Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
U.S. demands immediate return of ex-Marine detained in Russia on spy charges – (Reuters)
The United States is demanding the immediate return of a retired U.S. Marine detained by Russia on spying charges, and wants an explanation of why he was arrested, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.
Trump fires back after incoming Senator Romney blasts president – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday cautioned fellow Republican Mitt Romney to be a “team player” after the former presidential candidate and incoming U.S. senator sharply criticized the president’s actions and questioned his character.
Texas drive-by gunman kills girl, seven – (BBC News)
Houston cops are searching for a man who opened fire on a family in their car in a random attack.
Hill leaders, Trump to meet on border in WH Situation Room – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic and Republican congressional leaders are expected to attend a briefing on border security at the White House as the government remains partially shut down and President Donald Trump asks in a tweet, “Let’s make a deal?” The partia…
Netflix criticized for yanking Patriot Act episode in Saudi – (Associated Press)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Netflix faced criticism on Wednesday for pulling an episode in Saudi Arabia of comedian Hasan Minhaj’s “Patriot Act” that criticized the kingdom’s powerful crown prince. The American comedian used his second episode, release…
Tesla shares fall on price cut, soft Model 3 deliveries – (Reuters)
Tesla Inc shares fell 9 percent on Wednesday after the electric car maker delivered fewer-than-expected Model 3 sedans in the fourth quarter and cut prices for all its vehicles in the United States to offset a reduction in a green tax credit.
U.S. demands immediate return of ex-Marine detained in Russia on spy charges: Pompeo – (Reuters)
The United States is demanding the immediate return of a retired U.S. Marine detained by Russia on spying charges, and wants an explanation on why he was arrested, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.
Wall Street starts new year with 1 percent slide on global slowdown jitters – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks started the new year with a more than 1 percent decline on Wednesday, as weak data in Asia and Europe confirmed fears of a global economic slowdown while the U.S. government shutdown dragged on.
Death toll from Philippine landslides, floods climbs to 85 – (Reuters)
The death toll from landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by a tropical depression climbed to 85, officials said on Wednesday, and 20 people were missing as rescuers slowly reached cut-off communities.
Trump shrugs off Romney’s attack – (BBC News)
The US president reminds his fellow Republican that he lost when he stood for president.
Sports betting will be no home run for state budgets – (Associated Press)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The race to legalize sports betting is on now that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed it in all 50 states, but will it provide enough extra tax revenue to make much of a difference for schools, roads or pension debt? Don’t bet on it…
US seeks access to Russia spy accused – (BBC News)
The US secretary of state says they will demand the ex-Marine’s release if his arrest is “not appropriate”.
Train crash on Danish bridge kills 6, injures 16 – (Associated Press)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed six people and injured 16 others as it crossed a bridge linking the country’s islands, authorities said. The accid…
Trump answers Romney criticism: ‘I won big, and he didn’t’ – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Faced with biting public criticism from Republican Sen.-elect Mitt Romney, President Donald Trump pushed back Wednesday, reminding him that “I won big, and he didn’t.” Days away from joining the Senate’s Republican majority, Romney broadly c…
Netflix pulls comedy show episode in Saudi Arabia – (Reuters)
Netflix withdrew an episode of the comedy show “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” from its Internet streaming service in Saudi Arabia after officials of the kingdom complained, the company said on Wednesday.
Death toll in Russian apartment collapse rises to 21 – (Associated Press)
MOSCOW (AP) — Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building, bringing the known death toll to 21. The bodies found on Wednesday in the city of Magnitogorsk included a 3-year-old girl, Russian news ag…
White House calls Democrats’ plan to end shutdown ‘non-starter’ – (Reuters)
U.S. Congress was set to reconvene on Wednesday with no sign of a workable plan to end a 12-day-old partial federal government shutdown and President Donald Trump not budging on his demand for $5 billion in border wall funding.
China mission primed for Moon landing – (BBC News)
It is the first attempt to land robotic craft on the side of the Moon which never faces Earth.
AP Exclusive: India’s hidden years of nuns abused by priests – (Associated Press)
KURAVILANGAD, India (AP) — The stories spill out in the sitting rooms of Catholic convents, where portraits of Jesus keep watch and fans spin quietly overhead. They spill out in church meeting halls bathed in fluorescent lights, and over cups of cheap instant…
Protests in India after women defy ancient ban on visiting Hindu temple – (Reuters)
Two women defied a centuries-old ban on entering a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala on Wednesday, sparking rowdy protests and calls for a strike by conservative Hindu groups outraged by their visit.
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From various sources
Trump fires back at Romney – (The Jerusalem Post)
“Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake?” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Study: Israeli university graduates higher earners than college graduates – (The Jerusalem Post)
Start-up hub makes Israel port of call for maritime innovation – (The Jerusalem Post)
Two ex-Israeli Navy commanders are riding the wave of innovation to transform the Jewish state into the port of call for global maritime technology.
Alex Gilady withdraws #metoo libel lawsuit against female reporter – (The Jerusalem Post)
Keshet president says he ‘does not remember’ the harassment incident described on live TV by Oshrat Kotler.
Iran’s Zarif: Oman informed us before Netanyahu’s visit – (The Jerusalem Post)
Iran was against Netanyahu’s visit. “We told them, we emphasized our view and that it is against their interests,” Zarif said.
The Dow drops 300 points in Wall Street’s first trading session of 2019 – (Business Insider)
The Dow drops 300 points in Wall Street’s first trading session of 2019
The Dow drops 300 points in Wall Street’s first trading session of 2019 – (Business Insider (UK))
The Dow drops 300 points in Wall Street’s first trading session of 2019
Non-Jewish Olim? 54% of new immigrants not Jewish. – (The Jerusalem Post)
According to the CBS, there were 30,300 immigrants who came to Israel under the Law of Return, of whom 12,600 were Jewish and 17,700 were not.
The Universe of Discourse : A happy numeric coincidence – (Hacker News)
Missouri teen blinded by mystery illness – (Fox News)
15-year-old Jordyn Walker has experienced puzzling physical symptoms including stomach pain, bloody stools and permanent blindness since returning from a family cruise in July 2017. Doctors have been unable to pinpoint a cause.
Hulk Hogan leads tributes after WWE legend Gene Okerlund dies, aged 76 – (Mirror)
Hogan took to social media to pay tribute to the iconic interviewer
Pictured: Bouncer stabbed to death at Mayfair New Year’s Eve party – (Daily Mail)
Tudor Simionov, 33, was filmed fighting off up to nine men in the moments before he was murdered on Park Lane at 5.30am yesterday.
Husband who saved his wife from taking her own life admits ASSAULT – (Daily Mail)
Graham Page, 46, found his wife Alexandra had left a suicide note at their home in Redland, Bristol, and dragged her to safety after finding her intoxicated and ‘hysterical’ in her car.
Lovren: Liverpool need luck against Man City – (FourFourTwo)
Liverpool are six points clear atop of the table, but Dejan Lovren feels the Reds may need fortune on their side against Manchester City.
Juventus confirm interest in Ramsey – (FourFourTwo)
Aaron Ramsey is a transfer target for Juventus as he enters the final six months of his Arsenal contract, according to Fabio Paratici.
Champions League final a watershed for Liverpool, says Klopp – (FourFourTwo)
Liverpool might have lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid but Jurgen Klopp feels it has inspired their superb form this season.
We went on a fake Mars mission in Hawaii – (The Verge)
Before we can send humans to Mars, we’ll need to select people who can live and work together in an extreme and distant environment. So how do we figure that out? One way is to re-create Mars here on Earth.
‘Rafale files in bedroom’: Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane audio clip authentic, says Rahul Gandhi – (The Hindu)
It’s doctored, says the Goa Minister.
This year offers much to look forward to in spaceflight – (Ars Technica)
New rockets, commercial crew, planetary missions and even SpaceX’s Starship.
Windows 10 is now the most popular desktop operating system in the world – (Mashable)
Over 700 million devices now run on Microsoft Windows 10.
***
All about Trump
Trump fires back at Romney – (The Jerusalem Post)
“Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake?” Trump wrote on Twitter.
President Trump, Democratic lawmakers brace for White House meeting on government shutdown – (USA Today)
Congressional officials have described the meeting as a “briefing” on border security , while the White House has not provided information on who would be present
Mitt Romney goes after Trump in op-ed and Twitter is ready with plenty of jokes about frowning politely – (Mashable)
New year, same old political beefs.
The problem with Mitt Romney – (CNN)
President Trump may be right when he suggests that Mitt Romney may be another Jeff Flake, writes Julian Zelizer. The question is whether the new Utah senator will just criticize Trump while enabling his presidency in every other way.
Trump fires back after incoming Senator Romney blasts president – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday cautioned fellow Republican Mitt Romney to be a “team player” after the former presidential candidate and incoming U.S. senator sharply criticized the president’s actions and questioned his character.
Romney hits bull’s-eye in criticism of Trump – (Google News)
Mitt Romney’s surprising New Year’s Day column criticizing Donald Trump was a brave, bold, and bracing corrective for a president run amok.
Hill leaders, Trump to meet on border in WH Situation Room – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic and Republican congressional leaders are expected to attend a briefing on border security at the White House as the government remains partially shut down and President Donald Trump asks in a tweet, “Let’s make a deal?” The partia…
Syria needs to be rebuilt and its people helped – but Assad’s shameful salvation will take precedence – (Independent)
Trump’s troop withdrawal has sparked a fight for control of Syria’s bleak future
Trump’s war on energy and environmental regulation is about to face the ‘Spanish Inquisition’ – (CNBC)
President Donald Trump set in motion a vast rollback of energy, climate and environmental regulations. Democrats will spend much of the next two years scrutinizing those actions.
Trump boasts about positive coverage, neglects to note it came from the White House – (Newsweek)
The president did not mention that his own aides compiled the list in the “Washington Examiner.”
President Trump fires back at Mitt Romney after critical op-ed: ‘I won big and he didn’t’ – (USA Today)
“Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful,” Trump said after Romney’s op-ed published
If Donald Trump is a ‘dealmaker’, will he strike a grand bargain between China and Taiwan? – (Independent)
It feels wrong to abandon a functioning democracy, but China’s overwhelming military and economic superiority in the region means that reunification is inevitable
Trump shrugs off Romney’s attack – (BBC News)
The US president reminds his fellow Republican that he lost when he stood for president.
Trump administration seeks access to American Paul Whelan amid questions about his detention – (USA Today)
The Trump administration will demand Paul Whelan’s release if the charges against him are unfounded, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.
Democrats head to the White House for border briefing as government shutdown enters its 12th day – (CNBC)
The briefing comes as Trump continues to demand $5 billion in taxpayer money for the border wall and Democratic leaders have shown no willingness to agree to it.
Democrats head to the White House for border briefing as government shutdown enters its 12th day – (Google News)
The briefing comes as Trump continues to demand $5 billion in taxpayer money for the border wall and Democratic leaders have shown no willingness to agree to it.
Harry Reid calls Trump the “worst president we’ve ever had” – (Axios)
The ailing former senator also defended his decision to abolish the filibuster for judicial appointees.
Trump and Romney are feuding again – (Vice News)
“I won big, and he didn’t.”
Hold off the death notices for the Donald Trump presidency – (Financial Times)
The imminent selection of specific opponents will be to his advantage
Rep.-elect Dan Crenshaw: A border wall is crucial to US security, Democrats want to destroy Trump’s campaign promise – (Fox News)
Texas congressman-elect and former Navy SEAL gives his take on the big debate in Washington.