Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Democrats release new documents on eve of impeachment trial

Trump Impeachment Giuliani's Fixers

House Democrats have released a trove of documents they obtained from Lev Parnas, a close associate of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, including a handwritten note that mentions asking Ukraine's president to investigate "the Biden case."



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/democrats-new-documents-impeachment-1.5427255?cmp=rss

Biden, Sanders spar over war in last debate before primaries

1199551988

The Democratic Party's leading presidential candidates sparred over Iraq, war and foreign policy Tuesday night in the final debate showdown before primary voting begins.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-democratic-presidential-candidates-debate-1.5427047?cmp=rss

Ex-Trump aide Michael Flynn seeks to withdraw guilty plea

USA-TRUMP/RUSSIA-FLYNN

Former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn filed court papers Tuesday to him withdraw his guilty plea, saying federal prosecutors had acted in "bad faith" and breached their deal with him in the Russia investigation.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/michael-flynn-withdraw-guilty-plea-1.5427252?cmp=rss

Human Rights Watch report blasts China, urges international community to push back

Hong Kong Human Rights Watch

In an annual report, Human Rights Watch released a scathing review of the Chinese government, calling on the international community to push back against "the most brutal and pervasive oppression China has seen in decades."



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/human-rights-watch-china-report-1.5426928?cmp=rss

Trump impeachment trial should begin next week, McConnell says

Trump Impeachment

The impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to begin next Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/senate-impeachment-trial-1.5426649?cmp=rss

Middleman in Slovak journalist's killing points finger in court

Slovakia Journalist Killed

A man who has admitted to arranging the murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancée in Slovakia told a court Tuesday that he did so at the behest of local businessman Marian Kocner.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/slovakia-journalist-killing-1.5426651?cmp=rss

'Possible' there was limited human-to-human transmission of new coronavirus in China, WHO says

Wuhan Medical Treatment Centre

WHO says new China coronavirus could spread and warns hospitals worldwide.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/china-virus-who-1.5426630?cmp=rss

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is changing its focus to climate change

BlackRock-Climate Change

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, announced that it will make climate change central to its investment decisions.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/blackrock-investment-climate-change-1.5426465?cmp=rss

Russia hacked into Ukraine company at centre of Trump impeachment, tech expert says

CYBER-RUSSIA/BURISMA

A U.S. cybersecurity company says Russian military agents have successfully hacked Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company President Donald Trump wanted investigated — a request that led to his impeachment.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/russia-ukraine-us-burisma-1.5426209?cmp=rss

Trump administration shares no blame for downing of Flight PS752, says top Republican

US Iran

The top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives sidestepped questions today about whether the Trump administration should have warned Canada of its plan to kill a top Iranian general — while insisting the U.S. shares no blame for the deaths of 176 people aboard Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevin-mccarthy-trump-soleimani-iran-1.5426345?cmp=rss

Former Pope Benedict wants his name removed from book on priest celibacy

POPE-BENEDICT/BOOK

Former Pope Benedict wants his name removed as co-author of a new book on the issue of priestly celibacy, his personal secretary says, in the latest twist in a saga that has riveted the Roman Catholic world.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-benedict-book-francis-1.5426042?cmp=rss

Turkey's Erdogan sends warning to Libyan commander as truce talks end inconclusively

Turkey Libya

Turkey will not refrain from "teaching a lesson" to Khalifa Haftar if his eastern Libyan forces continue attacks against the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/libya-talks-turkey-russia-1.5400730?cmp=rss

Oldest stuff on Earth found inside meteorite

Dust origin

A meteorite that crashed into rural southeastern Australia in a fireball in 1969 contained the oldest material ever found on Earth, stardust that predated the formation of our solar system by billions of years, scientists say.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/oldest-dust-1.5425989?cmp=rss

Europeans trigger dispute mechanism in Iran nuclear deal

Britain Northern Ireland

France, Britain and Germany formally triggered the dispute mechanism in Iran's nuclear deal with world powers on Tuesday, the strongest step they have taken so far to enforce an agreement that requires Iran to curb its nuclear program.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/europeans-trigger-dispute-mechanism-iran-nuclear-deal-1.5425977?cmp=rss

Ireland to hold general election next month

IRELAND-POLITICS/

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will ask President Michael D. Higgins to dissolve parliament on Tuesday in order to hold a parliamentary election in February, the president's office said.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ireland-election-feb-1.5425981?cmp=rss

The biggest snubs and surprises of the 2020 Oscars nominations

Parasite

After weeks of campaigning and strategizing, the Oscar nominations have finally been revealed. The results find voters ignoring comedians such as Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler while giving Jojo Rabbit and Joker lots of love.  



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/oscars-2020-suprises-snub-1.5424873?cmp=rss

Houston Astros manager, GM fired after suspensions for team's sign-stealing

hinch-aj-luhnow-191005-1180

Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired Monday after the pair were suspended by Major League Baseball for the team's sign-stealing during Houston's run to the 2017 World Series title and during the 2018 season.



source https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/mlb-astros-investigation-hinch-suspended-sign-stealing-1.5425234?cmp=rss

Harsh weather kills 70 more people in Pakistan, Afghanistan

PAKISTAN-WEATHER/

Severe winter weather has claimed more lives as avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall killed 55 people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir while 15 died in neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/harsh-weather-kills-70-more-people-in-pakistan-afghanistan-1.5424685?cmp=rss

Iran says some people arrested for their role in Ukrainian plane crash

IRAN-CRASH/

Iran's judiciary said Tuesday arrests have been made for the accidental downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed all 176 people on board just after takeoff from Tehran last week.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/iran-says-some-people-arrested-for-their-role-in-ukrainian-plane-crash-1.5425921?cmp=rss

Why a 'curious interest' and questions of money loom over Harry and Meghan coming to Canada

Britain Royal Rift

Prince Harry and Meghan clearly want to come to Canada — and senior members of the Royal Family gave their wish their blessing at their Sandringham summit on Monday. But how Canadians feel about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spending part of their time here as they step back from their senior roles in the Royal Family is more nuanced.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-harry-meghan-canada-1.5425611?cmp=rss

Philippine volcano trembles more, spews lava

1193594088

A volcano near the Philippine capital spewed lava into the sky and trembled constantly Tuesday, possibly portending a bigger and more dangerous eruption, as tens of thousands of people fled villages darkened and blanketed by heavy ash.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/philippine-volcano-trembles-more-spews-lava-1.5425940?cmp=rss

As Australia burns, a plan for a joint seaborne firefighting unit is getting a second look

1197103068

The devastating wave of wildfires ravaging Australia has rekindled interest in an unsolicited proposal dropped on the Canadian government four years ago: a call for Canada and Australia to develop and share a couple of strategic water bomber squadrons.



source https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/australia-wildfires-canada-waterbombers-1.5425580?cmp=rss