BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, we start with the news that the White House has said it will not participate in the impeachment hearings. In New Zealand, a potential breach of a gun buy-back scheme could have leaked data of 37,000 people. In Burkino Faso 14 people were killed in an attack on a church – many more were wounded.
London will hold a vigil for the two victims of Friday’s terrorist attack. Labour will reduce rail fare for England if they win the general election. And finally, commuters are bracing themselves as South Western Rails begins its 27-day strike.
Entertainment, we review Martin Scorsese’s epic mob tale – The Irishman.
All this and more 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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White House says it will refuse to take part in the impeachment hearings
Arab News says President Trump’s attorney has said that the White House will not participate in the impeachment hearings set for Wednesday. 
“We cannot fairly be expected to participate in a hearing while the witnesses are yet to be named and while it remains unclear whether the Judiciary Committee will afford the President a fair process through additional hearings,” White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in a letter to Jerry Nadler.
“Accordingly, under the current circumstances, we do not intend to participate in your Wednesday hearings,” Cipollone wrote.
Read the full story on Arab News
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14 dead after an attack on a church in eastern Burkino Fasco
France24 says fourteen people were killed in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso where places of worship have suffered a string of Islamist assaults this year. The country had seen attacks on Christian targets since February, leaving 21 dead before Sunday’s attack.
“Unidentified armed men” attacked a Protestant church on Sunday the regional government statement said.
“The attack, unfortunately, left 14 dead and many wounded,” it said.
Soldiers in the area attempted to hunt down the assailants, who fled on scooters, according to a security source.
Read the full story on France24
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New Zealand shuts down gun buy-back website amid fears of a massive leak of law-abiding firearms owners’ data
RT News reports New Zealand’s online platform for the firearm buy-back program has been shut down after a local gun owners association found a weakness that allegedly exposed the data of some 37,000 law-abiding citizens. 
“We have advised the office of the Privacy Commissioner of the potential issue,” police said in a statement. The statement provided little additional detail and said they were informed of the problem by a “member of the public.”
Some 37,000 law-abiding citizens may have been affected by the ‘potential issue’. And their data – including the date they filled in their firearm hand-in forms, including names and contact details, bank account numbers and information about the guns they own – according to a local firearm owners association.
Read the full story on RT News
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London Bridge: Vigil held for attack victims
BBC News says the Mayor of London is among those expected to attend a vigil for the victims of the London Bridge attack in the capital later. 
Jack Merritt, 25 and Saskia Jones,23, will be honoured in a remembrance service at Guildhall Yard in the city.
The service will also pay tribute to those injured, the emergency services and brave members of the public who intervened.
A book of condolences will be opened at Guildhall Art Gallery and members of the public will be invited to lay flowers outside nearby Mansion House.
The service will take place at 11:00 GMT, less than a mile from Fishmongers’ Hall, where convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, launched his attack on Friday.
Read the full story on BBC News
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It’s ‘Mayhem Monday’! Rail commuters brace for chaos on the trains as a 27-day strike begins
The DailyMail says hundreds of thousands of commuters face a month of chaos as union barons launch the longest strike in the history of British railways. 
The 27-day strike will see 850 services cancelled every day on South Western Railway (SWR) one of the country’s busiest operators.
SWR runs 1,850 trains a day across London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon.
The strike is set to cause misery for an estimated 16million passengers at one of the busiest times of the year.
Commuters have been warned that services will be reduced, some replaced with buses and some cancelled altogether. SWR services London’s Waterloo – Britain’s busiest station.
Read the full story on the Daily Mail
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Labour promises ‘biggest ever’ plan to cut rail fares in England
The Guardian says Labour has announced that if they will the general election they would immediately reduce the price of season tickets and other regulated fares by a third. They would also introduce a wider simplification of the ticketing system. 
The plans – which would only affect fares in England – would also seek to ensure part-time workers do not have to pay more per journey than season ticket holders, while those aged 16 and under would get free rail travel.
There was an average 2.7% increase in rail fares in January, prompting dismay from passenger groups.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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The Irishman: A Love Letter to fading mob glamour – saying goodbye to the Goodfellas
WTX News reviews Martin Scorsese’s mob epic The Irishman. It hit Netflix at the end of November and is being hailed as Scorsese’s best work in many years. The film reunites Scorsese with long-time collaborators Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and brings in screen icon Al Pacino.
The Irishman is an enthralling, haunting masterpiece with ice in its veins. Take a moment to savour the fine performances. And acknowledge you may never see such talent in a single frame again.
Read the full story on WTX News
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