Headlines:
From Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Wired
Democrat Beto O’Rourke jumps into 2020 presidential race – (Reuters)
Beto O’Rourke, the youthful Texan who gained a national following with his long-shot election battle against U.S. Senator Ted Cruz last year, on Thursday launched a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
Beto O’Rourke announces 2020 Democratic presidential bid – (Associated Press)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced Thursday that he’ll seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, pledging to win over voters from both major parties as he tries…
Wall Street flat at open as trade uncertainty clouds Apple boost – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened little changed on Thursday as a report that a meeting between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping will most likely be pushed to April at the earliest, clouded investor sentiment and offset a boost from Apple’s shares.
China foils bid to blacklist Kashmir attacker; U.S., India vow to keep pushing – (Reuters)
China prevented a U.N. Security Council committee on Wednesday from blacklisting the head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which said it attacked an Indian paramilitary convoy in disputed Kashmir.
Indian groups urge boycott of Chinese goods over stance on Pakistani militant – (Reuters)
An influential Hindu nationalist group and an Indian traders body called on Thursday for a boycott of Chinese goods, to slap Beijing for blocking a move to put a Pakistani militant leader on a U.N. terrorist list following a suicide attack last month.
China industrial output growth falls to 17-year low, more support steps expected – (Reuters)
Growth in China’s industrial output fell to a 17-year low in the first two months of the year and the jobless rate rose, pointing to further weakness in the world’s second-biggest economy that is likely to trigger more support measures from Beijing.
UK lawmakers gear up for vote on Brexit delay request – (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers faced another tumultuous day Thursday, as Parliament prepared to vote on whether to request a delay to the country’s scheduled departure from the European Union and…
Saudi official says kingdom pursuing justice in Khashoggi murder – (Reuters)
The head of the Saudi human rights commission said on Thursday that the kingdom was bringing those accused over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to justice and rejected an international investigation into the case.
Turkey calls on Saudi Arabia to name defendants in Khashoggi trial – (Reuters)
Turkey on Thursday called on Saudi Arabia to name the defendants on trial for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and disclose the charges against them.
U.S. weekly jobless claims rise; import prices increase – (Reuters)
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, suggesting the labor market was slowing, but probably not to the extent implied by a near-stall in job growth in February.
Ethiopia crash black boxes arrive in France for analysis – (Associated Press)
HEJERE, Ethiopia (AP) — Flight recorders from a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight arrived in France for analysis Thursday as frustrated relatives of the 157 people killed stormed out of a meeting…
Brazil wonders why after school shooters kill 8, themselves – (Associated Press)
SUZANO, Brazil (AP) — A Sao Paulo suburb prepared to bury its dead Thursday while looking for reasons why two masked former students armed with a handgun, knives, axes and crossbows killed five…
Crash plane’s black boxes sent to Paris – (BBC News)
Investigators in France are to analyse the crashed Ethiopian Airlines aircraft’s flight and voice boxes.
Ethiopia crash black boxes probed in France, families mourn – (Reuters)
Investigators in France took possession of the crashed Ethiopian Airlines jet’s black boxes on Thursday, seeking clues into a disaster that has grounded Boeing’s global 737 MAX fleet and left scores of families mourning and angry.
Volkswagen boss apologises for Nazi gaffe – (BBC News)
Herbert Diess used a phrase that echoed “Arbeit Macht Frei”, a maxim emblazoned on the gates of Auschwitz.
Charity masked web of fraudulent college donations, feds say – (Associated Press)
The mastermind of a wide-ranging college admissions scandal set up a charity that wove a deep web of deception and fraud to mask bribes and payoffs, funneling millions of dollars through the…
Trump facing Senate revolt in border vote – (BBC News)
Republican rebels are expected to back a measure revoking the president’s emergency declaration.
A top leader of Gambino crime family is slain in New York – (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — A man said by federal prosecutors to have been a top leader of New York’s notorious Gambino crime family was shot and killed Wednesday on Staten Island.Francesco “Franky…
GOP senators appear ready to block Trump border declaration – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate is set to deal President Donald Trump a rebuke on his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border, with the only remaining question how…
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. BETO O’ROURKE ANNOUNCES 2020 WHITE HOUSE BIDThe former Texas congressman…
***
From various sources
Report: Exxon evaluating offshore Israel energy exploration bid – (The Jerusalem Post)
According to the report, the offshore blocks under discussion could contain up to 75 trillion cubic-feet of gas and 6.6 billion barrels of oil.
Snap spikes after Wall Street’s most bearish analyst becomes its most bullish (SNAP) – (Business Insider)
Snap spikes after Wall Street’s most bearish analyst becomes its most bullish (SNAP)
Snap spikes after Wall Street’s most bearish analyst becomes its most bullish (SNAP) – (Business Insider (UK))
Snap spikes after Wall Street’s most bearish analyst becomes its most bullish (SNAP)
Netflix says Lac-Mégantic footage will be removed from Bird Box movie | CBC News – (CBC News)
People in the town and across the province were shocked after learning in January that footage from the Lac-Mégantic, Que., derailment and explosion that killed 47 people was used in the drama starring Sandra Bullock.
– (Fox Sports)
REDIRECT::First Things First – (Fox Sports)
Cris Carter and Nick Wright team up on First Things First, a discussion and opinion-based studio program that covers all the headlines weekdays on FS1.
How pigeons landed in cities, and more breakthroughs – (National Geographic)
With skyscraper ledges to nest on and humans dropping food, pigeons flocked to New York City, home to more than a million of the birds.
See the many sides of a city in a single picture – (National Geographic)
In an eight-second exposure, Nicolas Ruel captures the motion, color, and energy of some of the world’s busiest cities.
What will make cities livable as millions more move to them? – (National Geographic)
We sent journalists around the globe to study cities’ plans, flaws, innovations—even their rats—for a National Geographic special report.
In Uganda, a unique urban experiment is under way – (National Geographic)
The world’s second largest refugee camp is slowly but surely transforming into a permanent city.
To build the cities of the future, we must get out of our cars – (National Geographic)
Remaking healthy urban areas means repairing damage done to communities once blown apart to serve the automobile.
These five cities are taking bold steps to rein in sprawl – (National Geographic)
Climate, health, and sanity all suffer when sprawl rips the fabric of cities. Here are five that are trying to stitch things back together.
How the pros and cons of city living vary around the world – (National Geographic)
Every day, more people become city dwellers. The challenge of urban existence is to balance its benefits and its drawbacks.
How rats became an inescapable part of city living – (National Geographic)
In some parts of the world they are revered and protected; in other places they are captured and eaten for dinner. One thing is certain: They’re everywhere.
Archeology isn’t just about humans anymore | CBC News – (CBC News)
Archeologists who dig up clues about the lives of ancient humans by studying their stone tools have turned their attention to the stone tools used by sea otters to crack open shellfish. They say that opens up a new window into the past.
Tokyo became a megacity by reinventing itself – (National Geographic)
Walk through Japan’s energetic urban heart and see a vibrant, creative culture that bounced back from war and natural disaster.
Meet the man who creates today’s coolest hotels – (National Geographic)
Andrew Zobler is the innovative mind behind New York’s Freehand and D.C.’s The Line hotels.
Roll Your Own Analytics – PC Maffey – (Hacker News)
How to build a free, privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics
NHS crisis: A&E waits spiral to worst ever level AGAIN – (Daily Mail)
NHS figures revealed today showed just 84.2 per cent of A&E patients in England were seen within the four-hour time limit – the figure is record-breakingly low for the second time this year.
Knife crime in Britain at its worst for a decade, new figures reveal – (Daily Mail)
The criminal justice system in England and Wales dealt with 21,484 knife and offensive weapons offences last year – the highest number since 2009, official figures show.
***
All about Trump
The U.S. Has A Dire Shortage Of Affordable Homes, And Trump Would Make It Worse – (The Huffington Post)
There are only 37 affordable homes available for every 100 extremely low-income renters.
‘The potential is unlimited!’ Donald Trump in Brexit trade deal tweet – (Daily Mail)
As Westminster was engulfed by ongoing chaos about when and if the UK will leave the EU the president (pictured) took to Twitter with the upbeat early morning message.
Wall Street flat at open as trade uncertainty clouds Apple boost – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened little changed on Thursday as a report that a meeting between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping will most likely be pushed to April at the earliest, clouded investor sentiment and offset a boost from Apple’s shares.
Trump says potential of UK-US trade deal is ‘unlimited’ as pound’s surge cools – (The Telegraph)
One potential sticking point in UK-US trade talks is the Government’s plans to hit Silicon Valley tech giants with higher tax.
Why Germany should worry about the threat of Donald Trump’s trade tariffs – (The Telegraph)
Germany has been a significant beneficiary of the world’s post-war prosperity, enjoying rapid industrial growth thanks to its world-class export industry.
Senate vote on Trump’s emergency plan shows the dividends Democrats are reaping from midterms – (CNBC)
Democratic control of the House won’t produce much legislation in a divided Washington. But it has already produced a fundamental shift in political leverage, writes John Harwood.
Trump ally caught in crossfire as White House clashes with GOP over Saudi Arabia – (CNN)
Idaho Republican Sen. James Risch, the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, decided last week to hold a classified briefing from administration officials on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump: Late-night talk show hosts ‘fighting over table scraps’ – (The Hill)
President Trump ramped up his criticism of late-night talk show hosts early Thursday, lauding the late NBC “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson and declaring Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon will be unemployed after he fi
Democratic congressman shares yearbook photo and it goes viral – (Fox News)
Long before one Democratic rep faced snow flurries to bypass coffee shops in Trump Tower, he had a fondness for spiky bleached blonde hair that he sported in his senior high school portrait.
Trump facing Senate revolt in border vote – (Google News (Canada))
Republican rebels are expected to back a measure revoking the president’s emergency declaration.
Trump facing Senate revolt in border vote – (BBC News)
Republican rebels are expected to back a measure revoking the president’s emergency declaration.
Gary Cohn: Trump is “desperate” for a trade agreement with China – (Axios)
On Freakonomics Radio, Cohen talked trade and Trump.
CNN reporter details Manafort’s reaction in courtroom – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s senior justice correspondent Evan Perez shares color from the courtroom during President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s sentencing.
‘The potential is unlimited!’ Donald Trump in Brexit trade deal tweet – (Google News (UK))
As Westminster was engulfed by ongoing chaos about when and if the UK will leave the EU the president (pictured) took to Twitter with the upbeat early morning message.
Cuomo presses RNC chief on Trump’s morality – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s Chris Cuomo sat down with the RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and discussed President Trump’s morality as a leader.
Donald Trump runs into Californian resistance – (Financial Times)
Biggest US state fights president on death penalty, immigration and environment
GOP senators appear ready to block Trump border declaration – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate is set to deal President Donald Trump a rebuke on his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border, with the only remaining question how…
Top Mueller deputy leaving office in sign Russia probe may be winding down: report – (The Hill)
A top prosecutor investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible ties between President Trump’s campaign and Moscow is reportedly leaving special counsel Robert Mueller’s office and the Department of Justice (DOJ.)
Trump vows veto ahead of Senate vote on emergency declaration – (The Hill)
President Trump said Thursday that he is “prepared to veto” a Senate resolution blocking his declaration of a national emergency to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Lemon: If you want Trump out, vote him out – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon discuss special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and whether the report will have an effect on the Republican Party.
***