| The Latest: Sri Lankan ministers warn of more attacks Posted: 30 Apr 2019 05:15 AM PDT  COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Latest on the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka (all times local):
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| Riley Howell tried to stop UNC Charlotte gunman. He saved lives and died a hero, police say. Posted: 01 May 2019 03:30 PM PDT  Riley Howell was honored by police officials who said his decision to fight the gunman helped prevent more deaths at UNC Charlotte.
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| Ilhan Omar Blames U.S. Policy for Upheaval in Venezuela Posted: 01 May 2019 01:41 PM PDT  Representative Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) blamed the U.S. on Wednesday for the "devastation" in Venezuela and accused America of "bullying" the country's socialist regime.Asked by Democracy Now! about the "U.S.-supported coup attempt against President Maduro," Omar said that America's push for regime change in Venezuela does not help the country's citizens."A lot of the policies that we have put in place has [sic] kind of helped lead [to] the devastation in Venezuela," Omar said. "And we've sort of set the stage for where we're arriving today.""This particular bullying and the use of sanctions to eventually intervene and make regime change really does not help the people of countries like Venezuela, and it certainly does not help and is not in the interest of the United States," she added.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the U.S. supports the Venezuelan opposition's effort, led by self-declared interim president Juan Guaidó, to oust President Nicolás Maduro. After Guaidó called for opposition protesters to take to the streets, they gathered in Caracas -- Venezuela's capital -- and states around the country Wednesday, with some carrying the Venezuelan flag while others constructed molotov cocktails. Armored military trucks allied with Maduro were caught on film ramming into crowds of anti-government protesters.Omar has been highly critical of U.S. policy in Latin America, and of Special Envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams in particular. During Abrams's testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in February, she said that she doubted his truthfulness, referencing his 1991 conviction on two counts of withholding information from Congress about his part in the Iran-Contra scandal."People like Elliott Abrams, neocons and warmongers, you know, for so long have pushed for policies that are now — we can see, not only in Central America, but many parts of the world, the kind of devastations that they've had for decades," Omar said Wednesday.
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| Who has Trump fired? All the top administration departures since the president came into office Posted: 30 Apr 2019 08:47 AM PDT  The resignation of deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein marks just the latest departure for an administration that has turned heads for its high level of turnover.After Donald Trump became president in January 2017, the administration gained notoriety for its tumult and chaos as the nascent governing operation found its legs.While the rate of removal has slowed somewhat following the 2018 midterms, the sheer number of high-level departures is notable.Here's a list of those departures, and how long they lasted in the White House. * Michael Flynn — national security adviser: Started 20 January 2017, left 13 February 2017 * Sean Spicer — communications director and press secretary: Started 20 January 2017, left 21 July 2017 * Reince Priebus — chief of staff: Started 20 January 2017, left 23 July 2017 * Anthony Scaramucci — communications director: Started 21 July 2017, left 31 July 2017 * Steve Bannon — chief strategist: Started 20 January 2017, left 18 August 2017 * Katie Walsh — deputy chief of staff: Started 20 January 2017, left 30 March 2017 * Michael Dubke — communications director: Started 6 March 2017, left 2 June 2017 * Sebastian Gorka — deputy assistant to the president: Started 20 January 2017, left 25 August 2017 * KT McFarland — deputy national security adviser: Started 20 January 2017, left 9 April 2017 * Tom Price — secretary of Health and Human Services: Started 10 February 2017, left 29 September 2017 * Omarosa Manigault Newman — assistant to the president and director of communications for the office of public liaison: 20 January 2017, left 13 December 2017 * James Comey — FBI director: Started 4 September 2013, left 9 May 2017 * Andrew McCabe — deputy director of the FBI: Started 1 February 2016, left 29 January 2018 * Dina Powell — deputy national security adviser: Started 18 January 2017, left 12 January 2018 * Walter Shaub — director of the office of government ethics: Started 9 January 2013, left 19 July 2017 * Angella Reid — chief usher: Started 4 October 2011, left 5 Maya 2017 * Rob Porter — staff secretary: Started 20 January 2017, left 7 February 2018 * Josh Raffel — senior communications official: Started 5 April 2017, left 27 February 2018 * Hope Hicks — director of strategic communications and communications director: Started 20 January 2017, left 29 Mac 2018 * Gay Cohn — director of the national economic council: Started 20 January 2017, left 2 April 2018 * John McEntee — personal aide to the president: Started 20 January 2017, left 12 March 2018 * Rex Tillerson — secretary of State: 20 January 2017, left 13 March 2018 * HR McMaster — national security adviser: Started 20 February 2017, left 22 March 2018 * David Sulking — secretary of Veterans Affairs: Started 13 February 2017, left 28 March 2018 * Michael Anton — national security council spokesperson: Started 8 February 2017, left 8 April 2018 * Tom Bossert — homeland security adviser: Started 20 January 2017, left 10 April 2018 * Scott Pruitt — EPA administrator: Started 17 February 2017, left 5 July 2018 * Nikki Haley — US ambassador to the United Nations: Started 24 January 2017, left December 2018 * Jeff Sessions — attorney general: Started 9 February 2017, left 7 November 2018 * Mira Ricardel — deputy national security adviser: Started 15 May 2018, left 14 November 2018 * John Kelly — chief of staff: Started 31 July 2017, left December 2018 * Nick Ayers — chief of staff of the vice president: Started July 28 2017, left December 2018 * Ryan ZInke — secretary of the Interior: Started 1 March 2017, left December 2018 * Jim Mattis — secretary of Defense: Started 20 January 2017, left February 2019 * Raj Shah — deputy press secretary, deputy assistant to the president: Started January 2017, left January 2019 * Brock Long — Fema administrator: Started June 2017, left February 2019 * Lindsay Walters — deputy press secretary: Started January 2017, left April 2019 * Scott Gottlieb — FDA commissioner: Started May 2017, left April 2019 * Bill Shine — communications director: Started 5 July 2018, left 8 Mach 2019 * Linda McMahon — head of the small business administration: Started 14 February 2017, left 29 Mach 2019 * Kirstjen Nielsen — secretary of Homeland Security: Started 6 December 2017, left 7 April 2019 * Randolph "Tex" Alles — US Secret Service director: Started 25 April 2017, left TBD * Rod Rosenstein — deputy attorney general: Started 26 April 2017, to leave 11 May 2019Mr Rosenstein's resignation is the latest for the administration. This list will be updated if and when further resignations or firings are announced.
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| Guatemalan boy detained by US border agency dies at Texas hospital Posted: 01 May 2019 02:27 PM PDT  The 16-year-old, who has not been named, is the third migrant child to die in US custody in the past five monthsIt is unclear where and when the boy was detained, but on the evening of 20 April he was taken by Ice agents to a facility run by Southwest Key. Photograph: Bill Wechter/AFP/Getty ImagesA 16-year-old Guatemalan boy has died in a Texas hospital after he was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), becoming the third migrant child to die in US government custody in the past five months.The boy, who has not been named, died on Tuesday at a Texas children's hospital in the McAllen area after several days in intensive care. The cause of death has not been released.It was unclear where and when the boy was detained, but on the evening of 20 April, he was taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to a facility run by Southwest Key – a not-for-profit organization which houses up to 5,000 migrant children in more than 20 shelters – apparently in good health.He was taken to an emergency room the following morning with symptoms including fever, chills and a headache, but discharged back to the shelter later that day.The youngster's health did not improve, according to a statement by Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and he was returned to the emergency room by ambulance on 22 April. From there, the sick boy was admitted to an intensive care unit, where he died just over a week later.The boy was under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which contracts private companies and registered charities to house thousands of children separated from their parents at the border by Ice officials – as well as those detained after making the perilous overland journey from Central America without adult relatives.Two other children died in US custody within three weeks of each other in December 2018, but unlike in the latest case, they were in custody of CBP.Jakelin Caal, seven, who died on 8 December at an El Paso children's hospital, and Felipe Gómez Alonzo, eight, who died on Christmas Eve at a New Mexico hospital, were also Guatemalan – part of a mass exodus from the impoverished Central American country in recent months.In November, Guatemalans overtook Mexicans as the largest nationality taken into CBP custody – an extraordinary figure considering that the population of Mexico is seven times larger than that of its southern neighbour.Southwest Key has yet to comment on the child's death, but ACF spokeswoman Evelyn Stauffer said in a statement: "Arrangements were made for the minor's brother and Guatemalan consular officials to visit the minor while he was hospitalized. The family who resides in the home country received frequent updates from hospital staff. The cause of death is currently under review, and, in accordance with standard ORR policies and procedures, the case will be subject to full review."Southwest Key has collected $1.7bn in federal grants in the past decade, according to a New York Times investigation. Its founder resigned in March amid questions over its handling of government funds.The Guatemalan consul in McAllen has been contacted for comment.
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| AP Photos: Japan witnesses rare imperial abdication Posted: 01 May 2019 04:24 AM PDT  TOKYO (AP) — Japan has witnessed a rare handover of its Chrysanthemum Throne by a living emperor.
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| U.S. small business owners are preparing for a recession - Bank of America survey Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:42 AM PDT ![U.S. small business owners are preparing for a recession - Bank of America survey]( "U.S. small business owners are preparing for a recession - Bank of America survey") Small business owners around the country are preparing for a recession, according to a new survey by Bank of America Corp, and the bank wants to put more business specialists in branches to help, an executive told Reuters. More than two-thirds of business owners surveyed by the bank said they had taken steps to prepare for an economic downturn, including setting cash aside or planning to reduce expenses. Of the 69 percent of owners who had started preparing for a recession, only 19 percent had opened a line of credit, a figure that Bank of America's head of small business Sharon Miller said was too low.
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| 'Only medical exemptions': Buttigieg campaign clarifies vaccine position after uproar Posted: 01 May 2019 06:45 AM PDT  Buttigieg's campaign tried to clarify the mayor's position on vaccines after earlier comments indicated support for personal or religious exemptions.
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| State's attorney opposes special prosecutor in Jussie Smollett case Posted: 30 Apr 2019 11:32 AM PDT  Kim Foxx, Chicago's top prosecutor, is fighting a push to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her office's handling of the case against Jussie Smollett.
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| Israel's Netanyahu slams global rise in anti-Semitism Posted: 01 May 2019 11:47 AM PDT  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday denounced a rise in anti-Semitism around the world, at a ceremony on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. "The extreme left and the extreme right (around the world) agree on only one thing: their hatred of the Jews," Netanyahu said at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said anti-Semitism was also found in a New York Times cartoon depicting him as a guide dog wearing a Star of David collar and leading a blind US President Donald Trump donning a kippah, or Jewish skullcap.
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| Georgia woman sentenced to die for murder of stepdaughter Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:03 AM PDT  ATLANTA (AP) — A woman has been sentenced to die by lethal injection for starving her stepdaughter to death in an Atlanta suburb in 2013.
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| Violent clashes in Venezuela after opposition leader Juan Guaido calls for military uprising Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:31 AM PDT  Violent clashes broke out in Venezuela's capital on Tuesday as opposition leader Juan Guaido took to the streets alongside armed soldiers and supporters after calling for a military uprising. A few thousand protesters were pelted with tear gas in Caracas and at one point an armoured vehicle rammed into the crowds, appearing to leave some people injured. Earlier in the day Mr Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, released a video of himself alongside around a dozen soldiers who he claimed had defected. He praised the "braze soldiers" and urged more to do likewise, saying the "final push" toward removing embattled socialist president Nicolas Maduro was underway. Leopoldo Lopez, a fellow opposition politician, also appeared in the video despite being under house arrest since 2017. He claimed forces loyal to Mr Guaido had released him. En el marco de nuestra constitución. Y por el cese definitivo de la usurpación. https://t.co/3RD2bnQhxt— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) April 30, 2019 Mr Maduro's government labelled the move an attempted "coup", a description echoed by supportive politicians abroad, and vowed to crack down on the "military traitors". Mr Maduro later said military leaders had assured him they remained loyal. There were few public signs that Mr Guaido's call had triggered a broader revolt among commanders. Senior US administration figures gave their vocal backing, with president Donald Trump, vice president Mike Pence, secretary of state Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton all issuing supportive statements. But Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, urged "maximum restraint" on all sides, while the body's spokesman said the dispute must be resolved "peacefully". Sir Alan Duncan, the UK government minister for the Americas, said he was watching events "very closely", adding that Mr Guaido had shown "courage, creativity and resolution". Mr Guaido and his supporters gathered near the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, the military airport in Caracas where his video appeared to have been shot. Around 70 soldiers wearing blue armbands in support for Mr Guaido reportedly squared off against security forces loyal to the regime. One pro-Guaido solider was injured in the clashes. As more supporters joined, the scenes turned increasingly ugly. Footage showed water cannons being used on the crowds and, at one moment, a military vehicle smashing into protesters. The call for a military uprising was the boldest attempt yet by Mr Guaido, who cited constitutional powers back in January to declare himself interim president, to force Mr Maduro from power. Opposition demonstrators clashes with soldiers loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after troops joined opposition leader Juan Guaido Credit: Matias DELACROIX / AFP His claim has been supported by America and more than 50 other countries, some of whom have implemented sanctions. But others, including Russia, are backing Mr Maduro. In the video, Mr Guaido, 35, spoke directly to camera as more than a dozen soldiers dressed in military uniform, some holding guns, stood to attention behind him. "Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men loyal to the Constitution have followed our call," said Mr Guaido, who is also president of the country's National Assembly. He called on people to take to the streets all over Venezuela and claimed that "the definitive end of the usurpation starts today". He added: "Today as the caretaker president of Venezuela, as the legitimate commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I call on all soldiers, the military family, to accompany us in this mission." Support for Venezuela leadership Mr Lopez, seen as Mr Guaido's political mentor, stood behind him and watched on. He later said he had been released from house arrest by security forces adhering to an order from Mr Guaido. "I want to tell the Venezuelan people: This is the moment to take to the streets and accompany these patriotic soldiers," Mr Lopez said. Soon after the video, which appeared to have been filmed in the early morning, was posted online the move was condemned by Mr Maduro's ministers. Vladimir Padrino, the Venezuelan defence minister, said: "We reject this coup movement, which aims to fill the country with violence." He insisted the country's forces remained loyal to Mr Maduro. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido posted a video of himself near the Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda Airbase in Caracas Credit: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Jorge Rodriguez, the country's information minister, wrote on Twitter that the "military traitors" who were seeking to promote a "coup" were being confronted. A Kremlin spokesman and the Bolivan president Evo Morales, key allies of Mr Maduro, called the uprising a "coup" attempt. Cuba's foreign minister also denounced the move. But Donald Trump's administration issued statements of support. Mr Trump himself tweeted that "the United States stands with the People of Venezuela and their Freedom!" and that he was monitoring the situation "very closely". Mr Pence tweeted to Mr Guaido and his supporters: "We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom and democracy are restored." Sprain, instrumental in shaping the European Union's stance on Venezuela, was more cautious, with a government spokesman calling for a "peaceful democratic process" rather than "bloodshed". It was unclear whether Mr Guaido's message had resonated with the military leaders whose support is critical in keeping Mr Maduro in power despite a crumbling economy and electricity blackouts. A soldier in the group with Mr Guaido denied government claims they had been tricked into acting, telling Reuters: "We're all afraid, but we had to do it." Another protest called for by Mr Guaido and his supporters is due to take place on Wednesday.
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| Will the Culture War Kill the NRA? Posted: 01 May 2019 03:30 AM PDT  The National Rifle Association has big troubles. It's wildly in debt. The attorney general of New York — where the NRA was founded in 1871 and where it remains incorporated — is investigating the tax-exempt status of what she has called a "terrorist organization." The NRA's longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, is in a bitter feud with its outgoing president, Oliver North. Accusations are flying, including of attempted extortion and misuse of perhaps millions of dollars.On the surface, the NRA's problems have little to do with the typical criticisms hurled at it by its biggest detractors. To them, the villainous NRA is too rich, too powerful, and too well-run, not an outfit drowning in red ink and dysfunction. But it turns out that its real problems, in part, may stem from its outsized ambitions.For most of its history, the NRA was a sporting club dedicated to teaching gun safety and promoting hunting and marksmanship as a pastime. It was founded by two Union Army officers who had noticed that the Confederates tended to be better shots. In the 1930s, it started to dip its toes into lobbying, but in favor of limited gun control. The NRA, for instance, supported the Federal Firearms Act of 1938, which established federal gun licensing requirements. It wasn't until the mid-1970s, after passage of the federal Gun Control Act, that new leadership at the NRA made lobbying for gun rights central to its mission.Still, that mission was notably bipartisan. Working from the common-sense assumption that gun rights would be better protected if support came from both parties, the NRA once supported candidates on either side of the aisle. In the 2000 campaign cycle, it spent $372,000 on some 66 Democratic incumbents. But by 2016, it contributed to just four.What happened? The easy answer is that as the GOP increasingly embraced gun rights, the Democrats embraced gun control — or the other way around. Which side is guilty of policy extremism depends on your views on gun policy. Asking which side is guilty of rhetorical extremism is pointless, because both are. The NRA is not a "terrorist organization," but neither are its opponents a horde of anarchists, socialists, and goons, as the NRA's media arm often portrays them.The GOP-NRA alliance came downstream from two larger social shifts. The first is the "Big Sort" — shorthand for how American society has self-organized not just into "red" and "blue" regions, but also worldviews. The end of the NRA's bipartisan lobbying strategy simply reflected the facts on the ground. In 1989, 64 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of the NRA, and so did 49 percent of Democrats. Today, those numbers are 88 percent and 24 percent, respectively.The second reason is that the parties are weaker than they have ever been. The common assertion that Republican politicians are pro-gun because they've been bought off with NRA blood money is mostly a paranoid conspiracy theory. The NRA doesn't actually give very much money to politicians, at least compared with, say, organized labor or trial lawyers.What the NRA does do — incredibly effectively — is organize and inform voters, mobilizing them to vote reliably for philosophically aligned candidates. Historically, that was a function of political parties, but now it's been largely outsourced to special-interest groups such as the NRA but also Planned Parenthood for the Democrats. These groups are motivated to get out the vote, but they're also incentivized to monetize the voters.The net effect has been for these interest groups to go all in for the culture war — which is highly effective for fundraising — and take our elections with them.NRA folks today inveigh against "the socialists" with the same vehemence they used to reserve for gun-grabbers. UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, author of Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America, observes that NRATV, the online media outlet of the NRA, has strayed far from the gun lane. "Now it's focused on immigration, race, health care," he told The New Republic. Dana Loesch, an NRA spokeswoman, has called the mainstream news media "the rat bastards of the earth" who deserve to be "curb-stomped."We've come a long way since William F. Buckley came out in favor of the Brady Bill.Political parties once had the desire and resources to manage their own brands — keeping activists and interests at a more healthy distance. Those days are gone. Parties — and the institutions that really run them — are simply uniforms for combatants in the culture war. In such a climate, it's no surprise that things such as good corporate governance became an afterthought at the NRA.© 2019 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY LLC
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| Experts: Missing pins possibly caused Seattle crane collapse Posted: 29 Apr 2019 10:06 PM PDT  SEATTLE (AP) — It appears workers who were disassembling a construction crane had prematurely removed pins securing the sections of the crane's mast to each other, and that could explain why it toppled Saturday, killing four people, experts said.
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| ANALYSIS-Why Airbus isn't pouncing on Boeing's 737 MAX turmoil Posted: 30 Apr 2019 02:05 AM PDT ![ANALYSIS-Why Airbus isn't pouncing on Boeing's 737 MAX turmoil]( "ANALYSIS-Why Airbus isn't pouncing on Boeing's 737 MAX turmoil") When Boeing launched its 737 MAX jetliner in response to Airbus's record-selling A320neo, a wave of poker-faced satisfaction spread through Airbus headquarters in France. Its reasons for cheering Boeing's decision to make a similar jet, based on a similar strategy of engine efficiencies, partly explain why Airbus is wary of exploiting Boeing's misery over the global grounding of the MAX today, industry sources say.
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| Donald Trump's latest attacks on Joe Biden: More than 60 retweets Posted: 01 May 2019 12:28 PM PDT  Donald Trump has what may have been his busiest morning ever on Twitter attacking Joe Biden
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| Dem. Rep. Slams Chase Bank Tweet that Discouraged Wasteful Spending Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:51 AM PDT  Representative Katie Porter (D., N.Y.) lashed out Tuesday at a Chase Bank tweet that encouraged customers to cut down on wasteful spending, arguing that the message was "insulting" to hard-working families struggling to pay their rent.Porter was asked during a CNN interview about her combative Twitter exchange with the bank, in which she took issue with the notion that Chase's customers are spending "frivolously."> Mr. Dimon, you couldn't figure out how to balance an example JPMC teller budget but said you'd "think about" how one might make ends meet. Is this what your crackerjack leadership team came up with? https://t.co/4IDc2yLUL9> > -- Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) April 29, 2019"I was glad they took the tweet down. I think it's insulting to the hard-working American people, many of whom are earning minimum wage or just above that, who are struggling to pay rent, health insurance, and other costs. . . . I think they should apologize to their customers; that's obviously they're business decision," Porter told CNN's Alisyn Camerota.> This US Congresswoman called out JPMorgan Chase for a tone-deaf tweet about spending money on coffee and cabs https://t.co/EyLjd82zvG pic.twitter.com/L8QLq2TqjK> > -- CNN International (@cnni) April 30, 2019Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) joined Porter Monday in denouncing the tweet as insensitive to Americans struggling to make ends meet.Chase subsequently deleted the tweet and apologized.> Our MondayMotivation is to get better at MondayMotivation tweets. Thanks for the feedback Twitter world.> > -- Chase (@Chase) April 29, 2019The social-media controversy comes after Porter grilled Chase CEO Jamie Dimon during a House hearing earlier this month, asking him how a bank teller making $16.50 an hour could bear the cost of child care and other essentials. A video of the exchange went viral, earning over 1 million views.Dimon defended Chase's entry-level wages to reporters following the hearing."We take very good care of our entry-level jobs: $35,000 to $37,000 per year, medical, retirement," he said.Porter concluded her CNN appearance Tuesday by questioning Dimon's commitment to ensuring "prosperity for every American family" by lowering health-care costs and increasing wages."He's one of America's business leaders and I would welcome his help in trying to solve the problems American families are facing, not belittle them," she said.
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| Conviction for Minneapolis cop prompts questions about race Posted: 01 May 2019 03:06 PM PDT  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It's believed to be the first time a Minnesota police officer has been convicted of murder for an on-duty shooting.
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| US says military action 'possible' in Venezuela as Kremlin is told to stop meddling Posted: 01 May 2019 04:54 AM PDT  Donald Trump's administration has warned Russia to stop meddling in Venezuela and talked up the chance of US military action as a second day of clashes between protesters and security forces played out. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said that military involvement of some form is "possible" as he accused the Kremlin of convincing embattled president Nicolas Maduro to remain in post on Tuesday. John Bolton, the White House national security adviser, raised the possibility of fresh sanctions as he told Russia publicly that it had no business getting involved in the Venezuelan dispute. "This is our hemisphere. It's not where the Russians should be interfering. This was a mistake on their part," Mr Bolton said. The Kremlin, which is backing Mr Maduro, in turn accused America of being behind an attempted "coup", calling Washington's actions a "gross violation of international law". The US-Russia tensions flared as Juan Guaido, the 35-year-old opposition leader who declared himself interim president in January, once again took to the streets after urging a military uprising, despite violence leaving dozens injured the day before. Members of the Bolivarian National Guard who joined Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido fire into the air to repel forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro Credit: AFP In Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, national guardsmen loyal to Mr Maduro roamed on motorcycles to control the demonstrations while tear gas was again used on the crowds. Mr Guaido had called for the biggest protests in the country's history. Supporters of Mr Maduro, the 56-year-old socialist leader, took to the streets as well. Mr Maduro was due to attend a rally and vowed that military figures who turned on him would not go "unpunished". Tuesday's calls by Mr Guaido for a military uprising had failed to topple Mr Maduro immediately and there were signs that some of those involved were seeking protection. Leopoldo Lopez, a well known opposition politician who escaped his house arrest and appeared in public on Tuesday, took refuge in the Spanish embassy. At least 25 Venezuelan troops have also applied for asylum in the Brazilian embassy. Maduro appears flanked by Venezuela's Defence Minister and two top military commanders in a photo released on Tuesday by the Miraflores Press Office Tensions have been mounting between the US, one of more than 50 countries backing Mr Guaido's claim to power, and Russia and Cuba, who support Mr Maduro and have been accused of propping him up. Mr Maduro denied a claim by Mr Pompeo that he was due to flee the country on Tuesday only to be convinced otherwise by the Russians. "Mr Pompeo, please, what lack of seriousness," he said. The Russian foreign ministry also issued a denial, with spokesman Maria Zakharova calling it "absolute disinformation and fake news". Mr Pompeo doubled down on the Trump administration's instance for months that all options were on the table when it comes to US military action in Venezuela. "The president has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent. Military action is possible. If that's what's required, that's what the United States will do," Mr Pompeo told Fox Business Network. An opposition demonstrator walks near a bus in flames during clashes with soldiers loyal to Maduro Credit: AFP He later talked to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, and urged the Kremlin to stop its "destabilising" actions, according to the State Department. Mr Lavrov in turn called US actions illegal, according to a read out from the Russian foreign ministry, and warned "the continuation of aggressive steps is fraught with the most serious consequences". With the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro claiming a "crack" in the Venezuelan military had been revealed but Mr Maduro himself insisting commanders remained loyal, the Venezuelan president's chances of staying in office remain unclear. But some are predicting he could yet retain power. Sergio Gúzman, a Bogota based political risk analyst, told The Telegraph: "I think the moment has gone for Guaido. Maduro may have lost some military support but the opposition is losing momentum at a greater rate."
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| William Barr, in opening statement, defends handling of Mueller report Posted: 01 May 2019 08:06 AM PDT  Mueller, however, appeared unhappy with Barr's initial handling of the report.
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| This is a fully electric Ford Bronco, and you can own one Posted: 30 Apr 2019 03:04 PM PDT  Electric vehicles might very well be the future, with nearly ever major automaker at least dabbling in fully electric cars and some of them betting big on the end of gas-guzzling cars entirely, but we're not there yet. An automotive revolution takes time, and people tend to look back on classic cars and trucks with near fanatical fondness.A company called Zero Labs Automotive has been doing its best to combine the two, marrying classic designs with all-electric technology. Its first big project is the production of a "new" electric Ford Bronco, complete with the body of the now-retro truck sitting atop all new guts, and boy does it look awesome.Gutting an old Bronco of its gas-burning motor and replacing it with a new electric powertrain is already a bold departure from what the vehicles were originally designed to be, but these reborn Fords will pull more than their fair share of weight. Zero Labs promises as much as 440 horsepower and a range of 190 miles from the truck's electric upgrades.Final specifications are still being hashed out, but Zero Labs says it's using over 1,000 totally redesigned parts for each restoration. The fact that these vehicles are being treated as restorations is also very important, since no company besides Ford would have the right to actually reproduce a classic Bronco and stick a Ford badge on it. The donor vehicles are registered with the DMV and will have to pass inspection after being completed, allowing them to retain their original branding.There's definitely something about the old Ford Broncos that tugs at the heartstrings of classic auto fans. It's big, boxy, and purely utilitarian, but it's also incredibly charming in its own way. It makes sense that Zero Labs would choose it as their first project, but if you want to get your hands on the all-electric version you're going to need to get lucky.Because of the nature of these restorations only a limited number can be produced at one time, by law. Just 150 of these reimagined classics will hit the road, and we don't know anything about pricing yet. Zero Labs is already taking reservations, however, through a no-money-down application process.
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| UPDATE 2-U.S. FAA directive enshrines changes to Boeing 787 Dreamliner Posted: 01 May 2019 11:22 AM PDT ![UPDATE 2-U.S. FAA directive enshrines changes to Boeing 787 Dreamliner]( "UPDATE 2-U.S. FAA directive enshrines changes to Boeing 787 Dreamliner") The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday said it was mandating new flight control software and parts to Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliner to address what it called an unsafe operating condition of certain products on the plane. The FAA's airworthiness directive to plane operators makes compulsory changes Boeing outlined in service bulletins in 2017 and early 2018 for certain areas in 787's tire and wheel "threat zones" that may be susceptible to damage, the company said. Boeing's carbon composite 787, of which there are nearly 800 in service, mostly competes with European rival Airbus' A350.
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| Trump, US Democrats agree to forge $2 trillion infrastructure plan Posted: 30 Apr 2019 01:24 PM PDT  Democratic leaders said Tuesday they reached agreement with President Donald Trump to pursue a $2 trillion plan for improving America's creaking infrastructure, but deciding how to pay for the ambitious project could become a sticking point. "We agreed on a number which was very, very good: $2 trillion for infrastructure," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, in a sign the feuding sides may be willing to work together on accomplishing a major bipartisan goal to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges, airports, rail lines, energy grid, waterways and broadband internet access. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added that the lawmakers and Trump agreed to pursue a "big and bold" proposal, but that Democrats would be waiting eagerly to see the president's plans for how to pay for it.
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| Norway fisherman removes harness from whale Posted: 30 Apr 2019 08:35 AM PDT  A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. (April 30)
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| Venezuela news LIVE: Pompeo threatens US military action 'if required' as country braces for more protests amid uprising Posted: 01 May 2019 03:51 AM PDT  Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets in Venezuela in competing protests as the battle for power continues in Caracas and beyond.Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declared himself the legitimate leader of the country, backed by the US and dozens of other nations, after accusing President Nicolas Maduro of fraudulently keeping his place in office. He has called for mass protests.Mr Maduro has called the uprising a 'coup' and has said that he has subdued the 'traitors' in the military who have backed Mr Guaido. He too has called for his "working class supporters" to take to the streets on Wednesday, which is International Workers' Day.US secetary of state Mike Pompeo said that the US will take military action in Venezuela "if required" but would prefer a peaceful solution to the crisis.Violent street battles erupted in parts of Caracas on Tuesday, with protesters throwing rocks at government forces. At least one military vehicle ran over a group of demonstrators. Follow the latest updates in our live blog below. Please allow a second for the blog to load.
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| When Ford Nearly Produced A Mid-Engined Mustang Posted: 30 Apr 2019 08:17 AM PDT  The up and coming mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette is arguably the industry's worst kept secret. Ford toyed with he idea of a mid-engine Mustang way back in the late 1960s. This is the story of the Ford Mustang sports car that never happened.
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| Armored Coffin: The M-4 Sherman Tank Was Hell on Wheels Posted: 30 Apr 2019 05:00 AM PDT  Heavily-modified "Super Shermans" even saw combat with the Israeli Defense Force during the Six Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973.The M-4 Sherman was the workhorse medium tank of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps during World War II. It fought in every theater of operation—North Africa, the Pacific and Europe.The Sherman was renown for its mechanical reliability, owing to its standardized parts and quality construction on the assembly line. It was roomy, easily repaired, easy to drive. It should have been the ideal tank.But the Sherman was also a death trap.Most tanks at the time ran on diesel, a safer and less flammable fuel than gasoline. The Sherman's powerplant was a 400-horsepower gas engine that, combined with the ammo on board, could transform the tank into a Hellish inferno after taking a hit.All it took was a German adversary like the awe-inspiring Tiger tank with its 88-millimeter gun. One round could punch through the Sherman's comparatively thin armor. If they were lucky, the tank's five crew might have seconds to escape before they burned alive.
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| UPDATE 1-U.S. attorney general recuses self from T-Mobile, Sprint merger probe Posted: 30 Apr 2019 02:38 PM PDT ![UPDATE 1-U.S. attorney general recuses self from T-Mobile, Sprint merger probe]( "UPDATE 1-U.S. attorney general recuses self from T-Mobile, Sprint merger probe") U.S. Attorney General William Barr has recused himself from the Justice Department's deliberations on whether to allow T-Mobile to proceed with its $26 billion acquisition of Sprint, according to a source familiar with the decision. The department's Antitrust Division, headed by Makan Delrahim, is reviewing the deal to determine if it will lead to higher prices for consumers or to slower innovation, as critics allege. The Federal Communications Commission also must approve the transaction for it to go forward.
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| 1,000 Muslim refugees flee homes after Sri Lanka retaliation attacks Posted: 30 Apr 2019 04:07 AM PDT  Around 1,000 Muslim refugees in Sri Lanka have been forced from their homes in retaliatory attacks following the Easter Sunday bombings, according to Human Rights Watch. Mobs threatened to destroy the houses of Afghans, Pakistanis and Iranians - most of whom are part of minority Muslim sects such as the Ahmadiyya - who had fled to Sri Lanka after suffering persecution in their homelands. Some also reported that they had been beaten up by gangs wielding sticks and stones. A small number of Christian refugees from the three countries have also been caught up in attacks through mistaken identity. "The people in Pakistan attacked us and say we're not Muslims," said Tariq Ahmed, a 58-year-old Pakistani Ahmadiyya told Associated Press. "Then in Sri Lanka, people attack us because they say we are Muslims." Around 650 refugees have sought shelter at a mosque in the city of Pasyala, near Negombo. Nine suicide bombers targeted a number of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday resulting in 253 deaths, including at least eight Brits Credit: Reuters/Reuters Others are believed to be staying in police stations or local schools while 30 Iranians have barricaded themselves inside their homes. Human Rights Watch called on the Sri Lankan government to protect its 1,600 asylum seekers as well as the broader population. "Sri Lankan authorities not only have a responsibility to apprehend those responsible for the heinous East Sunday attacks but also to protect all those now at heightened risk," said Meenakshi Ganguly, Director for South Asia. "This means providing safe and secure shelter for refugees and asylum seekers, but also taking prompt legal action against anyone who threatens them." Anti-Muslim backlash in Sri Lanka is at an all-time high as a result of the horrific Easter Sunday terror attacks. Nine suicide bombers with links to Islamic State blew themselves up in churches and hotels, killing 253 people. The Sri Lankan government has declared a state of emergency while it attempts to re-establish control. An entire island-wide curfew was in place until Sunday and is still being upheld in three districts of the country. A ban on clothing which conceals the face, including the burqa, has also been introduced while police hunt for suspects. So far, over 100 people have been arrested in conjunction with the attacks while 15 suspected militants and their families died during a police raid in the east of the country on Friday.
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| Apple rallies as new services offset slump in iPhone sales Posted: 30 Apr 2019 02:02 PM PDT  Apple said Tuesday that profits in the past quarter dropped amid falling iPhone sales, but the results were above Wall Street expectations and sent shares sharply higher. The California tech giant reported a 16 percent drop in profits in the just-ended quarter to $11.6 billion, as overall revenues dipped five percent to $58 billion. Apple shares rallied more than five percent in after-hours trade, with the results showing better-than-anticipated results from its new products and services in the fiscal second quarter to March 30.
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| Jussie Smollett: 'Empire' actor's contract extended, no plans for character to return Posted: 30 Apr 2019 04:32 PM PDT  Jussie Smollett's contract with 20th Century Fox and Fox Entertainment has been extended, ABC News reported Tuesday.
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| The Latest: Father: Cop's conviction caps 'painful journey' Posted: 30 Apr 2019 04:14 PM PDT  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the trial of a Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in the 2017 shooting of an unarmed woman (all times local):
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| Russia accuses Venezuelan opposition of resorting to violence Posted: 30 Apr 2019 06:14 PM PDT  Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday accused the opposition in Venezuela of resorting to violence in what it said was a brazen attempt to draw the country's armed forces into clashes. The ministry made the allegation after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a military uprising to oust President Nicolas Maduro and armed factions exchanged gunfire outside a Caracas air base as the country hit a new crisis point after years of political and economic chaos. Russia, which has supplied weapons to Venezuela and acted as a lender of last resort, has accused the United States of trying to undermine Maduro, someone Moscow counts as one of its closest allies in Latin America.
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| PG&E still lacks estimate on compensating wildfire victims Posted: 29 Apr 2019 07:52 PM PDT  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric Corp.'s top financial executives said during a bankruptcy meeting Monday they still haven't determined when the utility can start compensating victims of recent wildfires started by the utility's equipment.
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| Photos of Our Battle Between the Ford Ranger vs. Gladiator, Colorado, and Ridgeline Posted: 01 May 2019 07:12 AM PDT |
| Gas Tax for Infrastructure Sparks Fears of Political Backlash Posted: 01 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT  Increasing the gas tax is so politically fraught that it hasn't been touched in 26 years and it didn't even come up at a meeting at the White House Tuesday between President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss an infrastructure plan. While they agreed broadly on the need to upgrade roads, bridges and airports, they put off for three weeks the tougher conversation about coming up with ways to fund an estimated $2 trillion in public works.
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| Muslim US army veteran's plot to bomb white supremacist rally 'thwarted at last moment' Posted: 29 Apr 2019 10:20 PM PDT  An alleged terror plot by a Muslim army veteran to bomb a white supremacist rally has been thwarted, according to authorities.Mark Domingo, 26, an infantryman who served a combat stint in Afghanistan, was arrested by federal agents while allegedly putting the final touches to a plan to plant a bomb at a Nazi rally in Long Beach, prosecutors have said.Mr Domingo was arrested last Friday on a charge of providing material support to terrorists and a criminal complaint said he had been planning since March to "manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder".Court papers claim Mr Domingo discussed with an informant different types of attacks that included targeting Jews, churches and police officers.Mr Domingo allegedly said he wanted revenge for attacks on mosques in New Zealand that killed 50 people last month.He allegedly bought parts, including nails, for an improvised explosive device that would be remotely triggered, but in fact contained inert materials, FBI agent Tasha Coolidge said in an affidavit filed in US District Court in Los Angeles.If they survived the planned bombing at Bluff Park, Mr Domingo discussed launching further attacks on the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles or on a train, the papers said.White nationalists never showed up to the planned event in Bluff Park, but a large group of counter protesters demonstrated.A message left on a phone listed for Mr Domingo was not immediately returned.With Associated Press
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| Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL full specs leak ahead of official reveal Posted: 01 May 2019 07:12 AM PDT  Once again, a major smartphone vendor will have virtually nothing left to reveal at its reveal event, as Google's mid-range Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones have leaked in full this week. First, courtesy of Max J., we got a look at the retail packaging for the Pixel 3a XL on Tuesday night, then on Wednesday morning, the same source shared the most complete list of specifications for each phone that we have seen on the internet to date.As expected, these are lower-specced devices than the 2018 flagships that Google launched in the fall. Having had limited success competing with the likes of Samsung and Apple, it appears that Google is going to attempt to court a different crowd with a significantly more affordable device, but from a brand they know well.According to Max J., the Pixel 3a will feature a 5.6-inch gOLED Full HD+ display with 2220 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The smaller of the two 3a phones will also have a 3,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, an always-on display, and the Now Playing music identification feature. The Pixel 3a will weigh around 150g, and will come in three colors: Just Black, Clearly White, and Purple-ish.As for the Pixel 3a XL, Max claims that it will feature a 6.0-inch gOLED Full HD+ display with 2160 x 1080 resolution, 402ppi, and 18:9 aspect ratio. It will also have a larger battery at 3,700mAh and will weigh around 170g. Everything else about the phone is the same, including the Snapdragon 670 processor.Google will officially announce the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL at Google I/O 2019, which begins on May 7th.
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| Huawei jumps ahead of Apple in tough smartphone market Posted: 30 Apr 2019 06:59 PM PDT  China-based Huawei outsold Apple's iPhones in the first quarter of this year, seizing the California company's second place spot in a tightening smartphone market dominated by Samsung, a tracker said Tuesday. A total of 310.8 million smartphones were shipped globally during the first three months of this year in a 6.6 percent decline from the same period in 2018, according to preliminary data from the Chinese-owned International Data Corporation. IDC saw the results as a sign that 2019 will be another down year overall for smartphone shipments, apart from strong growth by Huawei.
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| Correction: Synagogue Shooting-California story Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:04 AM PDT  POWAY, Calif. (AP) — In versions of a story April 28-30 about a shooting at a California synagogue, The Associated Press misspelled the first name of the wounded rabbi. It is Yisroel, not Yishoel.
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| Five ways Trump's moves to stem asylum seekers have hit hurdles Posted: 30 Apr 2019 02:03 PM PDT  Increasingly frustrated, Trump on Monday issued a presidential memorandum directing officials to make it harder for asylum seekers to apply for work permits and to charge them application fees - drawing immediate fire from the United Nations. Many asylum protections are codified in U.S. and international law. Meanwhile, the flow of migrants continues to swell.
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| US says 'fully supports' Venezuelan people's 'quest for freedom' Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:41 AM PDT  The United States on Tuesday threw its full weight behind Venezuela's self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, as the opposition leader said troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. "Today interim President Juan Guaido announced start of Operacion Libertad," or "Operation Freedom," tweeted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as Maduro's government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup. "The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy.
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| April deals: Get a Chipotle freebie through DoorDash, plus other specials to end the month Posted: 30 Apr 2019 05:36 PM PDT  DoorDash and Chipotle are marking the first anniversary of their partnership with two deals. Find out the details and other April deals and freebies.
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