| Islamic State behind attack on Saudi security north of Riyadh: Arabiya TV Posted: 21 Apr 2019 09:14 AM PDT ![Islamic State behind attack on Saudi security north of Riyadh: Arabiya TV]( "Islamic State behind attack on Saudi security north of Riyadh: Arabiya TV") The assailants who attacked a state security building northwest of Riyadh on Sunday are Saudi militants who belong to Islamic State, Saudi-owned Arabiya TV said in a tweet, citing its own correspondent. Saudi state media said authorities thwarted the attack by four militants targeting the Mabaheth (domestic intelligence) station in Zulfi, a small city about 250 km (155 miles) northwest of the capital Riyadh. There has been no Islamic State claim of responsibility for the attack so far, and the authorities did not officially identify the assailants.
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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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| 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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| Giuliani rails against Mueller report as Democrats mull Trump impeachment Posted: 21 Apr 2019 10:11 AM PDT  * Trump lawyer: 'Nothing wrong with information from Russians' * Teflon Don: how Trump the mafia boss fought the law … and won * Opinion: Moral squalor, not impeachment, will remove TrumpDonald and Melania Trump arrive at the Bethesda-by-the-Sea church for Easter services in Palm Beach, Florida. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty ImagesAs the White House mounted a furious assault on the Mueller report and critics of a president not found to have conspired with Russia but not cleared of obstruction of justice, the chair of the House judiciary committee said obstruction, if proven, "would be [an] impeachable" offence.Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani toured the Sunday talk shows, arguing with interviewers in a series of chaotic encounters.On Fox News Sunday, he claimed Robert Mueller's 448-page report, which was released with redactions on Thursday, was full of "calumny, lies and distortion".On CNN's State of the Union, the former New York mayor called one of Mueller's lawyers a "hitman" and claimed the special counsel's team "came close to torturing people" in questioning and confining Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, who was convicted and sentenced on financial charges.Asked on NBC's Meet the Press why Trump was so angry at Mueller and former White House counsel Don McGahn, a key witness, Giuliani replied: "Because they tried to frame him."> There's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians. It depends on where it came from> > Rudy GiulianiThe first volume of Mueller's report concerns Russian election interference and the Trump campaign's warm reception to "offers of assistance" including an infamous June 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-linked lawyer offering "dirt" on Hillary Clinton.Giuliani told CNN: "There's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians. It depends on where it came from."On ABC's This Week, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, who previously called the inquiry a "a political proctology exam", took a different tone, saying: "The campaign I managed in those last few months did not welcome help from Russia. In fact, I don't recall getting, being offered help from Russia. It would have been a ridiculous prospect."In his second volume, Mueller considers potential obstruction of justice by Trump or his campaign, of which 11 instances are listed. He passed judgment on the issue to Congress.House judiciary committee chair Jerrold Nadler told NBC that if evidence shows Trump obstructed justice, "some of this would be impeachable, yes". He added that Democrats plan to "go where the evidence leads".Democrats remain split on impeachment, which would begin in the House they control but almost certainly fail in the Republican Senate. Some fear it would galvanise Trump's supporters and win him sympathy among independents.On Fox, House intelligence chair Adam Schiff said to impeach or not to impeach was "going to be a very consequential decision and one I'm going to reserve judgment on until we have a chance to fully deliberate on it".Oversight chair Elijah Cummings told CBS's Face the Nation he could "foresee [impeachment] possibly coming". But he said: "We have to be very careful here. The American people, a lot of them clearly still don't believe that President Trump is doing things to destroy our democracy and has done a lot of things very poorly."He also said he thought "history would smile upon us for standing up for the constitution".> The American people, a lot of them clearly still don't believe President Trump is doing things to destroy our democracy> > Elijah CummingsGiuliani fiercely attacked McGahn, who is cited by Mueller in descriptions of orders from Trump to fire the special counsel, which McGahn did not do.McGahn's recollections were "wrong", Giuliani said on CNN, claiming the experienced lawyer was "confused [and] cannot be relied upon". Mueller depicts McGahn taking notes of meetings with Trump, a practice Trump is said to have questioned. The Trump campaign has severed links with the law firm to which McGahn returned.An incensed Giuliani made the "hitman" claim about Andrew Weissmann, a prosecutor Trump allies claim is too close to the Clintons."I have no problem with investigating Russian interference in the election," Giuliani said, adding: "The reality is, you think this is the first time the Russians have interfered with a presidential election?"Special counsel Robert Mueller and his wife Ann Cabell Standish leave St John's Episcopal Church in Washington. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/APGiuliani was pressed on criticism of Trump by the 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, who said he was "sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the president"."Stop the bull, stop this pious act," Giuliani said, adding: "Who says [taking information from Russians is] even illegal? … And then does the information turn out to be false, by the way?"Referring to Democratic party emails hacked by Russia and obtained by WikiLeaks, he said: "The information that was gleaned and disseminated, every newspaper printed it. Why did the Washington Post print the information that came from a foreign source, when they knew it was hacked? Aren't they just as wrong for doing that as the campaign wanting to use it?"Of Giuliani's claim there was "nothing wrong with taking information from Russians", former US attorney Preet Bharara, who was fired by Trump in 2017, told CNN: "That's an extraordinary statement and I would hope he would retract it."Giuliani ran against Romney for the 2008 Republican nomination, both losing to John McCain. Asked if he would have accepted such information, Giuliani said: "I probably wouldn't. I wasn't asked. I would have advised, just out of excess of caution, don't do it." He also accused Romney of doing "things very similar", although he did not elaborate.Asked if Trump thought Russian interference helped him win, Giuliani told NBC: "Whether he did or he didn't, I think it's quite clear that there are a lot of factors that go into any election and the reality is he was elected president."Conway told ABC Trump "didn't need WikiLeaks. We had Wisconsin. He won because he was the better candidate".Trump has repeatedly claimed Mueller's investigation exonerated him, which it did not, and called the inquiry a "hoax". He continued to tweet on Sunday, from his club in Florida.Attending church, the president was asked if he felt betrayed by staffers who spoke to Mueller. According to the White House pool report, he "clearly heard the question" but "just smiled and turned away".
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| Tiger Attacks Keeper in Topeka, Kansas Zoo Posted: 20 Apr 2019 12:36 PM PDT  The keeper is currently in stable condition
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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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| Authorities say investigation into murder of two Indiana schoolgirls is going in 'new direction' Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:13 AM PDT  Indiana State Police say they will announce new information about the deaths of Abigail Williams and Liberty German who were found dead on a hiking trail in Delphi, Indiana in 2017.
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| How the U.S. Navy Sank Imperial Japan's Top Secret Aircraft Carrier Posted: 19 Apr 2019 07:00 PM PDT  "No doubt he intends to act as a decoy at some point to lure away our screening destroyers. That accomplished, his comrades can approach Shinano unopposed. We must guard against any such ploy," grumbled the thoughtful skipper.The first torpedo struck farthest aft. Over the next 30 seconds three more warheads detonated against the massive aircraft carrier's hull, working their way forward. The explosions and instant flooding immediately killed scores of men, many asleep in their bunks.As tons of seawater cascaded into the wounded colossus, men below deck could see the extent of the damage, were seized with panic, and stampeded topside. The missiles had hit 10 feet below the water line, and on the bridge and upper levels the commander and his officers were not yet aware of how sorely they were hurt. Many had survived earlier torpedo attacks, and aboard less formidable vessels than this one. Even as their gargantuan ship began to list, they remained optimistic."Expressing the Flavor of an Ancient Samurai"
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| Protesters punch Turkish opposition leader at funeral Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:03 AM PDT  ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Protesters assaulted the leader of Turkey's main opposition party during a funeral held Sunday for a soldier who was slain during clashes with Kurdish rebels. The politician was not hurt, party officials said.
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| Sri Lanka bombings put Christians on frontline of religious divides Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:56 AM PDT  The Easter Sunday attacks on three churches in Sri Lanka mark a devastating escalation of violence against a Christian minority that has been targeted in the past, but never to such brutal and deadly effect. Ethnic and religious violence has plagued Sri Lanka for decades, with a 37-year conflict with Tamil rebels that claimed 100,000 lives and an upswing in recent years in clashes between the Buddhist majority and Muslims. The US State Department's most recent report on religious freedom said the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka had documented "97 incidents" of attacks on churches, intimidation and violence in 2017.
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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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| Solemn service to mark 20th anniversary of Columbine High massacre Posted: 20 Apr 2019 03:00 AM PDT ![Solemn service to mark 20th anniversary of Columbine High massacre]( "Solemn service to mark 20th anniversary of Columbine High massacre") A week-long series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre culminates on Saturday with a remembrance ceremony celebrating the lives of the 13 victims slain in the rampage. Betty Shoels, the aunt of murdered student Isaiah Shoels, said her 18-year-old nephew was a fun-loving athlete who was always smiling, despite feeling out of place as one of the school's few African-American students. Evan Todd was a sophomore at Columbine two decades ago when he was wounded in the school library, where 10 of the students were killed.
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| 'We don't know if it's enough': $1 billion may not cover Notre Dame Cathedral rebuilding costs after fire Posted: 20 Apr 2019 11:32 AM PDT  An international surge in donations may not yet cover the rebuilding costs of Paris' beloved Notre Dame Cathedral, officials say.
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| Northern Irish Police: Journalist’s Murder Sign of a ‘New Brand of Terrorism’ Posted: 20 Apr 2019 02:38 PM PDT  Northern Irish police said a "new brand of terrorism" was responsible for the death of a well-respected journalist who was killed last week as they announced the arrest of two teenagers in connection with the killing.Twenty-nine-year-old journalist and LGBT activist Lyra McKee was fatally shot on Thursday while covering a clash between police and nationalist rioters in Londonerry. She was standing near police officers when rioters fired gunshots and threw petrol bombs at police. During a press conference on Saturday, police in Northern Ireland announced that they had arrested two men, 18 and 19 years old, under the country's terrorism act in connection with McKee's murder. They have been taken the two to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.On Friday, police blamed McKee's murder on gunshot wounds fired indiscriminately, and released footage of a masked gunman firing during the riots. "What we are seeing is a new breed of terrorist coming through the ranks and that for me is a very worrying situation," Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Jason Murphy said.Violence has flared in Northern Ireland over the past several months as the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union has once again raised questions about the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland's borders. Law enforcement on Friday blamed the killing on members of the New Irish Republican Army. The small group rejects the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement, which put an end to the unrest of the period dubbed the Troubles and years of sectarian civil war between Irish nationalists and UK loyalists. According to the Associated Press, the group has also been blamed for a car bombing in Londonderry earlier this year, as well as several killings over the past several years. The group also claimed it sent mail bombs across the UK.McKee, an independent journalist whose work covering the conflict in Northern Ireland once earned her a spot on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, was just weeks away from publishing her first book about young people who disappeared during the Troubles.Her death sparked an outpouring of grief from journalists and many local and international political figures. "This cannot stand," her partner Sara Canning said during a vigil on Friday. "Lyra's death must not be in vain because her life was a shining light in everyone else's life, and her legacy will live on in the light that she's left behind."Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| SpaceX test accident in Florida sends a massive plume of smoke into the sky Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:08 AM PDT  A SpaceX Crew Dragon experienced an "anomaly" during ground tests that manifested as a column of smoke rising from the spacecraft's thrusters. The Crew Dragons were expected to fly with astronauts aboard later in the year, and it is currently unclear whether recent tests could delay that.> Smoke seen for miles as SpaceX Crew Dragon suffers anomaly at Cape Canaveral https://t.co/W4Cj2bcN6y via @Florida_Today> > -- Code Tripping (@Code_Tripping) April 21, 2019Though few details are available, SpaceX did release a statement to SpaceNews confirming the incident."Earlier today, SpaceX conducted a series of engine tests on a Crew Dragon test vehicle on our test stand at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral, Florida," a spokesperson told SpaceNews. "The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand."Images from Cape Canaveral show a column of smoke visible from local beaches. The ground test anomaly came from an engine test, specifically the SuperDraco engines which provide power for astronauts to get to safety during an aborted launch. Beyond fire and smoke, the anomaly even showed up on radar:> Dragon's static fire anomaly was big enough to show up on radar! ☁️SpaceX CrewDragon FLwx LowCC (Non-meteorological radar signature) pic.twitter.com/WpebHEo6Az> > -- Jabes (@GISRockstar) April 20, 2019NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine also shared a statement to Twitter:> NASA has been notified about the results of the @SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test. We will work closely to ensure we safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program. pic.twitter.com/yE2J5yGzA7> > -- Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) April 21, 2019 WATCH: NASA's Administrator Jim Bridenstine warns India's anti-satellite test could be dangerous for the ISS
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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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| 110 Kosovars, mostly children and women, returned from Syria Posted: 20 Apr 2019 07:34 AM PDT  PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo authorities announced Saturday they have brought back from Syria 110 Kosovar citizens, mostly women and children, with the assistance of the United States.
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| Sri Lanka Imposes Curfew After Easter Sunday Bombings Kill 207 Posted: 20 Apr 2019 11:48 PM PDT  The government imposed an island-wide curfew as security forces try to maintain law and order and investigate the attacks. No one has claimed responsibility for the six coordinated explosions that took place at 8:45 a.m. local time mainly in the capital Colombo, and separate blasts later in the day. Sri Lanka had previously received warnings of possible church attacks, but not on hotels, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando said on Sunday, noting some of the explosions were suicide bombings.
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| Team Trump plots revenge on Mueller amid calls to 'investigate the investigators' Posted: 20 Apr 2019 04:44 AM PDT  Donald Trump and his allies are attempting to turn his two-year Russia investigation saga into a political boost for the 2020 presidential election in the wake of the Mueller report. The president's Justice Department is looking into the inquiry's origins to see if US intelligence over-stepped the line, cheered on by supporters who want to "investigate the investigators". The Trump re-election campaign is fundraising off the report, attempting to raise $1 million with emails titled "EXONERATED (again)" and "CONFIRMED: NO COLLUSION". Figures close to the White House have also told The Sunday Telegraph that they believe Mr Trump could benefit from any impeachment move, triggering a backlash from US voters who see it as rushed. The emerging strategy suggests that far from drawing a line under the report by special counsel Robert Mueller, Mr Trump is preparing to use it as a rallying cry for his support base. In tweets late on Friday night, Mr Trump dubbed Mr Mueller's investigation a "big, fat, waste of time, energy and money" and signposted his determination to scrutinise how it begun. "It is now finally time to turn the tables and bring justice to some very sick and dangerous people who have committed very serious crimes, perhaps even spying or treason," he tweeted. "This should never happen again!" Mr Mueller's findings, published on Thursday after a 22-month investigation, found there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin in the 2016 US election. It also did not recommend an obstruction of justice charge against Mr Trump. He pointedly refused to say no crime had been committed by the president but handed the decision to the Justice Department, who brought no charges. Those two top-line outcomes have allowed the president to declare "no collusion, no obstruction" and his legal team to announce "total victory". pic.twitter.com/222atp7wuB— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2019 The 448-report itself paints a more complex picture, one where Mr Trump repeatedly attempted to thwart the Mueller investigation and both lie himself or make subordinates do likewise. The president urged his legal counsel to say he was not ordered to fire Mr Mueller when he was, the report found. Mr Trump also issued misleading statements to the press to deny reports now confirmed. The Democrats have attempted to force the spotlight on this "unethical" behavior but are split on how to proceed – whether to begin impeachment proceedings now or wait until the 2020 election to remove him from office. William Barr, Mr Trump's newly installed US attorney general, announced shortly before the Mueller report's release that he would look into how US government officials begun the Russia investigation before the 2016 election. William Barr, Donald Trump's recently appointed US attorney general, oversaw the handling of the Mueller report Credit: MANDEL NGAN / AFP The president's allies see political advantage, framing the investigation as a deep state ploy to thwart Mr Trump – despite the insistence of those involved that they were acting in the public interest. Sebastian Gorka, a former deputy assistant in the White House, told this newspaper: "It's clear that what we've seen in the last two years is an attempt to use the American intelligence community in a politically motivated spying scandal." Emails sent out by the Trump campaign in the 24 hours after the report to supporters also used the findings to generate a new wave of funds. "Sorry haters: NO COLLUSION & EXONERATION AGAIN! How many times do I have to be exonerated before they stop? WHAT A JOKE!" read one line in a fund-raising email, sent in Mr Trump's name on Friday. "The attacks and lies will keep coming because Democrats know they don't stand a chance in 2020. That's why we need to fight back BIGGER and STRONGER than ever before." It went on: "Let's send a HUGE message to all of the Trump Haters by raising $1,000,000 in the NEXT 24 HOURS." The email ended by saying that Mr Trump would be handed a list naming everyone who had contributed before the 24-hour deadline. The Trump campaign has since confirmed it hit the $1 million mark within 24 hours.
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| Columbine honors 13 lost with community service, ceremony Posted: 21 Apr 2019 02:18 AM PDT  LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Community members in suburban Denver marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting Saturday with a remembrance ceremony that celebrated the school's survival and by volunteering at shelters, doing neighborhood cleanup projects and laying flowers and cards at a memorial to the 13 people killed.
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| The 8 best deals and sales you can get online this Sunday Posted: 21 Apr 2019 07:32 AM PDT ![The 8 best deals and sales you can get online this Sunday]( "The 8 best deals and sales you can get online this Sunday") What better way to relax and recharge than with some retail therapy?
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| Northern Ireland leaders urge calm as police arrest two over journalist's killing Posted: 20 Apr 2019 04:09 AM PDT  Lyra McKee, 29, an award-winning journalist who was writing a book on the disappearance of young people during decades of violence in Northern Ireland, was shot dead on Thursday as she watched Irish nationalist youths attack police following a raid. Northern Ireland's political parties, which are broadly split between Irish nationalists aspiring to unite the British region with Ireland and unionists who want it to remain British, issued a joint call for calm. "This is a time for calm heads." McKee was watching with a crowd of bystanders as local youths attacked police with petrol bombs and set cars on fire, video footage showed.
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| Army Vet Sues Company That Made 'Defective' Earplugs for the Military Posted: 20 Apr 2019 04:00 PM PDT  A Texas veteran is suing the company he says knowingly produced and sold defective earplugs which were issued to the U.S. military, leading him and many others to develop hearing problems, including tinnitus.(This article by Haley Britzky originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. This article first appeared in 2018.)Sgt. Scott D. Rowe, who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004, told the Houston Chronicle that he's "never at peace" from the "high-pitched frequency" he hears every day, as a result of the earplugs he received from 3M Company. Rowe told the Chronicle that 3M "lied," and "took our well-being for jeopardy while we're out there protecting the country."Rowe says in his lawsuit that 3M was aware of the defects in earplugs when it acquired the company that originally developed them, Aearo Technologies, in 2008. He says, according to the Chronicle, that the earplugs were made too short, which makes them difficult to be put deeply into the ear canal, causing the earplug to loosen and sound to get in around them.
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| United Constitutional Patriots: Border Patrol pushes back against armed civilians policing border Posted: 20 Apr 2019 12:40 PM PDT  Customs and Border Protection "does not endorse or condone private groups or organizations that take enforcement matters into their own hands."
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| FAA sets multi-nation review of Boeing's troubled Max planes Posted: 20 Apr 2019 05:21 PM PDT  The US Federal Aviation Administration is planning what it calls a comprehensive multi-nation review of the control systems of the Boeing 737 Max airliner to include experts from nine civil aviation authorities. The review will "evaluate aspects of the 737 Max automated flight-control system, including its design and pilots' interaction with the system, to determine its compliance with all applicable regulations and to identify future enhancements that might be needed," the agency said. Boeing Max planes -- the aerospace firm's all-time best-seller -- have been grounded worldwide since then, while engineers and investigators seek the exact causes of the crashes.
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| Galaxy Fold units keep mysteriously breaking, while the iPhone XS survives a shark bite Posted: 19 Apr 2019 06:03 PM PDT  If you've paid attention to tech industry news to any degree over the past day or two, you're no doubt aware that Samsung is dealing with a bit of unpleasant scrutiny at the moment over reports of early units of its forthcoming Galaxy Fold phone mysteriously breaking. Definitely a bad look for Samsung and suggestive that the company may have rushed its first foldable handset into production, or that there may at least have been some issues around quality control. It was hard not to be reminded of those reports about Galaxy Folds breaking after a day or so of normal usage while watching the behind-the-scenes video that complements Apple's latest "Shot on iPhone" commercial. At one point in the behind-the-scenes footage, which you can watch above, one of the filmmakers is shown basically helpless when a shark snatches up his iPhone. With the phone secure in the shark's jaws, the filmmaker swims after him and ends up successfully retrieving it. And the phone appears to be fine after that. For the new commercial, titled Don't Mess with Mother, Apple hired production company Camp4 Collective to showcase the iPhone XS's video capabilities while capturing scenes from mother nature. The outtakes video includes scenes from a volcano, in the water with sharks and on mountains, the whole thing giving off a thrilling, "you are there" vibe. At one point, we see a monkey playing with and scrutinizing an iPhone. The idea is apparently that iPhones can capture images and video of stunning quality in nature, with the inadvertent reminder that they can withstand some tough elements too. Just something to think about as we get closer to the April 26 launch date that Samsung has decided to stick to for its ridiculously expensive foldable phone that it's still hoping people will take a chance on, despite the easy breakage some reviewers have experienced.
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| Mueller report: Elizabeth Warren becomes first 2020 candidate to call for Trump’s impeachment Posted: 20 Apr 2019 03:26 AM PDT  Elizabeth Warren has become the first 2020 election candidate to make a clear call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's redacted report.The Massachusetts senator tweeted that it would be damaging to "ignore a president's repeated efforts to obstruct an investigation into his own disloyal behaviour" and would allow future presidents to act in the same way. She added: "The severity of this misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty. That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the president of the United States."Mr Mueller, who examined whether Mr Trump's campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 election and whether the president tried to interfere with the inquiry, made no clear verdict on obstruction of justice.His report did, however, lay out 11 possible attempts to influence the investigation – although he indicated the president was "mostly unsuccessful" because his aides refused to carry out orders.Other Democrats running in 2020 have been more cautious on impeachment than Ms Warren in their response to the publication. Julian Castro said it would be "perfectly reasonable for congress to open up those proceedings".Both Jay Inslee of Washington and Eric Swalwell – both of whom have recently launched presidential campaigns – said only that the idea should not be taken off the table.Other Democratic candidates, including senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, suggested it was too soon to start impeachment proceedings.> The severity of this misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty. That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.> > — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) > > April 19, 2019"We don't have an unredacted version of the report. We don't have the underlying materials that that report was written upon. We haven't had yet an opportunity to have hearings where we interview Mueller," said Mr Booker said during a campaign stop in Reno, Nevada."I think that's there definitely a conversation to be had on that subject, but first I want to hear from Bob Mueller and really understand what exactly is the evidence that supports the summary that we've been given," said Ms Harris on impeachment hearings.Pete Buttigieg, the Indiana mayor also running for the White House, suggested it was not the best way to get rid of Mr Trump.He told NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers: "If we really want to send Trumpism into the history books, the best thing we can do is defeat it decisively at the ballot box in 2020."Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while not running in 2020, has signed on to an impeachment resolution from fellow Democrat, Rashida Tlaib.The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, has issued a subpoena for the full Mueller report and expects the Justice Department to comply by 1 May. Attorney general William Barr is to appear before the committee on 2 May, while Mr Nadler has also summoned Mr Mueller to testify by 23 May.The only Republican who had declared he will run against Donald Trump in 2020 said on Friday he was "horrified" by special counsel Robert Mueller's report, but said he could not back impeachment for "political reasons".The former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld told ABC News: "It's very unlikely that he would ever be convicted in the Senate where you need a two thirds vote".
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| Iraq summit brings together rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran Posted: 20 Apr 2019 09:33 AM PDT ![Iraq summit brings together rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran]( "Iraq summit brings together rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran") BAGHDAD (AP) — A summit organized by Iraq brought together regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran on Saturday as part of a broader effort by Iraqi leaders to fashion the country's image as a friend among neighbors.
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| Khamenei appoints new chief for Iran's Revolutionary Guards Posted: 21 Apr 2019 09:03 AM PDT ![Khamenei appoints new chief for Iran's Revolutionary Guards]( "Khamenei appoints new chief for Iran's Revolutionary Guards") Iran's top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has replaced the chief commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, state TV reported on Sunday, days after the United States designated the group a foreign terrorist organization. The TV station did not give a reason for the change when it announced the appointment of Brigadier General Hossein Salami. "The Supreme Leader has appointed Salami as the new commander-in-chief of the Guards, who will replace Mohammad Ali Jafari," it said.
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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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| Take a Look at the SW1911 Gun: Smith & Wesson’s Very Own 1911 Pistol Posted: 20 Apr 2019 02:37 AM PDT  One of the oldest gun companies in America produces its own take on one of the most exemplary handgun designs in U.S. history.Smith & Wesson's series of handguns based on the 1911 platform stays true to the gun's roots while adding in a number of features desirable to modern firearms enthusiasts. The company produces a full line of 1911s, from traditional to contemporary, catering to collectors and duty carriers, in a full range of sizes.The 1911 pistol was invented by prolific small arms designer John Moses Browning in the early twentieth century. Browning paired the pistol with his new .45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge, a large, heavy subsonic cartridge that delivered upwards of 400 foot-pounds of energy on target. The pairing of a semi-automatic pistol capable of holding eight rounds with the .45 ACP manstopper round was in response to reports that U.S.-issue revolvers in .38 Long Colt often failed to stop Filipino insurgents in close quarters combat.Although the 1911 missed the Philippine Insurrection, it was well positioned to enter World War I on the side of the U.S. military. The American Expeditionary Force issued the 1911 in large numbers where they fought in the trenches of World War I. Minor changes in the design resulted in the 1911A1 designation during the 1920s. More than a million pistols were produced for U.S. and allied forces during World War II, enough that the armed services kept the 1911 in frontline service well into the 1980s.
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| President attends Easter service following slew of tweets Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:42 AM PDT  PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Easter morning offered condolences to the people of Sri Lanka, continued his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and attended service at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea near his Florida estate.
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| UPDATE 2-Syria's Assad discusses peace talks, Tartus port with Russians Posted: 20 Apr 2019 08:44 AM PDT ![UPDATE 2-Syria's Assad discusses peace talks, Tartus port with Russians]( "UPDATE 2-Syria's Assad discusses peace talks, Tartus port with Russians") BEIRUT/MOSCOW, April 20 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met senior officials from his strongest ally Russia in Damascus on Friday and Saturday to discuss upcoming peace talks, renting out Tartus port and trade between the two countries, state media in Syria reported. Russia has helped Assad's forces to take back most of the country but the eight-year-long war continues. Swathes of the northeast and northwest are out of his control, while sanctions and a fuel shortage are constricting the economy.
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| Egyptians vote for second day in referendum on keeping Sisi in power Posted: 21 Apr 2019 12:33 PM PDT  Egyptians voted on Sunday for a second day on whether to back constitutional amendments that could see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stay in power until 2030. The three-day referendum was called last week, a day after Egypt's parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the proposals, which would also bolster the role of the military and expand the president's power over judicial appointments. Sisi's supporters argue that he has stabilized Egypt and needs more time to reform the economy, but critics say they fear that the changes will stifle debate.
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| Target's car seat trade-in event returns April 22 with a discount for bringing in old seat Posted: 21 Apr 2019 02:15 PM PDT ![Target's car seat trade-in event returns April 22 with a discount for bringing in old seat]( "Target's car seat trade-in event returns April 22 with a discount for bringing in old seat") Target's popular car seat trade-in event returns April 22. For bringing in an old car seat, get a coupon for 20% off baby items.
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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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| 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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| Police arrest 'yellow vest' demonstrators as clashes break out Posted: 20 Apr 2019 01:14 PM PDT  French police said they arrested more than 200 "yellow vest" demonstrators in Paris on Saturday as clashes broke out with demonstrators turning out for a 23rd week of anti-government protests. AFP journalists reported scuffles between police and protesters in the afternoon, after hours of calm, as police used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse marchers in the centre of the French capital. Some protesters threw bottles and other objects at police and set fire to vehicles, safety barriers and bins.
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| Fancy A Taste Of Your Magnum PI Fantasties? Buy This Ferrari! Posted: 21 Apr 2019 05:57 AM PDT  Although most collectors appreciate the likes of Ferrari's F40, or even the F355, we secretly long for the Ferrari 308. The model's recognition is immediately assisted by the fact it remains one of Ferrari's most successful models in the marque's decorated history, having produced over 12,000 units over the course of its staggering 10-year production run. Released in 1975 at the Paris Motor Show, the 308 replaced the now highly sought after Dino 246 range.
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| Missing Illinois boy Andrew 'AJ' Freund: Boy, 5, did not leave home on foot, police say Posted: 20 Apr 2019 07:00 PM PDT  A 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy last seen on Wednesday night remains missing, and police said Friday that they are focusing their investigation on the boy's home.
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| Ilhan Omar: Somali Americans vow to stand up to Trump attacks Posted: 20 Apr 2019 10:00 PM PDT  After being accused of endangering one of the city's US representatives, the president visited Minneapolis. Activists were there to meet himProtesters support Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar, outside an event attended by Donald Trump this week. Photograph: Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty ImagesAs she stood in a crowd of protesters, helping hold a long "Stand with Ilhan" sign outside the trucking company in Burnsville where Donald Trump was about to speak, Habon Abdulle could not help but be swept up in the contradictory emotions of the moment.As a hijab-wearing Muslim woman who speaks with a slight Somali accent, and as executive director of Women Organizing Women (Wow) Network, a not-for-profit group dedicated to training and supporting East African immigrants who run for office, Abdulle had more than a passing familiarity with the some of the views reflected in signs and chants among a crowd of Trump supporters lined up across the street.There was the idea that Muslims were as a whole responsible for 9/11, and that the congresswoman Ilhan Omar and her supporters were affiliated with terrorist groups. There was another oldie-but-goodie: that the city of Minneapolis, like many urban centers dealing with an affordable housing shortage driven by an influx of new residents, is filled with crime-ridden "no go" zones governed by sharia law, where police supposedly fear to tread.> We thought we passed the collective blaming, the 'punish the whole for the actions of a few'> > Habon AbdulleAbdulle was still a little surprised to see such arguments expressed so brazenly, out in the open, just as she had been a few days earlier when Trump retweeted a video meant to show Omar did not respect the tragedy of 9/11."There are conversations in my community," Abdulle told the Guardian. "We thought we passed the collective blaming, the 'punish the whole for the actions of a few'. Those were things that we experienced right after the 9/11 attack. And many of us actually thought we were done with that. But lately, it actually feels that it's back. It's really weird, like: what's going on?"> On the pro-Ilhan side of the protests, two Muslim women, @nausheena and Asma Mohammed of @RISEsisterhood led many of the chants. > > Here, @HabonDaud explains why she thought it was important that Muslim women stand in the front. pic.twitter.com/83keO83kFU> > — Jared Goyette (@JaredGoyette) April 20, 2019She also saw reasons for optimism. A young Muslim woman walked in front of the pro-Omar group, wearing a black hijab and a keffiyeh scarf, holding a bullhorn and leading a chant. Abdulle watched as the crowd responded, many white and older Minnesotans included. That, she thought, was something she could work with."If we don't stand up for ourselves," she asked, "who will? We have to stand up for ourselves and they felt someone who looks like them was attacked. And we were all of us out there saying, 'No.' We are not going to accept. We have rights. It isn't fair that someone always has to other us. So, we went there because that was the right place to be that day."In the same moment, from the other side of the street, a tall man with a gray scraggly beard could be overheard cracking a joke."Hey, is that Omar? They all look the same to me."He might have been on to something, but not in the way he intended. The young Muslim women in the crowd did see themselves in Omar. That was why they were out in force.> I came here to support my sister Ilhan. She's been under attack and she's been facing death threats> > Ama Mohammed"I came here to support my sister Ilhan," the keffiyeh-wearing woman, Asma Mohammed, 26, told the Guardian. "She's been under attack and she's been facing death threats consistently, but even more so after Trump tweeted things about her that make her seem like she was sympathizing with terrorists."Mohammed said Omar was more than just a political figure: "She is my sister, as Minnesotans; she is my sister as another woman of faith; as another woman who wears a hijab and faces that kind of hate on the daily."Such a mix of outrage, disappointment and incredulousness, along with a growing sense of empowerment, was common among activists the Guardian spoke to in Minneapolis in the week after Trump's tweet.Omar's office was quieter than usual, declining media requests and not issuing statements, leaving Trump to deal with the fallout from the Mueller report without his favorite new foil to spar with.But if there is one thing Trump has been consistent about in his political career, it has been the targeting of migrants and Muslims in moves meant to appeal to his base. Many observers believe he will redouble such efforts as 2020 draws near.> She's anti-American. She's anti-Jews …Everyone knew the Muslims took down those buildings in New York> > Melody BlackOmar and Trump have become intrinsically linked, and not just on Trump's terms. Omar was elected to the House of Representatives in November as part of an anti-Trump blue wave that included Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Before that, she made national news when she became the first Somali American in statewide office, on the night Trump was elected president. Her victory party at a Marriott in downtown Minneapolis was a rollercoaster, tears and dancing underscored by a sense of girding for a fight."It's going to be very tough," Omar said then. "We have to figure out how to organize the community to prepare for what's to come. We have to amplify our voices of love against the rhetoric of hate."That fight has now come, though in a more direct way than many supporters thought possible. As Trump uses Omar to galvanize his base, he will inevitably rally hers. Last Monday's rival protests outside Trump's Tax Day event signalled such battles to come.> In this clip, @nausheena and Asma Mohammed of @RISEsisterhood explain why they came to the standwithilhan protest in Burnsville on Monday. pic.twitter.com/XQFVu8sxkz> > — Jared Goyette (@JaredGoyette) April 20, 2019"Omar really needs to go," said Melody Black, a Trump supporter from Red Wing, Minnesota, as a man behind her held a "Making America Great Again" sign."She's anti-American. She's anti-Jews. She's anti-Minnesotan. And everyone knew that the Muslims took down those buildings in New York. All of us watched it. And now they're saying that we're racist because we say it. But it's the truth."Omar came from Somalia and her father taught her exactly how to do what she's doing – including getting into government. They're trying to take over our government, the Muslims are."Trump supporters hoist a flag and give the thumbs-up. Photograph: Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty ImagesOmar has indeed inspired other Muslim women to enter politics."Many women within the Somali community who never thought to run for office changed their mind," Abdulle said. The Minnesota state house now has its second female Somali American legislator, Hodan Hassan.Across the street from Black, Nausheena Hussain, a 42-year-old in a dark purple headscarf who directs a female-led Muslim not-for-profit organization, took her turn leading a round of chants. She said Trump's attacks on Omar had encouraged others."What I'm hearing, specially my community, is that she cannot be alone," Hussain said. "They are asking everybody to run for office that has those same progressive values, so she is not bearing the brunt of the responsibility by herself."And so I feel like 2020, you are going to see more people of color running for office, more Muslims or Muslim women, because not only do we not want her to be the only one there, but we have seen that she's able to fight and still get things done. More people need to back her up and to be part of that."Abdulle welcomed such words."That's how we are going to end the polarization," she said. "That's how we're going to end the hatred. That's how we're going to end the narrative that we are not American."I'm going to repeat the whole day long: we are American."
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