2019-02-17

Headlines:

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

Trump policies unite allies against him at European security forum – (Reuters)
In 2009, then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden came to Munich to “press the reset button” with Russia. A decade later he came again to offer the world better relations, this time with his own country.

Polish PM cancels trip amid Holocaust row – (BBC News)
Mateusz Morawiecki will not now visit Israel, after PM Benjamin Netanyahu said “Poles co-operated”.

Nigerian presidential poll postponed, opposition slams decision – (Reuters)
Nigerian authorities postponed Saturday’s national election by a week, just hours before polls had been due to open, prompting the opposition candidate to accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of seeking to “disenfranchise” voters.

France denies it has softened stance on Brexit – (Reuters)
France on Sunday denied British media reports that President Emmanuel Macron had offered concessions on the Irish backstop to end the stalemate over Brexit negotiations.

Family: UK teen who joined Islamic State has baby in Syria – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — The family of a British teenager who ran away to join the Islamic State group and now wants to return to the U.K. said Sunday she has given birth to a baby boy.The family’s lawyer said 19-year-old Shamima Begum and the baby are in good health. I…

Aurora shooting raises questions over gun permit checks – (Associated Press)
AURORA, Ill. (AP) — An initial background check five years ago failed to flag an out-of-state felony conviction that would have prevented a man from buying the gun he used to kill five co-workers and wound six other people, including five responding police of…

Germany cool on Trump appeal to take back IS fighters from Syria – (Reuters)
Germany can take back Islamic State fighters captured in Syria only if the suspects have consular access, the interior ministry said on Sunday, playing down the likelihood of Berlin meeting demands made by U.S. President Trump to his European allies.

White House indicates Trump to veto disapproval of emergency – (Associated Press)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A top adviser to President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that Trump is prepared to issue the first veto of his term if Congress votes to disapprove of his declaration of a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border.White Hous…

Saudi crown prince begins Asia tour in Pakistan amid India tensions – (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday kicked off his tour of South Asia and China with a high-profile visit to Pakistan, but the trip risks being overshadowed by escalating tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

European car imports no threat to U.S. national security: VDA – (Reuters)
Car imports from Europe do not endanger U.S. national security, German car lobby the VDA said on Sunday, echoing comments by Chancellor Angela Merkel a day earlier.

Brother of Syria war pair stabbed to death – (BBC News)
The 22-year-old’s twin and their older brother died fighting for Islamists in Syria in 2014.

‘Black Panther’ costume designer blazes trail to inspire – (Associated Press)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ruth E. Carter is a black woman blazing a trail as a costume designer in a film industry with not many who look like her. But through her upcoming career achievement award and Oscar nomination for her Afro-futuristic wardrobes in the superh…

Acting Pentagon chief not decided yet on funding border wall – (Reuters)
Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Saturday he had not yet determined whether a border wall with Mexico was a military necessity or how much Pentagon money would be used.

Russia’s Gazprombank freezes accounts of Venezuela’s PDVSA: source – (Reuters)
Russian lender Gazprombank has decided to freeze the accounts of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and halted transactions with the firm to reduce the risk of the bank falling under U.S. sanctions, a Gazprombank source told Reuters on Sunday.

US-backed Syria force says IS holding 1,000 civilians – (Associated Press)
AL-OMAR OIL FIELD BASE, Syria (AP) — Islamic State militants are preventing more than 1,000 civilians from leaving a tiny area still held by the extremist group in a village in eastern Syria, a spokesman for the U.S.-backed Syrian militia fighting the group s…

Rift Between Trump and Europe Is Now Open and Angry – (The New York Times)
Europeans pushed back against the Trump administration’s unilateralism at the Munich Security Conference, signaling a shift that is likely to be exploited by Russia and China.

Retailers, fashion brands struggle with racial insensitivity – (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers and top fashion brands like Gucci and Prada keep apologizing for products that smack of racial insensitivity.The big question is: Why does it keep happening?Experts say many of these fashion companies live in a sort of bubble and lac…

UK’s May to speak to every EU head in bid for Brexit deal changes – (Reuters)
Britain’s Theresa May plans to speak to every European Union leader and the European Commission chief to seek changes to her EU withdrawal agreement, days after another defeat from her own lawmakers and as businesses brace for a no-deal Brexit on March 29.

Transgender bathroom ban may end, but transcript irks teen – (Associated Press)
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — For nearly four years, Gavin Grimm has been suing his former school district after it banned him from using the boys bathrooms in high school.Along the way, he’s became a national face for transgender rights. His case almost went to the U.…

Pakistan questions India’s ‘security lapses’ after Kashmir attack – (Al Jazeera English)
India accused Islamabad of harbouring group that claimed deadly attack on army convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir.

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From various sources

Israel to penalize Palestinians terror payments by withholding tax fees – (The Jerusalem Post)
“We are a people under occupation, which is the ugliest form of terrorism,” Hussein al-Sheikh added. “We have the right to liberty and independence.”

Govt. approves NIS17m for memorial to Jewish fighters in WWII – (The Jerusalem Post)

Conference of Presidents: New strain of antisemitism in the halls of power – (The Jerusalem Post)
“It raises the sense that this is a whole new strain of antisemitism than what we’ve seen before in the halls of power,” said Stark.

What Britain should do after a no-deal Brexit – (Financial Times)
The UK must draw up a post-industrial economic strategy for the long term

UK says Huawei is manageable risk to 5G – (Financial Times)
Blow to US efforts to ban Chinese company from allies’ telecoms networks

Rush Limbaugh on whether Trump is justified in taking executive action to secure funding for his border wall – (Fox News)
President Trump declares a national emergency on the southern border in a bid to divert billions toward border security; reaction from talk titan Rush Limbaugh.

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants to give every adult $1,000 a month – (Fox News)
Andrew Yang weighs in on why giving adults $1,000 a month is part of his campaign platform.

Don Cheadle advocates for trans youth, criticizes Trump’s alleged Russia connection on ‘Saturday Night Live’ – (Fox News)
Don Cheadle wore outfits advocating for trans youth and criticizing Trump’s alleged connection to Russia while hosting ‘Saturday Night Live.’

Novichok poison victim Sergei Skripal’s health ‘is deteriorating’ – (Daily Mail)
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 67, has suffered a deterioration in his health and is under close medical supervision at his home, a well-informed intelligence source has claimed.

Winter strikes back as fog and mist means cold start to weekend – (Daily Mail)
The country will see a feel a little chillier than it did on Friday this weekend as a cold fog and low cloud begin to emerge over the UK.

Teen went into a coma and woke up to discover she had given birth – (Daily Mail)
Ebony Stevenson, 18, from Manchester, went to bed feeling unwell on December 2, she was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma before waking up on December 6 having had a baby girl.

Theresa May pleads with Tory MPs to unite and deliver on Brexit – (Daily Mail)
The Prime Minister today pleaded for Tory unity as she set out the steps the Government is taking to try and change the Brexit deal ahead of a second vote on it.

As Wall Street rallies on US-China trade hopes, bond investors may be worried about a recession – (CNBC)
The stock market is euphoric over the idea that a trade deal between the U.S. and China will fix the economy and boost earnings, but the bond market still sees uncertainty and a possible recession lurking.

Lindsey Graham promises Senate Judiciary hearing on Andrew McCabe’s 25th Amendment allegations – (Axios)
“We will have a hearing about who’s telling the truth, what actually happened.”

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Virginia’s ongoing controversies – (CBS News)
Terry McAuliffe, former governor of Virginia, joins moderator Margaret Brennan to discuss his new book, “Beyond Charlottesville.”

How are Republicans reacting to the national emergency declaration? – (CBS News)
Rachael Bade, David Nakamura, Leslie Sanchez and Eugene Scott join moderator Margaret Brennan to discuss President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.

Ramos red card an ‘occupational hazard’, says Solari – (FourFourTwo)
The Real Madrid captain was sent-off for the 20th time in LaLiga in a home defeat to Girona, but Santiago Solari has defended Sergio Ramos.

Lawsuit over Trump’s emergency declaration ‘imminent’ – (RTE)
California will “imminently” challenge US President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to obtain funds for a US-Mexico border wall, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra has said.

Study: Black soldier fly maggots form “fountains” to feed more quickly – (Ars Technica)
A video shows 10,000 maggots consuming a 16-inch pizza in just two hours.

17 “Due To Personal Reasons” Tweets That Are So Stupid, But So So Funny – (Buzzfeed)
“Due to personal reasons, I will be going to Applebees.”

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All about Trump

Coons says Trump’s Syria withdrawal “has really unsettled our core allies” – (CBS News)
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, joins moderator Margaret Brennan from the Munich Security Conference to discuss Syria and Andrew McCabe’s 25th amendment comments.

McCabe says possible “inappropriate relationship” between Trump, Russia prompted probe – (CBS News)
In an interview airing Sunday on “60 Minutes,” former Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe said the possibility of an “inappropriate relationship” between President Trump and Russia prompted him to launch investigations into their ties.

Trump policies unite allies against him at European security forum – (Reuters)
In 2009, then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden came to Munich to “press the reset button” with Russia. A decade later he came again to offer the world better relations, this time with his own country.

‘SNL’: Trump slaps back after Alec Baldwin mocks his national emergency news conference – (USA Today)
Alec Baldwin impersonated President Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” which played off him defending his decision to declare a national emergency.

Graham vows to hold hearing on McCabe’s “stunning” 25th Amendment comments – (CBS News)
Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, joins moderator Margaret Brennan from the Munich Security Conference to discuss President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and comments by former Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe on the 25th Amendment.

Heather Nauert, President Trump’s choice for UN ambassador job, withdraws in surprise move – (USA Today)
Heather Nauert, a former Fox News host, cited the strain on her family in announcing her decision. Critics said Nauert did have the foreign policy experience.

Adam Schiff refuses to stand down if Mueller finds no collusion – (Google News)
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., wouldn’t say Sunday if he would accept special counsel Robert Mueller being unable to find direction collusion between President Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

Stephen Miller signals Trump ready to veto resolution against emergency declaration – (The Hill)
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller on Sunday strongly signaled that President Trump will issue a veto if lawmakers approve a measure to block his emergency declaration to secure funding for a wall along the southern border.

Germany cool on Trump appeal to take back IS fighters from Syria – (Reuters)
Germany can take back Islamic State fighters captured in Syria only if the suspects have consular access, the interior ministry said on Sunday, playing down the likelihood of Berlin meeting demands made by U.S. President Trump to his European allies.

White House indicates Trump to veto disapproval of emergency – (Associated Press)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A top adviser to President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that Trump is prepared to issue the first veto of his term if Congress votes to disapprove of his declaration of a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border.White Hous…

State of emergency: Norman Ornstein on Trump’s border wall – (CBS News)
Norman Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and a contributing editor for the Atlantic, says that if President Donald Trump can succeed with his voluntary state of emergency created to take funds for his borde…

Stephen Miller says Trump will “protect” his national emergency declaration – (Axios)
But he wouldn’t say if Trump would veto a resolution of disapproval from Congress.

Six more years of President Donald Trump ‘would be bad for the country’: Potential 2020 GOP primary challenger Bill Weld – (ABC News)
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld discusses his potential challenge to President Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican primary.

California ‘definitely and imminently’ suing over Trump emergency declaration, state AG says – (USA Today)
“It’s clear that this isn’t an emergency,” Becerra said. “In the mind of Donald Trump he needs to do something to try to fulfill a campaign promise.”

Schiff: ‘Harder to imagine a poorer case’ than Trump’s on emergency declaration – (The Hill)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in an interview Sunday that President Trump has a poor case in court on his emergency declaration at the border.

Rift Between Trump and Europe Is Now Open and Angry – (The New York Times)
Europeans pushed back against the Trump administration’s unilateralism at the Munich Security Conference, signaling a shift that is likely to be exploited by Russia and China.

Donald Trump slams ‘Saturday Night Live’ on Twitter after show mocks his state of emergency declaration – (Fox News)
“Saturday Night Live” brought back Alec Baldwin to mock President Donald Trump in their cold open, which skewered the commander in chief’s state of emergency declaration.

Fox’s Wallace presses Stephen Miller for example on Trump emergency declaration – (The Hill)
White House senior adviser Stephen Miller on Sunday staunchly defended President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency to secure funds for construction of a wall along the southern border, but struggled to provide an example of a simila

Schiff: Trump ‘daring the courts’ to strike down national emergency – (CNN)
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said Sunday the national emergency President Donald Trump announced is unconstitutional because he declared the emergency when “Congress explicitly rejected” the money for the wall on the southern border in th…

Mueller investigation subpoenas 2nd former Cambridge Analytica employee – (Axios)
Brittany Kaiser was a former director at the Trump-linked data analytics firm.

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