2019-04-26

Headlines:

From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired

Sri Lanka Muslims brave militant threats for Friday prayers – (Associated Press)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — At 12:10 p.m. Friday, men and boys in a Muslim neighborhood in Sri Lanka’s capital did something everyone had warned them not to do: They came together to…

Women Did Everything Right. Then Work Got ‘Greedy.’ – (The New York Times)
How America’s obsession with long hours has widened the gender gap.

The N.R.A. Has Its Share of Problems. Trump Is Not One of Them. – (The New York Times)
The N.R.A. is dealing with inner turmoil, lawsuits and a newly empowered Democratic House. The president’s visit is being thought of as a needed pep talk.

Wall Street opens flat after mixed earnings, GDP data – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks open little changed on Friday following a mixed batch of earnings, while investors assessed data that showed U.S. growth was boosted by temporary factors in the first quarter.

Russia testing Ukraine’s new leader with passport move: Lithuania – (Reuters)
Russia’s decision to make it easier for residents of rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to obtain a Russian passport is meant to test Ukraine’s new leader and the West should not recognize the documents, Lithuania’s foreign minister said on Friday.

Trade, inventories power U.S. economy to 3.2 percent growth in first quarter – (Reuters)
U.S. economic growth accelerated in the first quarter, but the burst in growth was driven by a smaller trade deficit and the largest accumulation of unsold merchandise since 2015, temporary factors that are likely to reverse in the coming quarters.

AP-NORC Poll: Democrats have health care edge ahead of 2020 – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are giving Democrats a clear edge on health care as the 2020 presidential race gears up, according to a new poll that also finds many Republicans backing one of their…

Far-right Vox party stirs swing vote talk as Spain’s election looms – (Reuters)
Spain’s Vox party, aligned to a broader far-right movement emerging across Europe, has become the focus of speculation about last minute shifts in voting intentions since official polling for Sunday’s national election ended four days ago.

US economy grew at strong 3.2% rate in first quarter – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.2% annual rate in the first three months of the year, a far better outcome than expected, overcoming a host of headwinds including global…

Trump to speak to a weakened National Rifle Association – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s largest gun rights organization played a pivotal role in President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016.Three years later, the National Rifle Association is limping…

U.S. Economy Grew at 3.2% Rate in First Quarter – (The New York Times)
The report indicates that the 10-year recovery retains momentum, despite recent fears that the year was off to a slow start.

Cyclone kills one, leaves trail of destruction across Mozambique – (Al Jazeera English)
It was the most powerful storm on record to hit Mozambique’s northern coast and came just six weeks after Cyclone Idai.

Be wary of robot emotions; ‘simulated love is never love’ – (Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When a robot “dies,” does it make you sad? For lots of people, the answer is “yes” — and that tells us something important, and potentially worrisome, about our emotional…

Hill wants ‘real accountability’ from Biden – (BBC News)
Joe Biden chaired a notorious 1991 hearing where Anita Hill spoke about her alleged harassment.

Sri Lankan police hunt 140 people after Easter bombings – (Reuters)
Sri Lankan police are trying to track down 140 people believed linked to Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday suicide bombings of churches and hotels that killed 253 people, President Maithripala Sirisena said on Friday.

Daimler says it has no idea how Kim Jong Un got his limos – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — German automaker Daimler, which makes armored limousines used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, says it has no idea where he got them and has no business dealings with the…

Uber sets terms for IPO, posts $1 billion first-quarter loss – (Reuters)
Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc is aiming for a valuation of up to $91.5 billion in its initial public offering, potentially the largest U.S. listing in years and a test of investor appetite for a high-growth but highly unprofitable business.

Mozambique lashed by storm rains – (BBC News)
Aid agencies fear deadly flooding and landslides in the wake of Cyclone Kenneth.

Senator Warren introduces military housing bill to boost inspections, transparency – (Reuters)
Senator Elizabeth Warren will introduce a bill Friday that offers new protections for U.S. military families facing unsafe housing, following a series of Reuters reports revealing squalid conditions in privately managed base homes.

Biden motivated by Virginia racial violence, Trump response – (Associated Press)
Joe Biden spent a hot August day at his lakefront Delaware home watching hatred on display in Charlottesville, Virginia, where torch-wielding white supremacists had marched through town. A counter…

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From various sources

Britain strikes an artful compromise on Huawei and 5G – (The Economist)
Its measured approach to dealing with the controversial Chinese firm is a model for other countries

After Mueller, what next? – (The Economist)
Now that the special counsel’s report is public, here is what Congress should do with it

Desert Hashish: How police goes toe to toe with criminals at the border – (The Jerusalem Post)
Nor the Egyptian army or security fences can atop the flow of drugs into Israel, will the Intelligence Police Unit of the Negev borders prevail?

Netanyahu faces serious allegations, is the media fair to the PM? – (The Jerusalem Post)
We might just shrug our shoulders and consider this as just another attempt by Ynet to “generate traffic.” Much worse is the conclusion that Ynet cannot be trusted.

Live: Indian Premier League 2019 | CSK vs MI scorecard – (The Hindu)
MI won the first duel of the season in Mumbai. CSK will be seeking revenge at Chepauk.

Trump: ‘I am a young, vibrant man’ – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday took a swipe at former Vice President Joe Biden, suggesting he may be too old to serve as president.

Could this be the new Panenka? Brisbane player scores a cheeky penalty – BBC Sport – (BBC Sport)
Brisbane Roar midfielder Eric Bautheac scores a cheeky penalty during their A-League game with Adelaide United

Gingrich: We are in a battle for the soul of America – (Fox News)
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich reacts to Joe Biden’s official 2020 announcement on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’

Login – (Axios)
Ina Fried, our expert on tech, illuminates the news shaping Silicon Valley and tech products. Weekday mornings

Father of Quebec City mosque shooter urges Trudeau to stop calling his son a terrorist | CBC News – (CBC News)
Raymond Bissonnette says while his son Alexandre’s crimes were ‘of the most terrible kind,’ he had no terrorist connection ‘nor any particular ideology.’

Washington Post media critic uses ‘Bring Your Child to Work’ day to bash Sarah Sanders – (Fox News)
White House correspondents, a Washington Post’s media critic went into meltdown after Press Secretary Sarah Sanders held a mock press briefing for the kids of White House journalists and employees on Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

How Much Do You Know About Climate Change? – (Buzzfeed)
When Yale University quizzed US adults on the facts, most got a failing grade. How do you compare?

Friday, April 26 – (Financial Times)

Pro Rata – (Axios)
Insider views on deals and dealmakers in venture capital, private equity and M&A, by Dan Primack. Weekday mornings

Citing Smollett, Cook County judge slams Kim Foxx’s office on double standard – (Fox News)
A Cook County judge recently called out embattled State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for upholding a double standard by prosecuting a woman for filing a false police report after dropping similar charges against embattled “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.

Joe Biden’s senior adviser in 2016: ‘We don’t need white people leading the Democratic Party right now’ – (Fox News)
One of Joe Biden’s newly-hired senior advisers has seemingly had a very recent change of heart.

Unwell Dhoni to sit out as CSK take on MI – (ESPN Cric Info)

Slack files to go public, reports $138.9M in losses on revenue of $400.6M – (TechCrunch)
Slack has filed to go public via a direct listing. Similar to what Spotify did last year, this means that the company won’t have a traditional IPO, and will instead allow existing shareholders to sell their stock to investors. The company’s S-1 filing says it…

Sites identified for potential Parliament move to Tshwane – (News24)
The government says that it has identified potential construction sites for Parliament in Tshwane, if a mooted legislative capital move is gone through with.

Spanish election centers on Catalan independence and the rise of the far-right – (Axios)
Catalan independence, uneasy alliances and the rise of the far-right.

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All about Trump

Trump: ‘I am a young, vibrant man’ – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday took a swipe at former Vice President Joe Biden, suggesting he may be too old to serve as president.

Trump contradicts McGahn, says he didn’t ask for Mueller’s firing – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday insisted that he did not order former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, despite McGahn’s testimony to the contrary, explaining that he was aware of the potential consequ

Trump says he called OPEC and told producer group to bring oil prices down – (CNBC)

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow says Fed should still cut rates despite 3.2% GDP growth – (CNBC)
Larry Kudlow, the director of President Donald Trump’s National Economic Council, spoke to CNBC on Friday.

Vladimir Putin is a better match for Kim Jong Un than Donald Trump ever was – (MSNBC)
Vladimir Putin suits Kim Jong Un better Donald Trump ever did, and their summit in Vladivostok, Russia, shows it.

Trump says he’s a “student of history” so he never ordered McGahn to fire Mueller – (CBS News)
The president will likely use some of his speech to claim Democrats don’t support the Second Amendment

The N.R.A. Has Its Share of Problems. Trump Is Not One of Them. – (The New York Times)
The N.R.A. is dealing with inner turmoil, lawsuits and a newly empowered Democratic House. The president’s visit is being thought of as a needed pep talk.

Avlon: Trump strategy is to stonewall Democrats – CNN Video – (CNN)
In the week since the redacted Mueller report release, President Trump has sued to prevent the release of his financial records and has tried to stop the testimony of his former White House counsel Don McGahn. CNN’s John Avlon breaks down the President’s ston…

Trump’s offshore drilling plans delayed until at least after 2020 elections – (Axios)
Trump’s 2019–2024 U.S. offshore plan aims for the Gulf of Mexico and Arctic Ocean.

Trump’s speech at NRA convention takes him to Buttigieg country. Will he go on the attack? – (USA Today)
In advance of President Trump’s visit to Indiana Friday, here’s what South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has said about him.

Trump: Billionaire attacking me didn’t have ‘guts’ to run for president – (The Hill)
President Trump on Thursday lashed out at Tom Steyer over his “Need to Impeach” campaign after the billionaire philanthropist  launched a new ad pushing for the president’s removal in the wake of special counsel Robert Mueller’s inv

Trump to speak to a weakened National Rifle Association – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s largest gun rights organization played a pivotal role in President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016.Three years later, the National Rifle Association is limping…

Nearly a third of Democrats support Trump’s proposal to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities: poll – (Newsweek)
Democratic lawmakers, on the other hand, have not been nearly as receptive to the idea, accusing President Donald Trump of using undocumented immigrants as political pawns.

Trump is stonewalling Congress after Mueller. It’ll probably work. – (Vice News)
“Trump is demonstrating, in his blunt and narcissistic way, that Congress’s investigative powers are really something of a paper tiger.”

Mar-A-Lago Rejected Dozens Of US Applicants Then HIred Foreign Workers – (Buzzfeed)
Trump often says his resorts have no choice but to hire foreign guest workers — there just aren’t any Americans to take the jobs. But government records show nearly 60 US residents applied for those j

Bank of Canada could resume hikes if data proves slowdown temporary: Poloz – (Financial Post)
The Governor warns that U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies could provoke a new global recession

Retired Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters: Trump’s WH departure will be ugly – CNN Video – (CNN)
Retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters talks to CNN’s Anderson Cooper about the future of the United States if President Donald Trump loses in 2020.

Trump’s best 2020 move: Dump Mike Pence for Nikki Haley – (CNN)
If the President is facing a tough re-election battle, picking the former UN ambassador as his running mate could increase his support among women and weaken the Democrats’ chances, writes Arick Wierson

Trump: ‘No money was paid’ to North Korea for Otto Warmbier – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday denied sending North Korea money for Otto Warmbier’s care, a day after reports the herm

Democratic 2020 Field’s Dividing Lines Grow Clearer – (The Wall Street Journal)
The Democratic presidential field is largely set. But the direction the party will take against President Trump remains unsettled.

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