Gross domestic product, or GDP, is the total value of goods and services a state or country produces over a given period. Gross domestic product, or GDP, is the total value of goods and services a state or country produces over a given period. Though the United States is not the largest country in the world -- either by landmass or by population -- it is by far the world's largest economy, with a GDP of over $17.3 trillion in 2017, equal to nearly a quarter of the global economy. Even individual U.S. states have GDPs that rival countries many times their size. For example, California's $2.6 trillion economy is larger than all but half a dozen countries worldwide. Similarly, Texas's $1.6 trillion economy is roughly the same size as the economy of Russia, a global superpower and principal geo-political rival of the United States. 24/7 Wall St. identified the country with the GDP that most closely matches the size of the economy of each state . The majority of U.S. states are smaller in both population and landmass than the country with the closest GDP. Often, however, they have far more developed economies and therefore higher GDPs per capita than the comparable country. Only seven states on this list have a lower GDP per capita than their corresponding country. The United States gained its economic-superpower status through consumer spending and highly developed industries that are backed by advanced technology and vast natural resources. The countries on this list -- which span six continents -- are in varying stages of development. Some have highly advanced innovation-driven economies, while others are dependent on resource extraction or agriculture. Click ahead to see how the GDP of U.S. states compares with countries around the world. Methodology 24/7 Wall St. matched each state to the country with the most similar GDP. Each state's GDP is as of 2017 and is chained to 2012 dollars and came from the Bureau of Economic Analysis . Each country's 2017 GDP came from the World Bank and is in constant U.S. dollars, as of 2010. State populations and employment concentration by industry came from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2017 American Community Survey. Country populations are 2017 estimates from the World Bank. Per capita GDP by country was calculated by the World Bank and is current as of 2017. Per capita GDP by state came from the BEA and is also for 2017. Export figures and other country information came from the Observatory of Economic Complexity from MIT Media Labs and the BBC. Alabama > GDP: $192.7 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Kazakhstan ($196.0 billion) > Ala. population: 4.9 million (Kazakhstan: 18.0 million) > Ala. GDP per capita: $39,523 (Kazakhstan: $10,868) Alabama's economy generated nearly $192.7 billion in economic output in 2017 -- nearly in line with the GDP of Kazakhstan, a former soviet country with a population more than triple that of Alabama. Kazakhstan is geographically large -- about the size of Western Europe -- and resource rich. The country is a major exporter of petroleum and minerals, and China and Russia are its two biggest customers. Alaska > GDP: $52.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Guatemala ($52.8 billion) > Alaska population: 739,795 (Guatemala: 16.9 million) > Alaska GDP per capita: $70,683 (Guatemala: $3,124) Alaska's economy depends heavily on its energy sector. A resource-rich state, Alaska's 1.6 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves is more than all but five other states. Thanks in large part to its energy sector, Alaska's $52.3 billion GDP is closely aligned with that of Guatemala, a country with a population nearly 23 times that of Alaska. Guatemala's economy is largely agriculture based, with bananas and coffee as its chief agricultural exports. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Alaska Arizona > GDP: $297.2 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Israel ($297.4 billion) > Ariz. population: 7.0 million (Israel: 8.7 million) > Ariz. GDP per capita: $42,353 (Israel: $34,135) Arizona's $297.2 billion economy is about the size of Israel's economy. Arizona is far larger than our Middle Eastern ally, however, at 113,990 square miles compared to Israel's 8,355 square miles. Arizona also has a slightly smaller population, with 7.0 million residents compared to Israel's 8.7 million. Arkansas > GDP: $114.0 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Morocco ($119.3 billion) > Ark. population: 3.0 million (Morocco: 35.7 million) > Ark. GDP per capita: $37,930 (Morocco: $3,292) Arkansas' economy generated $114.0 billion in 2017, roughly in line with the GDP of Morocco, a North African nation with a population nearly 12 times that of Arkansas. Due in part to its close proximity to Western Europe, Morocco's largest trading partners are Spain and France. Morocco's top exports include fertilizers, insulated wires, and cars. ALSO READ: How the Arkansas Economy Compares to Other States California > GDP: $2.6 trillion > Country w/ similar GDP: India ($2.6 trillion) > Calif. population: 39.5 million (India: 1.3 billion) > Calif. GDP per capita: $65,160 (India: $1,965) California's $2.6 trillion economy is the largest of any state. Its closest comparison on a global stage is India, which is home to 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world by population. California's massive economy is bolstered by its nearly 40 million residents and a diverse range of industries, from agriculture to technology. Colorado > GDP: $323.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Singapore ($310.0 billion) > Colo. population: 5.6 million (Singapore: 5.6 million) > Colo. GDP per capita: $57,654 (Singapore: $55,236) Of all the nations in the world, Colorado's $323.3 billion economy most closely matches that of Singapore. Not only do Colorado and Singapore have similar GDPs, but also their population size is nearly identical at around 5.6 million. Singapore's economy is highly developed and relies heavily on exports of computer components. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in Colorado Connecticut > GDP: $238.9 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Portugal ($238.0 billion) > Conn. population: 3.6 million (Portugal: 10.3 million) > Conn. GDP per capita: $66,592 (Portugal: $23,117) Connecticut's economy generated $238.9 billion in 2017, similar to the GDP of Portugal -- a country with nearly three times as many people and a landmass over six times the size of the state. The unemployment rate in Portugal is estimated at 7.3%, well above Connecticut's 2018 jobless rate of 4.1%. Delaware > GDP: $63.9 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Croatia ($63.2 billion) > Del. population: 961,939 (Croatia: 4.1 million) > Del. GDP per capita: $66,419 (Croatia: $15,322) Croatia is home to four times as many people as Delaware and its landmass is nearly nine times the size of the state. Still, Croatia's GDP of $63.2 billion is closely in line with Delaware's $63.9 billion economy. Delaware's economy is advanced, with the finance, insurance, and real estate sector accounting for a far higher than average 10.3% of total employment. Croatia's economy depends heavily on tourism, and the country ranks as one of the wealthiest former Yugoslav republics. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in Delaware Florida > GDP: $883.1 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Netherlands ($918.3 billion) > Fla. population: 21.0 million (Netherlands: 17.1 million) > Fla. GDP per capita: $42,085 (Netherlands: $53,598) Florida's $883.1 billion GDP is the fourth largest of all states and is relatively close to Netherlands' GDP of $918.3 billion. Florida is an outlier on this list in that its GDP per capita of $42,085 falls below the GDP per capita of the country with most similarly sized economy -- $53,598 in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the largest economies in the European Union. Largely through its chemical, petroleum refining, and highly mechanized agriculture sectors, the country -- bordered by Belgium, Germany, and the North Sea -- regularly maintains a trade surplus, exporting more than it is importing. Georgia > GDP: $510.8 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Belgium ($524.0 billion) > Ga. population: 10.4 million (Belgium: 11.4 million) > Ga. GDP per capita: $48,979 (Belgium: $46,079) Georgia's $510.8 billion GDP is close to Belgium's $524.0 billion GDP. The two also have similar population sizes -- 10.4 million in Georgia compared to 11.4 million in Belgium. Belgium has a well-developed, diversified economy with several major sectors including services, manufacturing, and technology. ALSO READ: How the Georgia Economy Compares to Other States Hawaii > GDP: $79.5 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Myanmar ($79.5 billion) > Hawaii population: 1.4 million (Myanmar: 53.4 million) > Hawaii GDP per capita: $55,668 (Myanmar: $1,490) Home to 1.4 million people, Hawaii's economy generated $79.5 billion in 2017, nearly the same as the GDP of Myanmar, a country with a population over 37 times that of Hawaii. Myanmar has been racked by political instability and atrocities in recent years. Following nearly five decades of oppressive military rule, the country held free elections in 2015, only to draw international condemnation two years later for what has been deemed ethnic cleansing of the country's Rohingya Muslim population. Idaho > GDP: $67.0 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Uzbekistan ($65.8 billion) > Idaho population: 1.7 million (Uzbekistan: 32.4 million) > Idaho GDP per capita: $39,032 (Uzbekistan: $2,031) Idaho had a $67.0 billion GDP in 2017, in line with the GDP of Uzbekistan, a country with nearly 19 times more people than Idaho's population of 1.7 million. Uzbekistan gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but it still has a state-controlled economy. The country's chief exports include cotton, gas, and gold. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Idaho Illinois > GDP: $745.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Saudi Arabia ($684.2 billion) > Ill. population: 12.8 million (Saudi Arabia: 32.9 million) > Ill. GDP per capita: $58,217 (Saudi Arabia: $20,771) Of all the national economies in the world, Illinois' $745.3 billion economy most closely matches that of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's economy is built on the back of its oil exports, and the country is a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. Indiana > GDP: $321.1 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Singapore ($310.0 billion) > Ind. population: 6.7 million (Singapore: 5.6 million) > Ind. GDP per capita: $48,170 (Singapore: $55,236) Indiana's $321.1 billion economy is only slightly larger than Singapore's $310.0 billion economy. Indiana, however, is also many times the size of Singapore and home to over a million more people. As a result, Singapore is more productive on a per capita basis. Singapore has a highly developed economy and is a global financial hub. ALSO READ: How the Indiana Economy Compares to Other States Iowa > GDP: $169.2 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Qatar ($173.4 billion) > Iowa population: 3.1 million (Qatar: 2.6 million) > Iowa GDP per capita: $53,798 (Qatar: $65,694) Qatar's $173.4 billion GDP is only slightly higher than Iowa's $169.2 billion GDP -- even though it is home to half a million fewer people than the Midwestern state. Qatar, an oil-rich Middle Eastern nation is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a GDP per capita of $65,694. For reference, Iowa's GDP per capita is just $53,798. Kansas > GDP: $148.5 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Hungary ($153.1 billion) > Kan. population: 2.9 million (Hungary: 9.8 million) > Kan. GDP per capita: $50,970 (Hungary: $15,648) Hungary is home to 9.8 million people, more than triple the population of Kansas. Despite a larger population, Hungary and Kansas have similarly sized economies, at $153.1 billion and $148.5 billion, respectively. Fighting for the Axis powers in WWII and occupied by Soviets until 1991, Hungary is now a democracy and member state of NATO and the EU -- the latter of which has been a boon for the country's economic development. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Kansas Kentucky > GDP: $184.7 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: New Zealand ($181.5 billion) > Ky. population: 4.5 million (New Zealand: 4.8 million) > Ky. GDP per capita: $41,463 (New Zealand: $37,853) Kentucky generated $184.7 billion in economic output in 2017, closely in line with New Zealand's $181.5 billion GDP. Kentucky's population of 4.5 million is also closely aligned with New Zealand's 4.8 million residents. New Zealand's economy is driven largely by agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. Louisiana > GDP: $226.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Romania ($216.3 billion) > La. population: 4.7 million (Romania: 19.6 million) > La. GDP per capita: $48,377 (Romania: $11,045) Of all the national economies in the world, Romania's is the closest in size to that of Louisiana -- despite having a population over four times the size of Louisiana. The southeastern European country's GDP is $216.3 billion, and Louisiana's is $226.6 billion. Louisiana's economy relies heavily on its energy sector. The 17 oil refineries in the state can process up to 3.3 million barrels of crude oil a day and account for about 20% of American refining capacity. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Louisiana Maine > GDP: $55.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Azerbaijan ($57.3 billion) > Maine population: 1.3 million (Azerbaijan: 9.9 million) > Maine GDP per capita: $41,619 (Azerbaijan: $5,805) Maine's economy generated $55.6 billion in 2017, roughly the same as Azerbaijan, a country with a population more than seven times that of the northern New England state. Azerbaijan's economy benefits from its oil reserves, but economic growth has been stifled in recent years by corruption. Poverty also remains a considerable challenge in the country. Maryland > GDP: $363.0 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Malaysia ($364.6 billion) > Md. population: 6.1 million (Malaysia: 31.6 million) > Md. GDP per capita: $59,983 (Malaysia: $11,528) Home to 31.6 million people, the Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia is over five times more populous than Maryland, a state with 6.1 million people. By GDP, however, the two are more closely matched. Maryland's $363.0 billion economy is only slightly smaller than Malaysia's $364.6 billion economy. Malaysia has a large tourism industry and is benefitting from a growing manufacturing sector. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Maryland Massachusetts > GDP: $490.2 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Norway ($481.8 billion) > Mass. population: 6.9 million (Norway: 5.3 million) > Mass. GDP per capita: $71,456 (Norway: $91,219) Massachusetts has a $490.2 billion economy, about the same size as Norway's. One of the wealthiest states in the country, Massachusetts has a GDP per capita of $71,456. However, because Norway is home to about 1.6 million fewer people than Massachusetts, its GDP per capita is even higher, at $91,219. The country's wealth is partially due to the discovery of oil offshore in the 1960s. Today, Norway is the seventh largest oil exporter in the world. Michigan > GDP: $458.8 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Argentina ($460.3 billion) > Mich. population: 10.0 million (Argentina: 44.3 million) > Mich. GDP per capita: $46,055 (Argentina: $10,397) Michigan has a $458.8 billion GDP, roughly in line with the economic output of the South American nation of Argentina. Home of the American auto industry, Michigan has a strong manufacturing sector that employs nearly one in every five workers in the state, a larger share than in any other state. Argentina's economy is heavily dependent on agricultural exports like soybeans and soybean meal, corn, and wheat. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in Michigan Minnesota > GDP: $322.4 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Singapore ($310.0 billion) > Minn. population: 5.6 million (Singapore: 5.6 million) > Minn. GDP per capita: $57,809 (Singapore: $55,236) Like Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee, Minnesota's economy is similar in size to that of Singapore -- $322.4 billion compared to $310.0 billion, respectively. Minnesota is one of the larger states by landmass, while Singapore is a small island city-state less than one-three-hundredth the state's size. Still, their populations closely align, as they are each home to some 5.6 million people. Mississippi > GDP: $100.1 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Angola ($101.7 billion) > Miss. population: 3.0 million (Angola: 29.8 million) > Miss. GDP per capita: $33,558 (Angola: $3,414) Mississippi's $100.1 billion in economic output in 2017 closely matches the GDP of the African nation Angola. Though their economies are roughly the same size, Angola is home to nearly 30 million people, 10 times Mississippi's population. Angola is an oil-rich country, but much of that wealth is located in a contested region partially held by separatists. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Mississippi Missouri > GDP: $275.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Chile ($271.9 billion) > Mo. population: 6.1 million (Chile: 18.1 million) > Mo. GDP per capita: $45,076 (Chile: $15,060) Missouri's $275.6 billion GDP most closely matches that of Chile, though the South American country has nearly three times the population of the Show Me State. Chile derives much of its wealth from natural resources, primarily copper. Nearly half of the country's $70.1 billion in exports in were copper, copper ore, and refined copper. A coastal country, Chile also exports seafood and wine. Montana > GDP: $44.4 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Lebanon ($43.2 billion) > Mont. population: 1.1 million (Lebanon: 6.1 million) > Mont. GDP per capita: $42,276 (Lebanon: $7,103) Montana, home to just over 1 million people, has a $44.4 billion economy -- similar in size to the economy of Lebanon, a country of over 6 million people. Situated along the Mediterranean's eastern shore, Lebanon has long been a regional trading hub. However, it also shares borders with Israel and Syria and has been involved in armed conflicts. It has also been a refuge for people and groups displaced by violence. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Montana Nebraska > GDP: $111.5 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Slovak Republic ($108.2 billion) > Neb. population: 1.9 million (Slovak Republic: 5.4 million) > Neb. GDP per capita: $58,053 (Slovak Republic: $19,897) Nebraska's 1.9 million residents produce an economic output of over $111 billion, close to that of the Slovak Republic, or Slovakia. The country's economy centers around manufacturing, with more than a quarter of exports in 2017 in vehicles or vehicle parts. Though Nebraska has a much smaller population than the Slovak Republic, its landmass is more than four times that of the European nation. Nevada > GDP: $142.9 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Kuwait ($138.8 billion) > Nev. population: 3.0 million (Kuwait: 4.1 million) > Nev. GDP per capita: $47,648 (Kuwait: $33,546) Nevada's economy generated $142.9 billion in 2017, nearly the same as the Middle Eastern nation of Kuwait -- which happens to be one of the wealthiest nations in both the region and the world. Kuwait has a relatively open political system for the region, and it has more proved oil reserves than all but a handful of other countries worldwide. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in Nevada New Hampshire > GDP: $74.4 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Oman ($74.8 billion) > N.H. population: 1.3 million (Oman: 4.6 million) > N.H. GDP per capita: $55,413 (Oman: $16,144) One of the smallest states by population, New Hampshire has a $74.4 billion economy -- on par with Oman, a Middle Eastern nation with a population more than triple that of New Hampshire. Like other countries in the region, Oman relies heavily on exports of crude oil and petroleum products. New Jersey > GDP: $546.5 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Iran, Islamic Rep. ($560.9 billion) > N.J. population: 9.0 million (Iran, Islamic Rep.: 81.2 million) > N.J. GDP per capita: $60,684 (Iran, Islamic Rep.: $6,911) New Jersey has a similar economic output to Iran, even though the Middle Eastern country has about nine times as many residents and 72 times as much land. Nearly three-quarters of Iran's 2017 exports, worth roughly $54 billion, are in petroleum. Conversely, a relatively small amount of New Jersey's economic output comes from natural resources. Instead, the state has some of the largest shares of workers employed in the information and finance industries. ALSO READ: How the New Jersey Economy Compares to Other States New Mexico > GDP: $91.0 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Ecuador ($87.4 billion) > N.M. population: 2.1 million (Ecuador: 16.6 million) > N.M. GDP per capita: $43,566 (Ecuador: $5,256) New Mexico has a GDP of $91.0 billion, in line with the GDP of the South American nation of Ecuador. New Mexico's economy relies on industries like agriculture, forestry, mining, and arts, entertainment, and accommodation, which employ a larger than typical share of workers in the state. Meanwhile, Ecuador's economy depends heavily on petroleum exports and suffered in recent years from falling oil prices. New York > GDP: $1.4 trillion > Country w/ similar GDP: Australia ($1.4 trillion) > N.Y. population: 19.8 million (Australia: 24.6 million) > N.Y. GDP per capita: $71,252 (Australia: $55,926) New York state, home to one of the financial capitals of the world, is one of three states with an economic output that exceeds $1 trillion. It closely matches the GDP of Australia. More than half of Australia's $243 billion in exports came from minerals and natural resources like iron, gold, coal, and petroleum. Australia's GDP per capita of $55,926 is lower than New York's GDP per capita but is very close to the U.S. GDP per capita of $55,418. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is New York North Carolina > GDP: $484.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Norway ($481.8 billion) > N.C. population: 10.3 million (Norway: 5.3 million) > N.C. GDP per capita: $47,142 (Norway: $91,219) The size of North Carolina's economy, like that of Massachusetts and Washington, is closest to that of Norway's. As one of the world's largest oil exporters, the Northern European country, home to about half as many people as North Carolina, has a GDP per capita of more than $91,000, nearly double the per capita economic output of North Carolina. North Dakota > GDP: $50.8 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Ghana ($50.6 billion) > N.D. population: 755,393 (Ghana: 28.8 million) > N.D. GDP per capita: $67,244 (Ghana: $1,756) North Dakota's economy is roughly the size of the entire African nation of Ghana. North Dakota's economy is heavily dependent on resource extraction, an industry that flourished in the last 10 years due to new developments in hydrofracking methods -- methods that allow for the extraction of natural gas in the state's Bakken Formation. Resource extraction is also a pillar of Ghana's far less diversified economy. Ghana's major exports include oil, gold, and cocoa. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in North Dakota Ohio > GDP: $590.7 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Poland ($600.9 billion) > Ohio population: 11.7 million (Poland: 38.0 million) > Ohio GDP per capita: $50,666 (Poland: $15,823) Poland has the sixth largest economy in the European Union with a GDP of just over $600 billion, roughly in line with Ohio's GDP. Both economies are largely focused on manufacturing -- more than 40% of Poland's exports are manufactured goods like cars and computers. More than 15% of Ohio workers are employed in the manufacturing sector compared to 10.1% of workers nationwide. Oklahoma > GDP: $190.9 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Kazakhstan ($196.0 billion) > Okla. population: 3.9 million (Kazakhstan: 18.0 million) > Okla. GDP per capita: $48,569 (Kazakhstan: $10,868) The sixth largest producer of crude oil and fourth largest producer of natural gas, Oklahoma's $190.9 billion economy is heavily dependent on energy production. Kazakhstan, a country 15 times the size of Oklahoma by landmass and nearly five times as large by population, has a similarly sized economy. A former Soviet republic, Kazakhstan's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and extraction of oil and minerals, including copper and zinc. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Oklahoma Oregon > GDP: $207.7 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Iraq ($208.6 billion) > Ore. population: 4.1 million (Iraq: 38.3 million) > Ore. GDP per capita: $50,138 (Iraq: $5,450) Though Iraq is not often considered an economic powerhouse, it has a GDP of over $200 billion -- very similar to Oregon's economic output. Iraq has about nine times as many people as Oregon, however, meaning its GDP per capita is about one-ninth of Oregon's. A war-torn country for most of the 21st century, first with the United States then ISIS, Iraq has relied on oil to keep its economy afloat. Of the country's $60.8 billion in exports, 95% are crude petroleum. Pennsylvania > GDP: $700.8 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Saudi Arabia ($684.2 billion) > Pa. population: 12.8 million (Saudi Arabia: 32.9 million) > Pa. GDP per capita: $54,725 (Saudi Arabia: $20,771) Pennsylvania's GDP is the closest to that of the petroleum-rich nation Saudi Arabia. More than three-quarters of Saudi Arabia's exports are oil-related -- either in crude, refined, or gas form. Though Saudi Arabia and Pennsylvania have similarly sized economies, the Middle Eastern country has a larger population by over 20 million. As a result, the per capita GDP of Saudi Arabia is significantly smaller than Pennsylvania's. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in Pennsylvania Rhode Island > GDP: $53.5 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Slovenia ($53.0 billion) > R.I. population: 1.1 million (Slovenia: 2.1 million) > R.I. GDP per capita: $50,446 (Slovenia: $25,662) Rhode Island's $53.5 billion GDP is about the same as the GDP of Slovenia, a country with nearly twice as many people. Though Slovenia's transition to a market economy following the breakup of Yugoslavia was relatively smooth, the 2012 European financial crisis and ensuing years of fiscal mismanagement have stymied economic growth in the country. South Carolina > GDP: $199.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Algeria ($199.2 billion) > S.C. population: 5.0 million (Algeria: 41.3 million) > S.C. GDP per capita: $39,673 (Algeria: $4,820) Though Algeria's population is more than eight times the size of South Carolina's population, and the country has a landmass that is over 28 times the size of the state, the two geographic areas have nearly the exact same GDP. Compared to U.S. states, South Carolina has a relatively low GDP per capita at just under $40,000, but it is well beyond that of Algeria. The nation's GDP per capita is below $5,000. Algeria's economy depends on petroleum, but with oil prices much lower than they were five years ago, the nation's exports were nearly cut in half from 2012 to 2017. ALSO READ: The Largest Industry in South Carolina South Dakota > GDP: $45.4 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Libya ($46.6 billion) > S.D. population: 869,666 (Libya: 6.4 million) > S.D. GDP per capita: $52,240 (Libya: $7,315) South Dakota's economic output is $45.4 billion, one of the lowest state GDP figures and roughly equivalent to that of Libya, a country on the northern coast of Africa. The country's economy has struggled since leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed in 2011, leading to a power vacuum that has caused the country to fracture politically. Tennessee > GDP: $315.1 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Singapore ($310.0 billion) > Tenn. population: 6.7 million (Singapore: 5.6 million) > Tenn. GDP per capita: $46,925 (Singapore: $55,236) Tennessee is 154 times larger than the island nation of Singapore and is home to 1.1 million more people. Still, Tennessee and Singapore have similarly sized economies, at $315.1 billion and $310.0 billion, respectively. On a per capita basis, Singapore is wealthier than Tennessee. One of the "tiger" economies of Asia, Singapore underwent an economic boom in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, it is one of the most open and developed economies in the world. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Tennessee Texas > GDP: $1.6 trillion > Country w/ similar GDP: Russian Federation ($1.7 trillion) > Texas population: 28.3 million (Russian Federation: 144.5 million) > Texas GDP per capita: $57,077 (Russian Federation: $11,441) The second largest state economy in the country, the GDP of Texas rivals that of world superpower Russia. Russia's economy depends on gas, though not as much as many other nations on this list. About half of the country's exports are petroleum. Similarly, Texas is the top oil and natural gas-producing state in the U.S. Though they have similar GDPs, Texas has a GDP per capita roughly five times that of Russia. Utah > GDP: $150.1 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Hungary ($153.1 billion) > Utah population: 3.1 million (Hungary: 9.8 million) > Utah GDP per capita: $48,376 (Hungary: $15,648) Though the population of Hungary is more than triple the population of Utah, the European country covers a land mass less than half the size of Utah. Hungary has a varied economy, exporting different products like computers, cars, medical equipment, and more. The country is pulling out of a major economic contraction that started in 2009. Its GDP per capita is less than one-third that of Utah. ALSO READ: How the Utah Economy Compares to Other States Vermont > GDP: $29.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Latvia ($30.2 billion) > Vt. population: 623,657 (Latvia: 1.9 million) > Vt. GDP per capita: $47,408 (Latvia: $15,553) Vermont has a $29.6 billion economy, nearly the same size as Latvia's $30.2 billion economy. Latvia, a former Soviet republic in northeastern Europe, transitioned to a free market economy in the 1990s. Vermont's economy is far more developed, generating the same output as Latvia with about a third of the population. Virginia > GDP: $463.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Nigeria ($460.5 billion) > Va. population: 8.5 million (Nigeria: 190.9 million) > Va. GDP per capita: $54,730 (Nigeria: $2,412) Virginia has a massive $463.6 billion economy, in line with the total economic output of Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. With much of Virginia within commuting distance to Washington D.C., the state is home to some of the largest defense contractors in the world. Nearly 16% of the state's labor force is employed in the professional, scientific, and management sector, the largest share of any state. Nigeria, meanwhile, is one of the world's largest oil producers. Economic development, however, is hindered by political and social instability. ALSO READ: How the Virginia Economy Compares to Other States Washington > GDP: $480.9 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Norway ($481.8 billion) > Wash. population: 7.4 million (Norway: 5.3 million) > Wash. GDP per capita: $64,937 (Norway: $91,219) Washington is one of three states, along with Massachusetts and North Carolina, that has an economic output most similar to that of Norway. Washington, particularly Seattle, has developed into a tech hub and is home to companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Norway recently developed into a major exporter of petroleum after discovering offshore reserves. Though Washington is one of the more productive states relative to its size with a nearly $65,000 GDP per capita, Norway's per capita output of over $91,000 is greater. West Virginia > GDP: $70.6 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Oman ($74.8 billion) > W.Va. population: 1.8 million (Oman: 4.6 million) > W.Va. GDP per capita: $38,860 (Oman: $16,144) One of the nation's leading coal producers, West Virginia's economy is heavily based on resource extraction. West Virginia's 2017 GDP of $70.6 billion is nearly in line with that of Oman, a Middle Eastern country with a $74.8 billion economy. Like West Virginia, Oman is also resource rich. Over half of its $31.2 billion in exports in 2017 were either crude petroleum, petroleum gas, or refined petroleum. ALSO READ: How the West Virginia Economy Compares to Other States Wisconsin > GDP: $292.3 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Israel ($297.4 billion) > Wis. population: 5.8 million (Israel: 8.7 million) > Wis. GDP per capita: $50,431 (Israel: $34,135) Like Arizona, the country that has the closest GDP to Wisconsin is Israel. Wisconsin is nearly eight times the size of Israel by landmass, but it has a smaller population, and the two areas have a similar economic output of more than $290 billion. Israel's top export is diamonds, worth over $10 billion in 2017. The relatively young country on the western shore of the Mediterranean Sea also exports billions of dollars worth of chemical products like medicine, pesticides, and fertilizer. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's manufacturing industry employs 17.9% of workers in the state, well above the sector's 10.1% national average employment. Wyoming > GDP: $38.7 billion > Country w/ similar GDP: Cote d'Ivoire ($39.5 billion) > Wyo. population: 579,315 (CÃ´te d'Ivoire: 24.3 million) > Wyo. GDP per capita: $66,776 (CÃ´te d'Ivoire: $1,626) Wyoming has a $38.7 billion economy, nearly the same size as the economy of Cote d'Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast, a nation in West Africa. The largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world, Ivory Coast has a relatively well-developed economy and is wealthier than most countries in the region. Wyoming's economy is also largely resource based. About 40% of all coal in the United States is mined in Wyoming, and the state is also home to the largest uranium mining operations in the country. ALSO READ: How Business Friendly is Wyoming


President Trump's recent tweets threatening to escalate his trade war with China sent soybean and corn futures plummeting Monday, in the latest hardship for U.S. farmers. Already reeling from reduced demand for their crops after China imposed a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on soybeans, farmers struggling to deal with flooding rains faced the prospect that Trump might fail to reach a deal with Beijing to end a costly trade war. The president's tweets threatening higher tariffs on Chinese goods drove soybean futures to their lowest level in seven months. A Bloomberg index of speculative returns on grain prices plunged to the lowest level since 1977. The United States has been losing, for many years, 600 to 800 Billion Dollars a year on Trade. With China we lose 500 Billion Dollars. Sorry, we're not going to be doing that anymore!   Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2019 Economists routinely point out that Trump is misinformed when it comes to trade deficits and tariffs. That America imports more than it exports is not the same thing as "losing" money, and a tariff on foreign goods is a tax paid for by U.S. consumers. Trump has based his trade policies on the opposite assumptions. The ongoing dispute threatens to affect more than just farmers. The trade war between the two largest economies in the world has clouded the economic outlook for the U.S. as well as China, and threatens to curb global growth in an increasingly interdependent financial system. "You can't do something between the United States and China in a big way without affecting all the major markets," Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett told CNBC on Monday. Belying his own assertions that his trade war has helped the U.S. economy, Trump and his representatives have been working to secure a trade deal with China that would end what the president describes as the lucrative tariffs he put in place. On Sunday, however, the president tweeted his frustration with the pace of negotiations. For 10 months, China has been paying Tariffs to the USA of 25% on 50 Billion Dollars of High Tech, and 10% on 200 Billion Dollars of other goods. These payments are partially responsible for our great economic results. The 10% will go up to 25% on Friday. 325 Billions Dollars....   Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2019 ....of additional goods sent to us by China remain untaxed, but will be shortly, at a rate of 25%. The Tariffs paid to the USA have had little impact on product cost, mostly borne by China. The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!   Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2019 But as Trump's trade war with China has dragged on, U.S. farmers have paid the price. Meanwhile, bankruptcies in the farm belt have already been soaring. https://t.co/uIDM1DW3RN pic.twitter.com/SuUWUd6dMm   Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) May 6, 2019 China has been the biggest customer for U.S. soybeans, and the tariffs imposed by Beijing have made a severe impact on the market, causing prices to fall by $2 a bushel. Trump's latest threat to raise tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday may simply be just a negotiating ploy. The president previously set a deadline of March 1 for the increase. Given that farm debt is on the rise , with Trump's tariffs on steel pushing the cost of equipment higher, and tariffs from China sending farm income lower, American farmers may be wondering where is the art in this deal. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Starr report veteran says Trump's crimes are 'thousandfold' worse Has this $1M winner broken 'Jeopardy!'? Revealed: The U.S. military's 36 code-named operations in Africa Meet the Trump official working on higher education policy Mayor 'Pete Buddygeer?' Sen. 'Amy Klobbasha?' PHOTOS: Uprising in Venezuela as troops join opposition leaders on the streets


First he drew the ire of Twitter and Republican lawmakers when he released the names and employers of Trump donors in Texas; now Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, has been hit with an official Federal Election Committee ( FEC) complaint over the controversial action. On Friday, conservative lawyer Dan Backer filed an FEC complaint alleging that Castro's actions violated the Federal Election Committee Act by encouraging harassment of the donors. "By exposing Trump donors   and one of his own as well   to bullying and intimidation, Castro broke the law, and it's high time we hold him accountable for his despicable, cowardly actions," Backer said. Also included in the alleged violation is a precedent set by a 1989 court case that grants regular citizens "practical obscurity," even though their donations are a matter of public record. It's alleged that by exposing their employers, though not their addresses or contact information, Castro put the donors at risk for harassment and violence by the "radical left." Castro, the brother of 2020 Democratic nominee for president Julián Castro, has been a member of Congress since 2013. After he posted the names and employers of 44 Trump donors, which coincidentally included one of his own, he drew widespread condemnation from Republicans. "No one was targeted or harassed in my post. You know that. All that info is routinely published," Castro said on Twitter in response to Rep. Kevin McCarthy's criticism. Castro then pivoted to condemn the president's rhetoric, which was mirrored in the manifesto of a white nationalist mass shooter in El Paso. He killed 22 in a rampage at a Walmart last week. Castro released the donors' information in the wake of two mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. He reasoned on Twitter that "Trump spends donor money on thousands of ads about Hispanics 'invading' America." His congressional office did not reply to requests for comment by the time this article was published. Backer, who runs the conservative free speech nonprofit the Coolidge-Reagan Foundation, said political donations have been upheld consistently by courts as one of the most protected forms of speech. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP "He did this to shame thee people and cause them some form of harm for participating in the political system," Backer said. In recent months, he filed an FEC complaint against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for alleged campaign finance violations committed by her and her former chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti. The case has yet to be resolved. In an interview with Fox News, Backer made no bones about the publicity and outcome he hopes will come from the complaint. He said his foundation will be using the Castro complaint to education and raise awareness on free speech issues, and he hopes the FEC "throws the book" at the Texas congressman. "It is an incredibly dangerous precedent, I am shocked by this," Backer said. "… There is a reason this is frowned upon, because it violates our social norms and good sense."


As of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, employees were being let back into the building. Winston-Salem police are investigating a threat made towards the Hall of Justice in downtown Winston-Salem, according to investigators. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office says the threat was made over the phone around 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday. The building was evacuated as a precaution. Officials say no specific individual was threatened. Winston-Salem police report 2nd Street, 3rd Street, Main Street and Liberty Street are closed around the Forsyth County Hall of Justice. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is helping Winston-Salem police and the fire department investigate the threat. READ MORE: Winston-Salem Hall of Justice evacuated after threat CHECK OUT WXII: Get the latest Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem news of the day. Catch the top stories, sports and weather from the team at WXII12.


Want the scoop on San Antonio's buzziest local spots? We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to analyze which eateries have been seeing especially high review volumes this month. To find out who made the list, we looked at San Antonio businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance. Read on to see which outposts have the momentum heading into back-to-school season. Teddy B's This Mexican greasy spoon, which offers burgers, hot dogs and Mexican fare, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Mexican" on Yelp. Citywide, Mexican restaurants saw a median 2.6% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Teddy B's saw a 76.9% increase, maintaining a sound 4.5-star rating throughout. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, Teddy B's's review count increased by more than 1,000%. It's not the only trending outlier in the Mexican category: Viola's Ventanas has seen a 2.2% increase in reviews. Located at 6392 Babcock Road in Alamo Farmsteads-Babcock Road, Teddy B's serves an array of fast-food favorites like hamburgers, french fries, tater tots and hot dogs with a Mexican spin, along with classic Mexican food items. The menu features options like a chorizo burger, chili cheese nachos and a Caliente Dog, which comes topped with hot Cheetos, nacho cheese, mayo and jalapeños. Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles , the Southern and traditional American breakfast, brunch lunch and dinner outlet is a hot topic according to Yelp review data. While businesses categorized as "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp saw a median 2.9% increase in new reviews over the past month, Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles bagged a 9.2% increase in new reviews within that timeframe, with a slight upward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to its current four stars. There's more that's trending on San Antonio's breakfast and brunch scene: La Panaderia has seen a 3.2% increase in reviews. Open at 7907 W. Loop 1604 North, Suite 102, since 2018, Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles specializes in Southern-style comfort foods, featuring a sizable menu brimming with items like biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, waffles, a meatloaf sandwich, various fried chicken combo meals, smothered chopped steak and fried catfish, accompanied by a side of waffle fries. Pete's Tako House Pete's Tako House is also making waves. First established back in 1978 and open at 502 Brooklyn Ave., the popular Tex-Mex breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant, which is known for its tacos and other Tex-Mex dishes, has seen a 2.2% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.5% for all businesses tagged "Tex-Mex" on Yelp. Pete's Tako House is famed for its breakfast and puffy Tex Mex-style tacos, frosty margaritas and authentic Mexican-style cuisine, such as chili con queso, eggs with barbacoa, huevos rancheros, traditional empanadas and enchiladas. Over the past month, it's maintained a solid 4.5-star rating among Yelpers. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A California father intentionally drove his wife and children off a pier, killing his two sons with autism, in an effort to collect accidental death insurance, prosecutors said Wednesday. Ali Elmezayen, 44, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for killing his two young sons in 2015 when he allegedly drove the family's car off the pier at the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. His sons, 8-year-old Abdelkrim and 13-year-old Elhassan, drowned in the April 2015 crash, but Elmezayen's wife survived thanks to a fisherman who came to her rescue. Prosecutors said Elmezayen collected more than $260,000 in insurance payouts after the children's deaths. (MORE: 2 Marines charged after trying to smuggle undocumented immigrants: court records) Elmezayen purchased insurance policies worth $6 million in coverage on himself, his domestic partner and his children in 2012 and 2013, ABC's Los Angeles station KABC reported , citing a criminal complaint. He allegedly paid nearly $6,000 on those policies despite earning less than $30,000 a year at the time, according to KABC. (MORE: Former cop arrested for allegedly planting drugs) Elmezayen is currently in federal custody on insurance fraud charges, but he's expected to stand trial on the murder charges once the current case is completed. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death, if convicted as charged. California has a moratorium on the death penalty, but defendants can still be sentenced to death in court proceedings.


ASPEN, Colo.   Microsoft on Wednesday announced that it would give away software designed to improve the security of American voting machines, even as the tech giant said it had tracked 781 cyberattacks by foreign adversaries targeting political organizations so far this election cycle . Microsoft said it was rolling out a free, open source software product called ElectionGuard, which it said uses encryption to "enable a new era of secure, verifiable voting." The company is working with election machine vendors and local governments to deploy the system in a pilot program for the 2020 election. The system uses an encrypted tracking code to allow a voter to verify that his or her vote has been recorded and has not been tampered with, Microsoft said in a blog post. Microsoft's announcement was timed to coincide with the Aspen Security Forum, an annual conference of current and former intelligence, defense and homeland security officials that kicks off Wednesday in Aspen, Colorado   co-sponsored by Microsoft and others. NBC News is a media partner of the forum. Edward Perez, an election security expert with the independent Open Source Election Technology Institute , said Microsoft's move signals that voting systems, long a technology backwater, are finally receiving attention from the county's leading technical minds. "We think that it's good when a technology provider as significant as Microsoft is stepping into something as nationally important as election security," Perez told NBC News. "ElectionGuard does provide verification, and it can help to detect attacks. It's important to note that detection is different from prevention." Perez said that about 30 percent of Americans currently live in counties with voting systems that have no auditable paper trail , a situation that he and other election experts say poses an unacceptable risk. An election security bill that could help counties install more security systems by providing $600 million to the states has passed the House but has been held up in the Senate by the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell . Microsoft said it has notified nearly 10,000 customers in the past year that they they've been targeted or compromised by nation-state cyberattacks. About 84 percent of the attacks targeted enterprise customers   generally at organizations   and about 16 percent targeted consumer personal email accounts, the company said. "While many of these attacks are unrelated to the democratic process, this data demonstrates the significant extent to which nation-states continue to rely on cyberattacks as a tool to gain intelligence, influence geopolitics, or achieve other objectives," the firm said in the blog post. The majority of the suspected nation-state attacks came from Iran, North Korea, and Russia, Microsoft said. Last August, Microsoft rolled out a service it calls AccountGuard, now in use in 26 countries on four continents. Microsoft provides it free to current candidates for federal, state and local office in the United States and their campaigns; the campaign organizations of all sitting members of Congress; national and state party committees; technology vendors who primarily serve campaigns and committees; and certain nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations. Microsoft AccountGuard is offered free of charge. Organizations must be using Microsoft's Office 365 software suite to register. Since then, Microsoft said it has made 781 notifications of nation-state attacks targeting organizations participating in AccountGuard   95 percent of which targeted U.S.-based organizations. "Many of the democracy-focused attacks we've seen recently target NGOs and think tanks and reflect a pattern that we also observed in the early stages of some previous elections," Microsoft said. "A spike in attacks on NGOs and think tanks that work closely with candidates and political parties, or work on issues central to their campaigns, serves as a precursor to direct attacks on campaigns and election systems themselves." Echoing the warnings of U.S. intelligence officials, Microsoft said it anticipates "that we will see attacks targeting U.S. election systems, political campaigns, or NGOs that work closely with campaigns." Microsoft is not the only tech giant trying to help with election security. The Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is working with an Oregon firm, Galois, on open-source voting software designed to be resistant to hacking. That system also uses encryption to allow voters to verify their votes. But that system will not be ready for 2020. A recent report by Stanford University's Cyber Policy Center summed up the current state of vulnerability . "A number of independent research efforts have demonstrated the ease with which individual electronic voting stations can be compromised by simply using the paltry resources available to university research teams," the report said. "Hostile foreign governments would be able to deploy orders of magnitude more resources to this task."


"The Power of Perspective" is the title of at least one self-help book and the name of several TED Talks and a foundational theme for untold talk therapy sessions. And perhaps the most useful way to understand the Red Sox's 7-5 win over the Royals on Monday. On its face, Monday's win was perfectly good. It was a win! A win to snap an eight-game losing streak, even. That's all unequivocally and inarguably good. It's likely what the Red Sox would be told to focus on in one of those talk therapy sessions: On Monday, they could not do anything about those previous eight contests, or about anything that came before them, but they could do something about this one game, and that's exactly what they did. They won. They stopped losing. This is a valid perspective a healthy way to frame the situation, a path to move forward on, a positive step to take toward Tuesday. But that's only one perspective. As always, there is room for others. Such as one focused on the fact that even with this win, Boston is still 5.5 games back of the second wild-card, 14.5 games back of first place in the AL East, with postseason chances that have tumbled in just the last week from 60% to 20%. Or one emphasizing that this streak-snapping victory came against the woeful Royals, who have now lost seven straight and are one of the worst teams in baseball. Or one noting the characteristically shaky work of the 'pen on Monday (four runs allowed in the last three innings) and the unfortunate exit of Mookie Betts (day-to-day with a shin contusion). Or still another perspective simply understanding what it means for this team to be in the business of seeking alternate perspectives in the first place after all, there's rarely any impulse to reframe the picture when everything looks good to begin with. 2019 Red Sox (59-55) have now lost more games than the 2018 team (108-54). It's August 4.   Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) August 5, 2019 Which, really, is the best way to realize just how bad things have been for the Red Sox. A win is a win is a win, sure; any win is good. Yet it's telling that an August win against the Royals can feel this critical in the first place that it can come across as important, necessary , rather than something close to inevitable. It's a panicked gasp for air, rather than an ordinary breath; the fact that it was successful does not matter so much as the fact that it had to happen at all. That's a generally uncomfortable state for a team to be in with nearly two months of baseball left to play, and it's a particularly uncomfortable one for a reigning champion who had clear designs on this year's postseason. It's obviously a far cry from Boston's situation at this time last year, when it was in first place and on its way to the World Series. But it's a far cry from its situation at this time last month , too, when it was just two games out of the last wild-card, with hope for a sizable boost at the deadline and with plenty of time to make a turn-around. #RedSox have been outscored 43-17 since the trade deadline passed without Dave Dombrowski making a move.   Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 5, 2019 Now? The deadline has passed , with no significant additions for a pitching staff that sorely needed some. (Unless you'd like to count the acquisition of Andrew Cashner, which… it says quite a bit about the state of this rotation that you might reasonably like to count 2019 Andrew Cashner.) And there's still time for a turn-around, but there isn't very much. The postseason odds speak for themselves. (After Monday's win, they're up to 20.7%.) A change is possible , but it isn't likely. The Red Sox ended Monday in a better spot than they did Sunday. That's one perspective on their position true, valid, positive. But it's notably limited in its positivity. After all, baseball's one inalienable source of perspective is the standings; Boston's space there is clear. The team is further back than it has been all year. And that's a tough one to reframe. Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


Tapas fans, take heed: There's a new spot in town to get your fix. Called Shilling Canning , the fresh addition is located at 360 Water St. SE in Capitol Hill. Locally sourced ingredients make up dishes featuring oysters, grilled country sausage, duck confit, mushroom tarts and more. There's also a wine list, in addition to cocktails and desserts. The newcomer has made a decent impression thus far, with a 3.5-star rating out of 10 reviews on Yelp. Justin P., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on July 11, wrote, "Great opening night experience! ... For food they recommend five to six small plates. We ended up getting six. I think five would've been more than enough, but it depends on which ones you get as they are of varying size." Yelper Le Système D. added , "Came in for dinner and the place was packed. Had the blue crab app, fluke crudo, deviled eggs, duck confit, soft-shell crab, Surryano ham and grilled sausage. Everything was excellent and looking forward to coming back." Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. The business is open from 5 a.m. 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5 a.m. 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed on Monday.) Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Washington? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Omaha room in Louisville baseball's Jim Patterson Stadium was silent as the top-eight national seeds were revealed one by one Monday afternoon on ESPNU. Before the NCAA Tournament selection show got underway, Louisville knew it would host a regional this weekend. It didn't know where in the top-16 national seeds it was going to fit though, and a top-eight seed guaranteed home-field advantage through the NCAA Super Regional. The silence as six teams went off the board quickly turned into a load clap as Louisville heard its name called next. After winning the ACC Atlantic Division title and finishing the season 43-15, the Cardinals earned the No. 7 seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Louisville couldn't have asked for a better ending to its weekend-long wait. "It's just a relief and excitement," sophomore Lucas Dunn said. "Now we get ready for the week ahead." Earlier: Louisville baseball goes winless in the ACC Tournament Before the Cardinals can look ahead to hosting a super regional round or turn an eye toward the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, they must navigate their way through the regional, which kicks off on Friday. The Cardinals will open the tournament against the University of Illinois-Chicago (29-21) at 6 p.m. On the other side of the regional bracket are Illinois State (34-24) and Indiana (36-21). Louisville must win three games to advance. This postseason will mark the eighth time in program history Louisville has hosted a regional. After traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for last year's regional and falling to Texas Tech, the Cardinals didn't want a repeat of that outcome. So very early coach Dan McDonnell and the team prioritized starting the tournament at home. "This group that are juniors and seniors, they hosted a regional and super regional and went to Omaha. Last year they saw life on the road. It's not easy," he said. "It was an eye-opener for all of those guys. It kept us a little more focused." In the process Louisville put together a strong resume built on a stellar performance through conference play and earned not just its eighth host, but its seventh since 2010. Before even finding out the team's national seed, McDonnell felt the need to congratulate his team for that accomplishment. "I tried to tell them not to get caught up with the national seed, that's the second round. They have to focus on the first round," McDonnell said. "I think it's one of the greatest accomplishments in college baseball, to be selected to host a regional." But now attention turns to actual games, where UIC, winner of the Horizon League tournament, will be waiting. That preparation for Louisville includes fixing the problems that came up in the ACC Tournament last week against Boston College and Clemson. In those losses, the Cardinals totaled four hits, two runs and gave up 12 runs en route to a quick elimination. Both Dunn and junior outfielder Danny Oriente said that practice before the conference tournament wasn't very sharp. That's changed. "There's a lot of energy," Dunn said. "I think we are ready to roll." McDonnell would rather have won the program's first ACC Tournament championship, but he said he has seen a change as well. "I wish I was that smart to intentionally lose, or play that bad, but the kids know how competitive I am, but when it happens you feel like as a coach that 'OK I have their attention now,' " McDonnell said. "It wasn't the plan but there is a heightened awareness now." The last time Louisville hosted both the regional and super regional was in 2017, when it went to the College World Series. That was also the year the Cardinals lost in pool play in the ACC Tournament. "I think we can look at that, but that's it," Oriente said. "I want to forget about the ACC Tournament. I think everybody in that room wants to." That 2017 team will go down as one of the best in program history because it is one of just two Cardinals teams to win a game at the College World Series. What will it take to eclipse that achievement from just two seasons ago? "Win it all," Oriente said with a smile. Here's the bracket . Baseball Bracket by Courier Journal on Scribd This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville baseball: Cardinals earn No. 7 seed in NCAA Tournament


Riding the wave of a first-ever NBA title following Thursday night's win over the Golden State Warriors, Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors are now facing an interesting summer. Leonard is set to hit free agency once the market opens in March. Ever since the reigning NBA Finals MVP was acquired in a trade from the Spurs prior to the season, suggestions were that Leonard would be one-and-done in Canada. We're not 100 percent sure how the Raptors' improbable run to the title might impact things. But if we were to ask teammate Danny Green, it could play a role in Leonard's decision-making process, as he told The Athletic's Sam Amick : "I think if we would've lost earlier before this series or whatever, I think it would've been an easier decision for him. I think now it makes it a little harder knowing that this organization and this team is very capable of doing what we're doing now, of getting to this stage and possibly winning one. … Also, the relationships he's built here." More than any other member of the Raptors, Green might very well know Leonard's decision-making process. The two were teammates in San Antonio for seven seasons before being shipped off to Toronto together one year ago next month . Leonard captivated an entire nation as he led Toronto to its first-ever NBA title. Will that be enough for him to turn down the bright lights of Los Angeles or New York? This remains to be seen. Regardless, Green feels that Leonard doesn't owe the city or organization anything: "You bring a championship to this country, man   not just this city, but this country and this organization   within one year, that's legendary type stuff. Regardless of what he does, he did his job." Free agency opens up in just over two weeks. Leonard will have a decision to make on that front. For now, the Clippers appear favored to land his services. Related slideshow: The 2019 NBA Finals (Provided by imagn)


Four members of a Texas family have been charged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain Masters tickets and resell the coveted badges at a healthy profit. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia said in a news release Monday that Stephen Michael Freeman, of Katy, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Freeman's parents, Steven Lee Freeman and Diane Freeman, of Helotes, Texas, and sister, Christine Oliverson, of San Antonio, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. According to court documents in Augusta, Georgia, the four defendants used names and addresses bought from a bulk mailing list to create multiple fraudulent accounts in the Augusta National Golf Club's online ticket-application system. The online accounts were created without the knowledge or permission of the individuals whose identities were used, prosecutors say. If any of the scheme's names was chosen in the annual online lottery to receive Masters tickets and the defendants were notified via the email addresses provided for them, Stephen Michael Freeman then would create fake identification documents to persuade Augusta National to change the winner's mailing address to one that was under control of the conspiracy. Once the defendants received the tickets at those addresses via U.S. Mail, they would resell the tickets at a substantial profit. Face value for practice round tickets this year was $75, while daily tournament badges were $115. Augusta National forbids the resale of tickets, but there is a robust secondary market that this year was selling four-day badges for more than $7,000, single-day passes for practice rounds for up to $1,000 and single-day badges for the tournament itself for multiples of that, depending on what day the pass was for, Golf.com reported . "The Masters is one of the world's great sporting events, and tickets to the tournament are cherished by their fortunate recipients," U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine said. "Using fraud and deceit to circumvent the Augusta National's generous lottery system is despicable, and those who follow the rules in hopes of winning tickets deserve better than to have their chances diminished by profiteering con artists." MORE : Tiger Woods' 81 PGA Tour wins: Sam Snead's record in sight | Michael Jordan: Tiger Woods' Masters win 'was the greatest comeback I've ever seen' The charges carry possible penalties of up to 20 years in prison along with substantial fines. "Because of the defendants' greed, they now face substantial prison time if convicted of the alleged crimes," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "The FBI will always make it a priority to investigate anyone who tries to circumvent a fair process, whether it is the Masters or any other private or public entity."


Although the idea of securing a trio of star players was popular among NBA teams for much of the last decade, 2019 was the offseason of dynamic duos. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George teamed up for the Clippers; Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving became Nets; and James Harden and Russell Westbrook joined forces for the Rockets. The Lakers, of course, lined up their own star duo by pairing LeBron James and Anthony Davis . However, Kyle Kuzma believes he's capable of evolving into the sort of star that could give the Lakers a "Big Three," as he tells Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com . "I don't feel no pressure, but I believe that I am capable of being that superstar," Kuzma said. "I put a lot of work in. My progress through my journey shows that I can be there. I developed every single year, dating back to college, and I don't see that development stunting at all. "Last year I didn't shoot the ball well, and I still averaged almost 20 [points per game]," Kuzma added. "If I can shoot the ball well and keep developing the facets of my game defensively, I don't see why I can't [be that third star]." Kuzma, 24, averaged 16.1 PPG with a .450 FG% and .366 3PT% as a rookie in 2017-18. While he increased his scoring rate to 18.7 PPG last season, he's right that he struggled from beyond the arc   his 3PT% dipped to just .303. Currently, Kuzma is competing for a spot on Team USA's World Cup roster. If he makes the 12-man roster, he'd be in position to benefit from the playmakers on the roster and get plenty of open three-point looks. Even if he doesn't make Team USA's final roster   or doesn't play much in China   he's looking forward to a similar experience in Los Angeles this season. "I've never been a ball-dominant guy," Kuzma told Youngmisuk. "I've always played off the ball. It is going to be a little bit easier, going to have a lot of open shots. It is my job to trust my summer workouts and what I've done. Just breathe, focus and knock those shots down, because I'm going to be open." The 2019-20 season will be a crucial one for Kuzma, who will become eligible to sign a rookie scale extension during the summer of 2020. If he doesn't ink a new deal a year from now, he'll be on track for restricted free agency in 2021.


Last month, another well-funded social robot startup, Anki, closed its doors for good. And it wasn't the first. In March, Jibo, which had received $73 million in funding, announced that it was shutting down its servers. Over the past few years, we've seen several much-hyped robots take the stage, promising a friendly at- home companion to do, well, just about anything you'd imagine a home robot to do. Your friend, your photographer, your jukebox, your toy. For both Anki and Jibo, two of the main players in the companion robot space, the public reception was quite positive . Media and investors alike saw the potential of a Rosie the Robot Jetson style family member   it is the 21 st century , after all   and we are long overdue for intelligent technology to enter our homes . So why have these companies failed? Was the technology not good enough, or is the public simply not ready? Finding the need The idea of a home companion robot, while still mildly dystopian, is not completely foreign to a mainstream audience. You can look to the success of everything from Furby to Alexa and know that, to an extent, we are willing to bring technology into our homes in a somewhat social capacity. These products, including Anki and Jibo, were never trying to replace your human friends; we haven't quite entered this stage of cultural acceptance (and perhaps we never will). Then, in the end, we have to ask ourselves   what exactly is the need these products are filling? However exciting it is to have an aware, intelligent, mobile piece of technology to interact with in my home , if it isn't filling a glaring need in my life, it simply becomes a novelty item. Social robots need to serve a greater purpose than simply being social. In the words of roboticist Madeline Gannon , "if robots are going to live in our cities, streets, sidewalks, and skies, then they need to be more than useful. They need to be meaningful ." For instance, one wonders what purpose, beyond novelty, does Sony's robotic dog serve? And what need is it trying to fill? Is it a very expensive toy? A gift for the family that has it all? And if it's meant to be a companion, is it able to do more than replace an actual dog? These questions and many more aren't esoteric. They're ones all of us in the robotic space struggle with daily as we try to determine features, functionality, and design of the robots we are creating. They're the questions that determine our design philosophies. Where did it go wrong? Perhaps the biggest mistake made by the companies that crashed and burned was to go mass market. The world may be ready for tech, but no so much as to replace human interaction when it's not absolutely necessary. We're not so far down the digital rabbit hole that people are craving tech for tech's sake. If a product doesn't serve a clear purpose   if my daily life isn't noticeably improved because of my interactions with it   then we can't expect a mass-market adoption. Consumers buy based on need, and rightfully so. With this said, we shouldn't dismiss the importance of social robots in certain contexts. There is still a need for this technology, even if it's not for everyone. If a social robot is to succeed, it has to provide a social interaction that isn't currently being met. In certain instances, humans can greatly benefit from this application of technology. I've seen examples of this in my own job, and so have many other companies in the industry. There are still niche markets out there that have been overlooked   left behind   by current societal programs and existing markets. Personal robots can help older adults living alone, people with dementia, children with autism, and can make a myriad of small tasks easier and more enjoyable. It's important not to disregard the potential social robots have for people in need   we can't make the failure of these mass market products prevent the creation of products for people who are truly in need. Perhaps we'll never have a robotic friend who follows us around our home and does whatever we ask. Perhaps we shouldn't. As makers, we're trying hard to understand why a product exists, and focus our efforts in creating platforms for positive social change. T he future of social robots may not be what you think it is, and that could ultimately be for the best. But we'd be remiss to reject this technology so soon, when we're really only getting started.


Domestic league seasons may have come to an end in many parts of the world, but this summer will still see the game we love take place across the globe. Along with the UEFA Nations League and international friendlies, the 46th edition of the Copa America will also take place this summer, as 12 nations battle it out for the famous trophy. Held in Brazil, the Selecao will compete against Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as guest entrants Japan and Qatar to be crowned Copa America 2019 winners. While a number of established names will be competing in the competition, it also gives the spotlight for lesser-known players to showcase what they can do, and subsequently move to a side in Europe this summer. Here are six players who could earn a move to a European club as a result of their performances in this summer's Copa America. Everton (Gremio & Brazil) Everton is one of three players in Brazil's 23-man squad not currently plying their trade in Europe, although with one being Fagner - the 29-year-old who failed to convince at the World Cup - and the third being back-up goalkeeper Cassio, it's the winger who seems more likely to earn a move this summer. Currently at Gremio, Everton has started the season well, netting six goals in the first 12 games of the season, which has in part resulted in his selection for Tite's squad this summer. The Copa Libertadores winner - who already has four caps for Brazil - will have to battle Philippe Coutinho, Neymar , Richarlison and David Neres for one of two spots on the flanks, but is certainly capable of carrying his club form into the Copa America. Josef Martinez (Atlanta United & Venezuela) Josef Martinez has become a name most football fans are accustomed with, mainly due to his bizarre penalty technique, but the 26-year-old certainly knows where the back of the net is. Currently at MLS side Atlanta United, the striker fired his side to the title in 2018, while his 35 goals in 39 games earned him not only the Golden Boot, but also the MLS MVP award. One of his teammates that season, Miguel Almiron, has since swapped MLS for Europe following his January 2019 move to Newcastle with success. Martinez could also do the same this summer, especially with a good showing for Venezuela at the Copa America. Exequiel Palacios (River Plate & Argentina) Exequiel Palacios was a player who first came to Europe's attention when Real Madrid looked to complete a deal for the midfielder around the time of the Copa Libertadores final in 2018. Fast forward five months - after River Plate won the competition 5-3 on aggregate - the 20-year-old is still playing in his homeland amid speculation that Arsenal now want to sign the midfielder. This season Palacios has one goal and four assists in 14 Primera Division games at the heart of River Plate's midfield. If however he were to perform well for Argentina at this summer's Copa America, it's unlikely he'll be playing football in his homeland for much longer. Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors & Uruguay) Another midfielder to keep an eye on now is Uruguay's Nahitan Nandez, who currently plays his club football for Argentine giants Boca Juniors. The 23-year-old has been there since 2017, winning the league title in 2017/18, as well as reaching the 2018 Copa Libertadores final, before losing out to River Plate over two legs. A tenacious, all-action midfielder, Nandez also boasts 22 caps for Uruguay since his debut in 2015, which is seven more than Arsenal's Lucas Torreira, and featured in every game for La Celeste during the 2018 World Cup. Wuilker Farinez (Millonarios & Venezuela) We now turn our attention to matters concerning Venezuela at the other end of the pitch, as they enter 2019's Copa America with a promising young goalkeeper between the sticks. Wuilker Farinez is a 21-year-old who currently plays for Colombian side Millonarios, having done so since January 2018, but is already attracting interest from sides across Europe - namely Barcelona , as a back-up for Marc-Andre ter Stegen . At 5'9, Farinez is certainly in the bracket of modern day goalkeepers, with his agility and ability with the ball at his feet his best attributes. He also has 12 caps for the national team, with a impressive display during a recent 3-1 win over Argentina only further enhancing his reputation. Santiago Arzamendia (Cerro Porteno & Paraguay) A defender rounds off this list, although that term is used loosely because Santiago Arzamendia is a full back with the appetite to effect matters in the attacking third of the pitch. The 21-year-old is a pacy left back best known for his delivery, whether that be in-play or from set pieces, and his reputation has grown since breaking into Cerro Porteno's first team in his homeland. Arzamendia only made his debut for Paraguay's national team in March - his only cap to date - although a strong showing at this summer's Copa America, if given the opportunity, could see him make tracks to Europe sooner rather than later.


Deshaun Watson has learned the most from reps, being out on the field, but part of his learning process has involved watching tape of successful mobile quarterbacks. Namely Aaron Rodgers . When Watson was a rookie in 2017, then Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan had Watson watch hours and hours of Rodgers. "The biggest thing was keeping plays alive ," Watson said, via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle . "Always looking for guys, regardless if you're scrambling outside the pocket or moving inside the pocket. He's always looking for an open receiver." Watson will try to reduce his sack numbers this season. He took a league-high 62 last season. Rodgers never has taken more than 51 and has averaged 37 since he became the Packers' starter. Rodgers also has had a better offensive line than Watson has had. Rodgers has other things Watson covets, too. Rodgers, 35, has two MVP awards, a Super Bowl MVP and a Super Bowl ring. Watson will get an up-close look at Rodgers next week when the Texans have joint practices with the Packers. "This is another opportunity for me to take my game to another level and, hopefully, in a couple of years, be in his position," Watson said. "He's one of the best ever, a guy I've been looking up to for a long time. "I'm excited to watch him work, see how he practices and goes about his business every day."


In addition to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving , the Nets have also agreed to a deal with free agent center DeAndre Jordan , according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski ( Twitter link ). While Jordan is hardly the biggest free agent to commit to Brooklyn today, he's a coup for a club that didn't have much cap flexibility after agreeing to sign Durant and Irving. The Nets also reportedly agreed to terms with Garrett Temple on a deal that looks like it's worth the room exception. As such, Jordan could end up being a minimum-salary signing, unless Brooklyn is able to create additional cap room by trading or waiving another player. Jordan, who will turn 30 in July, averaged 11.0 PPG, 13.1 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 69 total games for the Mavericks and Knicks in 2018-19. He was sent from Dallas to New York in the deadline deal that saw Kristaps Porzingis land with the Mavs. Rather than buying out Jordan, the Knicks hung onto him, thinking that his presence might help lure his good friend Durant to New York. While the thinking was right, it's New York's other team that will deliver on that idea, as the duo is set to join the Nets. Luke Adams contributed to this post.


If you are an investor, chances are you've heard of Amazon ... and even if you haven't jumped on the bandwagon of investing in the Amazon stock, well, then you're probably at least familiar with the name or at one point may have shopped on Amazon.com to find that book you've always wanted to read or to buy that cool espresso maker you just couldn't live without. Yup. That's right. Amazon, which once started out as just an online bookstore, now offers way more than just books. From clothing to electronics like Amazon's Alexa, Amazon has become not only the most valuable public company in the world but also one of the world's largest online retailers. Curious to find out more about how it actually landed these notorious titles? Here are a few highlights from its history: 1994 - Jeff Bezos leaves D. E. Shaw & Co. to work on a business plan for an online bookstore. 1998#3;- Amazon announces that it will move beyond books. 2017#3;- Amazon acquires Whole Foods, a high-end supermarket chain with over 400 stores, for $13.4 billion. There's plenty more to learn, just watch the video above to take a trip down Amazon's memory lane. Related. Google Home vs. Amazon Echo: Which Is Better for You in 2019? Behind the Label: How Alibaba Got to Where It Is Today and Where It Could Head Next


The weather report shows warm temperatures are in store for Los Angeles over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach 75 degrees today and Tuesday. The next few days will also see partly cloudy skies, sticking around through Wednesday as well. Skies will become mostly cloudy starting on Thursday. Winds will stay light through the week, with the highest speeds today at only 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Seattle. Seattle teammates celebrate Megan Rapinoe and World Cup win Megan Rapinoe and Allie Long represented Seattle on the international soccer stage at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Read the full story on KING5 . Seattle police seek witnesses after deadly shooting in Belltown A 32-year-old man was killed outside a bar in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood early Sunday. Read the full story on KING5 . Thieves target community tool library in West Seattle The group hopes it will get the tools back if the thieves try to take them to pawn shops. Read the full story on KING5 . Seattle renames stretch of Denny Way after 'early pioneer' for LGBTQ+ rights An early pioneer of LGBTQ+ rights is being honored by the City of Seattle following her death last year. Read the full story on KING5 . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Atletico Madrid have been incredibly busy in this summer transfer window, in regards to both outgoings and incomings. Antoine Griezmann's long-awaited move to Barcelona has recently been finalised, adding over £100m to an already inflated transfer budget that includes fees received for Lucas Hernandez, Gelson Martins and Rodri. Diego Simeone has not been shy in reinvesting the funds, splashing a whopping £112m on 19-year-old Portuguese wonderkid Joao Felix, as well as Marcos Llorente and Kieran Trippier amongst others. Amidst all of the transfer dealings, however, sits an Atletico academy brimming with young talent, desperate for a chance to impress in the first team. Without further ado, here are six of the most talented of their youngsters who deserve their chance to shine on the main stage. Ivan Saponjic As well as Felix, Atletico signed Benfica striker Ivan Saponjic this summer, for a reported £7m. Prolific in Serbia's youth sides, he won gold in the 2015 Under-20 World Cup, scoring twice along the way. With Angel Correa closing in on a move to AC Milan , the 21-year-old could be given the opportunity to stake his claim as a regular off the bench. Carlos Isaac Right-back Carlos Isaac impressed in his Atletico debut last season, helping the team to keep a clean sheet at home to Deportivo La Coruna in a 1-0 victory. Although Kieran Trippier has been brought in to replace the departing Juanfran, with Santiago Arias a steady understudy, Isaac has the talent to breakthrough if given the opportunity. Borja Garces 19-year-old Borja Garces made an instant impact last season, equalising in the dying moments against Eibar to rescue a point for Los Colchoneros - despite having only been on the pitch for 19 minutes. The Spaniard should hope for more gametime in the 2019/20 season, and, while he replaced the injured Nikola Kalinic in the squad for his appearance last season, the Croatian's underwhelming spell overall might signal the start of something greater for Garces. Francisco Montero A centre back who can operate at left back, Francisco Montero played nine times in La Liga last season, breaking through the system as a highly-rated prospect. With Filipe Luis and Lucas Hernandez having departed the club, and only 21-year-old Renan Lodi - a summer signing from Athletico Paranaense - capable of playing left-back in the current squad, Montero is likely to feature even more regularly. Toni Moya Toni Moya has routinely played for Spain's youth teams, and been a mainstay in Atletico Madrid B's midfield since 2016. He appeared for the first team just once last season, although he did complete 90 minutes with a polished performance. With new additions Marcus Llorente and Hector Herrera arriving to bolster the central midfield ranks, Moya will find it challenging to find game time next season - but he remains one of the club's brightest talents. Sergio Camello The youngest on this list, 18-year-old Sergio Camello became the first person born in the 21st century to score for Atletico - a feat he achieved last season in a 2-2 draw with Levante, having come on as a substitute at half time. With Diego Costa only bagging one more goal than Camello in the entire league campaign, the youngster - prolific at youth level for club and country - will be banging on Simeone's door for game time.


Although the Red Bull Ring flattered its shortcomings, Ferrari's SF90 has clearly not delivered on its early pre-season promises, as the Scuderia's approach to the new regulations has resulted in a car that has an array of weaknesses, all of which are difficult to overcome during the course of a campaign. However, it continues to push on and look for track-specific gains that can help. One such area of development in this regard has been its front brake assembly, with numerous changes made to enhance feel, improve cooling and reduce weight. The latter is a relative novelty for Ferrari, as although the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull favour a lightweight construction philosophy, the Scuderia have always preferred a more solid foundation with it comes to stopping power. Having reached high levels of rigidity, it's begun to work on the lightening parts of the braking system, in the belief that by reducing the unsprung masses it is possible to improve the car's behavior, giving greater reactivity, particularly in change of direction. Here are its most recent brake developments, click on the images below to scroll through… Ferrari SF90 front brakes, Canadian GP Giorgio Piola For Canada (above), one of the most challenging tracks for the braking system, Brembo had brought a carbon disc with seven cooling holes in a chevron formation on the outer surface (totalling over 1,400 holes). This solution was coupled with a mounting bell that was characterized by long, narrow, rectangular openings near the disk. In France, where the braking zones were less problematic, a disc with six cooling holes in the chevron formation made its debut and was characterized by a scalloped surface in the central part   a design we've seen Mercedes use for a number of years now. Ferrari SF90 front brakes, French GP Giorgio Piola Therefore, at Paul Ricard, maximum weight saving was sought, knowing that there were only three significant stops, only one of which was very severe   the North Chicane. The high speed nature of the circuit was also taken into account as the ductwork used to pipe cold air to the calipers was also repositioned, allowing the system to cool down well. Meanwhile, the mounting bell was characterized by asymmetrical round holes arranged in a zigzag pattern on two rows. Ferrari SF90 front brakes, Austrian GP Giorgio Piola The team sought a compromise between these two solutions in Austria, as the disc has six holes in the cooling surface with a central scalloped section that is about half of that seen in France. Interestingly the mounting bell is the same as the one in Canada, owing to the requirement of more stiffness and through flow of air to cool the brakes at altitude, with the Red Bull ring some 700 meters above sea level. Search continues for aero improvements The team continues to look for answers to address its aerodynamic inefficiencies this year too, which resulted in the use of a new turning vane arrangement in Austria. Ferrari pressed on with a more conventional turning vane layout for 2019, rather than follow the trend initiated by Mercedes of draping a cape over this section of the nosebox. However, as has been the case since their introduction and proliferation over a decade ago, the position of the turning vanes corresponds to the prevailing regulations, with the first examples mounted on the nose and reaching back under the chassis, while later examples were almost exclusively mounted under the chassis. Ferrari SF90, nose Giorgio Piola In recent years Ferrari has opted to bridge the two, with elements mounted on both the nose and chassis, which are paired to maximise aerodynamic performance. For the Austrian GP both of these elements were changed in order that they work more harmoniously, with the leading elements housed on the nose altered in shape and size and accompanied by another element behind it. Ferrari SF90, front   NEW Giorgio Piola Meanwhile, the turning vanes mounted on the underside of the nose were also revised, with the leading element given a forward-reaching extension that merges with the vanes ahead of them once the nose is installed. Ferrari SF90, front   OLD Giorgio Piola The old setup did not have those forward-reaching extensions. Ferrari SF90, front wing Giorgio Piola As could be seen in the earlier illustration, and here in this photo, the designers also saw fit to install a small horizontal strike that corresponds with the lower edge of the holes in the front wing pillars. This strike has undoubtedly been installed to try and rectify a small aerodynamic deficiency with the way the airflow moves around and through these holes and the wing pillars. Ferrari SP90, rear wing end plate Giorgio Piola Noteworthy as it remained on the car for Austria, having been introduced in France, are the changes made to the SF90's rear wing. The designers have opted to totally remove some of the lower strakes, make the upwash strikes above them slightly shorter and alter the cutout behind the wing section, which is now taller than before   all changes which alter the aerodynamic interaction between the diffuser and rear wing.


As the long, slow download of data from the New Horizon's mission continues, NASA has posted some new high-res enhanced color pictures of Pluto's largest moon, Charon (shown above in the upper left corner). Other than a reddish polar region, the images also reveal a surprisingly detailed landscape with canyons, mountains and more. A video composite of images (embedded after the break) takes us flying over a canyon NASA says is four times as long as the Grand Canyon, and twice as deep. NASA says even better pictures are on the way, although with the spacecraft 3.1 billion miles away and still going, we'll be waiting a year to get everything. NASA


ASHEVILLE   In the wake of a recent fatal stabbing on the Appalachian Trail, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has updated its website to make finding help, and the numbers to call to report suspicious or illegal activity, much easier for hikers in remote stretches of the trail. The Trail Conservancy is a nonprofit based in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, with regional offices including one in Asheville. The group oversees maintenance and educational outreach for the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail , although the trail, which runs through 14 states from Georgia to Maine, is actually a unit of the National Park Service, like the Blue Ridge Parkway or Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The redesign of the ATC's safety and crime prevention page includes incident reporting resources, a bold, red 911 button, a National Park Service phone number and the ability to submit an incident report from a mobile device, said Jordan Bowman, ATC communications manager. Previously, the incident report form was a PDF that had to be downloaded, filled out and emailed back. The updates went live Memorial Day weekend and have been tweaked several times since then, Bowman said. RELATED : Hot Spring residents shaken by Appalachian Trail homicide Ronald S. Sanchez Jr., 43, of Oklahoma, was stabbed to death in an attack on the Appalachian Trail in southwestern Virginia on May 11. James Jordan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, has been charged with murder and assault with intent to murder for allegedly attacking Sanchez and a female hiker, who hasn't been named. RELATED : 80-year-old WNC twins hike the Appalachian Trail Authorities said Jordan, who was believed to have spent time in Hot Springs just days before the attack, had repeatedly threatened four hikers before chasing them with a knife. Two managed to escape. Hikers had complained to authorities in southwestern Virginia and in Tennessee in recent weeks about Jordan's alleged threats. "The incident was definitely an impetus for us to take another look at the website," Bowman said. RELATED : Blue Ridge Parkway sees third suicide this year "What we've done is took a look at the language and make it straightforward and a lot more visually interesting and easy to understand immediately what actions can be taken," he said. "Before there were no hyperlinks or buttons. We put it through a visual design refresh, so someone knows first step in an emergency, is dial 911, let NPS dispatch know, send us an email and lastly submit online incident form." Bowman said as they continue to upgrade the website, the ATC will take any suggestions from the public on how to make it easier to use, by emailing info@appalachiantrail.org. There is still no "Safety" heading in the navigation bar, however. Visitors to the site must click on the "Explore" tab and then click on "Report an incident." RELATED : One dead after car accident on Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County RELATED: Blue Ridge Parkway has fewer visitors, but they're spending more He also said the ATC is working with the National Park Service and other partners on social media messaging and other safety campaigns. While the ATC's website has gone through a "design refresh," to find the safety information on the National Park Service website, one must go to https://www.nps.gov/appa , click on the "Plan Your Visit" tab in the navigation bar, then the "Safety" link. This will take you to alerts, which currently include bear warnings at overnight sights in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The message to call 911 or the park doesn't appear until you scroll to the very bottom of the page. RELATED : Asheville's Blackalachian promotes outdoor diversity on Appalachian Trail A report from Appalachian Trail Acting Chief Ranger Kurt Speers says there were "over 170 recordable incidents" reported on the trail in fiscal year 2018 (Oct. 1, 2017-Oct. 31, 2018), ranging in offense from vandalism and graffiti to theft and damage to resources, human-wildlife encounters, stolen vehicles, assault, harassment, stalking, alleged child abuse and mission or overdue hikers, among others. Speers said while his office works cooperatively with other agencies along the trail, from other national parks and forests to local sheriff's offices, he is the only commissioned law enforcement officer assigned specifically to the nearly 2,000-mile-long trail. He advises people not to hesitate to call for help. "If you feel like there's there's a situation like people are in danger, or there is an unsafe condition, that is when to dial 911," Speers said. "There can be unsafe conditions like a leaning tree, when it's not the time to dial 911." According to the ATC, more than 3 million visitors hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail each year. "Thru-hikers," those who attempt to hike the entire trail, take an average of six months to complete a northward hike. Only a quarter successfully complete a thru-hike each year. Help the Asheville Citizen Times continue to provide in-depth reporting like this. Find our latest subscription options and special offers here. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: After fatal stabbing, Appalachian Trail Conservancy simplifies reporting system