Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Why Trump is wrong in mocking India’s Modi on Afghanistan role – (Al Jazeera English)
US leader’s bid to undermine India’s aid to Afghanistan annoys politicians and citizens in both the South Asian nations.
3 killed in California bowling alley shooting – (Associated Press)
TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — Three men were fatally shot late Friday night and four injured when a brawl at a popular Los Angeles-area bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire that had terrified patrons, some children, running for their lives. Police in …
Pence leading shutdown talks with congressional staffers – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — With many federal workers frozen out of the jobs and vacationers blocked from public attractions their tax dollars pay for, talks between White House officials and congressional aides kicked off Saturday aimed at ending a government shutdown…
‘Kidnapper’ chased out of karate studio – (BBC News)
The suspect is accused of following a woman inside before he was fought off by a top instructor.
Russia: Too early to consider exchange of US spy suspect – (Associated Press)
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s deputy foreign minister brushed back suggestions Saturday that an American being held in Moscow on suspicion of spying could be exchanged for a Russian citizen. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, who also holds Canadian, British and Iri…
France: Year’s 1st yellow vest event brings tear gas, fires – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — French security forces fired tear gas and flash-bang ammunition at protesters during a march through picturesque central Paris on Saturday as several thousand supporters of the yellow vest movement kept up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron wi…
Hamas arrests Gaza men suspected of attacking Abbas’s TV station – (Reuters)
Gaza authorities arrested five Palestinians on Saturday on suspicion of ransacking the offices of President Mahmoud Abbas’s official Palestine Television station, Hamas’s interior ministry said.
Moscow says FBI arrested Russian a day after it detained ex-U.S. Marine – (Reuters)
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, a day after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying.
US grand jury extended in Russia inquiry – (BBC News)
The decision takes Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation beyond its initial 18-month term.
French ‘yellow vests’ rail against unrepentant Macron, tear gas in Paris – (Reuters)
French “yellow vests” marched through Paris and other cities on Saturday in protest against high living costs and the perceived indifference of President Emmanuel Macron, whose government this week hardened its stance against them.
Thousands rally against Hungary’s overtime work law, PM Orban – (Reuters)
Thousands marched through Budapest’s city center on Saturday to protest against a new law that allows employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours per year of overtime.
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s super-talkative, fact-busting week – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump held forth on all manner of things this past week as he emerged from a “lonely” spell over the holidays. He opined for more than 90 minutes to the press, at the top of a Cabinet meeting, on the shutdown, immigration, d…
Netflix and chill no more – streaming is getting complicated – (Associated Press)
Streaming TV may never again be as simple, or as affordable, as it is now. Disney and WarnerMedia are each launching their own streaming services in 2019 in a challenge to Netflix’s dominance. Netflix viewers will no longer be able to watch hit movies such as…
German cyber defense agency defends handling of data breach – (Reuters)
Germany’s BSI cyber defense agency said on Saturday it was contacted by a lawmaker in early December about suspicious activity on their private email and social media accounts but could not connect this to other data breaches until this week.
Harbin’s beautiful ice festival – in pictures – (BBC News)
One of the world’s largest ice festivals has opened in north-eastern China.
Bluefin goes for $3 million at 1st 2019 sale at Tokyo market – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — A 612-pound (278-kilogram) bluefin tuna sold for a record 333.6 million yen ($3 million) at the first auction of 2019, after Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market was moved to a new site on the city’s waterfront. The winning bid for the prized but threate…
Russia rules out swap deal for spy suspect – (BBC News)
Ex-US marine Paul Whelan was arrested last month on suspicion of spying – claims his family denies.
National parks struggle to stay open, safe during shutdown – (Associated Press)
Nonprofits, businesses and state governments nationwide are putting up money and volunteer hours in a battle to keep national parks safe and clean for visitors as the partial U.S. government shutdown lingers. But such makeshift arrangements haven’t prevented …
Gas leak likely cause of ‘Escape Room’ fire in Poland – (Associated Press)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Investigators in Poland on Saturday blamed a gas leak in a heating system at an “Escape Room” for a fire that killed five teenage girls and injured a man. The bodies of the 15-year-old victims were found Friday in Koszalin, in northern P…
Bolton warns Syria against use of chemical weapons – (Reuters)
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned the Syrian government that it should not see the impending U.S. military withdrawal from the country as an invitation to use chemical weapons.
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From various sources
Egypt destroys 37 tunnels which infiltrated from Gaza in 2018 – (The Jerusalem Post)
IDF destroyed 15 last year.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dance video leaks – (The Jerusalem Post)
Later that day, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a video of herself dancing beside her new congressional office.
PA halts payments to hundreds of Gazans – (The Jerusalem Post)
Gaza-based offices of Palestine TV vandalized.
The Week in Pictures: Dec. 27 – Jan. 3 – (NBC News)
Tear gas at the border, Mummers welcome the new year, Nancy hoists the gavel again and more.
Axios Trends – (Axios)
Exclusive predictions and analysis on the disruptions that will shape the world, by the Axios editorial team. Quarterly
Chrissy Teigen pens hilarious tribute to Instagram hubby John Legend – (Metro)
Who needs an Oscar?
Ashton Kutcher wanted to give up life and donate heart to twin brother – (Metro)
He offer his heart when his brother Michael needed a transplant.
Haneen Zoabi: I will not be running in the coming elections – (The Jerusalem Post)
Zoabi has long been one of the Knesset’s most controversial members, since first being elected to the legislature in 2009.
Salesforce’s Marc Benioff unplugged for two weeks, and had a revelation that could change the tech industry – (CNBC)
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had a remarkably eventful 2018, buying Time, taking on Facebook and backing a measure to support the homeless.
Warren addresses DNA test while stumping in Iowa – (The Hill)
Days after announcing her bid for the White House, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Saturday faced questions related to the results of a DNA test she took last year.
Man due in court over death of woman at a house in Co Donegal – (The Irish Times)
Jasmine McMonagle was found dead at her home in the early hours of Friday
Expect a parade of unicorn IPOs in 2019 – (Axios)
Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Peloton, Palantir and Slack are all expected to file for IPOs this year.
Blackpool vs Arsenal, FA Cup third round: live score updates – (The Telegraph)
Blackpool Howard;
Transfer news LIVE with all Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd rumours and deals – (Mirror)
Jurgen Klopp may look to bring someone in – as Unai Mery linked with World Cup winner Khedira
Hidden for 25 Years, the First Ferrari 275 GTB Races to Auction – (Fortune)
Constructed in 1964 and carrying assembly sequence number 1, chassis 06003, the first-ever Ferrari 275 GTB is now available
U.S. Tech Transfers to China Targeted in New Security Bill – (Fortune)
China’s technology transfers are a significant national security risk, the senators said.
New trailers: Us, Stranger Things, The Punisher, and more – (The Verge)
Watch this week’s best new trailers from Netflix, Amazon, TBS, and more.
Liverpool Close To Signing £27m Long-Term Replacement For Adam Lallana – (The Sport Bible)
Jürgen Klopp has identified one player to replace Adam Lallana, with the Liverpool boss aiming to land him in the January transfer window.
Meet the first lady of Israeli theatre – (The Jerusalem Post)
The First Lady of Israeli Theater, Lea Koenig-Stopler, reminisces about two new plays.
Wupperthal blaze: Damaged buildings to be demolished – (News24)
Following a devastating fire that gutted houses and buildings in Wupperthal near Clanwilliam, plans are afoot to demolish all structures that are beyond repair.
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All about Trump
Why Trump is wrong in mocking India’s Modi on Afghanistan role – (Al Jazeera English)
US leader’s bid to undermine India’s aid to Afghanistan annoys politicians and citizens in both the South Asian nations.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Hypocritical GOP forgives Trump’s sexual assault but is outraged by Tlaib’s swearing – (Newsweek)
Since Tlaib’s remarks, Democrats have pointed to Trump’s past comments in an Access Hollywood tape revealed during the 2016 campaign, where he said “when you’re a star” you can grab women “by the pussy.”
Trump warns U.S. government shutdown could last years | CBC News – (CBC News)
White House and congressional leaders are meeting again in Washington today, hoping to negotiate an end to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government.
Ocasio-Cortez knocks ‘faux-outrage’ over Dem’s profane call to impeach Trump – (Google News)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Saturday defended fellow Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), from outrage over her call to “impeach the mothef—er,” referring to President Trump.
Trump contradicts himself: Claims furloughed workers want the wall, then calls them Democrats – (Axios)
“I don’t care that most of the workers not getting paid are Democrats…”
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s super-talkative, fact-busting week – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump held forth on all manner of things this past week as he emerged from a “lonely” spell over the holidays. He opined for more than 90 minutes to the press, at the top of a Cabinet meeting, on the shutdown, immigration, d…
Trump: ‘I don’t care’ that most federal employees working without pay ‘are Democrats’ – (The Hill)
President Trump said Saturday that he wants to end a partial government shutdown, claiming that he doesn’t “care that most of the workers not getting paid are Democrats.”
New bills, new rules and impeachment talk: House Dems have busy first few days in power – (Axios)
Their gargantuan first bill is an anti-corruption grab bag that targets Trump’s tax returns.
Trump: ‘I did not commit a campaign violation’ – (Google News)
Federal prosecutors last month implicated the president in his former attorney’s campaign finance crimes.
Federal workers in Trump country could be the force that ends the shutdown – (Axios)
A strong border doesn’t pay the rent.
Pelosi’s questions if President Trump can handle ‘women in power’ – (Fox News)
Lara Trump spearheaded the Trump-Pence women’s empowerment tour and explains what the House speaker is getting wrong.
Trump warns U.S. government shutdown could last years | CBC News – (Google News (Canada))
White House and congressional leaders are meeting again in Washington today, hoping to negotiate an end to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government.
Shutdown over Trump wall demand threatens food, tax, transport and more – (The Guardian (AU))
As president says government closure could last months or years, key services are coming under threat
Trump administration has stopped responding to UN human rights investigators – (Axios)
There are at least 13 requests about human rights violations in the U.S. that have gone unanswered.
Trump digs in on border wall ahead of negotiations with lawmakers on shutdown – (The Hill)
President Trump doubled down on his demand for border wall funding Saturday morning ahead of a meeting with congressional leaders to negotiate an end to the partial government shutdown.
Shutdown Talks To Continue As Trump Says It Could Last ‘Months Or Even Years’ – (The Huffington Post)
Trump is framing the weekend talks as progress, while Democrats are emphasizing families unable to pay bills.
Trump, in profanity-laced meeting with lawmakers, said he preferred ‘strike’ to refer to government shutdown: reports – (Google News)
President Trump reportedly opened a meeting Friday with congressional leaders with an incendiary rant before saying he preferred the word “strike” to refer to the ongoing government shutdown, according to multiple re
Trump, in profanity-laced meeting with lawmakers, said he preferred the word ‘strike’ to refer to government shutdown: reports – (The Hill)
President Trump reportedly opened a meeting Friday with congressional leaders with an incendiary rant before saying he preferred the word “strike” to refer to the ongoing government shutdown, according to multiple re
Shutdown over Trump wall demand threatens food, tax, transport and more – (The Guardian (UK))
As president says government closure could last months or years, key services are coming under threat
Donald Trump Makes Wild Boast About ‘Great Support’ For The Border Wall – (The Huffington Post)
Trump bragged that there was “great support coming from all sides” for his campaign promise. But that’s not the case.