2019-03-22

Headlines:

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

Pompeo in Lebanon to talk Hezbollah amid Golan condemnation – (Associated Press)
BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo highlighted U.S. concerns about Hezbollah’s “destabilizing activities” in Lebanon and the region in talks with Lebanese leaders on Friday, amid…

The Golan Heights Was Once an Arab Rallying Cry. Not Anymore. – (The New York Times)
The muted Arab response to President Trump’s call to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory shows Syria’s weakness amid a reordered Arab world.

NBA star Shaquille O’Neal joins Papa John’s board – (Reuters)
Pizza chain Papa John’s, trying to bounce back from a series of high-profile PR blunders, on Friday named basketball star Shaquille O’Neal as its newest board member and announced an $8.25 million three-year endorsement deal with the four-time NBA champion.

What next? Brexit delay gives UK more time to solve crisis – (Associated Press)
BRUSSELS (AP) — Extra time has been added to the Brexit countdown clock. The European Union has granted Britain a few more weeks to overcome its political deadlock and chart a smooth road out of…

Trump intensifies effort to discredit Mueller report – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is intensifying his efforts to discredit a highly anticipated report on the special counsel’s Russia investigation.In an interview with Fox Business…

Wall Street falls at open on global growth worries – (Reuters)
U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday after downbeat data from Europe fueled fears of a slowing global economy following an abrupt dovish turn by the Federal Reserve earlier this week.

Indonesian airline cancels Boeing order, citing passenger fear – (Reuters)
Indonesian airline Garuda plans to cancel a $6 billion order for Boeing 737 MAX jets, it said on Friday, saying some passengers would be frightened to board the plane after two fatal crashes, although analysts said the deal had long been in doubt.

What Trump’s Golan Heights move really means – (BBC News)
What are the ramifications of the US endorsing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights?

Racist violence threat keeps Charlottesville schools closed – (Reuters)
Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia, remained closed for a second consecutive day on Friday as police investigated a threat of racist violence against non-white students that had been posted online, officials said.

Cyclone Idai: ‘We saw 200 bodies by the roadside’ – (BBC News)
A stranded motorist in Mozambique tells of the scene of devastation along the Beira to Chimoio highway.

Glimpses of the Mystery That Is the Mueller Investigation – (The New York Times)
Here are some pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. The full picture is missing.

Mother Russia: South Florida sees a boom in ‘birth tourism’ – (Associated Press)
MIAMI (AP) — Every year, hundreds of pregnant Russian women travel to the United States to give birth so that their child can acquire all the privileges of American citizenship.They pay…

R Kelly defense emerges, including saying accusers are lying – (Associated Press)
CHICAGO (AP) — R. Kelly yelled through tears in a recent TV interview before an audience numbering in the millions, saying he’s in a fight for his life to disprove sexual abuse charges. That fight…

Floods show national security threat posed by climate change – (Associated Press)
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — The Missouri River floodwater surging on to the air base housing the U.S. military’s Strategic Command overwhelmed round-the-clock sandbagging by airmen and…

Garuda Indonesia seeks to cancel order for 49 Boeing Max 8s – (Associated Press)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — In a blow for Boeing, Indonesia’s flag carrier is seeking the cancellation of a multibillion dollar order for 49 of the manufacturer’s 737 Max 8 jets, citing a loss of…

Why an unbuilt Moscow Trump tower caught Mueller’s attention – (Reuters)
An intriguing area of focus in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Kremlin’s role in the 2016 U.S. election is a proposed Moscow real estate deal that Donald Trump pursued while running for president despite denying at the time any links t…

Explainer: Road to Mueller report paved by Watergate, Iran-Contra, Lewinsky, Waco – (Reuters)
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, examining potential conspiracy between President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, is leading the latest in a series of high-profile U.S. investigations conducted by prosecutors outside usual Justice Department channels …

Trump says he does not mind if public sees Mueller’s Russia probe report – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is preparing about his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and any possible links to …

Frustration mounts in Mozambique over food, water shortage – (Al Jazeera English)
15,000 people, many of them ill, are still stranded more than a week after Cyclone Idai struck.

‘We are one’ says PM Ardern as New Zealand mourns with prayers, silence – (Reuters)
The Muslim call to prayer sounded out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people killed by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago.

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From various sources

– (Fox Sports)

Pompeo in Lebanon to talk Hezbollah amid Golan condemnation – (Associated Press)
BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo highlighted U.S. concerns about Hezbollah’s “destabilizing activities” in Lebanon and the region in talks with Lebanese leaders on Friday, amid…

Reese Witherspoon’s movies ranked by EW reviews – (Entertainment Weekly)
Find out which of Witherspoon’s movies received the best EW reviews.

Criminal case against Zuma-linked ex-spy still ‘pending’ – (News24)
Almost seven years after a forensic report implicated former president Jacob Zuma’s right-hand man in intelligence and security services in alleged corruption, his criminal case is still ”pending”.

The Nissan Leaf Plus adds more EV range but not more fun – (Engadget)
While other automakers were debating the merits of the electric car, Nissan was already selling the Leaf (the little EV hit the market in 2010, two years be…

U.S. Says Iran Poised to Resume Work on Nuclear Weapons – (The Wall Street Journal)
Iran’s Ministry of Defense unit responsible for developing nuclear weapons is poised to restart work and is using front companies to buy materials from Russia and China, U.S. officials alleged Friday.

Judgment Actor Replaced for Western Release, Still Launching June 25th – IGN – (IGN)
Judgment, the next game from the developers of the Yakuza franchise, will have the character model and Japanese voice of Kyohei Hamura adjusted for the Western release following the arrest of the character’s voice actor for alleged drug use, but the release d…

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All about Trump

Trump on 2020 Dems skipping AIPAC: ‘They are totally anti-Israel’ – (The Hill)
President Trump on Friday renewed his attacks on Democrats as “anti-Jewish” in response to a number of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates deciding to

These two global forces will shape your investing returns for decades to come – (Financial Post)
Tom Bradley: Forget Trump and Brexit. These other two trends will have a bigger impact on returns

The Golan Heights Was Once an Arab Rallying Cry. Not Anymore. – (The New York Times)
The muted Arab response to President Trump’s call to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory shows Syria’s weakness amid a reordered Arab world.

Late-night comics rail on Trump’s shot at George Conway – CNN Video – (CNN)
Late night comics call out President Trump for his repeated shots at the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and Trevor Noah goes after Elizabeth Warren over reparations.

U.S. joins Israel’s plan for Syria as Assad gets more support from Russia, Iran and others – (Newsweek)
President Donald Trump said it was time to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel, a move already rejected by Russia and likely to further isolate the U.S.’s position in the Middle East.

President Trump departs JBA – (Fox News)

Trump intensifies effort to discredit Mueller report – (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is intensifying his efforts to discredit a highly anticipated report on the special counsel’s Russia investigation.In an interview with Fox Business…

UNRHC voted 25-16 against Israel’s ‘occupation’ of the Golan Heights – (The Jerusalem Post)
The prescheduled vote, come just one day after the US President Donald Trump said the United States would recognize Israeli sovereignty on the Golan.

Trump says he and Nancy Pelosi are still talking about an elusive infrastructure deal: ‘They want it, I want it’ – (CNBC)
A spokesman for Pelosi tells CNBC that the speaker and Trump “briefly spoke about infrastructure” during an annual St. Patrick’s Day luncheon on March 14. “The Speaker has repeatedly said she wants to work with him on this issue,” the spokesman says.

Moderate voters skeptical of Ocasio-Cortez – CNN Video – (CNN)
CNN’s Jason Carroll speaks about the 2020 election with moderate Democrats who left their party to vote for President Trump in 2016.

What Trump’s Golan Heights move really means – (BBC News)
What are the ramifications of the US endorsing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights?

Trump comments won’t affect stability, says minister – (RTE)
The Minister for Defence has said he does not believe the comments about the Golan Heights by the US President will create instability in the region.

“Relationship Very Good Right Now”: Trump Ready To Meet New Pak PM – (Google News (India))
President Donald Trump has indicated his readiness to meet Pakistan’s new leadership, amidst the ongoing peace talks between the US and the Taliban facilitated by Islamabad to end the brutal war in Afghanistan, America’s longest.

Dan Rather Issues Chilling Warning About Fox News And Radio Moscow – (The Huffington Post)
The veteran journalist said the network’s close ties to the Trump White House are “something we have to worry about.”

Conway: Trump ‘thinks he needs to be reelected to avoid indictment’ – (The Hill)
George Conway said Friday that President Trump “thinks he needs to be reelected to avoid being indicted,” taking another public shot on Twitter at the president.

Syria rebukes Donald Trump for Israel support over Golan Heights – (Newsweek)
Syria responded to President Donald Trump’s call to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel, with a Foreign Ministry official reportedly saying Syria is “determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through any means.”

Why an unbuilt Moscow Trump tower caught Mueller’s attention – (Reuters)
An intriguing area of focus in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Kremlin’s role in the 2016 U.S. election is a proposed Moscow real estate deal that Donald Trump pursued while running for president despite denying at the time any links t…

Explainer: Road to Mueller report paved by Watergate, Iran-Contra, Lewinsky, Waco – (Reuters)
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, examining potential conspiracy between President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, is leading the latest in a series of high-profile U.S. investigations conducted by prosecutors outside usual Justice Department channels …

Trump says he does not mind if public sees Mueller’s Russia probe report – (Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is preparing about his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and any possible links to …

Trump rips McCain, says he gave Steele dossier to FBI for ‘very evil purposes’ – (The Hill)
President Trump in an interview broadcast Friday criticized Sen.

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