| Trump’s aides were eager to take Russian dirt on Clinton. But it wasn’t a conspiracy, Mueller report said Posted: 20 Apr 2019 12:41 PM PDT  The special counsel's final report report paints picture of a campaign eager to benefit from Russian interference.
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| State Department Warns 'Terrorists' May Plot More Attacks in Sri Lanka After Deadly Easter Bombings Posted: 22 Apr 2019 02:35 AM PDT  The State Department advises "increased caution due to terrorism" after a series of bombings Sunday killed at least 290 people
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| IS claims deadly attack on Afghan ministry Posted: 21 Apr 2019 06:36 AM PDT  The Islamic State group Sunday claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 10 people and trapped around 2,000 for hours inside the communications ministry in the Afghan capital the previous day. Four IS jihadists detonated explosives near the ministry, then entered and "battled Afghan security forces with machine guns and hand grenades for numerous hours", the group said in a statement on its social media channels. The attack in central Kabul killed seven civilians and three members of the security forces, the interior ministry said on Sunday, in a new toll after three people died of their wounds.
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| FBI arrests member of rightwing militia accused of detaining migrants Posted: 20 Apr 2019 01:51 PM PDT  Larry Mitchell Hopkins accused of illegal weapons possession after videos apparently showed men stopping migrants in New MexicoMen including Jim Benvie, a spokesman for the militia calling itself the United Constitutional Patriots, share cigarettes while patrolling the US-Mexico border in Sunland Park, New Mexico last month. Photograph: Paul Ratje/AFP/Getty ImagesA member of an armed rightwing militia group accused of illegally detaining migrants at the US-Mexico border has been arrested, officials said on Saturday.The FBI arrested Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition , days after his group posted videos that appeared to show armed men stopping migrants at the border in New Mexico, ordering them to sit on the ground and coordinating with US border patrol agents to have them taken into custody."Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," the New Mexico attorney general, Hector Balderas, said in a statement.On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called for an investigation into the pro-Trump, anti-immigrant men who have been patrolling the border and calling themselves the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP).The ACLU in New Mexico described the group as "an armed fascist militia organization" made up of "vigilantes", saying they were working to "kidnap and detain people seeking asylum" and had directly made illegal arrests and held migrants at gunpoint.Hopkins' role in the group was unclear, and it was also not clear if he was facing any charges directly related to the videos of the men stopping migrants. The New Mexico attorney general's office described Hopkins as a "dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families" and labeled him an "armed individual detaining migrants at the border".An FBI statement on the arrest did not mention the militia group or the detention of migrants, but noted that Hopkins has also gone by the name Johnny Horton Jr and that he was due to appear in court on Monday.In one video posted last Monday night by Jim Benvie, a member of the armed group, it appeared the men were ordering around dozens of migrants, including many children, and telling them to sit. Benvie narrated: "There's no border patrol here. This is us."The men appeared to call border patrol agents, who later were seen. The ACLU, in a letter to state officials, said the group had targeted nearly 300 migrants in Sunland Park, New Mexico, which is along the Mexico border and adjacent to El Paso, Texas.The militia members advocated for Trump's proposed border wall on the video streams and echoed the president's anti-migrant rhetoric, warning of an "invasion".There have also been concerns that the men, who wear military-style clothes, could be misrepresenting themselves as border patrol agents. In another video, Benvie filmed himself stopping a group of four adults and three children and said "border patrol" as he approached, before calling for another member of his group to join him. In an apparent call to border patrol, one man said: "Hello, I've got seven over here."The UCP has previously presented itself as a group of "volunteers" aiding border patrol and supporting Trump. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of an increase in paramilitary groups and xenophobic activists surveilling the border, working with US agents and targeting undocumented people.The UCP has not responded to the Guardian's requests for comment.On Thursday, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said border patrol "welcomes assistance from the community" but "does not endorse private groups or organizations taking enforcement matters into their own hands".The Daily Beast reported that Hopkins has a history of pushing far-right conspiracies and has a conviction for impersonating an officer and felony firearm possession. He could not be reached on Saturday and it was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.Stephanie Corte, an immigrant rights campaign strategist with the ACLU in New Mexico, said her group was still trying to make contact with the detained migrants and was uncertain if any had been released."Our next focus is to try to get their story and making sure they feel safe to tell their story of being held at gunpoint," she told the Guardian, adding that the ACLU would explore legal options.She said she hoped authorities would work to make sure this does not happen again."We absolutely believe that this was completely unlawful," she said. "We're hoping those involved will be brought to justice."
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| Doves, heartbreak and hope on 20th anniversary of Columbine High massacre Posted: 20 Apr 2019 11:11 PM PDT  Addressing hundreds of people gathered at Saturday's service in a park next to the school, Dawn Anna, mother of slain student Lauren Townsend, spoke on behalf of all the families of the victims about their sense of loss. Patrick Ireland, whose fall out of a school library window into the arms of firefighters, which became one of the iconic images of the massacre, spoke of his long physical and emotional recovery. "You're a victim only if you allow yourself to become one," Ireland said.
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| Ex-Marine arrested in North Korea embassy attack in Madrid Posted: 20 Apr 2019 01:25 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — A man suspected of involvement in a mysterious dissident group's February raid on North Korea's Embassy in Madrid was arrested in Los Angeles by U.S. authorities.
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| PHOTOS: Bonnets, costumes on display in New York City's Easter Parade Posted: 21 Apr 2019 02:19 PM PDT  The fancy hats and finery were out and on display for New York City's annual Easter extravaganza. Participants in the annual Easter Parade made their way along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue on Sunday in a procession of the wild and whimsical. The annual event is a New York City tradition that goes back well over a century, when the wealthy would get dressed in their best and go out for a stroll after Easter church services.
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| Police find woman stabbed to death, 4-year-old girl, ax inside Brooklyn apartment Posted: 22 Apr 2019 07:18 AM PDT  A man has been arrested after a woman who was five months pregnant was found dead in a Brooklyn apartment.
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| Schiff Says Democrats Will Debate Impeachment Posted: 21 Apr 2019 08:15 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said Sunday that the Democrats will discuss whether to begin impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump after progressives ratcheted up the pressure on a reluctant party leadership.
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| A look at Sri Lanka's troubled recent history marked by war Posted: 22 Apr 2019 12:05 AM PDT  COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A series of blasts in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, blamed on religious extremists, recalled the worst days of the country's 26-year civil war.
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| Serbia pledges 1 million euros for Notre-Dame restoration Posted: 22 Apr 2019 06:07 AM PDT  Serbia on Monday said it will donate one million euros to help restore Notre-Dame Cathedral, after pro-government tabloids said the fire was "God's punishment" to France. The gift comes after two tabloids, Alo and Informer, said the blaze was divine retribution after Kosovo's flag was displayed inside the cathedral during World War I centennial commemorations in Paris last year. Serbia does not recognise the independence of Kosovo, a former southern province that broke away in a 1998-99 war.
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| Pakistan's Prime Minister Khan in Iran to talk security, ties Posted: 21 Apr 2019 09:30 AM PDT  Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Iran on Sunday to discuss security and regional issues, Iranian state TV reported, a day after Islamabad urged Tehran to act against militants behind killings in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. A new umbrella group representing various insurgent groups operating in Baluchistan claimed responsibility for an attack on Thursday when 14 passengers were killed after being kidnapped from buses in the province, which borders Iran. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday the training and logistical camps of the new alliance that carried out the attack were inside Iran and called for Iran to take action against the insurgents.
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| View Photos of the Vonnen Porsche 911 Hybrid Posted: 22 Apr 2019 12:00 AM PDT |
| US STOCKS-Wall Street dips ahead of earnings deluge Posted: 22 Apr 2019 07:22 AM PDT ![US STOCKS-Wall Street dips ahead of earnings deluge]( "US STOCKS-Wall Street dips ahead of earnings deluge") U.S. stocks pulled back slightly on Monday as investors awaited a barrage of major earnings reports this week, the busiest this earnings season, while a jump in energy stocks kept losses in check. Boeing Co was down 1.1% after the New York Times reported the company's factory in South Carolina, which makes the 787 Dreamliner, has been plagued by "shoddy production and weak oversight." Another report on Sunday said the planemaker rejected the allegations.
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| Here's An Idea: The Air Force Builds 200 B-21 Stealth Bombers Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:00 PM PDT  The B-21 has disappeared into the "black" world of military technology, and will only reemerge when the bomber is ready.On October 27, 2015, nearly thirty-four years to the day after Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract to develop the first stealth bomber, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop a contract for a new bomber: the B-21 Raider. While many of the details of the Raider are shrouded in mystery, we do know a few things about it, and can infer others.(This first appeared in 2017.)The B-21 Raider bomber takes its name from both the twenty-first century and the legendary 1942 raid by Gen. James "Jimmy" Doolittle's force of B-25 Mitchell bombers against targets in and around Tokyo, Japan. In invoking the Doolittle Raid, the Air Force is drawing attention to attack's audacious nature, the strategic and tactical surprise, and the epic distances General Doolittle and his "raiders" flew to accomplish their mission.Recommended: Why Doesn't America Just Kill Kim Jong-un?
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| Leader of US border vigilante group arrested by FBI Posted: 21 Apr 2019 09:18 AM PDT  The leader of a right-wing militia group which has been detaining migrant families at gunpoint on the US-Mexico border has been arrested by the FBI. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, who runs the United Constitutional Patriots, was detained by the FBI on Saturday night, charged with being in possession of firearms despite being a convicted felon. The move comes amid mounting concern over the activities of the vigilante group in recent months as the migration crisis on the US border intensifies. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, of Flora Vista, N.M., arrested today on federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms& ammunition. FBI arrested Hopkins in Sunland Park w/help of @sunland_park_nm PD.— FBI Albuquerque (@FBIAlbuquerque) April 21, 2019 Hopkins, who operates under the alias Johnny Horton Jr, said his group had been working with the US border patrol in rounding up immigrants as they cross the border into New Mexico. However, this was disputed by both the US Border Patrol and State Attorney General Hector Balderas. "This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families," he said. "Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes." On its Facebook page, the group denies acting illegally. "We are here to uphold the Constitution of The United States of America. We uphold this cause against all enemies both foreign and domestic which shall infringe upon the rights of the citizens given by the Constitution." It says it will continue its patrols until the border wall promised by Donald Trump is built and Congress toughens US asylum laws. A Facebook posting urges supporters: "If you want to protect our country, get your butts down here." In an online video, an unnamed member voices regret that they can't use their firearms. "The only problem is if we shoot on the hill, it would be an international crisis. We are too close to the border. But it would save some time, wouldn't it." The group had been raising money via PayPal and GoFund Me, but both companies have suspended its account.
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| Rudy Giuliani: There's 'Nothing Wrong' With Trump Campaign Taking Information From Russians Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:09 AM PDT  Robert Mueller's report detailed over 100 interactions between Trump's associates and Russians
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| The Latest: 12 students,1 teacher killed honored at ceremony Posted: 21 Apr 2019 02:19 AM PDT  LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — The Latest on events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting (all times local):
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| How 11 People Are Trying to Stop Fake News in the World’s Largest Election Posted: 22 Apr 2019 12:20 AM PDT  One of the operations most vital to Facebook Inc. at this moment is a world away from its Menlo Park, California, headquarters, and in more ways than one. This is Boom Live, one of seven tiny fact-checking firms at the heart of Facebook's efforts to rebuild some of its credibility during India's elections. Based on the early tallies, more than 60 percent of India's 900 million eligible voters are expected to cast ballots between now and May 19, as the center-left Congress Party tries to seize power from the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.
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| Libyan force slows Tripoli push over concerns for civilians Posted: 22 Apr 2019 06:01 AM PDT  TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A self-styled Libyan army slowed down its push on the country's capital over concerns for civilians caught up in the violence as the U.N. refugee agency said Monday that the fighting for Tripoli has displaced more than 32,000 people.
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| Land Rover's Unsung Heroes Hit Big Anniversaries For 2019! Posted: 21 Apr 2019 01:44 PM PDT  Four anniversaries sure to resonate with Land Rover enthusiasts the world over will be celebrated at the upcoming 2019 Land Rover Legends show. The event is due to take place over the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May at Bicester Heritage, a former WWII RAF station in Oxfordshire UK, which has hosted numerous historic motoring events in recent years. Is The Land Rover Freelander A Modern Classic?
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| Tesla investigating an apparent case of a Model S exploding and catching fire in China Posted: 22 Apr 2019 05:37 AM PDT ![Tesla investigating an apparent case of a Model S exploding and catching fire in China]( "Tesla investigating an apparent case of a Model S exploding and catching fire in China") Electric automaker Tesla sent a team to investigate after a Model S exploded and caught fire in Shanghai. There are reportedly no known casualties.
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| US STOCKS-Wall St set to open lower as investors brace for earnings deluge Posted: 22 Apr 2019 06:08 AM PDT ![US STOCKS-Wall St set to open lower as investors brace for earnings deluge]( "US STOCKS-Wall St set to open lower as investors brace for earnings deluge") About a third of the S&P 500 companies, including Boeing Co , Amazon.com Inc and Facebook Inc, will report this week, determining whether investors should be concerned about the start of an earnings recession or whether back-to-back quarters of negative growth can be avoided. "Q1 earnings have largely been a pleasant surprise thus far, but have not ignited investor enthusiasm enough to move the needle in a meaningful way," Peter Kenny, founder of Strategic Board Solutions LLC in New York, wrote in a client note. Benefiting from a surge in oil prices and upbeat results was Halliburton Co, whose shares rose 2.4% in premarket trading.
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| Barr's Mueller report rollout was disgraceful. I can't believe it but I miss Jeff Sessions. Posted: 22 Apr 2019 06:05 AM PDT Barr's reputation is as battered as Trump's. Sessions at least had one redeeming feature: He tried to maintain the Justice Department's independence.
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| Mexico draws weapons on American soldiers on U.S. side of border Posted: 21 Apr 2019 05:27 AM PDT  Two American soldiers conducting routine surveillance north of the Rio Grande were confronted by Mexican troops who believed they were south of the border, according to defense officials.
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| Last laugh: Ukraine comedian who became president Posted: 21 Apr 2019 10:32 AM PDT  Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has been elected president of Ukraine twice -- first as a character in the popular TV show "Servant of the People", now for real. Supporters see the political novice as a breath of fresh air but critics say he is a puppet of powerful rivals to Ukraine's outgoing leader Petro Poroshenko. As a candidate, Zelensky has blurred the line between politics and entertainment.
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| Israeli election may have dimmed hopes for 2-state solution Posted: 20 Apr 2019 11:13 PM PDT  JERUSALEM (AP) — Is the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dead?
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| 75+ Perfect Mother's Day Gifts For $50 or Less Posted: 22 Apr 2019 08:26 AM PDT |
| 'Today' show's Dylan Dreyer opens up about miscarriage and secondary infertility struggle Posted: 22 Apr 2019 09:27 AM PDT  The 'Today' show meteorologist and her husband decided to talk about their struggle to have a second baby in an effort to get rid of the stigma attached to secondary infertility.
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| This tiny RC car could absolutely destroy your car in a race Posted: 20 Apr 2019 10:27 AM PDT  A 0-to-60 mph time of under three seconds is something that all but the most wealthy supercar owners are ever likely to enjoy. A 0-to-100 mph time of just over five seconds? Well now we're in territory that few production automobiles have ever dared tread, but it's all in a day's work for RC enthusiasts who seek to achieve the most ludicrous speeds with their high-tech toys.A recent video posted by YouTuber Innovation RC clearly demonstrates just how insane RC cars can be, with one of the pint-sized speed demons hitting an absolutely absurd speed of 124 mph in less than eight seconds, all while hauling a not-super-light action camera and traveling over what seems to be a fairly rough surface.Radio-controlled vehicles used to be near the top of every kid's wishlist, and perhaps some of them still are, but these aren't your grandfather's RC toys. These tiny cars are built with performance in mind, and enthusiasts regularly modify them in an effort to push the hardware to its absolute limit. They can set you back several hundreds of dollars, and that's without any additional tuning or upgrades. But they're fast... really, really fast.Just check this out:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpdRrPYcEVsThat's 124 mph while hauling a camera that, if I had to guess, doesn't look like the most aerodynamic thing in the world. Not to mention the fact that the pavement being raced on here appears to be anything but smooth. It's easy to imagine this little car topping out at much higher speeds under ideal conditions, but it's still an incredibly impressive run considering the circumstances.In fact, in a subsequent video the same car can be seen hitting a top speed of 133 mph, though without a GoPro on board it's a little bit less interesting to watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo_oCzCHCxMI want one. No, no. I need one.
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| Why the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 Is Tough to Beat Posted: 21 Apr 2019 04:00 AM PDT  Newfound consumer interest in the subcompact handgun has led many gun manufacturers to introduce smaller––but still potent––pistols that can be carried discretely as a backup gun or concealed carry piece.But which ones are worth your time and money? One such example is the Smith & Wesson M&P; Bodyguard 380. One of the best of the new generation of subcompact handguns, it also has the most favorable dimensions and weight for those requiring packable firepower.The Smith & Wesson M&P; Bodyguard 380 is a second generation subcompact pistol that takes over from––and is functionally identical to––the first generation Bodyguard. The pistol is a small frame, double action semi-automatic designed for concealed carry. Unlike the larger M&P; handguns it is not a striker fired weapon, instead using a more traditional hammer and firing pin operating system. The gun lacks an external hammer, making it incapable of single action fire and the lighter trigger pull that entails. The double action hammer pull is rated by reviewers at 9.5 pounds and is described as "smooth" and "easy to use."
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| Who was behind the Sri Lanka bombings? Everything we know so far about the Easter Sunday attacks Posted: 22 Apr 2019 02:30 AM PDT  Easter Day bomb blasts at three Sri Lankan churches and four hotels killed 290 people and wounded around 500, following a lull in major attacks since the end of the civil war 10 years ago. The explosions, some of which officials said were suicide bomb attacks, led to an immediate clampdown, with the government declaring a curfew and blocking access to most major social media and messaging sites. What happened? The powerful blasts - six in quick succession and then two more hours later - wrought devastation, including at the capital's well-known St Anthony's Shrine, a historic Catholic Church. The three hotels hit in the initial attacks were the Shangri-La Colombo, Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo and the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. pic gallery The first six explosions were all reported within a short period in the morning just as church services were starting. Hours later there were two further attacks in the outskirts of Colombo. Police the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers. Who were the victims? The death toll rose to almost 300 on Monday and was expected to rise further still. There were hundreds of people injured in hospitals. There were eight British citizens killed in the attack, two of whom had dual US nationality. A British mother and son were killed while eating breakfast at a five-star Sri Lankan hotel. Alex Nicholson, 11, his mother, Anita, 42, were killed while dining at the second-floor restaurant in the Shangri La hotel in the country's capital, Colombo. Read more | Sri Lanka attacks The schoolboy's father, Ben, survived, while The Telegraph was unable to account for the whereabouts of the couple's youngest daughter. Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, said she lost a relative in the attacks. "It is all so devastating," she wrote on Twitter. "Solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka." The first American victim of the Sri Lanka terror attack has been named as 40-year-old Dieter Kowalski. Mr Kowalski, from Denver, Colorado, checked into the luxury Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo just hours before it was targeted by the bombers. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said the nationalities of 11 foreigners killed in the Easter Sunday blasts have been verified. Three Indians, one Portuguese and two Turkish nationals were killed, while a further nine foreigners were also reported missing. A Dutch national and a Chinese national also have been reported among the victims. Read more about the victims. Who was behind the attacks? A Sri Lankan government official said the attacks were carried out by seven suicide bombers from a domestic militant group named National Thowfeek Jamaath. There was no claim of responsibility on Monday. All of the bombers were Sri Lankan citizens, but authorities suspect foreign links, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said at a news conference. Earlier, Ariyananda Welianga, a government forensic crime investigator, said an analysis of the attackers' body parts made clear that they were suicide bombers. He said most of the attacks were carried out by a single bomber, with two at Colombo's Shangri-La Hotel. Documents seen by AFP show that Sri Lanka's police chief Pujuth Jayasundara issued an intelligence alert to top officers 10 days ago, warning that suicide bombers planned to hit "prominent churches". "A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo," the alert said. The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that was linked last year to the vandalism of Buddhist statues. Key intelligence on a possible terrorist attack was not passed onto the Sri Lankan government weeks before the attack. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged late on Sunday that "information was there" about possible attacks, adding that "we must also look into why adequate precautions were not taken." How did Sri Lanka react? The government beefed up security and imposed an immediate and indefinite curfew across the country. It also put in place a "temporary" ban on social media platforms "in order to prevent incorrect and wrong information being spread". Security at Colombo's airport was also enhanced, according to Sri Lankan Airlines, which advised its passengers to arrive four hours before their flights. It added that passengers with passports and tickets will be able to reach the airport during the curfew. he front page of a Sri Lankan newspaper, showing coverage of the Easter Sunday blasts, hangs at a newsstand in Colombo Credit: AFP The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, called on Sri Lanka's government to "mercilessly" punish those responsible "because only animals can behave like that." Two Muslim groups in Sri Lanka also condemned the church attacks. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said it mourned the loss of innocent people in the blasts by extremists who seek to divide religious and ethnic groups. The All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama a body of Muslim clerics, said targeting Christian places of worship cannot be accepted. Embassies in Sri Lanka have warned their citizens to shelter in place. Here is a round-up of the world's reaction to the atrocity.
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| Missing boy Andrew 'AJ' Freund: Boy, 5, did not leave home on foot, police say Posted: 21 Apr 2019 06:36 AM PDT  A 5-year-old boy last seen on Wednesday night remains missing, and police said they are focusing their investigation on the boy's home.
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| Macron popularity still weak after Notre-Dame fire: poll Posted: 21 Apr 2019 12:03 AM PDT  The popularity of French President Emmanuel Macron remains stuck at under 30 percent as he battles a series of political troubles, with no major change reported after the Notre-Dame fire, a poll said Sunday. The poll, carried out up until April 20, was published at the end of a dramatic week for Macron which saw him address the nation over the damage to the Notre-Dame cathedral in Monday's devastating fire. With tax cuts and other major reforms expected to be announced, Macron is to hold the first ever formal press conference of his presidency on Thursday.
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| Trump and impeachment: where Democrats stand after Mueller Posted: 20 Apr 2019 11:37 AM PDT  Elizabeth Warren and Rashida Tlaib have called for action, but many lawmakers say more information is needed firstElizabeth Warren was the first 2020 presidential candidate to call for impeachment. Photograph: Kristopher Radder/APLong before a redacted version of the Mueller report was released this week, the winds of impeachment were swirling around Donald Trump's presidency.Nonetheless, the findings in the 448-page report, which include 11 instances in which Trump or his campaign engaged in potential obstruction of justice, have increased pressure on prominent Democrats to take a stand on the issue.Articles of impeachment would have to pass the Democratic-controlled House. But to remove the president from office, two-thirds of the Republican-controlled Senate would need to vote in favor.The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has repeatedly resisted calls for impeachment. She and other Democrats fear the process, which would be overwhelmingly likely to fail in the Senate, would become a political distraction and that the party should instead bet on the ballot box in 2020 as the way to get Trump out of the White House.Nonetheless, in the wake of the Mueller report, prominent Democrats including presidential contenders, committee chairs and rank-and-file lawmakers found themselves having to position themselves as for impeachment, against it … or somewhere in between. For impeachment> I read the Mueller report. When I got to the end, I realized this is a point of principle. Because it matters not just for this president, but for all future presidents. No one is above the law. pic.twitter.com/RdAHQYoH0V> > — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 20, 2019Elizabeth Warren: The Massachusetts senator was the first 2020 presidential candidate to call for impeachment, writing that not holding such proceedings "would suggest that both the current and future presidents would be free to abuse their power in similar ways"."The severity of this misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty," she tweeted. "That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the president of the United States."Julián Castro: The former housing secretary and hopeful for the Democratic nomination said he would support Congress opening impeachment proceedings, telling CNN "it would be perfectly reasonable for Congress" to do so.Tom Steyer: The billionaire explored running for president until January, with impeachment as a key part of his platform. Despite deciding not to run, he has continued to pursue impeachment. In response to Warren's support, he said she was "one of the people in Washington who has the moral courage to do what's right".> We're going to impeach the motherfucker> > Rashida TlaibRashida Tlaib: A month before the redacted Mueller report was released, the Michigan representative introduced an impeachment resolution. "We all swore to protect our nation, and that begins with making sure that no one, including the president of the United States, is acting above the law," Tlaib wrote in a letter to colleagues. She also called for Trump's impeachment on her first day in office in January, in a Detroit Free Press opinion piece and at a swearing-in event, where she commented: "We're going to impeach the motherfucker."Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said she would sign-on to Tlaib's resolution, in the wake of the Mueller report. "Many know I take no pleasure in discussions of impeachment. I didn't campaign on it, and rarely discuss it unprompted," the New York representative and progressive star tweeted. "We all prefer working on our priorities: pushing Medicare for All, tackling student loans, and a Green New Deal. But the report squarely puts this on our doorstep."Maxine Waters: The Californian who chairs the House finance committee – and who has been attacked by Trump – backed impeachment on Thursday. "Congress's failure to impeach is complacency in the face of the erosion of our democracy and constitutional norms," she said. "Congress's failure to impeach would set a dangerous precedent and imperil the nation as it would vest too much power in the executive branch and embolden future officeholders to further debase the US presidency, if that's even possible."Al Green: The Texas representative has pushed for impeachment since Trump fired the FBI director James Comey in May 2017, forcing two unsuccessful votes on the articles of impeachment. He continues to push on. "I call for the impeachment of the president of the United States of America," Green said in a press conference streamed on Facebook. "This rests solely now on the shoulders of the Congress of the United States of America." Against impeachmentNancy Pelosi speaks on Capitol Hill. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/ReutersNancy Pelosi: The speaker of the House has a delicate path to tread and has not encouraged voters to believe she will initiate impeachment proceedings, instead pointing to fierce oversight of the White House by Democratic-led committees."Let me assure you that whatever the issue and challenge we face, the Congress of the United States will honor its oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States to protect our democracy," she told reporters this week. "We believe that the first article – Article I, the legislative branch – has the responsibility of oversight of our democracy, and we will exercise that."> The avenue is not impeachment. The avenue is further disclosure to the American people> > Hakeem JeffriesHakeem Jeffries: The New York representative who chairs the House Democratic caucus said voters were much more interested in issues beyond impeachment. "The avenue is not impeachment," he said this week. "The avenue is further disclosure to the American people."Angus King: The independent senator from Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, said the decision to keep Trump as president – or not – should be taken by voters. "In my view, there's an even better political process coming right down the road on almost the same time frame and that's the elections of 2020," King told CNN on Friday. "For Congress to go through an impeachment process would be, it would take probably 18 months, which would lead right up to the election. And it would be divisive." Somewhere in betweenPete Buttigieg: The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, another 2020 hopeful who has surged in the polls, said there was "evidence that this president deserves to be impeached". But he also said it was up to Congress to decide whether to proceed, prompting debate over his true meaning.> The idea is to find out exactly what went on, who did what> > Jerrold NadlerJerrold Nadler: The chairman of the House judiciary committee said his panel would hold "major hearings" with prominent people featured in the Mueller report. The New York representative, who has subpoenaed the unredacted report, has discussed impeachment repeatedly as it would originate with his committee. This week he remained noncommittal."The idea is not whether to debate articles of impeachment," Nadler said. "The idea is to find out exactly what went on, who did what, what institutional safeguards were gotten around and how they were gotten around, and then decide what to do about it."Amy Klobuchar: The Minnesota senator, running for the Democratic nomination, falls very much on the "let's investigate more" side of things. She told reporters on Friday she wants to see Mueller testify before the Senate judiciary committee, of which she is a member. "I think you've seen all the senators are very cautious about talking about this because we would be the jury if there was any kind of an action brought over from the House," she said.Kamala Harris says 'there is definitely a conversation to be had' about impeachment. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/APKamala Harris: "I think that there is definitely a conversation to be had on that subject," the California senator and presidential hopeful told MSNBC on Thursday, "but first I want to hear from Bob Mueller and really understand what exactly is the evidence that supports the summary that we have been given today."Cory Booker: Speaking in Nevada on Friday, the New Jersey senator, who is also a member of the judiciary committee and a 2020 hopeful, said it was too soon to discuss impeachment because Congress has not seen the unredacted report and has not had a chance to interview Mueller. "There's a lot more investigation that should go on before Congress comes to any conclusions like that," he said.Bernie Sanders: At a South Carolina campaign stop on Friday, the Vermont senator ignored questions from reporters about impeachment. Instead he tweeted: "While we have more detail from today's report than before, Congress must continue its investigation into Trump's conduct and any foreign attempts to influence our election."> We must also work to do everything we can to protect our future elections from the significant threat of foreign interference, and I call on President Trump and Republican leadership to stop obstructing the necessary work to protect our democracy.> > — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 18, 2019Beto O'Rourke: The 2020 contender and former Texas representative said he believed voters cared more about policy discussions than impeachment, telling reporters on Thursday: "I don't know that impeachment and those proceedings in the House and potential trial in the Senate is going to answer those questions for people."Elijah Cummings: The House oversight committee chairman told MSNBC on Friday the Mueller report revealed actions that were "at least 100 times worse" than those that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998. "We've got to go against this, we've got to expose it. A lot of people keep asking about the question of impeachment," Cummings said. "But right now, let's make sure we understand what Mueller was doing, understand what Barr was doing, and see the report in an unredacted form, and all of the underlying documents."Eric Swalwell: The California representative, also running for president, told MSNBC on Friday impeachment was "a conversation we have to have as far as holding this president accountable" but stopped short of saying whether he supported impeachment proceedings. "I'm for bringing Bob Mueller in and see what the evidence is," he said.Steny Hoyer: The House majority leader, from Maryland, said the Mueller report was "a damning recitation of lies, misinformation, and malfeasance" that clearly sets a basis for "probable cause that crimes were, in fact, committed". But he did not mention impeachment.
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| Best Energy-Efficient Refrigerators Posted: 21 Apr 2019 03:00 AM PDT  Best Energy-Efficient Refrigerators From Consumer Reports' Tests The appliances you buy can have a big impact on your energy bill, and those costs get baked into your fixed expenses for years to...
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| Roman Polanski sues Oscars academy seeking reinstatement after 'improper' expulsion Posted: 21 Apr 2019 10:53 AM PDT  Oscar-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski sues to get back in to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, after it expelled him last year.
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| Google just cut Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL prices in half, today only Posted: 22 Apr 2019 07:58 AM PDT  Google's Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL weren't the flashiest phones of 2018, but they're still two of the best Android flagships devices on the market. Plus, the Pixel is one of the few phones to receive every major Android update the day it rolls out, which means you'll always have the latest and greatest version of the mobile operating system.Unfortunately, if your phone budget is relatively tight, the quadruple-digit price of the Pixel 3 XL might have scared you away, but on Monday, April 22nd, in celebration of the fourth anniversary of Google Fi's launch, Google is slashing the price of both Pixel 3 models in half. The catch? You have to buy the phone on Google Fi.If you buy and activate a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL from fi.google.com between the hours of 12:00 AM PT to 11:59 PM PT today, you can get any model of either phone for 50% off. Here are all the details of the sale: * Pixel 3 64 GB is discounted from $799 to $399. * Pixel 3 128 GB is discounted from $899 to $449. * Pixel 3 XL 64 GB is discounted from $899 to $449. * Pixel 3 XL 128 GB is discounted from $999 to $499.In order to qualify for the 50% discount, you have to be a new or existing Google Fi customer, which is Google's own MVNO service. The discounted price will automatically be applied at checkout, but you'll have to activate the phone within 30 days of receiving the shipping confirmation email. If you don't, the discounted amount will be charged to your Google Payments account, and you'll end up paying full retail price for the phone.Google is likely just weeks away from unveiling its midrange Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, but if you're in the market for a modern flagship, you will be hard-pressed to find a better deal than this anywhere online.
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| Check Out These Dangerous Looking Chinese Assault Rifles (There's A Problem) Posted: 20 Apr 2019 03:00 PM PDT  To hear Chinese state media tell it, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army will go into battle in the future wearing an array of high-tech gizmos. In their hands will be enormous weapons combining a rifle with a 20-millimeter grenade launcher akin to the old — and cancelled — American OICW. On top of that, they will have heads-up displays and networked positioning systems so Chinese troops can monitor each other digitally, almost like a video game.It looks impressive, and Chinese announcements of the system have circulated in the press with varying degrees of skepticism and hyperbole. A more skeptical take recently came from the military news wire Shephard Media, which pointed out that China is claiming the 20-millimeter hybrid weapon, dubbed QTS-11, can fire airbursting grenades lethal within a radius of 7.7 meters.
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| Incoming Japanese emperor's life filled with breaks from tradition Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:31 PM PDT  Naruhito, 59, will not only be the first Japanese emperor born after World War Two and the first to be raised solely by his parents, but also the first to graduate from a university and pursue advanced studies overseas. SELFIES WITH BYSTANDERS Naruhito, the eldest of three children, was cared for by his mother, Empress Michiko, instead of being raised by wet nurses and tutors. FAMILY DEVOTION Naruhito defied palace officials to marry Masako Owada, now 55, after she caught his eye at a concert, prompting a years-long courtship during which she rejected his early proposals.
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| The Latest: UN official: sorrow over Sri Lanka attacks Posted: 22 Apr 2019 09:22 AM PDT  COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Latest on explosions in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday (all times local):
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| 'House of horrors': California couple sentenced to life in prison for torturing their children Posted: 21 Apr 2019 10:49 AM PDT  David and Louise Turpin, who pleaded guilty in February to torture and false imprisonment, are eligible for parole after 25 years.
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| Kosovo repatriates 110 citizens from Syria Posted: 20 Apr 2019 10:15 AM PDT  Kosovo on Saturday repatriated 110 of its citizens from Syria, mostly mothers with their children having followed their partners who went to join jihadist groups in the war-torn country. The group also included four men suspected of having fought for the Islamic State group, who were charged upon arrival in Pristina with participating in a foreign conflict, chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi told reporters. Kosovo, whose population of 1.8 million is 90 percent Muslim, is one of the European countries with the proportionally biggest number of jihadi fighters in Iraq and Syria.
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| Should Kids Be on the Keto Diet? Posted: 22 Apr 2019 03:00 AM PDT ![Should Kids Be on the Keto Diet?]( "Should Kids Be on the Keto Diet?") Anecdotally, many have had success on this diet, but they've also primarily been adults who are no longer in the process of growing. Some randomized control trials do show statistically significant difference between weight loss on a low-carb vs. low-fat diet at six months. One study indicated that at 12 months, there was no statistical difference in weight loss.
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