BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING

In today’s briefing update, the impeachment probe into President Trump has kicked off in the USA as diplomats testify in the open after weeks of closed-door interviews. The case is being live-streamed to US TVs. Israel is being hit with rockets every 7 minutes from Gaza – after Israeli forces killed a top commander of the Islamic Jihad group. In Hong Kong, schools have been forced to closed and major disruptions to transport links as anti-government protesters paralyse the city.

In the UK the Conservative party says it will cut ‘immigration overall’ if they win the general election – but has given no details on how they plan to do so. Nine men have been sentenced after a mass brawl at Goodwood racecourse last May. And finally, the average UK house price is expected to rise in five years’ time. 

ALL in today’s news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.

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Diplomats accuse Trump as impeachment hits Americans’ TV

Arab News says the Democrats’ case for President Trump’s impeachment streamed from Americans’ TVs on Wednesday. It includes a new contention that he was overheard asking about political “investigations” that he demanded from Ukraine in trade for military aid. 

On day one of the public US House hearing – and only the fourth in US history – diplomats testified in the open after weeks of closed-door interviews aimed at removing the nation’s 45th president. 

Read the full story on Arab News

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Israeli military says it’s ‘raining rockets’ from Gaza; Islamic Jihad launching one every 7 minutes since leader killed

Fox News says the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said that it is “raining rockets” across the country. And the Islamic Jihad is firing one rocket every seven minutes since a senior commander of the group was killed by the Israeli military in an airstrike on Tuesday.

Since the death of the commander, Abu al-Ata, the Iranian-backed militant group have sworn to Israel’s destruction. Some rockets have reached as far as Tel Aviv, which prompted Israel to carry out scores of retaliatory airstrikes in the heaviest round of fighting in months.

Read the full story on Fox News

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Violent Hong Kong protests paralyse city amid exchanges of bombing and tear gas

France24 reports protesters in Hong Kong have paralysed parts of the city for a fourth day. Schools have been forced to close and highways and transport links blocked, disrupting the financial hub amid a marked escalation of violence.

The anti-government protesters have torched vehicles and buildings, hurled petrol bombs at police stations and trains and vandalised prime shopping malls over the past week. It has been some of the worst violence in Hong Kong in more than five months of unrest. 

Read the full story on France24

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General Election 2019: Tories promise to cut ‘immigration overall’

BBC News reports the Tory party has promised it will reduce “immigration overall” to the UK after Brexit if they win the December election said the Home Secretary Priti Patel. Senior Tory figures have so far stopped short of making such promises before the party’s post-Brexit immigration policy is set out.

Ms Patel made the promise as she launched an attack on what she says is Labour’s “open borders” policy. But Labour is yet to announce its immigration policy. 

The Home Secretary did not give any more details about how they planned to cut immigration. The Conservatives have said they will end free movement from the EU on 1 January 2021, if they win the election and get their Brexit deal through by 31 January. 

Read the full story on BBC News

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Nine men handed prison sentences over Goodwood mass brawl

The Guardian says nine men have been handed prison sentences for their involvement in a mass brawl at Goodwood racecourse last May. A total of 11 defendants pleaded guilty to a range of offences in the 30-man fight. 

Eight of the men were given custodial sentences ranging from eight months to two years. And the ninth was given a suspended six-month sentence. 

The case came to a close on Tuesday when the crown decided to accept guilty pleas to lesser charges from the remaining two.

Read the full story on The Guardian 

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Average house prices predicted to be £35,000 higher in five years’ time as Brexit angst falls

The Sun says the average house price is predicted to be £35,000 higher in five years’ time according to a report from Savills.

Savills say the average price across Britain will rise from £231,000 in 2019 to £266,000 in 2024 – with the North out-performing the south. 

Spokesman Charlie Kannreuther said: “The economic pull of Manchester continues to be a major factor in the strength of the North West property market, and we’ve seen a notable increase in interest from buyers outside the area, particularly in London and the South East. 

“Wealth created through jobs in the city tends to migrate south to the outer suburbs and Cheshire villages such as Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Wilmslow.”

Read the full story on The Sun

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