Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
As OPEC Meets, Sizing Up Its Power and Its Politics – (The New York Times)
OPEC’s gathering in Vienna comes at a tricky time for the oil industry and consumers who depend on the world’s largest source of energy.
Facebook Gave Some Companies Special Access to Users’ Data, Documents Show – (The New York Times)
A trove of secret internal Facebook documents were released by a British parliamentary committee as part of an investigation into misinformation and user data.
Global Markets Slide After a Wall Street Sell-Off Spurred by Trump Tweets – (The New York Times)
Uncertainty over the stability of a trade war truce between Washington and Beijing has renewed investor worries about global growth prospects.
Trump Touts ‘Strong Signals’ from Xi as Trade Fears Return – (The New York Times)
The president expressed optimism about a deal after his tariff threats roiled markets.
George HW Bush’s casket leaves Capitol for funeral ceremony – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s capital bids its final farewell to the late former President George H.W. Bush on Wednesday in a service of prayer and praise that is drawing together world envoys, Americans of high office and a guy from Maine who used to fix th…
George HW Bush’s casket leaves Capitol for funeral ceremony – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s capital bids its final farewell to the late former President George H.W. Bush on Wednesday in a service of prayer and praise that is drawing together world envoys, Americans of high office and a guy from Maine who used to fix th…
May’s Brexit deal under fire as legal advice stiffens opposition – (Reuters)
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal came under fire from allies and opponents alike on Wednesday after the government was forced to publish legal advice showing the United Kingdom could be locked indefinitely in the European Union’s orbit.
Factbox: Britain’s Brexit vote – How many lawmakers are backing PM May? – (Reuters)
Britain’s parliament is debating whether to support Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, a decision which will define Britain’s departure from the European Union and could determine her own future as leader.
France dangles wealth tax review as ‘yellow vest’ anger persists – (Reuters)
President Emmanuel Macron could amend a wealth tax that critics say goes too easy on the rich, his government indicated on Wednesday, a day after suspending further fuel-tax hikes in the face of protests across France over living costs.
Takeda clears key hurdle as investors back $59 billion Shire deal – (Reuters)
Takeda Pharmaceutical <4502.T> has won shareholder approval for its $59 billion takeover of London-listed Shire , creating a global powerhouse that has a stronger drugs pipeline but is also saddled with massive debt.
George HW Bush funeral: Leaders pay their respects – (BBC News)
The funeral service for the former president of the United States is being held at Washington’s National Cathedral.
Trump mocks Macron again over French fuel tax protests – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken another swipe on Twitter at his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron prompted by Macron’s woes over violent protests against fuel taxes.
Getty museum says it has right to keep prized Greek statue – (Associated Press)
ROME (AP) — The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has vowed to assert its right to keep an important Greek statue after Italy’s highest court rejected its appeal of a ruling ordering the artwork returned to Italy. The Court of Cassation confirmed Wednesday …
Protesters, now joined by unions, reject French concessions – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — Trade unions and farmers pledged Wednesday to join nationwide protests against President Emmanuel Macron, as concessions by the government failed to stem the momentum of the most violent demonstrations France has seen in decades. The “yellow vest…
Report details new allegations of Moonves’ sexual misconduct – (Associated Press)
A report by CBS lawyers outlines more allegations of sexual misconduct by longtime chief Les Moonves, The New York Times reported. The report alleges that Moonves destroyed evidence and misled investigators as he attempted to protect his reputation and severa…
Former Massachusetts Governor Patrick will not run for president: reports – (Reuters)
Democratic former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a close ally of former President Barack Obama, has opted not to launch a 2020 campaign for the White House, several news outlets reported on Wednesday.
Wisconsin Republicans pass bill to curb incoming Democrats’ power – (Reuters)
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature passed a bill to weaken the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, voting around dawn on Wednesday after debates that lasted through the night.
Wisconsin lawmakers OK weakening governor, attorney general – (Associated Press)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Legislature passed a sweeping measure Wednesday that shifts power to the Republican-controlled body and weakens the Democrat replacing Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Republicans pushed on through protests, internal disagreeme…
America bids farewell to George HW Bush – (BBC News)
President Trump and four living ex-presidents are among those attending the funeral in Washington.
If US builds missiles so will we – Putin – (BBC News)
President Vladimir Putin warns Russia will build missiles if the US quits a key arms pact.
***
From various sources
Analysis | Trump undermines his own trade success with China – (The Washington Post)
The president clearly finds it easy to apply economic pressure. What comes after is another story.
Senior IDF officer: Hezbollah’s goal was cutting off Metulla from Israel – (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel on Tuesday morning launched Operation Northern Shield to expose and destroy cross-border Hezbollah attack tunnels.
Lebanon says Israel provided no evidence of tunnel attacks to UN – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Israeli military launched an operation on Tuesday on its side of the border to “expose and thwart” tunnels into its territory, which it said originated from Lebanon.
Bob Dole salutes Bush’s casket – CNN Video – (CNN)
Former Senator Bob Dole was helped out of his wheelchair and saluted the casket of former President Bush in the Capitol Rotunda.
Memorial to George H.W. Bush, a ‘celebration of a great man.’ – (The Washington Times)
Watch a live stream of the memorial to George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States.
Hamiltonian Monte Carlo explained by Alex Rogozhnikov – (Hacker News)
Understanding an effective way of sampling from complex distributions with 3d-demonstrations
Why “Fried Green Tomatoes” Is A Lesbian Classic — Yes, Lesbian! – (Buzzfeed)
I loved Fried Green Tomatoes so much that I scared myself and those around me. And I still do.
Air Santa Longsleeve Shirt – (Bleacher Report)
Auditor report will be gift to Ford government | CBC News – (CBC News)
Ontario’s spending watchdog is expected to provide plenty of ammunition to Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives on Wednesday when she reveals her latest findings of government waste and inefficiency.
Emails show Facebook offered preferential access to data, UK alleges – (Financial Times)
British parliament discloses details of previously-sealed Six4Three lawsuit
As OPEC Meets, Sizing Up Its Power and Its Politics – (The New York Times)
OPEC’s gathering in Vienna comes at a tricky time for the oil industry and consumers who depend on the world’s largest source of energy.
Facebook Gave Some Companies Special Access to Users’ Data, Documents Show – (The New York Times)
A trove of secret internal Facebook documents were released by a British parliamentary committee as part of an investigation into misinformation and user data.
Global Markets Slide After a Wall Street Sell-Off Spurred by Trump Tweets – (The New York Times)
Uncertainty over the stability of a trade war truce between Washington and Beijing has renewed investor worries about global growth prospects.
Trump Touts ‘Strong Signals’ from Xi as Trade Fears Return – (The New York Times)
The president expressed optimism about a deal after his tariff threats roiled markets.
White and black children are more likely to be in care than Asians – (The Guardian (UK))
Research finds big differences in rates of care between races
Wisconsin Republicans vote to curb incoming Democratic governor’s power – (Axios)
Democrats called this sweeping last-ditch effort a blatant “power grab.”
When London really was swinging! – (Daily Mail)
A stunning collection of photographs offers a snapshot into a time of radical cultural and social upheaval; when free love was all around and the personal became political.
Christmas shoppers watch in horror as man plunges to death from top of car park – (Mirror)
Shoppers at the Oracle shopping centre in Reading, Berkshire, were shocked when the man landed on the road outside the entrance to the car park
Nintendo Switch Online NES games update: Dec. 12, 2018 – (Polygon)
Nintendo is adding Ninja Gaiden, Wario’s Woods and Adventures of Lolo to the NES game library this month. The software is exclusively available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, and consists of several classic NES games.
Gas leak at Centennial Building prompts closure in part of downtown Fredericton | CBC News – (Google News (Canada))
An area in downtown Fredericton has been blocked off following a gas leak at the Centennial Building.
***
All about Trump
Analysis | Trump undermines his own trade success with China – (The Washington Post)
The president clearly finds it easy to apply economic pressure. What comes after is another story.
Global Markets Slide After a Wall Street Sell-Off Spurred by Trump Tweets – (The New York Times)
Uncertainty over the stability of a trade war truce between Washington and Beijing has renewed investor worries about global growth prospects.
Trump Touts ‘Strong Signals’ from Xi as Trade Fears Return – (The New York Times)
The president expressed optimism about a deal after his tariff threats roiled markets.
Trump mocks Macron again over French fuel tax protests – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken another swipe on Twitter at his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron prompted by Macron’s woes over violent protests against fuel taxes.
Trump calls on China to seek the death penalty for distributors of opioid fentanyl, saying ‘the results will be incredible!’ – (CNBC)
“If China cracks down on this ‘horror drug,’ using the Death Penalty for distributors and pushers, the results will be incredible!” the president tweeted Wednesday.
Trump may not like Alberta’s oil production cut if prices rise too much, ex-D.C. envoy says | CBC News – (CBC News)
A former Alberta trade envoy to Washington, D.C., believes U.S. President Donald Trump could hit the province with countermeasures for its decision to impose mandatory oil production cuts.
Trump, Obama, Clinton and Carter attend George HW Bush state funeral – live updates – (The Guardian (AU))
German chancellor Angela Merkel and Prince Charles arrive for 11am ET ceremony in Washington. Follow all the latest politics news live
Trump, Obama, Clinton and Carter attend George HW Bush state funeral – live updates – (The Guardian (UK))
German chancellor Angela Merkel and Prince Charles arrive for 11am ET ceremony in Washington. Follow all the latest politics news live
Trumps pay respects to George H.W. Bush – CNN Video – (CNN)
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit the US Capitol Rotunda to pay their respects to former President George H.W. Bush.
Rudy Giuliani accuses Twitter of anti-Trump conspiracy, editing his tweet to add typo – (USA Today)
The president’s enemies have taken to editing tweets to remove spaces, Giuliani, whom Trump named a cybersecurity adviser, asserted, without evidence.
America bids farewell to George HW Bush – (BBC News)
President Trump and four living ex-presidents are among those attending the funeral in Washington.
Stephen Colbert shreds ‘Tariff Man’ Trump for sparking Dow drop with ‘blatant lie’ – (Entertainment Weekly)
“Here is the thing; it might have been Trump’s fault, because it was.” Colbert explains.
Twitter Rebuffs Rudy Giuliani’s Claim That the Social Network Sabotaged Him – (Fortune)
Rudy Giuliani is in a spat with Twitter after he mistakenly tweeted a link to his followers. He said Twitter is anti-Trump.
Trump praised China’s promise to reduce fentanyl exports to the U.S. – (Axios)
China has made similar commitments before without following through.
Trump touts China actions on trade one day after markets crumble – (The Hill)
President Trump on Wednesday tried to reassure jittery investors by touting his trade ceasefire with China, expressing confidence a broader deal will be reached.
Presidents club assembles for Bush funeral, Trump on fringes – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The death of George H.W. Bush is bringing together the five remaining members of an oh-so-exclusive fraternity — the presidents club. But for President Donald Trump, it may not be an entirely comfortable reunion, throwing him together with f…
‘Not to sound naive or anything’: Trump says he believes ‘every word’ from China’s Xi on trade truce – (CNBC)
In tweets Wednesday morning, Trump pushed back on reports that China may not swiftly address the White House’s trade concerns as they pause tariffs.
Trump-Russia timeline: key moments in the Mueller investigation – (Financial Times)
How the probe into possible collusion in the 2016 presidential campaign has unfolded
Despite heat at home, Trump approval ratings tower above embattled European leaders’ – (Fox News)
President Trump routinely takes grief from the pundits for his underwater approval ratings – but compared with some of his embattled European counterparts, facing civil unrest in the streets and internal government tensions, the U.S. president is riding high.
Live coverage: Former presidents, world leaders attend state funeral for President George HW Bush – (The Hill)
President Trump and former presidents Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton and Carter on Wednesday will join leaders from across the world to attend the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush.