Almere-Digest

December 6, 2018

China-US relations: Arrest Meng Wanzhou, executive of Huawei, not favorable to improving relations China - US

Huawei arrest: China demands release of Meng Wanzho

Note EU-Digest: Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the US, who wants her extradited to US because of business dealings Huawei has with Iran. For those who might have forgotten - the US (Trump Administration) unilattery broke off relations with Iran, when the Trump Administration pulled out of the International Nuclear Agreement, signed between Iran and many other nations around the world, including the EU and the US. Hopefully Canada (Trudeau) will show some "backbone", by not extraditing her to the US, specially since all the other co-signers of the International Nuclear Agreement, including the EU and Canada, are still respecting the agreement with Iran.

Saudi Arabia: Key Republicans say Saudi crown prince is guilty in Khashoggi murder following CIA Briefing - by Heather Timmons

Republican senators briefed by Central Intelligence Agency director Gina Haspel about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Tuesday (Dec. 4) had an immediate reaction: Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman is guilty.

Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator who has been a loyal supporter of Donald Trump in recent months, told reporters on Capitol Hill there’s no “smoking gun,” in the case, but a “smoking saw,” a reference to the bone saw that the crown prince’s underlings reportedly brought with them into the Istanbul embassy where Khashoggi was killed on Oct. 2.

Bob Corker, the retiring Tennessee Republican, said a jury would find the crown prince guilty in minutes.

And Richard Shelby, the Republican from Alabama, said “all evidence points to that all this leads back to the crown prince.” Haspel briefed senators heading committees related to national security; late last month she briefed intelligence committees in the House and Senate about Khashoggi’s death.

Note EU-Digest: Talk is easy for these Republicans - but they should stop sitting on their hands and do something about it.

December 5, 2018

Britain - Brexit: Theresa May suffers three Brexit defeats in Commons

Ministers have agreed to publish the government's full legal advice on the deal after MPs found them in contempt of Parliament for issuing a summary.

And MPs backed calls for the Commons to have a direct say in what happens if her deal is rejected next Tuesday.

Mrs May said MPs had a duty to deliver on the 2016 Brexit vote and the deal on offer was an "honourable compromise".

Mrs May was addressing the Commons at the start of a five-day debate on her proposed agreement on the terms of the UK's withdrawal and future relations with the EU.

The agreement has been endorsed by EU leaders but must also be backed by the UK Parliament if it is to come into force. MPs will decide whether to reject or accept it on Tuesday 11 December.

Read more: Theresa May suffers three Brexit defeats in Commons - BBC News

December 4, 2018

Hungary: Central European University claims being forced out of Budapest

Without action on climate, civilization will collapse, David Attenborough warns

December 3, 2018

Israel: Netanyahu to be charged with bribery charges says police

Israeli PM Netanyahu should be charged with bribery - police -

December 2, 2018

USA: The noose is thightening around Trump his neck

'The noose is tightening': 5 takeaways from Michael Cohen's plea deal — and what it means for Trump