Alibaba profit up 37% but revenue growth eases

Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba said Wednesday that net profit increased 37 percent in the latest quarter as growth in cloud computing and other business lines helped offset a slowing expansion in core online retail. The company's net profit grew to 33.0 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) in the October-December third quarter, compared to 24.1 billion yuan over the same period in 2017. Alibaba dominates China's emerging consumer culture and its corporate results were widely anticipated for any signs of whether a worsening Chinese economic slowdown and the US-China trade tussle was curbing the country's appetite for shopping.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Wv5llx

Trump friend Roger Stone pleads not guilty in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Roger Stone, a longtime adviser and confidant of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges in the Russia investigation after a publicity-filled few days spent slamming the probe as politically motivated.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CSwcPr

PG&E files for bankruptcy amid California wildfire lawsuits, citing billions in claims

The utility filed bankruptcy documents despite investigators determining last week that its equipment was not to blame for a 2017 fire that killed 22.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Wp0q5D

Sheriff: Suspect confesses to killing 5 with dad's gun

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A young man from Louisiana has confessed to killing his parents, his girlfriend, and two of her family members who had taken him in after he was kicked out of his house, authorities said Tuesday.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2UqdGVF

Britain to Prioritize Keeping Medicines Stocked Over Food in Case of No-Deal Brexit

The government has been accused of playing 'Russian roulette' with the national interest

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2BbVgAR

Polar vortex stalks Midwest, 'El Chapo' trial, Roger Goodell talks state of NFL: 5 things to know Wednesday

Polar vortex expected to paralyze parts of U.S. with extreme cold, Roger Goodell talks state of the NFL and more things to start your Wednesday.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Bb4cpU

Spy chief contradicts Trump's claims of progress with North Korea

The director of national intelligence's downbeat assessment, in testimony before a Senate committee, came just weeks ahead of a planned second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The annual Worldwide Threat Assessment from the Directorate of National Intelligence (DNI), released by Coats, noted that North Korea had not conducted any nuclear or missile tests in over a year and had declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang had also "reversibly dismantled" parts of its infrastructure for weapons of mass destruction, the report said.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Wuf2jU

New book exposes one of the biggest political scandals in history and the Democrats' unseemly cover-up

Investigative reporter and author Luke Rosiak pulls back the curtain on Nancy Pelosi's Democrats in 'Obstruction of Justice.'

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2sWtNi3

Trump Says He’ll Leave Decision of Whether to Release Special Counsel’s Report to Justice Dept.

By MAGGIE HABERMAN from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2sYkIFk

On Politics: Trump Calls His Own Intelligence Officials ‘Naïve’

By Unknown Author from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2RZBYZV

Another Go for Charles and Di, This Time With Music

By SARAH LYALL from NYT Theater https://nyti.ms/2RoY8zC

A Black Legacy, Wrapped Up in Fur

By JASMINE SANDERS from NYT Style https://nyti.ms/2sYq1os

Rescue Pets

By KATHERINE SCHULTEN from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2G91nt3

How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History?

By KATHERINE SCHULTEN from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2TpuAU8

Word + Quiz: upstage

By THE LEARNING NETWORK from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2CXxwQO

What’s on TV Thursday: ‘30 for 30’ and ‘The Big Lebowski’

By LAUREN MESSMAN from NYT Arts https://nyti.ms/2FVZlgo

After Death on Subway Stairs, New Yorkers Lament Accessibility Issues

By YOUSUR AL-HLOU, ROBIN LINDSAY and NATE SCHWEBER from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2BbTfVb

Las principales noticias del jueves

By Por ALBINSON LINARES from NYT Universal https://nyti.ms/2FZFZqK

St. Louis Prosecutor Accuses Police of Obstructing Inquiry Into Killing of Officer

By LIAM STACK from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2TlYgl3

An Angry Trump Pushes Back Against His Own ‘Naive’ Intelligence Officials

By MARK LANDLER from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2Gcqb3g

Jury Awards Rand Paul Over $580,000 in Damages From Attack

By NOAH WEILAND from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2GgXDp8

Undocumented Immigrant Who Worked at a Trump Golf Club Will Attend State of the Union

By MATT STEVENS from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2S0FxyM

Quotation of the Day: A Merciless Cold Lingers in the Midwest

By Unknown Author from NYT Today’s Paper https://nyti.ms/2sUhliK

Mavericks Thump Knicks as Dirk Nowitzki Comes Alive at the Garden

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/2sWxuUX

Corrections: January 31, 2019

By Unknown Author from NYT Corrections https://nyti.ms/2Rt3aey

Palindromic Number

By DEB AMLEN from NYT Crosswords & Games https://nyti.ms/2FYVr6q

Samsung Forecasts Earnings Weakness Throughout 2019

By REUTERS from NYT Business https://nyti.ms/2G9LOkO

China, Venezuela, Climate Change: Your Thursday Briefing

By PENN BULLOCK from NYT Briefing https://nyti.ms/2S1jVCw

Ebola Survivor Dr. Rick Sacra Receiving Prestigious Award to Expand Medical Mission in Liberia

Dr. Rick Sacra was exposed to the Ebola virus in 2014 while caring for pregnant women at a Christian hospital in Liberia. He narrowly survived.

from CBNNews.com http://bit.ly/2DJgPul

Top Pakistani Court Upholds Acquittal, Frees Captive Christian Asia Bibi

Asia Bibi is now free to leave Pakistan and join her daughters in Canada after more than eight years of prison and detention. The Islamic country's highest court has just upheld its acquittal of Bibi, clearing her of all charges of blasphemy.

from CBNNews.com http://bit.ly/2SfcnLN

Do You Think God Is Angry With You? Here Are 3 Biblical Truths About God’s Wrath

The idea of God’s anger or wrath is sure to pop up in religious news and social media circles every time our nation or the world faces a tragedy, natural disaster or violent attack. Invariably, someone will attribute the destruction and pain to God’s anger with some subsection of humanity, or indeed humanity as a whole.

from CBNNews.com http://bit.ly/2Bc0EUr

'Women are seen as home cooks - not chefs'

Meet the professional chefs changing the way people think about women in the kitchen.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RZhkJp

Polar vortex: What is it and how does it happen?

The deep freeze gripping much of the US has been blamed on a polar vortex. Here's what that means.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Sex5LW

Kate Spade's niece Rachel Brosnahan is the new face of her label

Rachel Brosnahan, star of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, honours her late aunt in the new collection.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2MFzERJ

How to de-ice your car - and other questions

How should I drive in the snow? Why does salt melt ice? How can I boost my immune system?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2DJP0lG

Inflatable puffer fish pill 'could track patient's health'

US scientists say it could be used to monitor tumours or ulcers for a month in the stomach.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ShkLdJ

Gay dating app Scruff bans underwear photos

The app bans images of men in underwear and swimwear after "repeated suspensions by app store distributors".

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SgJDCi

Attacked Empire actor Jussie Smollett 'has tasted brutality of hatred'

Stars support Empire actor Jussie Smollet, the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvIJi

The city with no homeless on its streets

What can UK cities learn from Finland, where the number of rough sleepers has fallen dramatically?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2TofSwO

Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave. Poverty and loneliness are two of the possible causes.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2sUSv2f

How do you compost a human body - and why would you?

A US state could become one of the first places in the world to allow corpses to become fertile soil.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2S04WbU

The unlikely stars bucking the High Street slump

Museum and gallery shops are reporting rising sales and greater interest. What is their recipe for growth?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvcuO

Nastya Rybka: Model who got caught up in the Trump-Russia row

The story of Nastya Rybka, who was questioned in a Thai jail by the FBI about the Trump-Russia inquiry.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2HHJ9kz

On the buses? Where and how often are we travelling?

Councils say they are "desperate" to protect services but funding cuts forced "difficult decisions".

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Saz4AQ

Knife crime: Suspects could be banned from social media

Those breaching sanctions aimed at cutting rising violence could face up to two years in prison.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2S9v6bN

Warwick students suspended over rape threats allowed to return early

One of the targeted students said she felt "terrified" at the prospect of seeing the men on campus again.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Rr80Jh

Polar vortex: Fire used to melt ice on Chicago train tracks

Flames from gas-fed heaters stop snow and ice from clogging up the track at railway intersections.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RsdKSK

The GP substitute will see you now

Some 20,000 physios, pharmacists and paramedics are to be recruited to work with under-pressure GPs.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RW3OGg

‘Meeting the stranger who saved my life’

Liv Pontin had decided to take her own life, when a train driver stopped her. Now they are reuniting.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2TsPbqZ

Sarah Sanders says 'God wanted Trump to be president'

In an interview, the White House press secretary says Donald Trump had divine support.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Bm9a3B

MPs say fast fashion brands inaction on ethics is shocking

JD Sports, Sports Direct, TK Maxx, Amazon, Boohoo and Missguided must do more, say MPs.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2HHsiyB

Brexit: How ready is the UK government for no deal?

A think tank report assesses how ready the government is to leave the EU without a deal.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BmiJQ3

Brexit: Car investment halves as industry hits 'red alert'

The UK industry's trade body warns of "permanent devastation" if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2BbLdM1

House price growth at near six-year low

The annual rise in house prices "almost ground to a complete halt" in January, the Nationwide says.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2DJKi77

The Papers: 'May woos Labour MPs with cash'

Thursday's front pages feature stories on Brexit, Facebook, stalkers and a new NHS recruitment plan.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RsrFZh

News Daily: Knife crime crackdown, cold weather and fast fashion

Your morning briefing for Thursday 31 January 2019.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2G9SEGO

It's deadline day - can you handle the pressure?

Nearly two million people are estimated to have left it until the last minute to fill in their tax returns.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Gabtd6

'Women are seen as home cooks - not chefs'

Meet the professional chefs changing the way people think about women in the kitchen.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RZhkJp

Polar vortex: What is it and how does it happen?

The deep freeze gripping much of the US has been blamed on a polar vortex. Here's what that means.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Sex5LW

Kate Spade's niece Rachel Brosnahan is the new face of her label

Rachel Brosnahan, star of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, honours her late aunt in the new collection.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2MFzERJ

How to de-ice your car - and other questions

How should I drive in the snow? Why does salt melt ice? How can I boost my immune system?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2DJP0lG

Inflatable puffer fish pill 'could track patient's health'

US scientists say it could be used to monitor tumours or ulcers for a month in the stomach.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ShkLdJ

Gay dating app Scruff bans underwear photos

The app bans images of men in underwear and swimwear after "repeated suspensions by app store distributors".

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2SgJDCi

Attacked Empire actor Jussie Smollett 'has tasted brutality of hatred'

Stars support Empire actor Jussie Smollet, the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvIJi

The city with no homeless on its streets

What can UK cities learn from Finland, where the number of rough sleepers has fallen dramatically?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2TofSwO

Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave. Poverty and loneliness are two of the possible causes.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2sUSv2f

How do you compost a human body - and why would you?

A US state could become one of the first places in the world to allow corpses to become fertile soil.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2S04WbU

The unlikely stars bucking the High Street slump

Museum and gallery shops are reporting rising sales and greater interest. What is their recipe for growth?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2CRvcuO

Nastya Rybka: Model who got caught up in the Trump-Russia row

The story of Nastya Rybka, who was questioned in a Thai jail by the FBI about the Trump-Russia inquiry.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2HHJ9kz

Can I live on tinned food?

Is it OK to eat only canned foods and no fresh fruit or vegetables?

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2RWg7T5

Wanting to die at 'five to midnight' - before dementia takes over

Dutch patients with dementia who want euthanasia are less likely to get it if their disease is advanced - so many request it very early.

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2ScPHff

On the buses? Where and how often are we travelling?

Councils say they are "desperate" to protect services but funding cuts forced "difficult decisions".

from BBC News - Home https://bbc.in/2Saz4AQ

Cost-conscious Chinese tourists staying closer to home for Lunar New Year

Trade tensions with the United States and a slowing economy are keeping Chinese tourists to budget-friendly destinations closer to home for the Lunar New Year holiday, with more likely opting for Bangkok than Sydney or San Francisco.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WydHIP

China's military-run space station in Argentina is a 'black box'

LAS LAJAS, Argentina - When China built a military-run space station in Argentina's Patagonian region it promised to include a visitors' center to explain the purpose of its powerful 16-story antenna.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2FZcWn8

Russia, U.S. last-ditch talks to break nuclear pact deadlock fail: agencies

Russia and the United States failed to bridge their differences over a landmark Cold War-era arms treaty at last-ditch talks in Beijing, Russia's deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2HICNBH

Watchdog shows Afghan defense forces declining as peace talks edge forward

The strength of the embattled Afghan defense forces has declined to its lowest level in four years, a U.S. watchdog said on Thursday, as talks between Washington and the Taliban continue over the possible withdrawal of foreign troops.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Tn7PjV

African churches boom in London's backstreets

On a cold, grey Sunday morning, in a street lined with shuttered builders' yards and storage units, songs of prayer in the West African language of Yoruba ring out from a former warehouse that is now a church.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Ghioky

Soft power: Australia uses hard game to tackle China in Pacific

Australia will direct more foreign aid to develop the sport of rugby league in the Pacific, officials say, bolstering a soft power offensive against China's growing influence in the region.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2CZMGp4