From Europe to Hong Kong – The 26th Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (April 30 - May 5, 2019) ended successfully with the grand Award Ceremony on Sunday evening, May 5. Around 80,000 film fans came to the cinemas, the GameZone, numerous special events and, despite bad weather with winterly temperatures, to the open air at the Schlossplatz in the city centre.

The 26th festival was all about Europe: Already at its opening on April 30, Shadi Adibs animation film for Europe “Ode” premiered and was shown daily on the big open-air screen.

⁣New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to sue the Trump administration for damages over banning state residents from the Department of Homeland Security's Trusted Traveler Program, saying the agency "abused government resources to advance political purposes."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday threatened to sue the Trump administration for damages over banning state residents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Program, saying the agency “abused government resources to advance political purposes.”

Cuomo accused two DHS officials, acting Secretary Chad Wolf and acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, of potential criminal liability.

“I believe Mr. Wolf and Mr. Cuccinelli have possible criminal liability. I believe there is civil liability. It was a clear abuse of government power for political purposes,” he said at a press conference in Albany.

On Thursday, DHS said it would lift its ban on New Yorkers from participating in the program, which allows for quicker entry at airports for U.S. citizens returning to the country. Cuomo said DHS told the state around 2 p.m. Thursday that it lifted the ban after New York agreed to share with U.S. immigration agencies the DMV records of people applying for TSA Precheck and other Trusted Traveler programs.

Later in the day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York told U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in a letter that DHS was dropping its opposition to New York’s previously announced lawsuit over the program, admitting the agency had made “inaccurate or misleading” statements.

“Defendants deeply regret the foregoing inaccurate or misleading statements and apologize to the court and plaintiffs for the need to make these corrections at this late stage in the litigation,” said Audrey Strauss, the acting United States attorney in Manhattan.

Cuomo told reporters at a press briefing Friday the DHS “made a startling revelation yesterday afternoon” that New York state isn’t the only state to have a Green Light law.

“It is impossible that the Department of Homeland Security just figured that out yesterday afternoon,” Cuomo said, adding that it is widely known. “What happened yesterday is they got caught.”

He called on U.S. Attorney General William Barr to launch an investigation and said the state will also seek possible civil damages from the DHS.

“The Department of Justice should do an investigation ... I think the Congress should investigate it because they lied and they did a lot of damage,” Cuomo said.

He said the state is trying to quantify the monetary damages. The ban backed up trucking and air cargo deliveries at New York borders for six months, costing the Port Authority more money to run the airports, he said. It also packed people into long lines waiting to be screened at airports at a crucial time when Covid-19 was just starting to circulate in the U.S. “How do you quantify that?” he asked.

The DHS and Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment.

The U.S. offers several so-called trusted traveler programs that allow for quicker entry for U.S. citizens returning to the country. They include Global Entry, which for a $100 fee and a background check, allows air travelers to reenter the U.S. faster, and a program dedicated to commercial truck drivers crossing the border back into the U.S

⁣Stripper Fell off the Pole

DONALD TRUMP BEING DONALD TRUMP<br/>

⁣UNREAL. After seeing protestors taken off streets of Portland in unmarked cars, US Navy vet Christopher David approached fed officers, reminding them of their oath of office…THIS is how they responded! Mr. David, thank you for standing your ground & speaking up for what’s right!

⁣COP ARRESTS FIREFIGHTER IN THE MIDDLE OF SAVING SOMEONES LIFE BECAUSE FIRE TRUCK WAS 1 MILLIMETER OVER THE LINE

⁣Demolition of Atlanta Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed

Laughing ? on the outside and crying ? on the inside

⁣I understand wanting to get some clout, but this is not the way to do it - Barry Wardell

⁣Megan thee stallion - So is outside officially open or what

⁣Old Men have no filter and they favorite thing to say is “Sshhyyyyyiiiiittt”

CNN's Anderson Cooper says President Donald Trump's former defense secretary James Mattis gave a stunning rebuke of Trump.

#Mattis #CNN #News

Wichita State University Tech, an affiliate of Wichita State University in Kansas, canceled Ivanka Trump's virtual graduation speech amid backlash over President Donald Trump's response to George Floyd's death and the nationwide protests. CNN's Briana Keilar speaks to a graduate of the school about the decision.

President Trump's chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said he does not think there is any systematic racism in the US, echoing similar comments made by Attorney General Bill Barr.

#Kudlow CNN #News