Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Holiday-season gridlock in DC brings partial federal closure – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Christmas-season gridlock descended on the nation’s capital Saturday like an unwelcomed present just before the holiday as America’s elected leaders partially closed down the government over their inability to compromise on money for a wall …
US envoy for anti-ISIL coalition McGurk resigns: reports – (Al Jazeera English)
US media report Brett McGurk has quit over his disagreement with Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
As FAANG stocks falter, fund managers make bets on survivors – (Reuters)
A bear market in the so-called FAANG stocks – Wall Street’s most popular trade going into the year – is pushing fund managers into searching for the next big growth companies that can lead the overall market higher.
US envoy quits over Trump Syria pullout – (BBC News)
US envoy Brett McGurk resigns over President Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria
U.S. government partially shut down in fight over Trump’s wall – (Reuters)
The U.S. government was partially shut down on Saturday in a fierce dispute over President Donald Trump’s demands that Congress assign $5 billion for a wall along the border with Mexico.
US envoy to anti-IS coalition quits over Trump’s Syria move – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, has resigned in protest to President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, joining Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in an adminis…
Sudan protests over rising prices continue for fourth day – (Al Jazeera English)
At least 10 people have been killed in anti-government protests across multiple cities over rising bread, fuel prices.
‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Review: A Truck Full of Sugar Can’t Make This Uplift Go Down – (The New York Times)
In this charmless follow-up to the 1964 film, Mary Poppins is back to take matters firmly in hand. There will be discipline, and song.
12 Movies to Watch This Holiday Season – (The New York Times)
Our critics have been busy. Here’s what they have to say about movies in theaters now.
Will ‘Black Panther’ Pave the Way for Nonwhite Stars Overseas? – (The New York Times)
Minority filmmakers have long wanted studios to give them more international promotion. They are hoping some recent global success stories are signs of change.
Local pair quizzed over Gatwick drones – (BBC News)
A man and a woman from Crawley, aged 47 and 54, are in custody as the airport aims to return to normal.
Online clothing retailers hunt for better fit to cut costly returns – (Reuters)
Models testing fashion brands like Adidas , Benetton and Gap are finding that almost a third of the shoes and clothes they try on are bigger or smaller than the size on the label indicates, explaining why many clothes bought online are sent back.
Mattis outlines strategic hazards facing next Pentagon chief – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The extraordinary resignation letter that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis handed to a surprised President Donald Trump was not just a product of two years of accumulating frustration with an impulsive boss, but an outline of the strategic hazar…
Strasbourg gunman ‘pledged IS allegiance’ – (BBC News)
Cherif Chekatt declared support for the militant group in a video, judicial sources tell AFP.
Spacex halts launch of U.S. military satellite due to winds – (Reuters)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX scrapped Saturday’s launch of a long-delayed navigation satellite for the U.S. military due to strong upper-level winds.
Partial government shutdown compounds risks for US economy – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Now in its 10th year, America’s economic expansion still looks sturdy. Yet the partial shutdown of the government that began Saturday has added another threat to a growing list of risks. The stock market’s persistent fall, growing chaos in t…
Cancer the latest health woe for resilient Justice Ginsburg – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is resting in a New York hospital following surgery to remove two malignant growths in her left lung, the third time the Supreme Court’s oldest justice has been treated for cancer and her second stay in a hospital…
Top Somali journalist among blast victims – (BBC News)
Awil Dihar Salad is among those killed in attacks claimed by al-Shabab in the capital Mogadishu.
What do foreign journalists make of Brexit? – (BBC News)
Brexit has been dividing opinion in the UK, but what do UK-based foreign journalists make of it all?
Iran says U.S. presence in Syria was a mistake from the start – (Reuters)
Iran said that the U.S. military presence in Syria had been “a mistake, illogical and a source of tension”, in Tehran’s first reaction to President Donald Trump’s planned pull-out.
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From various sources
Return to Pittsburgh – (The Jerusalem Post)
A short story.
PA ‘unhappy’ with Hamas leader’s invitation to Moscow – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Russian official said that Haniyeh’s visit to Moscow was in the context of Moscow’s effort to end the Hamas-Fatah rift.
The fraught situation confronting Germany and German Jewry – (The Jerusalem Post)
The situation is complex. German Jews – who today include possibly as many as 30,000 Israelis – are overwhelmingly positive, while expressing concern at the emergence of the AfD.
U.S. government partially shutdown Saturday ahead of Christmas holiday – (The Jerusalem Post)
After failing to strike a budget deal on Friday, congressional leaders and the White House pledged to keep talking through the weekend in search of a deal to end the shutdown ahead of the Christmas holiday.
r/interestingasfuck – Real life hulk… – (Reddit /r/all)
15,935 votes and 349 comments so far on Reddit
r/funny – Try it – (Reddit /r/all)
18,062 votes and 628 comments so far on Reddit
r/europe – Drone Wars: Battle of Gatwick – (Reddit /r/all)
10,310 votes and 378 comments so far on Reddit
r/Showerthoughts – We spend 40+ hours a week making someone else’s dream come true, often leaving us too exhausted to work on our own. – (Reddit /r/all)
9,454 votes and 515 comments so far on Reddit
r/MadeMeSmile – Same tie – (Reddit /r/all)
35,392 votes and 361 comments so far on Reddit
Military experts say Trump’s sudden Syria withdrawal could create “ISIS 2.0” – (Vice News)
“This is going to be an ISIS propaganda video in next few weeks, basically with them declaring victory.”
r/PoliticalHumor – Embarrassing – (Reddit /r/all)
21,711 votes and 3 comments so far on Reddit
r/therewasanattempt – To give the human a gift – (Reddit /r/all)
15,171 votes and 126 comments so far on Reddit
Ovechkin, Capitals sing holiday songs pretty poorly – (NHL News)
The Washington Capitals singing voices are back by unpopular demand.For the second straight year, the team put out a faux holiday album full of good hockey players who are plain bad singers.
Projected lineups, starting goalies for today – (NHL News)
NHL.com identifies daily projected lineups and starting goalies. Set your fantasy hockey rosters accordingly.
‘Hockey Night in Canada’: 5 Storylines – (NHL News)
The New York Rangers have the unenviable task of trying to slow down one of the NHL’s hottest offenses when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opener of a “Hockey Night in Canada” doubleheader at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN, …
Knesset clashes over Christmas – (The Jerusalem Post)
Abu Rahmoun said she found it disturbing that Ariel does not care about the freedom of religion of Arab MKs.
A. Townsend great goal (Man City 1-[2] Crystal Palace) 35′ – (Reddit /r/all)
‘It could be a long stay,’ Trump warns as talks resume in Congress over government shutdown | CBC News – (CBC News)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter on Saturday that he was continuing to negotiate with Democrats to end the government shutdown, but added that “it could be a long stay.”
Brett McGurk, US envoy to anti-ISIS coalition, resigns in wake of Trump decision to pull troops from Syria – (Fox News)
Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition to defeat Islamic State (ISIS), has resigned as a result of President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria — coming on the heels of the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis earlier thi…
‘Bird Box’s mysterious monster is inspiring lots of online discussions – (Mashable)
The monster is so mysterious.
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All about Trump
Military experts say Trump’s sudden Syria withdrawal could create “ISIS 2.0” – (Vice News)
“This is going to be an ISIS propaganda video in next few weeks, basically with them declaring victory.”
‘It could be a long stay,’ Trump warns as talks resume in Congress over government shutdown | CBC News – (CBC News)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter on Saturday that he was continuing to negotiate with Democrats to end the government shutdown, but added that “it could be a long stay.”
Brett McGurk, US envoy to anti-ISIS coalition, resigns in wake of Trump decision to pull troops from Syria – (Fox News)
Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition to defeat Islamic State (ISIS), has resigned as a result of President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria — coming on the heels of the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis earlier thi…
‘So stupid,’ ‘absurd’ – Senate Dems condemn shutdown after talks falter – (The Hill)
Senate Democrats blasted the partial government shutdown Saturday, calling it “dumb,” “unnecessary” and “truly absurd” while arguing it was entirely President Trump’s making.
Top US envoy in ISIS fight to resign over Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria: report – (The Hill)
President Trump’s special envoy to the fight against ISIS reportedly submitted his resignation on Friday due to his disagreement with the president’s decision to withdraw U.S.
Trump‘s Envoy in War Against Islamic State Group Resigns – (The Wall Street Journal)
President Trump‘s envoy in the war against Islamic State Group has resigned, officials say. Brett McGurk leaves the State Department as the president prepares to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.
How will President Donald Trump, Congress get out of the government shutdown? – (USA Today)
President Trump warned he’s “prepared for a very long shutdown,” but just how long it takes will depend on how soon voters decide who is to blame.
US envoy for anti-ISIL coalition McGurk resigns: reports – (Al Jazeera English)
US media report Brett McGurk has quit over his disagreement with Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
US envoy quits over Trump Syria pullout – (BBC News)
US envoy Brett McGurk resigns over President Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria
U.S. envoy for anti-ISIS coalition resigns over Syria withdrawal – (Axios)
He was reportedly planning on leaving in February, but Trump’s decision accelerated his departure.
U.S. government partially shut down in fight over Trump’s wall – (Reuters)
The U.S. government was partially shut down on Saturday in a fierce dispute over President Donald Trump’s demands that Congress assign $5 billion for a wall along the border with Mexico.
US envoy to anti-IS coalition quits over Trump’s Syria move – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, has resigned in protest to President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, joining Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in an adminis…
Iran: U.S. presence in Syrian civil war a ‘mistake from the start’ – (The Jerusalem Post)
Trump said in a tweet on Thursday that “Russia, Iran, Syria & many others are not happy” about the planned U.S. withdrawal.
Trump lost his last general and U.S. foreign policy may never be the same – (Vice News)
“What serious person is going to accept that job?”
Smerconish: Trump’s biggest threat isn’t Mueller – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s Michael Smerconish discusses what he says are the biggest threats to President Trump: the market, Robert Mueller, the military, and the media.
Trump risks ‘damaging America’s reputation for the long term’ with Syria withdrawal, experts warn – (CNBC)
U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt announcement this week that he intends to withdraw all American troops out of Syria risks dealing a serious blow to his country’s credibility as an ally and partner, former national security officials and regional experts …
Blame game begins as federal government partially shuts down over wall impasse – (Fox News)
The federal government partially shutdown Saturday after lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a spending deal — with funding for President Trump’s border wall the central issue.
Mattis outlines strategic hazards facing next Pentagon chief – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The extraordinary resignation letter that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis handed to a surprised President Donald Trump was not just a product of two years of accumulating frustration with an impulsive boss, but an outline of the strategic hazar…
Melania Trump’s controversial red trees a hit at White House Christmas parties – (USA Today)
The trees turned out to be quite the attraction: Pedestrian traffic jams formed as party guests clamored to be photographed in front of them.
Slat man: Trump’s Christmas shutdown spooks GOP – (Axios)
“It’s a showdown, but one side has already lost.”
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