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…
UN agency declares global emergency over virus from China
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak sparked by a new virus in China that has spread to more than a dozen countries as a global emergency Thursday after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week.
The U.N. health agency defines an international emergency as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.
https://apnews.com/0f0f07b30c8cdd2b0f30c6081acc7599
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak sparked by a new virus in China that has spread to more than a dozen countries as a global emergency Thursday after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week.
The U.N. health agency defines an international emergency as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.
https://apnews.com/0f0f07b30c8cdd2b0f30c6081acc7599
AP News
UN agency declares global emergency over virus from China
GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization declared the outbreak sparked by a new virus in China that has spread to more than a dozen countries as a global emergency Thursday after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week.
Britain leaves the European Union, leaps into the unknown
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.
With little fanfare, Britain left the European Union on Friday after 47 years of membership, taking a leap into the unknown in a historic blow to the bloc.
The U.K.’s departure became official at 11 p.m. (23:00 GMT), midnight in Brussels, where the EU is headquartered. Thousands of enthusiastic Brexit supporters gathered outside Britain’s Parliament to welcome the moment they’d longed for since Britain’s 52%-48% vote in June 2016 to walk away from the club it had joined in 1973.
https://apnews.com/e48bf51838ced94e2d92adba189b4944
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.
With little fanfare, Britain left the European Union on Friday after 47 years of membership, taking a leap into the unknown in a historic blow to the bloc.
The U.K.’s departure became official at 11 p.m. (23:00 GMT), midnight in Brussels, where the EU is headquartered. Thousands of enthusiastic Brexit supporters gathered outside Britain’s Parliament to welcome the moment they’d longed for since Britain’s 52%-48% vote in June 2016 to walk away from the club it had joined in 1973.
https://apnews.com/e48bf51838ced94e2d92adba189b4944
AP NEWS
Britain leaves the European Union, leaps into the unknown
LONDON (AP) — So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu. With little fanfare, Britain left the European Union on Friday after 47 years of membership, taking a leap into the unknown in a historic blow to the bloc...
Breaking News
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…
Not guilty: Senate acquits Trump of impeachment charges
President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House.
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, senators sworn to do “impartial justice” stood and stated their votes for the roll call — “guilty” or “not guilty” — in a swift tally almost exclusively along party lines. Trump, the chief justice then declared, shall “be, and is hereby, acquitted of the charges.”
https://apnews.com/93c85dcfb0e6b2185391965e77ebea51
President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House.
With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, senators sworn to do “impartial justice” stood and stated their votes for the roll call — “guilty” or “not guilty” — in a swift tally almost exclusively along party lines. Trump, the chief justice then declared, shall “be, and is hereby, acquitted of the charges.”
https://apnews.com/93c85dcfb0e6b2185391965e77ebea51
AP NEWS
Not guilty: Senate acquits Trump of impeachment charges
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal in the U...
U.S. and Taliban sign troop withdrawal deal
The United States signed a deal with Taliban insurgents on Saturday that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war in the nation.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20N06R
The United States signed a deal with Taliban insurgents on Saturday that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war in the nation.
https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20N06R
Reuters
U.S. and Taliban sign troop withdrawal deal; now comes the hard part
KABUL/DOHA (Reuters) - The United States signed a deal with Taliban insurgents on Saturday that could pave the way toward a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war in the nation.
Italian death toll soars amid travel ban
The number of people to have died from the coronavirus in Italy has shot up by 133 in a day to 366, officials say.
The total number of infections leapt 25% to 7,375 from 5,883, according to the Civil Protection agency.
The jump in figures comes as millions adapt to new measures introduced on Sunday in an attempt to contain the outbreak.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51793619
The number of people to have died from the coronavirus in Italy has shot up by 133 in a day to 366, officials say.
The total number of infections leapt 25% to 7,375 from 5,883, according to the Civil Protection agency.
The jump in figures comes as millions adapt to new measures introduced on Sunday in an attempt to contain the outbreak.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51793619
BBC News
Coronavirus: Italy death toll soars amid travel ban
Italy's coronavirus death toll jumps by 133 in a day to 366, as millions adapt to new restrictions.
Stocks, oil plunge over global fight for crude production
Global stock markets and oil prices plunged Monday after a fight among major crude-producing nations jolted investors who already were on edge about the surging costs of a virus outbreak.
The main stock indexes in Britain and Germany were down by almost 7%. Japan’s benchmark closed down 5.1% while Australia’s lost 7.3% and the Shanghai market in China was off 3%.
Trading in Wall Street futures was halted for this first time since the 2016 U.S. presidential election after they fell more than the daily limit of 5%. Bond yields hit new lows as investors bought them up as safe havens.
https://apnews.com/d66a95ec77d43fea5156aa6327fdf650
Global stock markets and oil prices plunged Monday after a fight among major crude-producing nations jolted investors who already were on edge about the surging costs of a virus outbreak.
The main stock indexes in Britain and Germany were down by almost 7%. Japan’s benchmark closed down 5.1% while Australia’s lost 7.3% and the Shanghai market in China was off 3%.
Trading in Wall Street futures was halted for this first time since the 2016 U.S. presidential election after they fell more than the daily limit of 5%. Bond yields hit new lows as investors bought them up as safe havens.
https://apnews.com/d66a95ec77d43fea5156aa6327fdf650
AP NEWS
Stocks, oil plunge over global fight for crude production
BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and oil prices plunged Monday after a fight among major crude-producing nations jolted investors who already were on edge about the surging costs of a virus...
Breaking News
Italian death toll soars amid travel ban The number of people to have died from the coronavirus in Italy has shot up by 133 in a day to 366, officials say. The total number of infections leapt 25% to 7,375 from 5,883, according to the Civil Protection agency.…
Coronavirus: Italy extends emergency measures nationwide
Italy has extended its emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.
On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel.
He said the measures were designed to protect the most vulnerable. "There is no more time," he said in a TV address.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51810673
Italy has extended its emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.
On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel.
He said the measures were designed to protect the most vulnerable. "There is no more time," he said in a TV address.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51810673
BBC News
Coronavirus: Italy extends emergency measures nationwide
The entire population - some 60 million people - are told to stay at home amid the outbreak.
Breaking News
Arrested on Rape Charges, Weinstein Posts $1 Million Bail Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to New York City detectives and appeared in court on Friday on charges that he raped one woman and forced another to perform oral sex, a watershed in a monthslong…
Weinstein sentenced to 23 years for sexual assaults
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, a sight the Hollywood mogul’s multitude of accusers thought they would never see.
Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his apartment in 2006. He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.
https://apnews.com/310554f06f644d41e1c0513600099ce1
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, a sight the Hollywood mogul’s multitude of accusers thought they would never see.
Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his apartment in 2006. He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.
https://apnews.com/310554f06f644d41e1c0513600099ce1
AP NEWS
Weinstein faces sentencing, prison in landmark #MeToo case
NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein is back in court Wednesday for the final act of the rape trial that landed him behind bars: a sentencing hearing where the once-powerful film producer will learn...
WHO declares that virus crisis is now a pandemic
Expressing increasing alarm about mounting infections, the World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said the WHO is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”
https://apnews.com/52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e
Expressing increasing alarm about mounting infections, the World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said the WHO is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”
https://apnews.com/52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e
AP NEWS
WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic, urges aggressive action
GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic and urged aggressive action from all countries to fight it, as U.S. stocks plunged into bear market territory and...
Asian shares plunge after Wall Street’s worst day since ’87
Shares plunged in Asia on Friday, with benchmarks in Japan, Thailand and India sinking as much as 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987.
Markets worldwide have retreated as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepen and the meltdown in the U.S., the world's biggest economy, batters confidence around the globe.
https://apnews.com/f4dec5de0bcb4d32a1e28ada66e2fc6f
Shares plunged in Asia on Friday, with benchmarks in Japan, Thailand and India sinking as much as 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987.
Markets worldwide have retreated as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepen and the meltdown in the U.S., the world's biggest economy, batters confidence around the globe.
https://apnews.com/f4dec5de0bcb4d32a1e28ada66e2fc6f
AP News
Asian shares plunge after Wall Street's worst day since '87
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares plunged in Asia on Friday, with benchmarks in Japan, Thailand and India sinking as much as 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987.