2019-04-27

Headlines:

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

Two Super-Rich Families Ended Up on Opposite Sides of Easter Attacks – (The New York Times)
In an instant, five of their children were blown to pieces in the Sri Lanka bombings, one family slaughtered by the other.

Oliver North says he won’t serve 2nd term as NRA president – (Associated Press)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Retired Lt. Col. Oliver North said Saturday that he will not serve a second term as the president of the National Rifle Association amid inner turmoil in the gun-rights…

Sri Lanka militants set off bombs during raid, killing 15 – (Associated Press)
AMPARA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Militants linked to Easter suicide bombings opened fire and set off explosives during a raid by Sri Lankan security forces on a house in the country’s east, leaving behind…

Oliver North Says He Will Not Serve Another Term as N.R.A. President – (The New York Times)
The announcement came at the group’s convention but it was not clear whether his power struggle with Wayne LaPierre, the group’s chief executive, was over.

French police clash with yellow vests protesters in Strasbourg – (Reuters)
French police fired tear gas to push back protesters who tried to march toward the European Parliament building in the eastern city of Strasbourg on the 25th consecutive weekend of protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.

Juul nicotine hit may be ‘Worst for kids, best for smokers’ – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — She tried gums, patches and various electronic cigarettes to quit smoking. What finally worked for Chantel Williams was a small, reusable e-cigarette called Juul that packs a big…

Oliver North stepping down as National Rifle Association president – (Reuters)
Retired U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North will step down as president of the National Rifle Association, North said on Saturday, adding he was being forced out due to his allegations that NRA leaders engaged in financial improprieties.

Children killed during Sri Lanka gunbattle between troops and Islamist militants – (Reuters)
As darkness fell in Sainthamaruthu village on Sri Lanka’s east coast on Friday, troops and police prepared to storm a concrete shack that local residents had told them was a safe house for a band of Islamist militants.

Russia may ease passport rules for whole Ukraine – (BBC News)
President Putin says he is considering extending a scheme announced this week in rebel-held areas.

Sri Lankan president bans Islamist groups suspected of Easter Sunday bombings – (Reuters)
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has banned two Islamist groups suspected of being behind the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people, his office said on Saturday.

Poof, they’re gone: Power plant towers demolished in seconds – (Associated Press)
SOMERSET, Mass. (AP) — In a matter of seconds, two 500-foot cooling towers from Massachusetts’ last coal-fired power plant have been reduced to rubble.The controlled demolition went off as…

‘We heard a blast… everything became fire’ – (BBC News)
Brother Stanley was the pastor in charge of the Zion church in Sri Lanka when the bombing happened.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s torrent of twisted claims on Russia – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia keeps reverberating even with special counsel Robert Mueller’s report now part of history.As much as President Donald Trump says he wants the United States to move…

Relatives of Sri Lanka suicide bombings mastermind wounded in gunbattle – (Reuters)
The wife and a daughter of the suspected mastermind of suicide attacks on churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka were wounded in a gunbattle that erupted following a raid in the east of the country, police and his sister said on Saturday.

Trump’s executive privilege strategy could mean messy fight – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Since George Washington’s time, presidents have used executive privilege to resist congressional inquiries in the name of protecting the confidentiality of their…

Report: Idris Elba marries model Sabrina Dhowre in Morocco – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — British actor Idris Elba has married model Sabrina Dhowre in Morocco.Images featured by British Vogue on Instagram showed the star of “Luther” sharing an embrace with Dhowre,…

Indian police uncovered a plot, but Sri Lanka didn’t act – (Associated Press)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — While monitoring the usual channels, Indian police stumbled upon something extraordinary: a detailed plot for what would become the bloodiest Islamic State group-linked…

China puts gentler face on Belt and Road, hits back at critics – (Reuters)
China sought to put a gentler face on its massive plan to recreate the old Silk Road at a summit that ended on Saturday, saying it must do more to explain the program and boost sustainability even as state media hit back at critics.

National Comedy Center to digitize Lucille Ball archives – (Associated Press)
JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Handwritten notes and family photographs belonging to Lucille Ball will be digitally preserved as part of a new project being undertaken by the National Comedy Center in the…

Israel to free two Syrian prisoners after recovering soldier’s remains – (Reuters)
Israel will release two prisoners after the remains of an Israeli soldier missing since 1982 were recovered by Russian special forces in Syria, an Israeli official said.

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From various sources

“No future for Jews in Germany,” says German Jewish teenager – (The Jerusalem Post)
German Jews explain why they are relocating to Israel.

New York Times internationally prints antisemitic cartoon of Trump, Netanyahu – (The Jerusalem Post)
New York Times admits cartoon had antisemitic tropes and says it was an error of judgement to publish.

Sri Lanka suicide bombings mastermind’s relatives wounded in gun battle – (The Jerusalem Post)
At least 15 people including six children were killed in the gun battle, a military spokesman said earlier.

Gunmen attack Christians near Ramallah after dispute involving PA official – (The Jerusalem Post)
According to some eyewitnesses, the gunmen who ran amok in Jifna were Fatah activists from the Al-Am’ari refugee camp.

10 Photo Stories That Will Challenge Your View Of The World – (Buzzfeed)
Here are some of the most interesting and powerful photo stories from across the internet.

Bobrovsky building reputation for Blue Jackets in playoffs – (NHL News)
What if Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t make that save on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov 26 seconds into the second period of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference First Round? What happens then to the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie with a history of sub-par p…

Fabbri feeling healthy, hopes to keep producing for Blues in Game 2 – (NHL News)
The road to health has been a long and at times arduous journey for Robby Fabbri.

Writing an OS in Rust: Testing – (Hacker News)

Stars look to make improvements against Blues in Game 2 – (NHL News)
Jim Montgomery took a lot of positives from the Dallas Stars’ 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the best-of-7 Western Conference Second Round at Enterprise Center on Thursday.

Two Super-Rich Families Ended Up on Opposite Sides of Easter Attacks – (The New York Times)
In an instant, five of their children were blown to pieces in the Sri Lanka bombings, one family slaughtered by the other.

Real Madrid offer Chelsea the chance to sign midfielder – report – (FourFourTwo)
Real Madrid have offered Chelsea the chance to extend Mateo Kovacic’s loan move for another season, report the Daily Star.

NRA President Oliver North says he won’t serve a second term after power struggle – (USA Today)
Oliver North’s tenure ends after a bitter power struggle with Wayne LaPierre, the chief executive and longtime public face of the gun rights group.

17 Tweets From This Week That Are Straight-Up Hilarious – (Buzzfeed)
“I miss being 12. All I did was talk back and download every computer virus known to man.”

21 Period Jokes That Are Straight-Up Savage – (Buzzfeed)
“When you fart on your period and it bubbles: A story by me.”

Police launch urgent appeal to find 16-year-old friends missing since Wednesday – (Mirror)
The families of Monet Williams and Leah Monkman, from Leeds, are extremely concerned for the teenagers

NFL draft winners, losers of Day 2: Patriots make their mark – (USA Today)
On Day 2 of the 2019 NFL draft, Bill Belichick added several players who could be significant contributors to the Patriots in short order.

Man knifed to death after argument in Elliotdale salon – (News24)
An argument inside an Elliotdale salon has resulted in the murder when a 23-year-old man was knifed to death, Eastern Cape police said.

Sending child to school without vaccination ‘reprehensible’, says Harris – (The Irish Times)
Minister says doctors should help in fight against pseudoscience that was costing lives

NRA President Oliver North Won’t Seek Reelection Amid Group’s Meltdown – (The Huffington Post)
The gun group’s leadership is in chaos after a report by The Trace prompted an IRS investigation of the organization’s tax status.

Storm Hannah batters Britain as 82mph winds leave thousands without power – (Mirror)
Thousands have been left without power, roads have been closed by fallen trees and planes have struggled to land as Storm Hannah batters Britain

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All about Trump

New York Times internationally prints antisemitic cartoon of Trump, Netanyahu – (The Jerusalem Post)
New York Times admits cartoon had antisemitic tropes and says it was an error of judgement to publish.

Samantha Bee, Robert De Niro roast Trump at ‘Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner’ – (USA Today)
Samantha Bee returned to the nation’s capital Friday for her “Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” and she brought Robert De Niro along.

UVA White House visit: NCAA champion Virginia men’s basketball team declines Trump’s invitation to the White House – (CBS News)
The team’s head coach said the team would have to “respectfully decline” an invitation

Biden and Trump draw China’s Xi into 2020 election fray – (CNN)
The Xi Jinping primary has begun.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s torrent of twisted claims on Russia – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia keeps reverberating even with special counsel Robert Mueller’s report now part of history.As much as President Donald Trump says he wants the United States to move…

Trump’s executive privilege strategy could mean messy fight – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Since George Washington’s time, presidents have used executive privilege to resist congressional inquiries in the name of protecting the confidentiality of their…

Can Republican Intellectuals Survive the Age of Trump? – (Bloomberg)

Trump to take US out of Arms Trade Treaty – (BBC News)
The global pact, signed by Barack Obama, aims to regulate the sale of weapons internationally.

Trump announces withdrawal from arms treaty – (RTE)
US President Donald Trump has said that the United States would not abide by a UN treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade, calling it “misguided” and an encroachment on US sovereignty.

Dershowitz: Maxine Waters ‘Better Start Listening’ — Impeachment Is ‘Going to Come Back to Hurt the Democrats’ – (Breitbart News)
Friday on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle,” Harvard University law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz reiterated his position that there was no actionable obstruction of justice committed by President Donald Trump based on the findings of special couns…

Trump withdraws from UN arms treaty as NRA crowd cheers – (The Irish Times)
President says foreign bureaucrats will not trample second amendment rights

‘Pathetic Gesture’: Corbyn Criticised for Snubbing Trump State Visit Banquet – (Breitbart News)
Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of “hypocrisy” for turning down the invitation to the royal banquet during President Donald J Trump’s state visit, whilst having attended a banquet held in honour of President Xi Jinping despite China’s human rights record.

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