2019-01-04

Headlines:

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

China warnings signal Trump’s trade war finally hitting home – (Reuters)
Weak sales at Apple and Cargill, U.S. giants of technology and agriculture, may be the clearest sign yet that President Donald Trump’s quest to reset world trade carries costs at home and could isolate the United States as the increasingly fragile engine for …

China and U.S. to hold trade talks in Beijing next week – (Reuters)
China and the United States will hold vice ministerial level trade talks in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, with the two countries under pressure to end a trade war that is hurting the world’s two largest economies and roiling global financial markets.

Trump, Democrats dig in ahead of meeting on government shutdown – (Reuters)
As a partial U.S. government shutdown hit the two-week mark, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders prepared to meet on Friday to discuss breaking an impasse pitting his demand for building a border wall against Democrats’ call for alternative secur…

Tropical storm’s rain, surging seas strike Thai beaches – (Associated Press)
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Thailand (AP) — Rain, wind and surging seawater from a tropical storm buffeted coastal villages and world-famous tourist resorts on southern Thailand’s east coast on Friday, knocking down trees and utility poles and flooding roads. One pe…

Wall Street surges on strong U.S. jobs report, trade optimism – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks jumped on Friday, rebounding from a steep slide a day earlier, as a robust U.S. jobs report added to optimism from proposed trade talks between the United States and China next week.

Federal employees feel financial pinch as shutdown drags on – (Associated Press)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As the government’s partial shutdown pushed toward a third week, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are feeling the financial pinch. They’re calling mortgage companies, hoping for a break, and weighing the risks of letting other bill…

AP-NORC Poll: Immigration among the top concerns in 2019 – (Associated Press)
As much of the U.S. government remains shut down over President Donald Trump’s insistence on funding for his border wall, nearly half of Americans identify immigration as a top issue for the government to work on this year. An Associated Press-NORC Center for…

US employers added a stellar 312,000 jobs in December – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers dramatically stepped up their hiring in December, adding 312,000 jobs in an encouraging display of strength for an economy in the midst of a trade war, slowing global growth and a partial shutdown of the federal government. Th…

U.S. court rules for Trump on transgender military limits – (Reuters)
In a legal victory for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, a federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that blocked a policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces, which the government said is …

Nissan’s Ghosn to make first public appearance in 7 weeks in court on Tuesday – (Reuters)
Ousted Nissan Motor Co Ltd <7201.T> chairman Carlos Ghosn is set to make his first public appearance in seven weeks at a Tokyo court on Tuesday after he requested an open hearing to hear the reason for his continued detention.

Third woman breaches ban at Indian Hindu temple amid protests – (Reuters)
A woman aged 46 has become the third to enter the Sabarimala Hindu temple in south India in defiance of an ancient ban on females of menstruating age, the office of the chief minister of Kerala state said on Friday.

China begins first surface exploration of moon’s far side – (Associated Press)
BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese space rover explored the lunar terrain on Friday in the world’s first mission on the surface of the far side of the moon. Jade Rabbit 2 drove off a ramp the previous night and onto the soft, powdery surface after a Chinese spacecraft …

Ford recalls over 953,000 vehicles to replace inflators – (Associated Press)
Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel. The move includes 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history. Included are …

7 killed, 8 injured in crash, explosion on Florida highway – (Associated Press)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Two big rigs and two passenger vehicles collided and spilled diesel fuel across a Florida highway Thursday, sparking a massive fire that killed seven people and injured at least eight others, authorities said. The wreck happened o…

Robust employment report underscores U.S. economic strength – (Reuters)
U.S. employers hired the most workers in 10 months in December while boosting wages, pointing to sustained strength in the economy that could ease fears of a sharp slowdown in growth.

Trump says Democrats’ impeachment talk is 2020 ploy – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump pushed back Friday against some Democrats’ calls to impeach him, saying they’re only seeking impeachment because they know they can’t win the White House in 2020. “How do you impeach a president who has won perhaps the…

Signs of GOP unease over shutdown ahead of White House talks – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid signs of Republican unease over the prolonged partial government shutdown, congressional leaders planned to meet Friday with President Donald Trump after House Democrats muscled through legislation to fund the government but not his bor…

Instant View: U.S. December payrolls surprise big to the upside – (Reuters)
U.S. employers hired the most workers in 10 months in December while boosting wages, which could help to allay a recent upsurge in fears about the economy’s health that has roiled financial markets.

US jobs growth jumps in December – (BBC News)
US employers add 312,000 jobs in December, far more than expected.

Chinese triad offers a tonic to battered markets – (Reuters)
World stock markets rallied on Friday after China’s central bank moved to support its slowing economy, Chinese services data pointed to positive growth, and Beijing announced a new round of trade talks with Washington.

***

From various sources

An uptick in migrants crossing the Channel by boat – (The Economist)
The change of approach follows the introduction of tighter controls elsewhere

Returns on stocks in 2018 were down across the board – (The Economist)
For long-term investors that is good news

10 predictions for Israeli politics in 2019 – (The Jerusalem Post)
After a week in which Bayit Yehudi and the Zionist Union both surprisingly split, making political predictions about the Israeli election has never been more foolish.

Herb Keinon’s one-on-one with Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon – (The Jerusalem Post)
Danon concluded it would not be responsible for him as ambassador to the UN to suddenly drop everything, rush home, and leave behind all he was working on.

The IDF’s anti-tunnel operation is not about tunnels – (The Jerusalem Post)
IDF intelligence chief said deterrence, legitimacy were the keys to Operation Northern Shield.

What are the chances of Trump’s peace plan ever getting off the ground? – (The Jerusalem Post)
Even if the administration does release the plan, it is certain to wait until after Israel’s elections in April.

Hutchinson has ‘hectic’ day as emergency goalie for Maple Leafs – (NHL News)
TORONTO — Michael Hutchinson was in awe as he walked into the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room on Thursday.Growing up in Barrie, Ontario, about 50 miles north of Scotiabank Arena, he’d fantasized about one day being in this hallowed place, wearing this cove…

How NAFTA helped create the modern drug trade – (Vice News)
NAFTA was passed 25 years ago this week, and helped open crucial drug smuggling routes for Mexican cartels.

3 keys to success for U.S. against Russia in World Juniors – (NHL News)
The NHL Network will provide exclusive live telecasts of all United States games during the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.The U.S. finished second after four preliminary-round games (3-0-1-0) in Group B at Sav…

Crosby gives spectacular memento to Rangers fan heckling Penguins center – (NHL News)
Sidney Crosby heard the verbal hounding from a vocal fan for more than two periods at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, and the Pittsburgh Penguins center responded with the classiest of gestures.

Colorful pads remain contentious topic for goalies – (NHL News)
Carey Price generated a lot of buzz this week by wearing another set of red pads and gloves during practice with the Montreal Canadiens.

Facts and Figures: Kucherov, Lightning keep striking – (NHL News)
Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning show no signs of slowing down; rather, they are picking up speed at the halfway point of the NHL season.

– (Fox Sports)

Undisputed – (Fox Sports)
Watch Undisputed where Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe give their unfiltered, incisive, passionate opinions on the biggest sports topics of the day.

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Video Of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dancing – (Buzzfeed)
For starters, it was all based on a meme back in the day.

Pence: There can be no deal without a wall – (Fox News)
Tucker goes one-on-one with Vice President Mike Pence to discuss border security and the government shutdown.

McConnell: House funding bill couldn’t pass Senate – (The Hill)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blasted a House bill to reopen the government as “a time-wasting act of political posturing,” arguing that it couldn’t get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate.

Investors Weigh In on Today’s Jobs Report – (Fortune)
Friday’s jobs report went a long way toward quelling concern that a recession is imminent. Here’s what investors are saying

Latest P.T. fan remake includes VR support – (Polygon)
Unreal PT is the newest fan remake of the 2014 “Playable Teaser” for the scrapped Silent Hills on PS4. The free game was made by Radius Gordello for PC; it also can be played in VR.

Dominic Solanke: Bournemouth set to sign Liverpool striker in £19m deal – (BBC Sport)
Bournemouth are close to signing England striker Dominic Solanke from Liverpool for £19m.

***

All about Trump

What are the chances of Trump’s peace plan ever getting off the ground? – (The Jerusalem Post)
Even if the administration does release the plan, it is certain to wait until after Israel’s elections in April.

Trump Gets First Victory in Effort to Ban Many Transgender Americans From Serving in Military – (Fortune)
A federal appeals court handed Donald Trump his first victory in an effort to ban many transgender Americans from serving in the military

Appeals court sides with Trump on transgender military ban – (The Hill)
A federal appeals court Friday overturned a lower court’s ruling blocking President Trump’s ban on transgender people from serving in the military from taking effect.

Fed chief Jerome Powell says he would not resign if Trump asked him to – (CNBC)
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Friday he would not resign from his post if President Donald Trump asked him to.

China warnings signal Trump’s trade war finally hitting home – (Reuters)
Weak sales at Apple and Cargill, U.S. giants of technology and agriculture, may be the clearest sign yet that President Donald Trump’s quest to reset world trade carries costs at home and could isolate the United States as the increasingly fragile engine for …

National average for gas at lowest since 2017 – CNN Video – (CNN)
Residents in some states are enjoying gas prices below $2 a gallon. President Trump tweeted “Do you think it’s just luck that gas prices are so low, and falling? Low gas prices are like another Tax Cut!” CNN’s Christine Romans reports.

Trump fires back at impeachment frenzy, after Dem’s profanity-laced threat – (Fox News)
President Trump fired back Friday at Democrats calling for his impeachment within moments of the 116th Congress convening, claiming he’s had “the most successful first two years” of any president.

US national debt reaches a new high under Trump – (CNN)
The US national debt stood at $21.974 trillion at the end of 2018, more than $2 trillion higher than when President Donald Trump took office, according to numbers released Thursday by the Treasury Department.

Trump, Democrats dig in ahead of meeting on government shutdown – (Reuters)
As a partial U.S. government shutdown hit the two-week mark, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders prepared to meet on Friday to discuss breaking an impasse pitting his demand for building a border wall against Democrats’ call for alternative secur…

Trump rips impeachment talk after Dems take House – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday ripped impeachment talk among some Democrats, saying they couldn’t impeach “the most popular Re

New Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on Trump: Impeach the “motherfucker” – (Vice News)

AP-NORC Poll: Immigration among the top concerns in 2019 – (Associated Press)
As much of the U.S. government remains shut down over President Donald Trump’s insistence on funding for his border wall, nearly half of Americans identify immigration as a top issue for the government to work on this year. An Associated Press-NORC Center for…

U.S. court rules for Trump on transgender military limits – (Reuters)
In a legal victory for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, a federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that blocked a policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces, which the government said is …

The Memo: Romney moves stir worries in Trump world – (The Hill)
Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) public criticisms of President Trump this week have caused a new wave of concern about a 2020 primary challenge among Trump’s circle.

Congressman Brad Sherman takes step toward impeaching Trump – (Mashable)
His measure came on the first day Democrats officially reclaimed a majority in the House.

U.S. court rules for Trump on transgender military limits – (Google News)
In a legal victory for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, a federal appeals court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that blocked a policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces, which the government said is …

Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib on Trump: We’re going to impeach the [expletive] – (USA Today)
Democrat Rashida Tlaib, one of Michigan’s new Congresswomen, used some NSFW language in calling for impeaching President Donald Trump.

Nancy Pelosi says no to border wall ahead of Trump talks, calls it an ‘immorality’ – (USA Today)
Donald Trump and House Democrats are still far apart on Republican president’s call for a border wall.

Trump says he’s too successful for impeachment – (Google News)
President Trump is repeating his claim that Democrats are talking impeachment because ‘they can’t win in 2020.’

Donald Trump hits back after Democrat Rashida Tlaib uses expletive to call for his impeachment – (USA Today)
Donald Trump tweets about impeachment a day after new member of Congress uses expletive to call for his removal from office.

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