Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Trump says acting Cabinet members give him ‘more flexibility’ – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was in no hurry to find permanent replacements for one-quarter of his Cabinet currently serving in an acting capacity because it gives him “more flexibility.”
Trump says he needs to deal with Dem leaders to end shutdown – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump held out little hope Sunday that another round of talks between top aides and congressional staff would produce meaningful progress toward ending the partial government shutdown, seeming to undercut his team by saying …
Man charged with murder in Houston girl’s death – (Associated Press)
HOUSTON (AP) — Prosecutors said Sunday that the shooting death of a 7-year-old black girl as she rode in her family’s vehicle stemmed from a case of mistaken identity. Prosecutors charged 20-year-old Eric Black Jr. in the Dec. 30 death of Jazmine Barnes. Fami…
Al-Qaeda operative linked to USS Cole attack killed: Trump – (Al Jazeera English)
Strike on January 1 targeted Jamal al-Badawi, blamed for deadly attack in 2000 that killed 17 Americans, Trump claims.
Woman ‘gang raped over voting choice’ – (BBC News)
The Bangladeshi woman says she was raped because she voted for the opposition in last week’s elections.
Southeast Asia wary of China’s Belt and Road project, skeptical of U.S.: survey – (Reuters)
Southeast Asian countries should be cautious in negotiating with China on its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to avoid being trapped in unsustainable debt, 70 percent of respondents said in a policy survey released on Monday.
How settlers took over a Palestinian home in Jerusalem’s Old City – (Al Jazeera English)
A home in East Jerusalem sold to settlers has raised questions about possible involvement of the Palestinian Authority.
U.S. security advisor warns Turkey against attacking Kurdish fighters after U.S. pull-out from Syria – (Reuters)
White House national security advisor John Bolton added a new condition on Sunday to the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, saying Turkey must agree to protect the United States’ Kurdish allies.
USS Cole bomber has been killed – Trump – (BBC News)
He says a US strike in Yemen killed Jamal al-Badawi, al-Qaeda militant behind the 2000 attack on USS Cole.
Trump adviser outlines conditions for US pullout from Syria – (Associated Press)
JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Sunday that the American military withdrawal from northeastern Syria is conditioned on defeating the remnants of the Islamic State group and on Turkey assuring the safety of U.S.-allied …
Congo delays announcing results of presidential election – (Associated Press)
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The announcement of the results of the Congo’s presidential election has been postponed, the country’s top electoral official said. The winner of the Dec. 30 election will not be made public Sunday as expected, the head of the national …
Sudan arrests Khartoum University lecturers amid fresh protests – (Al Jazeera English)
Security forces arrest eight and disperse anti-government protesters marching towards presidential palace.
Trump: weakness in China economy gives Beijing incentive for trade deal – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that trade talks with China were going very well and that weakness in the Chinese economy gave Beijing a reason to work toward a deal.
Poland shuts down 13 escape game sites due to safety flaws – (Associated Press)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish officials have shut down 13 escape room entertainment sites for safety flaws and the prime minister asked people Sunday to report such lapses to firefighters and police after five teenage girls were killed in a fire. Players in es…
White House signals some compromise in ending U.S. government shutdown – (Reuters)
The White House chief of staff said on Sunday that the U.S. federal government shutdown, now entering its third week,
US withdrawal from Syria ‘conditional’ – (BBC News)
The US wants assurances that Kurdish allies will be safe, National Security Adviser John Bolton says.
Pope enters migrant ships dispute with appeal for safe ports – (Reuters)
Pope Francis urged European leaders on Sunday to stop bickering over the fate of 49 migrants stuck aboard two humanitarian rescue ships on the Mediterranean and let them land at a safe port of call.
Erdogan spokesman says irrational to claim Turkey targets Kurds – (Reuters)
President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Sunday it was irrational to claim Turkey targets Kurds, saying Ankara’s targets were the militants of Islamic State and the Kurdish groups YPG and PKK, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
With US leaving, rival powers seek to move into Syria’s east – (Associated Press)
BEIRUT (AP) — The planned U.S. troop withdrawal opens up a void in the north and east of Syria, and the conflicts and rivalries among all the powers in the Middle East are converging to fill it. The sudden American decision to pull out its 2,000 troops has fo…
France presses Renault over executive compensation paid via Dutch holding company – (Reuters)
The French government has told Renault to provide more details on compensation paid to senior executives via a Dutch holding company jointly owned with alliance partner Nissan, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Sunday.
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From various sources
Canadian Jewish charity under fire for funding projects linked to IDF – (The Jerusalem Post)
Report says JNF of Canada stopped funding the enterprises in 2016.
Israeli medical device aims to boost CPR survival rates – (The Jerusalem Post)
The device can squeeze approximately one liter of blood out of the limbs into the heart in less than 30 seconds and completely blocks blood flow back into the legs.
FA Cup: Jamille Matt heads Newport in front against Leicester – BBC Sport – (BBC Sport)
Jamille Matt heads home a ‘peach’ of a cross from Robbie Willmott to put League Two Newport County 1-0 up at home to Premier League Leicester City in the FA Cup third round.
FA Cup: Fulham 1-2 Oldham Athletic highlights – BBC Sport – (BBC Sport)
Callum Lang scores a late winner to send League Two Oldham Athletic into the FA Cup fourth round as they stun Premier League Fulham.
Watch: Ski Sunday – (BBC Sport)
Watch BBC Two live on BBC iPlayer.
Family of woman killed in stone-throwing attack: We knew it’s settlers – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Palestinian Authority and media had also accused settlers of being behind the attack.
SACP will not contest elections outside of the tripartite alliance – (News24)
The South African Communist Party (SACP) said that it will be supporting the African National Congress (ANC) to win the coming elections, on condition that the ANC runs a pro-poor agenda.
Hey Moms, Do You Have Any Delivery Room Hacks? – (Buzzfeed)
It’s baby time.
I’m Sorry But “Mary Poppins Returns” Kind Of Screwed Over The Bird Lady – (Buzzfeed)
To feed, or not to feed? That is the question! (Warning: SPOILERS!)
Saudi Arabia to notify women of divorce by text message – (The Guardian (AU))
New law aims to stop men from ending marriages without telling their wives
‘Mistaken identity’ shooting: Murder charge filed in death of Jazmine Barnes, 7, in Houston – (USA Today)
A Houston man has been charged with capital murder in the death of the 7-year-who was in a car with her family when she was fatally shot.
Allen Hurns: “I’ll be good to go” by start of season – (NFL News)
Cowboys wide receiver Allen Hurns suffered a gruesome lower left leg injury and was carted off the field after hauling in a pass from quarterback Dak Prescott in the first quarter against the Seahawks.
Och Aye, Moralistic Therapeutic Nationalism – (The American Conservative)
If Scotland will not have God, it should pay its respects to Groundskeeper Willie
– (Fox Sports)
The Herd with Colin Cowherd – (Fox Sports)
“The Herd” host Colin Cowherd breaks down the biggest stories and interviews the biggest guests in sports
TSA Workers Are Calling Out Sick At Airports As They Go Unpaid During The Government Shutdown – (Buzzfeed)
One officer at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas told BuzzFeed News that callouts have increased to three times their normal levels.
Is the shutdown about national security or politics? – (CBS News)
Ed O’Keefe, Shannon Pettypiece, Dan Balz, and Mark Landler join Margaret Brennan to discuss negotiations to end the government shutdown and the administration’s plan for Syria.
Donald Trump Says He Can ‘Relate’ To Federal Workers Who Can’t Pay Bills During Shutdown – (The Huffington Post)
“Many of those people agree 100 percent with what I’m doing,” the president, who is a billionaire, said without evidence.
Northern Territory refusing one in four FOI requests – seven times Victoria’s rate – (The Guardian (AU))
NT’s refusal rate above 20% for four years running, which experts attribute to deeper problems
Here are some of the travel destinations topping the list of would-be vacationers in 2019 – (CNBC)
For travelers whose new year’s resolutions include traveling more and leaving fewer (or no) days of unused vacation days on the table at year’s end, travel industry experts have no shortage of suggestions of locations.
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All about Trump
Donald Trump Says He Can ‘Relate’ To Federal Workers Who Can’t Pay Bills During Shutdown – (The Huffington Post)
“Many of those people agree 100 percent with what I’m doing,” the president, who is a billionaire, said without evidence.
Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes says Trump has nothing on Obama, reaction from Mike Pence’s former press secretary – (Fox News)
Marc Lotter reacts to Ben Rhodes comments.
Press loves Romney’s Trump blast – (Fox News)
New senator rips the president in op-ed.
Trump tries to sell border ‘barrier’ to Democrats – (Financial Times)
Government drops demand for concrete wall as shutdown heads in to third week
White House: President Trump means it when he says the government could be shut down for months or years – (Fox News)
Speaking on ‘Fox News Sunday,’ press secretary Sarah Sanders says negotiations with Democrats on border security funding and the wall are making progress, but there’s still a long way to go.
Trump says acting Cabinet members give him ‘more flexibility’ – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was in no hurry to find permanent replacements for one-quarter of his Cabinet currently serving in an acting capacity because it gives him “more flexibility.”
John Bolton Says Certain Conditions Must Be Met Before U.S. Withdraws From Syria – (The Huffington Post)
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser appeared to backpedal on the president’s initial promise for an immediate pullout.
Trump says appointing acting Cabinet heads grants “more flexibility” – (Axios)
“I sort of like acting. It gives me more flexibility, do you understand that?”
Trump says he needs to deal with Dem leaders to end shutdown – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump held out little hope Sunday that another round of talks between top aides and congressional staff would produce meaningful progress toward ending the partial government shutdown, seeming to undercut his team by saying …
House Democrats Have Wilbur Ross In Their Sights – (The Huffington Post)
Adding a citizenship question to the census could be one of the Trump administration’s most flagrant and consequential scandals.
Collins: Senate should vote on funding bills passed in House – (The Hill)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Sunday that she would support holding a Senate vote on bills passed in the House to re-open parts of the government unrelated to negotiations over funding for President Trump’s wall along the southern border.
Al-Qaeda operative linked to USS Cole attack killed: Trump – (Al Jazeera English)
Strike on January 1 targeted Jamal al-Badawi, blamed for deadly attack in 2000 that killed 17 Americans, Trump claims.
Armed Services chairman: Trump ‘doesn’t really understand’ border security – (The Hill)
The new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee on Sunday said President Trump “doesn’t really understand” border security as Trump continues to demand that a wall be built along the border with Mexico.
Schiff: Trump’s emergency tactic a non-starter – CNN Video – (CNN)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) tells CNN’s Jake Tapper that President Donald Trump trying to use emergency powers to fund the border wall is a non-starter for negotiations to end the government shutdown.
Trump Renews Threat to Declare National Emergency in Border Wall Dispute – (Fortune)
“I may declare a national emergency dependent on what’s going to happen over the next few days,” Trump told reporters Sunday.
White House signals compromise on US govt shutdown – (RTE)
Showing signs of compromise, the White House has signalled that talks to reopen the federal government could produce a deal in which President Donald Trump moves away from his demand that a proposed barrier along the southern border be a concrete wall.
Trump claims US killed al-Qaida militant tied to USS Cole bombing – (The Guardian (UK))
Trump says ‘We have just killed the leader of that attack’ about 2000 bombing in Yemen harbour that killed 17 US sailors
President Trump says border wall fight is ‘very important battle to win’ – (USA Today)
President Donald Trump huddles with aides at Camp David to discuss agenda, including border wall and government shutdown
Terrorist behind USS Cole attack in 2000 killed, says Donald Trump – (Google News (UK))
Officials have said an airstrike on New Year’s Day in Yemen killed Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali al Badawi.
Trump: ‘I can relate’ to federal workers going without pay during shutdown – (The Hill)
President Trump said Sunday he can “relate” to federal workers who haven’t been paid during the partial government shutdown, which has lasted 16 days and counting, but insisted that the budget impasse is “a very important battle to win.”
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