2019-02-18

Headlines:

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

Sailor in iconic V-J Day Times Square kiss photo dies at 95 – (Associated Press)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The ecstatic sailor shown kissing a woman in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II died Sunday. George Mendonsa was 95.Mendonsa fell and had a seizure at the assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he liv…

YouTube in Pokemon child abuse images row – (BBC News)
Google backtracks after ‘mistakenly’ deleting YouTubers for ‘sexual content involving minors’.

Chicago police seek follow-up interview with ‘Empire’ actor – (Reuters)
Chicago police have shifted the direction of their investigation into actor Jussie Smollett’s report of a hate-crime assault and are seeking to interview him again, after releasing two men detained for questioning in the probe, a police spokesman said on Satu…

China accuses US of trying to block its tech development – (Associated Press)
BEIJING (AP) — China’s government on Monday accused the United States of trying to block its industrial development by alleging that Chinese mobile network gear poses a cybersecurity threat to countries rolling out new internet systems.And in a potential blow…

No need for Shinzo Abe: Trump already nominated for Nobel Peace Prize – (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not saying whether or not he nominated Donald Trump for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but the question may be moot: the U.S. president has been put forward by others for the prestigious award.

Kidnapped schoolchildren freed in Cameroon – (BBC News)
The students were among 176 people kidnapped on Saturday in the restive Anglophone region.

Nigeria’s president: Disrupt vote at the ‘expense of your life’ – (Al Jazeera English)
Muhammadu Buhari also questions election delay calling for an investigation into the electoral commission’s decision.

Brazil’s #metoo moment: Spiritual guru accused of sex abuse – (Associated Press)
ABADIANIA, Brazil (AP) — For over 40 years, spiritual healer Joao Teixeira de Faria drew people from all over the world to this small city in central Brazil, offering treatment for everything from depression to cancer.His work was both praised — Oprah Winfrey…

Trump lashes out at ‘treasonous’ officials – (BBC News)
The US president vents anger at an “illegal act”, amid claims there were discussions to oust him.

Besieged IS militants refuse to surrender, ask for an exit – (Associated Press)
AL-OMAR OIL FIELD BASE, Syria (AP) — More than 300 Islamic State militants surrounded in a tiny area in eastern Syria are refusing to surrender to U.S.-backed forces and are trying to negotiate an exit, Syrian activists and a person close to the negotiations …

Trump to say Venezuela’s military at risk for supporting Maduro – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump will say in a speech on Monday that Venezuela’s military officials should “work toward democracy” or risk losing everything they have.

French judge refuses to block Catholic sex scandal movie – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — A French judge refused Monday to block the release this week in French cinemas of a movie based on a Catholic sex scandal.French director Francois Ozon’s film “Grace a Dieu” (“By the Grace of God”) won the Berlin Film Festival’s jury grand prize …

Migingo island: Africa’s smallest war – (Al Jazeera English)

Honda set to close Swindon car plant – (BBC News)
The carmaker is set to announce the closure of its Swindon plant in 2022, jeopardising 3,500 jobs, sources say.

Alibaba is the force behind hit Chinese Communist Party app: sources – (Reuters)
A Chinese government propaganda app that recently became a huge hit was developed by Alibaba, two people at the company told Reuters, at a time when the nation’s tech firms are under global scrutiny over their ties to Beijing.

Ireland says no-deal Brexit would be ‘crazy outcome’ – (Reuters)
Ireland is spending hundreds of millions of euros on preparing for a no-deal Brexit, which would be a “crazy outcome” of three years of EU-UK negotiations, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Monday.

U.S.-backed Syria force seeks help with Islamic State prisoner ‘time bomb’ – (Reuters)
Hundreds of foreign jihadist fighters held in Syria represent a “time bomb” and could escape and threaten the West unless countries do more to take them back, the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed authorities holding them said on Monday.

U.S.-backed Syrian forces call for 1,500 coalition troops to stay – (Reuters)
The commander of U.S.-backed forces in Syria called on Monday for about 1,000 to 1,500 international forces to remain in Syria to help fight Islamic State and expressed hope that the United States, in particular, would halt plans for a total pullout.

Army to be ‘ruthless’ against tampering in Nigeria’s postponed vote: Buhari – (Reuters)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday warned that anyone trying to tamper with Nigeria’s postponed vote risked their lives and accused the electoral commission of incompetence.

Nigeria’s female candidates seek victory despite harassment – (Associated Press)
KANO, Nigeria (AP) — Nervous ahead of Nigeria’s delayed election, a group of young women picked up their cellphones and wished each other well.”Honestly I’m so tensed and scared,” one typed.”I feel like crying. This is so touching,” another wrote.”What we are…

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From various sources

Polish chief rabbi says antisemitism at risk of rising amid crisis – (The Jerusalem Post)
There is a palpable feeling of antisemitism in Poland right now, according to one of its leading rabbis.

Will minor accused of killing Palestinian woman remain in detention? – (The Jerusalem Post)
Last month, it was revealed that the rock which killed Rabi contained the minor’s DNA, although his identity remains under gag order.

Edelstein on Poland crisis: We have a right to say what really happened – (The Jerusalem Post)
“I definitely regret” that the summit is canceled, Yuli Edelstein said, “but having said that, we are not trading in history, definitely not that of the Holocaust.”

Palestinians say Israel ‘playing with fire’ by closing Temple Mount gate – (The Jerusalem Post)
The Jerusalem Police detained five east Jerusalem Arabs who tried to enter the premises of the Golden Gate, which has been closed by a court order.

Is Colombia looking to buy Israel’s Barak-8 missile defense system? – (The Jerusalem Post)
The system was said to have been chosen over South Korea’s Lig Nex1 KM-SAM.

Chief Rabbi of Poland: Katz had offended us as Polish Jews – (The Jerusalem Post)
Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich released an official letter protesting the Israeli Minister’s statement that ‘Poles imbibe antisemitism from their mothers’ milk.’

– (Fox Sports)

Trump may veto legislation that blocks national emergency declaration – (Fox News)
The White House is defending the president’s declaration to get funds to build the border wall and says Trump will protect it ‘guaranteed’; John Roberts reports.

WWE star Paige talks ‘Fighting with my Family,’ becoming the next Dwayne Johnson – (Fox News)
WWE star Paige is the subject of the new film “Fighting With My Family” — and she also admits she’s a huge fan of the movie.

Alabama-born ISIS wife who reportedly told Americans to kill themselves now begging to come home – (Fox News)
An Alabama woman who reportedly posted a tweet encouraging Americans to kill themselves — after being “brainwashed” into joining ISIS years ago — is now begging for officials to let her back into the U.S.

Politicians who jumped on Jussie Smollett attack claim in awkward spot – (Fox News)
Democratic politicians are backtracking from their initial comments about what was originally described as a hate crime against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, after a Chicago police spokesperson said over the weekend the “trajectory of the investigation” shi…

How ISIS bride’s lawyer blamed Britain for Lee Rigby killer – (Daily Mail)
Tasnime Akunjee first appeared in the public eye when he represented the families of three girls who fled to join ISIS in Syria in 2015.

SEVEN anti-Corbyn rebels QUIT Labour – (Daily Mail)
Nick Boles said he was focused on stopping no deal when asked if he would defect. Other MPs such as Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston will also be the focus of attention ahead of Brexit day.

3 killed as wall collapses on construction site in Isipingo – (News24)
Three people have been killed after a wall collapsed on them at a construction site in Isipingo Beach, south of Durban ,KwaZulu-Natal.

Honda ‘to close its Swindon plant with the loss of 3,500 jobs’ – (Daily Mail)
Japanese car maker Honda is set to announce the closure of its Swindon car plant in 2022 putting 3,500 jobs at risk.

Ministers ‘plan £2.50 surcharge on ALL flights to bail out airlines’ – (Daily Mail)
The charge, which currently applies to ATOL-protected package holidays, could be extended to individual flights to prevent UK passengers being stuck overseas.

Microsoft Teams has been down for two hours – (The Verge)
Microsoft Teams, the company’s Slack competitor, is currently experiencing an outage. Microsoft Teams is down and has been unavailable for more than two hours. Microsoft is looking into the connectivity issues.

Doctors cite lack of pay among problems with new medevac panel – (The Guardian (AU))
Exclusive: Royal Australasian College of Physicians concerned about funding and other support for panel members

Queensland union will not back election candidates who do not support coal workers – (The Guardian (AU))
CFMMEU district president Stephen Smyth says union will back candidates who support workers’ rights

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All about Trump

Trump may veto legislation that blocks national emergency declaration – (Fox News)
The White House is defending the president’s declaration to get funds to build the border wall and says Trump will protect it ‘guaranteed’; John Roberts reports.

The 47 most outrageous lines from Donald Trump’s wild national emergency declaration – (CNN)
President Donald Trump crossed a major threshold on Friday, declaring a national emergency at our southern border in order to take money allocated for other purposes and use it to build his much-ballyhooed wall.

Andrew McCarthy: The Russia investigation has always been about President Trump – (Fox News)
Former U.S. assistant attorney Andrew McCarthy offers insight on what was going down between the FBI and DOJ to try and remove President Trump from office.

No need for Shinzo Abe: Trump already nominated for Nobel Peace Prize – (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not saying whether or not he nominated Donald Trump for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but the question may be moot: the U.S. president has been put forward by others for the prestigious award.

Trump, Alec Baldwin battle on Twitter after ‘SNL’ mocks 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.

Dow Futures Eke Higher on President’s Day as Democrats Prepare to Fight Trump’s Emergency Declaration – (Crypto Coins News)
U.S. stock futures traded slightly higher on Monday, as Democrats geared up to fight President Trump’s emergency declaration to fund a new steel barrier along the southern border with Mexico.

Trump lashes out at ‘treasonous’ officials – (BBC News)
The US president vents anger at an “illegal act”, amid claims there were discussions to oust him.

Trump to say Venezuela’s military at risk for supporting Maduro – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump will say in a speech on Monday that Venezuela’s military officials should “work toward democracy” or risk losing everything they have.

Billionaire Who Predicted Trump’s Rise Says Ex Starbucks CEO Doesn’t Have the Beans for 2020 Presidential Race – (Crypto Coins News)
The wall street veteran who predicted Donald Trump’s presidential win says former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz doesn’t have the stomach for a campaign race.

Alec Baldwin asks if Trump’s attack on ‘SNL’ sketch could be ‘threat to my safety’ – (NBC News)
Alec Baldwin responded to President Donald Trump’s tweet calling the media the “enemy of the people” after Baldwin impersonated Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”

McCabe: Trump ‘may have’ committed a crime in blocking Russia probe – (The Hill)
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is suggesting that a “crime may have been committed” by President Trump due to his attempts to stop a Russia probe.

Alan Dershowitz: Congress’ failure to authorize funds for the president is not an emergency – (Fox News)
After President Trump declares a national emergency to fund the border wall, Harvard professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz reacts to the legal fight over the move.

Trump lashes out at Andrew McCabe and Rod Rosenstein over Russia probe, suggests ‘treasonous’ behavior – (CNBC)
In a tweet, President Donald Trump suggested that key officials involved in the Russia probe were engaged in ‘treasonous’ behavior.

Analysis | Why allegations of a ‘coup’ against Trump are unfounded – (The Washington Post)
Trump is yet again lifting up extreme language from Fox News to fit his political goals.

Trump Has Lost His War on the War on Coal – (New York Magazine)
Government agency closes coal plants, saying they’re too expensive.

John Kasich Rips Trump For ‘End Runs Around Congress’ – (The Huffington Post)
The former Ohio governor lambasted Trump’s move as a political power play.

From the 25th Amendment to Vladimir Putin: Five takeaways from Andrew McCabe’s 60 Minutes interview – (USA Today)
McCabe recounted his final months at the FBI, from the hours after James Comey was fired to his assertion that President Donald Trump may have an “inappropriate relationship” with Russia.

Donald Trump accuses Russia probe officials of ‘illegal’ act – (Google News (Australia))
US President Donald Trump has suggested that key officials involved in the Russia probe were engaged in “treasonous” behaviour.

Donald Trump accuses Russia probe officials of ‘illegal’ act – (News.com.au)
US President Donald Trump has suggested that key officials involved in the Russia probe were engaged in “treasonous” behaviour.

Andrew McCabe: FBI had reason to investigate Trump – (CBS News)
In an explosive “60 Minutes” interview, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe explains why he launched counterintelligence and obstruction of justice investigations into President Trump. He also recounts the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein discussin…

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