Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 20th April 2019 at 00:46 (about 3 hours ago)
LONDON (AP) ? For some Britons who watched Notre Dame burn so fiercely in Paris, the horror was mixed with apprehension. What happened to the French landmark this week could easily befall the Houses of Parliament in London. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
Democrats say Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report shows why Congress needs to hear from him directly about whether President Trump obstructed justice. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
Caniço (Portugal) (AFP) - Portugal and Germany mourned on Thursday after 29 German tourists died when their bus tumbled down a slope and crashed into a house on the tourist island of Madeira. Trendtour said the bus had been hired by a local operator and crashed off the road "for a reason still unknown". #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
Document threatens to reopen debate over impeachment and raises questions on the futures of William Barr and Sarah SandersMueller report released ? live updatesSupport the Guardian?s independent journalism and make a contribution Donald Trump?s claims of vindication after the release of Robert Mueller?s report on Thursday were quickly drowned out by furious Democrats, who pointed to a wealth of evidence the president attempted to obstruct justice and demanded fresh hearings into potentially criminal conduct. Republican hopes of drawing a line under the affair were dashed as the bombshell document threatened to reopen debate over Trump?s impeachment and raised questions over the futures of William Barr, the attorney general, and Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, both accused of misleading the public. The gravity of the situation was apparent as the president left for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday afternoon. Instead of taking a victory lap, as some had expected, he uncharacteristically ignored questions from reporters as he boarded the Marine One helicopter on the White House south lawn. Even so, timing of the report was fortunate for Trump, with Congress not in session and Washington winding down for Easter. Initial reaction was perhaps preordained by a four-page summary released by Barr last month and offered a textbook example of Washington?s bitter partisanship and polarisation. Republicans circled the wagons and reiterated their claims of exoneration. Speaking at the White House, Trump said: ?This should never happen to another president again. This hoax ? it should never happen to another president again.? He added on Twitter: ?GAME OVER? with a photoshopped image from Game of Thrones. And later, apparently responding to the finding that he tried to remove Mueller, he suggested that he would have been within his legal right to do so. ?I had the right to end the whole Witch Hunt if I wanted,? he tweeted. ?I could have fired everyone, including Mueller, if I wanted. I chose not to. I had the RIGHT to use Executive Privilege. I didn?t!? White House staff including lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Kellyanne Conway rallied around. Conway told reporters: ?We?re accepting apologies today, too, for anybody who feels the grace in offering them.? Sign up for the US morning briefing There was also a preview of how Trump will attempt to use the report in next year?s presidential election, arguing that it was cooked up by Democrats and anti-Trump officials in an attempt to thwart his supporters. His re-election campaign said in a statement: ?Now the tables have turned, and it?s time to investigate the liars who instigated this sham investigation into President Trump, motivated by political retribution and based on no evidence whatsoever.? But if the White House hopes the nation is ready to move on, it is likely to be disappointed. Mueller offered plenty of fodder for Democrats and other critics of the president, including detailing how the Trump campaign was receptive to Russian help, and how the president repeatedly attempted to obstruct justice and had to be saved from himself by those around him. Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Adam Schiff, the respective chairmen of the House judiciary and intelligence committees, wrote to Mueller requesting that he testify on Capitol Hill. Schiff tweeted: ?Regardless of whether the obstructive acts described by Mueller was criminal or whether the litany of illicit contacts with Russia rose to the level of conspiracy, they?re dishonest, unethical, and unpatriotic. Mueller?s report is not a vindication of Trump, but a condemnation.? The Connecticut senator Richard Blumenthal said he would support a subpoena for the full, unredacted report. ?This report is a detailed, deeply damning portrait of criminal wrongdoing and national scandal. President Trump and his associates sold out our democracy and welcomed help through Russia?s illegal actions during the 2016 campaign,? he added. There was also sharp criticism of Barr, who held a news conference early on Thursday before the report?s publication and attempted to put a positive spin on it. William Barr speaks at a press conference on the release of Robert Mueller?s report at the Department of Justice in Washington DC on 18 April. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said in a joint statement that Barr ?deliberately distorted significant portions? of the report. ?Special Counsel Mueller?s report paints a disturbing picture of a president who has been weaving a web of deceit, lies and improper behavior and acting as if the law doesn?t apply to him,? they continued. Schumer and Pelosi joined the calls for Mueller to testify to Congress and said it is ?imperative? for the rest of the report and underlying documents to be made available. With Mueller and Barr now effectively passing the baton on to Congress, some Democrats may even reconsider whether to push for Trump?s impeachment, although Republican control of the Senate could make that a messy and inconclusive process. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, noted that the report includes the apparent invitation: ?Congress may apply the obstruction laws to the president?s corrupt exercise of the powers of office.? Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York agreed: ?Mueller?s report is clear in pointing to Congress? responsibility in investigating obstruction of justice by the president.? She added that she would be signing on to the congresswoman?s Rashida Tlaib?s impeachment resolution. But senior Democrats maintained their cautious position on impeachment, which they fear could backfire. The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, told CNN: ?Based on what we have seen to date, going forward on impeachment is not worthwhile at this point. Very frankly, there is an election in 18 months and the American people will make a judgement.? The political fallout could also consume Sanders who, after FBI director James Comey?s firing in May 2017, denied that he commanded widespread support within the agency. Sanders later admitted to Mueller?s team that this was a ?slip of the tongue?. The LGBTQ campaign group GLAAD demanded Sanders? resignation, stating: ?The White House press secretary?s role is to keep the public informed about the most powerful office in the world. The position shouldn?t be held by someone who lies to the press.? #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
With Notre Dame still smoldering, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the great cathedral and called for donors. France?s luxury industry led the way, with Bernard Arnault, the billionaire founder of the LVMH fashion conglomerate, promising 200 million euros ($226 million) and Francois Pinault of rival fashion group Kering 100 million euros. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo offered money from city coffers and promised to organize an international donor conference. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
Attorney General William Barr ended his press conference about special counsel Robert Mueller?s report on Thursday after a testy exchange with reporters who questioned him about the notion that he was trying to ?protect? President Trump. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
On Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, Hyundai finally unveiled the compact but "bold" 2020 Venue that it has been teasing for weeks. To prepare for the launch of the 2020 Venue, Hyundai has been publishing teaser images of the model's name badge, design sketches, and even photographs of millennials partying on a rooftop. On Wednesday, the entry SUV finally made its debut in New York. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
An electrical short-circuit most likely sparked the inferno at the Notre Dame Cathedral, a French police official told the Associated Press. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
On Thursday, Attorney General William Barr released special counsel Robert Muellert?s redacted report on Russian interference in the 2016 election ? and whether President Trump obstructed his probe. #
Source: Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines — 19th April 2019 at 23:16 (about 5 hours ago)
Catholics and tourists who can no longer approach Notre-Dame after Monday?s devastating fire will be consoled by an ?ephemeral cathedral? made of wood until the stricken cathedral reopens, its chief priest has announced. Notre-Dame?s 12 million annual visitors will still be able to marvel at Europe?s most visited historic building from the outside, but Monseigneur Patrick Chauvet said for the faithful something more was needed. ?We mustn?t say ?the cathedral is closed for five years? and that?s it,? he told CSNews TV. The prospect led him to ask the question: ?Can I not build an ephemeral cathedral on the esplanade (in front of Notre Dame)?? Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, has backed the idea, he said. The wooden ?cathedral? will host priests who will be able to address the crowds during reconstruction works, which President Emmanuel Macron said wanted to be complete within five years. As experts continued to assess the damage to the building, which lost its roof and ?forest? of ancient wooden beams, along with its famed spire, President Macron led a day of tribute to the Paris firefighters who saved the Gothic edifice from collapse and rescued its treasures from the flames. They were to be awarded a special gold medal for ?bravery and devotion?. Later, Paris town hall will stage a ceremony in the firefighters? honour, with a Bach concert, two giant banners and readings from Victor Hugo?s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. More than 400 firefighters took part in the nine-hour fight to save the 12th-century cathedral. Despite a delay reportedly due to a computer glitch in the fire alarm sending security agents to the wrong part of the cathedral, its iconic towers, rose windows, huge organ and artworks were saved thanks to the quick and valiant work of Paris firemen. The building was only minutes from burning to the ground in a "chain-reaction collapse", said Jose Vaz de Matos, a fire expert with France's culture ministry. Miraculously, no one was killed in the fire, which occurred during a Mass. ?The worst has been avoided,? said Franck Riester, the culture minister. But he warned that there was still a risk of collapse of three weak spots. ?The main structure is out of danger but three areas remain fragile,? he told BFM TV. While the upper level and northern gable had been secured overnight, the western gable between the two bell towers remains ?extremely weakened?, he warned. Another weak spot is the corner of the southern belfry, where the intense heat from the fire had turned the stone ?crumbly?. The vault is also not out of danger. ?Scaffolding will be installed to remove the debris from the vault because if it rains, water will gather and weigh down on it,? he said. With around ?900 million (£780m) already donated to rebuild the cathedral from around the world, officials warned that fraudsters are taking advantage of the Notre-Dame fire to fool well-wishers into handing over cash. The French Heritage Foundation, which has so far collected more than ?13 million from individual donors, said: "A number of scams have been flagged to us both in France and abroad.? It urged people to donate only to official sites. #