Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill that sparked protests
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced Wednesday the government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that sparked months of demonstrations, bowing to one of the protesters' demands in the hope of ending the increasingly violent unrest.
https://apnews.com/b50a9b2f2fdf4e98b9ad2aea14e4fede
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced Wednesday the government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that sparked months of demonstrations, bowing to one of the protesters' demands in the hope of ending the increasingly violent unrest.
https://apnews.com/b50a9b2f2fdf4e98b9ad2aea14e4fede
AP NEWS
Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill that sparked protests
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam withdrew the extradition bill that sparked months of demonstrations, bowing to one of the protesters' demands in the hope of ending the increasingly...
Zimbabwe ex-President Robert Mugabe dies aged 95
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, has died aged 95.
He died after battling ill health, his family confirmed to the BBC. Mr Mugabe had been in hospital in Singapore since April.
He was ousted in a military coup in November 2017, ending three decades in power.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49604152
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, has died aged 95.
He died after battling ill health, his family confirmed to the BBC. Mr Mugabe had been in hospital in Singapore since April.
He was ousted in a military coup in November 2017, ending three decades in power.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49604152
BBC News
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's strongman ex-president, dies aged 95
One of Africa's best-known figures went from being an icon of independence to authoritarian president.
UAW workers head for picket lines in first national strike against GM since 2007
The United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike at General Motors just after midnight Sunday and about 48,000 hourly workers at its facilities are headed for the picket lines in the morning, union officials said early Monday.
https://reut.rs/2UT447m
The United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike at General Motors just after midnight Sunday and about 48,000 hourly workers at its facilities are headed for the picket lines in the morning, union officials said early Monday.
https://reut.rs/2UT447m
Reuters
As talks falter, UAW calls first national strike against GM since 2007
DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) said on Sunday that its roughly 48,000 hourly workers at General Motors Co facilities would go on strike as of midnight on Sunday after U.S. labor contract talks reached an impasse, the first nationwide…
Young protesters around globe demand climate change action
From Canberra to Kabul and Cape Town to Berlin and across the globe, hundreds of thousands of young people took the streets Friday to demand that leaders tackle climate change in the run-up to a U.N. summit.
https://apnews.com/3189749c081d453fb4b4ed527c9495bf
From Canberra to Kabul and Cape Town to Berlin and across the globe, hundreds of thousands of young people took the streets Friday to demand that leaders tackle climate change in the run-up to a U.N. summit.
https://apnews.com/3189749c081d453fb4b4ed527c9495bf
AP NEWS
'I want a future': Global youth protests urge climate action
NEW YORK (AP) — Young people afraid for their futures protested around the globe Friday to implore leaders to tackle climate change, turning out by the hundreds of thousands to insist that the...
House to launch Trump impeachment inquiry over Ukraine controversy
The U.S. House of Representatives will launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over reports he sought foreign help to smear a political rival, setting up a dramatic clash between Congress and the White House that has spilled into the 2020 presidential campaign.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1W91OP
The U.S. House of Representatives will launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over reports he sought foreign help to smear a political rival, setting up a dramatic clash between Congress and the White House that has spilled into the 2020 presidential campaign.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1W91OP
Reuters
House begins Trump impeachment inquiry over call to Ukraine leader
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, accusing him of seeking foreign help to smear Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of next year’s election.
Whistleblower accuses White House of Ukraine call cover-up
White House officials took extraordinary steps to “lock down” information about President Donald Trump’s summertime phone call with the president of Ukraine, even moving the transcript to a secret computer system, a whistleblower alleges in a politically explosive complaint that accuses the administration of a wide-ranging cover-up.
The whistleblower, in a 9-page document released Thursday, provides substantial new details about the circumstances of the phone call in which Trump repeatedly spoke of how much the U.S. had aided Ukraine and encouraged new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to help investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son.
https://apnews.com/cce1f1146f924609912a032c61fd067c
White House officials took extraordinary steps to “lock down” information about President Donald Trump’s summertime phone call with the president of Ukraine, even moving the transcript to a secret computer system, a whistleblower alleges in a politically explosive complaint that accuses the administration of a wide-ranging cover-up.
The whistleblower, in a 9-page document released Thursday, provides substantial new details about the circumstances of the phone call in which Trump repeatedly spoke of how much the U.S. had aided Ukraine and encouraged new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to help investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son.
https://apnews.com/cce1f1146f924609912a032c61fd067c
AP NEWS
Whistleblower accuses White House of Ukraine call cover-up
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House officials took extraordinary steps to "lock down" information about President Donald Trump's summertime phone call with the president of Ukraine, even moving the...
Civilians flee Syrian border towns as Turkish warplanes, artillery begin offensive
Turkey attacked Kurdish militia positions in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery barrages in a cross-border military operation just days after U.S. troops pulled back from the area.
https://reut.rs/2MpTGQx
Turkey attacked Kurdish militia positions in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery barrages in a cross-border military operation just days after U.S. troops pulled back from the area.
https://reut.rs/2MpTGQx
U.S.
Turkey opens ground assault on Syria's Kurds; U.S. Republicans turn on Trump
Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies attacked Kurdish militia in northeast Syria on Wednesday, pounding them with air strikes and artillery before starting a cross-border ground operation that could transform an eight-year-old war.
Bolivia's Morales resigns after weeks of protests over disputed election
Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he would resign after the military called on him to step down and allies tumbled away amid a fierce backlash over a disputed election that has roiled the South American nation.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivias-morales-resigns-after-weeks-of-protests-over-disputed-election-idUSKBN1XK07T
Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he would resign after the military called on him to step down and allies tumbled away amid a fierce backlash over a disputed election that has roiled the South American nation.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivias-morales-resigns-after-weeks-of-protests-over-disputed-election-idUSKBN1XK07T
Reuters
Bolivia's Morales resigns after protests over disputed October vote
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he would resign after the military called on him to step down and allies deserted him following weeks of protests over a disputed election that has roiled the South American nation.
Israel's attorney general announces indictment against Netanyahu in corruption cases
Israel’s attorney general indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges on Thursday, raising more uncertainty over who will ultimately lead a country mired in political chaos after two inconclusive elections this year.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced the decision in a statement. The charges included bribery, breach of trust and fraud.
https://reut.rs/2Oxn2xp
Israel’s attorney general indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges on Thursday, raising more uncertainty over who will ultimately lead a country mired in political chaos after two inconclusive elections this year.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced the decision in a statement. The charges included bribery, breach of trust and fraud.
https://reut.rs/2Oxn2xp
Reuters
Israel's attorney general announces indictment against Netanyahu in corruption cases
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s attorney general indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges on Thursday, raising more uncertainty over who will ultimately lead a country mired in political chaos after two inconclusive elections this year.
Pelosi says Democrats will draft articles of impeachment against Trump
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she has directed a House committee to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump over his effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, a historic step that sets up a fight over whether to oust him from office.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1Y91GG
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she has directed a House committee to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump over his effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, a historic step that sets up a fight over whether to oust him from office.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1Y91GG
U.S.
Pelosi pursues articles of impeachment against Trump, says democracy at stake
Warning that U.S. democracy is at stake, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed a congressional committee on Thursday to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, a historic step setting up a fight over whether to oust…
Documents Reveal Misleading Public Statements on Afghan War
Thousands of pages of documents detailing the war in Afghanistan released by The Washington Post on Monday paint a stark picture of missteps and failures — and delivered in the words of prominent American officials, many of whom publicly had said the mission was succeeding.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/asia/afghanistan-war-documents.amp.html
Thousands of pages of documents detailing the war in Afghanistan released by The Washington Post on Monday paint a stark picture of missteps and failures — and delivered in the words of prominent American officials, many of whom publicly had said the mission was succeeding.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/asia/afghanistan-war-documents.amp.html
NY Times
Documents Reveal U.S. Officials Misled Public on War in Afghanistan
The documents, obtained by The Washington Post, paint a stark picture of missteps and failures in the American effort to pacify and rebuild the country.
Britain speeds towards Brexit as Johnson wins large majority in election
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding election victory on Friday that will allow him to end three years of political paralysis and take Britain out of the European Union by Jan. 31.
Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1YG2O5
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding election victory on Friday that will allow him to end three years of political paralysis and take Britain out of the European Union by Jan. 31.
Brexit represents the country's biggest political and economic gamble since World War Two, cutting the world's fifth largest economy adrift from the vast trading bloc and threatening the integrity of the United Kingdom.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1YG2O5
U.S.
Britain speeds towards Brexit as Johnson wins large majority in election
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding election victory on Friday that will allow him to end three years of political paralysis and take Britain out of the European Union by Jan. 31.
Australia endures hottest day on record
Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F), meteorologists say.
The Bureau of Meteorology said "extensive" heat on Tuesday tipped the mercury past the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-australia-50817963
Australia has experienced its hottest day on record with the national average temperature reaching a high of 40.9C (105.6F), meteorologists say.
The Bureau of Meteorology said "extensive" heat on Tuesday tipped the mercury past the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-australia-50817963
BBC News
Australia endures hottest day on record - BBC News
The continent records its highest national average temperature, worsening the bushfire threat.
President Donald Trump impeached by US House, 3rd in history
President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors.
The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.
https://apnews.com/d78192d45b176f73ad435ae9fb926ed3
President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors.
The historic vote split along party lines, much the way it has divided the nation, over a charge that the 45th president abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The House then approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.
https://apnews.com/d78192d45b176f73ad435ae9fb926ed3
AP NEWS
President Donald Trump impeached by US House, 3rd in history
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night, becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanors...
US kills Iran’s most powerful general in Baghdad airstrike
The United States killed Iran’s top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.
https://apnews.com/5597ff0f046a67805cc233d5933a53ed
The United States killed Iran’s top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the region.
https://apnews.com/5597ff0f046a67805cc233d5933a53ed
AP News
US kills Iran's most powerful general in Baghdad airstrike
BAGHDAD (AP) — The United States killed Iran's top general and the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East in an airstrike at Baghdad's international airport early on Friday, an attack that threatens to dramatically ratchet up tensions in the…
Iran abandons nuclear deal limits after US kills general
Iran said Sunday it would no longer abide by any of the limits of its unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, abandoning the accord’s key provisions that block Tehran from having enough material to build an atomic weapon.
https://apnews.com/e043255bd33ab318f71d1947716a5b94
Iran said Sunday it would no longer abide by any of the limits of its unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, abandoning the accord’s key provisions that block Tehran from having enough material to build an atomic weapon.
https://apnews.com/e043255bd33ab318f71d1947716a5b94
AP News
Blowback: Iran abandons nuclear limits after US killing
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The blowback over the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general mounted Sunday as Iran announced it will no longer abide by the limits contained in the 2015 nuclear deal and Iraq's Parliament called for the expulsion of all American troops…
Iran strikes back at US with missile attack at bases in Iraq
Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing a top Revolutionary Guards commander, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops in a major escalation between the two longtime foes.
https://apnews.com/add7a702258b4419d796aa5f48e577fc
Iran struck back at the United States early Wednesday for killing a top Revolutionary Guards commander, firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American troops in a major escalation between the two longtime foes.
https://apnews.com/add7a702258b4419d796aa5f48e577fc
Ukrainian jet crash kills 176, sets off mourning in Canada
The crash of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people in Iran touched off mourning Wednesday in both Ukraine and Canada — where many of the victims were from or were headed — and raised a host of questions about what went wrong. But U.S. intelligence officials said there was no immediate evidence it was shot down.
https://apnews.com/2a253e68d45381f16b89edc5cc45bba1
The crash of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people in Iran touched off mourning Wednesday in both Ukraine and Canada — where many of the victims were from or were headed — and raised a host of questions about what went wrong. But U.S. intelligence officials said there was no immediate evidence it was shot down.
https://apnews.com/2a253e68d45381f16b89edc5cc45bba1
AP NEWS
Ukrainian jet crash kills 176, sets off mourning in Canada
The crash of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people in Iran touched off mourning Wednesday in both Ukraine and Canada — where many of the victims were from or were headed — and raised a host of questions about what went wrong...
Ukraine airliner accidentally downed by Iran, U.S. officials say
A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people aboard, was most likely brought down accidentally by Iranian air defenses, U.S. officials said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump said he had a terrible feeling about the disaster.
One U.S. official said U.S. satellites had detected the launch of two missiles shortly before the plane crashed, followed by evidence of an explosion. Two officials said Washington believed the downing of the plane was accidental.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/ukraine-airliner-accidentally-downed-by-iran-u-s-officials-say-idUSKBN1Z80I3
A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people aboard, was most likely brought down accidentally by Iranian air defenses, U.S. officials said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump said he had a terrible feeling about the disaster.
One U.S. official said U.S. satellites had detected the launch of two missiles shortly before the plane crashed, followed by evidence of an explosion. Two officials said Washington believed the downing of the plane was accidental.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/ukraine-airliner-accidentally-downed-by-iran-u-s-officials-say-idUSKBN1Z80I3
Reuters
Iran to probe black boxes after missile blamed for plane crash
DUBAI (Reuters) - Tehran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner crash that killed all 176 people aboard, amid Western suspicions the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake.
2019 Was the Second-Hottest Year Ever, Closing Out the Warmest Decade
Last year was the second-hottest on record, government researchers confirmed on Wednesday in analyses of temperature data from thousands of observing stations around the world. They said that 2019 was only slightly cooler than 2016 and the end of what was the warmest decade yet.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/15/climate/hottest-year-2019.html
Last year was the second-hottest on record, government researchers confirmed on Wednesday in analyses of temperature data from thousands of observing stations around the world. They said that 2019 was only slightly cooler than 2016 and the end of what was the warmest decade yet.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/15/climate/hottest-year-2019.html
Nytimes
2019 Was the Second-Hottest Year Ever, Closing Out the Warmest Decade (Published 2020)
Last year was only a fraction of a degree cooler than 2016, the warmest year on record.
Kobe Bryant, daughter perish in copter crash, 7 others dead
NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.
https://apnews.com/98f3978b392cbd3d9143529267b1f1ee
NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.
https://apnews.com/98f3978b392cbd3d9143529267b1f1ee
AP NEWS
Kobe Bryant, daughter killed in copter crash, 7 others dead
CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) — NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of…