Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Japan to resume commercial whaling, but not in Antarctic – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. …
Tech, retailers lead modest Wall Street rebound – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks rose modestly on Wednesday, boosted by technology shares and an Amazon-led jump in retailers, helping pull the S&P 500 from the brink of bear market territory following punishing few sessions.
Koreas break ground on railways but sanctions block project – (Associated Press)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North and South Korea broke ground Wednesday on an ambitious project to modernize North Korean railways and roads and connect them with the South, but without progress in nuclear negotiations, regular trains won’t be crossing the bor…
Hosni Mubarak testifies against Mohamed Morsi in Egyptian court – (Al Jazeera English)
Egypt’s first freely elected president, Morsi, faces charges related to a 2011 prison breakout.
US Justice Ginsburg leaves hospital – (BBC News)
The 85-year-old liberal Supreme Court judge had surgery to remove cancerous nodules from a lung.
Final goodbye: Roll call of some who died in 2018 – (Associated Press)
In a year filled with heightened political vitriol, two deaths brought the nation together to remember men who represented a seemingly bygone era of U.S. politics. George H.W. Bush was a president, vice president, congressman, CIA director and Navy pilot duri…
Medical checks ordered after 2nd detained child migrant dies – (Associated Press)
HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has ordered medical checks on every child in its custody after an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency’s care this month. The death came during an on…
U.S. Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after cancer surgery – (Reuters)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, has been released from the hospital after undergoing cancer surgery, a court spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
Holiday Rest, but Little Relaxing, as Traders Size Up the Stock Market – (The New York Times)
Financial markets were closed in the United States on Tuesday and there was little new information to digest, but traders were already bracing for more selling.
New York City’s Public Housing Is in Crisis. Will Washington Take Control? – (The New York Times)
And if not, what sort of oversight will be imposed on the agency? Negotiations are ongoing.
Asian Markets Flat as Futures Suggest Mixed Day on Wall Street – (The New York Times)
Jittery investors in Asia looked for any sign Wednesday of an end to turmoil on Wall Street, where the market is poised for its worst December since the Great Depression.
Afghan election delayed by three months – (BBC News)
A new date in mid-July or early August is to be announced on Thursday, sources tell the BBC.
No winner for Christmas Mega Millions, jackpot grows to $348 million – (Reuters)
A $321 million Mega Millions jackpot, the biggest ever offered on Christmas Day, went unclaimed as the size of the grand prize grew for the next drawing later this week, the multistate lottery said on Wednesday.
Couple die within hours of each other – (BBC News)
Jason Francis was run over after a day out with friends, and his partner Alice Robinson died hours later.
Putin says Russia is ready to deploy new hypersonic nuclear missile – (Reuters)
President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would deploy its first regiment of hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles next year, saying the move meant his country now had a new type of strategic weapon.
Quake from Mount Etna volcano jolts Sicily, sparks panic – (Associated Press)
ROME (AP) — An earthquake triggered by Mount Etna’s eruption jolted eastern Sicily before dawn Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people, damaging churches and houses on the volcano’s slopes and prompting panicked villagers to flee their homes. Italy’s Civil Pro…
U.S. holiday shopping season best in six years: report – (Reuters)
Sales during the U.S. holiday shopping season rose 5.1 percent to over $850 billion in 2018, the strongest in the past six years, according to a Mastercard report, as shoppers were encouraged by a robust economy and early discounts.
Special Report: Oil output goes AWOL in Venezuela as soldiers run PDVSA – (Reuters)
Last July 6, Major General Manuel Quevedo joined his wife, a Catholic priest and a gathering of oil workers in prayer in a conference room at the headquarters of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA.
Martial law lifted in Ukraine regions – (BBC News)
The law came into force last month, after a clash between Ukrainian and Russian forces off Crimea.
Guatemalan boy becomes second child to die in U.S. custody in December – (Reuters)
An 8-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy died early on Christmas Day after being detained by U.S. border agents, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, the second migrant child to die in U.S. detention this month.
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From various sources
Additinal case of measles disease reportedly threatening train passengers – (The Jerusalem Post)
The statement by the Health Ministry urged individuals who were born after 1957 and didn’t receive the necessary two vaccinations to immediately get themselves examined for the disease.
Woman fined by Rabbinical Court for seeking police assistance – (The Jerusalem Post)
Ex-husband allegedly owes NIS 100,000 in child support payments and harassed his former wife and her partner.
PA foils Hamas attempt to convene Palestinian parliament – (The Jerusalem Post)
In yet another sign of mounting tensions between the two parties, the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday foiled an attempt by Hamas officials to hold a press conference in Ramallah.
Syrian air defense missiles: Everything you need to know – (The Jerusalem Post)
The layers of air defense that Syria has should be able to confront some of the threats thrown at the regime.
Netanyahu: We stand firm against Iran in Syria despite Trump’s decision – (The Jerusalem Post)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the Israel Air Force Flight Academy graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
When stock market swings should raise alarms – CNN Video – (CNN)
A 600 point upswing. A 900 point dip. CNN’s Christine Romans explains what recent stock market moves mean, and how to put them in context.
The 16 best Instagram apps that’ll seriously raise your filter game – (Mashable)
You don’t need a masters degree to get all the Instagram likes.
U.S. judge holds North Korea liable for death of American student – (CBS News)
A U.S. federal judge has ordered North Korea to pay over $500 million in the death of American college student Otto Warmbier. Isaac Stone Fish, a CBSN contributor and senior fellow at Asia Society’s Center on U.S. relations, joins CBSN to discuss how Warmbier…
Driver who killed 2 brothers in hit-and-run found dead in cell on Christmas Day – (Mirror)
Robert Brown, 53, was found dead in his cell roughly 10 months after he killed Corey and Casper Platt-May, aged six and two, in Coventry
Bimal Jalan to head expert panel on Economic Capital Framework – (The Hindu)
More than a month after its board decided to constitute an expert panel to decide on appropriate size of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) reserves, the central bank on Wednesday constituted a six-m
Unseasonably mild Boxing Day as 2018 will bow out on a gloomy note – (Daily Mail)
December averages usually hover around 7C (45F) but temperatures hit double figures across the country today, reaching highs of 11C (52F). However, there could be a frosty end to 2018.
Gattuso grumbles over Milan’s first-half at Frosinone – (FourFourTwo)
Gennaro Gattuso is under scrutiny after his AC Milan side drew another blank in the 0-0 draw at Frosinone and he was angered by the display.
Stock market tries for a comeback – (CNN)
The Dow is trying to rebound from a disastrous Christmas Eve.
Trump advisor says Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s jobs are safe – (CNBC)
Tills jingling across Dublin for St Stephen’s Day sales – (The Irish Times)
Brown Thomas says more Irish buyers are shopping for luxury handbags this year
These vehicles will be killed in 2019: Say goodbye to Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan cars – (USA Today)
Automakers, including General Motors and Ford, are killing vehicle models at a steady clip – largely because consumer preferences are changing.
Japan to resume commercial whaling, but not in Antarctic – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it would no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings. …
Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first home game as Manchester United manager – (TalkSport)
The legendary striker now plays for DC United, but is back in England for Christmas with his own season not resuming until March
FIFA 19 Predicts The Outcome Of A World XI Vs lcons XI Match – (The Sport Bible)
From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Pelé and Diego Maradona, it’s time to settle this debate once and for all in a FIFA 19 match!
Trump’s “bone spurs” to avoid Vietnam were bogus, say podiatrist’s daughters – (Vice News)
It was family lore that the doc had done it as a favor to Fred Trump
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All about Trump
Netanyahu: We stand firm against Iran in Syria despite Trump’s decision – (The Jerusalem Post)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the Israel Air Force Flight Academy graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
Trump advisor says Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s jobs are safe – (CNBC)
Trump’s “bone spurs” to avoid Vietnam were bogus, say podiatrist’s daughters – (Vice News)
It was family lore that the doc had done it as a favor to Fred Trump
New York Times tracks down anti-Trump children of deceased doctor to run uncorroborated Vietnam allegations – (Fox News)
The New York Times tracked down the daughters of a doctor – who has been dead for over a decade – to report their claims that their dad helped now-President Trump avoid military service during the Vietnam War, despite the paper admitting it couldn’t corrobora…
Trump reportedly says it’s a ‘tremendous opportunity to buy’ stocks as they teeter on bear-market territory – (Business Insider)
Trump reportedly says it’s a ‘tremendous opportunity to buy’ stocks as they teeter on bear-market territory
Trump reportedly says it’s a ‘tremendous opportunity to buy’ stocks as they teeter on bear-market territory – (Business Insider (UK))
Trump reportedly says it’s a ‘tremendous opportunity to buy’ stocks as they teeter on bear-market territory
U.S. Government Shutdown Enters Fifth Day – (The Wall Street Journal)
The government shutdown stretched into its fifth day Wednesday with no indications emerging that President Trump and Congress would find a way soon to reopen it.
New York Times: Daughters of foot doctor say he diagnosed Trump with bone spurs as ‘favor’ to Fred Trump – (CNN)
The daughters of a Queens foot doctor say their late father diagnosed President Donald Trump with bone spurs to help him avoid the Vietnam War draft as a “favor” to his father Fred Trump, according to a new report Wednesday.
Trump, Democrats remain a few billion dollars apart on border security funding as partial government shutdown persists – (Fox News)
President says the government will not reopen without the wall; Rich Edson reports from the White House.
After the holiday, effects of U.S. government shutdown begin to take hold – (The Globe And Mail)
Wednesday brings the first full business day after several government departments and agencies closed up over the weekend due to a budgetary stalemate between President Donald Trump and Congress
U.S. Markets Look Cautiously Optimistic After Christmas Eve Meltdown While Asian Exchanges Dip – (Fortune)
Concern about Trump administration policies, the U.S.-China trade war, and general uncertainty have hit markets hard.
Trump’s 2017 tax bill will likely mean billions less in donations for charities this year – (USA Today)
The 2017 tax law makes it less inviting for people to donate to charity and is expected to cause a 3 to 5 percent decline in overall giving.
After Christmas, The Government Shutdown Is Just Getting Started – (Google News)
Asked when the government would reopen fully, Trump said he couldn’t say.
Trump is first president in 15 years to not visit troops during Christmas period – (Newsweek)
Donald Trump used a phone call to military troops to reassert his position on the partial government shutdown.
2018 Was The Year Donald Trump Declared Total War On Immigrants – (The Huffington Post)
The year can be summed up in one word: fear.
Girl who still believes in Santa finds gifts, despite Trump’s ‘marginal’ comment – (Google News)
A 7-year-old girl who talked to President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve still left out milk and cookies for Santa despite the president telling her it was “marginal” for a child of her age to still believe.
Seven-year-old still believes in Santa despite speaking with Trump – (ABC News (AU))
A seven-year-old girl who talked to Donald Trump on Christmas Eve still leaves out milk and cookies for Santa despite the US President telling her it was marginal for a child of her age to still believe.
Trump doubles down on shutdown saying government won’t reopen without wall funding – (Fox News)
RNC spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany and Democratic strategist Jason Nichols debate.
Nine federal agencies planning for indefinite closure amid partial shutdown – (CBS News)
President Trump says the partial government shutdown will not end until Democrats agree to put up billions for his border wall. A large part of the federal government is still closed. The president is also backing his treasury secretary after he caused more u…
Child says she still believes in Santa after Trump’s ‘marginal’ quip – (Google News (Canada))
Collman Lloyd and her two siblings left iced sugar cookies and milk out for Saint Nick overnight and, in the morning, the treats were gone and presents were under the tree
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