Trump chooses Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence

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Ex-Hawaii congresswoman ran for president as Democratic candidate before quitting party to support Trump

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as his director of national intelligence.

Gabbard, who served in the US military in Iraq, served four terms as a Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii, and ran for president in the Democratic primary in 2020, before quitting the party in 2022, and becoming a supporter of Trump.

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Russia’s economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say – Business Insider

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  1. Russia's economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say  Business Insider
  2. Russian Food Prices Skyrocket in Growing Concern for Kremlin  Bloomberg
  3. Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits  Foreign Policy
  4. Russia Has High Inflation and a Shrinking GDP. How Ukraine Fits In.  Barron's
  5. Exclusive: Russian Railways expects interest costs to hit $7 bln in 2025  Reuters
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Trump meets with Biden and promises ‘smooth as it can get’ transfer of power

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Trump also suggests to House Republicans he might seek a third term in office, which is prohibited by US constitution

Donald Trump met with Joe Biden on Wednesday and promised a transfer of power that is “as smooth as it can get”, as the outgoing US president pledged his administration’s every possible resource to pave the way for his successor.

The two men, longtime political rivals who must now work together again to pass the reins of power, shook hands as they met in the Oval Office. Introducing Trump as both a former president and now president-elect, Biden congratulated him on his victory.

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Trump picks far-right congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general

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Controversial Florida congressman is latest in slew of nominations by president-elect

Donald Trump has named the controversial Florida congressman Matt Gaetz to be attorney general for his second administration.

The shock appointment aims to fill a post that had been eagerly awaited as Trump and his allies pick names for a raft of top jobs to serve under the victor of November’s US presidential election.

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With Scholz’s government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy – Kyiv Independent

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  1. With Scholz's government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy  Kyiv Independent
  2. Five things to know about Germany’s government crisis  The Associated Press
  3. Beleaguered Scholz Makes Election Pitch to Skeptical Germans  Bloomberg
  4. German government collapse could have silver lining for Europe's markets  Reuters
  5. Germany’s Scholz to request vote of confidence in December  Al Jazeera English
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Famine ‘occurring or imminent’ in parts of northern Gaza, experts warn UN security council – ABC News

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  1. Famine 'occurring or imminent' in parts of northern Gaza, experts warn UN security council  ABC News
  2. The Debate - Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe: What difference will Trump make?  FRANCE 24 English
  3. Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East  United States Mission to the United Nations
  4. UN aid chief warns of ‘gravest crimes’ committed in Israel’s war on Gaza  Al Jazeera English
  5. At UN, US warns Israel against forcible displacement, starvation in Gaza  Reuters
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New York City ends broker fees for new tenants in cost-cutting move

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Move can significantly lower upfront expenses for renters in city with one of the world’s highest costs of living

The New York City council passed a bill on Wednesday that will prevent tenants from having to pay fees to brokers hired by landlords.

The move can significantly lower upfront expenses for renters in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the world. The median asking rent in New York City was $3,500 in 2023.

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Ukraine ‘months away’ from nuke bomb for Nagasaki-style blast on Russia as Kyiv waits for Trump’s next move… – The US Sun

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  1. Ukraine ‘months away’ from nuke bomb for Nagasaki-style blast on Russia as Kyiv waits for Trump’s next move...  The US Sun
  2. Ukraine war: Kyiv responds to reports it could build nuclear bomb to use on Russia  The Independent
  3. Zelensky’s nuclear option: Ukraine ‘months away’ from bomb  The Times
  4. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry denies that Ukraine plans to make nuclear weapons  Ukrainska Pravda
  5. Ukraine Is Now Facing a Nuclear Decision  Foreign Policy
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Two Worcestershire women jailed for role in global monkey torture network

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Holly LeGresley, 37, and Adriana Orme, 56 uploaded content of monkeys being tortured to online chat groups

Two women have been jailed for their parts in a global monkey torture network described by a judge as “depraved, sickening and wicked”.

Holly LeGresley, 37, and Adriana Orme, 56, were jailed for two years and 15 months respectively for uploading content of monkeys being tortured to online chat groups.

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Biden, China’s Xi to meet on Saturday in Peru, US officials say – Reuters

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  1. Biden, China's Xi to meet on Saturday in Peru, US officials say  Reuters
  2. World leaders heading to major summits are wary of Trump. China’s Xi sees an opportunity  CNN
  3. Biden, Xi to Meet as World Leaders Shift Focus to Trump  Bloomberg
  4. A diminished Biden heads to APEC summit in Peru, overshadowed by China’s Xi  The Associated Press
  5. Will Xi’s final summit with Biden ease US-China jitters before Trump transition?  South China Morning Post
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Man’s will written on back of food boxes is valid, UK high court rules

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Malcolm Chenery left estate to Diabetes UK charity when he died in 2021, writing will on fish and mince pie boxes

A will written on the back of cardboard food packaging has been found to be valid by the high court, meaning a charity stands to inherit £180,000.

Malcolm Chenery, who died in 2021, left his estate, including a three-bedroom house, jewellery, cash and an extensive collection of ornaments and pottery, to Diabetes UK.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

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Olaf Scholz delivers plea for German unity ahead of confidence vote

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Chancellor makes fiery appeal in parliament for opposition support ‘for the good of the country’

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has defended his decision to oust his finance minister, which has led to the break up of his government, arguing that the survival of the alliance would have come at the expense of national stability and international security.

Scholz used his first speech to parliament since his “traffic light coalition” lost its majority to plead for national cohesion. He called on opposition parties to support his minority government in the months before early elections to prevent Germany from becoming as polarised as the US.

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Bafta to revoke future winners’ awards in cases of serious criminal convictions

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Academy unveils new ‘forfeiture process’ after review prompted by case of disgraced Bafta winner Huw Edwards

The British Academy of Film and Television will be able to strip future winners of their awards in cases of “proven dishonesty” or if they’re convicted of a serious criminal offence.

New provisions added to the Bafta rulebook give the body the power to retrospectively revoke competition honours, starting with winners in 2025.

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Candidate for C of E panel to choose Welby successor knew about John Smyth’s abuse

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Report says General Synod member Rev Andrew Cornes was told of Smyth’s abuse in 1982 but failed to act

A retired clergyman who could be part of the selection process for the next archbishop of Canterbury knew about the sadistic abuse of boys and young men in the early 1980s but failed to take action, according to the report that triggered Justin Welby’s resignation.

One of John Smyth’s victims discussed his abuse with the Rev Andrew Cornes in September 1982, but “there is no evidence to suggest that [Cornes] took action to respond to this”, the report said.

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‘History repeats itself’ as South Lebanon Army veteran, Israeli killed side-by-side – The Times of Israel

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  1. ‘History repeats itself’ as South Lebanon Army veteran, Israeli killed side-by-side  The Times of Israel
  2. Updates: Hezbollah attacks Israeli army HQ; Israel hits Gaza ‘safe zone’  Al Jazeera English
  3. Hezbollah seeks to target Israel with more long-range missiles: What does this mean? - analysis  The Jerusalem Post
  4. Hezbollah strikes Tel Aviv with ballistic missiles; enters long-range tactical rocket in anti-Israeli struggle  Press TV
  5. Some 190 Rockets Launched From Lebanon at Israel's North, Wounding Seven  Haaretz
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A Ukrainian Leopard 2 Tank Met A Russian Armored Column Head-On—And Wrecked It – Forbes

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  1. A Ukrainian Leopard 2 Tank Met A Russian Armored Column Head-On—And Wrecked It  Forbes
  2. Video appears to show a Ukrainian Leopard tank taking out a column of Russian armored vehicles  Yahoo! Voices
  3. Frontline report: elite Ukrainian brigades obliterate Russian marines and North Koreans in counteroffensive with tanks and anti-tank mines  Euromaidan Press
  4. National Guard soldiers destroy enemy IFV with its crew in Siversk sector  Ukrinform
  5. Drones of the Rubizh Brigade prevented the Russian invaders from strengthening their positions  Militarnyi
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