Dec 31 Congo cuts off the internet in wake of presidential election plagued by problems By Mathilde Boussion, Saleh Mwanamilongo, Associated Press As votes were counted Monday in Congo's long-delayed presidential election, the internet was cut across the vast Central African country, apparently an effort by the government to prevent social media speculation about the results after a day of voting marked… Continue reading
Dec 31 China factory activity shrinks for the first time in 2 years By Joe McDonald, Associated Press China's factory activity shrank in December for the first time in more than two years, an official survey showed Monday, intensifying pressure on Beijing to reverse an economic slowdown as it enters trade talks with the Trump administration. Continue reading
Dec 31 WATCH: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft to fly past tiny, icy world beyond Pluto By Associated Press NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is expected to fly by the object Ultima Thule at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday. Watch the event here. Continue reading
Dec 31 House Democrats unveil plan to open government By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press The House is preparing to vote on the package Thursday when the new Congress convenes. This is according to an aide who was not authorized to discuss the plan publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Continue reading
Dec 31 Outgoing defense secretary Mattis urges employees to ‘hold fast’ By Robert Burns, Associated Press Jim Mattis, who resigned over a series of policy disagreements with Trump said he's confident Pentagon employees will remain "undistracted from our sworn mission to support and defend the Constitution while protecting our way of life."… Continue reading
Dec 31 Trump’s promise of a wall may not be fulfilled as advertised By Zeke Miller, Associated Press Three confidantes of President Donald Trump, including his departing chief of staff, are indicating that the president's signature campaign pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border would not be fulfilled as advertised. Continue reading
Dec 31 Veterans’ support for Trump strong, poll shows By Emily Swanson, Hannah Fingerhut, Associated Press Nearly 6 in 10 military veterans voted for Republican candidates in the November midterm elections, and a similar majority had positive views of President Donald Trump's leadership. But women, the fastest growing demographic group in the military, are defying that… Continue reading
Dec 31 AP fact check: Trump’s false claims on migrant child deaths By Calvin Woodward, Associated Press President Donald Trump twisted circumstances behind the deaths of two migrant Guatemalan children to insulate his administration from any blame, contending without justification that they were in dire health before they reached the border. Here's a look at the president's… Continue reading
Dec 30 Vote counting begins in Congo, after polling beset by delays By Mathilde Boussion, Saleh Mwanamilongo, Associated Press Congo's election officials began counting ballots Sunday evening, although many polling stations stayed open into the night to make up for lengthy delays in voting. Continue reading
Dec 30 Chief of staff Kelly: Trump backed away from wall months ago By Zeke Miller, Associated Press President Donald Trump long ago backed away from his campaign pledge to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, his outgoing chief of staff said, as the president's demand for "border security" funding triggered a partial government shutdown with no… Continue reading