World
- The Daily Beast
State Department Watchdog: Brian Hook, Others Punished Staffer Over Iranian Heritage
GettyA long-awaited State Department watchdog report will find that the Trump administration’s point man on Iran, among other officials, retaliated against an agency employee in part because of her Iranian-American background, two knowledgeable sources told The Daily Beast.The Daily Beast has previously
- Associated Press
Germany, France, UK, condemn North Korean missile launches
Germany, France and Britain on Wednesday strongly condemned the dozen sets of ballistic missile launches by North Korea since May and urged Pyongyang to engage in “meaningful negotiations” with the United States on its nuclear and missile programs. The three European countries said the tests, “including
- The Week
Dazed and confused at the Democrats' impeachment hearing
The best thing that can be said about Wednesday's impeachment hearing is that at least some people got to drink because of it. The bars in Washington were open early, and members of my profession were able to conduct themselves much as they had in happier times.I do wonder what George Kent had inside
- Reuters
U.S. Congress panel leader reports slow progress negotiating 2020 Pentagon budget
U.S. legislators are making slow progress negotiating the bill that will set spending policy for the Department of Defense in 2020, the head of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee said on Wednesday. The Democratic-majority House and the Republican-controlled Senate have each passed
- Bloomberg
Electric Cars and Floods Stall Johnson’s U.K. Election Drive
(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson found himself arguing that Britain’s future was in making electric cars, just as Tesla announced they’d chosen Germany to build a factory over the U.K. He’s having that sort of campaign.The prime minister had started the day visiting flood victims in Northern England. They
- Associated Press
Egypt says looting attempt causes oil pipeline fire; 7 dead
A pipeline for oil products caught fire Wednesday when thieves tried to tap into it to siphon off gasoline in the Nile Delta province of Beheira, and at least seven people were killed, Egyptian officials said. The looters caused a leak when they tapped into the pipeline, spilling gasoline into the nearby
- Bloomberg
Bill Taylor Reveals New Trump Call on Ukraine: Impeachment Takeaways
(Bloomberg) -- Two State Department officials responsible for U.S. policy in Ukraine testified Wednesday in a House impeachment hearing, giving the public its first live, televised look at the evidence against President Donald Trump.Ambassador William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George
- Benzinga
GBP/USD Forecast: Unable To Attract Investors, Neutral Above 1.2800
GBP/USD Current Price: 1.2839 UK inflation came in below the market’s expectations in October. Conservatives keep leading polls, underpinning hopes for a deal Brexit. GBP/USD unable to attract investors, ...
- Bloomberg
Why Asia’s Longest Serving Leader Is Warning About a Coup
(Bloomberg) -- On his path to becoming Asia’s longest-serving leader, Hun Sen has mastered the art of fighting for power.When he first took charge of Cambodia as a 33-year-old in 1985, he battled remnants of the Khmer Rouge for control of the Southeast Asian nation. After losing the first election following
- Refinery29
Listen To An Exclusive Excerpt From Greta Thunberg’s New Book
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks to AFP during an interview aboard La Vagabonde, the boat she will be taking to return to Europe, in Hampton, Virginia, on November 12, 2019. – Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg said November 12, 2019 that US President Donald Trump’s climate change denialism
AFPIraq protests swell as UN presses Baghdad to 'step up'
Iraqi officials must "step up" to respond to mass demonstrations, the UN representative in Baghdad told AFP on Wednesday as anti-government rallies swelled in Iraq's capital and the country's south. Protests demanding an overhaul of the political system have rocked Baghdad and the
Esper: US could alter military drills to boost NKorea talks
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that he is open to the possibility of altering American military activities in South Korea if it would help advance a diplomatic deal with North Korea to eliminate its nuclear program. In an interview with reporters flying
- Associated Press
AP Explains: Lebanon’s protests could head into dark turn
For nearly a month, the popular protests engulfing Lebanon have been startlingly peaceful. The protests exploded into the streets on Oct. 17 in response to new proposed taxes and quickly evolved into an unprecedented nationwide uprising against the country’s entire political leadership. Protesters
HuffPostTwitter Users Burn Eric Trump For Calling Impeachment Hearing 'Boring'
One Twitter user suggested the reason the president's son finds the hearing dull is because "extortion and being a traitor for Putin" is an everyday thing for a Trump.
- Bloomberg
Morales Exit Throws Political Hand Grenade Into Latin America
(Bloomberg) -- The toppling of a socialist icon is creating shock waves from Buenos Aires to Washington and pitting Latin American governments against each other.Mexico, which only recently pledged to stay out of the affairs of other countries, thrust itself into Bolivia’s crisis by granting asylum to
Iraqi protesters defiant in face of deadly crackdown
Iraqi protesters said Wednesday that an intensifying crackdown by authorities has been instilling fear and reducing turnout, but said they were remaining defiant and have called for people to return to the street in large numbers later this week. Protesters told The Associated Press that many felt intimidated
- Associated Press
Switzerland OKs linkup with EU’s emissions trading system
Switzerland has approved a change to its environmental legislation allowing companies to take part in the European Union’s emissions trading system. The measures agreed Wednesday mean that civil aviation and fossil fuel power stations will be included in the Swiss emissions trading system, as is already
- Bloomberg
Johnson Says Brexit Delay Holding Back Economy: U.K. Votes
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.Boris Johnson is back in campaign mode following a tricky visit to flood-hit areas of northern England, where his government’s response was criticized by local residents. In a speech at the London Electrical
AFPIraq officials must 'step up' to enact reforms: UN envoy to AFP
Iraqi officials must ramp up their response to mass demonstrations demanding an overhaul of the political system, the United Nations' representative in Baghdad told AFP in an exclusive interview Wednesday. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who heads the UN's Iraq mission (UNAMI), said the country&
- Bloomberg
Guaido Allies Leave Venezuela Embassy in Brazil After Stand-Off
(Bloomberg) -- Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido entered the country’s embassy in Brasilia on Wednesday, a move coinciding with the arrival of Russian and Chinese leaders for an international summit.Freddy Meregote, the embassy’s charge d’affaires representing the government of Nicolas
- Associated Press
UN: $1.35 billion needed to respond to Venezuela exodus
The U.N. refugee agency says nations in Latin America and the Caribbean will need $1.35 billion to respond to the massive exodus of Venezuelans. An estimated 4.6 million Venezuelans have now fled their crisis-torn country, testing neighboring countries where most are arriving. The U.N. warns that if
UPDATE 1-Sterling steady as hopes of Conservative election win overshadow weak data
The pound traded stable on Wednesday as weak economic data, which should hurt sterling, were more than offset by supportive political developments in Britain. The pound however continued to derive support from Monday's news that in the Dec. 12 general election the Brexit Party will not contest seats
- Reuters
UPDATE 3-BRICS leaders rail against 'bullying' protectionism
Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging economies on Wednesday criticized what they view as politically motivated protectionism at a time of a global slowdown and said their countries are doing their best to counter the trend. At their annual summit, the leaders of China, Russia, India, Brazil and South
- Bloomberg
Skeletons Exit Closet in U.K. Social Media Election Shakedown
(Bloomberg) -- It’s been a decade since unwise social media posts began destroying political candidates’ fledgling careers, but the evidence in Britain is that the lesson hasn’t yet been learned.Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s snap general election has meant political parties have spent the past few weeks
- Bloomberg
The IEA’s New Energy Outlook Comforts No One
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The International Energy Agency would like you to know it is not in the business of making predictions:The WEO [World Energy Outlook] analyses the choices that will shape our energy use, our environment and our wellbeing. It is not, and has never been, a forecast of where the
“Sessions is going to become one of the president’s favorite targets and distractions in this cycle.”
“His entry in the race will test Alabamans long-time support of Sessions with their real-time adoration of Trump.”
“It's hard to see how Sessions could overcome Trump’s criticism with a Republican electorate as pro-Trump as the one in Alabama.”
“The former senator is not accustomed to competitive elections, and this could be the toughest race he’s ever run.”
“Sessions has plenty going for him in the race and will rely on his name recognition and conservative bona fides.”
