Republicans disrupt impeachment hearing
As the impeachment enquiry into president Donald Trump’s communications with Ukraine over Joe Biden heats up, Republican lawmakers on Wednesday disrupted an enquiry session, Reuters reports. U.S. defence official for Ukraine and Russia matters, Laura Cooper, did eventually testify in a closed-door sessions after a five-hour delay, NBC says. The Washington Post says events on Wednesday, which included security breaches and the illegal use of cell phones, was one of the “most bizarre and theatrical days” of the impeachment enquiry. According to Vox, some Democrat representatives became concerned by the way non-committee members stormed the hearing room.
Zuckerberg flummoxed by AOC grilling
Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was praised by the likes of investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr when she got to question Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday. Zuckerberg was testifying to the House financial services committee over the launch of Facebook cryptocurrency Libra, The Guardian reports. Ocasio-Cortez asked a clearly flummoxed Zuckerberg when he had first learned of Cambridge Analytica’s operations. She also examined Facebook’s apparent associations with the far-right, according to Vanity Fair, and queried the social media platform’s policy on fact checking political advertisements.
Trailer deaths investigation under way
Authorities have started the task of identifying the bodies of the 38 adults and 1 teenager found in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex on Wednesday morning, the BBC reports. The driver of the lorry, a Northern Irish man, is being questioned by police. The trailer had arrived from Zeebrugge in Belgium, but investigations have not yet revealed where it started its journey to England, says Sky News.
Johnson waiting for EU on extension
On a relatively calm day for Brexit news, UK prime minister Boris Johnson said he was waiting for the EU's response to the request he reluctantly made to extend the leaving date, Euronews reports. The Mail says that EU leaders are lined up behind a three-month delay, with only French president Emmanuel Macron pushing for a shorter extension. The Guardian reckons Johnson’s cabinet is divided on the chances for the Conservative party at an election before Brexit is delivered. Meanwhile, CNBC has a round-up of how Wall Street analysts see Brexit unfolding.
Google claims quantum supremacy
The holy grail for computer researchers of quantum supremacy has been achieved by a team working for Google, the company claims. Reuters reports that Google’s computer, which harnesses the properties of sub-atomic particles, found a pattern in a seemingly random series of numbers in just 3 minutes and 20 seconds. One of the world’s most powerful supercomputers would take 10,000 years to complete the task. But IBM is urging to treat the claims with “a large dose of skepticism”, according to CNN.
Trump lifts Turkey sanctions
President Donald Trump on Wednesday lifted sanctions on Turkey, saying Ankara had agreed to a permanent cease-fire in north-eastern Syria, CNN reports. The president was quoted as saying: “Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand.” In an op-ed for NBC, Mark Dubowitz and David Adesnik say that by handing Syrian responsibility to Turkey and Russia, America has stopped leading the world.
Tesla shares soar on profit report
Tesla reported third-quarter revenue of $6.3 billion on Wednesday, resulting in shares gaining 20%, CNBC reports. But MarketWatch columnist Therese Poletti asks how long this will last given that exactly the same thing happened in the third quarter a year ago. And The Verge says all eyes will now be on the car maker's Shanghai Gigafactory.
Trudeau will try minority government
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau appears to have ruled out forming a coalition and has instead opted to seek parliamentary support for a minority government, the BBC reports.
Something for the weekend
Saturday: virtuoso jazz singer Sascha Ley and double bassist Laurent Payfert play at the Prabbeli in Wiltz to celebrate new album “It's Alright To Be Everywhere”. While at the Rotondes, guitar pop heroes Autumn Sweater release their debut album “Car Park”. Saturday & Sunday: there’s an African Market at the Tramsschapp in Limpertsberg. Sunday: watch the Bolshoi Ballet perform “Raymonda” live at Kinepolis. And wind down before the working week with the grooves of Raphael Saadiq at Rockhal.
Viral binge drinker
And before you head out for the weekend to enjoy a well-deserved glass or two of wine, think of Chinese tweeter Liu Shichao, whose binge drinking exploits have gone viral, as the BBC reports. One video sees him downing a pint of beer, a can of Pepsi, a huge glass of flaming spirits, and a raw egg in 8 seconds.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts