2019-12-19

USA

Top Democratic senator requests probe into border wall contracts

The request from Sen. Jack Reed follows the awarding of a $400 million contract to Fisher Sand & Gravel, a company whose work has been touted by Trump.

19/12/2019

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Islamic State fighters and their families return to Bosnia

12 of those returned were children who had been living under ISIS rule in Syria.

19/12/2019

Poland

Polish parliament defies EU by passing controversial reform law

The Law and Justice Party has defended legislation that gives it the power to hire and fire judges.

19/12/2019

USA

Why the House impeachment standard would never survive the criminal justice system

Legal analysis: Should the lawmakers have taken into account what might happen during a Senate trial?

19/12/2019

USA

Russian security officer dead, five injured in shooting at Moscow headquarters of security agency

An unidentified gunman opened fire Thursday outside the Moscow headquarters of Russia's top security agency, killing one officer and wounding five others, officials said.

19/12/2019

USA

Lawyers say border agents keep writing false addresses on migrant papers, undermining asylum cases

Lawyers for migrants are filing a Supreme Court brief saying El Paso border agents are undermining asylum cases by using false addresses on migrant papers.

19/12/2019

Next Series

Ask Our Astronaut: In space, how do you experience time?

In this episode of Ask Our Astronaut, the European Space Agency's Luca Parmitano tells us more about time perception in the International Space Station.

19/12/2019

United Kingdom

Reducing air pollution could significantly reduce risk of depression

In an analysis of data from 16 countries, researchers found evidence of a connection between air pollution and a range of mental health problems.

19/12/2019

No Comment

Queen opens new session of UK parliament

Queen Elizabeth II formally opened a new session of Britain's Parliament on Thursday, with a speech giving the first concrete details of what Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to do with his commanding House of Commons majority.

19/12/2019

No Comment

State of emergency declared as wildfires rage in Australia

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency Thursday as oppressive conditions fanned around 100 wildfires.

19/12/2019

Business Series

Tech-driven start-ups deliver a boost to Angola's economy

In partnership with aipex

With a tech-driven approach, start-ups in Angola are turning the wheels of the economy faster, driving more investment and job-creation for Angola’s youthful population.

19/12/2019

Business Series

Web-driven start-ups tap Angola’s youthful energy

An online ride service is helping to diversify Angola’s economy - and its workforce.

19/12/2019

World News

Euroviews. Soaring food bank use: the growing reality of hunger in ‘rich’ countries ǀ View

More people are going hungry and relying on aid to feed their families in the world’s wealthiest countries.

19/12/2019

World

Elderly suffer as Ukraine conflict drives away health workers

In partnership with The European Commission

When fighting broke out in April 2014, many people including health professionals fled the Luhansk and Donetsk Donbas regions. Those left behind were mainly elderly residents.

19/12/2019

USA

US removes fictional country Wakanda from list of free trade partners

The US Department for Agriculture said Wakanda, the fictional home of Marvel superhero Black Panther, was removed from the country's list of free trade partners after the error had been spotted.

19/12/2019

Russia

Second officer dies after Russian security services' HQ shooting

The death toll from the attack near FSB's HQ in Moscow has risen. It comes as authorities revealed the identity of the attacker.

19/12/2019

Europe News

The Brief: EU-China relations amid Uighur row

EU-China relations amid Uighur human rights row

19/12/2019

Gaza

Euroviews. The case of Suha Jbara exposes the corruption and barbarism of the Palestinian Authority ǀ View

Too many Palestinians endure inhumane treatment at the hands of the PA. Life on the West Bank can be hard enough and, civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip face a near-systematic campaign of human rights abuses.

19/12/2019

No Comment

21 injured in clashes during Barcelona v Real Madrid 'Clasico' match

The 0-0 game was overshadowed by clashes between Catalan independence protestors and police outside Barcelona's Nou Camp.

19/12/2019

World News

Euroviews. The EU’s Green Deal is ambitious. But its success rides on its most controversial part ǀ View

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the European Green Deal is a reference to the imposition of a border carbon adjustment mechanism (“BCA”) by 2021.

19/12/2019

France

France strikes: Unions vow to fight on over pension reform

40% of TGV and TER trains have been cancelled on Christmas Eve as transport workers protest pension reform.

19/12/2019

United Kingdom

Boy, 6, thrown from Tate Modern museum starting to speak, say family

More than five months after being pushed off the Tate Modern's viewing platform, the six-year-old French boy has started to speak and move his limbs.

19/12/2019

USA

Impeachment of President Donald Trump: By the numbers

Dozens of witnesses and depositions, many hours of testimony, endless speeches by lawmakers.

19/12/2019

USA

Democratic debate in December: Everything you need to know

The event in Los Angeles will feature the fewest candidates on stage — 7 — of any previous face off.

19/12/2019

USA

Australia's most populous state declares wildfire emergency amid record temps

"It's a very difficult and dangerous set of circumstances," said Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

19/12/2019

USA

Impeachment is historic and dramatic — but it hasn't changed anything

First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.

19/12/2019

USA

McConnell says Pelosi 'too afraid' to send impeachment articles to Senate

A trial of Trump can't begin in the Senate until it receives the abuse of power and obstruction measures passed by the House on Wednesday.

19/12/2019

Europe News

Junqueras immunity: European Parliament President calls on Spanish authorities to comply ruling

Oriol Junqueras, former Vice President of Catalonia, became a Member of the European Parliament as soon as he was elected – so says the EU's top court in Luxembourg. That means he enjoyed parliamentary immunity from that moment on, even if he was in pre-trial detention.

19/12/2019

USA

Hundreds detained in India for defying ban on protests against citizenship law

"I am protesting non-violently, but look they are stopping us," a respected historian and intellectual told reporters as he was taken away by police.

19/12/2019

USA

Trump-ally Mark Meadows won't run for re-election next year

Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina said in a statement that his "work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning."

19/12/2019