Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Wall St subdued with U.S.-China trade talks in focus – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks struggled for direction on Tuesday after rallying strongly last week, as investors focused on the latest round of trade talks between the United States and China.
U.S. Supreme Court rebuffs defamation suit against Cosby – (Reuters)
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday for a second time declined to take up a case related to sexual misconduct allegations against Bill Cosby, refusing to consider reviving a defamation lawsuit against the comedian filed by a woman who said he falsely called her…
US editor calls for KKK to lynch Democrats – (BBC News)
The editor said the Ku Klux Klan should lynch “socialist-communist” Democrats and raid Washington DC.
Jailed Citgo executives in limbo amid Venezuela turmoil – (Associated Press)
HOUSTON (AP) — A faint voice comes through the crackled phone line. On the other end, Tomeu Vadell, speaking from a military counterintelligence prison in Venezuela’s capital, asks his daughters in Louisiana whether they’ve gone to church and says he plans to…
I owe how much? Americans shocked by impact of new tax law – (Associated Press)
Wait, I owe the IRS?The first tax filing season under the new federal tax law is proving to be surprising, confusing — and occasionally frightening — for some Americans, especially those accustomed to getting money back from the government.Take Andy Kraft and…
Trucks prepare to evacuate last civilians from Syrian IS enclave-SDF source – (Reuters)
Trucks entered the last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Tuesday to evacuate remaining civilians, said a source in the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is poised to capture the area.
Karl Lagerfeld: fashion’s prolific commander-in-chief – (Reuters)
Karl Lagerfeld enjoyed the stature of a god among mortals in the world of fashion, where he stayed on top for well over half of a century and up to his death, at an age almost nobody apart from himself knew with to-the-day precision.
Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s running for president in 2020 – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose insurgent 2016 presidential campaign reshaped Democratic politics, announced Tuesday that he is running for president in 2020.”Our…
Haute-couture designer and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld dies at 85 – (Reuters)
German haute-couture designer Karl Lagerfeld, artistic director at Chanel and an icon of the fashion industry with his extravagant outfits and striking catwalks, has died aged 85.
Chanel: Iconic couturier Karl Lagerfeld dies in Paris – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s iconic couturier whose designs had an unprecedented impact on the entire fashion industry, died Tuesday in Paris, prompting an outpouring of love and…
Pakistani PM warns India against attack, urges talks on Kashmir blast – (Reuters)
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday Pakistan would retaliate if India attacked in response to a bombing in the disputed Kashmir region, which India blamed on Pakistan.
Strike 2: West Virginia teachers walking out again – (Associated Press)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Nearly a year to the day after West Virginia teachers went on a strike that launched a national “Red4Ed” movement, they’re doing it again.Unions have called a…
Assad adviser rejects idea of granting Syrian Kurds autonomy – (Reuters)
A senior adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday flatly rejected the idea of giving Syrian Kurds a measure of autonomy, saying such a move would open the door to the partition of the country.
Two hundred families trapped by Islamic State in Syria, U.N. says – (Reuters)
Some 200 families are trapped in a shrinking area of Syria controlled by Islamic State, whose forces are stopping many from fleeing, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday, calling for the families’ safe passage.
Supreme Court says Ginsburg to attend court’s public session – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is making her public return to the bench, eight weeks after surgery for lung cancer.Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says…
Factbox: Europeans who joined Islamic State – (Reuters)
The fate of foreigners who joined Islamic State has become an increasingly urgent issue as U.S.-backed fighters prepare to capture the militant group’s last stronghold in eastern Syria.
Ahead of election, tech could unite Europe’s populist groups – (Associated Press)
PARIS (AP) — .The web platform was named for a revered French populist philosopher and created by an Italian internet entrepreneur to transform common grievances into proposals and activists into political candidates.When Italy’s deputy prime minister offered…
Bernie Sanders Announces 2020 Presidential Run – (The New York Times)
Mr. Sanders, the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic primaries, is embarking on a bid that will test whether he can retain the anti-establishment appeal he enjoyed with liberals three years ago
Honda to shut plant in Brexit-shaken Britain – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese carmaker Honda plans to close its car factory in western England in 2021, a fresh blow to the British economy as it struggles with the uncertainty associated with leaving the European Union next month.The company announced the decision, …
Poll: Rural/urban political divisions also split the suburbs – (Associated Press)
DENVER (AP) — America’s suburbs are today’s great political battleground, long seen as an independent pivot between the country’s liberal cities and conservative small towns and rural expanse.But it’s not that simple. It turns out that these places in-between…
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From various sources
Polish PM: Poland is devoted to friendship with Jewish nation – (The Jerusalem Post)
Morawiecki spoke of the “Polish people’s true devotion to the friendship with the Jewish nation.”
Outrage in Syria, Iraq as ISIS members treated as celebrities in west – (The Jerusalem Post)
Ali Y. Al-Baroodi, who survived the ISIS occupation of Mosul, was shocked to see how ISIS members described their enjoyable life over the last few years.
Boteach to honor Mike Pompeo at NYC dinner featuring Netta concert – (The Jerusalem Post)
The event, scheduled for March 28 in the Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, will also honor Marion Wiesel, the wife of the late Elie Wiesel, and feature a concert by Israeli Eurovision winner Netta.
Bernie Sanders announces 2020 White House bid – (Fox News)
The Vermont senator is launching a second presidential bid after failing to secure the Democrat nomination in 2016.
Tim Carney: The American dream is alive in religious institutions under attack by the left – (Fox News)
Author of ‘Alienated America’ Tim Carney explains what he learned by visiting communities across the country.
Sanders says much of his ideas from 2016 campaign have now become mainstream – (Fox News)
The socialist senator enters the 2020 Democrat primary as one of the frontrunners in a progressive field; Peter Doocy reports from New Hampshire.
‘Moderate’ a dirty word? 2020 Dems cringe at being labeled less than liberal – (Fox News)
The Democratic presidential candidates are, with only a few exceptions, shunning the ‘moderate’ label as they court the party base.
Axios Media Trends – (Axios)
The trends reshaping the digital media ecosystem, by Sara Fischer. Tuesday mornings
Kilmarnock boss Clarke calls for ‘sensible majority’ to help authorities – (FourFourTwo)
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has called for the “sensible majority” to help authorities deal with the kind of crowd trouble that marred thei…
Medal.tv’s clipping service allows gamers to share the moments of their digital lives – (TechCrunch)
As online gaming becomes the new social forum for living out virtual lives, a new startup called Medal.tv has raised $3.5 million for its in-game clipping service to capture and share the Kodak moments and digital memories that are increasingly happening in p…
Child awarded €20,000 for ‘psychiatric injuries’ linked to seeing mother bleeding – (The Irish Times)
Jude Johnson-Rice was 15-months-old when he saw damage caused by parent walking into glass pane
80 gravestones desecrated with Swastikas in Jewish cemetery in France – (The Jerusalem Post)
Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog denounced the desecration of the graves, describing it as “another severe incident which underlines the antisemitism virus attacking Europe.”
PM offered ex-Shas leader Yishai ministry if he runs in Bayit Yehudi – (The Jerusalem Post)
Yishai has yet to respond to the offer, and sought the advice of his Rabbi Meir Mazuz, a leading Sephardic haredi rabbi.
Zielinski: I’ve never talked to Klopp, there’s nothing to say about Liverpool – (FourFourTwo)
Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski says there has never been any contact from Liverpool as he closes in on a contract extension with the Italian…
Space Force launch zooms closer to reality with President Trump’s directive – (USA Today)
The president is scheduled to sign a directive Tuesday creating a new military branch called the Space Force which would monitor the heavens.
Andrew McCabe: I told congressional leaders that the FBI was investigating President Trump – and they didn’t object – (CNBC)
McCabe writes in his new book that the briefing for the “Gang of Eight” intelligence leaders in Congress came days after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. In an interview on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday morning, McCabe said that he had informed the lea…
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Returns To Supreme Court Bench For First Oral Arguments Since Surgery – (The Huffington Post)
She had missed a round of oral arguments in January, the first time she had been absent from them since her appointment to the court in 1993.
Anthem: Day One Patch Will Improve Loading Times – IGN – (IGN)
Some very common complaints about the early version of Bioware’s latest may be fixed this week.
Dog shoots man, court rules owner not fit for licence – (News24)
A German court has ruled that a dog owner isn’t fit to carry a firearms licence after his dog shot him with a rifle.
Apex Legends update 2: Read the full patch notes – (Polygon)
Apex Legends’ Feb. 19 patch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One is focused on fixing bugs for console players and making sure Mirage doesn’t crash the game. No balance changes yet, though.
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All about Trump
Space Force launch zooms closer to reality with President Trump’s directive – (USA Today)
The president is scheduled to sign a directive Tuesday creating a new military branch called the Space Force which would monitor the heavens.
Andrew McCabe: I told congressional leaders that the FBI was investigating President Trump – and they didn’t object – (CNBC)
McCabe writes in his new book that the briefing for the “Gang of Eight” intelligence leaders in Congress came days after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. In an interview on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday morning, McCabe said that he had informed the lea…
Trump to direct creation of Space Force within the Air Force – (The Hill)
The new plan is less ambitious than the “separate but equal” military branch Trump first envisioned, but it is more likely to get the backing of Congress
President Trump just took the Space Force from rally slogan to reality via executive action – (Axios)
The Space Force will initially be set up within the Air Force.
Bernie Sanders 2020: Trump revives ‘socialist’ attack against senator – live – (The Guardian (UK))
Sanders has ‘already won’ because candidates are ‘embracing his brand of socialism’, Trump campaign spokeswoman said
Hillary Clinton Hits Back At Donald Trump With List Of ‘Real National Emergencies’ – (The Huffington Post)
Clinton also shared a #FAKENationalEmergency tweet.
Andrew McCabe: Congress Knew About FBI Probe Into Trump And ‘No One Objected’ – (The Huffington Post)
McCabe, who took over as acting FBI director after James Comey was fired, opened two investigations into Donald Trump and his campaign’s ties to Russia.
How the spending bill limits where Trump can build his wall – (Vice News)
The spending bill’s fine print shows the president agreed to protect certain areas in Texas.
Trump rips ‘Open Border Democrats’ for lawsuit seeking to block emergency declaration – (The Hill)
President Trump on Tuesday took aim at a mostly Democratic-led effort to block his declaration of a national emergency in federal court, mocking “Open Border Democrats” on Twitter for their lawsuit.
Connecticut Attorney General Pans Trump For ‘Shredding The Constitution’ – (The Huffington Post)
William Tong warned that states are “what stands between this president and his … attack on our way of life and the Constitution.”
With Evangelicals Behind Him, Vice President Mike Pence Takes Prominent Role in Foreign Policy – (The Wall Street Journal)
In the first two years of the Trump administration, Vice President Mike Pence has put religion at the heart of key diplomatic efforts, steering hundreds of millions in U.S. aid toward Christians and other minorities victimized by Islamic State.
America’s other national emergencies, in photos – (CNN)
President Donald Trump is declaring a national emergency to secure funding for a wall at the US-Mexico border. Take a look at some of the other active emergencies that are still in effect.
Border resident paints message to Trump on roof – CNN Video – (CNN)
Residents along the US-Mexico border are coming together to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s decision to build a wall using all or portions of their property. CNN’s Gary Tuchman reports.
John Avlon calls out GOP hypocrisy on executive overreach – CNN Video – (CNN)
Some Republicans who criticized President Obama over his use of executive orders are staying silent about President Trump declaring a national emergency. CNN’s John Avlon reports.
Sanders calls Trump the ‘most dangerous president in modern American history’ in 2020 announcement – (Fox News)
The Vermont senator attacks the president in his recorded 2020 presidential announcement. How does the latest candidate stack up against his opponents?
The ACLU Is Hitting The Road Ahead Of Its 100th Anniversary – (The Huffington Post)
The group, which has exploded in size during the Trump administration, wants to shape the 2020 conversation.
Trump mocks California over ‘Fast Train,’ firing back at emergency declaration lawsuit – (Google News)
President Trump on Tuesday ridiculed California for its “failed Fast Train project” as he fired back at a multi-state lawsuit opposing his declaration of a national emergency on the southern border.
Trump criticizes California over lawsuit against border wall – (ABC News)
Recode Daily: WhatsApp — and free speech — are at risk of “China-style surveillance” in India – (Recode)
Plus: A coalition of 16 US states sues to stop Trump’s use of emergency powers to fund his border wall; China’s most popular app is a government propaganda tool built by Alibaba; Alexa and the search for the one perfect answer.
Ex-FBI official McCabe responds to ‘lying’ Trump attacks, calls them ‘horrific’ – (NBC News)
Former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told NBC’s “Today Show” on Tuesday about the impact of Trump’s repeated blasting of him.
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