Four testify at impeachment hearings
Kurt Volker, Tim Morrison, Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams all testified publicly before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday as the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry heated up. NBC has an interesting “10 Things we learned” piece about the marathon session. The Washington Post has a more digestible “7 takeaways”. Most of the headlines focused on the opening statement and testimony of Vindman, the decorated war veteran and top White House expert on Ukraine, especially when the White House and Republicans started attacking his testimony. The Washington Post says that “for pure maliciousness, it is hard to top the gall of Trump partisans who question Vindman’s loyalty to the United States”, while Reuters cites the director of government relations for VoteVets.org, saying that the “vile attacks” on Vindman for simply doing his duty “leaves us truly shaken.” The New York Post, on the other hand, said the commander in chief should fire Vindman “for rank insubordination”.
No winner from Corbyn and Johnson TV debate
The leaders of the UK’s two main political parties clashed on numerous topics during their first televised debate on ITV on Tuesday evening. The channel has the full debate on YouTube. Bloomberg reckons Labour’s Corbyn “defied his negative ratings” to draw level with Johnson as a YouGov poll gave the Tory leader a 51-49% win with the TV audience. The Daily Mail says the leaders “exchanged vicious barbs”. But, as The Guardian says in its analysis, both men are among the most unpopular leaders their respective parties have ever put forward in an election. The BBC has a, somewhat frivolous, “5 things” from the head-to-head.
Hong Kong interference
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang condemned US interference in his country’s domestic affairs after the senate passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in support of protestors in the territory. CNBC says the Hong Kong government also “expressed deep regret” over the bill. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, ABC News says that “violence is now a normalised part of the life” of Hong Kong.
Epstein guards charged
Two prison guards who were on duty when accused paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell have been charged with conspiracy, failing to check in on him and fabricating log entries, the BBC reports. CNN says that after they appeared in court, the two men were released on bail packages that include $100,000 bonds.
Assange rape case dropped
Reuters reports that almost ten years after accusations were made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a Swedish prosecutor has dropped the rape investigation that saw him try to escape extradition by entering the Ecuadorian embassy in London. But as the FT points out, Assange, now in HM Prison Belmarsh, is still facing an extradition hearing from the US in February next year.
Caruana Galizia killers could be identified
A suspected middleman is reported to have offered to name those who gave the order to kill Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, The Guardian reports. The man, a taxi driver, could receive a presidential pardon if he delivers potentially crucial evidence.
Trump slams media over health check reports
CBS reports that President Donald Trump called the media “sick” for circulating rumours that something might not be right with his health after he undertook what the White House called a “routine physical” at the weekend. The medical check-up was not on the president’s public schedule.
Nigerian masterminds internet scam, from jail
A convicted internet fraudster from Nigeria has allegedly netted at least $1 million by continuing “to ply his ignoble trade" from inside Lagos prison, the BBC reports.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts