WorldAFPIslamic State group claims Sri Lanka suicide bombings
The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a devastating series of suicide attacks against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 320 people. The claim, accompanied by a photo and video of the men the group said had unleashed the carnage, emerged more than 48 hours after the near-simultaneous blasts ripped through three high-end hotels popular with foreigners and three churches packed with Christians marking Easter. Sri Lanka's government had said initial investigations suggested the attack had been carried out as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people.
- PoliticsThe Telegraph
Donald Trump takes legal action to block release of his financial records
Donald Trump and his businesses sued the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight committee on Monday to block a subpoena requesting the president's financial records. In a court filing in Washington, the president's lawyers argued congressman Elijah Cummings "has no legislative purpose" to issue the subpoena and accused Democrats of using their majority in Congress to harass him. The Democratic Party, with its newfound control of the US House of Representatives, has declared all-out political war against President Donald J Trump, the lawsuit stated.
NewsReutersEx-USC soccer coach to plead guilty in college admissions scandal
A former University of Southern California assistant women's soccer coach has agreed to plead guilty to engaging in a racketeering scheme in which she accepted bribes to help wealthy parents get their children into the school as part of the largest college admissions scandal in U.S. history. Laura Janke, who worked at USC until 2014, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to commit racketeering, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court in Boston on Tuesday. "Full House" star Loughlin has pleaded not guilty, while "Desperate Housewives" actress Huffman is due to plead guilty on May 21.
- NewsThe Independent
Tiger attacks zookeeper in front of visitors: 'He is a wild animal and was acting on instinct'
A beautiful spring morning at the Topeka Zoo in Kansas turned tragic when a male Sumatran tiger attacked a keeper, inflicting wounds that sent her to a hospital. Although keepers are never supposed to be in the same space as the tigers, they found themselves together in the outdoor habitat that morning for reasons under investigation. "There's some sort of error that occurred here," said Brendan Wiley, the zoo's director, told a news conference.
PoliticsAssociated PressPete Buttigieg scrambles to turn 2020 buzz into momentum
Yet there is an increasing urgency, inside and outside the campaign, that his moment may pass if he doesn't take swift action to build a national organization capable of harnessing the energy he'll need to sustain his surge in the nine months or so before the first votes are cast. "I get more inquiries on how to reach him or his campaign than anyone else," New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said, adding that he's aware of just one part-time Buttigieg staffer in the state to help coordinate the requests. "This is what it's like when you're having your moment," Buckley said.
NewsUSA TODAYStudent sues Apple for $1 billion, claims face-recognition caused false arrest
A New York college student filed a lawsuit against Apple for $1 billion, claiming the company's alleged use of facial recognition software in its stores falsely linked him to a series of Apple store thefts. Ousmane Bah, 18, claims that he received a summons from a court in Boston saying that he stole $1,200 worth of Apple products in 2018, according to papers filed on Monday in Manhattan federal court. On the day of one of the thefts in Boston, Bah was attending his senior prom in Manhattan, according to the court documents.
- BusinessCar and Driver
View Photos of the Vonnen Porsche 911 Hybrid
A pricey yet clever means to add big electric power to your Porsche. From Car and Driver
- WorldBloomberg
How 11 People Are Trying to Stop Fake News in the World's Largest Election
One of the operations most vital to Facebook Inc. at this moment is a world away from its Menlo Park, California, headquarters, and in more ways than one. This is Boom Live, one of seven tiny fact-checking firms at the heart of Facebook's efforts to rebuild some of its credibility during India's elections. Based on the early tallies, more than 60 percent of India's 900 million eligible voters are expected to cast ballots between now and May 19, as the center-left Congress Party tries to seize power from the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.
- BusinessThe National Interest
Here's An Idea: The Air Force Builds 200 B-21 Stealth Bombers
The B-21 has disappeared into the “black” world of military technology, and will only reemerge when the bomber is ready. On October 27, 2015, nearly thirty-four years to the day after Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract to develop the first stealth bomber, the U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop a contract for a new bomber: the B-21 Raider. In invoking the Doolittle Raid, the Air Force is drawing attention to attack's audacious nature, the strategic and tactical surprise, and the epic distances General Doolittle and his “raiders” flew to accomplish their mission.
WorldAFPOil prices shoot to 2019 highs on US Iran sanctions move
World oil prices struck fresh 2019 highs on Tuesday after the US cracked down on Iranian oil exports while stock markets were buoyed by a raft of positive US corporate results. Oil prices shot up on Monday after the White House announced it would end six-month waivers that had exempted numerous countries from US sanctions for buying Iranian oil. They continued upwards on Tuesday, with Brent North Sea crude reaching $74.70 per barrel, the highest point since November, before falling back slightly.
- CelebrityNational Review
Why Clinton and Obama Tweeted about 'Easter Worshippers'
Of course, they reveal a great deal about Clinton and Obama, too, but that doesn't interest me. Many conservatives have long been fixated on Clinton — so much so that probably any other Democrat would have defeated Donald Trump, as conservative anger specifically toward her propelled many people to the polls. Similarly, Republican Never-Trumpers are fixated on Trump rather than policy.
NewsReutersFBI arrests leader of armed group stopping migrants in New Mexico
The FBI on Saturday said it had arrested Larry Hopkins, the leader of an armed group that is stopping undocumented migrants after they cross the U.S.-Mexico border into New Mexico. The arrest came two days after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused the group of illegally detaining migrants and New Mexico's Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered an investigation. Hopkins, 69, also known as Johnny Horton, was arrested in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.
- WorldAssociated Press Videos
Philippine quake topples building, at least 3 dead
A strong earthquake killed three people and trapped at several others Monday in a collapsed building that housed a supermarket in a northern Philippine province. (April 22)
WorldAssociated PressMexican police detain hundreds of Central American migrants
Mexican police and immigration agents detained hundreds of Central American migrants Monday in the largest single raid on a migrant caravan since the groups started moving through the country last year. Police targeted isolated groups at the tail end of a caravan of about 3,000 migrants who were making their way through the southern state of Chiapas with hopes of reaching the U.S. border. As migrants gathered under spots of shade in the burning heat outside the city of Pijijiapan, federal police and agents passed by in patrol trucks and vans and forcibly wrestled women, men and children into the vehicles.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
Elon Musk vows fully self-driving Teslas this year and 'robotaxis' ready next year
Tesla will have fully self-driving cars ready by the end of the year and a "robotaxi" version – one that can ferry passengers without anyone behind the wheel – ready for the streets next year, CEO Elon Musk said Monday. Musk said Tesla will use its own fleet of cars, including Model 3 cars coming off lease, to fill in the service gaps. The aggressive timetable, backed by the advancements that Tesla said it has made, not only puts pressure on Waymo, the Google-developed company considered a leader in driverless cars, but ridesharing giants Uber and Lyft.
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
Johnson & Johnson Heirs List Hudson Valley Estate with Helipad for $13 Million
Elizabeth Ross "Libet" Johnson, great-granddaughter of the cofounder of Johnson & Johnson, had an impressive real-estate portfolio during her lifetime, which included a townhouse and condo in New York City as well as several California homes. Two parcels of land are available for just under $1 million each, and the third, priced at $12.95 million, is a 372-acre chunk of the estate which comes complete with an 18,000-square-foot mansion, a limestone pool, a poolhouse, two garages, a guest cottage, a caretaker's apartment, stables, a riding ring, and a private helipad. The decor is everything you'd expect from a storied home, with classical architecture, detailed ceiling moldings, a master suite with views of the grounds, a grand dining room for over a dozen guests, marble bathrooms, and a grand staircase.
WorldReutersGoogle, Facebook, Twitter have to do more to fight fake news: EU
The monthly reports follow a pledge made by the tech giants and advertising trade bodies in October last year to combat the spread of fake news and avoid more heavy-handed regulations. The EU has warned of foreign interference during campaigning for the European Parliament elections and national elections in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine in recent and coming months. "Further technical improvements as well as sharing of methodology and data sets for fake accounts are necessary to allow third-party experts, fact-checkers and researchers to carry out independent evaluation," the EU executive said.
- WorldBloomberg
Libya PM Says Foreigners Are Arming Strongman's Tripoli Push
The leader of Libya's internationally recognized government said foreign backers have been arming strongman Khalifa Haftar since he launched an offensive to take the capital, Tripoli, and warned of a proxy war. Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj declined to identify the countries. But states including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia have provided weapons in the past to the leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army, the country's largest and most organized force.
- CelebrityUSA TODAY
Jenna Bush Hager's mom Laura Bush has beautiful response to pregnancy guilt and infertility
It's hard not to feel a little bad celebrating a pregnancy when a close friend is probably grieving a miscarriage or going through fertility issues. When Hoda Kotb called in to the "Today" show to congratulate Jenna Bush Hager on her pregnancy, which she announced on Monday, the co-hosts addressed this.. Although it wasn't the first time Kotb heard of Hager's news, she called to say: "Jenna, first of all, you're amazing.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Lindsey Graham tells Trump to 'expect impeachment proceedings'
A senior Trump ally says he expects impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump - despite Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi attempting to steer party members away from the move. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, chair of the senate judiciary committee, made the prediction on Twitter on Tuesday morning. He declared that the 'radical left' is now in charge of the Democratic Party, meaning attempts by House Speaker Ms Pelosi to avoid divisive impeachment proceedings will fail.
WorldAFPTurkish police hold ruling party member, five others after opposition chief attack
Turkish police on Monday were holding six people, including a member of the ruling AKP party, after a mob attack on opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu that sparked widespread criticism. Kilicdaroglu, 70, of the Republican People's Party (CHP) was assaulted on Sunday in a crowd as he attended a funeral in Ankara for a soldier killed fighting Kurdish militants in the southeast. The attack came days after the opposition CHP won Ankara and Istanbul from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP in March 31 local elections, seen as a major setback for the ruling party after a decade-and-a-half in power.
- WorldThe Daily Beast
Black Parishioners in Louisiana Pray on Easter for Alleged Racist Who Burned Down Their Church
Decked out in vibrant pink and yellow dresses and suits and elaborate hats, the all-black congregation of the Greater Union Baptist Church packed into a plain, windowless room in a private Masonic lodge with plastic folding chairs Sunday morning to hold their Easter service. They've been gathering in this cramped donated space since April 2, when their historic church was burned to the ground in a series of alleged suspected hate crimes that destroyed three black churches over nine days. Spirits were high, despite the circumstances.
WorldAssociated PressThe Latest: UK intercepts total of 36 migrants in Channel
British officials have intercepted a total of 36 migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats. The Coastguard and the Border Force said the migrants were stopped in three separate incidents as they sought to reach England. The second involved a small boat with 15 Iraqi men, women and children on board.
- BusinessCar and Driver
How Does the Geely Geometry A Measure Up to the Tesla Model 3?
Major Chinese automaker Geely has launched a sub-brand it's calling Geometry. The electric Geometry A is the first production model, and Geely says it's got the Tesla Model 3 in its sights. Tesla might be struggling with bringing the long-promised $35,000 version of the Model 3 to market, but Chinese automaker Geely is suffering from no such problems with the Geometry A, the first production car from what is set to be a wider EV sub-brand.
- TechnologyBGR News
Today's top deals: $15 Wi-Fi extender, $8 wireless charger, $20 128GB microSD, $10 Philips Hue bulbs, more
Today's roundup of the best daily deals we could find has some truly outstanding deals, but perhaps none are quite as good as the one-day sale that gets you Amazon's best-selling Wi-Fi range extender for just $14.99 after a discount and a $5 coupon you can clip. It works with any router, it has more than 20,000 5-star ratings, and it has never been anywhere close to this price! Other top daily deals on Tuesday include a terrific fast wireless charger for just $7.99, a SanDisk 128GB microSD card for $19.99, Philips Hue white LED bulbs for an all-time low of $10 a piece when you buy a 4-pack, another all-time low price for Philips Dusk-to-Dawn LED light bulbs that automatically turn on at night and off in the morning, $40 off the best-selling 8-quart Instant Pot, a $140 stand mixer that's just as good as a KitchenAid, a blazing-fast internal SSD with 120GB of capacity for under $26, Avengers: Infinity War for just $9.99, Netgear's most popular Orbi mesh Wi-Fi bundle at an all-time low price of just $159.99, and plenty more.
