- NewsHuffPost
Accused Russian Agent Maria Butina Reaches Plea Deal With Federal Prosecutors: Reports
Maria Butina, a Russian gun-rights activist accused of working as an agent for the Kremlin in the U.S., has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to several media reports Monday. Butina, 30, was arrested in July and charged with illegally acting as an agent of the Russian Federation. U.S. authorities charged that she had used her close ties to the National Rifle Association and conservative operatives to wage a covert influence campaign and even tried to broker a secret meeting between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign.
- PoliticsHuffPost
NY Daily News Mocks Trump's Hunt For 'Spineless, Clueless' Chief Of Staff
The New York Daily News has taken aim at President Donald Trump as he searches for a new chief of staff to replace John Kelly. The tabloid used its Tuesday cover to depict a “HELP WANTED” sign hung up on the White House fence, seeking a “spineless, clueless
WorldAssociated PressCanadian ex-diplomat detained in China, official confirms
A former Canadian diplomat has been detained while visiting Beijing amid a dispute between the two counties over Canada's arrest of a Chinese executive at the request of the United States. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale on Tuesday confirmed the detention and said Canada is very concerned. Michael Kovrig, who previously was a diplomat in China and elsewhere, was taken into custody by the Beijing Bureau of Chinese State Security on Monday night during one of his regular visits to Beijing, said the International Crisis Group, for which Kovrig works as North East Asia adviser based in Hong Kong.
- WorldReuters
At least two dead, 11 wounded in French Christmas market shooting
A lone gunman shot dead at least two people and wounded 11 others near a Christmas market in the city of Strasbourg on Tuesday evening before fleeing, police said. The motive was not immediately clear but, 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. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the gunman was known to security services, and the local prefecture said he had previously been identified as a danger to security.
- NewsAutoClassics
Volkswagen restores cancer worker's 350,000-mile Beetle
Kathleen Brooks purchased her first Volkswagen Beetle in December of 1966. Collecting a red 1967 model from Riverside, California, the Bug was affectionately dubbed ‘Annie’ by all those who sailed in her. A true enthusiast, Kathleen used Annie as daily transportation for 51 years, racking up an impressive 350,000 miles – enough the circle the globe no less than 14 times.
- WorldThe Independent
Meng Wanzhou: Canadian court frees detained Chinese Huawei executive
A judge has granted bail to detained Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou, potentially preventing the escalation of an international row between China and the US. Almost two weeks after the 46-year-old was detained in Vancouver at the request of US authorities seeking her extradition, a judge granted bail to the Huawei executive. The judge said the executive, the daughter of the firm’s founder, had to pay a bond of C$10 (USD $7.5m) and follow several conditions, including the surrendering of her passports and the wearing of an ankle bracelet.
WorldReutersNo-deal Brexit more likely amid 'confused' situation in London, France says
A costly British exit from the European Union without a negotiated deal is increasingly likely, France's European affairs minister said on Monday, after British Prime Minister Theresa May postponed a vote on a deal in the face of defeat. "We must not lose sight of the fact that despite the latest developments, a rejection of the withdrawal agreement is more and more likely," Nathalie Loiseau told lawmakers. "The risk of a no-deal exit would also be an exit that would be undoubtedly extremely costly for the United Kingdom but which would be damaging for the EU too." "Some are drawing up other scenarios and the confusion in London remains particularly strong," she added.
- BusinessArchitectural Digest
The 12 Cars We’re Most Excited to Drive in 2019
It’s not only about about Porsche's first fully electric vehicle—there will be some other major cars you need to keep on your radar
- LifestyleHuffPost
The Best Green Monday 2018 Deals We've Seen So Far
Regret missing out on some of those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals last month? Lucky for you, there’s still a way you can save — perhaps even more than on Cyber Weekend — when you shop today, on Green Monday.Green Monday is on the second Monday of
WorldAFPEx-Nissan chief Ghosn charged, served with fresh arrest warrant
Japanese prosecutors Monday formally charged Carlos Ghosn with financial misconduct for under-reporting his salary and also served him a fresh warrant on separate allegations, meaning the tycoon will likely spend Christmas in a cell. It represents a stunning turnaround for the 64-year-old Franco-Lebanese-Brazilian executive, a once-revered colossus of the auto sector who won wide acclaim in Japan for saving car giant Nissan. In a move that sent shockwaves through the business world, the former Nissan chairman was arrested on November 19 on suspicion of under-declaring his income by some five billion yen ($44 million) between 2010 and 2015.
- PoliticsHuffPost
Kevin McCarthy Says Democrats Shouldn't Spend A Lot Of Time Investigating Trump
My belief is let’s see where we can work together and move America forward,” McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in the House, behind House Speaker Paul Ryan, said Monday during an appearance on Fox News. “We’ve investigated this for a long period of time,” McCarthy added.
- NewsTime
How the Supreme Court Handled Its First Test of Abortion Rights Since Kavanaugh Joined
The U.S. Supreme Court declined its first opportunity to rule on abortion since the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The news on Monday may come as some consolation to abortion rights advocates who opposed Kavanaugh, fearing that the judge — who was replacing moderate retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy — would immediately work to restrict access to abortions. The cases, Gee v. Planned Parenthood of Gulf Coast and Andersen v. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, both questioned whether Medicaid recipients have the right to challenge a state’s decision to block Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.
NewsAssociated PressThe Latest: Texas executes inmate for killing newlywed
A Texas inmate has been executed for fatally shooting a newlywed during a robbery more than 25 years ago. Alvin Braziel Jr. received lethal injection Tuesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. The 43-year-old Braziel was condemned for the 1993 slaying of 27-year-old Douglas White as he and his wife walked along a jogging trail in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite.
- NewsHuffPost
2 Nuns Accused Of Embezzling $500,000 From Catholic School
Two Roman Catholic nuns have admitted to embezzling $500,000 from a parochial school in Torrance, California, according to news reports. “It is with much sadness that I am informing families of St. James School that an internal investigation has revealed that, over a period of years, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper and Sister Lana Chang have been involved in the personal use of a substantial amount of School funds,” Monsignor Michael Meyers wrote in a letter dated Nov. 28.
- U.S.ABC News Videos
Heavy snow batters North Carolina and Virginia, leaving thousands of drivers stranded
At least four deaths have been blamed on "mammoth" snowstorm in the Southeast, causing drivers to abandon their cars on the road due to dangerous conditions.
- PoliticsReuters
Trump 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.
- WorldBloomberg
U.S., China Executives Grow Wary on Travel After Huawei Arrest
The Dec. 1 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., has Chinese business people worried they could be next while Americans are growing concerned about retaliation. Meng has been detained at the request of the U.S. on charges of bank fraud related to violations of American sanctions on Iran, and a bail hearing is ongoing. “I can understand why executives might be worried in response to having arrested the Huawei executive,” said William Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China and senior counselor at The Cohen Group, a consulting firm.
- BusinessHuffPost
11 Useful Gifts For The Person Who Can't Cook To Save Their Life
Maybe they are a college student who’s never had to cook before, or maybe they’ve been trying to learn, but just can’t seem to get the hang of it. Get them an Instant Pot that can do most of the cooking for them, or signing them up for a meal kit subscription like Blue Apron that will send everything they need to cook a week’s worth of meals right to their door. 3 An instant pot that can do the cooking for them.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Grace Millane: Man accused over backpacker murder appears in court as PM apologises on behalf of New Zealand for her death
The man accused of killing British backpacker Grace Millane was jeered as he appeared in a packed Auckland court on Monday. Ms Millane, 22, died while travelling in New Zealand and her body was found in bushland on Sunday afternoon, about 30 feet from a highway outside the New Zealand city. Ms Millane, from Essex, was last seen alive entering the CityLife Hotel with the man last Saturday at 9.41pm.
- PoliticsThe Independent
Trump meeting with Pelosi and Schumer descends into chaos as president threatens to shut government over border
An Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and senior Democrats rapidly escalated into anger and disagreement after the president threatened to shut the government if he did not receive funding for a border wall. In dramatic scenes that may have been partly staged to appeal to their respective supporters, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer repeatedly clashed with Mr Trump over his insistence that border security could only be guaranteed by building such a wall. “I will be the one to shut [the government] down,” said Mr Trump, as vice president Mike Pence sat in silence and watched the encounter.
WorldReutersU.S. arrests religious leaders, activists at border protest
More than 400 demonstrators, many leaders of churches, mosques, synagogues and indigenous communities, sought a halt to detention and deportation of migrants and for the United States to welcome the caravan that arrived in Tijuana, Mexico in November. Singing and praying, religious leaders moved forward in lines of four to six, some wearing T-shirts reading, "Love Knows No Borders." They were handcuffed and led away by federal agents upon entering a restricted area in front of the fence. "As a Quaker who believes in our shared humanity...We’re calling on the U.S. to respect the rights of migrants," said Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, which has run a week of actions to back migrants.
- NewsAssociated Press
More time may be needed for North Carolina election decision
The head of North Carolina's elections board is suggesting more time may be needed to decide whether a new congressional district election is necessary due to absentee ballot fraud allegations. Chairman Joshua Malcolm wrote to state judges Monday, saying those subpoenaed in the 9th Congressional District case have said they need more time to produce additional records. The board already planned an evidentiary hearing on the district race on or before Dec. 21.
- LifestyleHuffPost
I Drove Drunk And It Cost 6 People Their Lives. Here's How My Own Life Changed Forever.
On Nov. 1, 2003, I was involved in a drinking and driving accident. I cost six people their lives ― six good people. I seriously injured two others. I didn’t even think I was drunk, which I know sounds ridiculous, but I was drinking a lot in those days
NewsUSA TODAYSandy Hook school shooter had 'scorn for humanity,' according to newly released documents
Lanza also killed his mother in her sleep before going on his shooting rampage and eventually took his own life. The documents, unveiled after the Hartford Courant prevailed at the state’s Supreme Court after a five-year legal battle, paint a more detailed picture of Lanza’s disdain for the world and his disturbed state of mind. The criminal investigation ended a year after the massacre without determining a motive. Thousands of pages of documents were released at the time, but in a lawsuit brought by the Courant, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in October that personal belongings of the gunman that had been withheld, including journals, also had to be made public because they were not exempt from open record laws.
WorldAssociated PressThe Latest: Long effort to save Strasbourg victim recounted
A witness in France has told the BBC that one of the people shot and killed in the city of Strasbourg was a Thai tourist who suffered a head wound and didn't respond to efforts to revive him. Peter Fritz said after the gunfire near a Christmas market: "We tried our best to resuscitate him. Residents of central Strasbourg describe hearing a series of gunshots and screaming in the street during an attack near a Christmas market that killed four people.
