Michael Cohen, the president’s former lawyer who has since forcefully denounced his former boss, told reporters Monday “there still remains much to be told” as he left his New York City apartment to report to federal prison for a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to numerous crimes.

"There still remains much to be told and I look forward to the day that I can share the truth," Cohen said in brief remarks to reporters.

COHEN LOBS BOMBS AT TRUMP DURING FIERY HEARING

In an apparent swipe at President Trump, Cohen also said, “I hope that when I rejoin my family and friends that the country will be in place without xenophobia, injustice and lies at helm of our country.”

Cohen faces a 2 p.m. deadline to report to the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, a federal prison in the countryside 70 miles northwest of New York City.

COHEN GETS 3 YEARS IN PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD, CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS, LYING

Cohen -- who once famously claimed he was willing to "take a bullet" for Trump before later turning against his boss, including during nationally televised congressional testimony in February -- pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress about Trump’s past business dealings in Russia.

In February’s House committee hearing, Cohen said of Trump: “He is a racist. He is a conman. And he is a cheat.” Cohen repeatedly expressed regret and said, “yet I continued to work for him.”

The sentence, while not the maximum, signifies a remarkable fall for the hard-charging lawyer who for years was part of Trump’s inner circle.

Among other charges, Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws during the 2016 campaign by helping orchestrate payments to silence former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said they had sexual encounters with Trump while he was married. Trump has denied the affairs and has not been charged with any crimes related to the payments.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to misleading Congress about his work on a proposal to build a Trump skyscraper in Moscow, hiding the fact that he continued to speak with Russians about the proposal well into the presidential campaign. Prosecutors also accused Cohen of a years-long “tax evasion scheme” to avoid paying federal income taxes on more than $4 million made through a number of ventures, including through his ownership of taxi medallions, his selling of real estate in Florida and his consulting work for other clients.

After reporting to prison, Cohen will undergo medical and mental health screenings and be assigned a job, such as mowing the grounds or cleaning up the visiting room. He'll also get sets of clothing, bedding and towels.

At the prison camp, about 115 inmates sleep in bunks lined up in barrack-style halls, instead of individual or two-man cells like in higher-security facilities. Recreational amenities include tennis courts, horseshoes and bocce ball.

Forbes once ranked Otisville as one of "America's 10 Cushiest Prisons," but former employees and inmates say it's hardly "Club Fed." Inmates are still doing time and they're still separated from their families and friends.

Cohen's fellow inmates include "Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, who wraps up an eight-month tax fraud sentence in September, and Fyre Festival fraudster Billy McFarland, who's serving a six-year sentence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Fox News Politics

The Federal Reserve Board might be considering cutting interest rates further, National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow told Newsmax TV.

During a sit-down at the White House with Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, Kudlow was asked about what's happening at the Federal Reserve on Constitution Avenue.

From the White House — Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, sits down with Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy to discuss the state of our economy, Trump’s agenda, and threat of socialism. See Larry with Chris on Newsmax TV Thursday at 6PM & 9PM ET via Directv 349, Xfinity 1115, Dish 216, Uverse 1220, Fios 615, Spectrum (see channels), or More Info Here

Read Newsmax: Larry Kudlow to Newsmax TV: Stephen Moore Still a Candidate for Fed Post | Newsmax.com 
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"I think the Fed is moving toward rate cuts," Kudlow said. "That is my view. It's true in the open market, the funds rate has traded a bit high, but I think they're moving toward rate cuts."

Fed chairman Jerome Powell raised the federal funds rate four times, by a quarter point each, in 2018, which President Donald Trump criticized for slowing down economic growth.

Last week, the 71-year-old Kudlow said it's even possible that the Fed won't raise rates again "in my lifetime."

The Fed acknowledged in March that it may not raise rates at all in 2019.

From the White House — Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, sits down with Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy to discuss the state of our economy, Trump’s agenda, and threat of socialism. See Larry with Chris on Newsmax TV Thursday at 6PM & 9PM ET via Directv 349, Xfinity 1115, Dish 216, Uverse 1220, Fios 615, Spectrum (see channels), or More Info Here

Read Newsmax: Larry Kudlow to Newsmax TV: Stephen Moore Still a Candidate for Fed Post | Newsmax.com 
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Source: NewsMax Politics

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said China is the No. 1 threat to U.S. security. He also spoke about America's immigration situation, saying that sending troops to the southern border is not an unprecedented mission.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Tuesday, Shanahan seemed to echo President Trump's sentiment that the biggest threat America faces is the modernization of China.

“China is a threat economically and diplomatically. I think it's time we address some of these issues -- militarization of the South China Sea, the Communist Chinese Party launching cyberattacks against the U.S., theft of intellectual property, and a significant expansion of military capability.”

WHO IS PATRICK SHANAHAN? A LOOK AT TRUMP’S NEW ACTING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

“It’s a world we need to confront.”

On another subject, Shanahan addressed the escalating tensions at the southern border, which Trump visited last week.it. He disputed reports of a tense confrontation between Trump and Kirstjen Nielsen, who resigned from her position as Homeland Security secretary over the weekend.

He also called circumstances at the border -- scene of surging numbers of asylum seekers and migrants -- as an “emergency” that calls for some focused conversation.

“I saw a lot of intensity to solve a problem, that's not tension," he said. "This is a very focused effort. The border is a serious situation.”

Shanahan said it isn’t unusual that the president would ask for troops to be sent to the southern border. He noted that the two previous administrations had similar arrangements: “This isn’t a new one.”

KIRSTJEN NIELSEN MAKES FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER RESIGNATION AS DHS BOSS

Shanahan also spoke about military strategy in the Middle East and suggested that while the U.S. is still actively “at war,” peace talks are underway. This, in spite of a Taliban attack that killed three Army soldiers on Monday.

“They gave the ultimate sacrifice for which we can never repay,” he said, offering his condolences. “We’re at war. What you see are the casualties of war. In parallel, there is a peace negotiation process, and probably the best possibility of peace in 40 years is at hand.”

Shanahan said that the DOD is exercising the “South Asia Strategy,” which requires peace talks with the Taliban to work.

“I'm hopeful, this is a real possibility for peace.”

He did not comment on the potential for future deployments, saying he and the president “don’t talk troop movements and we don’t talk troop levels.”

Shanahan, who was a Boeing executive, was asked whether his experience with the company affected his work as acting secretary.

FINAL MOMENTS OF ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES BOEING 737 MAX REVEALTED: PILOT RECORDED SAYING ‘PITCH UP, PITCH UP’

“I'm biased towards performance. ... I’m an equal opportunity critic," he maintained. "If I see underperformance, I call it the way I see.”

Shanahan said he has been fully cooperative with an ongoing investigation into Boeing. “I have never favored Boeing in my current job and I never will.”

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The Washington state native said that he has had “big shoes to fill” in succeeding Secretary of Defense James Mattis, but that he does best with zero expectations.

“It's an honor and a privilege to serve our country, and I will serve in any capacity the president sees fit," he said. "I don't wake up in the morning and think about whether I'm going to be nominated, I do the job.”

Source: Fox News Politics

EJERE, Ethiopia – Authorities in Ethiopia, China and Indonesia grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft Monday following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner that killed 157 people, and investigators found the flight recorders from the field where the plane went down.

The new plane crashed shortly after takeoff in clear weather outside Addis Ababa on Sunday, and the airline decided to ground its remaining four 737 Max 8s until further notice as "an extra safety precaution," spokesman Asrat Begashaw said. Ethiopian Airlines had been using five of the planes and awaiting delivery of 25 more.

As Ethiopia observed a day of mourning, Red Cross workers slowly picked through the widely scattered debris near the blackened crash crater, looking for the remains of those aboard, while heavy machinery dug for larger pieces of the plane.

The plane's flight data and cockpit voice recorders were found, Ethiopian Airlines said. An airline official, however, said one of the recorders was partially damaged and "we will see what we can retrieve from it." The official spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak to the media.

Ethiopian authorities are leading the investigation into the crash, assisted by the U.S., Kenya and others.

"These kinds of things take time," Kenya's Transport Minister James Macharia told reporters.

Sunday's crash was strikingly similar to that of a Lion Air jet of the same Boeing model in Indonesian seas last year, killing 189 people. The crash was likely to renew questions about the 737 Max 8, the newest version of Boeing's popular single-aisle airliner, which was first introduced in 1967 and has become the world's most common passenger jet.

Safety experts cautioned against drawing too many comparisons between the two crashes until more is known about the disaster. Besides the groundings in China and Indonesia, Caribbean carrier Cayman Airways temporarily grounded their Max 8s.

People from 35 countries died in the crash six minutes after the plane took off from Ethiopia's capital for Nairobi. Ethiopian Airlines said the senior pilot issued a distress call and was told to return but all contact was lost shortly afterward. The plane plowed into the ground at Hejere near Bishoftu, scattering debris like a shredded book, a battered passport and business cards in multiple languages.

"I heard this big noise," resident Tsegaye Reta told the AP. "The villagers said that it was a plane crash, and we rushed to the site. There was a huge smoke that we couldn't even see the plane. The parts of the plane were falling apart."

Kenya lost 32 people, more than any country. Relatives of 25 of the victims had been contacted, Macharia said, and taking care of their welfare was of utmost importance.

"Some of them, as you know, they are very distressed," he said. "They are in shock like we are. They are grieving."

In Addis Ababa, members of an association of Ethiopian airline pilots cried uncontrollably for their dead colleagues. Framed photos of seven crew members sat in chairs at the front of a crowded room.

Canada, Ethiopia, the U.S., China, Italy, France, Britain, Egypt, Germany, India and Slovakia all lost four or more citizens.

Leaders of the United Nations, the U.N. refugee agency and the World Food Program said colleagues had been on the plane. The U.N. migration agency estimated that 19 U.N.-affiliated employees were killed.

Both Addis Ababa and Nairobi are major hubs for humanitarian workers, and some had been on their way to a large U.N. environmental conference set to begin Monday in Nairobi. The U.N. flag at the event flew at half-staff.

The crash shattered more than two years of relative calm in African skies, where travel had long been chaotic. It also was a serious blow to the Ethiopian Airlines, which has expanded to become the continent's largest and best-managed carrier and turned Addis Ababa into the gateway to Africa.

The state-owned carrier has a good reputation and the company's CEO told reporters no problems were seen before Sunday's fight. But investigators also will look into the plane's maintenance, which may have been an issue in the Lion Air crash.

The plane was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines in November. The jet's last maintenance was on Feb. 4, and it had flown just 1,200 hours.

China's Civil Aviation Administration said that it ordered airlines to ground all 737 Max 8 aircraft as of 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) Monday, in line with the principle of "zero tolerance for security risks."

It said it would issue further notices after consulting with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.

China Southern Airlines is one of Boeing's biggest customers for the aircraft.

Chicago-based Boeing said it did not intend to issue any new guidance to its customers. It plans to send a technical team to the crash site to help Ethiopian and U.S. investigators, however, and issued a statement saying it was "deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew" on the Ethiopian Airlines Max airplane.

The 737 is the best-selling airliner in history, and the Max, the newest version of it with more fuel-efficient engines, is a central part of Boeing's strategy to compete with European rival Airbus.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority and we are taking every measure to fully understand all aspects of this accident, working closely with the investigating team and all regulatory authorities involved," the company said in a statement.

___

Meseret reported from Addis Ababa. Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, and AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas, Texas, contributed.

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

Source: Fox News World

Firefighters work at Notre-Dame Cathedral after a massive fire devastated large parts of the gothic gem in Paris, France April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

April 16, 2019

By Noor Zainab Hussain and Paul Arnold

(Reuters) – Major European insurers expect France to bear the bulk of the cost of rebuilding the Notre-Dame Cathedral after a fire tore through the eight-centuries-old Paris landmark on Monday.

The cost of a likely multi-year restoration project could itself take a year to become clear, industry experts said.

“It is really going to be up to the French state and benefactors to help to restore and rebuild this,” Robert Read, head of art and private client at Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox told Reuters, adding it could take up to 20 years to restore the cathedral.

“The scaffolding costs are going to be enormous, actually securing the building is going to be enormous. The cost of renovating the (British) Parliament is a similar sort of number,” Read said.

The cost of repairs and upgrades to the neo-Gothic fronted parliament building on the banks of the River Thames has been estimated at up to $8 billion.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said France would launch a fundraising campaign to rebuild Notre-Dame, which ranks among the finest examples of French Gothic cathedral architecture.

Several of France’s business elite have already pledged money to help, including a 200 million euros ($226 million)donation from Bernard Arnault and 100 million from Francois Pinault, heads of luxury goods groups LVMH and Kering respectively.

“Rebuilding would be very tricky as some of the craft required to rebuild, the stone-masonry craft would probably have to be relearnt,” Hiscox’s Read said.

Reinsurer Swiss Re said works of art in buildings such as the cathedral are generally not insured because they are often priceless. Any art works on loan from third parties would, however, be insured, Read added.

While some of the large paintings at Notre-Dame could not be taken down in time, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said at the scene of the fire that a number of the many artworks in the cathedral had been rescued and were being put in safe storage.

Notre-Dame was in the midst of renovations and industry sources said the contractor would have its own liability policy.

“Typically that would be for tens of millions of euros. But effectively that is going to be a drop in the ocean compared to what the actual cost of restoring the cathedral is,” Read said.

“If they are deemed to be liable they would be carrying some cover, but it’s not unlimited and it’s definitely not going to be enough to rebuild the Cathedral.”

(This story has been refiled to fix incorrect reference to “stone-masonry” craft in paragraph eight.)

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru and Paul Arnold in Zurich; Additional reporting by Inti Landauro in Paris; Editing by David Holmes)

Source: OANN

FILE PHOTO: Dec 30, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) warms up before playing the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

April 23, 2019

The Pittsburgh Steelers are working to finalize a contract extension with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger before the 2019 NFL Draft begins Thursday, ESPN reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the sides have been in discussions since the regular season ended and are making progress.

Roethlisberger, 37, is due $12 million in base salary in 2019, the final year of his four-year, $87.4 million deal. He was already paid a $5 million roster bonus in March and is set to count $23.2 million against the cap.

Russell Wilson became the highest-paid player in NFL history last week, signing a four-year, $140 million extension, but Wilson is only 30. The most recent top quarterback in Roethlisberger’s age bracket to sign a new deal, Drew Brees, signed a two-year, $50 million contract in March of 2018 at age 39.

At the start of the 2017 season, Roethlisberger said he believed he could play another three to five seasons.

In his 15th year as Pittsburgh’s starter, Roethlisberger posted his best statistical season in 2018, leading the league and setting career highs in completions (452), attempts (675) and passing yards (5,129) and tossing a career-high 34 touchdown passes. The Steelers missed the playoffs, however, at 9-6-1.

The Steelers’ first-round pick (11th overall) in 2004, Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowl selection. He ranks sixth in NFL history in passing yards (56,194) and seventh in touchdown passes (363).

–Field Level Media

Source: OANN

Reaksa Keo faces a charge of arson for allegedly setting an ATM on fire outside a Bank of America in Dallas, Texas last week. (Dallas County Jail)

A woman allegedly set fire to a cash machine outside a Dallas bank on Wednesday because she was angry the bank had taken money from her account, police said.

Reaksa Keo, 56, was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the fire at a Bank of America, according to an arrest warrant affidavit cited by the Dallas Morning News.

The affidavit stated that Keo was still at the bank when police and firefighters arrived, according to the paper. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames, which had only damaged the cash machine and the front door of the bank, the Dallas Morning News reported.

VIRGINIA SHELTER SAYS DOG SET ON FIRE, SUSPECT SOUGHT

Keo allegedly told arson investigators that she had set the cash machine on fire because the bank had supposedly taken money from her account, the Dallas Morning News reported.

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Keo was booked into a Dallas County Jail with bond set at $5,000, KTVT reported. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Keo has a residency in Los Angeles. No additional details were released.

Source: Fox News National