News Headlines - 09 December 2018

▽The Wooing of Jared Kushner: How the Saudis Got a Friend in the White House - The New York Times

Senior American officials were worried. Since the early months of the Trump administration, Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser, had been having private, informal conversations with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the favorite son of Saudi Arabia’s king.
Given Mr. Kushner’s political inexperience, the private exchanges could make him susceptible to Saudi manipulation, said three former senior American officials.

▽The first charges for money-laundering are laid against Danske Bank - The Economist

The dirty-money scandal swirling around Danske is the largest ever uncovered. Over €200bn ($227bn) of suspicious transfers originating in ex-Soviet countries may have been rinsed through the bank’s Estonian branch. As the scale of the suspected laundering, dating back a decade, has emerged this year, the bank has lost its boss and seen its share price halved.

▽Brussels police arrest hundreds in 'yellow vest' riot | Reuters

Belgian police detained more than 400 people on Saturday after “yellow vest” protesters inspired by riots in France threw rocks and firecrackers and damaged shops and cars as they tried to reach official buildings in Brussels.

▽Government warns of six-month border disruption under 'no-deal' Brexit

Medical suppliers have been warned of border disruption for up to six months in the event of a "no-deal" Brexit.
In a series of letters to industry, Health Secretary Matt Hancock set out "revised" estimates over the impact on cross-Channel ports of the UK leaving the EU without an exit agreement.
He wrote: "The revised cross-government planning assumptions show that there will be significantly reduced access across the short straits, for up to six months."

▽Japan win Curling World Cup by finest of margins - Eurosport UK

Korea lead 6-5 going to into the final end of the match but the Japanese quartet of Yurika Yoshida, Yumi Suzuki, Chinami Yoshida, Satsuki Fujisawa did just enough to turn things around on the very last stone.
Korea's Team Minji Kim had the hammer going into the last end at the Ralston Arena, but were left with a tricky draw with the very last shot, with Japan lying three.
The win meant Team Fujisawa avenged their loss to the same opponents in the recent Pacific-Asia Curling Championships final, in which they blew a big lead in the last two ends.