The amount of student debt in the United States could buy 515 Hubble telescopes, 20,845 Pink Star diamonds, or 5.3 million typical American homes. Instead, those $1.6 trillion dollars represent what nearly 45 million Americans owe, at an average of around $35,000 each. The total amount of debt is almost $1 trillion more than it was 10 years ago and the price of college has risen by a staggering 125% in the last few decades. That percentage represents the rise between the average cost of tuition and room and board at a four-year, public college in the 1988-1989 school year, and that same cost in the 2018-2019 school year. In 1988-1989, this cost was $9,480 (adjusted for inflation in 2018 dollars), while in 2018-2019, this cost is $21,370. There's no shortage of graphs, charts, and numbers that underscore the severity of this crisis, and no consensus on what exactly to do about it even though most other developed countries have education costs under control. To decide what to do, it helps to look at the past: How did we get here? And where do we go now? Surprisingly, not much has changed in education policy itself in the last few decades as college costs skyrocketed. Pell Grants, which are federal grants given out to low-income students, were implemented in 1972 and have changed little since. (It's important to note that grants, unlike loans, do not have to be paid back.) Thus, the current crisis isn't the cause of any one policy nor does it have a simplistic solution. Many Americans agree we should do something, though; according to an Ipsos poll , combating the student debt crisis is a top-tier priority for millennial voters, or those aged 18-38. If there isn't an easy scapegoat for the exorbitant cost of the current system, what are the reasons prices have risen so much? For one, our education system isn't one entity. Instead, the American education system comprises 50 separate operations run by different states with very different priorities. In general, states have been spending less on their public two- and four-year colleges, leaving more and more of the cost burden on the shoulders of students. Instead of seeking federal funding, universities increasingly court international students who are ineligible for scholarships and therefore pay the full ticket price of tuition. Most American students do not pay the sticker price of tuition. Eighty-three percent of students at four-year public schools and 89% at 4-year private, not-for-profit schools received some kind of financial aid, according to NCES data from 2017. Aid comes from the federal government or from the school itself to offset costs. Those grants generally aren't enough to cover the complete costs, however, meaning a significant amount is left over. Many students take out loans to cover the remaining costs which may be necessary to cover any combination of tuition, books, room and board, and transportation. Related video: This is how much college could cost in 20 years (provided by Veuer) When securing a loan for a car or a mortgage for a house, one is generally required to show evidence that the money will be paid back; things like good credit, solid income, or down payment. A lot of college students don't have any such proof available, yet banks regularly lend out tens of thousands of dollars to an individual student for college. These loans are pursued regardless of whether a student has a plan for paying the money back because, most simply, a college degree is valuable in the United States. Someone with a college degree goes on to earn $1 million more on average over his or her lifetime than someone whose highest completed education level is high school. That's because high school graduation rates have only increased over the last few decades, saturating the labor market with non-college degree workers. As the U.S. transitions into a service economy rather than a manufacturing one, jobs that don't require a college degree are getting more scarce while competition for them grows fierce. This is the foundation for a vicious cycle. With so many competing colleges and universities trying to outspend each other in their quests to provide the best education and student life experiences (despite varying rates of investment by state and local governments), the cost of college is ballooning. Meanwhile, the possibility of prosperity for those who choose not to attend college and take out massive debt shrinks by the day. Therefore, some politicians are calling for radical policy changes that would bring the U.S. system closer to that of other countries. The simplest and most radical plan for fixing up the student debt crisis comes from Democratic Socialist and presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders , who unveiled a plan to cancel all $1.6 trillion dollars of student debt, known as a "debt jubilee," and make two- and four-year public colleges, universities, and trade school completely free. This plan would solve the problem of paying for college for millions of Americans, but it's not without its critics. Some say Sanders' proposed idea for funding the measure, a 0.5% tax on stock transactions and 0.1% tax on bonds, could hurt retirement accounts. Others point out that many students who go to graduate school become highly paid doctors and lawyers who can easily pay back their debt, and cancellation of their debt would act as a giveaway to the well-off, the opposite of Sanders' socialist message. Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is against making college free, said he doesn't understand why high school graduates, a "minority who earns less", should subsidize those who went to college and go on to make more money. Though Sanders tries to avoid this regressive effect with the targeted tax on Wall Street, the increased stock market fees could have wider effects on the economy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, also a 2020 candidate, has a more modest plan which still includes making college free, but caps relief at $50,000 and tries to exclude the aforementioned high-earning grads by phasing out the relief for those whose incomes exceed $100,000 and eliminating relief completely for those who make more than $250,000. This would be paid, along with many of Warren's public spending proposals, by Warren's wealth tax, which would tax a person's total net worth including property value, stocks and bonds, and valuables rather than solely income. She proposed a 2% tax on wealth in excess of $50 million and a 3% tax on wealth above $1 billion. While this more targeted approach avoids some criticism of Sanders's plan, others critique non-universal plans as being more politically unstable. More centrist candidates like Buttigieg have proposed expanding Pell grants, allowing borrowers to refinance loans, and expanding public service instead of free college, appealing to those who think free college nationwide isn't worth the massive investment. Conservatives argue that public grant money has caused the cost of college to balloon in the first place, and only by removing all aid will costs fall too. In many developed countries around the world, governments spend more on education and consumers spend less. Sometimes students are given a head start on their debt, which is frozen for a few years until they get a steady income and only then do they owe payments. Sometimes all public college is free, just like high school. There's no guarantee that replicating these systems will work for American students, but it's likely that if no significant actions are taken, student debt will continue to rise, with the disastrous threat of a mass default looming on the horizon. The key to a productive career in the American economy might just be another nail in its coffin. You may also like: 15 new ideas on how to 'fix' higher education


Watch as a massive great white shark propels itself out of the water to catch bait in this slow-mo footage. Cameraman Ewan Wilson captured the amazing moment on June 15 in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Wilson told Newsflare: ''The awesome predator jumped so high that it obscured the sunlight visible to the camera and ended its performance with a mighty splash.' "Animals like these are special and we are losing them at an alarming rate. ''Let's protect these beasts so our grandkids may embark on the same adventures as we are living today.''


Love a big reveal? These real home renovators' before and after pictures will give you plenty of inspo for your next home makeover Dramatic room renovations with a big reveal The internet is bursting with blogs that show step-by-step renovation journeys in real homes across the world. These inspiring DIY junkies undertake a lot of the hard work themselves, often on a shoestring, so they are a goldmine of home décor ideas to use in your own projects. From pink kitchen makeovers to budget bathroom remodels, these before and after room makeovers should get you reaching for the paintbrush... Before: an ordinary brown kitchen This kitchen will look familiar to many of us. Wooden cabinets   as popular and practical as they still are today   give the room a major color scheme of dull brown. Home renovator Ashley Rose tackled this dated décor and documented it on her blog, Sugar & Cloth : "By far this was our most hated space from the original house listing photos. When we bought the house the kitchen was really sectioned off, had an awkward layout, and generally just very dreary." After: a perfect pink kitchen Pale shaker cabinets are complemented with pink painted woodwork and gold fixtures to create a luxe and light modern kitchen renovation reveal. The white upper cabinets and splashback teamed with light floors create a bright and serene space that looks divine. The curvaceous metallic bar stools set against a Caesarstone waterfall island make the perfect finish with a touch of 1950's Hollywood glamor. See the full Sugar & Cloth kitchen makeover here Before: drab beige living room Hannah Otto has beautifully documented the renovation of her charming Victorian terrace with a yellow door (yes, there is a post on that makeover) and is now onto her next home, The Otto House . Part of the overhaul included tackling this lackluster living room into a bright and beautiful space for the whole family... Love this? Check out these 36 interior design tips from the experts After: nude living room with period features The open-plan living room has been transformed! The brown fireplace, dirty dishwater walls and gray carpet have all been stripped out. Painting the room in an apricot white, she's highlighted the ceiling and section above the picture rails with buff nude tone. Best of all is the transformed fireplace; painted in baby pink with geometric tiles, it's a super-simple idea that has a huge impact. By working with the period features in the room she's kept enough of the old to work with the furniture, updating a quality wooden table with a modern chair. Before: an average neutral bathroom The creator of Gold is a Neutral , Jessica Hurrell, is a showbiz journalist-turned-interiors writer who now also channels her love of decorating into a successful blog about the ongoing renovations of her London home. She had her hands full when she decided to tackle her bathroom makeover. She had to work around some of the expensive luxe elements that were already in place, like the heated towel rail, plumbing for a bath and shower cubicle, and cabinetry. After: glam black and white bathroom Jess admits this incredible bathroom makeover was a painstaking challenge but we have to agree with her when she describes it as "the bathroom of her dreams". Black walls, a brass basin cabinet, statement tiled flooring and that Victoria + Albert roll top bath is luxe and dramatic. Cleverly she got rid of the bulky tiled shower cubicle and bath surround without moving the fixtures. In its place is a walk-in glass shower and the radiator has been painted to match the walls. Genius! Before: a lackluster living room Connecticut-based Charlotte Smith has been described as a 'DIY Diva'. The mum-of-five has grown from being a self-confessed DIY amateur into a well-known TV personality offering home renovation advice. She documented her living room makeover on her blog, At Charlotte's House applying her 'fun, frugal repurposed and eclectic' approach to great effect. In this picture, we can see that although the room is large, bright and in good shape, it's cluttered and feels cramped, with mismatched furniture and no real over-arching design. After: a spring sitting room Designed around a fabulous green feature sofa, the theme of this new living room update is clearly botanical. Large fig plants and a vintage look illustrative wall hanging create a lush and refined look that is made inviting with a soft tufty rug and mix and max cushions. Need some inspo? Take a look at some of the world's best interiors Before: an uninspiring gray living room The Gold Hive is an interior and design blog that chronicles the journey of restoring a craftsman's bungalow in San Diego, CA. With a background in art, Ashley Goldman shares home DIY projects, historic preservation, and restoration with modern style. She used her skills to tackle an inoffensive but bland living room scheme. With its neutral white walls, tired furniture and thrown-together look, it had the feel of a rented space. After: a moody den makeover The plain and unloved room has been transformed into a cozy TV den with dark walls that change hue from almost black to a rich dark green throughout the day. Fresh white woodwork balances out the dark scheme while a statement velvet sofa and an unusual double pouffe made in contrasting soft leather stand out against the dramatic backdrop. Before: a humdrum hallway Kate Woods of Come Down into the Woods and co-founder of No. House Rules has transformed her home from what she jokingly describes as 'a peach palace' into a quirky space with a 'kitsch cool' touch. This hallway could be in almost anyone's house, it's not unpleasant but it lacks style and was ripe for a makeover... After: an eclectic entrance Beautiful period features like the polished herringbone floor and stone fireplace remain (though we think the floor may have benefited from sanding down!) but everything else has been completely changed. The wood-paneled walls are painted in a mid-tone gray, the perfect choice for updating traditional features, but it's the black staircase with that striped runner that really makes the space sing. Fun features like a gold radiator cover, fringed floor lamp and Art Deco velvet occasional chair finish the look perfectly. Take a look at Come Down into the Woods full list of before and afters here Before: a featureless white kitchen Mad About the House is an award-winning website by author and interiors journalist Kate Watson-Smyth. Her stylish home was created from two dingy rental flats and is now so beautiful it is even used as a location house for homewares and fashion brands. Her kitchen update (we can't really call it a makeover as it was already darn nice) makes a key color shift from glaring whiteout to a cool and sophisticated space. After: an elegant contemporary kitchen Kate collaborated with her favorite kitchen companies to transform her open-plan kitchen. From the sleek dark cabinets by Naked Kitchens to the elegant worktop by Caeserstone, this multifunctional cooking, dining and socializing space now has new depth and character. By keeping the layout the same she will have kept costs down, and the four-tone color scheme is perfectly balanced. Love these cabinets? See more black, navy and dark gray kitchen ideas Before: a dull guest bedroom Katie Orme has turned her blog Apartment Apothecary into a full-time career and she is full of ideas about how to make your home look and feel better. Katie's look is minimal and bright with a vintage twist, so we couldn't wait to see what magic she had worked on her cluttered and plain spare bedroom... After: a stylish second bedroom Kate gutted the room to create a new smooth finish for her chosen paint colors of soothing gray and white. In addition to a new picture rail and radiator, she also installed a slim black iron fireplace into the chimney breast to create a new focal point and accentuate the period style of the room. A vintage mirror and upcycled chest of drawers are all that is needed to give this room an uncluttered and soothing vibe that's the complete opposite of what it was. Before: a wasted outdoor space Blogging couple Sherry and John from Richmond, Virginia have renovated three homes together, sharing countless DIY projects on Young House Love . Besides writing a few best-selling books in the process, they've posted about the wonderful back yard renovation of their latest project, a clapboard duplex in the historic old town of Cape Charles. After: a smart summer terrace Sherry and John have turned this run-down building into an immaculate outdoor living space with lots of practical features. A smart set of wooden steps lead down to a paved patio area with easy-to-maintain grass borders. A cute mint green door, festoon lights and even outdoor showers make this a homely and welcoming beachside back yard. After: the perfect white bathroom A dated beige bathroom has been transformed into a fresh and bright bathroom with navy bath panels and statement (hand-painted) stencilled vinyl flooring. Gold taps add a touch of luxurious sophistication; you'd never guess that the entire bathroom revamp cost less than $1,400 (£1.1k). Looking to refresh your space? We've got 53 budget bathroom ideas to inspire you Before: a dingy, dated bathroom Kristine with a 'K' runs The Painted Hive blog from Melbourne, Australia. A mother and self-taught interior decorator, she is proud to champion brilliant budget decorating ideas that look like a million bucks. Consider this amazing bathroom makeover as proof of her awesome skills... Before: an empty shell Kimberly Duran of the award-winning blog Swoon Worthy calls it her 'virtual home'. Lucky for us she's shared her real-life home renovations, as you need to see how she takes an empty shell to a glamorous bedroom to really believe it... After: a beautiful gray boudoir Kimberly loves the maximalist approach and so knows how to add a lot of different patterns, textures and accessories to a room without throwing the whole look off-balance. Here, a monochrome jungle wall mural teamed with a dusky pink headboard makes this busy but beautiful bedroom an oasis of kitsch. The cowhide rug contrasts with hot pink curtains and adds the perfect finishing touch to add texture to a large floor space. Before: an old-fashioned bathroom The Pink House , founded by Emily Murray, is a blog that started after she became a mum and is about her love of decorating. Fast forward seven years and the website has now grown into a team of four who post regularly about interiors, travel, shopping with plenty of homes and makeover inspiration along the way. Murray turned her hand to sorting out this dull bathroom, which suffered from awkward sloping ceilings and a lack of light. After: a modern metro-tiled bathroom The tiny bathroom has been transformed from an uninspiring and dark problem room into a luxurious, hotel-style sanctuary. By covering the entirety of the angled wall with gleaming white metro tiles, Emily managed to bounce light into every corner and made the space feel much more uniform. To amp up the glamor, luxurious gold fixtures and that Osborne & Little Derwent Wallpaper in Charcoal are perfectly positioned. See more small bathroom ideas that don't scrimp on style Before: an orange wood cabin Alison Allen has been blogging about her small property portfolio on her blog Deuce Cities Henhouse since 2009. Her now established blog has featured the loving fix-up journeys which include a 110-year-old Minneapolis home, her current home and more recently this amazing but old-fashioned A-frame style cabin in the heart of Western Wisconsin. After: a modern holiday cabin Now, this is what you call a kitchen makeover! Gone is the orange pine wood and, in its place, we have a small but perfectly formed two-tone scheme. The forest green cabinetry looks fresh with brilliant white cupboards and it lifts the whole open-plan room to look brighter and more modern. Alison hasn't played it safe   using a statement floor with a monochrome gingham pattern   but the look works flawlessly. Before: a drab and dark hallway The lauded interior designer Sophie Robinson loves to inject color and personality into every space she touches; something that this plain and dimly lit hallway clearly could benefit from. With a low, beamed ceiling and tiny windows buffeted by heavy curtains, there were some quick wins to be had but no one could have anticipated just how different the end result would be... After: a vibrant, violet modern hallway Sophie's entrance hall has been transformed into an uplifting kaleidoscope of bright colors that most of us wouldn't dare to use. With a deep amethyst purple shade for the walls, a pink front door and a patterned tile floor, the space has real visual impact. Painting the woodwork a brilliant white balances the stronger elements. If you're brave enough to take the plunge and try a look like this, we bet you'll absolutely love it! Love a before and after? Check out these dramatic home transformation you won't believe


The AFC West has quickly become one of the best divisions in football. One of the reasons why is because of the overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball. Today, we are taking a look at the five best cornerbacks in the division, ranking them from 5-1. So without further ado, let us begin. 5. Gareon Coney, Raiders GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 18: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates an interception in the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) At one point during the 2018 season, it seemed like a lock that Gareon Conley was on his way out of Oakland. The former first-round pick from 2017 struggled to stay on the field, and when he did play, his performance was shaky, at best. But in the second half of the season, Conley quickly turned into one of the league's best cover cornerbacks. He locked up receivers like Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, etc. Heading into Year 3, Conley looks poised to rise up this list and establish himself as the best cornerback in the AFC West. 4. Kendall Fuller, Chiefs Dec 2, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller (23) and outside linebacker Dee Ford (55) celebrate in the second half against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 40-33. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports A relatively new player to the division, Kendall Fuller of the Chiefs quickly established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the division in 2018. He started 15 games for Kansas City, recording a career-high 12 pass deflections and two interceptions. At just 24-years old, Fuller is still a player on the rise in the AFC West. With his ability to play on the outside and in the slot, it wouldn't be shocking to see him top this list by the end of the 2019 season. 3. Casey Hayward, Chargers Dec 22, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward (26) dives for a pass in front of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver John Brown (13) during the second half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Deciding who the best cornerback in the division is tough. But choosing between the two Chargers' cornerbacks is difficult, as well. Coming in at No. 3 is Casey Hayward Jr., who has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Chargers. While he had a somewhat down season last year, Hayward is still considered one of the best 10 cornerbacks in all of football. At 29-years old, Hayward's best football may be behind him. But he is still one of the best outside cornerbacks in all of the NFL. 2. Desmond King, Chargers Dec 13, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Desmond King (20) returns the opening kickoff during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Desmond King of the Los Angeles Chargers has quickly become of the most versatile defenders in the entire NFL. His ability to play on the outside, in the slot, and at safety makes him a valuable weapon. King has quickly become one of the league's best slot cornerbacks, finishing the season of 90.9 in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus . With a few more years of consistent play, King not only could top this list but could routinely be in the conversation as the league's best cornerback. 1. Chris Harris Jr, Broncos Nov 18, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) celebrates a second quarter interception against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports No cornerback in the league has been as underrated as Chris Harris Jr. of the Denver Broncos. For years, he was thought of as just a "slot cornerback" who excelled at taking away the quick, shifty receiver. However, he has proven to be much more than that. According to Pro Football Focus, no cornerback has had a lower passer rating when targeted in the slot than Harris. Even better, no cornerback in the division had a lower passer rating when targeted than Harris. Chris Harris Jr. allowed the lowest passer rating on throws into his coverage out of ALL defenders in the AFC West. pic.twitter.com/BKzlxrD15M - Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 2, 2019 Given his versatility, toughness, and ability to take the ball away, Harris remains the best cornerback in the division, and it isn't particularly close. MORE: A spoiler-filled 'Jeopardy!' clip leaked, and it appears to show the fate of James Holzhauer Darnell Savage, Josh Jackson could unlock full potential of Packers secondary Raiders WR Tyrell Williams named 'breakout star' of OTAs Byron Pringle picks up where he left off before injury cost him rookie season Fans are realizing Inglewood stadium is shaped like Rams logo


Oakland Curious just how far your dollar goes in Oakland? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down an apartment in Oakland if you've got $3,200/month earmarked for your rent. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 2330 Webster St. (Waverly) Listed at $3,115/month, this 673-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 2330 Webster St. The unit features a balcony, hardwood floors and a walk-in closet. The building offers on-site laundry. Cats and dogs are allowed. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is extremely walkable, is easy to get around on a bicycle and is a haven for transit riders. (See the complete listing here .) 2450 Valdez St. (Waverly) Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment located at 2450 Valdez St. It's listed for $3,117/month for its 791 square feet. In the unit, expect to find hardwood floors and in-unit laundry. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are welcome on this property. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address has excellent walkability, is great for biking and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 180 Third St. (Jack London Square) Located at 180 Third St., here's a 657-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit that's listed for $3,142/month. In the furnished unit, the listing promises a balcony, hardwood floors, in-unit laundry and a walk-in closet. If you have a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are permitted. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address has excellent walkability, is very bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 528 Thomas L. Berkley Way (San Pablo Gateway) Finally, here's an 812-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo at 528 Thomas L Berkley Way that's going for $3,200/month. In the unit, you can anticipate hardwood floors, oversized windows and stainless steel appliances. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are allowed on this property. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is a "walker's paradise," is a "biker's paradise" and has excellent transit. (See the full listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Oakland . This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Arsenal manager Unai Emery has offered his side of the Laurent Koscielny story, after the centre back refused to join up with his teammates for their pre-season tour of the United States. Speaking to the club's official website, Emery opened up for the first time on the situation involving his captain following the 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids that kickstarted said pre-season. In that clash, the Gunners cruised to victory thanks to goals from teenage trio Bukayo Saka, James Olayinka and new signing Gabriel Martinelli. And, speaking on the performance, Emery declared: "It's our first match, we are working very well here in Los Angeles and the first match was good to use different young players, to give them chances to show their quality, commitment to work and to be with the idea to help the team. "It was the best for us today. Some moments were for the young players, this was one of those moments. The atmosphere here was perfect, a lot of Arsenal supporters and we had a good day here." After that, questions turned towards Koscielny, and the Spaniard explained: "He started training with us this pre-season and I spoke with him three times for his situation. We wanted him to come with us on this tour but he decided to stay. Now it is a matter for the club and for the player." Arsenal are open to letting Laurent Koscielny leave the club provided their valuation is met, Sky Sports News understands   Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 16, 2019 Asked whether the Frenchman has a future at Arsenal , Emery replied: "He has one year left on his contract. For me, as a coach, he's an important player. Now it's one matter for him and the club. The club and him need to speak, they are speaking about his situation. I cannot say more than that. I spoke with him before he came here and he decided to stay there." And, when his own feelings were brought into the questioning, Emery refused to budge, reaffirming: "We spoke with a good spirit for both the team and him but this is his decision, only his decision. He's speaking only with the club." He later refused to clarify whether he had ever known a player to return to the fold after a situation like this. Eventually, the topic changed, and the tactician was asked about the club's transfer business moving forward. Arsenal's new @adidasfootball 'bruised banana' inspired away kit for 19/20... They've done it again! 殺 pic.twitter.com/J9SmV3BeCk   90min (@90min_Football) July 16, 2019 On this, Emery claimed: "The club is working. We are speaking every day with the club and Edu. I prefer to work with patience and calm and take the best decision. We have very good players, very young good players. We need someone to help us. "The club is working on that. We prefer to take the best decision with patience. If we need to wait more time, for this reason, I prefer to do that."


The slideshow on mass incarceration looks at confinement in the United States, which imprisons more of its population than any other country. The information is drawn from data compiled this year by the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit research group. Mass incarceration by the numbers More people are locked up in the United States per capita than in any other country. In a state such as New York, the incarceration rate is well below the national average, yet it is more than twice as high as rates in the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. The slideshow on mass incarceration looks at confinement in the United States, which imprisons more of its population than any other country. The information is drawn from data published by nonprofit research group Prison Policy Initiative   data was last updated March 19, 2019. The nearly 2.3 million incarcerated people are housed among more than 1,700 state prisons and more than 100 federal prisons, as well as thousands of local jails, juvenile correctional facilities, Indian Country jails, military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, and state psychiatric hospitals. The number of prisoners is fluid, the vast array of facilities makes record-keeping frustrating and comparisons are difficult. Certain segments of the population are disproportionately locked up. Black Americans comprise 40% of the incarcerated population, yet they make up only 13% of U.S. residents. People who get imprisoned are overwhelmingly poor, with a median annual income less than half of those who do not go to jail or prison. It is pre-trial detention, made up of the poor who are not convicted of any crime but cannot afford bail, that keeps America's jails and prisons full. One in three people confined more than 700,000 overall sit in a local jail, typically too poor to make bail. Most people in federal and state prisons are confined more than 100 miles away from their families, leaving loved ones without support and straining already limited resources for visits and communication. Policymakers, politicians, experts, and advocates wrestle with a need for public security, calls to be tough on crime, biased policing practices, mandatory sentencing, the financial cost of mass incarceration, the value of reforms to ease pressure on an overburdened system, and whether resources might be put to better use in crime prevention, job training, and drug treatment programs that may stem the unparalleled flow of people put behind bars. Read on to learn about mass incarceration in the United States. United States leads world in incarceration The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, followed by El Salvador, Cuba, and Thailand. With 698 per 100,000 residents locked up, the rate in the United States is more than twice the rates in Turkey and Iran, and more than three times the rates in Morocco and Colombia. Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi top national rate Within the United States, Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate at 1,079 per 100,000 residents, with Louisiana and Mississippi holding the second and third spots. Nearly half of U.S. states have rates higher than the national average. Massachusetts has the lowest rate 324 per 100,000 residents incarcerated. Most people in jail are not convicted of a crime Most people who are jailed in the United States are being held before trial, and three-quarters of those in jails have not been convicted of a crime. That number more than 540,000 people is largely attributed to practices such as money bail, which keeps prisoners who cannot afford to pay locked up. No money for bail The median bail for felonies is $10,000. That amount is equal to eight months of income for the typical person detained because he or she cannot pay bail. Reform campaigns propose greater use of non-financial systems such as release on one's own recognizance or unsecured bonds that do not require money unless the prisoner fails to appear in court. The practice of jail churn Every year, people go to jail 10.6 million times in the United States, a practice known as jail churn. To visualize, it is enough people to fill a string of prison buses stretched bumper to bumper from New York to San Francisco. Millions of arrests keep jails full Millions of people are arrested across the United States each year, many for low-level offenses. Drug possession alone accounts for more than a million arrests. Many are jailed for hours or days, and the average stay is 25 days. Jail can be fatal Even a brief stint behind bars can be dangerous. A quarter of jail suicides occur within three days of admission, and 40% of all jail deaths occur within the first week. Impacts of a jail term Incarceration, regardless of length, can trigger financial collapse, bringing job loss, eviction, homelessness, failure to meet financial obligations, disrupted medical care, and the end to benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid. Personal resources are depleted, debts add up, and job opportunities fall away. Criminal background checks hurt job prospects Research suggests a vast majority of employers use criminal background checks; time spent in prison and a criminal record "decimates job opportunities," according to the GWA report. A campaign by civil and human rights organization All of Us or None, called Ban the Box, is aimed at removing the check box on job applications that asks about criminal records. Children touched by prison Women are the fastest-growing segment of the incarcerated population. More than 100,000 women are in jail on a given day, and four out of five are mothers. Outside, 1 in four women has a family member behind bars, and 1 in 12 children has a parent who has been in jail or prison. Most and least likely to be arrested again People arrested for drug offenses are most likely to be arrested for a similar offense within three years; people arrested for violent offenses are least likely to be rearrested for a similar crime. People convicted of rape or sexual assault have rearrest rates a third to a half lower than people convicted of larceny or motor vehicle theft. Inside prison, the cost of a call Privately owned prisons house fewer than 1 in 10 U.S. prisoners. But a huge array of prison services such as food preparation, medical care, and telephone communications are in private hands. Most prisons charge inmates a co-pay to see a doctor. In most states, a phone call can cost more than $10 and costs more than $15 in 15 states. The price of sending an email ranges from five cents to $1.25. Prison jobs not optional Prisoners working in facilities such as food service or laundry are paid between 86 cents and $3.45 per day. In at least five states, they work for no pay. Prison jobs are compulsory. Young offenders locked up with adults Some 63,000 youth are locked up across the country, thousands for violating parole or for offenses that would not violate the law if they were adults such as running away, truancy, and incorrigibility. Nearly 1 in 10 youth offenders is confined in an adult jail or prison. More than 6.7 million confined, on probation, parole Across the country, more than 6.7 million adults 1 in 37 are under some type of correctional control. That includes roughly 4.5 million people on probation and parole, nearly twice the number of people locked up in prisons and jails. Undone by strict conditions and surveillance, nearly 350,000 people on probation or parole return to prison or jail each year, creating a revolving door between incarceration and community supervision.


As women, we know getting screened for cancer is important. Every year, we schedule our mammograms to check for breast cancer , and we sync up with our dermatologists to make sure we don't have any troublesome moles . But there's one cancer that has been steadily on the rise in women that we might not be paying quite as much attention to: thyroid cancer. "Thyroid cancer is an abnormal growth of thyroid cells that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body," says Kyle Zanocco, MD , an endocrine surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at UCLA Health. Thyroid cancer occurs when thyroid cells which make up the butterfly-shaped gland that sits below your voice box acquire genetic mutations that lead to an uncontrolled growth, says Dr. Zanocco. And the condition is especially common in women, who are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men. While the disease can be found in any gender at any age, it's most frequently found in women in their 40s and 50s, says Dr. Zanocco. Experts don't know why, exactly, thyroid cancer strikes more women, but there are theories. "Before puberty, thyroid cancer is seen evenly distributed in boys and girls, and we only see the proportion of women increasing after puberty," says R. Michael Tuttle, MD , an endocrinologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who specializes in thyroid cancer. "So it likely has something to do with the female hormones, but no one is really sure." We do know, however, that thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer within the U.S., having tripled in the past three decades, according to the American Cancer Society . But don't let that number worry you just yet: Data suggests that the uptick is due to "incidental detection," meaning that the cancer was found during another medical procedure, like a regular physical exam or neck imaging studies to check for artery blockages, says Ralph P. Tufano, MD , professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine. So although the incidence of thyroid cancer has definitely gone up, experts are trying to determine whether that increase is due to overdiagnosis or due to a true increase in the disease itself. This is important because the various forms of thyroid cancer fall on a very wide spectrum. What are the types of thyroid cancer? Differentiated thyroid cancer (which is further broken down into subtypes of papillary, follicular, or Hurthle cell carcinoma) accounts for well over 90 percent of thyroid cancers. It develops in the cells of the thyroid that are responsible for the usual functions of the thyroid gland, like producing and releasing hormones. Most differentiated thyroid cancers, and papillary thyroid cancer in particular, don't typically act in an aggressive way and aren't unusual tumors, which means the prognosis is very good, says Dr. Tufano. Medullary thyroid cancer doesn't originate in the usual thyroid cells but, rather, in what are called "C cells." These cells produce a hormone called calcitonin, which for other animals, is used to decrease calcium in the bloodstream, says Dr. Tufano. (Humans don't have that need, they don't serve a purpose for us.) About 1/4 of patients with medullary cancer have inherited the condition, says Steven I. Sherman, MD , chair of the Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders department at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the rarest and most aggressive form of thyroid cancer. "It develops when multiple additional genetic changes occur that turn differentiated cancer which is a disease where most people live long enough to die from something else and is very slow growing into one of the most highly aggressive forms of cancer that we have today, period," says Dr. Sherman. Anaplastic thyroid cancer only occurs in about 1,000 people in the U.S. per year, he adds. What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer? Here's the really tricky part: Most people with thyroid cancer are completely asymptomatic, says Dr. Tuttle, which is why a good portion of thyroid cancers are detected during other screenings. For the more aggressive and advanced thyroid cancers, however, there are some signs to watch for. These symptoms are very rare, so if you're experiencing them, head to your doctor right away. 1. A change in your voice One of the ways aggressive thyroid cancers can become symptomatic is by the local invasion of surrounding structures, including the nerve that controls your vocal chord, says Dr. Tufano. If that nerve is invaded by the cancer, it can cause hoarseness or changes in your voice. 2. Coughing up blood Similarly, because the thyroid is intimately associated with the trachea and esophagus, in very rare cases it can cause you to cough up blood, says Dr. Tufano. 3. Difficulty swallowing or breathing Advanced thyroid cancer can make swallowing or breathing difficult if the tumor is exerting pressure on the structures within the neck, says Dr. Zanocco, including the windpipe or food pipe. 4. Extreme diarrhea This symptom is specific to medullary thyroid cancer because of the proteins this specific type of cancer makes. "Sometimes, patients will come in presenting with chronic diarrhea and may get evaluated by gastroenterologists sometimes for months or years trying to figure out what the cause of the diarrhea is, and it turns out to be related to medullary carcinoma," says Dr. Sherman. For those with medullary cancer, they could have bowel movements between 10 and 20 times per day, he adds. 5. A large lump at the base of your neck This symptom is what some physicians will notice incidentally during a physical exam by feeling a lump in your thyroid gland, which is typically painless, says Dr. Tuttle. If you've received radiation to your neck, especially, keep in mind that you're more at risk for developing thyroid cancer, says Dr. Sherman, so talk with your physician about examining your neck to make sure you're not developing one of these cancerous lumps. 6. Swollen lymph nodes As the thyroid cancer tumor gets bigger, it can also cause swelling of the lymph nodes on the side of the neck, says Dr. Sherman. How is thyroid cancer treated? Because there's such a wide range of thyroid cancers with varying degrees of aggression, how the cancer is treated is also pretty individualized. For differentiated and medullary thyroid cancers, the primary treatment is surgical removal of half or all of the thyroid gland and, if needed, the lymph nodes in the region, says Dr. Sherman. Then, some patients will be treated with a follow-up of radioactive iodine, which is delivered in a pill that gets concentrated specifically in the thyroid cells including those that are cancerous and eventually kills them off. The next step for patients who have undergone surgical removal of their thyroid is to receive thyroid hormone medication to make up for what their body used to produce, says Dr. Sherman. "For differentiated cancer, the traditional triad was surgery, radioactive iodine, and thyroid hormone therapy," he explains. "We now are being more selective in who gets radioactive iodine, and who gets and how much surgery is performed." In fact, for some patients with differentiated thyroid cancer that's very small and limited to the thyroid, they might not have to undergo any treatment at all . Rather, they'd go under active surveillance, which would mean monitoring the cancer via ultrasound every 4 to 6 months for the first year or two after diagnosis, and then every 6 to 12 months after that, says Dr. Sherman. "The majority of our data shows that even if we delay intervening until the nodule grows by 3 millimeters, for example, most of those patients still do very well," says Dr. Tufano. Treating anaplastic thyroid cancer, however, looks a little different because of its aggression. Although there used to be no treatment for this type of cancer, there are now chemotherapy options that can allow patients with this condition to live for up to 1 to 2 years with a good quality of life, says Dr. Sherman. The most important thing is seeing a doctor who specializes in the treatment of thyroid cancer should you get diagnosed, especially for less aggressive types. "You don't need to jump into surgery tomorrow because you're feeling anxiety by a surgeon who doesn't have a lot of experience in this area," says Dr. Tufano, whoe recommends visiting the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association or the American Thyroid Association to help you locate the best doctor for your treatment. "You have to put the brakes on," says Dr. Tufano. "You have to make sure that you don't get too worked up about it and that you get the right information by a team of doctors who deal with it all the time and can create a treatment plan that's going to be the best for you." Gallery: 19 Signs Your Thyroid Isn't Working Right (Provided by Health.com)


Protests in support of former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter continued Tuesday evening, outside the home of another prominent county official. "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now," protesters yelled outside of former Hamilton County Judge Norbert Nadel's home. It was the second round of protests for the group of about two dozen people. They visited Hamilton County Judge Patrick Dinkelacker's home Monday evening. The group of community members, faith leaders, activists and even a state senator came united in support of Hunter. Leaders say their main goal is to spark and continue conversation surrounding the criminal justice system and injustices in Hamilton County. "What's most important here is to bring awareness to the issue in the community," said State Sen. Cecil Thomas. "Hopefully, this will be the catalyst by which we get that done." Hunter was sent to start a six month jail sentence Monday after being convicted in 2014 for helping her brother keep his county job. Hunter has maintained her innocence. Nadel made the call in 2014 to sentence Hunter to six months in jail. He retired shortly after leaving the lose ends to Dinkelacker, following years of failed appeal attempts. Dinkelacker affirmed Nagel's sentence on Monday triggering outrage from Hunter's supporters. "It took a long time, but the system worked," Nadel said Monday. "I think the system stood very tall today. There was a lot of influence going on, trying to get the judge Dinkelacker to not execute the sentence." Hunter's supporters wanted Dinkelacker to reverse the decision. Others claim his hands were tied. Former Butler County Prosecutor Jason Phillabaum spoke with WLWT Tuesday to explain the options Dinkelacker had in front of him. "He could do anything from complete probation up to more time," Phillabaum said. "Judge Dinkelacker was probably put in the worst position of all where it wasn't his original trial." Phillabaum said Dinkelacker could have changed Nadel's sentence, but similar moves are rarely done. "The answer is yes and no," he said. "In short, a judge always has the ability to change its own ruling. In this particular case, it was Judge Nadel's ruling, but he inherited that, so technically he does have that authority. However, it's just something that's not done." READ MORE: Day two of protests sound off at retired judge's home CHECK OUT WLWT: Stay in the know. Get the latest Cincinnati news, weather and sports from the team at Ohio's own WLWT.


UTICA (WWJ) - Does anyone recognize these wanted suspects? Police in the Macomb County city of Utica are asking for tips from the public to help identify three people who allegedly stole $1,200 worth of smart thermostats from a local retailer. A security camera image posted to the police department's Facebook page on Wednesday show three suspects: An adult female with dark hair, an adult male with gray hair, and a taller adult male with a brown beard. While police did not identify the store by name, it's clear from the photos that the suspects were seen leaving a Best Buy store, which is located on Utica Park Blvd. in the area of Van Dyke and M-59 (Hall Road). No further details about the crime were immediately released. Anyone with information about the suspects' names or their whereabouts are asked to call Utica Police Det. Sgt. Greg Morabito at 586-731-2345.


Democrats reacted with disappointment to Friday's Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to divert $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall construction. The 5-4 ruling, which broke along ideological lines, means President Trump can tap into military funds to begin work to replace fencing along the southern border in California , Arizona and New Mexico . Earlier this month, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco had agreed with a lower-court ruling that prevented the government from tapping that funding. Trump declared a national emergency along the border to get up to $8.1 billion for wall construction, including the $2.5 billion from the Defense Department . He called the ruling a big win for "Border Security and the Rule of Law." TRUMP ANNOUNCES 'LANDMARK AGREEMENT' WITH GUATEMALA TO RESTRICT ASYLUM CLAIMS "Wow! Big VICTORY on the Wall. The United States Supreme Court overturns lower court injunction, allows Southern Border Wall to proceed. Big WIN for Border Security and the Rule of Law!" he tweeted. Prominent Democrats criticized the court's logic and Trump's plans to use earmarked funds in an effort to come through on his signature campaign issue. Many argue a wall will not slow the flow of migrants into the United States. Arizona Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, whose district runs along the U.S.-Mexico border, called Trump's emergency declaration a "pathetic attempt to circumvent Congress." "Trump's fake emergency was nothing more than a pathetic ploy to circumvent Congress and build his monument to his racist policies. This fight is not over, and I will continue fighting Trump's efforts to destroy our environment and militarize border communities. #NoBorderWall ," he tweeted soon after the ruling broke. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., called the ruling "deeply flawed" over Twitter. "This evening's Supreme Court ruling allowing @realDonaldTrump to steal military funds to spend on a wasteful, ineffective border wall rejected by Congress is deeply flawed. Our Founders designed a democracy governed by the people   not a monarchy." For his part, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reminded his Twitter followers that when Trump was still a candidate for president, he promised that Mexico would pay for a border wall. "It's a sad day when the president is cheering a decision that may allow him to steal funds from our military to pay for an ineffective and expensive wall for which he promised Mexico would foot the bill," he posted. He followed up with another tweet saying he hopes the courts will conclude Trump doesn't have the authority to build the wall. Several Democratic presidential candidates also chimed in. "Taking away money from the Defense Department to build a wall will not make us any safer. Trump's political stunt will harm border communities & ignores the root causes of migration. We deserve a president with a common sense & compassionate immigration plan," former Housing Secretary Julian Castro tweeted. Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke , also in the running for the Democratic presidential nomination, likewise expressed disappointment. "Deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision. I've long opposed building walls, and while in Congress, I introduced language to prevent DOD funds from being used to plan or build a wall along our border. As President, I would do everything in my power to make that law." "Congress did not appropriate these funds for Trump's medieval vanity project. Let's be clear: Trump's wall has never been about keeping the American people safe," tweeted California Sen. Kamala Harris . "Diverting military funds for a vanity project is exactly who Donald Trump is. I will continue to fight back and join with those already challenging this wrong and misguided decision," New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker . CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The American Civil Liberties Union said it plans to fight to keep Trump from using the funds for a wall that's already been denied by Congress. Foe News reporter Alex Pappas contributed to this report.


LOS ANGELES   Los Angeles County is investigating whether an eviction notice sent to a 102-year-old woman at her longtime home in Ladera Heights violated temporary renter protections approved by lawmakers last year. Thelma Smith, 102, has rented in a small complex in an unincorporated area of Ladera Heights for nearly three decades. She received an eviction notice in March, telling her to move out of her Craftsman-style home by the end of June so the landlord's daughter could move in. The county's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is now investigating whether the eviction notice complied with interim rental protections that the Board of Supervisors approved last fall. Contacting all the parties involved and gathering information will take several business days, spokesman Keven Chavez said. Evictions can be delayed or stopped if the landlord did not comply with county policies, he said. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose district includes Ladera Heights, said county departments that handle questions of aging, housing and economic survival are also reviewing Smith's situation, as are a homeowner's association in Ladera Heights and several tenant's rights groups. "It is a reflection on all of us if we don't do everything we can to bring this to a proper conclusion," Ridley-Thomas said in an interview Saturday. "We'll do whatever we can to make sure that Ms. Smith is not unsettled, and that we protect the quality of her life   a long life." News of Smith's eviction sparked outrage from family, neighbors and friends, including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said that she had been "a dear friend for a long time." "Imagine doing this to a 102-year-old woman who gave back to the community her whole life," Schwarzenegger said on Twitter. "It is heartless. Thelma, I'll be reaching out to help. Landlords, you'll hear from me too." The county's temporary rent protections took effect in November. They are aimed at protecting elderly, disabled and poor residents in unincorporated areas who live on fixed incomes and cannot afford market-rate rent in Southern California. The interim rules limit rent increases to 3% annually and require that landlords have a legitimate reason for evictions. The policy does not apply to single-family homes, which are excluded from local rent stabilization policies under California law. The county's rent policy allows evictions if a landlord's immediate family members   including children   are planning to move in. By law, the new tenant must move in within three months of the eviction and use the property as a primary residence for at least a year. Smith's landlord told her in a letter that they would be ending her month-to-month lease because his daughter would need a place to live when she graduated from law school. When asked by a television reporter why he would evict a 102-year-old woman, he responded: "Would you take care of your child?" Smith has lived alone since the death of her husband and has no immediate family in Southern California. "She's been there a thousand years and is paying very low rent," said her friend and longtime neighbor Pauline Cooper, who has lived in the quiet neighborhood, which is south of Culver City and Baldwin Hills, since 1999. Smith worked for years as an executive secretary for the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by the famous boxer that runs sports, anti-drug education and mentoring programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency. "It's nice for people to care about you, and share," Smith told CBS2, when she received a fruit basket from Schwarzenegger, topped with a big silver bow. "I have always been a caring and sharing person."     (Los Angeles Times staff writer Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.)     ©2019 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


New spy photos and a teaser sketch give us our first look at the next-generation Volkswagen Golf 's interior. The Golf's interior will be getting a radical redesign with a dual-screen setup and a much more angular look. While the Mark 8 Golf might not come to the U.S. , the GTI and Golf R will. We've already seen the next-generation Volkswagen Golf almost completely undisguised, but we had yet to get any look at the interior. Well, now we have, as our spy photographers sent us some shots of a Mark 8 Golf with the interior completely revealed. The car seems to be a lower-spec trim and is equipped with a manual transmission. Also, our friends at Motor1 dug into the 39-page PDF from VW's Annual General Meeting and discovered two new teaser sketches of the Mark 8 Golf, one of which shows almost the entire dashboard and likely depicts a higher trim. Research the VW Golf on MSN Autos | Find a VW Golf near you The overall look is a big step up from the current Golf . It's also unlike that of any other Volkswagen on sale in the United States or Europe. A large strip of silver trim runs the length of the dashboard and extends onto the doors; in the teaser drawing, it looks like actual aluminum. A big central screen stands atop the dash, and the gloss-black bezel of the screen flows into the surround of a digital gauge cluster, which is under a hood. On the left side of the cluster, the giant panel keeps flowing and has a set of buttons that might be part of another touchscreen. Total Digital Environment Last year, Volkswagen's design boss said that the new Golf will have "a total digital environment" with the only analog component being the steering wheel, leading us to suspect that the dual-screen setup will be standard across the board. That's a break from cars like the Jetta and the Arteon , which only offer digital gauge clusters on higher trim levels. The infotainment system itself looks to be totally new, with modern graphics and new functions. At the base of the main touchscreen are a power button for the screen and touch-capacitive controls for the climate-control system. Visible on the screen are graphics for the temperature and the heated seats, so most climate functions will probably be accessed by the screen. There are almost no other buttons or knobs to be found, aside from a few clustered in between the central air vents that look to control things like the defroster. The car our spies spied has a manual transmission and a fairly traditional center console, with push-button start and buttons for the electronic parking brake. But in the teaser sketch, which shows an automatic Golf, there is a complete absence of a shifter. Instead, it looks like the new Golf will use a setup similar to that of the new Honda Accord , with a series of buttons for selecting gears. To the side of the controls is a long storage slot, and ahead of the shifter is a large covered storage compartment. The rest of the Mark 8 Golf's interior is more evolutionary. The steering wheel is a new angular design but will look familiar to anyone who has been in a modern Volkswagen. The door cards are more angular, too, and the dashboard itself is fairly sculpted. Like other modern VWs, the air vents seem to spread across the entire dash thanks to clever trim pieces. It's obviously hard to tell from photos like this, but all of the materials seem to be of fairly high quality. Recently, there have been reports that Volkswagen might not bring the standard Golf hatchback and SportWagen to the United States, so we may never see this new interior. At least, not in this spec; we'll still get the GTI and Golf R for sure. In those cars, expect more gloss-black trim, slightly nicer materials, plaid seats on the GTI (with leather as an option and standard on the R), and, we hope, a classic golf-ball shifter.


S everal U.S. citizens were killed by the bombs that ripped through churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, according to the State Department. The attacks, some of which appear to be suicide bombings, targeted three luxury hotels and three churches just outside of Sri Lanka's capital. The explosions mark the worst violence in the country since the end of its protracted civil war a decade ago. Sri Lankan police have raised the death toll to at least 207, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Sunday that "several" U.S. citizens were among those killed in the attacks. "The U.S. embassy is working tirelessly to provide all possible assistance to the American citizens affected by the attacks and their families," Pompeo said. "These vile attacks are a stark reminder of why the United States remains resolved in our fight to defeat terrorism." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the U.S. "condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka that have claimed so many precious lives on this Easter Sunday." "We stand with the Sri Lankan government and people as they bring to justice the perpetrators of these despicable and senseless acts," she said. Before the death toll rose to above 200, President Trump tweeted support for Sri Lanka after the attacks. "138 people have been killed in Sri Lanka, with more that 600 badly injured, in a terrorist attack on churches and hotels," he said. "The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help!" Although no perpetrator has been named, Sri Lanka's minority Christian population was targeted on the most sacred day of the year for Christians. The Christian population in Sri Lanka is a little more than 7% of the population , the vast majority of whom are Catholic. Three police officers were killed by two explosions when they raided a house following the attacks seeking to question people inside about the bombings, according to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara. Slideshow by photo services Among the high-profile figures to speak out about the attacks was former President Barack Obama. "The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity. On a day devoted to love, redemption, and renewal, we pray for the victims and stand with the people of Sri Lanka," he tweeted. As night falls in Sri Lanka, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said all evening Easter services have been canceled for churches across the country.


Do you daydream about retiring as you plod through your 9-to-5 job? Are you wondering how a neighbor or relative managed to quit working at age 59 and go traveling? For many people, retirement   never mind "early" retirement   seems out of reach. But with focus and self-discipline, you can amass enough money to retire earlier than you might think possible   and to do it with style. Here are some tips to get you started: 1. Spend less than you earn The formula for retiring early and stylishly starts with actually saving money. If you have zero savings right now, build an emergency fund and keep it in a savings account that pays you well. You can find the best rate on savings accounts in our Solutions Center . It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 2. Start saving early Thanks to the power of compounding interest, a little money saved now can go a long way at retirement time. But to get the most benefit, start saving as early as possible. Let's say you're 20 years old and can manage to put away $100 a month into your retirement fund. Assuming you average 8 percent returns   possible with good investments   you'll have somewhere in the neighborhood of a half-million dollars by age 65. Even better, over that 45-year period, you'll only have invested $54,000 of your money to get all that cash in return. If you wait until you're 40 to start saving $100 a month, you'll put in $30,000 of your money and   at that same rate of return   build a nest egg worth around $90,000 by age 65. Not bad, but wouldn't you rather have a half-million? Related: The Shortest Path to an Amazing Retirement 3. Don't leave money on the table If someone tried to hand you $100, would you say no? That's what you're doing when you fail to take advantage of a 401(k) employer match. The company is basically giving you money, with the only hitch being that you must pony up some of your own cash for the retirement fund too. You won't get rich by passing up golden opportunities like this for extra cash. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, make sure you are taking full advantage of it. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 4. Minimize your taxes The rich stay wealthy in part because they're savvy enough not to let Uncle Sam take too much of their money. When you're investing your retirement money, use tax-sheltered accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s whenever possible. In addition, be smart about which type of tax-sheltered account you use. Traditional retirement accounts enable you to invest pre-tax money and then pay the piper once you make withdrawals in retirement. Meanwhile, Roth accounts allow you to invest money after it's taxed   and therefore not pay taxes on withdrawals. For more, check out " Confused by Retirement Accounts? Roth, Regular IRAs and 401(k)s Made Simple ." 5. Take a little risk You could put all your money in bonds and sleep well at night knowing you'll probably never lose any of it. But with that approach, you're not going to retire a millionaire either. Stocks and real estate are where the money is to be made. There is always the risk of the stock market or real estate market   or both   crashing. Take heart, though, in knowing that stocks and real estate have historically appreciated in the long run and offer higher returns than less-risky investments. 6. Stay informed about your investments Don't mistake taking a risk with being dumb. A smart risk may be investing in an emerging-market fund. A dumb move may be pouring your life savings into a speculative currency . How do you know the difference? By researching available investments, weighing your options and selecting the amount of risk that works for your situation. For example, those nearing retirement should minimize their level of risk, while recent college grads can be more daring because time is on their side. Need help in selecting investments? Check out " 3 Steps to Finding the Perfect Financial Adviser ." 7. Break free from the herd When the stock market plummeted during the Great Recession, many people freaked out and sold their investments. They took a bad situation and made it even worse. By selling their investments right when the market was bottoming out, they missed out on the stock market's rebound. Shrewd investors snatched up stocks at bargain-basement prices after the 2008 crash and then saw their stocks' value climb by double digits in the following years. Same thing goes with the housing market. When the housing bubble burst, the smart people were the ones who were buying houses, not selling. It's easy to follow the herd. But if you want to be rich, you need to keep a cool head and make rational financial decisions, even in the midst of a crisis. 8. Put off Social Security While it might seem counterintuitive, many people are better off waiting to file for Social Security benefits. You can file as early as age 62, but you'll get a lot more money each month if you can wait until you're 70. Need help deciding when to claim? Check out Social Security Choices, a company that provides a personalized analysis of various claiming strategies. You can learn more in " Maximize Your Social Security. " 9. Maximize your income potential To retire early, maximize your earnings. That means no more settling for a dead-end job that pays pennies. Look for ways to increase your income. You'll find all kinds of options   and articles like " 50 Ways to Make a Fast $50 (or Lots More!) "   in the "Make" section of our website. 10. Partner with the right person Remember, love won't pay the bills. Of course, it might be a bit tacky to ask about credit scores on the first date. However, talking about other goals and about money management can be fine fodder for those ongoing getting-to-know-you chats. As the relationship heats up, discuss essential money matters frankly. And after you're married, stay that way: Divorce costs a lot. 11. Don't have kids too early An unplanned pregnancy can take a major toll on your finances, and also on your emotional well-being. That is especially true if it turns out that the person you thought was Mr. or Ms. Right is the wrong fit. The more organized your finances are, the more likely it is you'll be able to cope with an unplanned pregnancy. 12. Consider a smaller family "How many kids should we have?" is a good question to discuss before you get married. Remember, it isn't just a question of whether you can feed and clothe more than one or two offspring. Family size can also affect: Your mortgage: A two-bedroom starter home won't be large enough for your version of "The Brady Bunch." Your car payment: You cannot tote five kids in a compact car. Your food and clothing bills: Hand-me-downs only take you so far. 13. Don't keep up with the Joneses Why should marketing experts determine how you live? Champagne tastes on a Kool-Aid budget will translate into debt that might keep you from ever retiring. That's especially true when it comes to cars. Maybe you want a sweet ride that leaves others in the dust   and makes them feel envious to boot. The higher cost of a luxury or sports car plus the higher cost of auto insurance for such a ride will siphon tens of thousands of dollars from your wallet. 14. Plan to base fixed expenses on Social Security benefits Once you start collecting Social Security benefits, let them dictate your lifestyle. Since Social Security could be your most reliable source of income in retirement, make sure all your fixed and essential expenses can be paid out of that monthly amount. That means your combined housing, transportation, utilities, food and insurance costs should be no more than your Social Security check. If you have no debt, no mortgage and a paid-off car, paying all fixed expenses with Social Security should be doable. 15. Start planning now One of the best ways to ensure you'll have enough money in retirement is to start planning early. Planning for retirement is about more than counting dollars; it's also about visualizing the life you want to lead. To plan properly, you need to have a good idea of where you'd like to live and what activities you want to do. Calculate your life expectancy and your expected Social Security benefits as part of the planning process. 16. Account for your medical care costs You generally can't apply for Medicare until you reach age 65. So, if you want to retire before 65, you'll need a health insurance coverage plan. Once you are on Medicare, you'll get some help with your health care costs   but they won't disappear. So, consider stashing money in a health savings account . 17. Fatten your emergency fund Ideally, retirees should have enough cash in emergency savings to cover expenses for at least six months   and they should keep it super safe in an FDIC-insured account. Some financial advisers also recommend keeping enough money to cover two to three years' worth of expenses in cash or short-term investments, lest the next big stock market crash sneak up on you. 18. Pay off your debt A generation ago, entering retirement with no debt was the goal. Today, mortgages are bigger and life is more complicated, if not more expensive. It's terrific to have all debt   mortgage included   erased before you retire. All your income, in that case, is available to support you. But there are different schools of thought on this today, as we detail in " Is It Ever OK to Carry Debt Into Retirement? " If you cannot retire debt-free, at least eliminate credit card balances, auto loans and other debt that represents consumption. Learn everything you need to plan your dream retirement The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need gives you the knowledge you need to retire on your own terms. Sure, you can pay a financial adviser, but this online course gives you total control to create a custom retirement plan around the things that make you happy. You're going to get expert, personalized advice. You'll have access to the latest tools. And when it's complete, you'll be able to approach your retirement confidently and with peace of mind. It's time to plan the best years of your life. Let's get started .


REDFORD TWP. (WWJ) - Michael Lewis and Steffani Jones appeared via video in 17th District Court Tuesday for a probable cause conference in the case of a child beaten to death at a Redford motel . A preliminary examination was delayed a week, now scheduled July 30 at which time evidence will be heard as to whether the couple will stand trial on second degree murder and first degree child abuse charges . Jones' defense attorney Lillian Diallo offered a blunt assessment of her client, whose 5-year-old daughter was found by police unresponsive at the Inn America last month. "She's a wreck. She doesn't understand why she's in the jail," Diallo said. "Apparently, I talked to the prosecutor, and their theory is aiding and abetting...even though she wasn't present when the child unfortunately deceased." Paramedics failed to resuscitate the girl, who was with mother's boyfriend at the Telegraph Road motel on June 25. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the child had suffered multiple blunt force trauma, ruling the death a homicide . Police said the autopsy showed internal bleeding, vaginal tearing, a torn adrenal gland, lacerated liver and multiple bruises. Diallo said she is still going over details of the case, but said what she has seen so far is "troubling" and "disruptive to the spirit." "We are waiting on the protocol and the autopsy to determine certain injuries and certain factors. That's why the exam had to be push out so far," Diallo said. Diallo said it's still not clear as to wether prosecutors plan to offer Jones a plea deal in exchange for testimony against her boyfriend. "You do see tactics like that sometimes," Diallo said. "I haven't gone through the discovery yet in enough detail to be able to tell you that, but the pressure is definitely on." It is further alleged, according to prosecutors, that Jones' 3-year-old son, also found with Lewis at the motel, also suffered physical abuse. He was treated at a hospital and placed in the care of Child Protective Services.


PHOENIX (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves have activated left-handed reliever Jonny Venters from the injured list and sent former closer A.J. Minter to Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta made the moves before Friday night's game at Arizona. Minter is 0-4 with a 9.82 ERA. The lefty had three saves in four opportunities after replacing injured closer Arodys Vizcaino early in the season, but right-hander Luke Jackson had taken that role in late April. Venters, who had been out since April 15 with a right calf strain, and Jackson could be used in save situations, manager Brian Snitker said. ''Mix and match,'' Snitker said. ''It might be Jonny. He's been through all that. We'll just kind of play it by ear. Maybe two guys that split the ninth inning. We could do that, also.'' The 34-year-old Venters made seven scoreless appearances during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett after giving up six runs in 2 2/3 innings with the Braves this season. Venters had three saves last season, two with Atlanta and one with Tampa Bay. Jackson is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and two saves in three chances this season. He gave up a game-tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning of a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Arizona on Thursday. Minter gave up a walk and two singles to take the loss. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


Being a professional footballer at the top level really is the dream job, as you get to play the sport you love for a living, safe in the knowledge that you'll be financially comfortable. It's no secret that the best players in the world earn an extortionate sum every month, with club's in Europe forking out astronomical fees to keep their superstars happy; although that is easier said than done in some cases. Without further ado, in an annual financial summary produced by L'Equipe , here are the ten highest-earning footballers in Europe. 10. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) Perhaps it's a surprise to see Mesut Ozil in this top ten, but the former World Cup winner is in fact the Premier League 's second best paid player, raking in £1.4m every month. The 30-year-old penned his new deal in February 2018, keeping him at Arsenal until the end of the 2020/21 campaign, and it's hard to see why he would leave the Emirates if he's making that kind of money in north London. Ozil, who has six goals and three assists in all competitions this season, is a player that certainly divides opinion. His on-field demeanour often likened to someone who doesn't care, although his performance earlier in the season against Leicester City proves he a player capable of world-class moments. Monthly salary: £1.4m Yearly salary: £16.8m 9. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) Imagine being 20 years old and knowing you're earning £1.5m every month, just for playing the sport you love. Well that's the life Kylian Mbappe is currently living. It does help that he plays for one of the richest clubs in the world in PSG, who aren't short of a few bob, which has meant they can comfortably afford the current deal he's on. The World Cup winner has enjoyed an impressive season on a personal level, netting 36 goals in all competitions for the Parisian club this campaign, although his goalscoring efforts have only resulted in PSG winning Ligue 1 when the domestic treble is now considered the bare minimum for them. Monthly salary: £1.5m Yearly salary: £18m 8. Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United) Yes, Alexis Sanchez is the Premier League's best paid player at £1.99m-a-week. It seems a lifetime ago that the Chilean international was tickling the ivories on the Old Trafford turf in January 2018, as Manchester United gazumped their city rivals to sign the forward from Arsenal. Bet they wished they hadn't now. The 30-year-old has found the net just five times in 44 appearances for the Red Devils, with recent reports suggesting United are willing to pay £13m to get Sanchez off their books this summer - putting an end to a torrid time for all concerned. Monthly salary: £1.99m Yearly salary: £23.88m 7. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) It's our first visit to La Liga now and we find Philippe Coutinho making the very tidy sum of £2m every month at Camp Nou. The former Liverpool man became the third most expensive player in football history when he completed the move in January 2018 for £142m, although things haven't quite worked out the Brazilian. Despite his struggles, Coutinho could still finish this season by winning a treble, with La Liga already won, and he was part of the Barcelona side that put three past his former club in their recent Champions League semi-final first-leg. Monthly salary: £2m Yearly salary: £24m 6. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) It's Barcelona's fierce rivals Real Madrid who make their only entry on the list in the shape of Gareth Bale 's £2.2m monthly wage. The Welshman has endured a mixed time of things at the Santiago Bernabeu since his then world record £85.3m move from Tottenham in 2013, with the winger subjected to intense scrutiny for his displays by virtually everyone connected to the club. Despite this, the 29-year-old has won no fewer than 14 trophies at Los Blancos - including four Champions Leagues - while his tally of 102 goals in 231 games for the club points to successful stint in Spain; one that may come to an end this season. Monthly salary: £2.2m Yearly salary: £26.4m 5. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) Into the top five now and it's Barcelona's Luis Suarez up next, who has been swimming in money since his switch from Liverpool in 2014. After signing a contract extension in 2016, that will see him remain at Camp Nou until 2021, it's the polarising Uruguayan forward now earns £2.5m-per-month. His goal touch, along with his reputation, travelled with him from England to Spain, as Suarez has netted 177 goals in 246 games; which is why he's considered one of the best strikers in world football. Monthly salary: £2.5m Yearly salary: £30m 4. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) It was only a matter of time before we saw football's most expensive player appear on this list, although Neymar fails to make it into the top three due to him earning only £2.7m-a-month. Only. The 27-year-old, who commanded a £198m transfer fee to move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017, has scored 49 goals in 56 games for the Parisian club so far, while he's won every trophy possible for the club except the Champions League - which he won during his time at Barça. Despite being contracted to PSG until 2022, it hasn't stopped the Brazil international being linked with a move away from France's capital, and he could be available for €170m next summer due to a clause in his current contract. Monthly salary: £2.7m Yearly salary: £32.4m 3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) Taking the bronze-medal position in this list of extraordinary wealth is Atletico Madrid 's superstar Antoine Griezmann, who's currently pocketing £2.9m-a-month on his current deal at the Wanda Metropolitano. The 28-year-old's contract extension came in the summer of 2018, as the Frenchman opted to stay in Spain's capital rather than join Barcelona, with him letting the footballing world know through a video titled 'The Decision'. The World Cup winner has been at Atleti since 2014, and has scored 133 goals for the club - although Barcelona's continued interest in the forward has cast doubt regarding his future. Monthly salary: £2.9m Yearly salary: £34.8m 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) It was only ever going to be two players at the top of this list, and it's Cristiano Ronaldo who has to settle for second place. His summer move from Real Madrid to Juventus certainly sorted Portugal's all-time leading goalscorer out financially, with the forward earning an astounding £4.1m every month, on a deal running until 2022. The 34-year-old's place in footballing history is already confirmed, whether it be for his five Ballon d'Or titles, being Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer or scoring the most Champions League goals in history. Monthly salary: £4.1m Yearly salary: £49.2m 1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Who else. If Cristiano Ronaldo is second on a list, it usually means that Lionel Messi is going to be number one, and that proves to be the case once again due to him earning £7.3m every month. That's a lot of money admittedly, but due to the amount of joy he supplies the footballing world on an almost regular basis, most people will make an exception for a player many consider the greatest of all time. His last contract extension came in 2017, although it looks as if Messi will remain at Barcelona until the end of time, such is his importance to the side. At 31, t he five-time Ballon d'Or winner has shown no signs of slowing down and there is likely plenty more to come. Monthly salary: £7.3m Yearly salary: £87.6m


Two of the women who accused billionaire Jeffrey Epstein of molesting them when they were minors will be in attendance for his court appearance on Monday in Manhattan. Michelle Licata was just 16 when she claims a young woman brought her to Epstein's Palm Beach estate and she was paid to give him a massage. 'He said, god, you're just so beautiful and sexy and gorgeous and it was making me feel really uncomfortable,' said Licata in an interview with ABC News. Then he wanted me to rub his back, and he kept asking me to go lower and he was kind of talking to me. Courtney Wild was even younger, revealing that she was still in middle school when Epstein allegedly forced her into performing sex acts. 'I was 14, I had braces on,' recalled Wild. 'Like, I remember standing in his kitchen ... and he also had a lot of girls there all the time.' Wild and Licata, who were among the victims in the previous criminal case brought against Epstein, 66, in Florida back in 2008, said that they will both be in court on Monday for his arraignment and bail hearing. The two also expressed their hope that the registered sex offender stays behind bars. Scroll down for video On June 30, 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a single state charge of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, and ultimately served just 13 months of his 18-month sentence. That time was served not in a prison, but rather the Palm Beach Stockade, which is a local detention center. Epstein was also allowed to leave six days a week to go work out of his West Palm Beach office during his time behind bars. After his release he did have to register as a sex offender, but not in all states. That fight is over a non-prosecution agreement that Epstein signed in the case, which was overseen by President Trump's current Secretary of Labor, Alex Acosta. That agreement does no extend to the Southern District of New York. Lawyers with the Southern District of New York will likely argue that Epstein is a flight risk, and should remain behind bars. His defense team will fight that, though there is a chance they might acquiesce to home confinement for their client. That would put him back in the Upper East Side townhouse that authorities spent the weekend tearing through while gathering evidence in the case. 'The first moment finding out Jeffrey Epstein was put in jail was so relieving to me,' said Licata. 'I felt safer. I've waited for this one day just to happen and it's finally come.' The women in Florida are currently fighting so have Epstein retried in that case. That office's Public Corruption Unit investigated Epstein, who is facing up to 45 years behind bars if found guilty on both counts: sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. The charges against Epstein were filed following dozens of interviews with victims, who also spoke with the FBI and the NYPD, a law enforcement official told DailMail.com. Almost all of these women claim they were underage when they were asked to give Epstein massages at his Palm Beach or New York City homes, according to a law enforcement official. Some of the women also said that they were shuttled between the two properties on Epstein's jet, said that official. Those women claim that these massages would often lead to Epstein asking that they perform a rape act on him in exchange for money. That same official said that the incidents for which Epstein is now being charged all occurred between 1999 and 2005. The Public Corruption Unit is tasked with heading up the 'prosecution of corruption crimes committed by elected and appointed officials, government employees, and individuals and companies doing business with the city, state, and federal government.' Among the crimes it investigates are 'bribery, embezzlement, and frauds committed against local, state, and federal government agencies,' but no mention of sex trafficking. Epstein's first court appearance will come less than 48 hours after he was taken into custody by federal agents at Teterboro Airport. It all happened just before 5pm on Saturday, when Epstein reentered the country for the first time since June 16, when he took off from the same airport bound for Paris. Prior to that trip, Epstein had been crisscrossing the US as he moved between his properties in New York City, Palm Beach, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands. Epstein's arrest comes in the wake of a three-part expose in the Miami Herald detailing his settlements with victims and sweetheart plea deal. Around the same time he was being arrested, agents with the FBI were seen breaking down the door to his Upper East Side mansion to execute a search warrant in the case. DailyMail.com obtained exclusive photos which show the aftermath of that search, including Epstein's damaged and splintered door. The episode is likely to cause embarrassment to Prince Andrew, who was an associate of Epstein but has now severed ties. Groups of unidentified men were seen coming and going at the property until 2am on Sunday. A security guard from a nearby building told DailyMail.com that between 20 to 25 law enforcement officials showed up at Epstein's home at around 6:30pm on Saturday. Most of those were FBI agents, the security guard said. They were accompanied by several officers - both uniformed and plain-clothed - from the New York Police Department. The guard told DailyMail.com that it took them approximately 10 to 15 minutes before they could pry the door open. The front entrance appears to be outfitted with fingerprint and keypad technology for security purposes. The guard says that in the hours since the raid, more law enforcement personnel arrived at the home, where they are expected to work well into Sunday morning. The guard, who identified himself as Tom, said he would see Epstein there once or twice a month. He said that two weeks ago, he noticed someone on the street taking photographs of Epstein's residence. The US Attorney's Office and a spokesperson with the New York Police Department both declined to comment on Saturday. This news comes just days after a judge ordered the unsealing of nearly 2,000 pages of records related to a civil case that could reveal how he and his accused accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly trafficked underage girls The documents that will be unsealed are from a defamation case that was settled after Epstein entered a guilty plea guilty to a single charge of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution. Records in the defamation case contained descriptions of sexual abuse by Epstein along with new allegations of sexual abuse by 'numerous prominent American politicians, powerful business executives, foreign presidents, a well-known prime minister and other world leaders.' The appeals court found that the judge in the case did seal a number of documents without a justifiable reason when ordering the release. Epstein's lawyers will first get a chance to appeal, and after those legal proceedings play out the documents will start being prepared by the court for release. The plea deal Epstein agreed to back in 2008 saved him from having to register as a sex offender in 31 of 50 states. In a deal unknown to the victim or her lawyer, the minor Epstein admitted to soliciting for prostitution was not the 14-year-old girl who first reported the millionaire money manager, but rather another girl, 16, whose age was left blank on court documents. That victim's age means that Epstein did not have to register as a sex offender in states like New Mexico, where he owns a 7,600-acre property called Zorro Ranch, and allows him to be classified as a low risk offender in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is currently his primary residence. A federal judge ruled earlier this year that then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta violated the rights of Epstein's alleged victims when they neglected to notify them that they were no longer pursuing federal charges. That was another part of the deal, which in addition to allowing Epstein to have work release and live in a low-security facility also agreed to drop a federal probe into the millionaire moneyman. Now Acosta - who is the current Secretary of Labor and had been mentioned as a possible candidate for attorney general - and others are again coming under fire for allegedly catering to the man who donated millions to the Clintons and hosted President Trump at his Manhattan townhouse while keeping his victims in the dark. 'They were cutting a plea deal. It wasn't a prosecution,' said attorney Spencer Kuvin, who represented the 14-year-old girl who alerted police. 'They had a grab bag of 40 girls to choose from.' He then revealed that he and his client believed they had been the victim referenced in the plea deal. 'It's unbelievably upsetting,' said Kuvin. 'The rug has been swiped out from under the one girl who was brave enough to come forward and break this thing.' Questions about Epstein's deal started to surface after a series of lawsuits were filed by two of his alleged victims. The women, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, claim in court papers that they were unaware of the secret deal being made between the defense team and prosecutors back in 2007 that guaranteed federal charges would not be brought against Epstein, 63, which could have resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for the millionaire. They filed their lawsuit a few months after Epstein received his lenient sentence in 2008, with their lawyers saying the U.S. Attorney's Office violated the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act by not speaking with Epstein's victims about the details of his plea agreement. The two victims who filed the suit were 13 and 14 at the time of the abuse. This filing contained more than 140 exhibits including emails between Epstein's defense team, the U.S. Attorney's office and former State Attorney Barry Krischer, which lawyers believe clearly show that victims were being left in the dark. Read more