Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Conservative Revolt Endangers Deal to Avoid a Shutdown – (The New York Times)
After the Senate passed a spending bill, conservative anger has President Trump openly mulling whether he would sign it.
Trump lashes out as House struggles with avoiding shutdown – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — With last-minute efforts to avert a government shutdown in disarray, the White House suggested Thursday that President Donald Trump is not onboard with a critical spending agreement because it lacks billions of dollars for “steel slats or a …
Congress scrambles to avert shutdown as Trump weighs options – (Reuters)
The U.S. Congress on Thursday scrambled to prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government through passage of a temporary government funding bill as President Donald Trump gave mixed signals about whether he would sign off on the plan.
Drones ground flights at London Gatwick, sowing chaos for Christmas travelers – (Reuters)
Drones flying near London’s Gatwick airport grounded flights for at least 15 hours, causing chaos for tens of thousands of Christmas travelers in what authorities said was a reckless attempt to cripple Britain’s second busiest airport.
British army may be needed to tackle Gatwick airport drones: defense ministry – (Reuters)
The British army is working with police to see if it can tackle the presence of drones at Gatwick Airport which have grounded flights for at least 15 hours.
UK government officials working on ‘serious incident’ at Gatwick – (Reuters)
British officials from across government are meeting to discuss how to bring an end to the “serious incident” at Gatwick Airport where the presence of several drones has grounded flights for at least 17 hours.
IATA urges action on ‘rogue drones’ after Gatwick chaos – (Reuters)
Global airline body IATA called on Thursday for steps to reduce the risk of rogue drone operations including a registry of higher caliber drones, bigger fines, and jail sentences after flights were grounded at London’s Gatwick airport.
British army deploying specialist equipment at Gatwick after drone disruption – (Reuters)
The British army has deployed unspecified equipment at Gatwick Airport, the ministry of defense said on Thursday, after drones flying near Britain’s second busiest airport grounded flights and stranded thousands of Christmas travelers.
DR Congo’s presidential election delayed till December 30 – (Al Jazeera English)
The presidential election in the DRC scheduled on Sunday has been cancelled and will now be held on December 30.
Tobacco giant strides into vape market with $13B Juul stake – (Associated Press)
Altria, one of the world’s biggest tobacco companies, is spending nearly $13 billion to buy a huge stake in the vape company Juul as cigarette use continues to decline. The Marlboro maker said Thursday that it will take a 35 percent share of Juul, putting the…
Was Trump right to say IS is beaten? – (BBC News)
Donald Trump is withdrawing US troops from Syria after declaring victory over the Islamic State group.
France says Islamic State not defeated, troops to remain in Syria – (Reuters)
France will keep troops in northern Syria for now because Islamic State militants have not been wiped out, contrary to the U.S. view, and has started talks with the United States on the conditions and calendar of its withdrawal, officials said.
Oil prices sink to lowest in a year as stock markets fall – (Reuters)
Oil prices fell about 3 percent on Thursday, hitting their lowest in more than a year on worries about oversupply and the outlook for energy demand as a U.S. interest rate rise knocked stock markets.
Trump’s Attorney General Nominee Criticized Russia Investigation – (The New York Times)
In a memo to top Justice Department officials in June, the nominee, William Barr, objected to the notion that President Trump may have committed the crime of obstruction of justice.
U.S. and Other Nations to Announce China Crackdown – (The New York Times)
The move comes as the Justice Department planned to announce criminal charges against hackers believed to be linked with China’s security services.
US charges ‘China government hackers’ – (BBC News)
The US unveils criminal charges against hackers said to be connected to China’s intelligence service.
Judge declines to throw out Harvey Weinstein criminal case – (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge declined to dismiss sexual assault charges against Harvey Weinstein Thursday, rejecting the latest push from the disgraced film producer’s lawyers to have his indictment thrown out. Judge James Burke’s ruling buoyed a prosecut…
Mexico to let migrants remain while US asylum claims proceed – (Associated Press)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has agreed to a U.S. proposal to let third-country migrants remain in or be returned to Mexico while their claims for asylum in the United States are being processed. The decision was a historic one for Mexico, which has traditionall…
Gatwick Airport Closed After Drone Flights That Officials Call ‘Deliberate’ – (The New York Times)
Flights in and out of London’s second-busiest airport were halted after drones were spotted flying illegally nearby, with passengers diverted to airports as far away as Paris.
U.S. to end air war against Islamic State in Syria – (Reuters)
The United States will end its air campaign against Islamic State in Syria when it pulls out troops, U.S. officials said, sealing an abrupt reversal of policy which has alarmed Western allies as well as Washington’s Kurdish battle partners.
***
From various sources
These States Are On The Cusp of Losing Power in the House – (The Wall Street Journal)
The Upper Midwest is growing, but too slowly to keep House seats from moving South
Liberation of Buchenwald: The first glimpse of a concentration camp – (The Jerusalem Post)
Content warning: Contains some graphic descriptions of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Harvey Weinstein’s motion for criminal case dismissal denied – (The Jerusalem Post)
The accusations led to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, politics and entertainment of sexual harassment and abuse.
Fake News and MAGA signs found outside Texas Holocaust Museum – (The Jerusalem Post)
“It’s clearly a statement of Holocaust denial,” Ronit Sherwin, CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, told the news website.
Palestinians: Arab journalists’ visit to Israel a ‘crime’ and ‘sin’ – (The Jerusalem Post)
The PA on Thursday called for punishing the journalists for allegedly supporting Israel, and said that normalization was an “unacceptable and unjustified disgrace.”
Kurdish region of Iraq alarmed by U.S. sudden withdrawal – (The Jerusalem Post)
Discussions to try and soften Ankara’s stance, dilute PKK role in eastern Syria came to naught.
Ministry of Strategic Affairs to create international anti-BDS legal team – (The Jerusalem Post)
The ministry is planning to invest NIS 3.25 million on the project in its first two years.
The Trump Administration Says It Will Force Asylum Seekers At The Southern Border To Wait In Mexico – (Buzzfeed)
The announcement is a massive shift in immigration policy.
Adjustments, controlling emotions key to comebacks – (NHL News)
The Coaches Room is a weekly column by one of four former NHL coaches and assistants who will turn their critical gaze to the game and explain it through the lens of a teacher.In this edition, Daniel Lacroix, a former assistant with the Montreal Canadiens, Ne…
Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham do not want Man Utd questions at news conferences – BBC Sport – (BBC Sport)
Mauricio Pochettino’s news conference is overshadowed by a dispute between a reporter and the club’s press officer about asking questions relating to the vacant Manchester United job.
Show HN: Serverless POC of Google Analytics Built from Scratch – (Hacker News)
Conservative Revolt Endangers Deal to Avoid a Shutdown – (The New York Times)
After the Senate passed a spending bill, conservative anger has President Trump openly mulling whether he would sign it.
‘ISIS terrorists’ called murdered Scandinavians the ‘enemies of God’ – (Daily Mail)
Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, were found dead near the village of Imlil in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains on Monday.
MailOnline inundated with delivery stories as dog rips apart parcel – (Daily Mail)
Rebecca Cummins, 27, an office worker from Merseyside, says her parcels were chewed up by her dog when a Hermes delivery driver tossed them over the gate rather than ringing the bell
Police send in snipers to shoot down Gatwick drone – (Daily Mail)
Two drones spotted flying near the runway brought Gatwick airport to a standstill last night with thousands of passengers diverted as far away as Bordeaux and warned the chaos could last all day.
Slack institutes sweeping ban of users linked to Iran – (The Verge)
A new Slack ban has deactivated accounts linked to Iran, including users living as far as Finland, Canada and the United States, many with few remaining ties to Iran in either citizenship or physical presence.
Elon Musk Donates More Than $400K to Buy a Laptop for Every 7th and 8th Grader in Flint, Mich. – (Fortune)
The $423,000 donation from the Elon Musk Foundation surprises students before holidays.
I’m Laughing At The Reason Why Paris Hilton Is Keeping Her $2 Million Engagement Ring – (Buzzfeed)
I see no lies.
Mother convicted of neglect for trying to ‘protect’ killer boyfriend – (Daily Mail)
Doulton Phillips, 17, of Southampton, murdered his infant son Reggie (pictured) before Alannah Skinner, 19, failed to call an ambulance in a sick bid to ‘protect’ her partner.
***
All about Trump
The Trump Administration Says It Will Force Asylum Seekers At The Southern Border To Wait In Mexico – (Buzzfeed)
The announcement is a massive shift in immigration policy.
Conservative Revolt Endangers Deal to Avoid a Shutdown – (The New York Times)
After the Senate passed a spending bill, conservative anger has President Trump openly mulling whether he would sign it.
Trump lashes out as House struggles with avoiding shutdown – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — With last-minute efforts to avert a government shutdown in disarray, the White House suggested Thursday that President Donald Trump is not onboard with a critical spending agreement because it lacks billions of dollars for “steel slats or a …
Congress scrambles to avert shutdown as Trump weighs options – (Reuters)
The U.S. Congress on Thursday scrambled to prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government through passage of a temporary government funding bill as President Donald Trump gave mixed signals about whether he would sign off on the plan.
Debate over border wall gets personal – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN political commentators Ana Navarro and Steve Cortes clash over President Donald Trump’s promised US-Mexico border wall.
Here’s why Trump’s pick for attorney general doesn’t think he should be investigated for obstruction of justice – (Vice News)
“If embraced by the Department, this theory would have potentially disastrous implications not just for the presidency, but for the executive branch as a whole and for the department in particular.”
White House throws government funding deal into doubt, says Trump ‘does not want to go further without bord… – (Fox News)
Trump’s AG nominee called Mueller investigation into question – (Axios)
Barr doesn’t believe Trump can obstruct justice
Was Trump right to say IS is beaten? – (BBC News)
Donald Trump is withdrawing US troops from Syria after declaring victory over the Islamic State group.
Kurdish Fighters Discuss Releasing Almost 3,200 ISIS Prisoners – (Google News)
Upset by President Trump’s order to withdraw troops, and expecting a Turkish attack, the Syrian Democratic Forces are considering freeing fighters, a monitoring group and official said.
Trump to meet with House GOP as frustration builds – (The Hill)
President Trump will meet with House Republicans on Thursday as his frustration builds over their refusal to include border-wall funding in a stopgap spending bill.
Trump, House GOP to meet over shutdown-border dispute – (CNN)
President Donald Trump will meet with House Republican lawmakers at noon Thursday to discuss the how to avert a government shutdown amid a dispute over border wall funding.
“Where do you begin?”: Trump has created more scandals than House Democrats can realistically investigate – (Vice News)
“I liken it to being the cleanup crew at an 88-car pileup on the highway.”
Sen. Paul praises Trump’s ‘incredibly bold maneuver’ to withdraw US troops from Syria, says money can be used elsewhere – (Fox News)
Republican senator explains on ‘America’s Newsroom’ how the money being spent on the war in Syria should be used to take care of America first.
Trump defends decision to remove all troops from Syria, says US will no longer risk lives and spend money for ‘nothing’ – (Fox News)
President Trump explains the though process behind his decision in a series of tweets; Kevin Corke has the details from the White House.
Republicans opposed to short-term spending CR hope President Trump will use veto pen if the bill gets through House – (Fox News)
Trump’s most conservative allies in Congress warn the president that signing a bill that doesn’t fund the border wall will hurt his 2020 campaign; Peter Doocy reports from Capitol Hill.
New Trump administration policy requires asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico, bans US entry – (USA Today)
The U.S. has long allowed asylum-seekers to remain here pending an immigration judge’s decision on their application. They now must remain in Mexico.
Congress won’t pay for Trump’s wall so his supporters are crowdfunding it – (Vice News)
They’re just $216 million away from 1 percent of the total money needed
Is asylum processing on the US border really at capacity? Critics doubt it – (CNN)
Since Trump’s election, officials have turned back asylum seekers claiming the system is at capacity, forcing migrants to wait days at the border or make risky illegal crossings. But critics believe the bottleneck may be artificial.
Trump’s Attorney General Nominee Criticized Russia Investigation – (The New York Times)
In a memo to top Justice Department officials in June, the nominee, William Barr, objected to the notion that President Trump may have committed the crime of obstruction of justice.