world news: 2019-04-21

Saturday 27 April 2019

Trump welcomes 'Sleepy Joe' Biden to 2020 race

“I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty — you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!”

The Latest: Sri Lanka revises down death toll from attack

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Latest on the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka (all times local):

Biden says he asked Obama not to endorse him

“I asked President Obama not to endorse and he doesn’t want to,” the former vice president told reporters. “Whoever wins this nomination should win this on their own merits.”

Ex-Minnesota cop denies overreacting when he shot Australian woman

A former Minnesota policeman on trial for murder on Friday denied overreacting when he fatally shot an Australian woman who approached his patrol car in a dark alley. Mohamed Noor, 33, was testifying for a second day in a Minneapolis court. Prosecutor Amy Sweasy asked Noor whether Damond could have been flagging him down when he saw her raise her right arm.

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions urges Congress to 'accept the results' of Mueller report

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions urged Congress, and the country at large, to “accept the results” of special counsel Robert Mueller’s recently released report and move on to other matters of governance during a speech at Amherst College on Wednesday.

House Republicans Tell Big Pharma to Stiff-Arm Congress

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily BeastDemocrat Elijah Cummings chairs the House Oversight Committee, a tough job made tougher by White House stonewalling and by Republicans on the committee trying to torpedo an investigation into prescription drug pricing. Ranking member Jim Jordan of Ohio and his GOP sidekick Mark Meadows sent letters earlier this month to the CEOs of 12 pharmaceutical companies advising them not to cooperate with Cummings’ requests for information, alleging that the chairman would leak the information and tank stock prices. Jordan and Meadows are the Thelma and Louise of the GOP, driving the party over the cliff. They’ve tried to protect Donald Trump from his former fixer Michael Cohen’s damaging testimony, calling Cohen a liar and echoing White House calls to investigate Hillary Clinton and the origins of the Russia probe. But shielding Big Pharma is another matter. It does not play well with voters, even some Republican ones—something Trump understands, at least rhetorically. He said in his first press conference as president-elect that the drug companies “are getting away with murder,” a charge he periodically repeats to bolster his populist credentials. He even followed up with a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceutical companies, which it currently cannot do, thanks to the enormous sums of money spent by the drug lobby to protect their profits. Cummings wants to know why the cost of insulin for diabetics has skyrocketed, and the price of drugs to treat multiple sclerosis are rising much faster than inflation. Drug companies spend twice as much money on marketing as on research, while claiming higher prices are essential to bring new lifesaving drugs to the public.News stories about people having to ration medication because of the cost, or go without and risk death, are shaming the industry and beginning to penetrate the iron curtain of secrecy around drug pricing.At any other time perhaps those 12 drug companies would have heeded the Thelma and Louise calls to boycott the oversight committee. But not this time. A senior Democratic committee aide tells The Daily Beast, “All 12 companies committed to complying with the committee’s requests in January, and they have been producing information on a rolling basis, although some are further along than others. After Rep. Jordan sent his letters urging the drug companies not to comply, several expressed surprise and concern, but no company said it would refuse to cooperate, and we continue to expect full compliance going forward.” The argument that Jordan and Meadows made to the drug companies about how data obtained by the committee would be leaked to embarrass them and potentially sink their stocks is based on their interpretation of how Cummings handled White House whistleblower Tricia Newbold. She testified last month behind closed doors about her concerns that the White House was not following proper procedures in issuing security clearances. Republicans claimed then that Cummings released sensitive information from that session. Cummings denied these claims, which appear to be unfounded. Yes, he released “cherry-picked excerpts” but no, he didn’t violate national security. “Your efforts to interfere with this investigation represent a new low for a member of this Committee,” Cummings said in his written rebuke to Jordan, the ranking Republican. Partisan warfare is not uncommon on committees, but no one can recall one party acting so blatantly to undermine a legitimate committee investigation which serves the interests, at least rhetorically, of both parties, and of the American people. “It is one thing to have an honest disagreement about the committee’s policy or approach—which would command respect—but it is quite another to actively obstruct an investigation in the service of placing corporate interests over those of the American people,” Cummings wrote.Politicians in both parties rely on campaign contributions from drug companies. Otherwise the prohibition on Medicare bargaining for lower prices would have been lifted long ago.If President Trump can achieve a victory on Medicare pricing that eluded President Obama, it would be the first time the powerful pharmaceutical industry took a hit. And it would signal an important change in Congress, that there is for the first time majority agreement that something needs to be done to restrain the cost of prescription drugs. Cummings met with Trump in the White House a year ago to talk about curbing drug prices, after which Trump claimed Cummings told him he will go down as one of the great presidents in the history of the country. Not quite, Cummings said in a statement explaining that he predicated his prediction on Trump taking steps “to truly represent all Americans rather than continuing on the divisive and harmful path he is currently on.” This week, Trump sued Cummings in an attempt to quash a subpoena issued by the Oversight committee to Mazars USA, the accounting firm that Trump has used since the early 1980s to prepare annual financial statements that Michael Cohen said in sworn testimony were falsified to make Trump seem richer than he is, and to secure loans under false pretenses. The suit, filed in federal district court, is seen by legal experts across the political spectrum as a long shot effort to overturn decades of legal rulings by asserting that Congress can’t probe the executive’s financial dealings unless there is a legislative component. Trump’s attorneys cite an 1880 law as precedent, but that law was overturned in 1927. Congress’ right to investigate has been viewed broadly by the courts. The long-running Whitewater investigation of President Clinton was based on a land deal in Arkansas that pre-dated his presidency. Cummings said in a statement, “The President has a long history of trying to use baseless lawsuits to attack his adversaries, but there is simply no valid legal basis to interfere with this duly authorized subpoena from Congress.” There may not be a valid legal basis, but the wheels of justice move slowly, and the goal may be to delay and delay, tactics that stymie the opposition as documents are withheld, executive privilege is claimed, and the clock ticks down to November 2020. Read more at The Daily Beast.

Discrepancies in Sri Lanka attack muddle investigation

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Hour by hour the death toll from Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday bombing attacks climbed.

Florida man arrested after disabled, bedridden woman in his care was discovered living among trash and feces

65-year-old Lawrence Goodwin arrested for the abuse and neglect of a 67-year-old disabled, bedridden woman who was found living in a home filled with trash, feces and rotting trash.

Trump Makes a Show of Un-Signing Arms Trade Treaty at NRA Convention

President Donald Trump told gun rights activists at the NRA's annual convention that he will pull the U.S. from an arms trade treaty

Khan's interior minister pick raises questions about 'new' Pakistan

Pakistan's new interior minister, appointed in a major cabinet reshuffle this month by Prime Minister Imran Khan, is a former spy chief and close ally of the country's last military ruler who has long been accused of deep ties to militant groups.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2UHxBiL

Joe Biden: Former US vice-president to launch third run for White House

Former US vice-president Joe Biden is understood to be launching his third attempt at securing the Democratic Party nomination to run for president in next year’s US general election. He will announce his bid by video on Thursday, Reuters reports, citing “a source familiar with the plans”. He is then expected to make his first public appearance as a candidate next week at an event in Pittsburgh featuring union members, a key constituency.Mr Biden enters a crowded Democrat field all hoping to take on Mr Trump in 2020.His move comes after months of speculation as to whether he’d run or not. He will take on 20 other hopefuls, but for now he leads the pack, opinion polls show.His candidacy will face numerous questions, including whether he is too old and too centrist for a Democratic Party increasingly propelled by its more vocal liberal wing.Furthermore, questions have arisen about his propensity for touching and kissing strangers at political events, with several women coming forward in recent weeks to say he had made them feel uncomfortable.Mr Biden struggled in his response to the concerns, at times joking about his behaviour. He eventually apologised and said he recognised standards for personal conduct had evolved in the wake of the MeToo movement.Many believe the 76-year-old is also offering US voters experience and the promise of exposing the scandals and chicanery of Mr Trump’s administration.In the US, commentators have said among the US’s working population, Mr Biden’s experience and dignity could be the antidote to Mr Trump’s angry outbursts. “We can’t be divided by race, religion, by tribe,” he Biden said last month.“In America, everybody gets a shot.”Despite failing to win over Democrats in his previous attempts to secure the nomination in 1988 and 1998, Mr Biden is in a strong position in national polls and early voting states. He will run as a centrist Obama-Biden Democrat anchored by strong union support.He will reportedly attack Mr Trump as a populist and a friend of Wall Street bosses who hit the jackpot with US tax laws.In a speech to union members in April, Mr Biden called Mr Trump a “tragedy in two acts.”“This country can’t afford more years of a president looking to settle personal scores,” he said.Mr Biden’s candidacy will offer early hints about whether Democrats are more interested in finding a centrist who can win over the white working-class voters who went for Trump in 2016, or someone who can fire up the party’s diverse progressive wing, such as Senators Kamala Harris of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.Additional reporting by Reuters

Surge in U.S. Jobless Claims Blamed on Easter and a Grocery Strike

The Easter holiday, which fell three weeks later this year on April 21, likely contributed to jobless claims snapping a five-week streak of declines, as seasonal adjustments for the indicator can be tricky. Claims rose by 37,000 in the week ended April 20, and the union represents about 30,000 company workers in New England. On an unadjusted basis, filings climbed across states in that region: Connecticut and Massachusetts claims more than doubled and Rhode Island’s more than quadrupled.

House Democrats to Probe ‘Unprecedented’ DHS Firings

Three powerful House Democrats on Thursday opened a probe of the recent spate of firings at the Department of Homeland Security, which they called "unprecedented."In a letter to acting secretary of homeland security Kevin McAleenan, House Oversight Committee chairman Elijah Cummings, Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler, and Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson expressed concern that the firings had compromised national security. They also requested that “all communications related to the departure, or possibility of departure” of several high-ranking officials at the department be turned over by May 9.“We are deeply concerned that the firing and forced resignation of these officials puts the security of the American people at risk,” the letter read. “We are also concerned that the President may have removed DHS officials because they refused his demands to violate federal immigration law and judicial orders.”The lawmakers are specifically interested in the dismissal earlier this month of former secretary of homeland security Kirstjen Nielsen, former Secret Service director Randolph Alles, former undersecretary for management Claire Grady, and acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Ronald Vitiello, whose name Trump pulled from consideration to be permanent ICE director, saying he wanted to go in a “tougher direction.” They also requested documents related to two other officials rumored to be next in line for dismissal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director L. Francis Cissna and DHS general counsel John Mitnick.Nielsen was forced out amid reports that she and other immigration officials had resisted several of Trump's directives, including an order to restart the administration's controversial family-separation policy and orders to implement other hard-line policies. Her dismissal and those of Alles, Grady, and other high-ranking officials were seen as empowering the White House's most high-profile immigration hawk, staffer Stephen Miller, to push the administration toward the "tougher direction" Trump sought.In their letter, the House committee chairmen demanded to see all communications between Miller and McAleenan, and said they were alarmed by Miller's apparently expanded role.“Moreover, we are concerned by reports that, even as he has removed the Department’s leadership, the President has sought to empower a White House aide, Stephen Miller, to ‘be in charge of handling all immigration and border affairs,'” the Democrats wrote, referencing a Washington Post report.The White House said on Wednesday that Miller will not testify before Congress on immigration issues.

Texts between the FBI's Strzok and Page draw investigator focus

Nine days after the presidential election, FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanged texts that Fox News has learned are under new scrutiny by congressional investigators reviewing the genesis of the Russia probe; chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge reports.

Fox News' Judge Napolitano: Mueller report shows Trump obstructed justice

The legal analyst lays out the instances cited in the Mueller report that show the president likely committed a crime.

Illinois child welfare system under fire after boy's death

CHICAGO (AP) — Disturbing details emerged Thursday of the torture authorities say preceded the beating death of a 5-year-old Illinois boy who had extensive contact with child welfare workers, escalating scrutiny of a state agency already being reviewed because of the recent deaths of two other children.

Anzac Day 2019: How the Gallipoli battle helped forge Australia and New Zealand's national identities

Today is Anzac Day, the national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, with events taking place across the globe to honour those who served in war. Recognised annually on April 25, the day marks the anniversary of the first significant military action fought by Australian and New Zealand soldiers during the First World War. On this date in 1915, the troops, who quickly became known as the Anzacs, landed in Turkey, joining the allied expedition that planned to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. Since the date was officially named Anzac Day in 1916, remembrance services have taken place to celebrate the bravery of those who fought in Gallipoli, with memorial events now held to honour all those who served and died in conflicts. From the history of events that took place on April 25 to today's worldwide commemorations, here is the story of Anzac Day. What does 'Anzac' stand for? The term 'Anzac' stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The group of soldiers formed in Egypt, in December 1914 and were commanded by General William Birdwood, comprising of troops from the First Australian Imperial Force and First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The Anzacs are most well known for operating in the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915, but they also briefly reestablished in 1941, serving in the Battle of Greece during the Second World War. Australian infantrymen being landed at Gallipoli in 1915 Credit: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images The Gallipoli campaign On April 25, 1915, the Anzacs joined the British Empire and French troops at Gallipoli, Turkey, landing at what is now known as Anzac Cove. As well as their plans to capture the Gallipoli peninsula and open the Dardanelles to the allied navies, the troops set out to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire - which is now known as Istanbul. Upon arrival, the Anzacs were met with the Ottoman Turkish defenders and faced a challenging battle in the subsequent eight months. By the end of 1915, the military objectives were not successfully met and more than 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. Gallipoli The impact and significance of Anzac Day While the eight month campaign resulted in tragedy and the troops failed to capture the Gallipoli peninsula, the sacrifices the Anzacs made left a profound effect on those back home and became a source of national pride in Australia and New Zealand. The "Anzac legend" soon forged a significant part of both countries' identities and in 1916, the first commemorations were held on April 25, with several ceremonies across Australia, a sports day in the Australian camp in Egypt and a march attended by 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops in London. Patriotic parades continued to be held on April 25 throughout the following years and in 1923, Anzac Day was established as a public holiday in Australia. By 1927, every state held a form of commemoration. In the 1930s, dawn vigils, memorial services and games of two-up became annual traditions to honour the Anzacs, many of which continue to play an important role in modern day commemorations. In later years, April 25 evolved as a day to recognise the Australians and New Zealanders who died in the Second World War and since 1942, Anzac Day has been honoured at the Australian War Memorial. Nowadays, Anzac Day is a national occasion to remember everyone who served and died in all wars and peacekeeping action. Today's commemorations As part of the commemorations, Anzac Day typically begins with memorial services held at dawn, to mark the soldiers' original time of landing in Gallipoli, Turkey. Members of the Albert Battery shoot a volley of fire during the Anzac dawn service at Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club in Australia Credit: Chris Hyde/Getty Images Thought to have increased in Australia following the events of 1915, the dawn services were previously restricted to veterans and would tend to include a single bugler playing the 'Last Post', followed by two minutes of silence. In recent years, families of veterans and members of the public have also attended the dawn services and the events now often include hymns, prayers and the recital of the 'For the Fallen' poem. While they are held in both Australia and New Zealand annually on April 25, other countries around the world including France and the UK also hold their own dawn services. Other ceremonies later take place at war memorials on the day, where wreaths are laid to reflect on those who fought and lost their lives. Prince Harry attends the Anzac Day commemorations in London with New Zealand's High Commissioner to the UK, Jerry Mateparaeat and Australia's High Commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters Ex-servicemen and women also join city marches to remember those who served in conflicts while rosemary is traditionally worn on April 25, because it was found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula. Two-up Two-up is a gambling game originating from Australia, where two coins are tossed into the air and players make a bet on whether they will land on heads or tails. It was often played by Australian troops throughout the First World War but its popularity later declined in the 1950s, due to other gambling developments such as poker machines. Now Anzac Day is the only day of the year where people can legally play two-up in all Australian states, with games taking place in Returned Servicemen's League clubs. Anzac biscuits Anzac biscuits, a sweet treat made from rolled oats, were frequently sent to soldiers during the First World War. Previously known as soldiers' biscuits, wives and women's groups would send them to troops abroad because they retained a high nutritional value and remained edible, without refrigeration, during transportation. Anzac biscuits became a common part of the soldiers' diets in Gallipoli and today, they are one of the few commercial products legally produced using the term 'Anzac'.

Multiple people dead, more injured in fiery crash on I-70 in Denver, officials say

Colorado police said multiple people died in a fiery crash involving a total of 15 vehicles on Interstate 70 in Denver on Thursday afternoon.

Symone Sanders, Bernie’s Former Press Secretary, Goes to Work on Biden’s Campaign

JP YimSymone Sanders, who rose to prominence as Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) national press secretary during his 2016 presidential campaign, has signed on to work for former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 bid. She will serve as a senior advisor. Sanders, who had been uncommitted throughout the cycle, is a CNN political commentator and has worked with Priorities USA, the largest Democratic Party Super PAC. She was a major hire for Sanders during the 2016 campaign, coming just as he faced criticism over the lack of diversity on his staff. But in the summer of 2016, she quit the campaign, at the time saying she did so of her own volition. Sanders is a prominent progressive voice and a regular presence on cable news, giving Biden a valuable addition to his team. But she hasn’t always been sympatico with the former vice president. Recently, Sanders chastised Biden for cracking jokes in response to the unwanted touching allegations leveled against him by several women with whom he’d interacted during his career. In the segment, she raised a hypothetical about how she would handle communications for Biden. “If I’m Vice President Biden’s communications person, if he comes out and says the words ‘I’m sorry,’ all the chyrons and headlines will say ‘I’m sorry,’ Sanders said encouraging Biden to keep listening and talking to people. Prior to then Sanders had also characterized the conventional wisdom around Biden being the frontrunner in the Democratic primary as being “overhyped.” In the same report though, she acknowledged that he could be “formidable.”The Biden campaign did not return a request for comment but Sanders confirmed to The Daily Beast in a text message on Thursday.Sanders was later featured among the staff hires announced by the Biden campaign on Thursday.“We are incredibly proud of the diverse and talented team that has come together behind this campaign’s vision to restore the soul of this nation, rebuild the backbone of the country, and unify America,” said Greg Schultz, who will serve as campaign manager. “We know this is exactly the kind of change voters are looking for and we are excited to get to work to share Vice President Biden’s vision in every corner of the country.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

Amazon delivers record profits on gains in cloud, advertising

Amazon on Thursday delivered record profits for the first quarter, fueled by gains in cloud computing and new business segments for the US technology colossus. Net profit in the quarter more than doubled from the same period last year to $3.6 billion, extending Amazon's trend of rising profitability. Seattle-based Amazon said revenue from online sales was up 10 percent billion while money taken in from subscription services and the Amazon Web Services cloud platform leapt some 40 percent.

Sri Lanka's crisis of leadership opens space for nationalist Rajapaksas

Elections to pick a new president are due between October and December and Mahinda Rajapaksa is already targeting President Maithripala Sirisena and his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for failing to preserve the hard fought peace. Rajapaksa cannot contest for president again, but his brother Gotabaya is ready to make a bid, his aide has said. "Rajapaksas' will take the easy benefit and be able to claim with some credibility that if they come back to power, they will adopt the same strong security policy that allowed them to free the country from terrorism," said a Western diplomat.

Democrats Want Robert Mueller to Testify. It's Still Not Clear When—Or If—That Will Happen

There is still no agreed-upon date, nor a commitment from DOJ that it will happen.

Prosecutor: 'No basis' for Minneapolis cop to shoot woman

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A prosecutor criticized a former Minneapolis police officer for his decision to shoot an unarmed woman who approached his squad car, suggesting Friday that he had "no basis" to believe she had a weapon when he couldn't see her hands.

Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein offers biting defense of Russia investigation, jabs Obama administration

Deputy AG Rosenstein offers staunch defense of Russia investigation

Frustration builds for Boeing Max plane crash families as they fight to have lawsuits heard in US courts

Human remains and personal belongings were still scattered across the site of the Ethiopian Airlines crash a month after it happened, a relative of one of the victims has claimed. The London-based relative, whose sister died in the crash, told The Telegraph she was "horrified" to discover "what appeared to be an arm and a fragment of bone" when she visited the spot where 157 people lost their lives in March. She shared photographs showing children's shoes and other personal effects lying uncollected on the ground, taken 28 days after the tragedy, she said. The relative, who does not want to be identified, also claimed the site wasn't properly secured with gaps in the perimeter allowing people and animals to "freely pass by" where the tragedy took place. "We're still barely managing to believe what's happened but on top of the tragedy to have also no respect at all to the families and the victims and have those items left on the land... it's outrageous," she said. The photos shared with The Telegraph show clothes and other personal belongings at the crash site The claims raise serious questions about how the Ethiopian authorities have managed the aftermath of the tragedy and whether the investigation is as thorough as it could be. Contacted by this newspaper, the Ethiopian embassies in both the UK and the US declined to comment. The horror has added to a build up of frustration among victims' families following the two recent airline tragedies involving the Boeing 737 Max plane. Victims of Indonesia's Lion Air crash, the first of the two involving the model, have launched legal action against the American aviation manufacturer for the wrongful death of their loved ones. Among them is Rini Soegiyono, whose younger sister Niar, 39, was killed along with her state prosecutor husband Andri Wiranofa, 41, on the flight on October 29. Ms Soegiyono, 52, who has been left to raise her nieces, aged just 11 and seven, believes Boeing owes her family and the others taking legal action an explanation for what went wrong. "The world is also waiting so it is important to know so that it will not happen again. We don’t want any other family to have to go through what we are going through,” she told The Telegraph. “We screamed, we screamed to the world. We had no experience before, we never thought that it will happen to us, to our family… because at that time, Boeing said that the plane is safe.” The growing number of Indonesian litigants are now fighting for the right to have their cases heard in US courts, rather than in Indonesia, where victim compensation is likely to be much lower. A decision on whether that right will be granted is imminent. Divers recovered the black box from the wreckage of the Lion Air plane Credit: Adek Berry/AFP An apology issued earlier this month by Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing’s CEO, for the double tragedy, and his admission that a preliminary investigation into the Ethiopian crash revealed that both incidents involved similar errors in automated flight systems, gave victims’ families renewed hopes for justice. But Brian Kabateck, a high-profile California-based lawyer working on behalf of a dozen Indonesian families including Ms Soegiyono’s, said that Boeing owes the crash victims “much more than sympathy,” adding: “They deserve their day in a United States courtroom.” Lion Air flight 610 disappeared from the radar screens 12 minutes after take-off and all 189 passengers and crew were lost. Less than five months later, on March 10, a second Boeing 737 Max jet, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, nosedived into a field six minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa leaving no survivors. Even after the second crash, Boeing insisted that the 737 MAX was safe, and “was willing to continue to gamble with the lives of the flying public” while furiously working behind the scenes on a software fix, Mr Kabateck alleged. Boeing declined to comment on the current litigation, referring The Telegraph to general public statements on its website. For the families of the Ethiopian Airlines victims, the ordeal continues as they await reassurances that everything possible has been done to recover the personal belongings of their loved ones. More than 150 people were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash Credit: Eduardo Soteras/AFP The relative said she travelled to the crash site on April 7, almost a month after the tragedy, to be put at ease that the site had been thoroughly excavated after seeing pictures of chaotic scenes in the media. But to her dismay, she claimed the area was not properly secured and victims' belongings had been left unattended and exposed to the elements. She described the personal horror of flicking through the debris looking for a trace of her sister, a young aid worker. "I spent almost two hours looking for anything belonging to my sister and that's the last thing I would wish for anybody. I literally searched every single spot to find something pertaining to her," she told The Telegraph. "We found what we believe to be remains of human bones, which were then handed over to the guards in a military tent, just outside the site of the crash," she said. She added that to her shock the guards simply used a plastic bag lying on the ground to remove them, ignoring the "minimum standards and procedures" typically applied to the scene of a fatal accident. "I'm concerned that for them [the authorities] the search is finished. It is distressing to see that all the items that can mean the world to a suffering family are still on the ground, just waiting to be collected rather than being searched for," she said. "There's a risk for the families of not retrieving anything from their loved ones' belongings."

AJ Freund cause of death released, parents bond set at $5M each for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund, Sr.

Andrew "AJ" Freund died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head, the McHenry County Coroner said Thursday.

Trump committed obstruction of justice and should be indicted, says Fox News analyst in devastating attack

Fox News legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano has broken down allegations Donald Trump obstructed justice in a scathing video published this week. While the president’s favourite network often features hosts defending him against Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Mr Napolitano asserted he was guilty of obstructing justice amid the years-long federal probe.“When the president asks his former adviser and my former colleague KT McFarland to write an untruthful letter to the file knowing the government would subpoena it, that’s obstruction of justice,” he said in the video. “When the president asks Cory Lewandowski, his former campaign manager, to get Mueller fired, that’s obstruction of justice.”Mr Napolitano continued breaking down the special counsel’s report, which noted at least 10 examples of possible obstruction on the part of the president. “When he dangled the pardon in front of Michael Cohen in order to keep Cohen from testifying against him, that’s obstruction of justice,” he said, before adding, “Why not charge him?”He also penned a damning Op-Ed this week that refuted Attorney General William Barr’s analysis of the report. Mr Barr has cleared the president of wrongdoing and said he would not be filing any charges against him. “On obstruction, Barr is wrong,” Mr Napolitano wrote. “The president's job is to enforce federal law.”“If he had ordered its violation to save innocent life or preserve human freedom, he would have a moral defence,” he continued. “But ordering obstruction to save himself from the consequences of his own behaviour is unlawful, defenceless and condemnable.”The comments arrived nearly a week after the Justice Department released a redacted version of Mr Mueller’s report, which found an extensive, multi-pronged operation conducted by Russian operatives throughout the 2016 election to sway voter attitudes against Hillary Clinton and in favour of Mr Trump. House Democrats have issued subpoenas for the full report, meanwhile, calling on Mr Barr and Mr Mueller to testify before committees investigating Russian interference and the president’s financial dealings.

Biden 'asked President Obama not to endorse' him, but people aren't buying it

Joe Biden is officially running for president in 2020, and from the looks of his first day in the race it's going to be a long, awkward journey.As you may remember, Biden served as Barack Obama's vice president for eight years, and the two men were exceptionally close. Their "bromance" was talked about constantly, they exchanged friendship bracelets, and Obama even awarded Biden the Medal of Freedom. But because they were such genuine pals, Obama's in a pretty strange spot right now.On Thursday, a reporter asked Biden why Obama had yet to endorsed him for president, to which the former VP replied, "I asked President Obama not to endorse, and he doesn't want to. Listen, we should -- whoever wins this nomination should win it on their own merits." That's when things got awkward.> Here's the video of Biden telling reporters he asked Obama to not endorse him: I asked President Obama not to endorse and he doesn't want to -- whoever wins this nomination should win it on their own merits. pic.twitter.com/9qAmfyuSI4> > -- Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 25, 2019SEE ALSO: Creepy Joe Biden fails at sensitivity training on the 'SNL' cold openAs a former president it makes sense why Obama wouldn't want to weigh in on the race -- especially considering there are currently 20 Democratic candidates. But because of his past relationship with Biden, a lot of people were expecting some sort of comment.As Obama continues to remain neutral, Twitter users have taken it upon themselves to troll Biden's "I asked him not to endorse me" claim, comparing it to other classic, untrue excuses.> Biden: "I asked President Obama not to endorse"> > -- Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) April 25, 2019> you don't know him, he goes to another school https://t.co/m6WxYACOZT> > -- Kevin McNamara (@KevinMPMcNamara) April 25, 2019> I asked Rihanna not to DM me https://t.co/p3TytePAjH> > -- Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) April 25, 2019> in other news i asked the pulitzer committee not to give me a prize this year https://t.co/tC6bYE7JtR> > -- Alex Roarty (@Alex_Roarty) April 25, 2019> "Actually my girlfriend lives in Canada." https://t.co/OkLgGUWKnK> > -- Micah Meadowcroft (@Micaheadowcroft) April 25, 2019> Biden has a past presidential endorsement but it lives in Canada https://t.co/HvRwmvpTlr> > -- Kathryn VanArendonk (@kvanaren) April 25, 2019> Translation: > Biden: "When do you think you'll endorse me?" > Obama: "I think it's better [for my own sake] not to endorse you." > Biden: "I agree, I won't ask you to endorse me." > Biden: "I asked him not to endorse me" https://t.co/hUPyndMBP1> > -- Robert M. Cutler (@RobertMCutler) April 25, 2019> I asked Chrissy Teigen not to follow me https://t.co/4se4smOC5A> > -- Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) April 25, 2019> Of course I have presidential support..you just don't know him cuz he goes to a different high school. https://t.co/XemGbshzAE> > -- smoketinged (@smoketinged) April 25, 2019> Biden is saying.... > > out loud where people can hear him.... > > that he asked President Obama NOT to endorse him. > > Me right now: pic.twitter.com/Nd9QvH98Rb> > -- April (@ReignOfApril) April 25, 2019> BIDEN: vote for me! I'm friends with barack obama! > > VOTERS: does he endorse you? > > BIDEN: ... > > VOTERS: ... > > BIDEN: here's a photo of us on a ferris wheel!> > -- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) April 25, 2019When announcing his candidacy on Instagram on Thursday morning, Biden included a photograph of himself and Obama, and photos with the former president are already being included in promoted tweet ads for Biden's campaign.> View this post on Instagram> > Joe2020 Join our campaign! Link in bio.> > A post shared by Joe Biden (@joebiden) on Apr 25, 2019 at 3:06am PDTImage: screengrab/twitterEven former White House photographer turned Instagram troller/author, Pete Souza, is sharing photos of the two men together.> View this post on Instagram> > Two good men.> > A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Apr 25, 2019 at 10:50am PDTSo while Obama might not publicly endorse Biden during the course of his campaign, it seems he'll have a very tough time escaping his association with the 2020 candidate. WATCH: Kamala Harris announces 2020 presidential bid

Ex-Minnesota cop denies overreacting when he shot Australian woman

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Suspects in Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka still at large, may be carrying explosives

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Bernie Sanders First to Sign Pledge to Rally Behind Democratic Nominee

Loren ElliottNational progressive outfit Indivisible on Thursday launched a pledge compelling all 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to rally behind the eventual nominee. Bernie Sanders was the first to sign it, the group revealed.The “We Are Indivisible” pledge asks for three commitments from him and any other prospective signers, as first reported by BuzzFeed News. First, Indivisible’s pledge requests that candidates “make the primary constructive” by outlining their visions while respecting their opponents. “I’ll support the ultimate Democratic nominee, whoever it is—period," the pledge also reads. “No Monday morning quarterbacking. No third-party threats. Immediately after there’s a nominee, I’ll endorse.” And the group also wants a commitment that every candidate will “do the work to beat Trump,” including a promise that “As soon as there is a nominee, I will put myself at the disposal of the campaign.”“We believe in rigorous and spirited primaries, and we also know that once we have a nominee, our entire focus must turn to defeating Trump. The ‘We Are Indivisible’ Pledge commits all of us to a debate of ideas followed by dedicated work to make our ideas reality,” said Indivisible’s co-executive directors Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin. “This pledge is about beating Donald Trump and the anti-democratic, xenophobic right wing. And it’s about the ideas and vision we need for a post-Trump future.”Sanders has consistently pledged to run a positive campaign and to support any eventual nominee, even referring to some of the competitors in the race as friends. Even on Thursday, Sanders referred to the former Vice President Joe Biden—the latest and perhaps most formidable candidate to enter the race—as a friend with whom he has many disagreements. However, Sanders has never been shy about criticizing more establishment-aligned elements of the Democratic Party. He recently sent a scathing letter to liberal think tank Center for American Progress criticizing its corporate contributions and content that was overtly critical of him for his wealth.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

House Dem. Threatens Trump Officials with ‘Incarceration’ for Refusing to Honor Subpoenas

Representative Gerry Connolly (D., Va.), a member of the House Oversight Committee, said Friday that the panel might resort to the threat of incarceration should Trump administration officials continue to ignore its numerous subpoena-backed requests for documents.“We're going to resist, and if a subpoena is issued and you're told you must testify, we will back that up,” Connolly told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. “And we will use any and all power in our command to make sure it's backed up — whether that's a contempt citation, whether that's going to court and getting that citation enforced, whether it's fines, whether it's possible incarceration. We will go to the max to enforce the constitutional role of the legislative branch of government.”The president and his advisers have said explicitly that they will not yield to Democrats' demands that officials testify before the Oversight Committee regarding the issuance of security clearances, the formation of the so-called zero-tolerance immigration-enforcement policy, and other matters.White House adviser Stephen Miller, former security-clearance official Carl Kline, and John Gore, a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, have thus far all refused to come before the panel.Connolly emphasized in particular the Committee's desire to hear from Miller, whom he called Trump's "immigration whisperer," regarding what measures the administration plans to take to harden the southern border in the wake of Secretary of Homeland Security Kierstjen Nielsen's departure.“We want to hear from him: What is your thinking, what is it you've been advising the president, and where is it you think you're going to be taking us as a country with these kinds of policies and personnel changes?” Connolly said of Miller.