- PoliticsHuffPost
Conservative Columnist Thinks 1 Word In Cohen Memo May Seal Donald Trump’s Fate
One seven-letter word ― “synergy” ― may prove critical in proving the allegations that President Donald Trump colluded with Russia, according to Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin. Rubin asked in her column Monday what would happen if “collusion” wasn’t just defined (as it has been by many) as the alleged “plot operating in 2016 between then-candidate Donald Trump and Russians to manipulate the election” but was actually widened to include an earlier alleged 2015 “plot” for Trump to “make hundreds of millions” on projects while denying “any deals” with the Russians. “Notice the word ‘synergy’” in special counsel Robert Mueller’s sentencing memorandum in the case of Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, Rubin wrote.
- NewsHuffPost
James Alex Fields Jr. Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder Of Heather Heyer
Neo-Nazi James Alex Fields Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for killing Heather Heyer in a vehicular attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. A jury sentenced Fields to one life term for the murder, along with 419 years for another nine charges, according to NBC Washington. The 21-year-old extremist, who is associated with the hate group Vanguard America, was charged with first-degree murder and nine other felonies after he intentionally rammed his vehicle into anti-racist counterprotesters following the “Unite the Right” rally on Aug. 12, 2017, killing one and injuring dozens more.
WorldReutersGunman kills three people in French Christmas market, flees
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the shooter had evaded a police dragnet and was on the run, raising concerns of a follow-up attack. "The government has raised its security threat to the highest level and is bolstering border controls," Castaner told a late-night news conference. "We will also reinforce security at all Christmas markets to prevent copycat attacks." With France still on high alert after a wave of attacks commissioned or inspired by Islamic State militants since early 2015, the counter-terrorism prosecutor opened an investigation.
WorldAFPUS military declares five missing Marines dead after Japan crash
The US military said Tuesday five Marines who had been missing since two planes crashed off Japan a week ago were dead. The announcement brings the final toll in the December 6 crash to six, with a seventh crew member rescued after the incident. It prompted a massive search and rescue operation, which the US military said had now been called off.
- PoliticsHuffPost
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Paul Ryan Called 'Genius' While I'm 'Fraud'
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Monday attacked what she called a double standard that has greeted her election to Congress “with suspicion” of “being a fraud.”Referring to a Vox article detailing the failed legacy of retiring House Speaker
PoliticsAssociated PressPelosi, Dem critics discuss plan to limit top leaders' terms
Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats opposing her bid to become speaker have discussed new rules that would likely limit party leaders to three two-year terms, people familiar with the talks said Tuesday. The proposal, if adopted, could well restrict Pelosi to just two more years atop her party. The plan represents a narrowing of a package Democrats had considered that also would have restricted the number of years lawmakers could serve as House committee chairs.
NewsUSA TODAYCharges dropped against mother after police rip 1-year-old son from her arms in video
Prosecutors dropped charges Tuesday against a woman whose 1-year-old son was ripped from her arms by police days earlier at a Brooklyn food stamp office. Jazmine Headley, 23, remained held at a Rikers Island facility, online records showed, following a dispute Friday with security officers that led to her violent arrest. Video published to Facebook shows Headley clutching her infant child on tiled floor as four officers try to forcefully yank the baby out of her arms.
WorldReutersRussia fines Google for not complying with search results law - TASS
Russia fined Google 500,000 roubles ($7,530) on Tuesday for failing to comply with a legal requirement to remove certain entries from its search results, Russia's communications watchdog was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. Russia said last month that it had opened a civil case against Google as it had not joined a state registry that lists banned websites that Moscow believes contain illegal information and was therefore not compliant with the law. Alexander Zharov, head of watchdog Roscomnadzor, said Russia could open a new case against Google if it did not fall in line with the law, TASS reported.
- U.S.ABC News Videos
Outrage over a controversial plea deal for a former ex-fraternity president
The former Baylor fraternity president was accused of rape and will not face jail time or be forced to register as a sex offender. ABC News' Janai Norman reports.
- PoliticsHuffPost
Don Lemon Fact-Checks Donald Trump's 'Flat-Out Lie' About Barack Obama's Campaign
Don Lemon is done with President Donald Trump’s claims that campaign finance violations conducted by his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen (allegedly at Trump’s direction) are “just like what Obama did during his campaign.”The “CNN Tonight” host said
- WorldThe Telegraph
Pope removes two cardinals linked to sex abuse allegations from his inner circle
Two leading cardinals allegedly linked to sexual abuse have been dismissed from Pope Francis' inner circle. Australian Cardinal George Pell and Chilean Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz have been removed from the so-called C9 Council of Cardinals, an advisory body set up by Francis, the Vatican said on Wednesday. Cardinal Pell, appointed head of the Vatican’s economic secretariat by the pope in 2014, has taken a leave of absence to fight allegations of historic sexual misconduct in Australia.
- SportsCar and Driver
Detailed Photos of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L
Chevy's largest-displacement gas V-8 provides real muscle for its full-size pickup. From Car and Driver
WorldAFPChina warns against 'bullying' of its citizens
China's foreign minister warned Tuesday against the "bullying" of any Chinese citizen, amid a diplomatic fracas over the arrest of a Huawei executive on a US warrant in Canada. Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecommunications behemoth Huawei, was on December 1 arrested in Vancouver on US fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking dealings with Iran, infuriating China. "The safety and security of Chinese compatriots are our priority, China will never sit idly by and ignore any bullying that violates the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a speech in Beijing, without directly referring to the Huawei case.
- WorldHuffPost
'The Guardians' For Truth Named Time Magazine's 2018 Person Of The Year
Slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi was among several individuals named in the award, along with Filipina journalist Maria Ressa and Reuters’ Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The Capital Gazette, the Maryland media company that lost five staffers to a mass shooting in June, also was included in the honor.
WorldAssociated PressItaly's far-right minister visits Israel, drawing criticism
One of Europe's most divisive political figures, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, opened his visit to Israel Tuesday with warm words of support for his hosts, condemning Hezbollah as a "terrorist" organization and denouncing rising waves of anti-Semitism in Europe. Salvini is in Israel for a two-day visit that has prompted criticism over his far-right policies and anti-migration views. He kicked off his trip with a tour of Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where the Israeli army has uncovered tunnels it says were built by Hezbollah for attacks.
- WorldUSA TODAY
At least three dead, 11 wounded in terror attack near famed Christmas market in France
The bustle of holiday shopping gave way to a lockdown in the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday after a gunman killed at least three people and wounded 11 others in a suspected terrorist attack, according to police. FGP Police union official Stephane Morisse said officers found explosive materials at the home. The evening attack happened at the city’s world-famous Christmas market. France, where most of Europe's worst terror attacks of recent years took place, is raising its terror alert level and sending security reinforcements to Strasbourg, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said.
PoliticsReutersTrump administration official defends tear gas use at Mexico border
The firing of tear gas canisters by U.S. border agents toward migrants in Mexico near a border crossing last month followed regulations, a senior Trump administration official said in testimony to Congress on Tuesday. On Nov. 25, U.S. border agents fired tear gas to disperse a group of migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border crossing separating Tijuana from San Diego when some rushed through fencing into the United States. A day after the incident, Mexico's foreign ministry presented a diplomatic note to the U.S. government calling for "a full investigation" into what it described as non-lethal weapons directed toward Mexican territory.
WorldAssociated PressSuspicious optics said to have exposed Israeli raid in Gaza
A month after a heavy round of Israel-Hamas fighting, the undercover Israeli operation that sparked the battle remains clouded in mystery. The Israeli army has kept mum, while Hamas officials aren't talking while they investigate. With each side protective of its secrets, and possibly keen to spread disinformation, the full story may never be known.
- LifestyleMashable
Save on this ultra-sharp knife set and give a holiday gift that will actually get used
Searching for a great holiday gift that won't end up in next year's white elephant game? This knife set, available now for a hugely discounted price of $58, might just do the trick. These lightweight yet robust knives are made from super strong zirconium
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
Introducing the 2019 AD100
Meet today's top talent in architecture and design
NewsReutersTexas executes man convicted of 1993 murder
Alvin Braziel, 43, was pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m. local time, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Asked by the warden if he had any last words before he was put to death, Braziel expressed thanks to "all those overseas, Italy and France, for their support for death row prisoners. Braziel was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001 for attacking Douglas and Lora White at gunpoint while they were on a walk along a jogging trail at Eastfield College, a Dallas-area community college, on Sept. 21, 1993, according to court documents.
- WorldThe National Interest
Sanctions Will Harm Only the Iranian Regime, Not the Iranian People
Many critics have suggested that new American pressure is harmful to both the people and the regime, perhaps sending many Iranians into the arms of the mullahs in protest. In reality, the protests and strikes in Iran’s cities have made it clear that the people recognize their economic hardships are rooted in the self-serving priorities of the mullahs, not international pressures. The enemy is right here,” protesters are chanting.
- PoliticsHuffPost
Obama Photographer Taunts Trump With Doggone Funny Suggestion For Chief Of Staff
Former White House photographer Pete Souza used an adorable old snap of Bo, one of the Obama family dogs, to poke fun at President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Souza frequently takes aim at the current POTUS by sharing throwback images he took during his time working for former President Barack Obama’s administration on Instagram.
- WorldHuffPost
Stacey Abrams Says She’ll Run Again After Losing Fierce Battle For Georgia Governor
Stacey Abrams is not done yet. “Yes, I will run again,” Abrams said at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Next Gen conference. Abrams, a former leader of the Georgia House, lost by less than 55,000 votes to Republican Brian Kemp, who was serving as Georgia’s secretary of state, making him the state’s election overseer while running for governor.
WorldBloombergGilets Jaunes Come to Brexit Britain’s Rescue
The gilets jaunes’ protests in France have caused a pretty stunning volte face from President Emmanuel Macron, with more than 10 billion euros ($11.4 billion) of minimum wage and pension tax changes proposed this week. Alongside France’s already-announced reversal of a fuel tax rise, this could increase France’s deficit by as much as 0.6 percentage points to about 3.4 percent of gross domestic product. “Le spread” of 10-year French government bonds to German bunds has widened by 10 basis points in December, creating the biggest gap since Macron was elected in May 2017.
