Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom and CFO Alan Pickerill resign…
December 24, 2019
The surprise shakeup, announced Wednesday morning, comes a little more than two years after Okerstrom was named to the role, succeeding Dara Khosrowshahi after he left to become Uber’s top executive. It also comes just two months after the company made its long-awaited headquarters move from downtown Bellevue, Wash., to a high-profile Seattle waterfront site...
Official Space Force website is live – see it here…
December 24, 2019
Maria Bartiromo tweets ‘Justice Is Coming’…
December 24, 2019
Not MAY HAVE. WAS is more accurate. Justice is coming
— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) December 23, 2019
US recalls ambassador to Zambia after he criticized jailing of gay couple…
December 24, 2019
Zambia's high court reportedly jailed the men last month for engaging in homosexual conduct “against the order of nature.” Same-sex relationships are illegal in Zambia, a legacy of British colonial-era laws... The government said last month it was sending a protest letter to Washington over Foote’s remarks, and accused the ambassador of meddling in Zambia’s internal affairs.
US on high alert for possible ‘Christmas gift’ missile from North Korea…
December 24, 2019
North Korea warned of a possible "Christmas gift" in early December, saying the Trump administration was running out of time on nuclear negotiations, and it was up to the U.S. to choose what "Christmas gift" it gets from Pyongyang... Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters earlier this week that the U.S. has heard all the talk of a possible upcoming test around Christmas... Esper, who has visited Korea twice this year since being sworn in as defense chief, said the U.S. now has a team on the Korean peninsula that has asked the North for meetings. At the same time, he said the U.S. military remains at a high level of readiness.
Pentagon warns military members against using DNA kits…
December 24, 2019
The memo did not give details on how the DNA testing could pose a security risk except noting that possible “inaccuracies” in health information could be a risk to military personnel, who are required to report medical issues. The involvement of the Pentagon’s intelligence chief suggests there could be concerns about spies and soldiers being exposed by other countries.
Japan gov’t proposes Fukushima nuke plant water release to sea or air…
December 24, 2019
Japan's economy and industry ministry proposed on Monday the gradual release or evaporation of massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water being stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant... TEPCO says it is currently storing more than 1 million tons of radioactive water and only has space to hold up to 1.37 million tons, or until the summer of 2022, raising speculation that the water may be released after next summer's Tokyo Olympics...
U.S. Sen. Schumer outlines documents he wants for impeachment trial…
December 24, 2019
Examples Schumer listed of potentially important documents were records between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy related to the “scheduling, preparation for, and follow-up from” their April 21 and July 25 telephone calls.
Schumer also listed email communications related to “several occasions” in which National Security Council officials “reported their concerns to the NSC legal advisor about the decision to delay” almost $400 million in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine.
Detailed notes, emails and text messages that State Department witnesses told House investigators have been withheld by the administration also were included in Schumer’s letter...
Second Amendment Sanctuary Push Aims to Defy New Gun Laws…
December 24, 2019
A standing-room-only crowd of more than 400 packed the meeting room, filled the lobby, and spilled into the parking lot recently in rural Buckingham County, Virginia. They had one thing on their minds: guns. The vast majority favored a proposal to protect their right to carry firearms: declaring the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
NASA’s Moon to Mars plans…
December 24, 2019
Dutchsinse: Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Coast Along Canada’s British Columbia…
December 24, 2019
Xi eyes ‘new era’ of China-Japan ties in shadow of Trump…
December 24, 2019
Xi greeted Abe with a smile, and the two leaders shook hands – a far cry from the stiff, awkward expressions both wore when they met in 2014... Though progress has been made on the U.S.-China trade war with the recent "phase one" deal, tensions still run high on other fronts, including technology and security. Abe also brought up pending bilateral issues, in hopes of ironing them out before Xi's state visit to Japan next spring...
The House is Open to Impeaching President Donald Trump a Second Time…
December 24, 2019
"House Counsel Douglas Letter said in a filing in federal court that a second impeachment could be necessary if the House uncovers new evidence that Trump attempted to obstruct investigation of his conduct"