2019-02-20

Headlines:

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

US mining sites dump 50M gallons of fouled wastewater daily – (Associated Press)
RIMINI, Mont. (AP) — Every day many millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the U.S. and into…

No host? No problem. Queen, Lady Gaga bring Grammys vibe to Oscars – (Reuters)
There won’t be a host and Sunday’s Oscars ceremony won’t open with the traditional monologue in which celebrities and politicians are skewered.

Abuse victims demand to see pope, say bishops should be sacked – (Reuters)
Victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy on Wednesday demanded to meet Pope Francis personally to press demands that bishops who covered up such offences be dismissed from the priesthood.

Italy demands answers over reports daughter of North Korea diplomat abducted – (Reuters)
Italy warned on Wednesday there would be consequences to pay if there was any truth to reports that the daughter of a missing North Korean diplomat had been abducted from Rome and whisked to Pyongyang.

Wall St. opens flat as investors assess U.S.-China trade talks – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened little changed on Wednesday, after a handful of downbeat earnings reports, while investors weighed the latest developments in trade talks between the United States and China.

Factbox: Tesla executive departures since 2016 – (Reuters)
Tesla Inc on Wednesday announced the departure of its general counsel Dane Butswinkas, just two months into the job, the latest in a string of senior level exits from the electric carmaker.

Possible peace declaration looms large over Trump-Kim summit – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — With their second summit fast approaching, speculation is growing that U.S. President Donald Trump may try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to commit to denuclearization by…

UK PM May could pass Brexit deal with promise of second referendum – lawmaker – (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Theresa May could pass her Brexit deal if she agreed to hold another referendum to see if the public accepted it, one of the lawmakers who resigned from her party over the government’s handling of Brexit said on Wednesday.

Russia bans smartphones for soldiers – (BBC News)
The decision comes after social media use by soldiers raised national security issues.

Chicago prosecutor recuses herself from Jussie Smollett case – (Associated Press)
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s top prosecutor recused herself from the investigation into the attack reported by “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett shortly after police requested another interview with the…

Teen in Lincoln Memorial protest sues Washington Post for $250 million – (Reuters)
A high school student from Covington, Kentucky, sued the Washington Post for defamation on Tuesday, claiming the newspaper falsely accused him of racist acts and instigating a confrontation with a Native American activist in a January videotaped incident at t…

Tesla’s top lawyer leaves two months into the job – (Reuters)
Tesla Inc said on Wednesday its general counsel Dane Butswinkas is leaving the electric carmaker just two months after it hired him.

Moscow ready to cut time for nuclear strike on U.S. if necessary: Putin – (Reuters)
Moscow will match any U.S. move to deploy new nuclear missiles closer to Russia by stationing its own missiles closer to the United States or by deploying faster missiles or both, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

Kim or Trump? Hanoi barber offers leaders’ hairdos for free – (Associated Press)
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — At a barbershop tucked away in a Hanoi alley, Le Phuc Hai patiently waits for the dye to turn his black hair the orange shade of President Donald Trump’s locks.On a…

Syria’s war: Trucks carrying women, children, leave ISIL enclave – (Al Jazeera English)
Vehicles evacuate civilians from Baghouz where US-backed Kurdish forces continue battle ISIL remnants in eastern Syria.

Putin sternly warns US against putting missiles in Europe – (Associated Press)
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin sternly warned the United States against deploying new missiles in Europe, saying Wednesday that Russia will retaliate by fielding new weapons that…

US steps up winter-warfare training as global threat shifts – (Associated Press)
MARINE MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif. (AP) — Hunkered down behind a wall of snow, two U.S. Marines melt slush to make drinking water after spending the night digging out a defensive…

Zarif decries ‘US hypocrisy’ over planned nuclear sale to Saudis – (Al Jazeera English)
Iran’s foreign minister says neither human rights nor a nuclear programme has been the real concern of the US.

Should Branson ‘back off’ from Venezuela? – (BBC News)
He is organising a benefit concert on the Colombian border – but it’s already raising eyebrows.

Civilians evacuated from last IS enclave – (BBC News)
Lorries are seen leaving the Syrian village of Baghuz, where 200 families were reportedly trapped.

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From various sources

Gantz and Lapid attempt to create a bloc that could overthrow Netanyahu – (The Jerusalem Post)
Labor recruits a general for its list.

Cannabis producer Tilray is making a big bet on the world’s largest hemp food company (TLRY) – (Business Insider)
Cannabis producer Tilray is making a big bet on the world’s largest hemp food company (TLRY)

Cannabis producer Tilray is making a big bet on the world’s largest hemp food company (TLRY) – (Business Insider (UK))
Cannabis producer Tilray is making a big bet on the world’s largest hemp food company (TLRY)

French TV stops FB stream from Jewish cemetery after antisemitic comments – (The Jerusalem Post)
“Within minutes, the number of vile and illegal comments had gone well beyond our capacity to moderate them,” France 3 explained.

US Air Force to purchase advanced F-15X fighter jets from Boeing – (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel’s Air Force is set to decide in coming months on purchasing F-15IA fighter.

Bernie Sanders’ 2016 success may hurt him in 2020 – (Vice News)
The OG progressive moved Dems to the left with his last presidential run, and now he’s facing a field of Bernies.

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

Roger Waters tells Richard Branson to ‘back off’ over Venezuela in bizarre dispute over benefit concert – (Fox News)
Pink Floyd rocker Roger Waters is now warning Richard Branson to “back off” in a social media video claiming that his upcoming Live Aid-style concert aimed at helping Venezuelans has “nothing to do with their needs.”

TikTok Has Created A Whole New Kind Of Cool Girl Called Egirls – (Buzzfeed)
The 2000s had scene girls. Now we have egirls.

Recent Match Report – West Indies vs England 1st ODI 2019 | ESPNcricinfo.com – (ESPN Cric Info)
Read the detailed Reports & Articles of West Indies vs England 1st ODI 2019, England tour of West Indies 2018/19 only on ESPNcricinfo.com

Britons urged to get flu vaccine as critical cases rise above 2,000 – (The Guardian (UK))
Virus has killed 200 and left many more in intensive care units over winter period

Claims Tory MPs could defect to new Independent Group TODAY – (Daily Mail)
Anna Soubry sensationally resigned alongside Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston today in an explosive new development of the group launched on Monday by a ‘gang of seven’ ex-Labour MPs.

Bestival drug death trial: accused will not give evidence – (The Guardian (UK))
Ceon Broughton, 29, is on trial for manslaughter over death of Louella Fletcher-Michie

The best places to go on the internet if you stan possums – (Mashable)
The most possum loving spaces on the web.

“That’s a lie”: NYT’s Maggie Haberman refutes Trump claim that reporters don’t ask for comment – (Axios)
“They chose not to engage.”

Leaked images might have revealed Samsung Galaxy Fold early – (Mashable)
Is this Samsung’s much-hyped foldable phone?

QuizUp founder launches Teatime, a mobile gaming platform with built-in video chat – (TechCrunch)
At the end of 2016, Plain Vanilla founder Thor Fridriksson left the company he founded with the intent to take at least a year off of work. His product QuizUp, a social trivia game that raised more than $40 million and said it had more than 100 million users,…

MLG cofounder Mike Sepso joins 100 Thieves board of directors – (TechCrunch)
Mike Sepso has joined the board of directors for 100 Thieves, an esports and content creation brand. Sepso cofounded Major League Gaming in 2002, bringing the first true semblance of infrastructure to competitive gaming. MLG became the biggest independent esp…

US mining sites dump 50M gallons of fouled wastewater daily – (Associated Press)
RIMINI, Mont. (AP) — Every day many millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the U.S. and into…

26 Games You Need To Order For Your Friend Group ASAP – (Buzzfeed)
Game of Thrones Clue, Werewolf, Settlers of Catan, and 24 other games that’ll guarantee a good time.

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All about Trump

“That’s a lie”: NYT’s Maggie Haberman refutes Trump claim that reporters don’t ask for comment – (Axios)
“They chose not to engage.”

Trump’s loyalty obsession could lead to obstruction case – (Google News)
President Donald Trump’s craving for loyalty from his top law enforcement officials and alleged efforts to topple those whom he perceives as threats could be leading him into deep trouble — and even put his presidency in peril.

Possible peace declaration looms large over Trump-Kim summit – (Associated Press)
TOKYO (AP) — With their second summit fast approaching, speculation is growing that U.S. President Donald Trump may try to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to commit to denuclearization by…

Dow, Bitcoin Wobble While Trump Gives Ridiculous Stock Market Analysis – (Crypto Coins News)
Neither the Dow nor bitcoin made a strong move ahead of the open, but Trump’s bombastic stock market commentary provided more than enough entertainment.

Trump declares New York Times ‘enemy of the people’ – (The Hill)
President Trump on Wednesday decried The New York Times as “a true enemy of the people” a day after the news outlet published an extensive report detailing the ways in which he has sought to influence the investigations into his presidency and all

Kim or Trump? Hanoi barber offers leaders’ hairdos for free – (Associated Press)
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — At a barbershop tucked away in a Hanoi alley, Le Phuc Hai patiently waits for the dye to turn his black hair the orange shade of President Donald Trump’s locks.On a…

Recode Daily: Emoji are increasingly popping up in US court cases — and courts aren’t prepared to interpret t… – (Recode)
Plus: Amazon beat Google in Q4 smart speaker shipments; Trump signs the US Space Force into existence; the spectacular failure of the world’s only hard rock theme park.

Trump praises Covington student suing Washington Post: ‘Go get them Nick’ – (The Hill)
President Trump on Wednesday cheered a student from Covington Catholic High School who is

Kim prepares for the big Trump summit by removing several top diplomats, report says – (Vice News)
The old guard is out.

Trump praises Covington student suing Washington Post: ‘Go get them Nick’ – (Google News)
President Trump on Wednesday cheered a student from Covington Catholic High School who is

Mike Freeman’s 10-Point Stance: Kap Return a Possibility in Trump-Proof NFL – (Bleacher Report)
Colin Kaepernick ‘s return to an NFL huddle may be only a matter of time, a few logical fits for Antonio Brown ‘s future and how the Bills could become one of the NFL’s best in a hurry (stop snickering)…

Deutsche Bank reportedly considered restructuring Trump’s loans on worries he might default – (CNBC)
The Trump Organization had about $340 million in outstanding loans that were to come due in 2023 and 2024, or potentially in the president’s second term.

Trump reportedly wanted a loyalist to oversee Michael Cohen investigation – (CBS News)
President Trump is denying another explosive claim over his efforts to fight off a series of investigations. According to the New York Times, the president tried to get one of his supporters to manage the criminal probe of his longtime personal lawyer. Major …

A Vietnamese barber shop right next to Trump and Kim Jong Un’s next summit is offering free Trump- and Kim-style haircuts – (Google News)
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are set to meet in Hanoi on February 27-28. The owner of a salon offering free cuts said Kim’s style was “more popular.”

Instead of punishing the Saudis for Khashoggi, Trump wants to hand them nuclear technology – (Vice News)
Whistleblowers warned that the transfer of sensitive technology could destabilize the Middle East by boosting nuclear weapons proliferation.

Donald Trump Has Attacked Russia Probe 1,100 Times, And Defended Putin More Than Anyone – (The Huffington Post)
The New York Times reported Trump has commented on the investigations “at least once on 330 days, or more than 43 percent of his time in office.”

10 Things to Know for Today – (Associated Press)
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. POSSIBLE PEACE DECLARATION LOOMS OVER KIM-TRUMP SUMMITSuch an announcement…

The 10 GOP senators who may break with Trump on emergency – (The Hill)
President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency in order to circumvent Congress and secure funds to build a wall on the Mexican border puts him on a collision course with lawmakers from his own party.

Venezuela puts spotlight on Rubio – (The Hill)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is at the center of the U.S. fight with the Maduro regime in Venezuela, putting a spotlight on his foreign policy views in Latin America and influence in the Trump administration.

‘Start Here’: Trump denies New York Times report, Bernie’s running, West Virginia teachers strike again – (ABC News)
Here’s what you need to know to start your day.

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