| Bernie Sanders Brings a Gun to a Democratic Primary Knife Fight Posted: 16 Apr 2019 02:38 AM PDT  Mark Makela/GettyIn seeking the 2020 nomination for the presidency, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had made overtures that he'd operate more firmly within the Democratic Party as the party adopted procedural reforms to accommodate his concerns. The rapprochement was always delicate. And this week it hit a major snag as the senator's presidential campaign opened fire at one of the Democratic Party's leading think tanks over a video that its editorially independent news site posted on Sanders' personal wealth. That video from ThinkProgress and the senator's response, in which he accused the Center for American Progress of bias against liberal candidates and veneration for corporate interests, exposed the lingering animus between the Sanders and the Democratic Party's actual institutions. It also raised alarm and questions as to whether Sanders was running to lead the party or to fundamentally change it. "If you always want to be an aggrieved factional candidate, then you do what they did here," said a Democratic operative who is a fan of Sanders. "It has nothing to do with the electoral context of Iowa or New Hampshire or Nevada or South Carolina. Let's go fight that battle. Voters don't care about CAP."The root of the latest blow up was a video produced by ThinkProgress noting that Sanders had stopped maligning millionaires—leaving his criticism for billionaires—when he became one himself. The news site is part of the CAP umbrella, which gave the video the veneer of a sanctioned attack. But it also claims editorial independence from the think tank, though the degree of that independence is difficult to define. Sanders' campaign was initially uncertain of how it should respond to the post. But a day after it had been up—and shared gleefully by Republican operatives—they chose to push back in a way that, Democrats said, redefined disproportionality. Over the weekend, Sanders' campaign sent a letter to the board of CAP and CAP Action Fund saying that the "counterproductive negative campaigning needs to stop." The letter referenced content written about Sanders and two close colleagues who are also in the 2020 race: Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). It also explicitly called out CAP president Neera Tanden, an ally of Hillary Clinton, who has been critical of Sanders in the past but has attempted to mend bridges. Among some Democrats, there was a sense of bewilderment that the Sanders campaign had gone—as one operative put it—"nuclear" over a mere web video. One Democratic consultant sympathetic to Sanders described the video as being "like a gnat buzzing around your ear," one which should not have distracted from the candidate's Midwest tour. It also raised questions as to whether the senator was ready for the scrutiny that would come from being a frontrunning candidate, after having run as an insurgent against an ideal foil, Hillary Clinton, in 2016. "When you're leading in the polls of president of your party you should expect investigative stories to hit at least once a week and to be attacked by your opponents every day," said Ben Labolt, who served as press secretary to Barack Obama during the 2012 campaign. "An attack on something like ThinkProgress is the sign of a super-narrow-minded campaign that isn't actually thinking of how the election will be won... They have chosen an establishment force that no one outside of the Starbucks at 16th and K would recognize." But within Sanders' orbit, the pushback was seen as strategically prudent. Sanders has often bristled at personal questions that he deems irrelevant to the set of beliefs he has espoused for decades. And his attack on CAP effectively set a benchmark for the type of coverage that the his team would countenance and reinforced his brand as someone outside of typical party structures. It also undermined any notion that he was a political pushover—a suggestion that lingered for some after he muted some of his attacks on Clinton in 2016. It didn't hurt matters that some prominent, though non-establishment, Democratic figures offered Sanders their support. Tom Steyer, the liberal billionaire donor and party activist, who also serves on the board of directors for CAP issued a statement on his own saying he would use his "voice on the Center for American Progress' Board of Directors to discourage any such attacks on any candidate seeking the Democratic nomination in the future."Those close to Steyer told The Daily Beast that he released the statement without consulting with others at the organization and that it by no means suggested he was endorsing Sanders. Another CAP board member, Stacey Abrams, declined to comment. But a spokesperson for the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Georgia directed The Daily Beast to a conciliatory statement Tanden issued on Monday afternoon, saying the video had been "overly harsh" and did "not reflect our approach to a constructive debate of the issues."That, for now, seems to have quieted the skirmish with Sanders' campaign manager Faiz Shakir saying that the campaign looked "forward to working in a more productive manner" with CAP, "if possible." But within a few hours, Sanders was, once more, putting pressure on the press; this time on an outlet of a highly-different ideological bent than ThinkProgress. In a town hall with Fox News, the senator hit back on the suggestion that his income-inequality message was muddied by his personal wealth by directly challenging the newscasters to ask the president for his own tax rates. "I pay the taxes that I owe," he declared, "and by the way, why don't you get Donald Trump up here and ask them how much he pays in taxes?"Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
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| European politicians protest outside Assange's London jail Posted: 15 Apr 2019 06:07 AM PDT  German and Spanish lawmakers protested against Julian Assange's detention on Monday, gathering outside a London prison to urge Britain and the EU to prevent his extradition to the United States. Two far-left German MPs, Heike Hansel and Sevim Dagdelen of Die Linke, and a Spanish Green member of the European Parliament, Ana Miranda, had been due to meet their "friend" Assange in London's Ecuadoran embassy later on Monday.
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| Notre-Dame blaze: Emmanuel Macron vows to rebuild Paris cathedral as scale of damage emerges Posted: 15 Apr 2019 11:49 PM PDT  Macron launches fundraising drive to restore landmark Billionaire pledges 100 million euros (£86 million) towards effort 'Our lady of tears': How the world reacted to the Notre-Dame fire Notre-Dame blaze: Everything we know about the fire 'No words can describe the pain': how Paris was left stunned by tragedy In pictures: Notre-Dame in flames Emmanuel Macron is launching a fund-raising campaign to rebuild Paris's Notre-Dame cathedral as the national landmark continued to smoulder on Tuesday morning after being devastated by an inferno. The catastrophic blaze left a nation mourning the devastation of its cultural and historic "epicentre" and sent shockwaves around the world. Hundreds of firefighters tackled the historic blaze through the night, battling to stop it wreaking complete destruction of the treasured facade after flames torched the roof, sending its spire crashing to the ground before crowds of horrified Parisians. Meanwhile, teams raced to recover what treasures they could from the 850-year-old Gothic masterpiece, which housed priceless artefacts and relics of huge religious and international significance. Read more | Notre-Dame fire The blaze, which broke out as the last crowds of tourists ended visits at around 6pm BST (7pm local time), was finally declared to be "completely under control" nearly nine hours later. "The fire is under control but not totally extinguished," French junior interior minister Laurent Nunez said early on Tuesday. Attention is beginning to turn to what may have caused the landmark, part of which was being restored, to fall victim to such a disaster. The cause of the fire was still not known and authorities were continuing their probe into how it started, Mr Nunez said. The Paris prosecutors' office said police would carry out an investigation into "involuntary destruction caused by fire", indicating authorities are treating the blaze as a tragic accident for now. Arson, including possible terror-related motives, was earlier ruled out. Visiting the scene on Monday night, Mr Macron said a national subscription would be launched to rebuild the national monument. It was reported by AFP that billionaire French fashion mogul Francois-Henri Pinault had pledged €100 million (£86 million) towards the effort. notre dame gallery "Notre-Dame is our history, our imagination, where we've lived all our great moments, and is the epicentre of our lives," Mr Macron said. The first harrowing images from within the fire-ravaged cathedral began to emerge as firefighters brought the blaze under control. A smouldering pile of what appeared to be the charred remains of the roof and spire lay smoking in front of the altar, while a cross that had escaped destruction glowed from within the gloom. 7:24AM Telegraph View: Notre-Dame can and must rise again here are few more iconic buildings in the world than the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. The fire that has ripped through the great building is not just a tragedy for France but for the whole of Europe. The church, with its familiar double towers and spire, now sadly destroyed, is a masterpiece of European medieval Gothic architecture, though modified on many occasions down the centuries. It is also a centre for worship for the Catholic faith filled with priceless artefacts, paintings and holy relics, including a piece of the true cross. These past few years have been difficult for France. The spate of terror attacks two years ago in Paris, Nice and other cities left scores dead and plunged the country into a state of emergency. In recent weeks, the centre of the French capital has been ravaged by street protests staged by the so-called gilets jaunes movement. Each weekend they have smashed up the centre of the city around the Champs Elysee, wrecking cars and shops. President Emmanuel Macron was due last night to address the French people on the outcome of the national debate he launched to address voters' concerns. Instead, he was on his way to witness his country's most cherished building engulfed in flames. Here in the UK we have seen Windsor Castle gutted by fire and parts of Hampton Court and York Minster badly damaged. As with Notre-Dame they happened while repair work was under way. Mercifully, those buildings were rebuilt though the damage to Notre-Dame may be more extensive. This is a dreadful moment for France and its people. We share their pain. Notre-Dame can and must rise again 6:38AM Christians sing prayers for burning Notre Dame
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| White House: Migrants to sanctuary cities not a top choice Posted: 14 Apr 2019 07:08 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to explore a twice-rejected proposal to send migrants to "sanctuary cities," but that is not the preferred solution to fix the straining immigration system, the White House said Sunday.
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| Israel's president starts consultations on prime minister nomination Posted: 15 Apr 2019 11:14 AM PDT  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nomination seemed virtually ensured after his right-wing Likud won the largest number of parliamentary seats in the April 9 ballot, and his closest rival, Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party, conceded defeat. President Reuven Rivlin said he would announce his choice on Wednesday after meeting with all of the parties that captured seats in the 120-member Knesset. Under Israeli law, after consultations with the parties the president taps a legislator whom he believes has the best chance of forming a government, delegating 28 days, with a two-week extension if necessary, to complete the task.
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| Barn find 1955 Chevy Corvette Hasn't Seen Daylight In 40 Years Posted: 16 Apr 2019 11:13 AM PDT  Tucked away for 40 years, this 1955 Chevrolet Corvette looks worse-for-wear in its hiding place – but now it's out, don't even think about trying to buy it. Anyone who owns a rare classic car like a 1955 Corvette could tell you that car collectors are constantly trying to buy them up, and that's the exact reason Bob Doucette put his 1955 Corvette into hiding — that, and wanting a safe place to preserve the car.
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| Here's How Much the Priciest Toll Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels Cost in the United States Posted: 15 Apr 2019 06:29 AM PDT |
| Bernie Sanders Donated 2.26% to Charity, Tax Returns Show Posted: 15 Apr 2019 04:00 PM PDT  Carlos Barria/ReutersSen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a decade's worth of tax returns on Monday, detailing millions in income—2.26 percent of which he donated to charity.The documents show that over the years, Sanders' income ranged from $205,617 to $1.1 million, while his charitable giving ranged from less than 1 percent to just over 4 percent depending on the year.Last year, Sanders' total income was $566, 421 and he donated $18,950 or 3.35 percent. In 2017, his income was $1.1 million and he gave away $36,300 or 3.15 percent. The year before that he also made more than $1 million but donated $10,600 or less than 1 percent.His income peaked in 2016 and 2017 due to sales of his book, Our Revolution. Based on IRS data, Sanders' rate of giving was below the average for his income bracket in some years and or at or above in other years.Sanders had resisted releasing his tax returns during his last run for office, sparking speculation as to what would be in the records that could prove political problematic.The top line number shows that the Senator is among the millionaire class that he often bemoans. But the charitable giving also presents its own set of political vulnerabilities, which Sanders' team appeared to acknowledge in a statement on its website explaining that the tax returns do not include proceeds from one of his books, The Speech, "which are donated directly to charity.""The Sanders do not take a tax deduction for those contributions, so they do not show up on their tax returns," the statement read. "The Sanders' donations have gone primarily to senior centers, low-income organizations, educational entities, and environmental and housing advocacy groups," the statement said.Reached for additional comment, Sanders' campaign spokeswoman Arianna Jones noted that the senator's policy platform calls for a greater government footprint in areas that are currently struggling to survive on charitable largesse. "Over the last decade, Bernie and Jane Sanders have donated more than $100,000 to charity. Their overall charitable giving rates have been roughly in line with the average rates in America as a whole," the statement read."In some years, they gave more than 3 or 4 percent of their income to charity. They have given to senior centers, low-income organizations, educational entities, and environmental and housing advocacy groups. They also believe that while voluntary charitable donations are commendable, they can never replace ongoing public investments in major social programs and services that improve people's lives."Read more at The Daily Beast.
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| Ola Bini: Wikileaks collaborator and Assange ally accused of plotting to blackmail Ecuador president faces 'threats in jail', parents say Posted: 16 Apr 2019 12:19 PM PDT  The parents of a Swedish programmer who was an early ally of Julian Assange and Wikileaks and who has now been accused of trying to blackmail Ecuador's president, is facing threats in jail, his parents have claimed.Ola Bini, 36, was arrested last Thursday in Ecuador, hours after Mr Assange was detained by police in London who entered the Ecuadorian embassy. Mr Assange was charged with skipping bail by a London judge, while the US charged him with conspiring with whistleblower Chelsea Manning to hack a US computer. Defenders of Mr Assange say the US is trying to punish the Wikileaks founder for exposing embarrassing and damaging information about Washington's actions, including the behaviour of its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.Prosecutors in Ecuador, have said they intend to charge Mr Bini, a longtime Wikileaks defender, with seeking to blackmail Ecuadorian president Lenin Moreno, who turned against Mr Assange and invited the British authorities to enter the embassy last week and arrest him.On Tuesday, Mr Bini's parents, Dag Gustafsson and Gorel Bini, professed their son's innocence and said they would remain in Ecuador until he was released. "We want to say that Ola is not feeling safe, because of some threats inside," Mr Gustafsson told reporters.His wife added: "Right now, he's ok. But he's worried."Last week, Ecuador's interior minister Maria Paula Romo, told local media the Swedish coder, who has long worked with social justice groups, had been arrested for "investigative purposes"."For several years now, one of the key members of this WikiLeaks organisation and a person close to Mr Julian Assange has lived in Ecuador, and we have sufficient evidence that he has been collaborating with the destabilisation attempts against the government," she said.According to the Associated Press, she added: "It's up to the justice system to determine if he committed a crime. But we can't allow Ecuador to become a centre for piracy and spying. That period in our history is over."Ms Romo said Bini had travelled at least 12 times to meet with Assange at the London embassy. She said he was also in Venezuela earlier this year at around the same time as a close aide to Mr Moreno's former mentor turned arch enemy, Rafael Correa. Mr Correa, a former president who frequently criticised the US, had initially offered asylum to Mr Assange.
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| Notre Dame Fire: Paris police chief says cathedral structure has been saved after spire collapse Posted: 15 Apr 2019 07:13 PM PDT  The Paris chief of police said the structure of Notre Dame cathedral has been saved and a catastrophic fire stopped from spreading to the northern belfry.
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| Macron vows to rebuild a 'more beautiful' Notre-Dame in 5 years Posted: 16 Apr 2019 12:17 PM PDT  President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday vowed to rebuild Notre-Dame cathedral "even more beautifully" within five years, as France reeled with shock from the fire that gutted the great Paris landmark. Macron announced the fast timescale -- for a process some experts said would take decades -- in an address to the nation where he hailed how the disaster had shown the capacity of France to mobilise and unite. Macron's defiant comments indicated he wants the reconstruction of the cathedral to be completed by the time Paris hosts the Olympic Games in 2024.
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| India bans BJP state chief minister from campaign after anti-Muslim comment Posted: 15 Apr 2019 10:18 AM PDT  India's election commission on Monday banned a Hindu state chief minister from campaigning for three days after anti-Muslim comments in an election that will end next month. The saffron-clad Yogi Adityanath, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, had been warned this month about his campaign speeches, the election commission said. The commission said Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had spoken about a "green virus" in a speech last week in reference to Muslim voters who he said were being wooed by opposition parties.
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| Syria, Iran say US is waging 'economic terrorism' Posted: 16 Apr 2019 08:45 AM PDT  DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria and Iran said Tuesday the United States is waging "economic terrorism" against countries that have different opinions and should pursue its aims through diplomacy instead.
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| Crown of Thorns: These ancient treasures were saved from the Notre Dame inferno Posted: 16 Apr 2019 05:52 AM PDT  Some of the Notre Dame Cathedral's most priceless treasures, including a relic known as the Crown of Thorns, have been saved from the massive fire .
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| AOC on 'Game of Thrones' finale: It'd be 'badass' if it ended in democracy Posted: 15 Apr 2019 10:28 AM PDT  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., offered an optimistic view on the potential conclusion of "Game of Thrones."
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| The 2020 Ford Mustang's Base Model Gets a Better Performance Package Posted: 15 Apr 2019 03:00 AM PDT  This single box-check option, borrowed from the Focus RS, can take a 2.3-liter Mustang from base to race.
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| Prince Harry, Meghan and unborn 'Baby Sussex' thank Instagram fans for charity donations Posted: 15 Apr 2019 10:16 AM PDT  When the Duke and Duchess founded their own Instagram account to communicate directly with their public, it was assumed they were beginning a new era as inspirational royal influencers. Few, however, could have predicted how quickly their unborn child would join them to make his or her mark on the world. The SussexRoyal Instagram page has posted a message on behalf of "Baby Sussex", thanking fans for the many charity donations they have made in honour of the future seventh-in-line to the throne. In a post praising the public for choosing ""to be part of the collective good", they relayed the success of a week-long charity drive and told 4.6 million followers: "You made this happen. Thank you." Remarkably, the post referred to their future child as "Baby Sussex, the nickname used by fans and the press but never before adopted in official palace communications. The Duke and Duchess had last week named four charities for fans to donate to in lieu of sending gifts for their baby, urging them to help underprivileged children in the UK, Los Angeles and South Africa. Prince Harry and Meghan had asked fans to donate to baby charities in lieu of gifts Credit: PA In an update posted on Monday afternoon, in time for their American audience waking up, the couple said: "Not only did many of you lend your support, you took action." While the language of the post, including Americanised spellings, led enthusiastic fans to believe it was written by the Duchess herself while on maternity leave, it is understood to have been posted by a member of staff. "Their royal highnesses wanted you to know the impact of your support - the direct effect your donation, energy, and action made!" it said. "YOU chose to be part of the collective good, and you have a [sic] made a real difference. "Whether a $5 donation, £1000 contribution, offering to volunteer, or spreading the word – you've played your part. "And on behalf of The Duke and Duchess (and Baby Sussex), we thank you so much." View this post on Instagram Just one week ago, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex asked that you kindly consider supporting various organisations around the world in lieu of sending gifts for the upcoming arrival of their first born. Not only did many of you lend your support, you took action. Their Royal Highnesses wanted you to know the impact of your support – the direct effect your donation, energy, and action made! YOU chose to be part of the collective good, and you have a made a real difference. Whether a $5 donation, £1000 contribution, offering to volunteer, or spreading the word – you've played your part. And on behalf of The Duke and Duchess (and Baby Sussex), we thank you so much. YOUR IMPACT: @thelunchboxfund will now be able to provide a minimum of 100,000 additional hot nutritionally fortified meals to children in dire need across South Africa @littlevillagehq received donations from all over the world (from UAE to Hong Kong and the US), they've increased their monthly donors, had a surge in volunteer applications, and re-energized their hard working team of 200+ staff and volunteers @wellchild can now provide 300+ additional hours of specialist care by a Well Child Nurse for a child with serious health needs, allowing families to stay together at home vs in hospital @Baby2Baby have received over 5,000 products to disperse to children in need, including cribs, books, backpacks, diapers and have received monetary donations from around the globe - from Guadalajara to Italy. You made this happen. Thank you. A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Apr 15, 2019 at 6:51am PDT It was the latest of a dozen posts shared in the last two weeks, including 63 pictures. Four messages have been based on public engagements undertaken by the Duke, five have included details of the baby charities, and one announced Prince Harry's television collaboration with Oprah Winfrey. The Duke and Duchess had asked the public to donate to four children's charities: Lunchbox Fund, Well Child, Baby2Baby and Little Village. In an update on Monday, the royal account told its followers that Lunchbox can now provide 100,000 additional hot nutritious meals to children in need across South Africa. Little Village, a clothes, toys and equipment bank for young children in London, has received donations from around the world, "had a surge in volunteer applications, and re-energized their hard working team of 200+ staff and volunteers". View this post on Instagram The Duke of Sussex has proudly been patron of UK based organization Well Child since 2007. Over 100,000 children and young people are living with serious illness or exceptional health needs across the UK. Many spend months, even years in hospital vs at home because there is no support enabling them to leave. Well Child's vision is for every child and young person living with serious health needs to have the best chance to thrive properly supported at home with their families. Both the Duke and Duchess attended the Well Child Awards in the winter of 2018, supporting the incredible families and children who benefit from the Well Child programs. For those who have inquired, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ask that you consider supporting @wellchild and three other select charities in lieu of sending baby gifts for their upcoming arrival. Thank you for the support and kindness! Photos via: @wellchild worldhealthday A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Apr 7, 2019 at 8:06am PDT Well Child, which helps seriously ill children to be cared for at home, can now provide more than 300 additional hours of specialist care by a Well Child nurse thanks to the donations. Baby2Baby, which helps children and parents in need in the Duchess's home city of Los Angeles, has received more than 5,000 products including cots, books, backpacks and nappies, along with money. The Duke and Duchesses' request followed a viral global baby shower campaign started by fans which raised more than £22,000 after well-wishers donated to animal rescue centre Mayhew, the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed), and WellChild. Newsletter Promotion - Royal Appointment - in article The Sussexes' baby is due later this month, with Buckingham Palace announcing last week: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby. "Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private."
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| Canada: police hunt hitman disguised as delivery person who shot woman Posted: 15 Apr 2019 11:56 AM PDT  Suspect injured woman with a crossbow in a 'premeditated, targeted' attack, police say, in November 2018Police say the bow and arrows used in the attack are designed for hunting big game like moose. Photograph: Chris Helgren/ReutersPolice in Canada are hunting a suspected hitman who they say disguised himself as a delivery person to carry out a "premeditated, targeted and isolated attack" on a woman, gravely injuring her with a crossbow.Details of a brazen murder attempt were released to the public Monday morning by police in Mississauga, Ontario. The attack on the 44-year-old woman occurred late on 7 November 2018 in an area north of Toronto.In black-and-white home surveillance footage, a man is seen carrying a large cardboard box on the victim's front porch. Dressed in a baseball cap, hooded sweatshirt and dark gloves, the man awkwardly holds the large rectangular box, which police say concealed the crossbow.After a brief conversation, he fires the weapon and flees in a dark pickup truck. The front door is seen closing as the suspect runs away.Despite her substantial injuries, the woman was able to phone emergency responders. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she has remained for months."The injuries that she sustained were absolutely devastating," Det Sgt Jim Kettles of Peel police told reporters. "It involved damage to a lot of her internal organs. She'll be in recovery phase for the rest of her life … Her life will never be the same."The woman got a "direct look" at the man who attacked her, but was unable to identify him."This was most definitely a targeted type of attack," Kettles said, adding that "the crossbow was never removed from the box" during the encounter.At the press conference, police displayed a similar crossbow and arrows to the ones used in the attack, which are designed for hunting big game like moose. The choice of weapon was meant to "inflict the maximum amount of damage possible", said police, who were able to recover one of the arrows at the scene of the crime."Comments made to the victim [by the suspect] indicate the victim was targeted and that the suspect may have carried out the attack at the request of another individual," said Supt Heather Raymor. "It is clear that this attack was meant to end the victim's life."Police have not released a motive for the attack. Kettles said the shoes and baseball hat worn by the suspect were unique – and the suspect did not conceal his face, giving investigators a number of potential clues. "We are open to anything at this point and we are looking at all possible investigative avenues," he said.
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| May Under Fire From Tories in Hunt for Brexit Compromise Posted: 15 Apr 2019 01:12 AM PDT  Both Theresa May's government and the opposition Labour Party said Sunday that their talks represented the best chance of finding a Brexit solution and ending months of deadlock. Lidington told the BBC on Sunday that the talks involved "testing" possible solutions, and both sides will have to make concessions. Lidington said the government believed it would be possible to get "the benefits of a customs union" -- which Labour wants -- "but still have a flexibility for the U.K. to pursue an independent trade policy on top of that." He avoided a question about whether the U.K. could sign up to a common external tariff.
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| U.S. airlines face too many travellers, too few planes in 737 MAX summer dilemma Posted: 15 Apr 2019 12:18 PM PDT ![U.S. airlines face too many travellers, too few planes in 737 MAX summer dilemma]( "U.S. airlines face too many travellers, too few planes in 737 MAX summer dilemma") Normally, U.S. airlines compete to sell tickets and fill seats during the peak summer travel season. The grounding of Boeing Co's fuel-efficient, single-aisle workhorse after two fatal crashes is biting into U.S. airlines' Northern Hemisphere spring and summer schedules, threatening to disarm them in their seasonal war for profits. Southwest Airlines Co, the world's largest MAX operator, and American Airlines Group Inc with 34 and 24 MAX jetliners respectively, have removed the aircraft from their flying schedules into August.
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| At least 174 killed in fight for Libya's Tripoli: WHO Posted: 16 Apr 2019 02:51 AM PDT  At least 174 people have been killed and 758 wounded in the battle for control over the Libyan capital Tripoli, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. Fighting broke out on April 4 when military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to take Tripoli, the seat of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). At least 14 civilians are among those killed and 36 have been wounded, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told journalists citing local health facilities.
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| Notre Dame fire: Catholics 'heartbroken' as blaze ravages iconic cathedral during Holy Week Posted: 15 Apr 2019 11:53 PM PDT  Catholics should be commemorating Holy Week in the pews of the Notre Dame, but instead, a massive inferno is threatening to destroy the iconic church.
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| Adorable Easter Cookies You’ll Want to Make Right Now Posted: 16 Apr 2019 01:01 PM PDT |
| Bernie Sanders gets support for 'Medicare for All' proposal from Fox News audience Posted: 15 Apr 2019 05:08 PM PDT  The Vermont senator gets a surprising response from the conservative network's viewers.
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| US terror label for Iran Revolutionary Guard takes effect Posted: 15 Apr 2019 08:08 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. terrorism label for Iran's Revolutionary Guard formally took effect on Monday, amid a battle between the Trump administration and some in Congress over waivers on oil and nuclear sanctions that are due to expire or be extended early next month.
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| House Chairmen Demand White House Documents on Trump’s ‘Alarming’ Sanctuary City Plan Posted: 15 Apr 2019 08:43 AM PDT  REUTERSThree powerful House Democrats are requesting the White House release all documents relating to President Trump's plan to conduct a targeted release of undocumented immigrants in so-called "sanctuary cities," a policy intended to serve as retribution for Democrats for failing to sign on with the president's immigration agenda.In a letter sent on Monday morning, Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS)—chairs of the House Oversight, Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, respectively—told acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan that they are "deeply troubled" by the Trump administration's proposal.The plan to release immigrants currently in government detention into cities and congressional districts represented by Democrats, they wrote, is "a bizarre and unlawful attempt to score political points." Such communities, as a matter of local law or policy, do not cooperate with federal immigration officials in arresting and detaining undocumented people unless they have been accused of committing another criminal offense.Calling the plan "alarming," the letter adds that the administration lacks both the legal authority and the ethical justification for manipulating detainee releases in service of scoring political points; and requests a host of documents relating to the plan, including any communications relating to conversations between the White House and immigration agencies regarding the release of migrants into specific areas, as well as all documents within the Department of Homeland Security "discussing policy or legal justifications or implications" for the policy.The letter asks for the documents "by no later than May 3, 2019."Trump's plan—which was first reported by the Washington Post before the president confirmed it via Twitter on Friday—is an apparent attempt to bait local Democratic lawmakers in sanctuary cities into protesting the release of immigrants into their communities, although mayors of numerous such cities told The Daily Beast that they would welcome any former detainees with open arms."I am proud that Cambridge is a sanctuary city," Mayor Marc McGovern told The Daily Beast. "Trump is a schoolyard bully who tries to intimidate and threaten people. I'm not intimidated and if asylum seekers find their way to Cambridge, we'll welcome them."The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
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| Leak suggests the OnePlus 7 launch is less than a month away Posted: 15 Apr 2019 06:05 AM PDT  OnePlus is expected to launch three new phones by the end of the quarter, including the OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, according to recent leaks. For the first time in its brief history, the Chinese smartphone maker will debut a series of devices in the spring, if these rumors are accurate.That's hardly surprising considering what the competition is up to, but also because we're finally getting 5G phones this year, and OnePlus wants to be one of the first companies on the market with a 5G device. While previous rumors claimed the new OnePlus 7 would arrive in May, we didn't have a precise release date. But now, an insider with a solid track record is back with an actual date.It turns out we're (supposedly) about a month away from the OnePlus 7 launch. Teenage leaker Ishan Agarwal, who has been posting scoops on Twitter about various phones in recent months, including the Pixel 3 and OnePlus's most recent phones, says the OnePlus 7 will launch on May 14th.https://twitter.com/ishanagarwal24/status/1117378077309329408Moreover, fans looking to attend the press conference will soon be able to buy their tickets, just like last year:https://twitter.com/ishanagarwal24/status/1116989679503577089The same leaker previously said the OnePlus 7 series would launch next month, providing details about the upcoming phones, including the fact that OnePlus will launch a "Pro" version -- also a first for the company.A different leak a few days ago seemed to confirm the new all-screen design for the OnePlus 7 series. The phone will feature a slide-out selfie camera, like many other Android handsets from China, as well as a triple-lens rear camera. When it comes to specs, the phone will run on the next-gen Snapdragon flagship chip, the 855, which also powers the Galaxy S10 as well as several recent 5G phones.OnePlus's 7 Pro 5G will be its first 5G handset, with UK carrier EE expected to be OnePlus's first 5G partner.
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| College admissions scandal: Will the students stay in school? Colleges don't have to say Posted: 15 Apr 2019 03:59 PM PDT  Two universities say they have booted students, but colleges don't have to give details of disciplinary decisions. Here's why they're staying quiet.
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| Stung by the IRS on Your 2018 Taxes Posted: 16 Apr 2019 08:47 AM PDT  Stung by the IRS on Your 2018 Taxes? Here's How to Fix It. If your tax refund was smaller this tax season—or you're shocked at how much you owe—you're not alone. Data from the Internal Revenue S...
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| Indian politicians banned for firebrand election comments Posted: 15 Apr 2019 12:45 PM PDT  India's election watchdog on Monday banned four outspoken politicians, including two top members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, from campaigning in the country's national vote for making provocative speeches. The measures came after the Supreme Court called on the election commission to get tough on hate speech during the world's biggest election, which started last Thursday and runs to May 19. Indian politicians are often accused of using hate or intimidation to win support of the electorate, but soliciting votes on religious lines or threatening voters is prohibited.
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| SpaceX booster accidentally falls into ocean after rough conditions Posted: 16 Apr 2019 06:27 AM PDT  On Thursday, SpaceX landed three of its booster rockets in one very impressive feat.While the two side boosters landed safely on the ground at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the center core landed out in the Atlantic Ocean on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship.SEE ALSO: SpaceX landed three of its boosters for the first time, and yep, it was impressiveThat meant SpaceX had to go and retrieve the booster, but sadly, rough conditions on the seas resulted in the booster accidentally falling into the ocean, as reported by The Verge.> Falcon Heavy's center core has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship! pic.twitter.com/pNqwMWr50d> > -- SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 11, 2019"Over the weekend, due to rough sea conditions, SpaceX's recovery team was unable to secure the center core booster for its return trip to Port Canaveral," SpaceX said in a statement to the outlet."As conditions worsened with eight to ten foot swells, the booster began to shift and ultimately was unable to remain upright. While we had hoped to bring the booster back intact, the safety of our team always takes precedence. We do not expect future missions to be impacted."SpaceX has a robot which is used to secure the boosters after they've landed on the droneship, but it isn't compatible with the Falcon Heavy center core, as reported by Florida Today.The company is expected to upgrade both the robot and the center core for future missions, so hopefully there won't be a repeat of the transit issues which transpired this time.
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| Boeing 737 MAX software upgrade 'operationally suitable': FAA panel Posted: 16 Apr 2019 02:24 PM PDT  More than 300 Boeing 737 MAX jets have been grounded worldwide after nearly 350 people died in two crashes, one in Indonesia in October and another in Ethiopia last month. Boeing has been announced a planned software update on the 737 MAX to prevent erroneous data from triggering an anti-stall system known as MCAS that is under scrutiny following the two disastrous nose-down crashes. The draft report from the Flight Standardization Board (FSB) appointed by the FAA, which includes pilots, engineers and other experts, said additional training was needed for MCAS, but not required to be done in a simulator.
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| AOC: Trump is 'absolutely' trying to incite violence against Omar Posted: 15 Apr 2019 05:11 AM PDT  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says President Trump is "absolutely" trying to incite violence against Rep. Ilhan Omar by tweeting a video that juxtaposes Omar's controversial reference to 9/11 hijackers with jarring images of the terror attacks.
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| Pelosi: Socialism ‘Not the View of the Democratic Party’ Posted: 15 Apr 2019 10:35 AM PDT  Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that she rejects the socialist ideology recently embraced by the left wing of her caucus and claimed that it does not represent a consensus position within the Democratic party.During an appearance on 60 Minutes Sunday evening, Pelosi told CBS's Leslie Stahl that the party has not succumbed to socialism despite the fact that all of its top 2020 presidential contenders have endorsed the elimination of the private health-insurance market."It is allowing [President Donald Trump] to say, 'You're all socialists,'" Stahl said of the party's attachment to Medicare-for-all."Do you know that when we did -- when Medicare was done by the Congress at the time, under Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan said, 'Medicare will lead us to a socialist dictatorship.' This is an ongoing theme of the Republicans," Pelosi replied. "However -- I do reject socialism as a economic system. If people have that view, that's their view. That is not the view of the Democratic party."While some of the party's presidential-primary candidates, including former representative Beto O'Rourke and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), have rejected the socialist label, they have, like the rest of their rivals, endorsed many of the policies initially championed by avowed socialist Bernie Sanders. Tuition-free higher education, Medicare-for-all, and support for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal have all emerged as early litmus tests.Pelosi, meanwhile, has attempted to ward off allegations that the party's brand has been defined by the direct, social-media-driven politics of freshman progressives like Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota."That's like five people," Pelosi told Stahl when asked about the outsize influence wielded by Ocasio-Cortez and her cohort.
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| The 2020 Nissan 370Z Commemorates 50 Years with a Special Anniversary Edition Posted: 16 Apr 2019 04:00 AM PDT  The legendary Z turns 50 and celebrates with a unique livery inspired by the iconic BRE 240Z race car.
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| Sanders’s Medicare for All Goes Too Far Posted: 15 Apr 2019 05:30 AM PDT  It would outlaw most forms of private health insurance and eliminate all out-of-pocket costs — something that Medicare doesn't now do. Sanders's plan wouldn't replace private health care with a government-run system like the U.K.'s National Health Service.
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| Woman pleads guilty to state charges for $400,000 GoFundMe scam Posted: 15 Apr 2019 02:14 PM PDT  Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless veteran who was one of three people charged in a GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000 pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday.
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| Are Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un About to Have a Summit? Posted: 15 Apr 2019 01:50 AM PDT  Summit speculation has been rife in recent months
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| Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores considering liquidating Hometown stores Posted: 15 Apr 2019 01:18 PM PDT  The largest shareholder of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores took steps Monday to block the retailer from liquidating its Hometown stores.
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| US STOCKS-Wall St treads water after mixed earnings; Netflix in focus Posted: 16 Apr 2019 10:13 AM PDT ![US STOCKS-Wall St treads water after mixed earnings; Netflix in focus]( "US STOCKS-Wall St treads water after mixed earnings; Netflix in focus") U.S. stocks treaded water on Tuesday, as a surge in healthcare companies fizzled out and ahead of earnings reports from other big names including Netflix. Johnson & Johnson pared gains and was up 1.8%, while insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc reversed course to trade down 4.5%, pulling the healthcare sector 1.1% lower.
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| View Photos of the Refreshed 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 SUV and Coupe Posted: 16 Apr 2019 01:45 PM PDT |
| Redacted Mueller report to be released Thursday: DOJ Posted: 15 Apr 2019 09:44 AM PDT  A redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report on the probe into the Russia links of US President Donald Trump's campaign team will be released Thursday, the Department of Justice announced Monday. The release of the 400-page report will come more than three weeks after Attorney General Bill Barr's controversial summary allowed Trump to declare it "a complete and total exoneration" of him after nearly two years of investigation. Barr said Mueller found no evidence that Trump's 2016 campaign team conspired to collude with Moscow to influence the election.
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