Headlines:

From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired

Trump picks former Attorney General Barr to return to head Justice Department – (Reuters)
President Donald Trump said on Friday he had chosen former U.S. Attorney General William Barr to once again lead the Justice Department, a role that would put him in charge of the federal probe into Russian election interference.

Merkel’s choice elected ruling party leader – (BBC News)
Germany’s ruling CDU chooses Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as new party leader, but Merkel to stay Chancellor.

Europe should be wary of Huawei, EU tech official says – (Reuters)
The European Union should be worried about Huawei [HWT.UL] and other Chinese technology companies because of the risk they pose to the bloc’s industry and security, the EU’s technology chief said on Friday, echoing concerns raised elsewhere in the world.

The Economy Faces Big Risks in 2019. Markets Are Only Now Facing Up to Them. – (The New York Times)
One question people might be asking is, what took so long?

Analyst View: OPEC, allied exporters to cut crude output by 1.2 million bpd – (Reuters)
OPEC and its Russia-led allies moved closer on Friday to clinching a deal that would cut oil production by more than the market had expected despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce the price of crude.

Huawei CFO to appear in Canada court as Chinese media slam arrest – (Reuters)
A top executive of China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd who is under arrest in Canada is set to appear in a Vancouver court on Friday for a bail hearing as she awaits possible extradition to the United States.

White House adviser: U.S.-China trade talks, Huawei arrest are separate – (Reuters)
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Friday said that the U.S. -China trade truce and the recent arrest of a top Huawei Technologies Co Ltd executive “are two separate events,” calling the timing of events a coincidence.

Tech stocks pull Wall St. lower, offseting jobs data bump – (Reuters)
A drop in technology stocks weighed on Wall Street on Friday, offseting strong oil prices and a U.S. jobs report that was tepid enough to lower bets for faster future interest rate hikes without fanning fears of an economic slowdown.

Bush’s presidential funeral train first in nearly 50 years – (Associated Press)
SPRING, Texas (AP) — The locomotive was painted to resemble Air Force One, but George H.W. Bush joked that if it had been around during his presidency, he may have preferred to ride the rails rather than take to the skies. “I might have left Air Force One beh…

Huawei denies it poses security threat after EU warning – (Reuters)
Chinese tech giant Huawei [HWT.UL] denied on Friday that it posed a security risk, saying that it had never been told by any government to obtain covert access through so-called “backdoors”.

Kudlow says does not see Huawei issue spilling into trade talks with China: CNBC – (Reuters)
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Friday that he does not see the recent controversy surrounding China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd spilling into the trade talks between the United States and China.

U.S. Air Force missed four chances to stop Texas shooter buying guns – (Reuters)
The U.S. Air Force missed four chances to block the shooter in 2017’s deadly church attack in Texas from buying guns after he was accused of violent crimes while in the military, a report by the Department of Defense’s inspector general said on Friday.

OPEC, Russia agree to slash oil output despite Trump pressure – (Reuters)
OPEC and its Russia-led allies agreed on Friday to slash oil production by more than the market had expected despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce the price of crude.

Trump says he’ll nominate Barr for attorney general – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he will nominate William Barr, the late President George H.W. Bush’s attorney general, to serve in the same role. Trump made the announcement while departing the White House for a trip to Missouri. He calle…

France gears up to face new riots; Paris shuts down – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — France mobilized tens of thousands of police officers and made plans to shut down beloved tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre on the eve of anti-government protests that authorities feared could be even more violent than ones…

Mueller to Reveal New Details in Manafort and Cohen Inquiries – (The New York Times)
The special counsel will outline cooperation by President Trump’s former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, as well as detail accusations that his former campaign chairman lied to investigators.

At least 12 dead in 2 bank heists in northeast Brazil – (Associated Press)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian authorities say that at least 12 people have been killed in two attempted bank robberies. Military police in the northeastern state of Ceara say the attempted heists began around 2:30 a.m. Friday in the downtown area of the cit…

Trump names State spokeswoman Nauert for UN ambassador – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday he’s nominating State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. “Heather Nauert will be nominated,” Trump said Friday before departing the White House …

Trump picks William Barr as next US attorney general – (Al Jazeera English)
If confirmed, Barr, who served as attorney general under George HW Bush, will oversee Mueller’s Russia investigation.

Court deadlines set stage for more Russia probe details – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Mueller is set to reveal more details about his Russia investigation on Friday as he faces court deadlines in the cases of two men who worked closely with President Donald Trump. The special counsel and federal prosecutors in New York…

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From various sources

The best way out of the Brexit mess – (The Economist)
Parliament cannot agree on what kind of Brexit the people want. Rather than guess, it should ask them

Emmanuel Macron faces the first real test of his presidency – (The Economist)
The yellow jackets are not giving up

Kevin Hart says he’s out as Oscars host after outrage over homophobic tweets – (The Washington Post)
As the social media missives began circulating, it appears that some of them have since been deleted.

Democratic schools put Israel’s kids in the driver’s seat – (The Jerusalem Post)
The fundamentally different learning model offers pupils a real alternative.

Lebanon says fears an Israeli attack during the Hezbollah tunnel operation – (The Jerusalem Post)
Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, who is also a member of Israel’s security cabinet, appeared to indicate that Israel could consider military action in Lebanese territory if necessary.

Tel Aviv gears up to host Eurovision – (The Jerusalem Post)
With six months to go until the competition, Tel Aviv prepares sprawling compound for a once-in-a-lifetime show.

Drug lords are using El Chapo’s trial as a Get Out of Jail Free card – (Vice News)
El Chapo’s trial has put a spotlight on a dark truth about the American justice system’s wheeling and dealing with the worst of the worst.

Prosecutors set to indict Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn as soon as Monday – (Financial Times)
Carmaker’s former chairman could be re-arrested and face lengthier detention in Japan

Chinese and US executives worry after Huawei CFO’s arrest – (Financial Times)
Businesses fear they could be next after what many say is a politically-motivated arrest

Trump says he’ll name William Barr as new U.S. attorney general | CBC News – (CBC News)
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he has chosen former attorney general William Barr to once again lead the Justice Department, a role that would put him in charge of the probe into Russian election interference and possible collusion between Moscow and…

Do Eye Color-Changing Drops And Balms Work? Here’s What Eye Experts Think – (Buzzfeed)
Scott Disick posted an ad on Instagram for an eye product that supposedly lightens your eye color, but medical experts said it was unlikely to work.

23rd Match, Mzansi Super League at Durban, Dec 7 2018 | Match Report | ESPNCricinfo – (ESPN Cric Info)
Get a report of the Durban Heat vs Jozi Stars Mzansi Super League 2018 cricket match.

Democrat retracts concession in NC congressional race – (Fox News)
State officials investigating election fraud allegations in the race between Democrat Dan McCready and Republican Mark Harris; Jonathan Serrie reports on the claims.

NASA reveals stunning new photos from Mars – (Fox News)
NASA’s Insight Mars Lander has captured stunning new photos of the red planet. NASA has released several stunning new images of Mars captured by the InSight lander’s robotic arm as it snapped a photos of its new workspace.

Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott blasts NFL – (Fox News)
Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott blasts the NFL after they fined him more than $13,000 for dropping a $21 donation into a Salvation Army kettle after scoring a touchdown during the team’s Thanksgiving Day victory over the Washington Redskins.

American icon Mickey Mouse celebrates 90th birthday – (Fox News)
Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks first created Mickey Mouse in 1928. 90 years later, the iconic American mouse is being celebrated around the world. Take a look inside Disney’s newest Mickey birthday celebration in New York City, Mickey: The True Original Exhibition.

Astronauts celebrate Hubble Space Telescope’s first mission – (Fox News)

Amazon is reportedly looking to expand its cashier-less Go stores to airports – (The Verge)
Amazon’s cashier-less Go stores have been slowly rolling out across the country, but the retail giant may be setting its sights on a different area for its next expansion: airports.

Merkel’s choice elected ruling party leader – (BBC News)
Germany’s ruling CDU chooses Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as new party leader, but Merkel to stay Chancellor.

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All about Trump

As major developments loom, President Trump again goes after special counsel Robert Mueller – (USA Today)
Trump’s tweets came the same day Mueller and prosecutors are expected to file court documents related to two key witnesses in the Russia investigation.

U.S. would have “totally” gone to war with North Korea, says Nikki Haley in first post-Trump interview – (Newsweek)
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Trump’s fiery rhetoric helped her negotiate sanctions against North Korea at the U.N.

Trump spent the morning rage tweeting about Robert Mueller again – (Vice News)
A series of attacks hours before Mueller is to release sentencing information on former Trump campaign official Paul Manafort and his onetime attorney Michael Cohen.

Trump signs stopgap spending bill, averting shutdown – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday signed a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown, the White House said.

President Trump to nominate former Attorney General William Barr to replace Jeff Sessions – (USA Today)
William Barr served as attorney general for President George H.W. Bush; more recently, he has criticized aspects of the Russia investigation.

Trump and Trudeau were unaware of plans to arrest Huawei official – (Daily Mail)
Canada has defended its arrest of an executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei as Donald Trump claims he did not know about a US request for her extradition for allegedly violating US sanctions.

Will John Kelly resign? 7 reasons White House chief of staff might be about to quit – (Newsweek)
President Donald Trump’s chief of staff is reportedly expected to exit the White House in the coming days.

“Tariff man” Trump holds steady on trade war policy as deficits reach 10-year highs and markets continue to sink – (Newsweek)
Trade deficits between the U.S. and China reached an all-time high in October as imports rose 0.2 percent to $266.5 billion and exports fell 0.1 percent to $211 billion—making it clear that increased tariffs were not making “America rich again.”

President Trump’s UN ambassador pick Heather Nauert could face tough Senate confirmation fight – (USA Today)
Heather Nauert, Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, has a thin resume that will come under congressional scrutiny at a turbulent global moment.

Kudlow: Trump would consider extending 90-day trade truce with China if ‘good’ progress made in talks – (CNBC)
Larry Kudlow, director of Trump’s National Economic Council, also says the arrest of Huawei’s CFO won’t impact U.S.-China trade talks.

Trump picks William Barr to head US justice department – (Financial Times)
Nominee would be returning to a post he held under George HW Bush

Trump administration shuffle: Live updates – CNNPolitics – (CNN)
President Trump nominates William Barr as his next attorney general, replacing Jeff Sessions.

Trump is a ‘good forecaster’ — Kudlow sees vindication for the president on Fed rate criticism – (CNBC)
President Trump has “a lot of experience as a businessman and an investor; so he knows his stuff,” says Larry Kudlow, director of Trump’s National Economic Council.

Trump picks former A-G William Barr for job again – (The Hindu)
State Dept. spokeswoman Heather Nauert will be nominated as UN Ambassador

2018-12-07

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