- WorldMashable
New Zealand's biggest online classifieds site bans sale of semi-automatic guns
In the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack, New Zealand is looking to step up on gun control. It's led to the country's biggest online marketplace, Trade Me, stopping the sale of semi-automatic firearms until it receives further instruction from the government. SEE ALSO: Facebook has removed 1.5 million videos of the New Zealand shooting, but questions remain "We have listened to public sentiment following Friday's terrorist attack in Christchurch and decided to remove all semi-automatic firearms sales and parts associated with those weapons today," Trade Me's statement reads.
- PoliticsUSA TODAY
Poll: Half of Americans say Trump is victim of a 'witch hunt' as trust in Mueller erodes
WASHINGTON – Amid signs that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference may be near its conclusion, a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll finds that trust in Mueller has eroded and half of Americans agree with President Donald Trump's contention that he has been the victim of a "witch hunt." Support for the House of Representatives to seriously consider impeaching the president has dropped since last October by 10 percentage points, to 28 percent. Despite that, the survey shows a nation that remains skeptical of Trump's honesty and deeply divided by his leadership.
NewsReutersCalifornia university says students tied to admissions scam could face expulsion
The University of Southern California said it may expel students tied to a brazen U.S. college-admissions scam after reviewing their records, which could lead the college to throw out "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin's two daughters. The school said on Monday night it has already "placed holds on the accounts of students who may be associated with the alleged admissions scheme," preventing them from registering for classes or acquiring transcripts. quot;Following the review, we will take the proper action related to their status, up to revoking admission or expulsion," the college said in a tweet on Monday night.
- NewsThe Independent
US weather: Thousands flee midwest as three die amid flooding triggered by 'bomb cyclone'
Thousands of people are being forced to leave their homes after a so-called bomb cyclone brought flooding to huge swathes of the American midwest. From Nebraska to Kansas, and Missouri to Illinois, residents have been evacuated amid flooding that has killed at least three people. The governors of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin have declared states of emergency.
- BusinessCar and Driver
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS Will Be the Most Expensive Car Built in America
Mercedes-Benz USA's CEO confirmed the Mercedes-Maybach GLS to Automotive News. It will be built at the same Vance, Alabama, plant as the regular GLS, making it the most expensive passenger vehicle built in the States. The regular Mercedes-Benz GLS-class is set to make its debut within the next few months.
WorldAFPSyria force says 'thousands' still inside last IS pocket
US-backed forces said Sunday thousands of people were believed to still be inside the last Islamic State group enclave in eastern Syria, as they sought to flush out die-hard fighters with airstrikes and shelling. Tens of thousands of dishevelled women, children and men have streamed out of a small pocket in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border in recent weeks -- and they still keep coming. The huge numbers have flummoxed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and slowed down their offensive aimed at dealing a knock-out blow to the jihadists' once-sprawling proto-state.
- BusinessCar and Driver
The Porsche Taycan EV Is Coming into Clearer Focus
Sketches and photos give us additional glimpses of what the electric Porsche will look like in its final form. From Car and Driver
- WorldBloomberg
Ardern Says She Will Never Speak Christchurch Terrorist's Name
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she will never speak the name of the terrorist accused of gunning down 50 people in attacks on two Christchurch mosques on Friday. He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety, and that is why you will never hear me mention his name,” Ardern told parliament Tuesday as lawmakers paid tribute to the victims of the massacre. He is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist, but he will, when I speak, be nameless.
CelebrityUSA TODAYWhat we know about Olivia Jade, Lori Loughlin's daughter caught up in admissions scandal
Before March 12, Olivia Jade Giannulli was a powerful social media influencer still on the rise as a YouTube and Instagram star. But Tuesday's stunning announcement of a federal investigation into a college-admission fraud scheme has dramatically changed the narrative for the 19-year-old freshman at the University of Southern California — who goes by her social media name "Olivia Jade." Jade's parents, "Fuller House" star Lori Loughlin and designer Mossimo Giannulli, whose Mossimo label has been featured at Target stores, have both been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
BusinessReutersBrotherly love at Reliance? India's Mukesh Ambani provides 'support' to brother Anil as debt paid off
India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, who controls oil-to-telecoms powerhouse Reliance Industries that is now worth many times the troubled business group run by his younger brother Anil, appears to have offered some kind of support to ensure Anil paid off a 5.5 billion rupees ($80 million) debt. If Anil didn't pay the debt, then he had been threatened by India's Supreme Court with a prison term. The nature of the backing and how it was delivered is unclear, but in a statement Anil Ambani thanked his billionaire brother "for standing by me during these trying times, and demonstrating the importance of staying true to our strong family values by extending this timely support".
NewsYahoo NewsPresident Trump urges Fox News to bring back Jeanine Pirro, 'keep fighting' for Tucker Carlson
President Trump, who attended church on Sunday, held his own sermon on Twitter in defense of controversial Fox News hosts Jeanine Pirro and Tucker Carlson. “Bring back @JudgeJeanine Pirro,” he demanded of Fox News. Pirro, who's hosted “Justice With Judge Jeanine” since 2011.
- U.S.WPVI – Philadelphia
Washington teen who shoved friend off bridge pleads guilty
A woman has pleaded guilty to pushing her 16-year-old friend from a bridge at a popular swimming area near Vancouver.
PoliticsAssociated Press'We need a million -- and quick!' Dem candidates' playbook
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, little known outside his home state, boasts he raised over $1 million in the days after launching his White House bid. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and others say they did, too. Impressive numbers, even if dwarfed by the $6 million or so reported by Bernie Sanders and now Beto O'Rourke .
- WorldThe Telegraph
New Zealand shooter to represent himself in court as former lawyer says he appears 'lucid'
The Australian terrorist who filmed himself slaughtering 50 worshipers at two mosques in New Zealand has asked to represent himself in court, prompting concerns the trial could become a platform to promote his far-Right ideology. Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist who gunned down his victims with a semi-automatic rifle at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, sacked his court-appointed lawyer so he could defend himself. His former lawyer, Richard Peters, told reporters that the attacker "indicated he does not want a lawyer" and that he "wants to be self-represented in this case."
WorldReutersU.S.-backed force says it has taken positions in Islamic State Syria camp
U.S.-backed fighters said they had taken positions in Islamic State's last enclave in eastern Syria and air strikes pounded the tiny patch of land beside the Euphrates River early on Monday, a Reuters journalist said. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia said in an update on Monday that tens of militants had been killed during what it called fierce clashes, and one SDF fighter had been injured. It said Islamic State had sent four suicide bombers to points close to SDF fighters.
WorldAFPSaudi crown prince approved 'intervention' against dissidents: report
More than a year before the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved a secret campaign to silence dissenters, The New York Times reported on Sunday. American officials referred to it as the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group, the Times said. At least some of the clandestine missions were carried out by members of the team that killed and dismembered Khashoggi in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, suggesting his murder was part of a wider campaign against dissidents, the report said, citing the US officials and associates of some Saudi victims.
- WorldThe National Interest
Navy vs. Nukes: U.S. Navy Plans to Test Missile Defenses Against ICBM
The Pentagon plans a “first-of-its-kind” test of an unprecedented weapons capability to intercept and destroy an enemy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile "ICBM" -- from a Navy ship at sea using a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA. The concept, as articulated by Pentagon officials and cited briefly in this years' DoD “Missile Defense Review,” would be to use an advanced SM-3 IIA to “underlay” and assist existing Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI), adding new dimensions to the current US missile defense posture.
NewsAssociated PressThe Latest: Up to 500 homes damaged in 1 Nebraska county
The state's emergency management agency says more record crests are expected in various rivers by Tuesday. Nebraska has had much of the worst of the late-winter flooding that's been seen across the Midwest. Hundreds of homes are damaged and the state says 660 people are staying in shelters.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Are universities the victims here? What colleges have to do right now to clean up admissions after largest-ever cheating scandal
Caught in the largest-ever scandal involving college admissions, universities declared their dismay, saying they'd been victimized by the scam. The scandal reveals many unpleasant truths about higher education in the United States. Among them: Rich students generally have more resources to game the system, and society adulates elite colleges. Most have promised to review their admissions processes.
- NewsThe Independent
Mueller investigation probed if longstanding Trump fixer Cohen was unregistered foreign agent, search warrants reveal
New court filings reveal the extent of investigations Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office conducted against Donald Trump's longtime fixer and former lawyer Michael Cohen – well before the infamous raid against him took place last year. The special counsel received warrants nearly a year before the raid to begin reading Cohen's private email correspondence, according to court documents that were unsealed on Tuesday morning and reviewed by The Independent. Initially, the special counsel's office had launched a probe into whether Cohen was acting as an unregistered foreign agent, an allegation he has not been charged over.
- BusinessBloomberg
China Considers Excluding Boeing 737 Max From Trade Deal
China is looking at excluding Boeing Co.'s troubled 737 Max jet from a list of American exports it would buy as part of a trade deal with the U.S., people familiar with the matter said. Boeing jets were featured on a draft list of American products China would buy to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S., the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Now, safety concerns are pushing China to examine whether to cut the 737 Max from the list altogether or replace it with other Boeing models after the crash of a plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines led to the aircraft being grounded worldwide, they said.
- U.S.KTRK – Houston
Possible shooting suspect falls to his death near UHD while running from HPD, officers say
Authorities are investigating after a body was found near the University of Houston-Downtown.
WorldReutersVenezuela's Maduro plans 'deep restructuring' of government: VP
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is planning a "deep restructuring" of his government, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday, as the country recovers from a prolonged blackout amid a power struggle with the opposition. quot;President @NicolasMaduro has asked the entire executive Cabinet to put their roles up for review in a deep restructuring of the methods and functions of the Bolivarian government, to protect the fatherland of Bolivar and Chavez from any threat," Rodriguez wrote on Twitter, referring to independence leader Simon Bolivar and former President Hugo Chavez.
WorldReutersTurkey's Erdogan calls on New Zealand to restore death penalty over shooting
President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on New Zealand to restore the death penalty for the gunman who killed 50 people at two Christchurch mosques, warning that Turkey would make the attacker pay for his act if New Zealand did not. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday after a lone gunman opened fire at the two mosques during Muslim Friday prayers. If New Zealand doesn't make you, we know how to make you pay one way or another," Erdogan told an election rally of thousands in northern Turkey.
WorldAFPNew Zealand attack plays into jihadist hands: experts
White supremacist Brenton Tarrant, who is accused of killing 50 people in the New Zealand mosque massacre in what he claimed was a blow against Muslim "invaders", played into jihadist hands by following their strategy, experts say. From the Islamic State (IS) group to Al-Qaeda, jihadist groups aim to deepen divisions between Muslims and the rest of the world in an apparent aim to trigger all-out war between "believers" and "unbelievers". "The Christchurch attack was a blessing for Daesh," said Alain Chouet, a former senior French intelligence official, using an Arabic acronym for IS.
