Daily News Brief for Monday 10 December 2018:

*)CNN releases transcript reportedly of Khashoggi's murder

CNN has reported what it says are excerpts from a transcript of an audio recording of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"I can't breathe. I can't breathe,” Khashoggi says repeatedly, according to the US network, before he is killed.

CNN cited a source who it said had access to a translation of the recording, originally provided by Turkish intelligence.

Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul on October 2 by a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia.

*)French protests continue

France has been battered by a fourth weekend of anti-government protests over policies that hit workers hard.

Almost a million yellow vest demonstrators set fire to cars, burned barricades and smashed store windows in cities across the country.

President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet trade unionists and business leaders today in a bid to calm the crisis.

*)Huawei CFO bail hearing resumes

Tech giant Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou will try to secure bail in Canada.

She faces extradition to the US where Huawei is accused of violating sanctions against Iran.

Meng's detention has rocked markets and threatens a truce China and the US called in the trade war triggered by President Donald Trump.

*)Russian ‘Werewolf’ confesses to more murders

Dubbed Russia’s most prolific serial killer, Mikhail ‘Werewolf’ Popkov has been found guilty of 56 more murders.

The former policeman is already serving a life sentence for killing 22 women.

He claimed to have killed 81 people between 1992 and 2010.

*)River Plate win Copa Libertadores

And finally,

Argentina's River Plate have beaten local rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 to win the Copa Libertadores.

This year the second leg of the Latin American derby, one of football's top cup competitions, had to be played in Spain.

Violence in Buenos Aires and an attack on the Boca Juniors bus got the match postponed and moved to Madrid.

Daily News Brief for Monday 10 December 2018:

*)CNN releases transcript reportedly of Khashoggi's murder

CNN has reported what it says are excerpts from a transcript of an audio recording of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"I can't breathe. I can't breathe,” Khashoggi says repeatedly, according to the US network, before he is killed.

CNN cited a source who it said had access to a translation of the recording, originally provided by Turkish intelligence.

Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul on October 2 by a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia.

*)French protests continue

France has been battered by a fourth weekend of anti-government protests over policies that hit workers hard.

Almost a million yellow vest demonstrators set fire to cars, burned barricades and smashed store windows in cities across the country.

President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet trade unionists and business leaders today in a bid to calm the crisis.

*)Huawei CFO bail hearing resumes

Tech giant Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou will try to secure bail in Canada.

She faces extradition to the US where Huawei is accused of violating sanctions against Iran.

Meng's detention has rocked markets and threatens a truce China and the US called in the trade war triggered by President Donald Trump.

*)Russian ‘Werewolf’ confesses to more murders

Dubbed Russia’s most prolific serial killer, Mikhail ‘Werewolf’ Popkov has been found guilty of 56 more murders.

The former policeman is already serving a life sentence for killing 22 women.

He claimed to have killed 81 people between 1992 and 2010.

*)River Plate win Copa Libertadores

And finally,

Argentina's River Plate have beaten local rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 to win the Copa Libertadores.

This year the second leg of the Latin American derby, one of football's top cup competitions, had to be played in Spain.

Violence in Buenos Aires and an attack on the Boca Juniors bus got the match postponed and moved to Madrid.

Daily News Brief for Monday 10 December 2018:

*)CNN releases transcript reportedly of Khashoggi's murder

CNN has reported what it says are excerpts from a transcript of an audio recording of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"I can't breathe. I can't breathe,” Khashoggi says repeatedly, according to the US network, before he is killed.

CNN cited a source who it said had access to a translation of the recording, originally provided by Turkish intelligence.

Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul on October 2 by a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia.

*)French protests continue

France has been battered by a fourth weekend of anti-government protests over policies that hit workers hard.

Almost a million yellow vest demonstrators set fire to cars, burned barricades and smashed store windows in cities across the country.

President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet trade unionists and business leaders today in a bid to calm the crisis.

*)Huawei CFO bail hearing resumes

Tech giant Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou will try to secure bail in Canada.

She faces extradition to the US where Huawei is accused of violating sanctions against Iran.

Meng's detention has rocked markets and threatens a truce China and the US called in the trade war triggered by President Donald Trump.

*)Russian ‘Werewolf’ confesses to more murders

Dubbed Russia’s most prolific serial killer, Mikhail ‘Werewolf’ Popkov has been found guilty of 56 more murders.

The former policeman is already serving a life sentence for killing 22 women.

He claimed to have killed 81 people between 1992 and 2010.

*)River Plate win Copa Libertadores

And finally,

Argentina's River Plate have beaten local rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 to win the Copa Libertadores.

This year the second leg of the Latin American derby, one of football's top cup competitions, had to be played in Spain.

Violence in Buenos Aires and an attack on the Boca Juniors bus got the match postponed and moved to Madrid.

Daily News Brief for Friday 7 December 2018:

*) Vote to condemn Hamas fails at UN

A US-sponsored vote to condemn violence by Hamas failed to be passed as a resolution in the UN General Assembly.

The US accuses Hamas of violence and launching attacks across its border with Israel.

The draft resolution failed after falling short of the required two-thirds majority.

*) Progress made at Yemen peace talks in Sweden

Progress is being made at UN-run peace talks on Yemen after warring sides agreed to a prisoner exchange to bolster trust.

Sweden is hosting Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government for talks to end the four-year conflict.

The country is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and is in desperate need for aid.

*) Taliban kill at least 14 Afghan troops in Herat

Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed at least 14 Afghan soldiers and taken another 21 as captives in an overnight attack.

The attack happened in the country’s western Herat province.

The Taliban have for years been slowly claiming territory and recent reports suggest they now control large parts of the country.

*) MSF’s Aquarius rescue ship docked for good

The Aquarius migrant rescue ship run by Doctors without Borders has ended its Mediterranean missions.

The humanitarian group blame Italy and other European states for obstructing its work.

The ship has also been blocked at the French port of Marseilles since it lost its Panamanian registration at the end of September.

During its missions, the Aquarius has rescued over 30,000 migrants.

*) Kevin Hart step down from Oscar role

And finally,

Comedian Kevin Hart has stepped down from his role as host of the 2019 Academy Awards.

Hart said the reason for him stepping down came after intense pressure from the LGBTQ community.

Hart has in the past mocked the LGBTQ community as part of an act during his stand-up comedy shows.

Daily News Brief for Friday 7 December 2018:

*) Vote to condemn Hamas fails at UN

A US-sponsored vote to condemn violence by Hamas failed to be passed as a resolution in the UN General Assembly.

The US accuses Hamas of violence and launching attacks across its border with Israel.

The draft resolution failed after falling short of the required two-thirds majority.

*) Progress made at Yemen peace talks in Sweden

Progress is being made at UN-run peace talks on Yemen after warring sides agreed to a prisoner exchange to bolster trust.

Sweden is hosting Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government for talks to end the four-year conflict.

The country is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and is in desperate need for aid.

*) Taliban kill at least 14 Afghan troops in Herat

Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed at least 14 Afghan soldiers and taken another 21 as captives in an overnight attack.

The attack happened in the country’s western Herat province.

The Taliban have for years been slowly claiming territory and recent reports suggest they now control large parts of the country.

*) MSF’s Aquarius rescue ship docked for good

The Aquarius migrant rescue ship run by Doctors without Borders has ended its Mediterranean missions.

The humanitarian group blame Italy and other European states for obstructing its work.

The ship has also been blocked at the French port of Marseilles since it lost its Panamanian registration at the end of September.

During its missions, the Aquarius has rescued over 30,000 migrants.

*) Kevin Hart step down from Oscar role

And finally,

Comedian Kevin Hart has stepped down from his role as host of the 2019 Academy Awards.

Hart said the reason for him stepping down came after intense pressure from the LGBTQ community.

Hart has in the past mocked the LGBTQ community as part of an act during his stand-up comedy shows.

Daily News Brief for Friday 7 December 2018:

*) Vote to condemn Hamas fails at UN

A US-sponsored vote to condemn violence by Hamas failed to be passed as a resolution in the UN General Assembly.

The US accuses Hamas of violence and launching attacks across its border with Israel.

The draft resolution failed after falling short of the required two-thirds majority.

*) Progress made at Yemen peace talks in Sweden

Progress is being made at UN-run peace talks on Yemen after warring sides agreed to a prisoner exchange to bolster trust.

Sweden is hosting Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government for talks to end the four-year conflict.

The country is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and is in desperate need for aid.

*) Taliban kill at least 14 Afghan troops in Herat

Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed at least 14 Afghan soldiers and taken another 21 as captives in an overnight attack.

The attack happened in the country’s western Herat province.

The Taliban have for years been slowly claiming territory and recent reports suggest they now control large parts of the country.

*) MSF’s Aquarius rescue ship docked for good

The Aquarius migrant rescue ship run by Doctors without Borders has ended its Mediterranean missions.

The humanitarian group blame Italy and other European states for obstructing its work.

The ship has also been blocked at the French port of Marseilles since it lost its Panamanian registration at the end of September.

During its missions, the Aquarius has rescued over 30,000 migrants.

*) Kevin Hart step down from Oscar role

And finally,

Comedian Kevin Hart has stepped down from his role as host of the 2019 Academy Awards.

Hart said the reason for him stepping down came after intense pressure from the LGBTQ community.

Hart has in the past mocked the LGBTQ community as part of an act during his stand-up comedy shows.

Daily News Brief for Thursday 6 December 2018:

*)Canada arrests Huawei CFO

Acting on a request by the US, Canada has arrested the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei.

Sabrina Meng Wanzhou could be extradited to the US, where her company faces accusations of selling US products to Iran, which violates US sanctions.

China has rebuked Canada over the arrest and demanded Meng’s immediate release.

The arrest could damage relations between the US and China who are trying to negotiatiate an end a trade war.

US Senate resolution faults MbS for Khashoggi killing

Six US senators have made their first move to hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

They’ve introduced a non-binding resolution which will hopefully get the ball rolling towards sanctions on Riyadh as the Senate finds a stronger bipartisan response.

The action follows a Senate briefing by the CIA, which concludes that MbS ordered the killing.

France scraps fuel tax increase

France has scrapped a tax increase on fuel products following weeks of violent protests.

Protests, which lasted for over three weeks, were coordinated by the yellow vests movement.

At least four people were killed and hundreds more injured as a result of the chaos.

Ireland could be the first EU country to ban Israeli goods

Ireland could become the first European Union country to impose a ban on products from illegal Israeli settlements.

Ireland’s Higher House of Parliament approved a bill that criminalises the import and trade of goods and services originating from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

The draft bill passed the committee stage last week and will now go to the Lower House for approval.

The draft law says anyone caught importing or attempting to import from illegal Israeli settlements could face up to five years in prison or a 250,000 euro fine.

The end of USA Gymnastics

And finally,

USA Gymnastics has filed for bankruptcy after struggling to recover from a sexual abuse scandal.

The organisation is facing litigation from hundreds of women who were sexually abused by the team's doctor Larry Nassar who’s been sentenced to around 300 years in prison.

Daily News Brief for Thursday 6 December 2018:

*)Canada arrests Huawei CFO

Acting on a request by the US, Canada has arrested the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei.

Sabrina Meng Wanzhou could be extradited to the US, where her company faces accusations of selling US products to Iran, which violates US sanctions.

China has rebuked Canada over the arrest and demanded Meng’s immediate release.

The arrest could damage relations between the US and China who are trying to negotiatiate an end a trade war.

US Senate resolution faults MbS for Khashoggi killing

Six US senators have made their first move to hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

They’ve introduced a non-binding resolution which will hopefully get the ball rolling towards sanctions on Riyadh as the Senate finds a stronger bipartisan response.

The action follows a Senate briefing by the CIA, which concludes that MbS ordered the killing.

France scraps fuel tax increase

France has scrapped a tax increase on fuel products following weeks of violent protests.

Protests, which lasted for over three weeks, were coordinated by the yellow vests movement.

At least four people were killed and hundreds more injured as a result of the chaos.

Ireland could be the first EU country to ban Israeli goods

Ireland could become the first European Union country to impose a ban on products from illegal Israeli settlements.

Ireland’s Higher House of Parliament approved a bill that criminalises the import and trade of goods and services originating from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

The draft bill passed the committee stage last week and will now go to the Lower House for approval.

The draft law says anyone caught importing or attempting to import from illegal Israeli settlements could face up to five years in prison or a 250,000 euro fine.

The end of USA Gymnastics

And finally,

USA Gymnastics has filed for bankruptcy after struggling to recover from a sexual abuse scandal.

The organisation is facing litigation from hundreds of women who were sexually abused by the team's doctor Larry Nassar who’s been sentenced to around 300 years in prison.

Daily News Brief for Thursday 6 December 2018:

*)Canada arrests Huawei CFO

Acting on a request by the US, Canada has arrested the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei.

Sabrina Meng Wanzhou could be extradited to the US, where her company faces accusations of selling US products to Iran, which violates US sanctions.

China has rebuked Canada over the arrest and demanded Meng’s immediate release.

The arrest could damage relations between the US and China who are trying to negotiatiate an end a trade war.

US Senate resolution faults MbS for Khashoggi killing

Six US senators have made their first move to hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

They’ve introduced a non-binding resolution which will hopefully get the ball rolling towards sanctions on Riyadh as the Senate finds a stronger bipartisan response.

The action follows a Senate briefing by the CIA, which concludes that MbS ordered the killing.

France scraps fuel tax increase

France has scrapped a tax increase on fuel products following weeks of violent protests.

Protests, which lasted for over three weeks, were coordinated by the yellow vests movement.

At least four people were killed and hundreds more injured as a result of the chaos.

Ireland could be the first EU country to ban Israeli goods

Ireland could become the first European Union country to impose a ban on products from illegal Israeli settlements.

Ireland’s Higher House of Parliament approved a bill that criminalises the import and trade of goods and services originating from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

The draft bill passed the committee stage last week and will now go to the Lower House for approval.

The draft law says anyone caught importing or attempting to import from illegal Israeli settlements could face up to five years in prison or a 250,000 euro fine.

The end of USA Gymnastics

And finally,

USA Gymnastics has filed for bankruptcy after struggling to recover from a sexual abuse scandal.

The organisation is facing litigation from hundreds of women who were sexually abused by the team's doctor Larry Nassar who’s been sentenced to around 300 years in prison.

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, 5 December 2018:

*)US Senate briefed on Khashoggi killing

“Crazy”, a wrecking ball”, “dangerous” and “guilty.”

These are some of the words used by senior US Senators to describe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after a closed-door CIA briefing into Jamal Khashoggi’s death.

The end of CIA Director Gina Haspel’s briefing saw both Republican and Democrat Senators make a unified call for tougher action against MbS.

Senators say they are more certain than ever that MbS was complicit in Khashoggi’s killing.

*)France suspends fuel tax increase for six months

After weeks of violent protests by the yellow vest movement, France will suspend increasing taxes on fuel products for six months.

The protests brought chaos to all major cities and resulted in the deaths of three people.

President Emmanuel Macron's plan to increase fuel taxes is part of a reform agenda which has caused widespread anger throughout the country.

*)Houthis arrive in Sweden for Yemen peace talks

For the first time in two years, Yemen peace talks will get underway in Sweden between Houthis and the Saudi-backed government.

The UN-facilitated talks will be chaired by special envoy Martin Griffiths.

The civil war in Yemen has left millions on the brink of starvation and in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

*)South African parliament endorses land expropriation report

South Africa's Parliament endorsed a report calling for the constitution to be changed to pave the way for land expropriation, without compensation.

The decision follows months of debate on the controversial topic of land reform.

Opponents say it would drive away white farmers, kill jobs and threaten food supplies.

But the government says it will pursue land reform without destabilising the agricultural sector or the economy.

*)Kevin Hart takes on ‘Hollywood’s worst job’

And finally,

Kevin Hart has been tasked with hosting the 2019 Oscars.

The multi-award winning comedian, actor and producer couldn’t contain his excitement and broke the news on Instagram.

"I am blown away simply because this has been a goal on my list for a long time...To be able to join the legendary list of host that have graced this stage is unbelievable," Hart wrote on one of his posts.

The comedian says it’s always been on his list of dream jobs, despite US media outlets describing it as the ‘worst job in Hollywood’.

The show runs for around three hours and the host has the colossal responsibility of keeping viewership ratings up.