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Venezuela's Maduro plans 'deep restructuring' of government: VP

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is planning a "deep restructuring" of his government, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday, as the country recovers from a prolonged blackout amid a power struggle with the opposition. "President @NicolasMaduro has asked the entire executive Cabinet to put their roles up for review in a deep restructuring of the methods and functions of the Bolivarian government, to protect the fatherland of Bolivar and Chavez from any threat," Rodriguez wrote on Twitter, referring to independence leader Simon Bolivar and former President Hugo Chavez.

College admissions scandal: What did the students know about 'the side door,' and what should happen next?

No students have been charged in the sweeping college admissions scandal, which involved bribery, test doctoring and fraud. What becomes of them?

New Zealand citizens open to gun reform after massacre

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — The New Zealand leader's promise of tightened gun laws in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings has been widely welcomed by a stunned population.

Dutch police arrest suspect after three shot dead on tram

Dutch police on Monday arrested a Turkish-born suspect over a shooting on a tram in Utrecht that left three people dead in what officials said was a possible terror attack. Police had earlier launched a huge manhunt for Gokmen Tanis, 37, issuing a picture of the suspected gunman and warning the public not to approach him following the attack, in which five other people were wounded. Mosques and schools were closed across the Netherlands' fourth-largest city following the bloodshed, before heavily armed officers surrounded a building and arrested him.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS Will Be the Most Expensive Car Built in America

Mercedes has confirmed plans for an ultra-luxurious Maybach version of the upcoming third-gen GLS.

Navy vs. Nukes: U.S. Navy Plans to Test Missile Defenses Against ICBM

The Pentagon plans a “first-of-its-kind” test of an unprecedented weapons capability to intercept and destroy an enemy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile "ICBM" -- from a Navy ship at sea using a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.

How to Help Victims of the Christchurch Terrorist Attacks

Here's how you can help in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks that have killed at least 50

Brotherly love at Reliance? India's Mukesh Ambani provides 'support' to brother Anil as debt paid off

India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, who controls oil-to-telecoms powerhouse Reliance Industries that is now worth many times the troubled business group run by his younger brother Anil, appears to have offered some kind of support to ensure Anil paid off a 5.5 billion rupees ($80 million) debt. If Anil didn't pay the debt, then he had been threatened by India's Supreme Court with a prison term. The nature of the backing and how it was delivered is unclear, but in a statement Anil Ambani thanked his billionaire brother "for standing by me during these trying times, and demonstrating the importance of staying true to our strong family values by extending this timely support".

Ambientalista construye una casa ecológica por solo 1,500 dólares

La iniciativa es tan amigable para el planeta como para el bolsillo. Reutilizando materiales e invirtiendo solamente 1,500 dólares, Rob Greenfield fabricó su nuevo hogar en Orlando, Florida. Su intención es demostrar que es posible vivir bien, sin contaminar el medio ambiente ni consumir grandes cantidades de recursos. Simple y sustentable, el leitmotiv

Congress to probe Trump administration’s response to rising threat of white nationalism

The Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee has revealed plans to hold hearings on the rising threat of white nationalism. Mr Trump then said during a televised appearance in the Oval Office that he did not believe white nationalism was an increasing threat in the US. The hearings — which will reportedly arrive in early April — will focus in part on how Mr Trump’s administration has responded to the growing threat of white nationalism documented in rising figures on hate crime and hate-based violence.

Are universities the victims here? What colleges have to do right now to clean up admissions after largest-ever cheating scandal

We're victims, universities said, after they were caught in largest college admissions scandal ever. Here's why no college has offered sweeping change.

New Zealand mosque massacre proves social media giants don't deserve their power, freedom

It is time for counter-terrorism specialists to move into the offices of social media giants. For too long terrorists have used them with impunity.

Kansas City Chiefs star Tyreek Hill was reportedly being investigated for incidents of battery against his 3-year-old

Kansas City Chiefs star Tyreek Hill was reportedly being investigated for incidents of battery against his 3-year-old son. The investigation reportedly comes after Hill’s fiancee, Crystal Espinal, filed multiple police reports where their three-year-old son was listed as the victim.

Parts of US Midwest deluged in historic deadly floods

The US Midwest struggled Monday with historic flooding that claimed at least three lives, displaced residents and damaged hundreds of homes and businesses. Swollen waters hit much of Nebraska, as well as parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, after a major storm last week dumped snow and rain, even as melting snow was already raising the levels of area waterways. Neighboring states could also be affected as floodwaters drain, officials said.

Kansas hopes to resurrect proof-of-citizenship voting law

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kansas' solicitor general on Monday called on a federal appeals court to reinstate the state's law requiring people to provide proof of citizenship before they can register to vote, saying problems with how it was enforced during the three years it was in place are fixable.

Dutch police arrest Turkish man suspected of killing three in tram shooting

Police said the suspect, 37-year-old Gokmen Tanis, had been taken into custody after an hours-long manhunt and had earlier run-ins with authorities in the Netherlands. The city was put into lockdown after the shooting, shortly after the morning rush hour, which authorities initially said was an apparent terrorist attack. The Turkish intelligence agency said it is investigating whether the attack was personally motivated or an act of terrorism, President Tayyip Erdogan said.

Black boxes show 'clear similarities' with Indonesia crash, Ethiopia says

Black box data recovered from an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last week show "clear similarities" with a recent crash in Indonesia of the same type of aircraft, Ethiopia's transport minister said on Sunday. The announcement came a week after Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 plummeted into a field southeast of Addis Ababa minutes into its flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people onboard. The disaster caused the worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft involved after aviation regulators noticed similarities with the October crash of an Indonesian Lion Air 737 MAX 8 that killed all 189 passengers and crew.

Trump news: President rails at Joe Biden as 2020 announcement looms, after New Zealand terror complaint and angry attack on John McCain

Donald Trump has targeted Joe Biden after the former vice president made a verbal slip about a potential 2020 presidential bid. At a dinner over the weekend, Mr Biden said he had “the most progressive record of anybody running.” But Mr Biden hasn’t announced whether he will launch a third run for the White House.

VIDEO: Driver crashes car into home, hangs out for hours after

A security camera captured a car crashing into a Los Angeles home late Saturday night, and the couple inside hanging out for hours after.

New Zealand's Biggest Gun Show Was Canceled in Light of the Christchurch Mosque Attacks

Organizers said the event was cancelled "in respect for the victims"

I got into 39 colleges without cheating: What applying to schools looks like in 2019

Jordan Nixon got into 39 colleges without any celebrity parents or $500,000 bribes. But that doesn't mean it wasn't "stressful to say the least."

Mesut Ozil sparks new political row over wedding invite for Turkish president

The footballer Mesut Özil has become embroiled in a new political row in Germany over reports he asked Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, to be guest of honour at his wedding. The Arsenal star resigned from the German national team last year claiming he was a victim of racism after coming under fire over his public support for Mr Erdoğan . German politicians spoke out after he was pictured with his fiancee, Amine Gulse, meeting Mr Erdoğan at Istanbul airport last week. “The fact this is still going on will disappoint a lot of football fans, including me,” Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Helge Braun, told reporters. Bild, Germany’s highest-selling newspaper, carried reports of the wedding invitation on its front page. Last year's extraordinary political row which culminated in one of Germany’s biggest football stars quitting the national team began when Özil and Ilkay Gündoğan, another player of Turkish descent, posed for photographs with Mr Erdoğan in London. Özil's decision to pose alongside Mr Erdoğan last year set off a political row that culminated in his retirement from the German national team Credit: KAYHAN OZER/AFP Several Germans were being held in Turkey at the time as part of the regime’s crackdown on opposition and press freedom, and the footballer's decision to pose alongside the Turkish president caused widespread public anger in Germany. Many blamed the controversy for Germany’s poor performance in the World Cup, and Özil  subsequently announced his retirement from the national team on Twitter, writing: “If we win, I’m German. If we lose, I’m an immigrant." A third-generation German whose grandparents immigrated from Turkey, Özil defended his decision to pose with Mr Erdoğan as “respecting the highest office of my family's country”. He announced his engagement to Ms Gulse, a former Miss Turkey, earlier this year. “Everyone can invite whoever he likes to his wedding, and of course this also applies to Mesut Özil,” said Cem Özdemir of the Green Party, Germany’s highest-profile politician of Turkish heritage. “But both current and former national players are role models and must ask themselves whether they live up to that role if they indulge autocrats who enrich themselves at the expense of their country and make their opponents disappear in dungeons. I think that is inappropriate.”

Serbia president vows to defend law and order amid protests

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's president pledged Sunday to defend the country's law and order a day after opposition supporters stormed the national TV station, protesting what they called his autocratic rule and biased grip on the country's media.

Israel's top court disqualifies far-rightist, approves Arab party for ballot

The Supreme Court rulings were widely expected and unlikely to shake Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to craft a rightist alliance that might secure him a record fifth term. The court found in favor of appellants who argued that Michael Ben-Ari of the Jewish Power party had displayed anti-Arab racism. Other members of Jewish Power, a small faction that is part of an ultra-nationalist list which last month forged an election alliance with Netanyahu's Likud party, remain eligible to run.

Iran rights lawyer won't appeal new jail ruling: husband

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh will not appeal a 12-year prison sentence imposed on her last week for "encouraging corruption and debauchery", her husband said on Sunday. "She said she wouldn't want to appeal, and the reason is that the judicial process is unfair and such protests will do no good," Reza Khandan told AFP over telephone. "She does not want to undertake any judicial action since she does not agree with the judicial process.

Poll: Half of Americans say Trump is victim of a 'witch hunt' as trust in Mueller erodes

As the Russia report seems near, a USA TODAY/Suffolk poll finds half of Americans agree Trump is the victim of a "witch hunt," and trust in Mueller erodes.

AP source: Justice Dept. probing development of Boeing jets

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. prosecutors are looking into the development of Boeing's 737 Max jets, a person briefed on the matter revealed Monday, the same day French aviation investigators concluded there were "clear similarities" in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 last week and a Lion Air jet in October.

Saudi crown prince approved 'intervention' against dissidents: report

More than a year before the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved a secret campaign to silence dissenters, The New York Times reported on Sunday. American officials referred to it as the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group, the Times said. At least some of the clandestine missions were carried out by members of the team that killed and dismembered Khashoggi in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, suggesting his murder was part of a wider campaign against dissidents, the report said, citing the US officials and associates of some Saudi victims.

Southwest Airlines launches Hawaii service from Oakland to Honolulu with new snacks, in-flight hula dancing

Southwest's first Hawaii flight was Flight 6808 from Oakland to Honolulu. The airline initially is offering daily service from Oakland and San Jose, California.

New Zealand shooter to represent himself in court as former lawyer says he appears 'lucid'

The Australian terrorist who filmed himself slaughtering 50 worshipers at two mosques in New Zealand has asked to represent himself in court, prompting concerns the trial could become a platform to promote his far-Right ideology. Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist who gunned down his victims with a semi-automatic rifle at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, sacked his court-appointed lawyer so he could defend himself.  His former lawyer, Richard Peters, told reporters that the attacker "indicated he does not want a lawyer" and that he "wants to be self-represented in this case." Mr Peters, who represented Tarrant at a preliminary court hearing, played down speculation that he was mentally unfit to stand trial. "The way he presented was rational and someone who was not suffering any mental disability. That's how he appeared. He seemed to understand what was going on," Mr Peters said.   Tarrant was partially inspired by Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik, who used his own trial to expand on his crazed political ideology. For instance, on the first day of his trial in 2012, Breivik claimed his attack was an act of "self-defence" against mass migration and multiculturalism. Extracts from his propaganda videos were played during the trial and on at least one occasion he gave a Nazi salute in court.  More than 30 people remain in hospital after the shooting, including a four-year-old girl who is in critical condition.    It came as a British security minister warned that the attack, which was widely broadcast on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, could be copied by extremists in the UK. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ben Wallace said: "It absolutely could happen here. That's why the Government has been concerned about the growing group of people crossing into the extremist mindset on the far-right and the neo-Nazis. "It is why 18 months ago, we proscribed a neo-Nazi group, National Action." Mr Wallace added that the Government was putting "lots and lots of resources" into tracking down people involved in far-right activities and into the Prevent programme against radicalisation. A woman carries a candle at a vigil for victims of the mosque shootings in New Zealand, Credit: REUTERS On Monday, Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister, said she would announce new laws on gun ownership to make it more difficult to obtain semi-automatic weapons, such as those wielded by the attacker. "Within 10 days of this horrific act of terrorism we will have announced reforms which will, I believe, make our community safer," she told a news conference, but did not provide further details. She has previously expressed support for a ban on semi-automatic weapons.  The owner of weapons shop Gun City revealed that Tarrant bought four weapons and ammunition there between December 2017 and March 2018, but said these were not the high-power rifles used in the massacre. "The MSSA, military-style automatic, reportedly used by the alleged gunman was not purchased from Gun City. Gun City did not sell him an MSSA, only A-category firearms," said David Tipple.  As mourners continued to hold vigils for the victims in Christchurch, Donald Trump, the US president, complained that the media was trying to blame him for the massacre because he had been praised by Tarrant.  "The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one," he wrote on Twitter. "So Ridiculous!" Mr Trump was described by Tarrant as a "symbol of renewed white identity" in a manifesto he sent to the New Zealand prime minister's office minutes before beginning his rampage.

The Latest: Up to 500 homes damaged in 1 Nebraska county

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Latest on flooding in the Midwest (all times local):

UK Brexit-backing lawmaker says 'a lot of people' still oppose May's deal

LONDON (Reuters) - A Brexit-supporting British lawmaker said a "lot of people" in parliament still remained opposed to Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union withdrawal deal, with hostility going beyond opposition to the so-called Irish backstop. "This is a very bad agreement," John Redwood told BBC radio. "Quite a number share my overall concerns that we don't need this kind of binding treaty. "It's a lot of people and it goes far wider than the ERG group who have been particularly keen to have the right kind of Brexit," he added. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Kate Holton)

Putin in Crimea as Russia marks five years since annexation

Russian President Vladimir Putin flew into Crimea on Monday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Moscow's annexation of the strategic peninsula from Ukraine which was condemned by the West but remains popular among Russians. Russian flags flew in the main city of Simferopol while posters celebrating Crimea's "return to its native land" hung in shop windows and on public transport. Putin used the visit to officially open two new power stations on the Black Sea peninsula, which was almost wholly dependent on electricity from Ukraine before the annexation.

Trump launches bitter attack on late senator John McCain and Saturday Night Live

Donald Trump has launched a bitter tirade against late senator John McCain for the second time in 24 hours. The president hurled a series of unfounded allegations at the former Arizona senator this week on social media, claiming new court documents revealed he personally delivered the infamous dossier containing information against Mr Trump “to the FBI and Media hoping to have it printed BEFORE the Election”. Mr Trump’s comments appear to be an attempt to concoct a scandal surrounding the late senator.

Gambino murder sparks Mafia rumor mill: ‘A couple of guys got to get killed now’

Gambino boss Frank Cali, killed Wednesday, was the first made man in the crime family to be whacked in decades.

Dozens charged in college admissions racket

The Department of Justice calls it the biggest college admissions scam ever prosecuted.

March Madness revenue is insane. So is soaring student debt. Time for March sanity?

Our cultural and economic priorities are misaligned. Enjoy the games, but remember that colleges have a mission higher and broader than basketball.

Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

From Boeing crashes to the New Zealand shooter, here's what to know.

Exclusive: Data shows angle of attack similar in Boeing 737 crashes

By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - Investigators probing the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX jet eight days ago have found strong similarities in the 'angle of attack' data recorded by the doomed aircraft's cockpit recorder and data from a Lion Air jet of the same model that crashed in October, a person familiar with the matter said. Graphs of the two sets of data are "very, very simliar," the person said on Monday, asking not to be identified because the matter is still in the early stages of investigation. ...

Mourners pay tribute to New Zealand victims, await burials

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Thousands of people paid tribute Sunday at makeshift memorials to the 50 people slain by a gunman at two mosques in Christchurch, while dozens of Muslims stood by to bury the dead when authorities finally release the victims' bodies.

Israeli rabbi, wounded in Palestinian attack, dies: hospital

An Israeli rabbi died on Monday of wounds from a Palestinian attack a day earlier in the occupied West Bank in which a soldier was killed - an incident that played into Israeli politics three weeks before a national election. The rabbi, Achiad Ettinger, 47, was a father of 12 and a resident of a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. A spokeswoman at Beilinson hospital near Tel Aviv announced Ettinger's death.

China's 737 move shows growing global aviation clout: analysts

The key role China played in grounding the troubled Boeing 737 MAX 8 has demonstrated its growing clout in global aviation and may give it an extra bargaining chip in trade talks with Washington. China ordered its domestic airlines to ground the plane on March 11, a day after the deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airways Boeing 737 MAX 8. The situation raised eyebrows because China historically takes its cues from the FAA -- particularly given the US safety regulator's familiarity with Boeing.

The Latest: Warren supports elimination of electoral college

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (all times local):

Stacey Abrams considers 2020 presidential campaign on race and voter suppression as Democratic field grows

Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost her bid to become governor of Georgia last autumn, has a series of decisions to make. Losing campaigns are not the normal launching pad for a run for the White House. Ms Abrams, who was the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, sat down last week with Steven Ginsberg, The Washington Post's national editor, and talked about the choices, the timetable and what kind of presidential campaign she would run.

Archiving efforts underway to preserve Google+ posts ahead of closure

With the Google+ social network set to close for good April 2, 2019, several online archiving services are working on preserving public posts from the platform before they are lost forever. April 2, the social network will be shut down definitively, taking all of its posts with it. In order to preserve as much Google+ content as possible, Internet Archive and Archive Team have announced,  -- notably via a Reddit post -- that they are working on archiving as many posts as possible on their servers.

BlackRock Sees Emerging Stocks Almost Recouping Last Year's Loss

In the face of slowing global growth, the Federal Reserve is unlikely to raise rates this year, causing the dollar to weaken and improving the flows into emerging markets, said Fraser, global emerging-market equities fund manager. “Markets should recoup most, if not all, of their losses from last year,” Fraser, who is based in Hong Kong and helped manage the firm’s approximately $40 billion of active EM equities as of the end of 2018, said in a phone interview.