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Ex-sanctions czar bashes Obama administration's 'weak' response to Russian interference

Dan Fried, the former State Department diplomat who oversaw sanctions policy, told the "Skullduggery" podcast that he was “extremely” frustrated when the Obama administration issued “weak” and “frankly inadequate” sanctions against Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

19-Year-Old Arrested After Entering School and Allegedly Shooting Student

Students walked out of schools across the U.S. to protest gun violence.

Natalie Portman Backs Out Of Israel Award Over 'Recent Events'

Actress Natalie Portman has pulled out of accepting a prestigious award in

2 Florida Deputies Shot Dead While Eating At Chinese Restaurant

Two deputies were killed when a man shot at them through a window while they

Dog feared to have cancer had actually eaten four teddy bears... but vet didn't realise until midway through operation 

A dog feared to cancer had actually eaten four teddy bears, but the vet did not realise until halfway through the operation. Eight-year-old St Bernard Maisy was taken for a CT scan after she was taken ill, which showed a mass on her spleen and an unusually full stomach, seemingly showing she had not digested her food properly. Her owner, Jane Dickinson, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, feared the worst as she took her pet to Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield. It would not be unusual for Maisy, an elderly dog, to have cancer at her advanced age. However, vet surgeon Nick Blackburn ruled out any fatal disease when he carried out the operation to remove Maisy’s spleen and found her stomach was full of soft toys. Maisy is now reportedly 'loving life' Credit:  Paragon Vet Referrals / SWNS.com He said : "It's fair to say this was not something we were expecting to find! We all know certain dogs enjoy chewing things they shouldn't but managing to devour four full teddy bears is quite a feat. "I know Jane was worried about Maisy as she is quite old for a St Bernard, so we were naturally delighted the operation was such a success and we were able to return a happy, healthy dog to the Dickinsons.” Her owner said she had never seen the gentle giant chewing or eating toys, but that now the operation has been completed Maisy is “loving life”. An x-ray showing the teddy bears within the stomach. Credit: Paragon Vet Referrals / SWNS.com Ms Dickinson explained: "When Maisy went in I did think 'is she coming out?' but she is loving life now - it's like she's got her youth back. "The toys weren't even hers! She will steal the chihuahuas' toys and play with them but I've never seen her trying to chew them. Her eating habits had been completely normal. "I didn't even recognise one of the toys - my brother also keeps chihuahuas and it turns out it belonged to his dog." Maisy has since made a full recovery from her operation and a histology report has shown no signs of cancer.

Legalization of recreational marijuana gaining support on 4/20

Recreational marijuana is already legal in nine states and now Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he is planning to introduce a bill to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

At Least 5 Dead In Violent Clashes In Nicaragua Over Social Security Changes

Four young protesters and a police officer were killed in increasingly violent

Commonwealth backs Prince Charles as next head: reports

Commonwealth leaders agreed Friday that Prince Charles should follow his mother Queen Elizabeth II as the next head of the group, the BBC and other media reported. Queen Elizabeth on Thursday told leaders from the 53 member states that she wanted her eldest son to succeed her in the symbolic figurehead role. Leaders, gathered at Windsor Castle for private talks, agreed that Charles, heir to the thrones of 16 Commonwealth nations, should follow the monarch in the non-hereditary position, the BBC, Sky News television and the domestic Press Association news agency reported.

Lockheed Martin Wants to Merge an F-22 and F-35 Into 1 Fighter for Japan. It Won't Happen.

The most likely scenario is that the F-22/F-35 hybrid will remain in the realm of fantasy. Lockheed Martin Wants to Merge an F-22 and F-35 Into 1 Fighter for Japan. Reuters is reporting that Lockheed Martin is pitching an F-22 and F-35 combination to Japan to meet Tokyo’s requirement for a next-generation air superiority fighter.

US says China, Iran, Russia are 'forces for instability'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is lashing out at China, Iran, Russia and North Korea for being "forces of instability" because of human rights abuses of their own citizens and others.

Lois Riess Busted After Tip From Restaurant Manager Who Recognized Her Hair

George Higginbotham said he was drawn to her shock of silver hair as she viewed the menu at his restaurant on South Padre Island.

These Are The Students Walking Out Of School To Protest Gun Violence

Students around the country walked out of class on Friday to bring attention

Trucker in deadly Texas migrant case given life sentences

The driver of a truck packed with migrants, 10 of whom died due to sweltering Texas heat in July, was sentenced on Friday to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty in October to federal human smuggling charges. James Bradley, 61, could have faced the death penalty in the case, considered one of the deadliest human smuggling incidents in modern U.S. history. "This was the equivalent of torture," U.S. District Judge David Ezra told Bradley when he handed out two concurrent life sentences at a court in San Antonio.

The Karolyis Say They Had No Idea About Nassar Abuse At Their Training Facility

Martha and Bela Karolyi of the infamous Karolyi Ranch, an elite gymnastics

Two Florida sheriff's deputies ambushed at restaurant

Authorities in Florida are looking for answers after two sheriff's deputies were shot through the window of a restaurant. ABC News' Diane Macedo reports.

Michael Cohen Withdraws Steele Dossier Lawsuits Against BuzzFeed, Fusion GPS

President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen withdrew lawsuits

German neo-Nazis mass for festival on Hitler's birthday

Hundreds of neo-Nazis were massing Friday on Adolf Hitler's birthday for a two-day festival in a remote eastern German town where citizens and anti-fascist groups staged spirited counter-protests. Many of the mostly male right-wing extremists wore T-shirts with slogans such as "Keepers of the Race", "White is my favourite colour" and "Adolf was the best" while the event was guarded by a group called "Aryan Brotherhood". Hundreds of armoured police ringed the site of the "Schild und Schwert" (Shield and Sword, or SS) festival near the Polish and Czech borders that was expected to also attract eastern European extremists.

Chinese military 'challenged Australian warships in the South China Sea'

Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, asserted his country's rights to conduct patrols in the South China Sea after reports of a confrontation with China amid rising tensions in the disputed waters. China's navy was said to have been involved in a "robust" but polite confrontation with three Australian warships in the strategically important sea, according to Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). The broadcaster, which first reported the incident, said it was "believed to have occurred earlier this month as China was conducting its largest ever naval exercises". Mr Turnbull, who is in London on a visit, did not comment on the specific confrontation, which is said to have taken place off the coast of Vietnam. But when prompted by reporters, he said: "We maintain and practice the right of freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the world and, in this context, we're talking about naval vessels on the world's oceans, including the South China Sea, as is our perfect right in accordance with international law." Australian defence officials did not confirm the confrontation took place, but said three warships had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. They are making a three-day goodwill visit to Vietnam. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during China's drills last week  Credit: Xinhua/Reuters On the same day, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over huge exercises in the South China Sea in an unmistakable show of force to Beijing's regional rivals. The drills involved 48 ships, among them China's sole operating aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, along with 76 helicopters, fighter jets and bombers, and more than 10,000 personnel. ABC said the HMAS Anzac, HMAS Toowoomba and HMAS Success were challenged by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, where more than $5 trillion (£3.8 trillion) of trade passes every year.  Much of the sea is also claimed by several south-east Asian nations, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Success prepares to dock at Saigon port in Ho Chi Minh City last week. Credit: Van Khoa/Thanh Nien News Observers say China is developing its military capabilities by fortifying and building infrastructure on what were previously reefs and partially-submerged islets. The US Navy has been confronting China in the region with 'freedom of navigation' exercises. It sent the aircraft carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Vinson through the South China Sea in recent months, angering Beijing. Washington has also called on Australia to carry out similar patrols.

The Latest: 83-year-old Alabama mail-bomb killer is executed

ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — The Latest on the scheduled execution of (all times local):

The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week

Kids may say the darndest things, but parents tweet about them in the funniest

Judge rejects Missouri governor's bid to dismiss criminal case

A St. Louis judge on Thursday dealt Missouri Governor Eric Greitens another legal setback in the sex scandal embroiling his office, refusing to dismiss a criminal invasion of privacy charge stemming from an admitted extramarital affair. The decision by Judge Rex Burlison paved the way for the single-count felony case against Greitens, a Republican under mounting pressure from both parties to resign, to proceed to trial even as he comes under scrutiny for unrelated accusations of computer tampering. Greitens' lawyers last week sought to throw out the privacy case on grounds of prosecutor misconduct, saying St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, had tried to conceal video evidence supporting the governor and his assertions that the affair was entirely consensual.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on possible nuclear deal pullout

Margaret Brennan sat down with Iran's top diplomat for an interview to air Sunday on "Face the Nation"

Arrests Made as Georgia City Braces for Face-Off Between Neo-Nazi and Anti-Fascist Groups

Roughly 400 public safety officers will be on hand.

10 Of The Best Beauty Buys From Sephora's VIB Spring Sale

It's probably the only time of the year when spending too much money on beauty

Engine maker urges rapid inspections after Southwest failure

The maker of a jet engine that ruptured during a recent Southwest Airlines flight, leaving one passenger dead, called Friday for rapid inspections of all of its engines powering Boeing 737 aircraft. About 680 engines are concerned, according to CFM, which noted that each inspection takes about four hours.

Sean Hannity Isn't A Journalist And Fox News Isn't News

Earlier this week, Fox News declared its "full support" for Sean Hannity after

Indonesian fishermen rescue Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar

BIREUEN, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian fishermen rescued 76 Rohingya Muslims stranded off the coast of Aceh on Friday, authorities said, in the latest attempt by members of the persecuted ethnic group to flee Myanmar by sea.

Prince Charles 'deeply touched' to be confirmed as Queen's Head of the Commonwealth successor

The Prince of Wales will one day succeed the Queen to become the next Head of Commonwealth, it was confirmed on Friday night, after leaders reached an agreement to honour Her Majesty’s “vision, duty and steadfast service” to the institution. The Prince will take on the honorary position in the Commonwealth at the same time he eventually becomes King, following the “sincere wish” expressed by the Queen this week. "I am deeply touched and honoured by the decision of Commonwealth Heads of State and Government that I should succeed The Queen, in due course, as Head of the Commonwealth,” he said.  “Meanwhile, I will continue to support Her Majesty in every possible way, in the service of our unique family of nations." Theresa May, the Prime Minister, announced the decision from the 53 Commonwealth Heads of Government after private deliberations at Windsor Castle on Friday. There, presidents and prime ministers from across the world convened to finalise plans for the future of the Commonwealth, enjoying the hospitality of the Queen’s home at the end of a week which has seen senior members of the Royal Family out in force. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, said the decision to make the Prince of Wales the next honorary leader was reached by “strong consensus”, while Theresa May insisted it was unanimous. The Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell, said he had been convinced the decision was a good one thanks to his belief that the young men of the Commonwealth need a strong male role model. HRH The Prince of Wales: "I am deeply touched and honoured by the decision of Commonwealth Heads of State and Government that I should succeed The Queen, in due course, as Head of the Commonwealth....(1/2) pic.twitter.com/mRy3oujsxd— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 20, 2018 The decision is a one-off, with Prince William, Prince George and future heirs not automatically in line to be awarded the non-hereditary position.  Speaking at a press conference after the retreat, Mrs May said that the Commonwealth itself exists in “no small measure because the vision, duty and steadfast service of her majesty in nurturing the growth of this remarkable family of nations”. “On behalf of all our citizens I want to express the gratitude for everything Her Majesty has done and will continue to do,” she said. The Queen and the Prince of Wales at the official opening of CHOGM Credit: Yui Mok /PA “Today we have agreed that the next head of the commonwealth will be His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. “His Royal Highness has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades and has spoken passionately about the organisation’s unique diversity. “It is fitting that he will one day continue the work of his mother, Her Majesty the Queen.”   The announcement followed a concerted effort on the part of the Royal Family this week, beginning with Prince Harry and culminating in a speech from the Queen herself.   About | The Commonwealth On Monday, Prince Harry had embarked on work as the newly-appointed Commonwealth Youth Ambassador to emphasise the family’s ties with the Commonwealth, paying tribute to his grandmother's long service and his father's foresight on issues such as climate change.   His brother, the Duke of Cambridge, swiftly followed, welcoming CHOGM delegates by warning them they would be “seeing a lot of the Royal Family” during the week with a twinkle in his eye.   "For us in the Royal Family, supporting The Queen who has dedicated her life loyally and without fail to the Commonwealth is an enormous honour,” he said.   On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales began his own work at the CHOGM forums, regaling attendees with his fond memories of his visits to each of their countries, and spending time with Prime Minister Narendra Modi admiring an exhibition about India at the Science Museum.   Prince Charles - Dimbleby comment While the combined efforts of the princes were no doubt appreciated, the Queen left nothing to chance. On Thursday, as she spoke at the official opening of CHOGM at Buckingham Palace, she made a heartfelt address spelling out for the first time her hopes for the future of the Commonwealth, and offering her full support to her son.   “It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network,” she told the assembled heads,” she said.   "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day The Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.”   Leaders meet at Windsor for the CHOGM retreat Credit: PA While it was understood that the Prince’s position as future Head of Commonwealth has been quietly decided for some time, the Queen’s public words had a galvanising effect on world leaders.   In the same ceremony, Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta, said of the Prince: "We are certain that, when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth."   Later that day, Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, confirmed his country “strongly supports the continuation of the king or queen of the United Kingdom as the head of the Commonwealth.”   "Prince Charles in time will succeed his mother,” he added.   Heads of government join the Commonwealth's Secretary General Baroness Scotland (right) for the Windsor Castle retreat Credit: PA "The head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial role, a role of honour rather than one of political authority, that role I think should continue, and this is the very widespread view, with the Queen's successor."   Speaking to press, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, said: "I very much agree with the wishes of Her Majesty that the Prince of Wales be the next head of the Commonwealth."   And Ralph Regenvanu, the foreign minister of the Pacific state of Vanuatu, disclosed: "We see it almost naturally that it should be the British royal family because it is the Commonwealth after all". The Prince of Wales, Queen, Baroness Scotland and Theresa May at a Buckingham Palace dinner to celebrate the Commonwealth Credit: PA Others had expressed frustration that the issue had overshadowed more important discussions. Tevita Tu'i Uata, Tonga's trade minister, told ITV News that people in his country "are drowning" due to rising sea levels, saying: "Maybe sorting out who is going to lead the Commonwealth maybe also an issue, but it's not as pressing an issue to [Tonga] as taking care of climate change."   Prince Harry is to be the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador Credit: AFP From today, the Prince is expected to represent the Queen in the honorary role at future Commonwealth meetings, the next of which will take place in Rwanda in 2020.   He has previously attended the meeting four times, in Edinburgh in 1997, Uganda in 2007, Sri Lanka in 2013 and Malta in 2015 when he appeared with the Queen.   Since 1969, The Prince has visited 44 Commonwealth countries. In the last year, he has travelled to Australia, Vanuatu, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and India.    

2 Service Members Disciplined Over Hand Puppet Used in Oath Ceremony

A colonel and a master sergeant were disciplined for using a hand puppet during a re-enlistment ceremony.

A-Rod's Alleged Nephew Kidnapped Over Lamborghini Sale Gone Wrong

Don't go around claiming to be a celebrity's relative.

EPA staff see hurdles in Pruitt science revamp, internal emails show

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials are concerned that companies may be required to publicly disclose confidential data used in crafting government regulations, under an initiative by the agency's chief to eliminate "secret science," internal emails showed. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who is spearheading a push to relax or undo Obama-era environmental rules, said in March he would no longer allow the agency to use studies with nonpublic scientific data to develop rules on public health and pollution. Pruitt had instructed staff to complete the guidelines by the end of February, according to the emails obtained by scientific advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists and shared with Reuters.

Japan Takeda eyes Shire takeover after rival drops bid

Shares in Japanese drug maker Takeda dropped Friday after a potential rival in its bid to take over Ireland's Shire Pharmaceuticals said it was no longer considering making an offer. Analysts had raised the prospect of a bidding war between Takeda and Botox-maker Allergan after the global pharma giant said it was also considering making a bid for Shire. Takeda was trading down as much as 3.98 percent on Tokyo trade on Friday morning.

The Boldest Looks From Coachella 2018 We've Seen So Far

Coachella has long been a place for festivalgoers to experiment with style,

Experts take samples from site of alleged Syria gas attack

Investigators from the global chemical arms watchdog collected samples Saturday from the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria two weeks ago, after security concerns delayed their probe. Gruesome footage of the alleged toxic attack on April 7 in the town of Douma, just outside Damascus, horrified the world and prompted unprecedented Western strikes on Syrian military installations. Just hours after the joint missile strikes, a team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) arrived in Syria to investigate the claims.

J. K. Rowling Mocks Donald Trump With Magical 'Harry Potter' Taunt

J. K. Rowling cast a spell over Twitter with her latest diss of Donald Trump.

Man killed in random knife attack at California steakhouse

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A homeless man who randomly stabbed a man to death as he was holding his daughter in a crowded Southern California restaurant was reported just a few hours earlier for disruptive behavior but police ultimately determined he was not a threat, authorities said Saturday.

Brooklyn Postal Worker Hoards 17,000 Pieces of Mail to Focus on 'Important' Deliveries

He now faces federal charges

Man Chases Cyclist He Says Stole Neighbor's Package: 'I Got You!'

He followed the suspected porch pirate as she rode away on her bike.

U.S. tells Russia to address election concerns, chemical weapons

White House national security adviser John Bolton told Russia's ambassador on Thursday that better relations between the two countries required addressing U.S. concerns on election meddling, a chemical attack in Britain, and the situations in Ukraine and Syria, the White House said. It was the first meeting between Bolton, who started at the White House this month, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, the administration said in a statement.

Brick-throwing China zoo-goers kill kangaroo, injure another

Visitors to a zoo in southeastern China killed one kangaroo and injured another by throwing bricks at them in an attempt to get a reaction from the big marsupials, state media reported. A 12-year-old female kangaroo suffered a severely injured foot when it was struck by bricks and concrete chunks on February 28 at the Fuzhou Zoo in Fujian province, China Central Television reported. The report included pictures of the first kangaroo's smashed and nearly severed foot, and of the animal receiving treatment via intravenous drip before it died.

Jimmy Kimmel May Have Just Pulled Off His Greatest Prank Ever

Jimmy Kimmel is known for his elaborate pranks, with no one ― not even

Video shows bullet-ridden vehicle after police shooting

Diante Yarber was driving the Ford Mustang when Barstow police officers shot in the vehicle and killed him.

'Flamboyant' jihadi linked to 9/11 terror cell captured by Kurdish forces in Syria

A Syrian-German jihadist linked to the 9/11 attacks on the United States has been captured in Syria by US-backed forces, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Mohammad Haydar Zammar, who has been accused of recruiting some of the 9/11 Al-Qaeda hijackers, was captured over a month ago by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia backed by the US. News of his capture was first reported on Wednesday by the Kurdish group. The Pentagon had said it was looking into the reports before confirming Zammar’s arrest. "We can confirm that Mohammad Haydar Zammar, a Syrian-born German national, was captured more than a month ago by SDF partners as part of their ongoing operations to defeat ISIS inside Syria," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said, using an alternate name for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). "We are working with our SDF partners to obtain additional details," Pahon said. The 9/11 Commission report into the attacks in Washington and New York that led to the deaths of almost 3,000 people described Zammar as an “outspoken, flamboyant Islamist” who “had fought in Afghanistan and relished any opportunity to extol the virtues of violent jihad.” According to the report, Zammar took credit for influencing people linked to the attacks including Mohammed Atta, who hijacked an American Airlines plane and flew it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Zammar had come into contact with Atta and others linked to the attacks while living in Hamburg, in 1997, the report says. Seven foiled UK terror plots Zammar was detained in Morocco in December 2001 in an operation involving CIA agents, and was handed over to the Syrian authorities two weeks later. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2007 for belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood. He was reportedly freed from prison in 2014 in a prison swap organised with Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham. The SDF, which has been a key western ally in the fight against Isil, has detained several high-profile foreign members of Isil as the jihadist group’s grip on Syria has collapsed. They are currently holding two alleged members of the notorious Isil torture cell known as ‘the Beatles.’ El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexandra Kotey were captured by the group in February. The two are accused of being involved in the execution and torture of hostages. US officials believe there are hundreds of foreign fighters and thousands of Syrian Isil militants in SDF custody.

Police arrest brother of man killed by Sacramento police

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Police on Thursday arrested the brother of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was shot and killed by Sacramento officers last month, on suspicion of felony assault and vandalism, authorities said Thursday.

The Best Cookie Recipes To Bake This Weekend

Baking for others is a delicious form of altruism that's been proven to boost

Saudis see oil price on rise as Trump blasts OPEC

Saudi Energy Minister Khaled al-Faleh said Friday the global market has the capacity to absorb higher oil prices, drawing a swift reaction from US President Donald Trump who accused OPEC of inflating prices. Faleh's statement at a meeting of oil producers in Saudi Arabia came as crude hit the highest level in more than three years. "Looks like OPEC is at it again," Trump tweeted.

UK lawmakers form group to combat 'malign' Russian influence

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers set up a special group Friday to focus on Russian election interference and disinformation campaigns, saying more must be done to understand the extent of Moscow's "malign influence."