2019-02-14

Headlines:

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

Apple to ship iPhones with only Qualcomm chips to German stores – (Reuters)
Apple Inc said Thursday that it will resume selling older iPhone models in its stores in Germany, where they were banned last year due to a patent infringement ruling.

Britain’s PM May could face another Brexit defeat in parliament – (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Theresa May could face a defeat in parliament on Thursday over her plan to renegotiate the Brexit deal, undermining her pledge to the European Union that, with changes, she can get the agreement approved.

U.S. Congress advances border security bill without Trump border wall – (Reuters)
The U.S. Congress on Thursday aimed to end a dispute over border security with legislation that would ignore President Donald Trump’s request for $5.7 billion (£4.45 billion) to help build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border but avoid a partial government shutdo…

McCabe Says Justice Officials Discussed Recruiting Cabinet Members to Push Trump Out of Office – (The New York Times)
The president’s actions prompted Andrew G. McCabe to order the team digging into Russia’s election interference to investigate whether Mr. Trump had obstructed justice by firing James B. Comey.

EPA outlines plan for dealing with toxic chemicals in water – (Associated Press)
Under strong pressure from Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that it will move ahead this year with a process that could lead to setting a safety threshold for a group of highly toxic chemicals in drinking water.Acting EPA Administra…

Florida’s gun debate persists a year after Parkland mass shooting – (Reuters)
A year after Florida lawmakers rushed through far-reaching legislation on school safety and gun control in response to the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history, the state is on the verge of reopening the heart-wrenching debate.

As renewables soar, BP sees China hitting brakes on energy growth – (Reuters)
Global demand for renewable power will soar at an unprecedented pace over the coming decades, BP said in a benchmark report on Thursday, while China’s energy growth is seen sharply decelerating as its economic expansion slows.

Wall St. opens lower on weak retail sales data – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday, as a surprise drop in retail sales in December suggested a sharp slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018, overshadowing hopes of a breakthrough in the U.S.-China trade talks.

Airbus A380: from European dream to white elephant – (Reuters)
Loved by passengers, feared by accountants, the world’s largest airliner has run out of runway after Airbus decided to close A380 production after 12 years in service due to weak sales.

Border security brawl seems near a serene resolution – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is set to resolve its clattering brawl with President Donald Trump in uncommonly bipartisan fashion as lawmakers prepare to pass a border security compromise providing a mere sliver of the billions he’s demanded for a wall with Mexi…

Year after Parkland massacre, 17 victims remembered – (Associated Press)
PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre a year ago renewed the national debate on guns and school safety, turned some victims’ parents and surviving students into political activists and at least temporarily ended the local she…

Exclusive: Facebook allows fake news ads ahead of Nigerian vote – (Al Jazeera English)
Facebook’s automated system can be tricked to allow ads to show millions of people fake news, Al Jazeera found.

JP Morgan creates crypto-currency – (BBC News)
The US investment bank has created the JPM Coin to handle wholesale payments for some clients.

US unemployment claims rise by 4,000 to 239,000 – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remains at levels low enough to show that most workers enjoy job security.The Labor Department says claims for unemployment checks increased by 4,000 to 239,000. T…

Ex-FBI official was concerned Russia probes could ‘vanish’ – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe says he wanted investigations into President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia and possible obstruction of justice documented so that they could “not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace.”McCa…

IS runaway teen ‘could be prosecuted in UK’ – (BBC News)
British lives will not be put at risk to rescue Shamima Begum, who fled to Syria aged 15, ministers say.

Kashmir attack kills 18 paramilitaries – (BBC News)
At least 18 Indian soldiers are killed after a car filled with explosives rams a military convoy.

Stars object to Oscars ceremony change – (BBC News)
Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese write open letter objecting to awards being given in commercial break.

AP Interview: Philippine journalist sees threat to democracy – (Associated Press)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The head of a Philippine online news site who was arrested by government agents in a libel case accused President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration on Thursday of acting like a dictatorship and using the law as a weapon to muzzle dis…

14 Children Died in the Parkland Shooting. Nearly 1,200 Have Died From Guns Since. – (The New York Times)
For the project “Since Parkland,” teenage journalists wrote profiles for every child killed by gun violence in the year since the Florida school shooting.

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From various sources

The Catalan issue pushes Spain to the brink of yet another election – (The Economist)
The prime minister failed to pass his budget this week

Another shutdown, shut down – (The Economist)
The federal government will remain open, thanks to the art of the retreat

Signs of progress in China-US trade talks, but gaps remain big – (The Economist)
Negotiations hinge on how to enforce China’s pledges

Will European countries take back hundreds of their ISIS-member citizens? – (The Jerusalem Post)
UK State of Security Minister Ben Wallace said that British citizens in Syria have a right to return, but that the UK would not put officials at risk to bring the Britons home

Shamima Begum, ISIS child-bride, wants to return to London – (The Jerusalem Post)
The 19-year-old Begum is pregnant and lives in a Syrian refugee camp, after losing two babies, she wants to return to London after joining the radical Islamic group.

Benjamin Netanyahu says he ‘looks forward to’ Donald Trump’s peace plan – (The Jerusalem Post)
Pence thanked Netanyahu for his commitment to the historic alliance between their two countries, adding that “Israel is our cherished ally.”

Netanyahu to appoint foreign minister in cabinet meeting Sunday – (The Jerusalem Post)
The move comes after the Movement for Quality Government in Israel petitioned the High Court of Justice about the number of portfolios the prime minister holds.

Introducing ‘JPM Coin’: JPMorgan will be the first major US bank to launch its own cryptocurrency – (Business Insider)
Introducing ‘JPM Coin’: JPMorgan will be the first major US bank to launch its own cryptocurrency

Introducing ‘JPM Coin’: JPMorgan will be the first major US bank to launch its own cryptocurrency – (Business Insider (UK))
Introducing ‘JPM Coin’: JPMorgan will be the first major US bank to launch its own cryptocurrency

Coca Cola slides after issuing a disappointing growth forecast (KO) – (Business Insider)
Coca Cola slides after issuing a disappointing growth forecast (KO)

Coca Cola slides after issuing a disappointing growth forecast (KO) – (Business Insider (UK))
Coca Cola slides after issuing a disappointing growth forecast (KO)

‘Unbelievable’: Retail sales collapsed by the most since 2009 in December – (Business Insider)
‘Unbelievable’: Retail sales collapsed by the most since 2009 in December

‘Unbelievable’: Retail sales collapsed by the most since 2009 in December – (Business Insider (UK))
‘Unbelievable’: Retail sales collapsed by the most since 2009 in December

She lost her daughter in Parkland. Now she’s fighting for school safety. – (Vice News)
Lori Alhadeff decided to run for a seat on the school board, and she won.

An essential timeline of the Mueller investigation | CBC Radio – (CBC News)
CBC Washington correspondent Keith Boag explains the key events involving Russia, Trump and accusations of collusion.

Hollow Knight: Silksong – Reveal Trailer – IGN.com – (IGN)
Team Cherry has announced Hollow Knight: Silksong, coming to Windows, Mac, Linux, and Nintendo Switch.

Supreme Court finds teacher who used camera pen guilty of voyeurism | CBC News – (CBC News)
The Supreme Court says a London, Ont., teacher who secretly filmed female students’ chests with a camera pen is guilty of voyeurism.

The Academy Responded To The Backlash For Moving Four Oscar Categories To Commercial Breaks – (Buzzfeed)
“No award category at the 91st Oscars ceremony will be presented in a manner that depicts the achievements of its nominees and winners as less then others.”

Pro Rata – (Axios)
Insider views on deals and dealmakers in venture capital, private equity and M&A, by Dan Primack. Weekday mornings

How Team Trump keeps changing its story in the Russia investigation – (CNN)
Public contradictions, walkbacks and flip-flops have become a hallmark of how Trump and his team responded to the Russia investigation. This interactive project highlights the top 15 examples of these flip-flops and contradictions, and is accompanied by nine …

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All about Trump

Benjamin Netanyahu says he ‘looks forward to’ Donald Trump’s peace plan – (The Jerusalem Post)
Pence thanked Netanyahu for his commitment to the historic alliance between their two countries, adding that “Israel is our cherished ally.”

An essential timeline of the Mueller investigation | CBC Radio – (CBC News)
CBC Washington correspondent Keith Boag explains the key events involving Russia, Trump and accusations of collusion.

How Team Trump keeps changing its story in the Russia investigation – (CNN)
Public contradictions, walkbacks and flip-flops have become a hallmark of how Trump and his team responded to the Russia investigation. This interactive project highlights the top 15 examples of these flip-flops and contradictions, and is accompanied by nine …

Government shutdown: Border security deal faces vote in Congress as midnight Friday deadline looms – (USA Today)
The compromise bill would provide some funding for a physical border barrier, but far less than the $5.7 billion President Trump wants for a wall.

U.S. Congress advances border security bill without Trump border wall – (Reuters)
The U.S. Congress on Thursday aimed to end a dispute over border security with legislation that would ignore President Donald Trump’s request for $5.7 billion (£4.45 billion) to help build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border but avoid a partial government shutdo…

McCabe Says Justice Officials Discussed Recruiting Cabinet Members to Push Trump Out of Office – (The New York Times)
The president’s actions prompted Andrew G. McCabe to order the team digging into Russia’s election interference to investigate whether Mr. Trump had obstructed justice by firing James B. Comey.

FBI’s Andrew McCabe feared he would be fired before Trump investigations were on ‘solid ground’ – (CNBC)
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said he spoke with Trump in May 2017, just after the president fired ex-FBI Director James Comey, citing guidance from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. McCabe said he talked to the teams investigating Russia abo…

Harris fact-checked over ‘nonsensical’ claim Trump hiked taxes on middle class – (Fox News)
2020 hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is under fire for claiming that lower tax refunds are a sign that the Trump tax cuts are “a middle class tax hike” — something a top fact checker described as “nonsensical and misleading.”

Border security brawl seems near a serene resolution – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is set to resolve its clattering brawl with President Donald Trump in uncommonly bipartisan fashion as lawmakers prepare to pass a border security compromise providing a mere sliver of the billions he’s demanded for a wall with Mexi…

FBI discussed removing Trump from office – (News.com.au)
The former acting head of the FBI says there were conversations about using the 25th amendment of the constitution to remove Donald Trump from office.

McCabe launched FBI probes into Trump worried he’d be fired and the case would “vanish” – (Vice News)
“I wanted to make sure that our case was on solid ground and if somebody came in behind me and closed it and tried to walk away from it, they would not be able to do that without creating a record.”

Andrew McCabe confirms DOJ held meetings to discuss invoking 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump – (Newsweek)
Following FBI Director James Comey’s firing, McCabe also said he initiated the FBI’s obstruction of justice and counterintelligence investigations into the president.

The juiciest details from fired FBI director Andrew McCabe’s new book – (Axios)
He calls President Trump “a deliberate liar.”

Trump approval rating bounces back from post-government shutdown lows – (CNBC)
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has mounted a decisive comeback from its descent last month during the record-length partial government shutdown, which lasted 35 days and ended Jan. 25.

Ex-FBI official was concerned Russia probes could ‘vanish’ – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe says he wanted investigations into President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia and possible obstruction of justice documented so that they could “not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace.”McCa…

William Barr to face Senate confirmation vote for attorney general – (CNN)
The Senate will vote Thursday on whether to send President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, William Barr, back to the Department of Justice, marking his second tour atop an agency facing down a set of threats unimaginable in his first go-around.

Congress rolls out a plan to avoid a government shutdown, with votes expected quickly – (CNBC)
Barring a sudden change, Trump is expected sign the spending legislation into law and prevent the second partial shutdown since December.

Former FBI Deputy Director McCabe says he ordered obstruction probe into Trump – (NBC News)
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe spoke to “60 Minutes” in his first interview since he was ousted last year.

House conservatives blast border deal, push Trump to use executive power – (The Hill)
A group of conservative House members is urging President Trump to use executive power to build a barrier along the southern border if he feels it is necessary to support the bipartisan border deal slated to be voted on Thursday eve

China Seeks to Woo U.S. With Promise of Big Chip Purchases – (The Wall Street Journal)
China is counting on promises of big purchases of semiconductors and other U.S. goods to ease trade tensions and persuade President Trump to extend a tariff truce and later resolve the market-rattling dispute directly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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