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Trump impeachment inquiry, Amazon event: 5 things to know Wednesday

Editors  |  Paste BN

House to vote on release of whistleblower complaint about Trump

The House will have its first chance Wednesday to weigh in on the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry Tuesday. Democrats will bring to the floor a nonbinding resolution expressing disapproval of the administration blocking the release of the complaint filed by a whistleblower in the intelligence community. Additionally, Trump has promised to release a full transcript of the phone call with Ukraine's president, insisting he did nothing improper when discussing former Vice President Joe Biden. The Senate unanimously backed a resolution Tuesday calling for the whistleblower complaint to immediately be sent to the intelligence committees.

UK parliament set to reconvene after court ruling

Britain’s House of Commons is set to get back to business Wednesday, a day after the country's highest court ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks was illegal. The Supreme Court court found that Johnson's suspension had the effect of limiting debate by lawmakers on Britain’s impending departure from the European Union — Brexit — in violation of Parliament’s constitutional role. Johnson and Parliament have been at odds since he took power in July with the determination to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal. The court decision could have wide-ranging ramifications for Brexit and Johnson, whom opposition party leaders have called on to resign.

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Amazon hosts tech event, new Echo speakers expected

It's officially tech season. Amazon will host press at its Seattle headquarters Wednesday, where the company is expected to introduce several new Amazon Echo speakers and other products. Last year, Amazon unveiled 75 products at its hardware event, including a microwave that answered to the Alexa personal assistant, a low-priced DVR for cord-cutters and updates to the Echo line. If nothing peaks your interest, Google and Microsoft have already lined up events for October. And in case you were wondering, "Black Friday," and the start of heavy discounts for tech gear, is less than 70 days away. 

Extradition hearing for MLB All-Star arrested for soliciting a child for sex acts

An extradition hearing is scheduled Wednesday for Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vázquez after he was arrested for soliciting a child for sexual acts, according to court records. Pennsylvania State Police took Vázquez into custody last week on felony charges stemming from an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. According to a Pennsylvania criminal complaint, the MLB All-Star admitted he "had sex, but not really" with a 13-year-old girl in 2017. If convicted, Vázquez, a native of Venezuela, could face deportation.   A Pirates spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that Vázquez does have a green card but added that the team has "not communicated directly to anyone in regards to his immigration status." 

Beginning of the end: Final season of 'Modern Family' one of many shows to premiere 

The big week of premieres and returns to begin the fall TV season continues on Wednesday with a dozen notable series either debuting or coming back with new seasons after long hiatuses. On Fox, Season 2 of the surprise hit celebrity singing competition "The Masked Singer" will return and Season 1 winner T-Pain is scheduled to appear to be a guest judge and offer some inside commentary. Meanwhile, it's the beginning of the end for the long-running "Modern Family" as the 11th and final season of the comedy about a diverse extended American family will premiere on ABC. The series, which became an instant hit after premiering in 2009, has won 22 Emmy Awards, in addition to a Golden Globe for the best musical or comedy television series in 2012.

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