Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Car bomb at Colombia police academy kills five: official – (Al Jazeera English)
Bogota mayor says 10 others injured after a car bomb exploded at a police academy in the country’s capital.
Airports, customs, trade: Europe preps for a chaotic Brexit – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — One by one, European Union nations are spending millions, hiring thousands of workers and issuing emergency decrees to cope with the increasingly likely possibility that Britain will leave the bloc on March 29 without a plan. A no-deal Brexit wou…
Turkish prosecutor seeks extradition of NBA’s Kanter over Gulen links: Anadolu – (Reuters)
Turkish prosecutors are seeking the extradition of New York Knicks center Enes Kanter over his links to the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, state-owned Anadolu news agency said.
Man ‘planned to fire rocket at West Wing’ – (BBC News)
The 21-year-old also hoped to attack a synagogue and Washington monuments, says the FBI.
Canadian found dead in Burkina Faso – (BBC News)
Kirk Woodman was kidnapped on Tuesday by gunmen from a mine in the northern part of the country.
Banks turn stocks red, pound finds some peace – (Reuters)
Concern over China’s economic outlook and possible U.S. tariffs on European cars dragged stocks lower on Thursday, while an anti-climactic end to the latest chapter in the Brexit saga offered sterling a moment’s peace.
EU open to more ambitious deal with Britain: Barnier – (Reuters)
The European Union is open to the possibility of an agreement with Britain that goes beyond free trade, EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday.
Wall Street slips at open after Morgan Stanley results – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks dipped at open on Thursday, retreating from one-month highs, hit by losses in financial stocks after Morgan Stanley’s weak results and energy shares hurt by a drop in oil prices.
Kim’s right-hand man ‘carrying Trump note’ – (BBC News)
North Korean negotiator Kim Yong-chol is on his way to the US ahead of another possible Trump-Kim summit.
‘I never said there was no collusion,’ Trump lawyer says – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani says he has “never said there was no collusion” between Russia and members of Trump’s 2016 White House campaign. Giuliani’s comments Wednesday night on CNN directly contradict the position of his…
Facebook blocks accounts linked to Russian state-owned Sputnik – (Reuters)
Facebook Inc said on Thursday it had removed hundreds of Russia-initiated accounts, which it judged to be involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior on its platforms, including some linked to state-owned news agency Sputnik.
France activates no-deal Brexit plan – (BBC News)
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says a no-deal Brexit looks “less and less unlikely”.
UK in deadlock over Brexit ‘Plan B’ as May and Corbyn double down – (Reuters)
Britain’s last-minute scramble to shape its exit from the EU, its biggest policy upheaval in half a century, hit the rocks on Thursday as Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn dug in their heels for competing visions.
Saudi women runaways rebel against system of male control – (Associated Press)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Another Saudi woman has turned to social media for protection from her father, just days after Canada granted refuge to Rahaf al-Qunun, the 18-year-old Saudi who fled her family. Identified only as Nojoud al-Mandeel on Twitt…
Michigan State says Engler resignation effective immediately – (Associated Press)
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees said Thursday that interim president John Engler’s resignation is effective immediately. The board acted a day after Engler said he’d step down next week amid fallout from remarks he mad…
Morgan Stanley profit misses as bond traders stumble in volatile markets – (Reuters)
Morgan Stanley missed analysts’ estimates for quarterly profit on Thursday after spikes in volatility in the end of the fourth quarter hurt trading, sending its shares down 5 percent.
AP Exclusive: A peek at how Disney resort shows are made – (Associated Press)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — With excitement building over a new “Star Wars” land opening later this year at Walt Disney World, as well as at its California cousin, it’s easy to forget a slew of new entertainment shows also are debuting in the biggest year f…
New US strategy foresees sensors in space to track missiles – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will roll out a new strategy for a more aggressive space-based missile defense system to protect against existing threats from North Korea and Iran and counter advanced weapon systems being developed by Russia and Ch…
From New Orleans to Tehran: Life of detained Iran newscaster – (Associated Press)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — She is largely unknown in the United States. But the American anchorwoman for Iran’s state-run broadcaster, detained last weekend by U.S. authorities, is a familiar face on its English-language channel. As a newscaster for P…
In limbo: Leftover embryos challenge clinics, couples – (Associated Press)
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Tens of thousands of embryos are stuck in limbo in fertility clinics, leftovers from pregnancy attempts and broken dreams of parenthood. Some are outright abandoned by people who quit paying storage fees and can’t be found. In other ca…
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From various sources
Extending Article 50 may mean Britain must elect MEPs again – (The Economist)
Delaying Brexit could interfere with European elections due at the end of May
Analysis | How defeated is the Islamic State? – (The Washington Post)
The death of Americans in Syria raises fresh questions about whether the extremist group is really so weak.
The splintering of the Women’s March – (The Jerusalem Post)
Amid antisemitism scandal, progressive Jewish women struggle to find a home in this weekend’s events.
Gantz, Lapid, Labor start campaigns with humor – (The Jerusalem Post)
The video ended with Gantz poking fun of his silence since entering politics, saying “I think I said too much.”
B’Tselem says 290 Palestinians killed by IDF fire in 2018 – (The Jerusalem Post)
Majority of Palestinians killed were in the Gaza Strip during weekly Great Return Marches protests.
Report: Israeli who crossed over to Lebanon found by the Lebanese – (The Jerusalem Post)
If true, the Lebanese army currently holds an Israeli citizen captive in unusual circumstances.
Innovative IDF tanks, APC, successfully cross water obstacles in training – (The Jerusalem Post)
Stormy winter weather allowed tanks to be tested across the country.
Australian Zionist leaders say Druckman must step down – (The Jerusalem Post)
In a letter disseminated Thursday, the organizations said, “It is abhorrent to us that Rabbi Druckman continued to offer his sympathy and support to a convicted child sex abuser.”
Comptroller weighs examination of health ministry over measles outbreak – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Ministry of Health is facing intense criticism for their “ineffective” efforts into containing the outbreak of the measles virus.
charlax/professional-programming – (Hacker News)
A collection of full-stack resources for programmers. – charlax/professional-programming
France activates no-deal Brexit plan – (Hacker News)
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says a no-deal Brexit looks “less and less unlikely”.
Car bomb kills five at police academy in Bogotá – (The Guardian (UK))
Five dead and 10 injured in blast, says mayor of Colombian capital, as ambulances rush to the scene
Liam Neeson’s nephew Ronan dies aged 35 after tragic fall – (Daily Mail)
Ronan Sexton was partying with friends in Brighton in June 2014 when he climbed up the kiosk on the city’s seafront but slipped off, suffering catastrophic head injuries.
France launches £44m no deal Brexit plan – (Daily Mail)
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said events in London meant Britain crashing out in 71 days was now ‘less and less unlikely’.
Parents’ last-ditch plea as ‘miracle’ baby now given 3 days to live – (Mirror)
EXCLUSIVE: Chris and Sarah Cookson, who have already lost one son, are praying they won’t lose “beautiful” baby Carter too
Poll: Trump approval falls amid weeks-long shutdown – (The Hill)
President Trump’s approval rating has dropped amid the ongoing partial government shutdown and is beginning to decrease even among his closest supporters, according to a new poll.
Michael Cohen offered Liberty University CIO $50,000 to rig two online polls for Trump, report says – (USA Today)
Liberty University’s CIO said Michael Cohen offered him $50,000 to rig two online polls in Trump’s favor, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Warren Buffett once gave a touching tribute to his friend Jack Bogle at Berkshire’s annual meeting – (CNBC)
“It wouldn’t have happened without him,” Buffett said.
Cramer: Morgan Stanley had the most disappointing earnings of the big banks — I’m ‘confused’ – (CNBC)
“I hate to say it, but this was the most disappointing of all,” CNBC’s Jim Cramer says.
Hillsborough commander did nothing to avert ‘inevitable’ crush, court told – (The Guardian (UK))
David Duckenfield ordered exit gate open without considering impact, says prosecution
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All about Trump
Poll: Trump approval falls amid weeks-long shutdown – (The Hill)
President Trump’s approval rating has dropped amid the ongoing partial government shutdown and is beginning to decrease even among his closest supporters, according to a new poll.
Michael Cohen offered Liberty University CIO $50,000 to rig two online polls for Trump, report says – (USA Today)
Liberty University’s CIO said Michael Cohen offered him $50,000 to rig two online polls in Trump’s favor, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The unpalatable truth about Trump’s embrace of the Russian bear – (Financial Times)
Anthony Scaramucci says he will talk Trump on <em>Celebrity Big Brother</em> – (Entertainment Weekly)
The contestant also compares the White House to the ‘Big Brother’ house.
Michael Cohen says poll rigging was “at the direction of and for the sole benefit” of Trump – (Axios)
“I truly regret my blind loyalty to a man who doesn’t deserve it.”
Michael Cohen says he paid tech firm to rig online polls ‘at the direction of’ Trump – (NBC News)
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, paid a small tech firm $50,000 to rig online polls in Trump’s favor before the presidential campaign in early 2015, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Kim’s right-hand man ‘carrying Trump note’ – (BBC News)
North Korean negotiator Kim Yong-chol is on his way to the US ahead of another possible Trump-Kim summit.
‘I never said there was no collusion,’ Trump lawyer says – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani says he has “never said there was no collusion” between Russia and members of Trump’s 2016 White House campaign. Giuliani’s comments Wednesday night on CNN directly contradict the position of his…
Michael Cohen says he tried to rig online polls ‘at the direction’ of Donald Trump – (CNBC)
President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and longtime fixer Michael Cohen on Thursday said he tried to “rig” online polls — including one conducted by CNBC — “at the direction and for the sole benefit of” Trump.
A second summit between Trump and Kim sounds like a waste of time. Here’s why that could be wrong. – (Vice News)
“For those of us who have actually participated in negotiations with North Korea, all of these signs are interesting.”
Cohen hired firm to rig polls, only paid part of bill with bag of cash: report – (The Hill)
The head of a small polling firm used by President Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election says that Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, hired his firm to rig two online polls in the president’s favor and paid less than half of what was o
Michael Cohen still intends to testify before Congress despite concerns for his family – (CNN)
President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen remains on track to testify before Congress in February, but he is concerned for his family, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Cardi B rails against Trump in NSFW response to government shutdown – (Entertainment Weekly)
No Fs left to give.
Shutdown enters 27th day with grim poll news for Trump – live updates – (The Guardian (AU))
The president will go to the Pentagon today to make an announcement on the government’s missile defence reviewSign up to the daily US morning briefing
Wall Street Journal: Michael Cohen paid thousands to rig polls in Trump’s favor – (CNN)
President Donald Trump’s former “fixer” Michael Cohen paid the head of a small technology company thousands in 2015 to rig online polls and elevate Cohen’s character to benefit Trump’s presidential campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Wall Street Journal: Michael Cohen paid thousands to rig polls in Trump’s favor – (Google News)
President Donald Trump’s former “fixer” Michael Cohen paid the head of a small technology company thousands in 2015 to rig online polls and elevate Cohen’s character to benefit Trump’s presidential campaign, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The Atlantic calls for Trump impeachment in new cover story – (The Hill)
The new issue of The Atlantic features a striking call for President Trump’s impeachment on its cover.
New US strategy foresees sensors in space to track missiles – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will roll out a new strategy for a more aggressive space-based missile defense system to protect against existing threats from North Korea and Iran and counter advanced weapon systems being developed by Russia and Ch…
Rudy Giuliani: ‘I never said there was no collusion’ by Trump campaign – (The Guardian (UK))
Trump’s lawyer denies president himself conspired with Russia says Manafort’s sharing of polling data was not collusion
Trump Fixer Michael Cohen Tried to Rig Presidential Election Polls, Says Tech Consultant – (Fortune)
The consultant, John Gauger, also set up a Twitter account to praise Michael Cohen as a “sex symbol”.
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