- Thousands evacuated as parts of Spain hit with nearly a month’s rainfall in one hour CNN
- New storms and flooding threaten Spain’s hard-hit Valencia again The Associated Press
- Watch: Málaga flood turns street into river BBC.com
- Schools closed and people evacuated as torrential rain returns in Spain The Guardian
- New storms and flooding hit Spain's southern Malaga province as EU debates crisis management Euronews
Trump announces Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard for top intelligence post – US politics live
Far-right Florida congressman to get top justice job; former Democrat Gabbard frequently appeared with Trump on the campaign trail
- Trump picks far-right congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general
- Trump cabinet: who’s in and likely contenders so far
Mehdi Hasan writes for the Guardian today, asking “Is Donald Trump a foreign policy dove?”
You can read it here …
Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat, that means casualties are worse.
Continue reading...Trump’s early second-term choices fuel fears of extremist agenda
Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners to lead departments that will shape US policy on immigration, defense and more
Donald Trump may have won a second term in the White House just last week, but his recent administration appointments have already heightened fears among some who believe his return to the White House will lead to an extremist agenda.
On immigration, Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners: Stephen Miller will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy and Department of Homeland Security adviser; Tom Homan as “border czar”, and Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor, will lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Continue reading...Trump chooses Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence
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.
Continue reading...Russia’s economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say – Business Insider
- Russia's economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say Business Insider
- Russian Food Prices Skyrocket in Growing Concern for Kremlin Bloomberg
- Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits Foreign Policy
- Russia Has High Inflation and a Shrinking GDP. How Ukraine Fits In. Barron's
- Exclusive: Russian Railways expects interest costs to hit $7 bln in 2025 Reuters
Trump meets with Biden and promises ‘smooth as it can get’ transfer of power
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.
Continue reading...Trump picks far-right congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general
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.
Continue reading...With Scholz’s government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy – Kyiv Independent
- With Scholz's government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy Kyiv Independent
- Five things to know about Germany’s government crisis The Associated Press
- Beleaguered Scholz Makes Election Pitch to Skeptical Germans Bloomberg
- German government collapse could have silver lining for Europe's markets Reuters
- Germany’s Scholz to request vote of confidence in December Al Jazeera English
Famine ‘occurring or imminent’ in parts of northern Gaza, experts warn UN security council – ABC News
- Famine 'occurring or imminent' in parts of northern Gaza, experts warn UN security council ABC News
- The Debate - Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe: What difference will Trump make? FRANCE 24 English
- 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
- UN aid chief warns of ‘gravest crimes’ committed in Israel’s war on Gaza Al Jazeera English
- At UN, US warns Israel against forcible displacement, starvation in Gaza Reuters
New York City ends broker fees for new tenants in cost-cutting move
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.
Continue reading...In Lebanon, Hezbollah pays high political cost for its war with Israel – The Christian Science Monitor
Ukraine ‘months away’ from nuke bomb for Nagasaki-style blast on Russia as Kyiv waits for Trump’s next move… – The US Sun
- Ukraine ‘months away’ from nuke bomb for Nagasaki-style blast on Russia as Kyiv waits for Trump’s next move... The US Sun
- Ukraine war: Kyiv responds to reports it could build nuclear bomb to use on Russia The Independent
- Zelensky’s nuclear option: Ukraine ‘months away’ from bomb The Times
- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry denies that Ukraine plans to make nuclear weapons Ukrainska Pravda
- Ukraine Is Now Facing a Nuclear Decision Foreign Policy
Trump has full control of government – but he won’t always get his way
Gary O'Donoghue looks at Trump's "trifecta" of power, and how far it will help him keep his promises.
Two Worcestershire women jailed for role in global monkey torture network
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.
Continue reading...Biden, China’s Xi to meet on Saturday in Peru, US officials say – Reuters
- Biden, China's Xi to meet on Saturday in Peru, US officials say Reuters
- World leaders heading to major summits are wary of Trump. China’s Xi sees an opportunity CNN
- Biden, Xi to Meet as World Leaders Shift Focus to Trump Bloomberg
- A diminished Biden heads to APEC summit in Peru, overshadowed by China’s Xi The Associated Press
- Will Xi’s final summit with Biden ease US-China jitters before Trump transition? South China Morning Post
Man’s will written on back of food boxes is valid, UK high court rules
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
Continue reading...Olaf Scholz delivers plea for German unity ahead of confidence vote
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.
Continue reading...What a Republican trifecta means for Trump’s second term
Republicans have won control of both chambers of Congress, yielding Trump limited congressional oversight for at least 2 years.
Italy’s president censures Trump appointee Musk after autocracy remarks – POLITICO Europe
- Italy’s president censures Trump appointee Musk after autocracy remarks POLITICO Europe
- Italy’s President Rebukes Musk for Chiming In on Country’s Immigration Debate The New York Times
- Italy's president sharply rebukes Elon Musk over comments on X about migration court rulings The Associated Press
- After calling Germany's chancellor a ‘fool’, Elon Musk now wants Italy’s judges to be removed Fortune
- FM 'shares' Mattarella's words on Musk ANSA Brasil
Bafta to revoke future winners’ awards in cases of serious criminal convictions
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.
Continue reading...