| Prominent investigator exits Mueller team Posted: 16 Aug 2017 11:10 AM PDT  Rachel Maddow reports on the surprising departure of Peter Strzok, a prominent counter-espionage investigator who had been working on Robert Mueller's Trump Russia investigation.
|
| Barcelona terror attack: van crashes into crowd at Las Ramblas, killing 'at least 13' Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:51 PM PDT  You can continue to follow the latest from the Barcelona terror attack here. Terror in Barcelona as van hits crowd in Las Ramblas Driver arrested after escaping scene on foot Spanish media reports 13 people killed Trump: 'we'll do whatever is necessary to help' Barcelona attack: Everything we know A white van plowed into a packed summer crowd this evening in Barcelona's historic Las Ramblas district. Barcelona police called it a terror attack and local media reported 13 dead and dozens more injured. The driver was arrested around two and a half hours after the attack, reports said. The vehicle hit pedestrians in Las Ramblas, a busy tree-lined promenade in the centre of the city. Catalan police tweeted "there are mortal victims and injured from the crash" without specifying any numbers. Spanish media, including Cadena SER radio station and TV3, reported up to 13 dead, while other media had varying death tolls. Pictured: the van reportedly used in the attack "Huge collision on Las Ramblas in Barcelona by an individual driving a van, many injuries," a statement from Catalan police added. Barcelona terror attack, in pictures The street is one of the most well-known and popular parts of the city, visited by tourists and locals alike. Images posted on social media appear to show people being tended to as they lay on the street. Reports said the driver escaped the scene on foot and was holed up in a bar in Tallers Street. Armed police ran down the streets and through a market, checking in stores and cafes. In photographs and videos, at least five people could be seen lying on the ground in the streets of the northern Spanish city on Thursday afternoon, being helped by police and others. Other video recorded people screaming as they fled the van. Mapped: Barcelona van attack Carol Augustin, a manager at La Palau Moja, an 18th-century place on Las Ramblas that houses government offices and a tourism information center, said the van passed right in front of the building. "We saw everything. People started screaming and running into the office. It was such a chaotic situation. There were families with children. The police made us close the doors and wait inside," she said. While full details of the incident were not immediately clear, since July 2016 vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of militant attacks across Europe, killing well over 100 people in Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm. 7:29PM Theresa May: 'UK stands with Spain against terror' Britain "stands with Spain against terror", Prime Minister Theresa May said following the deadly attack. "My thoughts are with the victims of today's terrible attack in Barcelona and the emergency services responding to this ongoing incident. The UK stands with Spain against terror," the prime minister wrote on Twitter. 7:04PM Donald Trump: we'll do whatever is necessary to help The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help. Be tough & strong, we love you!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017 7:01PM Melania Trump send her thoughts and prayers The US first lady tweeted: Thoughts and prayers to #Barcelona— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 17, 2017 7:00PM Suspect arrested Spanish public broadcaster RTVE says one suspect in the Barcelona van attack has been arrested. 6:43PM Passport 'found at scene' Barcelona's Tv3 reports that the Spanish passport of a person of Moroccan origin was found at the scene of the attack. 6:42PM Second van 'found by police' Reuters, citing local authorities, reports that a second van has been found by police in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona. 6:39PM Jeremy Corbyn tweets his support Terrible reports from Barcelona. My thoughts are with those killed and injured, and the emergency services working to save lives.— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 17, 2017 6:36PM London stands with Barcelona Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has tweeted: My thoughts are with the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack in the great city of Barcelona and with their brave emergency services.— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) August 17, 2017 6:16PM 'There was a mini stampede' Ethan Spibey, a charity director on holiday in the city, said he had taken shelter in a nearby church with several others after Thursday's van ramming. "All of a sudden it was real kind of chaos... people just started running screaming," he told Sky. "There was kind of a mini stampede. "It seems like a lot of people have taken refuge in shops and local cafes." A woman cries as she phones after a van ploughed into the crowd, killing one person and injuring several others on the Rambla in Barcelona Credit: AFP/Getty Images A video circulating on social media showed at least 19 people lying injured on the pavement down the centre of Las Ramblas. Many victims can be seen bleeding, some heavily, while being tended to by passersby. Souvenirs are strewn across the path, having apparently been knocked over in the chaos. Armed police are visible in the background. 6:12PM One death confirmed by police A police official in Barcelona has said that one death has been confirmed, and 32 others have been injured in the van attack, ten of which are seriously injured. At least 56 people have been taken to hospitals across the city, according to local newspaper La Vanguardia. 6:08PM Van 'was going very fast, without caring about who was in its way' TV3 says it now has official confirmation that thirteen people are dead. It also says there are dozens of injured. Eyewitness Lourdes Porcar told TV3 television station that she saw the van running people over. "It was going very fast, without caring about who was in its way," she said. Police have set up roadblocks around the city amid reports that a second van was involved in the attack and fled the scene. Injured people are treated in Barcelona, Spain There are also reports that at least on attacker is holed up in a Turkish restaurant on Carrer Hospital, which leads off from the spot in which the van appears to have come to a halt. Television pictures show that a van came to a halt on top of a Joan Miro mosaic, half-way down Las Ramblas - meaning that it would have covered more than 500 metres. 5:59PM Las Ramblas potentially deadliest attack since 2004 bombing The deadliest recent attack in Spain was in March 2004, when Islamist militants placed bombs on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people and wounding more than 1,800. 5:55PM Death toll 'could be as high as 13' Reuters reports that at least 13 people have been killed in the attack, citing local media. 5:52PM President has been informed, says White House The White House's chief of staff said it was keeping President Trump closely informed about the situation. 5:49PM 'Second van' linked to attack Police are looking for a second van that may have been involved in the attack, Sky News reports 5:49PM Tourists speak of shock Police stationed at the cordon a block away from Plaza Catalunya, on Passeig de Gracia, say they have no information what is happening inside. Confused tourists, shoppers and business owners gathered at its edges, awaiting some word or direction as to what to do. Ines Prauka, a 49 year old tourist from Berlin arrived with her 14 year old daughter Adel for a one week holiday just an hour or two before the attack. Injured people are treated by emergency services at the scene They had just checked in to an apartment at the top of the Ramblas and come out in search of a supermarket to find pandemonium on the street. "Everybody was running and panicking and crying," she said. Ambulances arrived and police told them to run away, but they did not understand as the orders came in Spanish, she said, and had to ask. Ms Prauka was clearly in shock and struggled to speak at times. "It's unbelievable. Two hours in Barcelona and this. We are shocked. Policemen accompany an elderly woman near a cordoned off area Credit: PAU BARRENA "It's the first time we've been in a situation of everyone crying and panicking around us, we didn't know if it was terrorism, a bomb." Berlin had been touched by terrorism but they had never experienced it personally, she said, adding that she did not know where to take her daughter now. "A one week summer holiday in Barcelona and that was the start," she said. 5:45PM Barcelona police to hold press conference Local police are expected to begin a press conference in around ten minutes. Stay with us for the latest updates. 5:39PM 'There was panic everywhere," says eyewitness Daksha Dixit, a 28 year old tourist visiting from Mumbai with family, said they had been on a tourist bus which had just dropped them off one block from Plaza Cataluña when they heard the news. "We got off and people were panicking, no one knew what was going on. There was panic everywhere." An injured person is carried in Barcelona, Spain Credit: Oriol Duran/AP The family arrived just yesterday for a one week trip and their hotel is on the Ramblas inside the cordon. They were unclear as to what exactly was unfolding, with Miss Dixit adding: "I don't know what to do". 5:32PM Attacker used rented van Catalan police say they are treating the crash as a suspected terrorist attack but cannot yet confirm the motive. It has also been reported that the attack vehicle was a rented van. That would suggest, if this is confirmed as a terrorist attack, that same terrorists are imitating the perpetrators of the London Bridge attack, where a rented van was also used. Injured people react after a van crashed into pedestrians in Las Ramblas, downtown Barcelona, 5:26PM 'We heard gunshots...there was screaming and shouting' Steve Garrett was in a nearby market and sheltered in a bakery with several others after streams of people ran inside. One member of the group, who took refuge with him, said she had heard gunshots after the incident. Armed police officers patrol an empty street after a van crashed into pedestrians near the Las Ramblas avenue in central Barcelona Credit: REUTERS Mr Garrett told the BBC: "A very large number of people ran into the market area in a big kind of way, lots of screaming, lots of shouting. "The security guards immediately responded. We ran into the bakery with four or five other people and ran straight upstairs and hunkered down whilst an enormous wave of people went through the market. An armed policeman arrives in a cordoned off area after a van ploughed into the crowd, injuring several persons on the Rambla "Obviously coming from England it was reminding me a great deal of what happened in London, so we were very concerned about what might be going on next. Police speak to an injured person at the scene. Local media report the van driver ran away "The lady that was with us said she heard some gunshots." Mr Garrett said a "second wave" of people then entered the market, followed by armed police. Screengrab taken with permission from video posted on twitter by @pawilerma of the scene in Las Ramblas He said: "They seemed to sweep through the market area. They seemed to be looking for someone. They were going very carefully, very cautiously, stall to stall." Jordi Lino was on a bus going down the Ramblas when he saw the attack: "First I saw people running and then the van. There were injured people in the middle of the Ramblas." 5:20PM Footage appears to show crash vehicle Footage appears to show damaged vehicle in cordoned-off Barcelona street 00:31 5:16PM Confusion and panic in Las Ramblas Telegraph reporter Hannah Strange has arrived at Las Ramblas, where she says there is a very heavy police presence, confusion, and helicopters flying overhead. Local media is reporting is that several people have died. The Spanish newspaper El Pais quoted unnamed police sources as saying the perpetrators of the crash were holed up in a bar in Tallers Street. There was no immediate police confirmation of the report. Inside the glossy stores of Passeig de Gracia, shoppers and staff sheltered behind glass windows. Many streamed away from the cordon but others stayed on the street in an eerie limbo, the ambulances racing past the only clue as to the status of the situation. 5:14PM Armed police pictured at scene Omg �� #barcelonapic.twitter.com/p0jZd25oxx— sommermädchen (@_corazondelsol) August 17, 2017 5:12PM Restaurant hostage situation is ongoing Two armed men have entrenched themselves in a Turkish bar and restaurant in Barcelona's city centre after a van mowed down dozens of people, El Periodico newspaper reported on Wednesday. El Periodico reported gunfire in the area of La Boqueria Market, although it did not cite the source of the information. It was not immediately clear that the men were the drivers of the van. 5:06PM Several bodies lay in street in aftermath of attack In a photograph shown by public broadcaster RTVE, three people were lying on the ground in the street of the northern Spanish city Thursday afternoon, apparently being helped by police and others. Videos of the scene recorded people screaming as they fled. A police officer cordon off a street in Barcelona, Spain Police cordoned off the broad, popular street, ordering stores and nearby Metro and train stations to close. They asked people to stay away from the area so as not to get in the way of emergency services. A helicopter hovered over the scene. 5:02PM 'It was chaos...everyone was in panic mode' Aamer Anwar was walking down Las Ramblas at the time, which he said was "jam-packed" with tourists. He told Sky News: "All of a sudden, I just sort of heard a crashing noise and the whole street just started to run, screaming. I saw a woman right next to me screaming for her kids. "Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back." Panicked onlookers at the scene of the attack Mr Anwar described the scene as "chaos", with everyone in "panic mode". He added: "Police officers who got there just started screaming at people to move back, move back. "One of the shopkeepers tried to speak to him. He said he saw five or six people seriously injured on the ground, a van had driven into people. "And literally within probably 30 seconds, police vans, ambulances, police officers with guns, were piling out and we were being sectioned off and then being pushed rapidly back down Ramblas." 4:51PM Eyewitness: It was terriyfying One witness told Sky News: "It was quite terrifying. All of a sudden scores of people ran towards us, hysterical, children hysterical... first of all they said someone had been shot. ��Atropello múltiple en las #Ramblas. Se solicita a los ciudadanos no transitar por la zona de Plaza Catalunya. +info @emergenciescat— Policía Nacional (@policia) August 17, 2017 "All of a sudden a second wave of people came down the street, we just ran, I lost my husband in the melee. The shops went into lockdown mode." She added: "We really had no idea what was going on other than that we needed to get ourselves out of there very quickly... there was just hundreds of people running away very quickly." Police at the scene of the crash Another said: "We were just told to run, it must have been quite close because... there was an immediate stampede to run away. We were just a minute away from it." 4:50PM Local media: Armed men have entered a restaurant Spanish media is now reporting that armed men entered a restaurant shortly after the attack took place. 4:48PM Emergency services - close nearby train and metro stations Catalan emergency services have asked that nearby metro stations be closed. Here are some images of the scene. A policeman stands next to an ambulance after a van ploughed into the crowd, injuring several persons 4:43PM Suspected driver 'fled on foot' The suspected driver has fled the vehicle, according to local police. It remains unclear whether the crash is terror-related. 4:41PM Reports suggest the crash happened outside a Kosher restaurant After seeing photos, does appear that the van hit people outside Barcelona's Kosher restaurant, Maccabi, but also in a much wider area.— Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) August 17, 2017 4:39PM Several victims treated on the ground In a photograph shown by public broadcaster RTVE, three people were lying on the ground in the street and were apparently being helped by police and others. Police cordoned off the broad street and shut down its stores 4:38PM The scene in La Rambla The scene in La Rambla 4:35PM Las Ramblas Las Ramblas is an iconic avenue in the centre of Barcelona, visited by millions of tourists every year 4:31PM Area evacuated The local police force was said to be evacuating the area including the nearby main square the Plaza de Catalunya. Shops have put up their shutters with shoppers inside, newspaper La Vanguardia reported.
|
| Israel destroys home of Palestinian attacker: army Posted: 16 Aug 2017 11:49 PM PDT  Israeli forces blew up the West Bank home of a Palestinian who took part in an attack in Jerusalem in which a policewoman was killed, the army said Thursday. "Overnight security forces demolished the house of one of the terrorists who committed the lethal shooting attack at the Damascus gate in Jerusalem on June 16, killing border police officer Hadas Malka," a military spokesman told AFP. The spokeswoman named the Palestinian assailant as Adel Ankush from Deir Abu Mashal near Ramallah.
|
| White supremacist cries on camera as he describes 'terror' over arrest warrant Posted: 17 Aug 2017 05:03 AM PDT  A white supremacist who helped organise the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has appeared on camera crying as he describes his fear of arrest. Chris Cantwell, a racist who previously claimed he and others would "f***ing kill" anti-fascist demonstrators for interfering with their right to express their views, sobs uncontrollably in the clip. The blogger was featured in a Vice News documentary filmed before, during and after the rally in Virginia turned violent.
|
| China military criticizes 'wrong' U.S. moves on Taiwan, South China Sea Posted: 17 Aug 2017 12:22 PM PDT  The "wrong" actions of the United States on Taiwan, its South China Sea patrols and deployment of an advanced anti-missile system in South Korea have had a large, negative influence on military trust, a senior Chinese officer said on Thursday. Fan Changlong, a vice chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission, told Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that mutual trust mechanisms between the two militaries had continued to improve, China's defense ministry said.
|
| More arrests made in toppling of Confederate statue Posted: 16 Aug 2017 11:33 AM PDT  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More protesters were arrested Wednesday for participating in a demonstration that toppled a Confederate statue in North Carolina, and more monuments were vandalized as well.
|
| American Airlines Accused Of Destroying Woman's Wedding Dress Posted: 17 Aug 2017 12:10 AM PDT  The court papers claimed Yewande Oteh of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, decided to sue the airline after it failed to prevent or investigate the incident.
|
| New York to axe Confederate busts from 'hall of fame' Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:04 PM PDT  New York authorities are taking steps to remove two busts of Confederate commanders from a "Hall of Fame" as America's most populous city joins others in erasing symbols of the pro-slavery Civil War South. Bronx Community College said the bust of General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, and another of one of his top generals, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, would be removed in two to three days. "We want to make it sure we get it done quickly, but without causing damage," said Karla Williams, executive legal counsel at the College, which is part of The City University of New York.
|
| Malala Confirms She's Going To Oxford This Fall Posted: 17 Aug 2017 07:35 AM PDT  Pakistani female-education campaigner Malala Yousafzai is headed to Oxford University to study philosophy, politics and economics, or PPE, this fall, she confirmed Thursday on Twitter.
|
| The price of eclipse glasses have more than tripled on Amazon over the last 2 weeks Posted: 16 Aug 2017 11:18 AM PDT  If you're trying to be frugal and find a cheap deal on a pair of glasses for the solar eclipse, good luck. The price of the protective glasses continues to soar, even among concerns over sales of potentially useless glasses. On Amazon, which seems to be the marketplace of choice for eclipse shoppers, prices for glasses have more than tripled over the last two weeks for the website's most popular protective glasses, according to Wikibuy. Wikibuy, which tracks prices through its Google Chrome extension and through a real time price tracker on its website, shared data with Mashable on the pricing of the 4-Pack Premium ISO and CE Certified Lunt Solar Kid Size Eclipse Viewing Glasses on Amazon, which Wikibuy said are its most popular. "From what our community has seen on Amazon, it appears that Amazon prices on eclipse glasses have more than tripled over the last two weeks," Matt Gratt, Wikibuy's Director of Growth, wrote in an email. "As always, consumers can find the true best prices on items by consulting price history tools and multiple stores around the internet." While the 4-Pack Premium ISO and CE Certified Lunt Solar Kid Size Eclipse Viewing Glasses are currently on backorder through Amazon Prime, one seller is selling them for a mere $249. (Yeah, price tag made us cringe too.) Eclipse glasses are also four of the top five product searches on Amazon and Wikibuy, Gratt said. Based on the company's data, prices seemed to fluctuate, but remained pretty steady for awhile, but began to steadily climb since the beginning of August. And it's not just Amazon — an analysis of pricing for packs of the glasses from third party retailers found that prices have more than doubled for new five and 10 packs since early August. SEE ALSO: Where to buy your eclipse glasses before the total solar eclipse on August 21 The current price for a 10-pack of CE Certified Safe Solar Eclipse Glasses sold through a third party is $129.95, according to Camel Camel Camel, which tracks pricing of items on Amazon and through third party retailers. For a five pack of premium ISO and CE Certified Lunt Solar Eclipse Glasses from a third party vendor, the current price sits at $39.95. But while the prices may not be ideal, if you're planning on viewing the celestial event, you'll need a pair of these glasses to view the eclipse without harming your eyes. A list of reliable vendors for eclipse glasses can be found here. Or you can check out this NASA video, which will show you how to view the eclipse without those fancy-shmancy glasses. WATCH: Here's how many people in the U.S. will possibly see the eclipse
|
| Driss Oukabir: who is the Barcelona suspect? Posted: 17 Aug 2017 12:17 PM PDT  One of the vans used to carry out the murderous rampage at the heart of the city was rented by a man who identified himself as Driss Oukabir, Spanish police said. The white Fiat van was rented in the town of Santa Perpetua de la Mogoda, 16 miles north of Barcelona, it was claimed. Scores of innocent victims were mowed down as a van ploughed down the Spanish city's hugely popular Las Ramblas shortly after 5pm. After careering off the road, the driver then sped through crowds of tourists for up to 500m, sending pedestrians flying, before coming to a halt outside the kosher Maccabi restaurant. At least 13 people were killed and 100 injured. Spanish reports initially said that Driss Oukabir was being questioned on suspicion of involvement in the attack. But on Thursday night the mayor of Ripoll, the town where he lived, 70 miles north of Barcelona, said that a man identifying himself as Driss Oukabir went to his local police station and reported that his documentation had been stolen. Jordi Munell, the mayor, said that the man had insisted that he had been in Ripoll at the time of the attack and went to the local police station as soon as he saw his images broadcast in the media. Police suspect that Driss Oukabir's younger brother, named by Spanish media as 18-year-old Moussa, could have been involved. An image taken from the Facebook profile of a Driss Oukabir Soprano. Credit: Facebook The older Oukabir was born in Morocco in 1989 and legally resident in Spain, according to media reports. Spanish newspaper El Pais said he was known to police and spent time in prison in Figueres, Catalonia, before being released in 2012. However, in what is believed to be his Facebook profile, he says he was from Marseille, southern France, but living in Ripoll. Anti-terrorism sources had earlier told El Pais that they believed Oukabir arrived in Barcelona from Morocco on August 13. They said he was known to have spent time in Madrid this year and police were attempting to work out where he stayed and who he met there. According to police audio recordings, the driver of the van was 1m 70cm tall, dressed in a white shirt with blue stripes. Police were said to have found a Spanish passport inside the van. The Facebook profile picture of a Driss Oukabir Soprano from Ripoll was changed on Tuesday to one depicting him sunbathing on an unidentified beach. An image taken from the Facebook profile of a Driss Oukabir Soprano Credit: Facebook Wearing white headphones, he posed for the picture on a blue towel, which was laid out next to a pink one. The profile states that he has been in a relationship since December 2013 and contains links to more than 700 friends, several of whom were likely relatives who share the same Oukabir surname. Within minutes of his name being released by police, the profile was flooded with vitriolic messages, condemning him for any apparent involvement. The profile was later removed from the internet. How the Barcelona terror attack unfolded 01:10 Over the last few weeks, Oukabir posted links to several hip hop music videos on YouTube. One of them, he described as being "for my brother". In one video, an all-boy band, who sing in French, are seen celebrating and singing about vodka. In another, they revel in their love for expensive sports cars and women. Police said they had made two arrests following the attack, but said neither of those arrested was driving the van.
|
| 9 Travel Ideas for Adrenaline Junkies Posted: 17 Aug 2017 07:37 AM PDT |
| U.S. Navy to remove senior leaders of warship after deadly June crash Posted: 17 Aug 2017 04:54 PM PDT  By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy will relieve the two senior officers and the senior enlisted sailor on a U.S. warship that collided with a Philippine container ship in June off the coast of Japan, the Navy said on Thursday, A separate official report released on Thursday contained dramatic accounts of what happened when the freighter hit the USS Fitzgerald, killing seven Navy sailors. Admiral Bill Moran, deputy chief of naval operations, told reporters that the USS Fitzgerald's commander, executive officer and master chief petty officer would be removed. Multiple U.S. and Japanese investigations are still under way into how the Fitzgerald, a guided missile destroyer, and the much larger ACX Crystal container ship collided in clear weather south of Tokyo Bay in the early hours of June 17.
|
| Man charged with spraying manure on US Border Protection car Posted: 16 Aug 2017 03:11 PM PDT  MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A man who says his livelihood in agriculture has been nearly ruined by people who entered the country illegally to work on local farms is facing charges he sprayed liquid manure on a marked U.S. Customs and Border Protection car after confronting an agent about immigration enforcement.
|
| KKK leader threatens to 'burn' black Latina journalist and calls her a 'n*****' during interview Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:10 PM PDT  An Afro-Latina journalist conducting an interview with a member of the Ku Klux Klan has said he threatened her so violently that she was concerned for her safety. Ilia Calderón, a Univision journalist with both African and Colombian heritage, agreed to visit KKK leader Chris Barker on his wooded North Carolina property. Almost immediately, Mr Barker asked her why she didn't "go back" to her country of origin.
|
| 10-year-old India rape victim gives birth to baby girl Posted: 17 Aug 2017 03:36 AM PDT  A 10-year-old rape victim whose plea for an abortion was rejected by India's Supreme Court has given birth to a baby girl, a doctor said Thursday. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was raped several times allegedly by an uncle who has since been arrested. Both the girl and her baby are doing fine," doctor Dasari Harish told AFP by phone from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh.
|
| Missouri State Senator Urged To Resign Over Her 'Hope' For Trump's Assassination Posted: 17 Aug 2017 03:42 PM PDT  A Missouri state senator says she has no plans to resign ― despite loud calls from within her own party to do so ― after she said she hoped President Donald Trump would be assassinated. Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal made the comment on her Facebook page Thursday morning in response to a thread she'd started out of frustration over the white supremacist violence last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. While she deleted the post soon after, a screenshot of it nevertheless quickly gained traction, earning rebukes from across the political spectrum.
|
| Shocking Video Shows Bear Biting Off Man's Arm After He Provokes It Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:21 AM PDT  The man ignored warning signs outside the cage and climbed over the fence to feed the bears milk.
|
| 'Our great country being ripped apart': Donald Trump criticises 'foolish' removal of confederate monuments in new tweets Posted: 17 Aug 2017 08:25 AM PDT  President Donald Trump has plunged into the debate about confederate statues, firing off a series of tweets in which he says the removal of the controversial monuments is a "sad" sign of "history and culture of our great country being ripped apart". America has around 700 statues and monuments to figures who fought against Abraham Lincoln's forces in the Civil War, with the aim of preserving a southern state where slavery was maintained. Charlottesville's deadly riots on Saturday were sparked by the town's decision to remove a statue of General Robert E. Lee. But on Thursday morning Mr Trump criticised the removal of monuments. Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments. You.....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017 ...can't change history, but you can learn from it. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson - who's next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish! Also...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017 ...the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017 His comments put him at odds with the family of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, one of the most famous of all confederate generals. "Confederate monuments like the Jackson statue were never intended as benign symbols," wrote two of Jackson's great-great grandsons. "Rather, they were the clearly articulated artwork of white supremacy." In an open letter to the mayor of Richmond, Virginia - where they live - they called for the removal of statues celebrating their ancestor. "While we are not ashamed of our great-great-grandfather, we are ashamed to benefit from white supremacy while our black family and friends suffer. We are ashamed of the monument," they wrote. "As two of the closest living relatives to Stonewall, we are writing today to ask for the removal of his statue, as well as the removal of all Confederate statues from Monument Avenue. They are overt symbols of racism and white supremacy, and the time is long overdue for them to depart from public display." Statues were removed in New Orleans in April and in Baltimore after the Charlottesville protests. In Alabama they have been covered up in a wooden box this week, as the mayor of the city looks at what to do with them. In Lexington, Kentucky, they are due to be removed. A confederate statue is removed from Baltimore in the early hours of Wednesday The family of Robert E. Lee, whose statue sparked the Charlottesville riots, expressed their horror at the events and said the life of the commander of the army of Northern Virginia "was about duty, honor and country." They added: "At the end of the Civil War, he implored the nation to come together to heal our wounds and to move forward to become a more unified nation. "He never would have tolerated the hateful words and violent actions of white supremacists, the KKK, or neo-Nazis." Donald Trump The statues, many of which were erected in the 20th Century, have been a flashpoint in America since Dylann Roof, a self-confessed white supremacist, murdered nine black worshippers in a Charleston church in June 2015. He had posed with the confederate flag, and recorded a manifesto saying he hoped to start a race war. All 11 former confederate states have had protests against the statues this year. Many have been removed, and placed in museums. Donald Trump on Charlottesville: 'there is blame on both sides' 01:58 A descendant of Lee, who commanded the confederate forces from 1862 until their surrender in 1865, echoed the thoughts of the Jackson family and said he had no problem with their removal. "Eventually, someone is going to have to make a decision, and if that's the local lawmaker, so be it," said Robert E. Lee V, the great-great grandson of the general. "But we have to be able to have that conversation without all of the hatred and the violence. "And if they choose to take those statues down, fine." Mr Lee, 54, of Washington DC, told CNN: "Maybe it's appropriate to have them in museums or to put them in some sort of historical context in that regard." Bertram Hayes-Davis, great-great-grandson of the confederate president Jefferson Davis, agreed with Mr Lee, and said that the statues should be moved to a museum if "that's offensive to a large majority of the public." He said: "In a public place, if it is offensive and people are taking issue with it, let's move it. Let's put it somewhere where historically it fits with the area around it so you can have people come to see it, who want to understand that history and that individual." Some have argued that the removal of the confederate statues is an attempt to erase history, and worried that the Founding Fathers - many of whom owned slaves - would be next. But, in an editorial published on Wednesday entitled "The nation can only weep", The Washington Post said it was not a complicated distinction to make between confederate generals and the founders of the country. "Yes, there are reasonable Americans who fear that slaveholding Founding Fathers will be the next target. "But we don't find it difficult to distinguish between a monument to George Washington, say, and statues to Confederate generals that were erected in the 20th century with the goal of maintaining white supremacy." Should Confederate era statues be removed? Mr Trump's position was backed, however, by the Republican governor of Maine. Paul LePage, a notorious figure, said on Thursday morning that removing the confederate statues was "just like" removing a monument to people who died in the 9/11 attacks. Mr LePage, asked for his response to Charlottesville, said he condemns "both sides" that demonstrated, adding that he finds white nationalist and far-Left protesters "equally as bad" and "disgusting." He added that he believed Left-wing protesters who want to remove confederate statues are ignorant of history and want to erase it, comparing them to "the Taliban in Afghanistan" in their desire to remove monuments. He told his local television station that he was unaware of the violence in Charlottesville until Tuesday, because he does not read newspapers or watch TV.
|
| Man Whose Heart Was Pierced by 3-Inch Nail Drives Himself 12 Miles to Hospital Posted: 16 Aug 2017 01:47 PM PDT  Doug Bergeson says common sense told him not to pull the nail out.
|
| Southern anger: Nazis, KKK 'hijacking' Confederate debate Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:42 PM PDT ![Southern anger: Nazis, KKK 'hijacking' Confederate debate]( "Southern anger: Nazis, KKK 'hijacking' Confederate debate") CHULAFINNEE, Ala. (AP) — White Southerners who equate Old South symbols with regional pride rather than hate are even more on the defensive since neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen and other extremists became the face of the fight over Confederate monuments.
|
| World's Saddest Right-Wing Protest Draws 7 People To Seattle's Lenin Statue Posted: 17 Aug 2017 05:22 AM PDT  Far-right "Pizzagate" conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec tweeted videos and photos Wednesday showing him leading a group of people protesting a Vladimir Lenin statue in Seattle. Video shows Posobiec leading the group in a chant of "tear it down, tear it down" as the protesters — wearing "Make America Great Again" caps and holding placards bearing phrases like "Lenin is Hitler" and "Alt Left Hate" — marched around the statue.It appears that about 7 people, including Posobiec, attended the demonstration. Trump Supporters Demand Marxist Statue of Lenin Must Be Torn Down pic.twitter. ...
|
| 9-Foot Alligator Attacks And Kills 75 Pound Dog In Florida Posted: 17 Aug 2017 11:34 AM PDT  Authorities are now warning residents about keeping their pets leashed.
|
| KKK Members Convicted In Plot To Kill Black Inmate While Working As Prison Guards Posted: 16 Aug 2017 10:20 AM PDT  Two former Florida prison guards who were members of the Ku Klux Klan have been convicted of plotting to murder a black inmate after his release.
|
| Two Kids Got Locked In A Grocery Store And Did Exactly What You'd Expect Posted: 16 Aug 2017 03:10 PM PDT  It's right out of a TV show.
|
| Donald Trump's approval rating sinks to new low, latest poll finds Posted: 17 Aug 2017 02:56 AM PDT  Donald Trump's approval rating has hit a new low and most Americans have an unfavourable view of him, according to a new poll. Around 55 per cent of those surveyed said they disapproved of the manner in which Mr Trump is leading the country with just 35 expressing positivity about his performance, the poll by analysts Marist found. The clear majority of Americans - 60 per cent - had an unfavourable impression of Mr Trump generally, while just 34 per cent viewed him favourably.
|
| 911 Call Released in Death of Boy, 3, Who Cops Say Was Left in Day Care Van Posted: 17 Aug 2017 10:53 AM PDT  Myles Hill was found dead in Orlando on Aug. 7.
|
| In wake of rally, Richmond's mayor reconsiders monuments Posted: 16 Aug 2017 07:33 PM PDT  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — In the wake of a deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Richmond's mayor said Wednesday that Virginia's capital city will consider removing or relocating its prominent Confederate statues.
|
| When White Nationalists Get DNA Tests That Reveal African Ancestry Posted: 17 Aug 2017 01:30 AM PDT ![When White Nationalists Get DNA Tests That Reveal African Ancestry]( "When White Nationalists Get DNA Tests That Reveal African Ancestry") The white-nationalist forum Stormfront hosts discussions on a wide range of topics, from politics to guns to The Lord of the Rings. And of particular and enduring interest: genetic ancestry tests. For white nationalists, DNA tests are a way to prove their racial purity. Of course, their results don't always come back that way. And how white nationalists try to explain away non-European ancestry is rather illuminating of their beliefs.
|
| Investigators likely slain by Congolese militia: UN probe Posted: 16 Aug 2017 10:25 PM PDT  Two UN investigators killed in March likely died at the hands of Congolese militia members, a UN inquiry found, adding that further investigation will be required to "fully ascertain the identity" of those involved. Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swedish-Chilean dual national, were found murdered in March in the Democratic Republic of Congo while on a UN mission investigating violence and mass graves in the country's restive Kasai province. "A group of Congolese, likely militia members from the Kasai Central province, was responsible," read the board's executive summary, obtained Wednesday by AFP.
|
| Yes, A Big Victory In Texas On The Trans Bathroom Bill, But The Battle Is Far From Over Posted: 17 Aug 2017 07:39 AM PDT  Celebration is in order in Texas and around the country, as an attempt to pass a transgender "bathroom" bill went down in flames in a special session.
|
| Donald Trump condemns the removal of ‘beautiful’ statues of Confederate generals and slave owners Posted: 17 Aug 2017 07:19 AM PDT  Donald Trump has again waded into the storm surrounding his comments over the violence in Charlottesville, saying that the removal of statues of Confederate generals makes him "sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart". Mr Trump's latest remarks come as the White House looks for ways to manage the fallout from his response to the racially charged protests at the weekend, as he continues to isolate himself amid widespread criticism. The President also tweeted "you can't change history, but you can learn from it", appearing to imply that keeping the statues up would be a reminder of the country's Civil War bloodshed and the scourge of slavery.
|
| Woman Arrested for Running Raffle Ticket Scam Using Image, Name of Boy Who Died of Cancer Posted: 16 Aug 2017 01:02 PM PDT  Tracey Jacqueline Weir is accused of selling phony raffle tickets to support children's cancer research in the name of 4-year-old Nolan Scully.
|
| 35 Hearty Soups That'll Feed A Hungry Crowd Posted: 16 Aug 2017 09:46 AM PDT |
| Ex-NY governor hopeful who insulted Obamas kicked off board Posted: 17 Aug 2017 03:45 PM PDT  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — One-time Republican candidate for New York governor Carl Paladino, whose published insults of former President Barack Obama provoked a public uproar, was removed from Buffalo's school board Thursday for improperly discussing teacher contract negotiations.
|
| Charlottesville white supremacists 'terrified' of being exposed online Posted: 16 Aug 2017 06:23 AM PDT  White supremacists involved in the Charlottesville violence are reportedly "terrified" about being publicly exposed, in case they lose their jobs or receive abuse online. On Monday it emerged anti-fascist vigilantes were naming and shaming white supremacists on social media, after clashes between the two sides overwhelmed the city over the weekend. "If you recognise any of the Nazis marching in Charlottesville, send me their names/profiles and I'll make them famous," one Twitter user requested.
|
| Canada sees 'unsustainable' spike in asylum seekers at U.S. border Posted: 17 Aug 2017 03:02 PM PDT  TORONTO/MONTREAL (Reuters) - The number of asylum seekers who illegally crossed the U.S. border into Canada more than tripled last month, according to Canadian government data released on Thursday, as migrants worried about the U.S. administration's immigration crackdown head north. More than 3,100 people walked across the border illegally in July to file refugee claims and were arrested, up from 884 in June, the federal government said. Ninety-six percent of them went to Quebec, where an influx of asylum seekers, primarily Haitians, is sparking a backlash from opposition politicians and anti-immigrant groups in the primarily French-speaking province.
|
| Where Is Natalee Holloway Suspect Joran Van Der Sloot Now? Posted: 17 Aug 2017 09:17 AM PDT  Twelve years after Holloway's disappearance, van der Sloot remains the primary suspect.
|
| Twitter Points Out Other Times When 'Both Sides' Were Clearly Incomparable Posted: 16 Aug 2017 01:33 PM PDT  On Tuesday, many Americans were left reeling after recent remarks made by President Donald Trump in the aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
|
| Criticism grows over Netanyahu's response to US neo-Nazism Posted: 17 Aug 2017 06:41 AM PDT  Criticism grew Thursday over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's limited response to a US white supremacist rally and President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about it, with calls for him to speak out against anti-Semitism. The issue highlighted Netanyahu's reluctance to be seen as criticising Trump, who has expressed strong support for Israel and whose rise to the presidency was welcomed by the Israeli premier, some analysts said. Netanyahu regularly speaks out against anti-Semitism in other countries, but the United States is Israel's most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid and important diplomatic backing.
|
