2019-02-23

Headlines:

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

Smile: Some airliners have cameras on seat-back screens – (Associated Press)
Now there is one more place where cameras could start watching you — from 30,000 feet.Newer seat-back entertainment systems on some airplanes operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines,…

Health Care and Insurance Industries Mobilize to Kill ‘Medicare for All’ – (The New York Times)
Doctors, hospitals, drug companies and insurers have a simple message: The Affordable Care Act works reasonably well and should be improved, not repealed or replaced with a big new public program.

The Latest: Guaido sends aid trucks to Venezuela border – (Associated Press)
CUCUTA, Colombia (AP) — The Latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local):11 a.m.Opposition leader Juan Guaido has sent off a humanitarian aid convoy of trucks from…

AP FACT CHECK: Undocumented GOP, Dem rhetoric on immigration – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The political fallout from President Donald Trump’s push for his border wall is giving rise to overwrought rhetoric from Republicans and Democrats alike.Trump, as he has…

Venezuelan troops fire tear gas to repel activists on Colombia border: Reuters witness – (Reuters)
Venezuelan troops blocking a border bridge with Colombia fired tear gas on Saturday to repel dozens of opposition lawmakers and activists walking toward the frontier to receive humanitarian aid from the Colombian side, a Reuters witness said.

Singer R. Kelly due in court Saturday on sexual assault charges – (Reuters)
Grammy-winning R&B singer R. Kelly, who for years has faced allegations that he abused women and underage girls, was due in court in Chicago on Saturday to hear charges that he sexually assaulted four people, including three teenagers.

R. Kelly indictment is latest case fueled by TV documentaries – (Reuters)
For years, singer R. Kelly has denied sexual abuse allegations against him and Friday’s felony indictment of the performer was delivered weeks after first-person accounts of several accusers aired on television, leading prosecutors to urge potential witnesses…

No regrets for woman who stuck by Islamic State through defeats – (Reuters)
Heading to a camp for displaced people as Islamic State’s territorial “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria faces final defeat, Ghalia Ali shows no regret about abandoning her life as a student in Tunisia to join the militants in 2014.

Venezuela protests flare, soldiers defect ahead of border aid operation – (Reuters)
Venezuelan troops fired tear gas at angry protesters unable to cross into Colombia on Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro closed the border to stop the opposition bringing U.S. humanitarian aid into the South American nation.

Counting starts in Nigeria’s delayed poll, after explosions – (Associated Press)
DAURA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian officials began counting votes in its delayed election on Saturday, after gunfire and explosions started voting day, as President Muhammadu Buhari seeks a second…

‘I was like a prisoner’: Saudi sisters trapped in Hong Kong recall beatings – (Reuters)
Two sisters from Saudi Arabia who fled the conservative kingdom and have been hiding out in Hong Kong for nearly six months said they did so to escape beatings at the hands of their brothers and father.

Warren Buffett says prospects poor for ‘elephant-sized acquisition’ – (Reuters)
Warren Buffett is hunting for “an elephant-sized acquisition,” but he is not optimistic about getting it done.

Train possibly taking Kim Jong Un to summit enters China – (Associated Press)
DANDONG, China (AP) — A train similar to one used in the past by Kim Jong Un entered China on Saturday evening, possibly carrying the North Korean leader on a multiday journey to Vietnam’s capital…

DealBook Briefing: Dissecting Warren Buffett’s Annual Letter – (The New York Times)
Warren Buffett has released his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders today. Here’s what it says.

Soldiers unleash tear gas amid tension on Venezuela’s border – (Associated Press)
CUCUTA, Colombia (AP) — Venezuela’s National Guard fired tear gas on residents clearing a barricaded border bridge to Colombia on Saturday, heightening tensions over blocked humanitarian aid that…

North Carolina orders new U.S. House election after ‘tainted’ vote – (Reuters)
North Carolina’s elections board on Thursday ordered a new election for a U.S. House seat after officials said corruption surrounding absentee ballots tainted the results of a 2018 vote that has embarrassed the Republican Party.

R. Kelly due in Chicago court to face sex abuse charges – (Associated Press)
CHICAGO (AP) — R. Kelly, the R&B star who has been trailed for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves, is due in court Saturday after…

Latest updates on Venezuela border crisis – (BBC News)
Live coverage as Venezuelan authorities try to block opposition-led efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.

North Korea’s Kim begins long train trip to Vietnam for summit with Trump: report – (Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set off by train for Vietnam on Saturday, for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week, media reported, and hours later, two witnesses saw a train crossing into China from North Korea.

Polls close in Nigeria’s delayed vote – (Al Jazeera English)
Delayed polls close following bitter political campaigns, with results expected to be announced next week.

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From various sources

Dirrell vs. Yildirim: Will the Dog Have His Day? – (Fox Sports)
Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell may end up in a dogfight versus hard-hitting Avni Yildirim of Turkey when they throw down tomorrow on PBC on FS1.

Iran mocks Netanyahu, says time of Israel’s action in Syria is ending – (The Jerusalem Post)
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says that deterrence will increase against Israel’s actions, and hints that US may increase withdrawal in the region.

AIPAC, AJC issue rare rebuke of Netanyahu government – (The Jerusalem Post)
The move could see Otzma Yehudit in parliament for the first time and, conceivably, in a governing coalition.

NYPD investigating swastikas drawn on elementary school as a hate crime – (The Jerusalem Post)
While the school was closed, the playground is publicly accessible.

Palestinian Authority weighs options after Israel plays tax card – (The Jerusalem Post)
Israel deducts millions from tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to ‘reduce attacks carried out by Palestinians.’

Scammers steal $437K from synagogue renovation project in Hungary – (The Jerusalem Post)
Hungarian Jewish group Mazsihisz, which is coordinating the renovation, became aware of the fraud last month.

Corey Lewandowski: The American people have seen a $40 million ‘witch hunt’ against the president – (Fox News)
Former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says if the Mueller report is honest it will show there was no Trump-Russia collusion.

Sen. Kamala Harris speaks with Iowa Asian and Latino Coalition – (Fox News)

Ex-Citigroup president caught up in prostitution sting that ensnared Robert Kraft, report says – (Fox News)
NFL owner Robert Kraft isn’t the only prominent name snagged in a Florida prostitution bust.

Wales v England, Six Nations 2019: live score and latest updates from Cardiff – (The Telegraph)
France beat Scotland 27-10, claiming a four-try bonus point in the 88th minute.

Tommy Robinson protests at BBC HQ over Panorama film – (The Guardian (UK))
Far-right activist attacks British media during screening of his own ‘Panodrama’ documentary

Palestinians declare ‘victory’ after reopening closed Temple Mount site – (The Jerusalem Post)
Last week, a group of Muslim worshipers removed an iron installed by the police to keep the area closed.

Divers search lakes in hunt for teen Leah Croucher who vanished on way to work – (Mirror)
Missing Leah Croucher, from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, left for work as usual seven days ago – however she never arrived

California proposes phaseout of single-use plastics by 2030 – (CNBC)
California lawmakers introduced legislation this week to phase out single-use plastic food containers and other packaging that can’t demonstrate it’s recyclable or compostable.

16 Mind-Blowing Tweets From This Week That You’ll Wanna Retweet Immediately – (Buzzfeed)
“My son saw a cemetery and said, ‘That’s where they plant ghosts.'”

Violence erupts as Venezuela border tensions mount – (The Globe And Mail)
Tear gas, clashes as President Nicolas Maduro closed the border to stop the opposition from bringing U.S. humanitarian aid into the country

WATCH: Counting starts in Nigeria’s delayed poll, after explosions – (News24)
Nigerian officials began counting votes in its delayed election after gunfire and explosions started voting day, as President Muhammadu Buhari seeks a second term in Africa’s most populous nation.

BioWare spreads out Anthem’s 90-day roadmap – (Polygon)
Anthem will get several freeplay events, legendary missions, guild support and a new mastery progression system over its first three months, building to something BioWare calls the “Cataclysm” in May.

17 Tweets From This Week That Are Too Funny For Words – (Buzzfeed)
“‘Your Love Is My Drug’ by Ke$ha will defeat big pharma.”

WARREN BUFFETT: We’re hunting for an ‘elephant-sized acquisition’ (BRK.B) – (Business Insider)
WARREN BUFFETT: We’re hunting for an ‘elephant-sized acquisition’ (BRK.B)

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All about Trump

Corey Lewandowski: The American people have seen a $40 million ‘witch hunt’ against the president – (Fox News)
Former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says if the Mueller report is honest it will show there was no Trump-Russia collusion.

Why North Korea Might Give Up Nuclear Crown Jewel at Trump Summit – (Fortune)
President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un meet next week.

AP FACT CHECK: Undocumented GOP, Dem rhetoric on immigration – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The political fallout from President Donald Trump’s push for his border wall is giving rise to overwrought rhetoric from Republicans and Democrats alike.Trump, as he has…

Queen to attend ‘secret’ dinner that could mean state visit for Trump – (Daily Mail)
EXCLUSIVE: The Queen is set to enjoy a rare private dinner with the US Ambassador, Robert ‘Woody’ Johnson next month. The dinner comes as discussions for Trump’s next visit are ongoing.

Nevada governor to boycott Trump meeting – (The Hill)
Nevada Gov.

Trump won’t condemn self-proclaimed white nationalist because “those are his people,” Ex-RNC chair says – (Newsweek)
“He’s not going to thank law enforcement because he’s probably not happy about what law enforcement did,” Michael Steele speculated.

Environmentalists are suing the Trump administration to save chickens, coyotes and caribou – (USA Today)
The legal efforts represent a new salvo against the Trump administration, which environmental groups say is ignoring the nation’s wildlife laws.

Teens tweet Trump, find Senate ally, score civil rights win – (ABC News)

Trump’s UN ambassador pick Kelly Craft said she supports “both sides” of climate science – (Axios)
Craft is also a VIP guest at Trump’s D.C. hotel.

See exchange between Ilhan Omar, envoy Elliott Abrams – CNN Video – (CNN)
Elliott Abrams, who was appointed by the Trump administration to oversee its Venezuela policy, was questioned by Democratic lawmakers, including a tense exchange with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

EX-RNC Chair Slams Trump’s Silence On Alleged Domestic Terrorist: ‘These Are His People’ – (The Huffington Post)
Michael Steele claimed Trump was “probably not happy about what law enforcement did.”

North Korea’s Kim begins long train trip to Vietnam for summit with Trump: report – (Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set off by train for Vietnam on Saturday, for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week, media reported, and hours later, two witnesses saw a train crossing into China from North Korea.

Court records reveal a Mueller report right in plain view – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was in full deflection mode.The Democrats had blamed Russia for the hacking and release of damaging material on his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton….

The Latest: Train possibly taking Kim to summit enters China – (Google News)
The Latest on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s travels to the summit with President Donald Trump in Vietnam (all times local): 8:40 p.m.

Donald Trump still shows some strength in the Midwest heading into 2020 – (CNN)
First things first: The theme song of the week is Thank You for Being A Friend from the show The Golden Girls written by Andrew Gold and sung by Cynthia Fee.

Average tax refunds down 16.7% in third week of IRS filing – (Axios)
Democrats and Trump officials argue over why that is.

Texas landowners at risk of losing their property to border wall sue Trump – (CBS News)
House Democrats will vote on a resolution next week to block President Trump’s national emergency declaration to build a border wall. This comes as at least 16 states are already challenging his declaration as “unconstitutional.” Some of the strongest legal p…

Trump’s trade chief lectures his boss and gets earful in return – (News24)
An exasperated Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, tried to gently educate his boss, Donald Trump, on the meaning of a ‘memorandum of understanding’ in the Oval Office.

Bigger is not better. Small dollars online are gold for Democrats taking on Trump. – (NBC News)
Small donations from grassroots donors online will be more important than ever for Democrats running for president in 2020.

Trump nominates US ambassador to Canada as UN envoy – (Financial Times)
President will expect Kelly Craft to advance ‘America first’ foreign policy goals

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