Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Boris Johnson, sniping at May, calls for ‘no deal’ Brexit minister – (Reuters)
Former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson on Saturday called for the government to appoint a minister to prepare for a “no-deal” British exit from the European Union in order to increase London’s leverage in talks with Brussels.
Rain helps mostly douse California fire but slows searchers – (Associated Press)
PARADISE, Calif. (AP) — A deadly wildfire is nearly contained after several days of rain in Northern California, but searchers are still completing the meticulous task of combing through now-muddy ash and debris for signs of human remains. Crews planned to re…
2018 Holiday Gift Guide – (The New York Times)
Practical or luxe, quirky or classic, these gifts will send just the right message to the people you are oh-so grateful for this year.
Taiwan president quits as party chair after local election setback – (Reuters)
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as chairwoman of the ruling pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after it suffered a major electoral defeat on Saturday, losing two of the island’s most important city posts in mayoral elections.
Trump Administration Invites Health Care Industry to Help Rewrite Ban on Kickbacks – (The New York Times)
The goal is to open pathways for doctors and hospitals to work together to improve care and save money. The challenge will be to accomplish that without also increasing the risk of fraud.
Banksy art works seized in Belgium – (BBC News)
Art works worth €15m (£12m) are impounded as they may not have been insured.
Taiwan ruling party suffers major defeat in local elections – (Associated Press)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s ruling party was handed a major defeat Saturday in local elections seen as a referendum on the administration of the island’s independence-leaning president amid growing economic and political pressure from China. Soon after the…
Fights, escapes, harm: Migrant kids struggle in facilities – (Associated Press)
HOUSTON (AP) — In one government facility for immigrant youth, a 20-year-old woman who had lied that she was 17 sneaked a needle out of a sewing class and used it to cut herself. In another, cameras captured a boy repeatedly kicking a child in the head after …
French protesters angry over fuel taxes clash with police – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — French police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Paris on Saturday, as thousands gathered in the capital and beyond and staged road blockades to vent anger against rising fuel taxes. Thousands of police were deployed na…
Panic as ferry hits dock at San Francisco’s Ferry Building – (Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities say a ferry boat carrying 53 passengers crashed into a dock at San Francisco’s famed Ferry Building, injuring two people on board. A spokeswoman for Golden Gate Ferry told the Marin Independent Journal that the ferry coming fr…
Trump takes bid to restrict transgender troops to Supreme Court – (Reuters)
President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review lower court rulings blocking a policy barring certain transgender people from military service, declining to wait for decisions from federal appeals courts currently cons…
The Website That Shows How a Free Press Can Die – (The New York Times)
Origo was a popular, independent news outlet that made trouble for Hungary’s far-right leader, Viktor Orban. Relentless pressure changed all that.
European Union set to agree Brexit deal – (BBC News)
The Spanish prime minister says he has received the guarantees he needs over the future of Gibraltar.
French police fire tear gas at protesters on Champs Elysees – (Reuters)
Police firing tear gas and using water cannon clashed with protesters in Paris who are angry over rising fuel costs and President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies, the second weekend of “yellow vest” protests across France.
EU gives Spain reassurances over Gibraltar in Brexit deal: document – (Reuters)
The European Union will declare in approving the Brexit deal with Britain on Sunday that any future arrangements regarding Gibraltar must be discussed directly with Madrid, a draft document seen by Reuters shows.
Spain’s Sanchez confirms deal reached over Gibraltar – (Reuters)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday that a deal had been reached on Gibraltar, clearing the way for an EU summit on Sunday to approve a Brexit deal with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
Digging up the dead in El Salvador to find the truth – (Al Jazeera English)
As a forensic archaeologist, Israel Ticas has solved more than 500 homicide and missing persons cases.
EU’s Juncker speaks to Spanish PM, says dialogue is the European way – (Reuters)
The head of the European Union’s executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that solidarity and dialogue were “the European way of finding solutions” after speaking to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday
Britain gives Spain assurances on Gibraltar to unlock Brexit deal – (Reuters)
Britain provided assurances to the European Union on Saturday that it will not insist on interpreting the Brexit withdrawal agreement as binding the EU to apply a future EU-UK trade treaty to Gibraltar, soothing Spanish concerns on the issue.
Memos to Nobody: Inside the work of a neglected fed agency – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mark Robbins gets to work at 8:15 each morning and unlocks the door to his office suite. He switches on the lights and the TV news, brews a pot of coffee and pulls out the first files of the day to review. For the next eight hours or so, he …
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From various sources
Divorce discrimination – (The Jerusalem Post)
Both men and women share rough personal stories of being done wrong by the court system.
Technology and conventional warfare merge under Israeli eyes – (The Jerusalem Post)
The challenge of future war is not that everything becomes less personal, but how to get the soldiers to want to use all the gadgets at their disposal effectively.
‘Hockey Night in Canada’: 5 Storylines – (NHL News)
The “Hockey Night in Canada” doubleheader on Saturday features one team pushing for first place in its division and three battling to avoid falling too far behind in the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It’s Easy To Blame Online Rhetoric For Violence. The Reality Is Much Harder. – (Buzzfeed)
Two angry men submerged themselves in the far-right internet. One committed murder. The other walked away. Why?
Saudi royal casts doubt on reported CIA findings – (Financial Times)
Prince Turki says agency’s past failings undermine claims crown prince ordered killing
Trump dismisses report that he is unhappy with Mnuchin – (Fox News)
Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump is disappointed with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin over the turbulent stock market and the appointment of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
‘This is no eulogy’: Jamal Khashoggi’s daughters write for Washington Post – (The Guardian (AU))
Children of Saudi journalist recall a loving father and patriot, but say they still have no closure about his death
‘This is no eulogy’: Jamal Khashoggi’s daughters write for Washington Post – (The Guardian (UK))
Children of Saudi journalist recall a loving father and patriot, but say they still have no closure about his death
England vs Australia live rugby score and updates – (Mirror)
Keep track of the latest drama and try updates from the Autumn International at Twickenham. Kick-off: 3pm (UK time)
Get up to $200 in Apple Store gift cards with purchase of iPad, MacBook, and more – (Mashable)
Keep them for yourself or gift them to loved ones.
Mainz 1 Borussia Dortmund 2: Piszczek puts leaders seven points clear – (FourFourTwo)
After three goals were scored in a frantic 10-minute second-half spell, Borussia Dortmund emerged triumphant against Mainz.
Ramos slams doping claims as ‘an attempt to stain my reputation’ – (FourFourTwo)
Real Madrid and Spain captain Sergio Ramos has hit back at Football Leaks allegations that he broke anti-doping protocol on two occasions.
Full Q&A: ‘Dear America’ author Jose Antonio Vargas on Recode Decode – (Recode)
When he was 16, Vargas found out that he is an undocumented immigrant — and after years of secrecy, he decided to “come out.”
Boris Johnson, sniping at May, calls for ‘no deal’ Brexit minister – (Reuters)
Former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson on Saturday called for the government to appoint a minister to prepare for a “no-deal” British exit from the European Union in order to increase London’s leverage in talks with Brussels.
Nicolas Roeg, <em>The Witches</em> and <em>The Man Who Fell to Earth</em> director, dies at 90 – (Entertainment Weekly)
Hollywood mourns the loss of the filmmaker behind ‘Don’t Look Now.’
Literally Just 19 Tweets That Got Me Through The Last Week – (Buzzfeed)
The internet is mostly terrible except for these few exceptional tweets.
Rain helps mostly douse California fire but slows searchers – (Associated Press)
PARADISE, Calif. (AP) — A deadly wildfire is nearly contained after several days of rain in Northern California, but searchers are still completing the meticulous task of combing through now-muddy ash and debris for signs of human remains. Crews planned to re…
Major winter storm packing strong winds, heavy snow, could disrupt holiday weekend travel – (USA Today)
Major airport hubs, including Chicago, face possible travel delays from snow, blizzard-like conditions.
Unconventional warrior – (The Jerusalem Post)
Aviv Kochavi, a product and shaper of postmodern warfare, will be the first IDF Chief of General Staff to have never participated in a conventional war.
Italy 3-66 New Zealand: All Blacks thrash hosts with 10-try rout in Rome – (BBC Sport)
World champions New Zealand recover from last week’s defeat by Ireland with a convincing 66-3 win against Italy in Rome.
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All about Trump
Trump dismisses report that he is unhappy with Mnuchin – (Fox News)
Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump is disappointed with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin over the turbulent stock market and the appointment of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
Trump Administration Invites Health Care Industry to Help Rewrite Ban on Kickbacks – (The New York Times)
The goal is to open pathways for doctors and hospitals to work together to improve care and save money. The challenge will be to accomplish that without also increasing the risk of fraud.
How Brenda Snipes and other black election workers got falsely targeted by Trump – (NBC News)
Trump’s narrative often paints election administrators like Snipes as un-American, and U.S. elections in general as a coming together of crooks and nincompoops.
Former Obama energy aide: Trump ‘afraid’ of own admin’s climate report – (Google News)
A former energy and climate aide to President Obama called out the Trump administration for releasing its climate report on Black Friday, accusing President Trump of being “scared” of the report’s findings.
Trump takes bid to restrict transgender troops to Supreme Court – (Reuters)
President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review lower court rulings blocking a policy barring certain transgender people from military service, declining to wait for decisions from federal appeals courts currently cons…
Trump’s trade war with China might be working – (Axios)
China is paying for most of it, according to a new report.
Lawsuit against Trump’s alleged campaign finance violations to proceed – (Axios)
Despite Trump’s request that the suit be dismissed.
Democrats Might Be Too Afraid of Their Own Power to Aggressively Investigate Trump – (New York Magazine)
Moderates in the House are warning their party that it would be politically risky to aggressively investigate Trump. They couldn’t be more wrong.
It’s not just ‘Obama judges’. Here are Republican appointees who have ruled against Trump – (USA Today)
Several rulings against the Trump administration have come from conservative-appointed judges. Here are five major rulings this year.
Government Seeks Quick Ruling On Transgender Military Ban – (The Huffington Post)
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to issue an unusually quick ruling on the Pentagon’s policy of restricting military service by transgend…
Trump trans troops move pulls supreme court further into political mire – (Google News (Canada))
Fast-track request comes at end of week in which the chief justice rebuked the president for claims about judges’ beliefs
Obama’s chief photographer trolls Trump – CNN Video – (CNN)
Former President Obama’s chief photographer, Pete Souza, joins CNN’s Jake Tapper to discuss his new book, “Shade.”
Here is a Saudi ‘war game’ scenario that demonstrates the peril of a post-Khashoggi period for the US and the Middle East – (CNBC)
Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, grapples with a nightmare scenario involving Saudi Arabia that would leave America and President Trump in a high-stakes dilemma.
Climate change could cost US billions, report finds – (Financial Times)
Federal government report contrasts sharply with Trump administration views
Rep. Trey Gowdy turns attention from Hilary Clinton’s emails to Ivanka Trump’s – (The Washington Times)
President Trump is being pressed for details on his daughter’s email use in office by the same Republican responsible for spearheading the congressional investigation into his former White House rival, Hillary Clinton, that uncovered details about her own ema…
‘Did I hear the word bipartisan?’: Why even this Trump-endorsed bill isn’t a sure thing | CBC News – (CBC News)
U.S, President Donald Trump endorses it. Even Democrats are on board. Legislation on criminal justice reform could deliver something that has eluded legislators for two years — bipartisanship. But don’t count on it passing Congress.
Trump dismisses report he is unhappy with Treasury’s Mnuchin – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Wall Street Journal said Trump has also expressed displeasure with Mnuchin over stock market turbulence and the Treasury secretary’s skepticism about the White House trade actions against China.
RNC Catches Heat For Hawking Discounted Donald Trump Merchandise On Black Friday – (The Huffington Post)
“Sure, no conflict of interest going on here. When exactly did the GOP sell their souls?”
Democrats going nuclear to rein in Trump’s arms buildup – (Politico)
Control of the House will give them “the power of no — the ability to block programs, cut funding, withhold agreement.”
Trump Claims He Already Shut Down The Border In Puzzling Exchange With Reporters – (The Huffington Post)
“Actually two days ago we closed the border. We said nobody’s coming in because it was out of control,” president insisted.
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