Syria’s White Helmets appeal for safe passage out of Aleppo

As the city appears set to fall to the Syrian army, members of the civilian rescue squad claim they face “torture and execution” if they are detained. It was reported on Thursday night that there has been a “pause” in fighting, according to the Russian foreign minister.

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WORLD

Britain’s foreign secretary touches a raw nerve.

Out of the frying pan…

Sad news..

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

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MEDIA

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CULTURE

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SPORTS

End game for Aleppo

Syrian rebels have called for a five-day ceasefire in Aleppo as the city appears on the brink of falling to forces loyal to President Assad.

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BREXIT

As Britain’s Supreme Court is set to wrap up its hearing on the legal standing of the royal prerogative over triggering Article 50, the House of Commons on Wednesday night backed Prime Minister Theresa May’s timetable for initiating the process.

https://twitter.com/TimHarford/status/806610677796405248

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WORLD

In today’s America…

https://twitter.com/sullivank/status/806637857184092161

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

and, of course…

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MEDIA

https://twitter.com/hannahkuchler/status/806651524394799104

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BUSINESS

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SPORTS

In football, the teams for the first knockout round of the Champions League were finalized. Here are the final group tables. The draw is on Monday.

 

 

 

 

‘The biggest shambles since DeLorean’

We’re taking a small detour from Trump and Brexit this evening to point to a local story that’s going to need some explaining from those in authority who apparently blundered embarrassingly and expensively on a remarkable scale.

We likely haven’t heard the end of this one.

Watch the BBC Spotlight investigation here

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WORLD

America prepares for a solemn anniversary, and to welcome an historic guest.

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/806310131638083585

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BUSINESS

https://twitter.com/MarkDiStef/status/806317325360058368

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MEDIA

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CULTURE

 

Britain’s highest court continues to wrestle with Brexit appeal

Tuesday sees the second of four days in the UK Supreme Court hearing of the Government’s appeal over parliament’s role in Article 50 and the Brexit process.

https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/805829857972277248

https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/805866016098177024

Meanwhile…

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WORLD

Wait, there’s a plan?

In India, there is widespread mourning following the death of the much-loved Tamil Nadu chief minister.

https://twitter.com/narendramodli/status/805847381660999680

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/805927984934879232

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MEDIA

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FINALLY

 

Renzi to quit after Italy rejects EU constitution reform

UPDATE: 

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is to step down after losing a referendum on Sunday over reforms to the EU constitution.

https://twitter.com/intlspectator/status/805535693225148416

EARLIER: This has been a crucial weekend for the political future of Europe, with a constitutional referendum in Italy and a re-run Presidential election in Austria, amid a seeming tide of electoral populism making the longer-term implications of both contests uncertain.

EARLIER: 

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BREXIT

Meanwhile in Britain, Monday is another big day…

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WORLD

Tragic..

 

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SPORTS

Trump’s Taiwan call sounds diplomatic alarms

President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with the President of Taiwan, the Financial Times reported, a break with recent US policy and a move that could complicate relations with the government in Beijing. It is understood that no President or President-elect has contacted a Taiwanese leader since 1979.

The coming weeks and months will be an interesting time for diplomats and global policy wonks.

In other transition developments,

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WORLD

https://twitter.com/Travis_Waldron/status/804844240316596225

https://twitter.com/womensmarchlon/status/804381074231087104

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MEDIA

https://twitter.com/PaulLewis/status/804845909611679744

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BUSINESS

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SPORTS

Lib Dems snatch shock by-election win as Goldsmith’s gamble fails

In a dramatic political night the Liberal Democrats overturned a 20,000-plus majority to win the parliamentary by-election in Richmond Park, with Sarah Olney defeating incumbent Tory Zac Goldsmith, who had resigned in protest at the expansion of Heathrow Airport and was standing as an Independent.

The Lib Dems had made the focus of the contest a verdict on the government’s handling of Brexit. Goldsmith was being backed by UKIP, and the Conservatives did not put up a candidate against him.

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WORLD

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

The President-elect held the first rally of his “thank you tour” in Cincinnati. And the perpetual campaign goes on.

Meanwhile at Harvard…

https://twitter.com/dangillmor/status/804486358593142784

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BUSINESS

https://twitter.com/SteveKopack/status/804492254618537985

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CULTURE

Finally, as we’ve sadly done all too many times this year…

Close contest in by-election over Heathrow. Or Brexit.

Voters go to the polls Thursday in what is expected to be a close by-election in the south London constituency of Richmond Park, where the sitting MP, Tory Zac Goldsmith,  resigned the seat and his 20,000-odd majority in protest at the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

He is standing as an independent, but is being backed by UKIP.

The Liberal Democrats, who held the seat until Goldsmith was elected in 2010, want the contest to be about the government’s approach to Brexit, with a large majority of constituents having voted to remain in the EU.

But for the Lib Dems there is much at stake. Labour and Green voters, meanwhile, are being urged to vote tactically.

https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/804093547167313921

https://twitter.com/anthonypainter/status/804064376743493633

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WORLD

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/804120431397662721

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AMERICA IN TRANSITION

Yeah…

https://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/803961054875254784

Meanwhile, coming up in Cincinnati today…

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BUSINESS

https://twitter.com/Brilliant_Ads/status/804112838524600321

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MEDIA

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CULTURE

https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/804129892661100548

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SPORTS