Trump, Mamdani

strike a chord

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has met the man who had proudly proclaimed himself “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” but he seemed to find the opposite.

The Republican president and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani were warm and friendly Friday, speaking repeatedly of their shared goals to help Trump’s hometown rather than their combustible differences. Trump, who had in the past called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job,” spoke openly of how impressed he was with the man who had called his administration “authoritarian.”

Trump said he was surprised by their “great” meeting and said of the democratic socialist, “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually.”

MbS phone

call questioned

WASHINGTON (AP) — The widow of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is calling for the release of the transcript of a 2019 phone call President Donald Trump had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

She is joining Democratic lawmakers who are raising questions about what, if anything, Trump may have received in exchange for his embrace of the crown prince.

Hanan Elatr Khashoggi appeared on Capitol Hill on the heels of Trump’s dismissal of U.S. intelligence findings that Prince Mohammed most likely had some culpability in the October 2018 slaying.

Ohio officer

is acquitted

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio officer has been acquitted of all charges after fatally shooting Ta’Kiya Young in a supermarket parking lot. The pregnant Black mother had been accused of shoplifting.

The jury in Columbus delivered the verdict Friday. Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb had pleaded not guilty to murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the 21-year-old’s death.

Bodycam video showed Young refusing to get out of her car before it rolled toward Grubb and he shot her once in the chest. The verdict brought cries of “this is not right” from Young’s family in the courtroom.

Gunmen abduct

schoolchildren

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Gunmen have attacked a Catholic school in Nigeria, abducting more than 200 schoolchildren and 12 teachers. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported Friday’s incident at St. Mary’s School in the Papiri community. The attack took place on Friday, and 215 pupils and 12 teachers were seized. Security forces have been deployed to the area. This abduction follows a similar incident earlier in the week in a neighboring state.

No group has claimed responsibility, but such kidnappings are common in Nigeria, often carried out by gangs seeking ransom.