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

Beyonce! Hillary! India revels in a very big wedding – (Associated Press)
NEW DELHI (AP) — In a season of big Indian weddings, the Wednesday marriage of the scions of two billionaire families might be the biggest of them all. The bride, Isha Ambani, is the Ivy League-educated daughter of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, thought to be I…

Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen faces possible jail sentence – (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, a lawyer who made his career protecting President Donald Trump, is set to learn Wednesday whether his decision to cooperate with federal investigators will lessen his punishment for crimes including making illegal hush-money pay…

Italy’s Salvini changes tack on EU in bid for center ground – (Reuters)
Right-wing firebrand Matteo Salvini is softening his eurosceptic policies in a bid to capture the middle ground of Italian politics and eventually take centre-stage in Europe, even if it means disappointing his more radical supporters.

Police hunt through eastern France for Strasbourg Christmas market attacker – (Reuters)
Police searched through eastern France on Wednesday for a man suspected of killing at least two people in a gun attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg and who was known to have been religiously radicalized while in jail.

France: Suspected gunman named, had long police record – (Associated Press)
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — A massive manhunt involving hundreds of police and soldiers was underway Wednesday for a suspected extremist who yelled “God is great!” in Arabic during a shooting spree around one of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets. The assau…

APNewsBreak: Julian Castro moves toward 2020 White House run – (Associated Press)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Former Obama housing chief Julian Castro says he’s taking a step toward a possible White House campaign in 2020 by forming a presidential exploratory committee. The Texas Democrat tells The Associated Press that he will announce a decision …

UK disarray: May to face no-confidence vote from her party – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — British Conservative lawmakers forced a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Theresa May for Wednesday, throwing U.K. politics deeper into crisis and Brexit further into doubt. May vowed to fight for the leadership of her party and the country “…

Francis to say first Mass by a pope on Arabian peninsula in UAE – (Reuters)
Pope Francis will say the first Mass by a pontiff on the Arabian peninsula in February and visit one of its largest mosques when he travels to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

May battles confidence vote, warning Brexit is in peril – (Reuters)
Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to win a vote of no confidence triggered by angry Brexit supporters in her Conservative Party on Wednesday, saying her ouster would jeopardise Britain’s divorce from the European Union.

New mother on migrant caravan hopes Trump’s heart softens – (Reuters)
Erly Marcial of Honduras joined the United States-bound migrant caravan with her family even though the 21-year-old was nearly eight months pregnant. She gave birth to a healthy baby on the grueling trail and is now hoping for another miracle.

Growing majority of Conservative lawmakers indicate support for May – (Reuters)
Prime Minister Theresa May has secured indications of support from at least 185 of her lawmakers, which would be enough to ensure she wins a confidence vote later on Wednesday, based on statements made to the media and on social media.

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen to be sentenced for hush money payments – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen will be sentenced on Wednesday for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia …

Pompeo says CIA still investigating killing of Khashoggi – (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the Trump administration’s handling of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Wednesday, stressing Saudi Arabia’s importance as a U.S. ally against Iran.

Pelosi Nears Deal With Dissident Democrats to Limit Her Speakership to 4 Years – (The New York Times)
The agreement would most likely seal the votes Nancy Pelosi needs for the House gavel but limiting the power of her team.

Wall Street climbs 1 percent on trade optimism – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks rose 1 percent on Wednesday, boosted by technology stocks, as a report about China planning to increase access for foreign firms added to optimism fuelled by President Donald Trump’s upbeat comments on trade.

Betting odds indicate UK’s May will win no-confidence vote – (Reuters)
The betting odds have shifted sharply toward British Prime Minister Theresa May surviving a no-confidence vote on Wednesday after a leadership contest was called by lawmakers upset by her handling of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s Ex-Lawyer Who Implicated Him in Hush-Money Scandal, Faces Sentencing – (The New York Times)
The sentencing, at 11 a.m. in Manhattan, will cap a startling fall for Mr. Cohen, who is a central figure in the payments to a porn star and a former Playboy model.

Hues and cries: The colors of protests around the world – (Associated Press)
When you’re an activist seeking a way to convey a complex message in a complicated world, you need a hook — something that can command attention across cultures in a memorable and visually arresting way. So what’s more elemental than associating yourself with…

Ex-judges to ICE: End immigration arrests at courthouses – (Associated Press)
BOSTON (AP) — Dozens of retired state and federal judges called Wednesday on U.S. immigration officials to stop making arrests at courthouses of people suspected of being in the country illegally, saying immigrants should be free to visit halls of justice wit…

Who Could Replace Theresa May? Here Are the Main Contenders – (The New York Times)
If Mrs. May falls in a vote of no confidence among her party’s lawmakers Wednesday night, plenty of rivals stand ready to compete for her job.

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From various sources

Baby of mother shot in Ofra attack pronounced dead – (The Jerusalem Post)
The parents had met their child earlier Wednesday morning, the hospital said.

Pro-Israel caucus formed in Zambian parliament – (The Jerusalem Post)
Anti-Israel vote in UN proves “we have work to do.”

Salvini calls Hezbollah a terrorist organization, gets walloped in Italy – (The Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu: Salvini is ‘great friend of Israel’

Alibaba acquires stake in Israeli transportation start-up – (The Jerusalem Post)
Optibus plans to use the finance injection to drive future product innovation and expand into both new and existing markets.

IDF delegation returns from Moscow after Northern Shield, Syria talks – (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel’s military says meeting with senior Russian officers discussed Lebanon and Syria

Ayoub Kara collapses during government meeting – (The Jerusalem Post)
This is not the first time the Minister suffers from medical issues when confronted by political hardships.

Pompeo to head UN Security Council meeting on Iran after rising tension – (The Jerusalem Post)
Two weeks ago, Iran launched a ballistic missile which Pompeo argued was a violation of the UN Security Council 2231, which prohibits Iran from launching rockets designed to carry nuclear weapons.

GOP senator on Trump allegations: I don’t care – CNN Video – (CNN)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) shrugs off news that federal prosecutors implicate President Trump in two crimes committed by his former attorney Michael Cohen.

Scaramucci: Trump has a soft spot for Cohen – CNN Video – (CNN)
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said he is sad to see Michael Cohen face a prison sentence, and he believes President Trump feels the same way after years of working with Cohen.

I am writing a book in public | Basile Samel | 200 Words a Day – (Hacker News)
What is a 100 pages book? 25,000 words.If you write 200 words every day, it will take you 125 days to have enough content. Of course I…

Case of alleged Russian spy Maria Butina nearing conclusion – (Fox News)
Prosecutors allege Butina targeted Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics for the benefit of Russia; Catherine Herridge reports on the case.

McCarthy: Michael Cohen cannot be considered a cooperator – (Fox News)
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy McCarthy says that Michael Cohen cannot be considered a full cooperator because he is not willing to disclose all of his knowledge about the investiation to the government.

Tencent Music pops in debut trade, after opening at $14.10 – (CNBC)
The highly anticipated initial public offering comes amid heightened tensions between the Chinese and U.S. governments.

Driving instructor paralysed after eating a Chinese chicken curry – (Daily Mail)
David Braham, 40, from Bridgend, Wales, became unwell while watching his son play rugby after the meal and within a matter of days was fighting for his life in an induced coma.

Injuries: QB Wentz (back) won’t practice Wednesday – (NFL News)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is dealing with back soreness and will not practice on Wednesday. Doug Pederson did not indicate if Wentz would be available for Sunday’s game.

Athenahealth founder and former CEO Jonathan Bush blasts activist investor, Elliott – (CNBC)
Bush stepped down from the Athenahealth in June after allegations emerged that he attacked his then-wife 13 years ago. Atheneahealth had been locked in a fight with activist investor Elliott Management for more than a year.

Closed Sears Stores Could Face the Wrecking Ball – (Fortune)
Property owners of the shuttered locations may demolish the former Sears stores rather than look for another retailer.

Fast-expanding seafood giant that brings in billions in revenue joins Irvings, McCains as New Brunswick business royalty – (Financial Post)
Founded 33 years ago, Cooke Aquaculture is set to complete its latest acquisition, growing its global workforce to some 9,000 employees

I’m a Celeb’s Holly Willoughby buys £19k ticket to fly home from Oz – (Daily Mail)
Holly Willoughby spent £19,000 on one of the most expensive flights in the world to celebrate her success as a co-host of I’m a Celebrity as she treated herself following the show’s success

Pound plunges at news no confidence vote in May but is now RISING – (Daily Mail)
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 91 points at 6898 around midday today – despite news of Prime Minister Theresa May facing a no-confidence vote tonight.

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All about Trump

Donald Trump once met Christian Bale and thought he was Bruce Wayne – (Mashable)
Everything’s fine!

Trump makes one last try to get the Fed to ease up, but it likely won’t work – (CNBC)
President Donald Trump has made one last pitch to pressure the Federal Reserve into not raising interest rates next week, but it’s expected to have little impact. Despite a string of events that has seemed to push the central bank into a more dovish posture,…

Trump’s willingness to intervene in Huawei CFO’s detention puts Canada in tough spot – (The Globe And Mail)
Ottawa has repeatedly stated the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, which has enraged China, was in response to a lawful request from U.S. law enforcement

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it enforce asylum policy – (Google News)
The Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to enforce its policy effectively prohibiting asylum for migrants who illegally cross the southern border.

Live updates: Michael Cohen sentencing – CNNPolitics – (CNN)
President Trump’s former “fixer” Michael Cohen will be sentenced in federal court today. Follow here for the latest.

Michael Cohen arrives in court for sentencing – (Google News)
It’s judgment day for Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who arrived in Manhattan federal court Wednesday morning to be sentenced for crimes including an illicit hush-money payment to porn…

Trump uses France terror attack to call for US border security – (Google News)
In the midst of negotiations over his demand for more border wall funding, the president used the attack in France to call for U.S. border security.

Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen faces sentencing in New York – live – (The Guardian (AU))
Senate to vote on curbing US support for Yemen war as government shutdown deadline next week looms

Trump to sign executive order on opportunity zones – (Axios)
His EO plans to announce the creation of the White House Revitalization Opportunity Council.

Mueller probe: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former attorney, to be sentenced Wednesday – (USA Today)
A busy week in federal court for Russia-related cases continues Wednesday with the sentencing of President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen.

6 lines from the Trump-Pelosi-Schumer throwdown – (CNN)
On Wednesday at the White House, Donald Trump returned to his reality TV roots: Hosting — and participating in — a bare-knuckled brawl with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

Why millions of people are Googling the word ‘idiot’ today – (Mirror)
Google CEO Sundar Pichai was asked by Congress why searching “idiot” produced a picture of Donald Trump

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2018-12-12

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