Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Trust in Russia’s Putin falls to 13-year low: state pollster – (Reuters)
Public trust in President Vladimir Putin has fallen to its lowest level in 13 years, according to a Russian state pollster, a setback for the Kremlin which works hard to burnish Putin’s image as a wise father-of-the-nation-style leader.
Theresa May tries to solve Irish border riddle, refuses to rule out no-deal Brexit – (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that she would try to break the deadlock over her Brexit deal by seeking further concessions from the European Union on a backup plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland.
UK PM May says looking forward to exploring Polish proposal for backstop time limit – (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she was looking forward to exploring a proposal put forward by Poland’s foreign minister for a time limit on the Irish backstop.
IMF fears trade war and weak Europe could trigger sharp global slowdown – (Reuters)
The International Monetary Fund on Monday cut its world economic growth forecasts for 2019 and 2020 due to weakness in Europe and some emerging markets, and said failure to resolve trade tensions could further destabilize a slowing global economy.
Venezuela quells soldiers’ revolt, top court blasts congress – (Associated Press)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela plunged deeper into turmoil on Monday as security forces put down a pre-dawn uprising by national guardsmen that triggered violent street protests and the Supreme Court outlawed the opposition-controlled congress’ defiant n…
UK PM May and EU leaders share determination to reach deal: May’s spokesman – (Reuters)
Prime Minister Theresa May and other European Union leaders have a shared determination for Britain to leave the bloc with an agreement, her spokesman said on Monday.
Venezuela captures rogue officers after uprising at military outpost – (Reuters)
Venezuela’s government said on Monday it had suppressed a small military revolt after a group of officers stole weapons and kidnapped several officials, as a video posted online showed a sergeant demanding the removal of President Nicolas Maduro.
Nissan’s Ghosn offers to wear electronic ankle tag to get bail – (Reuters)
Ousted Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has offered to wear an electronic ankle tag and hire guards to monitor him in an unusual bid to secure his release on bail after two months of detention in Japan for alleged financial crimes.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris jumps into 2020 White House race – (Reuters)
First-term Democratic Senator Kamala Harris of California, a rising party star and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, launched her 2020 campaign for the White House on Monday by touting her background as a prosecutor.
UK PM May says looking at a number of options on Northern Irish backstop – (Reuters)
The British government is looking at a number of options to resolve the concerns of lawmakers over the so-called Northern Irish backstop, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday.
Deadly Taliban attack on Afghan compound – (BBC News)
At least 20 people are killed as militants detonate a car bomb in central Afghanistan, officials say.
Frigid air, high winds cause dangerous travel conditions – (Associated Press)
Bitter cold and gusty winds swept across the eastern U.S. Monday with falling temperatures replacing the weekend’s falling snow. The National Weather Service had forecast that temperatures would be more than 20 degrees below normal across the Northeast, with …
UK leader snubs Brexit delay, sticks to her EU divorce deal – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday rejected calls to delay Britain’s departure from the European Union, and said her Plan B was to get her rejected Brexit deal approved by Parliament after securing changes to a contentious Irish border measure…
Brexit: May says EU unlikely to extend Article 50 without a plan – (Al Jazeera English)
British PM tells parliament any re-run of the 2016 referendum would break faith with the British people.
Taliban attack on Afghan security base kills over 100 – (Reuters)
A Taliban attack in central Afghanistan on Monday killed scores of security personnel, officials said, with some estimates putting the death toll at more than 100, amid government silence about one of the most deadly insurgent attacks in months.
May axes Brexit fee for EU citizens – (BBC News)
Theresa May also tells MPs she will seek changes to the backstop to get her deal through Parliament.
MLK holiday offers stage for Democratic hopefuls – (Associated Press)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As Americans commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., Democratic presidential hopefuls are fanning out across the country to honor the civil rights leader and make themselves heard on the national stage. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., used the…
May makes Brexit statement – (BBC News)
Prime Minister Theresa May outlines Brexit statement to MPs.
Islamic State group targets US convoy in northeast Syria – (Associated Press)
BEIRUT (AP) — An Islamic State suicide bomber targeted a joint convoy of U.S. and allied Kurdish forces in northern Syria on Monday, marking the second attack against U.S. troops in less than a week and further highlighting the dangers surrounding U.S. plans …
More sexual abuse claims rock South Korean skating – (Associated Press)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — More South Korean female skaters are accusing their coaches of sexually abusing them, a group representing the athletes disclosed Monday following claims by two-time Olympic champion Shim Suk-hee that her former coach had repeatedly …
***
From various sources
Rabbinate: Elon may be disbarred – (The Jerusalem Post)
Rabbi Moti Elon was convicted by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in 2013 of two counts of indecent assault by force against a minor.
New Norwegian government calls for closer ties with Israel, condemns BDS – (The Jerusalem Post)
“The Norwegian government does not see boycott of Israel as a contribution to dialogue, understanding and a peaceful development in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s boasting of Syria strikes may be a preemptive attack on Gantz – (The Jerusalem Post)
Never before had Israel rushed to take immediate credit for the IDF’s operations, time after time, as has been happening in recent months.
Second ISIS attack targeting U.S. and partner forces in Syria causes alar – (The Jerusalem Post)
ISIS recruits still manage to attack American forces after Trump declares group defeated.
Al-Qaeda kills Chadian peacekeepers in Mali after Netanyahu visit – (The Jerusalem Post)
In addition to the 10 killed peacekeepers, another 25 were injured.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu – TV Spot #1 – IGN.com – (IGN)
A big Snubbull appears in this spot for the live-action/CG-animated movie featuring the voice of Ryan Reynolds.
Lady Gaga stops performance to slam Trump, Pence and his wife – (Fox News)
Lady Gaga took a moment out of her recent Las Vegas concert to slam Mike Pence and his wife over anti-LGBTQ stance.
John Lott: BuzzFeed and me – The incredible thing the site’s CEO did using my name without permission – (Fox News)
BuzzFeed’s culture of fake news starts at the top with founder and CEO Jonah Peretti, who has a history of knowingly spreading false information. He has used fraudulent websites and email accounts to pose as people he wished to defame. I was one of his victim…
Halifax man with business dealings in Syria now under EU sanctions | CBC News – (CBC News)
A Halifax man who was the first person charged with violating Canada’s economic sanctions against Syria is now accused of violating the European Union’s as well.
Biden, weighing 2020 bid, tears into Trump at MLK breakfast over Charlottesville comments – (Fox News)
Former Vice President Joe Biden sought to link President Trump to what he described as “forces and darkness” and hatred, in a blistering speech to a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast sure to keep speculation alive about a possible 2020 bid.
Fury as ‘senseless’ vandals splash white paint over RAF memorial – (Daily Mail)
The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, central London, has been covered with white paint overnight (pictured) and CCTV of the incident has already been handed to Scotland Yard.
May’s Brexit Plan B is ‘one more heave’ on her deal – (Daily Mail)
Theresa May said politicians had to be ‘honest’ that the only way to guarantee the UK will not crash out was passing her deal, or revoking Article 50.
Croke Park Could Host Conor McGregor Vs. Donald Cerrone – (The Sport Bible)
The American is potentially next for Conor McGregor.
Online safety a big priority for Facebook – Sandberg – (RTE)
The chief operating officer of Facebook has admitted the social network has more work to do to ensure the safety of those using the platform.
Diane Abbott slams ‘off the leash’ Question Time host Fiona Bruce – (Daily Mail)
Ms Abbott said of her many visits to Question Time she has ‘never had such a horrible experience’ as when she did with Fiona Bruce at the helm in Derby, last week.
Hundreds stranded on plane for 13 hours after door freezes in -30C airfield – (Mirror)
The United Airlines Boeing 777 plane was stuck in arctic conditions Newfoundland, Canada, after it was forced into an emergency landing
17 Facts About Mosquitoes That Will Make You Glad It’s Winter – (Buzzfeed)
The more you know about these lil guys, the more you gotta kiiinda respect them.
Polish minister breaks ranks to offer time limit on Irish backstop – (Daily Mail)
Jacek Czaputowicz floated the compromise as Theresa May struggles to break the deadlock at Westminster.
Trust in Russia’s Putin falls to 13-year low: state pollster – (Reuters)
Public trust in President Vladimir Putin has fallen to its lowest level in 13 years, according to a Russian state pollster, a setback for the Kremlin which works hard to burnish Putin’s image as a wise father-of-the-nation-style leader.
Northern Ireland: masked men hijack two vehicles in Derry – (The Guardian (UK))
Separate incidents cause security alerts and disruption two days after car bomb in city
***
All about Trump
Second ISIS attack targeting U.S. and partner forces in Syria causes alar – (The Jerusalem Post)
ISIS recruits still manage to attack American forces after Trump declares group defeated.
Lady Gaga stops performance to slam Trump, Pence and his wife – (Fox News)
Lady Gaga took a moment out of her recent Las Vegas concert to slam Mike Pence and his wife over anti-LGBTQ stance.
Biden, weighing 2020 bid, tears into Trump at MLK breakfast over Charlottesville comments – (Fox News)
Former Vice President Joe Biden sought to link President Trump to what he described as “forces and darkness” and hatred, in a blistering speech to a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast sure to keep speculation alive about a possible 2020 bid.
Trump lauds federal employees as ‘great patriots,’ promises to ‘win big’ on border wall – (USA Today)
President Donald Trump, one month into the federal government shutdown, took to Twitter to thank federal employees who are working without pay.
Trump and Pence visit MLK Memorial – (CBS News)
President Trump and Vice President Pence paid a brief visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Monday, to commemorate the slain civil rights leader. They laid a wreath at the memorial but did not make remarks.
President Donald Trump lays wreath at Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial – (USA Today)
At King Memorial, Trump says: “Great day. Beautiful day. And thank you for being here. Appreciate it.”
How ‘President Bolton’ Gets His Way – (The American Conservative)
So long as he doesn’t clash openly with Trump or brag about his influence, Bolton is allowed to craft the foreign policy he desires regardless of what Trump occasionally says or tweets.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris jumps into 2020 White House race – (Reuters)
First-term Democratic Senator Kamala Harris of California, a rising party star and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, launched her 2020 campaign for the White House on Monday by touting her background as a prosecutor.
Trump, Pence visit MLK Memorial – (The Hill)
President Trump and Vice President Pence on Monday made a brief, unannounced visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. to mark the national holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.
Senate GOP eyes changing rules for Trump nominees next week – (The Hill)
Senate Republicans are mulling using the “nuclear option” to speed up consideration of President Trump’s nominees as soon as next week. S
Trump makes unannounced visit to MLK memorial – (CNN)
President Donald Trump made a brief, unannounced visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall in recognition of the holiday honoring the civil rights icon.
In shutdown fight with Trump, Dems reject immigration deal they once sponsored – (Fox News)
Democrats once supported the “BRIDGE Act” — but they are now rejecting it as part of a deal that includes border wall funding.
Tracking America in the age of Trump – (The Economist)
Eleven measures that take the temperature of Donald Trump’s America
Donald Trump, <em>Holmes & Watson</em> lead 2019 Razzie nominations – (Entertainment Weekly)
See the full list.
CNN, MSNBC mentioned Trump impeachment nearly 200 times Friday before BuzzFeed report was discredited – (Google News)
CNN, MSNBC mention impeachment nearly 200 times based on the infamous BuzzFeed report to before it was discredited by the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
MLK’s son hits Pence for comparing Trump to his father – (The Hill)
Martin Luther King Jr.’s son is criticizing Vice President Mike Pence for invoking his father’s words to pitch President Trump’s immigration proposal.
Christie: Trump has ‘found himself saddled with riffraff’ – (CNN)
Former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie knocked a series of departed, high-profile members of the Trump administration in his upcoming book, according to excerpts published on Monday by Axios.
President Trump blasts ‘disgraceful’ Buzzfeed after Mueller disputes Cohen report – (Fox News)
Buzzfeed News stands by Cohen report, says there’s ‘no indication’ the story is inaccurate; Kevin Corke reports from the White House.
Avlon: Longest and dumbest government shutdown – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s John Avlon examines Trump’s border proposal, which offers temporary protections for some immigrants brought to the country illegally as children in exchange for funding for a border wall.
GOP lawmaker: This is an idiotic shutdown – CNN Video – (CNN)
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) tells CNN’s Ana Cabrera he likes President Trump’s offer to Democrats in exchange for border wall funding, but thinks that his colleagues in Congress need “to be adults.”