health and Human Services Department. Trump reversed course on June 20 amid an international outcry from opponents who said families should remain together. On Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said fewer than 3,000 children are believed to have been separated, but that includes kids who may have lost parents along the journey, not just parents who were detained at the border. If DNA testing is inconclusive, officials said in a court filing, they won't be able to confirm a child's parentage by the deadline. They will need more time to collect DNA samples or other evidence from parents who have been released from government custody. About half of the parents of the 101 children are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Others have left the country or were released, Fabian said. She said it has been more difficult to reunite children when parents are outside government custody. The judge, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, set the deadline last week, writing that the "situation has reached a crisis level" and that the "chaotic circumstances" were of the government's own making. ...

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Thai cave rescue: Storm clouds pressure rescuers to get boys out

Mae Sai, Thailand (CNN)For the Buddhist monks who keep nightly vigil outside the cave where 12 young boys and their soccer coach remain trapped, the dry weather is a sign their prayers are working. Members of this tight-knit community in Mae Sai, northern Thailand, know that the return of seasonal monsoon rains will complicate any attempt to rescue the boys, who became stranded deep inside the tunnel network 14 days ago following a sudden flash flood. The Thai authorities know it too. Monsoon season typically lasts from July to October. During that time, water levels in Mae Sai, which sits nestled along Thailand's mountainous border with Myanmar, can rise rapidly, flooding farmland and cutting off entire villages. The Tham Luang Nang Non caves, where the boys are trapped, act as the town's natural drainage basin during this period of heavy rains. The boys and their 25-year-old coach are huddled together in a small chamber four kilometers (2.5 miles) inside of the cave network, with a limited supply of oxygen. To reach them, expert divers must carefully traverse jagged passageways, occasionally narrowing to the width of a person, forcing divers to remove their breathing tanks from their backs and enter like a pencil, taking extra care not to snag their wetsuit. The tunnels are pitch black. The water is muddy and cold. The whole journey can take up to six hours. For almost two weeks, authorities have been pumping water from the caves, 24 hours a day. Such is the volume of water extracted that entire nearby fields have been transformed into lakes. Such hopes have now vanished, replaced instead with a mounting sense of urgency. People at the large makeshift camp that now surrounds the caves liken the mood to that of a hostage situation. Dark clouds drift ominously overhead. Weather forecasters predict heavy rains throughout the coming week. The chamber in which the boys are located is no longer thought safe. Even if they are given enough food to wait out the rainy season, there is no guarantee that the ledge they are sitting on will not be submerged. There are no easy decisions. But with the flood waters expected to rise in the coming days, a decision will have to be made soon. "The teams there will have a tipping point where they have to make that call to bring them out. To leave them there would almost certainly result in them drowning," said one British mining engineer and experienced cave diver, who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. ...

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‘Warframe’ Coming to Nintendo Switch

“Warframe” is in development for the Nintendo Switch by the studio behind the Switch ports of “Doom,” “Wolfenstein: The New Colossus,” and “Rocket League.” The development by studio Panic Button was announced at TennoCon, the annual “Warframe” convention held by Canadian developer and publisher Digital Extremes, today. The cooperative free-to-play “Warframe” has more than 38 million registered players worldwide. The third-person online action game has players using the Warframe armor as the enigmatic Tenno, a race of ancient warriors wielding blade and gun, who are awakened from centuries of cryo-sleep by the Lotus to restore order throughout the Solar System. Warframe, which is already available on PS4, Windows PC, and Xboc One, features more than 35 Warframes, hundreds of weapons and thousands of customization options, the ability to upgrade weapons armor and items using a flexible mod system, and the ability to join clans, nurture pets, and explore massive new open worlds. It’s unclear how much of the game will be coming to the Nintendo Switch as a port or when that version will arrive. ...

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