Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Mueller Pushed Twice for Barr to Release Report’s Summaries – (The New York Times)
Robert S. Mueller III wrote that “there is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation.”
Venezuela’s Guaido calls for ‘largest march in history’ in uprising effort – (Reuters)
Venezuelans were expected to take to the streets on Wednesday for what opposition leader Juan Guaido pledged would be the “largest march” in the country’s history, a day after he called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
Russia denies U.S. claim it told Venezuela’s Maduro not to flee – (Reuters)
Russia on Wednesday rejected a U.S. allegation it had persuaded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to flee the country the previous day, calling the assertion a calculated attempt to demoralise the army and escalate the crisis there.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro says there are fractures in the Venezuelan army – (Reuters)
Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday said he had received information of fractures within the Venezuelan army that could lead to the “collapse” of the socialist government led by Nicolas Maduro.
Pompeo to speak with Russian counterpart; White House meeting on Venezuela set – (Reuters)
The Trump administration is turning its attention to Russia’s role in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Moscow of intervening when President Nicolas Maduro was preparing to leave the country.
University of North Carolina identifies victims in deadly shooting – (Reuters)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Wednesday revealed the identities of the two people killed and four injured in a Tuesday afternoon shooting that rocked the school on its last day of classes for the semester.
Venezuela awaits more protests after a day of turmoil – (Associated Press)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — He called it the moment for Venezuelans to reclaim their democracy once and for all. But as the hours dragged on, opposition leader Juan Guaidó stood alone on a highway…
China, U.S. hold ‘productive’ trade talks in Beijing – (Reuters)
China and the United States held “productive” trade talks in Beijing on Wednesday and will continue discussions in Washington next week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, as the two try to end their trade war.
Venezuela’s Guaido calls for uprising but military loyal to Maduro for now – (Reuters)
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday made his strongest call yet to the military to help him oust President Nicolas Maduro but there were no concrete signs of defection from the armed forces leadership.
Return of firebrand opposition leader Lopez energizes Venezuelan protests – (Reuters)
When Felix Garcia woke up on Tuesday he was fired up by surprising news – Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, under house arrest for the past two years, had appeared in public.
Julian Assange Sentenced to 50 Weeks and Still Faces U.S. Charges – (The New York Times)
A London court sentenced Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, to prison for jumping bail in 2012, but his legal troubles are far from over.
WikiLeaks’ Assange gets 50 weeks in prison for jumping bail – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — A British judge sentenced WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday to 50 weeks in prison for skipping bail seven years ago and holing up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in…
Rare conviction of officer in shooting spurs race concerns – (Associated Press)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After three weeks of testimony, a jury needed little more than a day to convict a black Minneapolis police officer of murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed white woman who…
French police clash with May Day protesters on Paris streets – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — French police clashed with stone-throwing protesters as tens of thousands of people started marching in Paris Wednesday for May Day rallies under tight security. More than 200 arrests…
2 dead, motive unclear in North Carolina campus shooting – (Associated Press)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A student with a pistol and no immediately apparent motive killed two people and wounded four others at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte before campus police…
French police fire tear gas at protesters in Paris May Day rally – (Reuters)
French police fired tear gas to push back masked demonstrators in central Paris on Wednesday as thousands of people used an annual May Day rally to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.
IS leader outlines path forward for his group post-caliphate – (Associated Press)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — No longer burdened by territory and administration, Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi outlined the new path forward for his group: Widen your reach, connect…
Trump depicted in Mueller report feared being tabbed a fraud – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The fear was persistent.As the Russia investigation heated up and threatened to shadow Donald Trump’s presidency, he became increasingly concerned. But the portrait…
Turkish nationals arrested by Haftar forces not spies: Officials – (Al Jazeera English)
Turkish security officials tell Al Jazeera the two men are restaurant workers without ties to the government.
Museum can keep artwork looted by Nazis – (BBC News)
A US judge allows a Madrid museum to keep the painting a Jewish woman was forced to give up in 1939.
***
From various sources
Analysis | Did Trump fumble an uprising in Venezuela? – (The Washington Post)
The Venezuelan opposition’s attempt to launch a military insurrection on Tuesday morning seemed to fizzle out by night’s end.
Pompeo: Venezuela’s Maduro ready to leave before Russia told him not to – (The Jerusalem Post)
According to the interview, Pompeo has previously noted in the past that Maduro was ready to board a plane to Havana, under the United States’ wishes, until the Russian government intervened.
Leaders of Kazakhstan, Democratic Republic of Congo keen on Israel trip – (The Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu made the groundbreaking visit to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana in 2016, after visiting Azerbaijan, which – like Kazakhstan – is a Muslim majority country.
Pakistan Plans to Integrate Islamic Seminaries into State Education – (The Jerusalem Post)
Madrassas often leave students unprepared for the work force, but also have been seen as hotbeds for extremism.
Barr testifies about the Mueller investigation – (The Washington Post)
Follow our live coverage.
Robert Mueller to testify to congress about Trump-Russia report, senior Democrat says – (Independent)
Venezuela braces for protests as Guaidó and Maduro each call for demonstrations – (The Washington Post)
Guaidó followed up his call for a military revolt against Maduro with one for massive street protests.
Publishing of cartoon is ‘Numbness to creep’ of antisemitism – NYT board – (The Jerusalem Post)
“Jews face even greater hostility and danger in Europe, where the cartoon was created,” the editorial also said.
Burgeoning court backlog of more than 850,000 cases undercuts Trump immigration agenda – (The Washington Post)
Caseload in U.S. immigration court is soaring, with new claims piling up faster than they can be cleared.
Special Counsel Mueller’s letter to Attorney General Barr – (The Washington Post)
In a letter to Attorney General William P. Barr, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III wrote that he wanted his introduction and executive summaries released, and that Barr’s summary had sowed “public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our inv…
– (Fox Sports)
We’ve launched new corporate brand and logo system – Red Hat – (Hacker News)
After 25 years, we have designed our corporate logo and brand system to reflect Red Hat now. And we used open source principles to do it.
Julian Assange sentenced to 50 weeks in jail – (Financial Times)
WikiLeaks founder convicted for breaching bail in 2012 by hiding in Ecuadorean embassy
Capitals bowl, Dhoni back, Rabada out with stiff back – (ESPN Cric Info)
***
All about Trump
Analysis | Did Trump fumble an uprising in Venezuela? – (The Washington Post)
The Venezuelan opposition’s attempt to launch a military insurrection on Tuesday morning seemed to fizzle out by night’s end.
Robert Mueller to testify to congress about Trump-Russia report, senior Democrat says – (Independent)
Burgeoning court backlog of more than 850,000 cases undercuts Trump immigration agenda – (The Washington Post)
Caseload in U.S. immigration court is soaring, with new claims piling up faster than they can be cleared.
Pelosi slams Trump’s ‘growing pattern of obstruction’ as ‘unconstitutional’ – (The Hill)
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) upped the ante in the feud between House Democrats and President Trump Wednesday, rolling out a new messaging campaign slamming the White House’s efforts to defy congressional oversight as “unconstitutional.”
Pompeo to speak with Russian counterpart; White House meeting on Venezuela set – (Reuters)
The Trump administration is turning its attention to Russia’s role in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Moscow of intervening when President Nicolas Maduro was preparing to leave the country.
Federal Reserve to defy Trump and hold rates steady – (Financial Times)
Conflicting evidence on the strength of US economy may guide central bank caution
AG William Barr faces lawmakers for the first time after release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report – (USA Today)
President Trump’s new attorney general will field questions from lawmakers for the first time since the end of the special counsel investigation.
Democrats to grill Barr amid reports of Mueller’s frustration – (NBC News)
Attorney General William Barr will testify Wednesday for the first time since the release of a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on his nearly two-year investigation into Russian election meddling and possible obstruction by Trump.
‘Military action is possible’ in Venezuela, says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – (USA Today)
Pompeo’s remarks appeared to mark an escalation of the Trump administration’s rhetoric on Venezuela.
Asylum changes show Trump’s 2020 focus will again be on the border, presenting tough choices for Democrats – (The Washington Post)
Aides say the president is confident the issue can deliver him a second term, despite some signs that it has become more politically complicated for him.
Russia in Venezuela: Why Vladimir Putin has sent troops to back up Nicolas Maduro as the Trump administration backs Juan Guaido – (CBS News)
Moscow dismisses U.S. claim that Russia convinced Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro not to flee Caracas, but Russia does have a role in the standoff
Trump targets Biden’s support from firefighters union in Twitter barrage – (The Hill)
President Trump in an early morning Twitter spree on Wednesday retweeted 58 messages expressing support from rank-and-file firefighters after a top union’s leadership backed former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential bid.
Trump’s tariffs are forcing Americans to pay 12% more for washing machines – (Axios)
Dryers weren’t targeted by the tariffs, but those prices are rising for consumers too.
Trump retweets some 60 anti-Biden tweets responding to firefighter union endorsement – (ABC News)
President Donald Trump went on a Twitter spree Wednesday morning in an attempt to show he has support from firefighters over former Vice President Joe Biden.
Posthaste: It’s resistance day — U.S. Fed to resist Trump’s rate cut call, Venezuelans push back, and Kenney fights – (Financial Post)
And can you resist this?: Buying an electric car becomes cheaper today as federal rebates kick in
Trump’s attorney general to testify today as reports of Mueller displeasure emerge | CBC News – (CBC News)
Attorney General William Barr will face lawmakers’ questions for the first time since releasing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report, in what promises to be a dramatic showdown as he defends his actions before Democrats who accuse him of spinning th…
Trump’s attorney general to testify today as reports of Mueller displeasure emerge | CBC News – (Google News (Canada))
Attorney General William Barr will face lawmakers’ questions for the first time since releasing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report, in what promises to be a dramatic showdown as he defends his actions before Democrats who accuse him of spinning th…
Donald Trump’s latest attacks on Joe Biden: More than 60 retweets – (USA Today)
Donald Trump has what may have been his busiest morning ever on Twitter attacking Joe Biden
Trump Lashes Out on Twitter Over Firefighters’ Support of Biden – (Google News)
President Trump unleashed dozens of retweets Wednesday morning, just days after Joseph R. Biden Jr. received the endorsement of the national firefighters’ union in his campaign for president.
Trump depicted in Mueller report feared being tabbed a fraud – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The fear was persistent.As the Russia investigation heated up and threatened to shadow Donald Trump’s presidency, he became increasingly concerned. But the portrait…