- PoliticsBloomberg
White House Says Trump Warned Russian Against Election Meddling
Lavrov said he brought up elections during the meeting but only to protest a warning from Secretary of State Michael Pompeo earlier in the day. The meeting came hours after House Democrats unveiled articles of impeachment alleging the president sought to coerce a foreign leader to help his bid for re-election, and it was the first encounter between Trump and Lavrov May 2017, when the U.S. president boasted to the Russian about firing then-FBI Director James Comey and reportedly shared classified information.
- WorldThe National Interest
Why Can't Russia Replace Its Old Submarines Fast Enough?
In March 2017, Russia's new Yasen-class nuclear attack submarine Kazan launched at the northern port city of Severodvinsk. The Russian navy — already badly depleted since the collapse of the Soviet Union — can't quickly replace most of its existing nuclear submarine fleet, which is approaching the end of its collective lifespan. The outcome will likely mean a shrinking of the Russian nuclear submarine force in the years ahead.
- WorldReuters
UPDATE 2-Huawei's CFO wins Canada court fight to see more documents on her arrest
Lawyers for Huawei's chief financial officer have won a court battle after a judge asked Canada's attorney general to hand over more evidence and documents relating to the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, according to a court ruling released on Tuesday. Meng's legal team has contested her extradition in the Canadian courts on grounds that the United States is using it for economic and political gain, and that she was unlawfully held, searched and interrogated by Canadian authorities acting for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes in the Supreme Court of British Columbia agreed with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's appeal for Canada's attorney general to release more documents relating to the run-up to and events of the arrest.
- WorldAssociated Press
Syria's Assad: OPCW faked a report on attack near Damascus
Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview aired Monday that the global chemical weapons watchdog has faked and falsified a report over an attack near the capital Damascus last year "just because the Americans wanted them to do so." Assad's comments to Italy's Rai News 24 came after the director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expressed confidence in the report into the deadly attack in Syria. OPCW's chief Fernando Arias supported the report issued in March by a fact-finding mission from the watchdog that found "reasonable grounds" that chlorine was used in a deadly attack on the eastern Damascus suburb of Douma.
- BusinessBusiness Insider
How did South Bend actually do under Mayor Pete Buttigieg? We pulled the numbers to find out.
Still, South Bend's median income in 2017 was much lower than the other 87 cities with 100,000 to 125,000 inhabitants: the average city's median income was $60,211 in 2017. But, Mayor Pete's term has been a fairly unambiguous success on one point: In 2012, according to the ACS data unemployment in South Bend stood at 15.6%. As of 2017, according to the American Community Survey estimates it was down to 9.0%, a 6.6 percentage point decline that was the second-highest of any of the 87 cities in the sample.
- WorldThe Guardian
Nude portrait of Emiliano Zapata in high heels sparks fury in Mexico
A new portrait of Emiliano Zapata has caused a firestorm of outrage for its portrayal of the Mexican revolutionary hero striking a seductive pose – clad only in a pink sombrero and high heels. Furious campesinos stormed one of the country's most renowned art museums on Thursday to demand the removal of the painting, part of a new exhibition titled Zapata after Zapata that seeks to present alternative views of the Mexican revolution. The small painting by Fabián Cháirez depicts a naked Zapata, astride a white horse.
- NewsUSA TODAY
'Whose side are you on?': Houston police chief tears into GOP senators over gun laws after officer killed
WASHINGTON – Houston's police chief sharply criticized the two Republican U.S. senators from his state and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over gun control legislation during an emotional news conference as he prepared to escort the body of a police officer killed in the line of duty to a funeral home. Sgt. Christopher Brewster, 32, was fatally shot Saturday while responding to a domestic violence call. Police Chief Art Acevedo called on the Senate on Monday to renew the Violence Against Women Act, which expired in February.
WorldAFPDelhi rapist-murderer cites pollution in death row appeal
One of four Indian men on death row over the infamous 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder appealed against his sentence on Tuesday citing pollution. Akshay Kumar Singh was one of a group of men who gang-raped a 23-year-old woman on a bus in India's capital late at night in December seven years ago. Her case and death -- 12 days later from extensive internal injuries -- sparked national protests and international horror, and became synonymous with India's high rates of sexual violence against women.
- PoliticsThe Daily Beast
Pro-Trump Network OAN Tried to Get This Ukrainian Millionaire a Visa Before His Arrest
Before catching the eye of German law enforcement, former Ukrainian parliamentarian Oleksandr Onyshchenko drew attention from the conservative TV channel One America News. Before his arrest, though, the Trump-friendly media outlet tried to help him get a visa to travel to the U.S. The effort, which has not been previously reported, was part of a push by OAN to unearth information on Burisma Holdings, the energy company that retained Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President and current Trump rival Joe Biden.
- PoliticsBloomberg
Democrats Plan at Least Two Trump Impeachment Articles
The leaders of the committees running the impeachment will announce their next steps during a news conference scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Washington, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said late Monday in a statement. Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, and Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney will take part in the announcement, Pelosi said. It became apparent on Monday that the Democrats are headed toward tightly drawn articles of impeachment.
WorldYahoo News Video'Old man' Trump is 'bluffing,' says North Korea: KCNA news agency
North Korea on Monday accused President Trump of “bluffing” and called him “an old man bereft of patience” as Pyongyang ramps up pressure on Washington over stalled nuclear talks.
- NewsReuters
U.S. says former top Mexican security official took bribes to give Sinaloa drug cartel 'impunity'
A former Mexican government official responsible for public security has been charged with accepting millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa drug cartel once run by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to help it operate with "impunity" in Mexico, U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday. Genaro Garcia Luna, 51, who now lives in Florida, faces charges of drug trafficking conspiracy and making false statements, and could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted, the Department of Justice said. Garcia Luna was arrested in Dallas on Monday and is expected to face the charges in the same Brooklyn, New York, court where a jury convicted Guzman in February on drug trafficking charges.
- WorldThe National Interest
Deadliest Weapon After a Nuclear Bomb: Meet Russia's TOS-1 MLRS 'Buratino'
Key point: Buratino is a unique Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) that has seen action in global hotspots like Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq and Syria. The TOS-1 Buratino is a unique Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) that has seen action in global hotspots like Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq and Syria. Like the enormous 240-millimeter 2S4 self-propelled mortar, the TOS-1's specialty is obliterating heavily fortified positions.
- NewsAssociated Press
Kentucky's new governor reorganizes school board on day one
Delivering on a campaign promise to teachers who helped elect him, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear used his first day in office Tuesday to overhaul the state school board. In his inaugural address outside the state Capitol, the new Democratic governor proclaimed his support for public education and expanding health care coverage. He also pledged to protect public employees' pensions, emphasizing the “kitchen table" issues that helped him oust Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.
- BusinessBusiness Insider
San Francisco is so expensive, Oracle is moving its annual mega-conference to Las Vegas instead
AP OpenWorld, Oracle's biggest annual conference, is moving to Las Vegas because of skyrocketing prices to host events in San Francisco, CNBC's Ari Levy first reported. OpenWorld, which attracts over 60,000 customers and partners every year, will take place in Las Vegas starting in 2020. While it used to take place at the Moscone Center downtown San Francisco, Oracle has signed a three-year agreement to host its event at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas instead, CNBC reported.
- WorldReuters
Turkey says will retaliate against any sanctions ahead of U.S. vote
Turkey said on Wednesday it would retaliate against any U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian defense systems, adding that with Britain it had agreed to speed up a joint fighter jet program to meet Turkish defense needs. U.S. lawmakers will vote - and likely pass - a defense bill later on Wednesday that calls for sanctions against Turkey over Ankara's decision to procure the S-400 defenses. Turkey and the United States, NATO allies, have been at odds over the purchase.
- BusinessPopular Mechanics
The Best War Movies on Netflix
For when only a war film will do. From Popular Mechanics
WorldAFPClimate activist Greta Thunberg is Time' 2019 person of the year
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who became the voice of conscience for a generation facing the climate change emergency, was announced Wednesday as Time magazine's 2019 Person of the Year. The 16-year-old first hit the headlines for her solo strike against global warming outside Sweden's parliament last year. The magazine interviewed Thunberg aboard the sailboat that took her from the United States to Europe after a hectic 11-week North American trip to several US cities and Canada.
- PoliticsThe Daily Beast
Trump Faces Two Impeachment Articles on Abuse of Power and Obstruction
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats formally announced their articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday morning. Flanked by the committee chairs who led the inquiry, Pelosi said the House would move to impeach Trump on two counts: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. “Today, in service to our duty to the Constitution and to our country, the House Committee on the Judiciary is introducing two articles of impeachment, charging the president of the U.S., Donald J. Trump, with committing high crimes and misdemeanors,” said House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY).
- PoliticsBloomberg
Rick Gates Seeks to Avoid Jail at Sentencing for Conspiracy
Former Trump campaign official Rick Gates asked a judge to spare him from prison, put him on probation and order him to do community service for his crimes of conspiracy and lying to federal investigators. In a court filing Monday, Gates said he has accepted responsibility “in every way possible. He's scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington on Dec. 17.
NewsUSA TODAYCities are criminalizing homelessness by banning people from camping in public. That's the wrong approach, report says
More cities are punishing homeless people for sleeping in public, a new report shows, amid an increase in Americans living on the streets. Arresting or ticketing people who have nowhere else to go doesn't help them find permanent housing, according to the National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty report. Instead, policies criminalizing homelessness can make it more difficult to afford and qualify for housing.
- WorldThe National Interest
Why Israel and Russia Have Built Special Urban Warfare Tanks
Just weeks after Russia deployed streetfighting Terminator tanks to Syria, now Israel has unveiled its own urban warfare tank. Israel's Namer isn't exactly a tank: it's a 66 ton armored personnel carrier derived from the chassis of the Merkava IV tank, but minus the turret. Now Israel is testing beefed-up weaponry on the Namer.
U.S.Yahoo News VideoBelgian boy, 9, terminates his studies at a Dutch university
A 9-year-old Belgian boy who was on track to become the world's youngest university graduate has terminated his studies at the Dutch university of Eindhoven following a dispute over his possible graduation date.
- WorldAssociated Press
Peace groups protest Saudi ship in Spanish port
Spanish arms control groups staged a protest Tuesday against the presence of a Saudi cargo ship they suspect is carrying weapons for use in Yemen. The Bahri Abha ship arrived early Tuesday at the eastern port of Sagunto from the United States, according to activists. The Control Arms Coalition of human rights and aid groups staged a small protest at the port and called on the Spanish government to prohibit the transit and loading in Spain of any weapons likely to be used to commit war crimes.
- WorldReuters
Suu Kyi in court as genocide case set out against Myanmar
Mass rapes, the burning alive of Muslim Rohingya families in their homes and the killing with knives of dozens of children were described by Gambia's legal team as it set out its genocide case against Myanmar at the U.N.'s highest court on Tuesday. Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, looked on impassively as the alleged atrocities were detailed on the first of three days of hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The case was instituted by Gambia against Buddhist-majority Myanmar in November.
