Gerald's Game Director Wants to Do The Shining 2 Next

Gerald's Game Director Wants to Do The Shining 2 Next

Mike Flanagan, director of Gerald's Game and Oculus, wants to make The Shining sequel novel Doctor Sleep his next Stephen King adaptatio...
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Ending the Jedi Was Never a Real Option for Director Rian Johnson

Ending the Jedi Was Never a Real Option for Director Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson explains why Luke's primary mission in Last Jedi would have never been completed. from Movie News http://ift.tt/2DrMXPW
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IITians urged to develop passenger drones to help decongest cities

IITians urged to develop passenger drones to help decongest cities

The passenger drones can help decongest the choked city roads and students from the premier IITs could do a lot in developing such tools, mi...
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J&K: Four jawans martyred, three terrorists killed, in attack on CRPF camp

J&K: Four jawans martyred, three terrorists killed, in attack on CRPF camp

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2Cf7ifn
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Security forces had input about militant attack: J&K DGP

Security forces had input about militant attack: J&K DGP

Security forces had an input about an impending militant strike in the Kashmir Valley for the past three days, Director General of Police S ...
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Pics: Suhana Khan proves she's a diva in the making

Pics: Suhana Khan proves she's a diva in the making

Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's daughter Suhana Khan is certainly making her way up the glam ladder. from Latest Entertainment News, M...
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United Nations secretary general issues 'red alert' as 2018 approaches United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. Photo: file United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. The secretary-general shared: “When I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert -- a red alert for our world.” He further said, “Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.” The only way to counter these challenges is to work together, he stressed. “As we begin 2018, I call for unity,” he said, adding “I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that.” together. “I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it.” Towards the end, the secretary-general added, “ I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado.”

United Nations secretary general issues 'red alert' as 2018 approaches United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. Photo: file United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. The secretary-general shared: “When I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert -- a red alert for our world.” He further said, “Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.” The only way to counter these challenges is to work together, he stressed. “As we begin 2018, I call for unity,” he said, adding “I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that.” together. “I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it.” Towards the end, the secretary-general added, “ I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado.”

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Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins Returns from New Movies In Theaters This Week http://ift.tt/2q34yfv
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Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich from New Movies In Theaters This Week http://ift.tt/2zSkYHd
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United Nations secretary general issues "red alert" as 2018 approaches United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. Photo: file United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. The secretary-general shared: “When I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert -- a red alert for our world.” He further said, “Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.” The only way to counter these challenges is to work together, he stressed. “As we begin 2018, I call for unity,” he said, adding “I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that.” together. “I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it.” Towards the end, the secretary-general added, “ I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado.”

United Nations secretary general issues "red alert" as 2018 approaches United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. Photo: file United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for the need of global unity in his message on New Year. The secretary-general shared: “When I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert -- a red alert for our world.” He further said, “Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.” The only way to counter these challenges is to work together, he stressed. “As we begin 2018, I call for unity,” he said, adding “I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that.” together. “I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it.” Towards the end, the secretary-general added, “ I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado.”

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January 1 marks mass birthday in Afghanistan In the absence of birth certificates or official records, many Afghans have long used the seasons or historical events to help determine their age KABUL: January 1 is Samad Alawi´s birthday. It´s also the birthday of his wife, his two sons, 32 of his friends and thousands of other Afghans -- a date chosen for convenience by a generation who do not know when they were born. In the absence of birth certificates or official records, many Afghans have long used the seasons or historical events to help determine their age. But the explosion of social media networks such as Facebook, which require users to register their birthday, and the growing demand for passports and visas have forced Afghans to pick a day -- any day. January 1 has become a common choice, although the date is more about practicality than parties. "It seemed all Afghans had birthdays on January 1," Samad Alawi, who is 43, said. Even those who know their real birth date often choose January 1 because they do not want the hassle of converting their birthday from the Solar Hijri, an Islamic calendar used only in Afghanistan and Iran. The first day of the year in Hijri usually corresponds to March 21. "When I first created my Facebook account in 2014 it was just easier to choose January 1 as my birthday from the drop down list," Alawi told AFP. "The internet was also slow and it was difficult to convert the date to a Western calendar." Even the official identity card, or Tazkira, held by most Afghans offers little official clarity, with a person´s age "determined based on physical appearance". "My Tazkira says I was three years old in 1365 in the Hijri calendar (1986). That is the year my Tazkira was issued," Abdul Hadi, who is now 34, told AFP. "There is no blank space for a date of birth in an Afghan Tazkira. How can you remember your date of birth if you don´t have one on the record?" Authorities are trying to change that. In recent years Afghan hospitals in major cities have started issuing newborn babies with birth certificates -- something previous generations lack. The government also plans to issue e-Tazkiras, or computerised national ID cards, to Afghans which would include their date of birth, if it is known. But the process has been stalled for years by political and technical problems. In the absence of official records, some educated parents resort to recording their children´s birthdays on slips of paper which are often kept in a copy of the Koran. "I hope one day all Afghans have their proper date of births so that social media doesn´t have to tell them how old they are," Alawi said

January 1 marks mass birthday in Afghanistan In the absence of birth certificates or official records, many Afghans have long used the seasons or historical events to help determine their age KABUL: January 1 is Samad Alawi´s birthday. It´s also the birthday of his wife, his two sons, 32 of his friends and thousands of other Afghans -- a date chosen for convenience by a generation who do not know when they were born. In the absence of birth certificates or official records, many Afghans have long used the seasons or historical events to help determine their age. But the explosion of social media networks such as Facebook, which require users to register their birthday, and the growing demand for passports and visas have forced Afghans to pick a day -- any day. January 1 has become a common choice, although the date is more about practicality than parties. "It seemed all Afghans had birthdays on January 1," Samad Alawi, who is 43, said. Even those who know their real birth date often choose January 1 because they do not want the hassle of converting their birthday from the Solar Hijri, an Islamic calendar used only in Afghanistan and Iran. The first day of the year in Hijri usually corresponds to March 21. "When I first created my Facebook account in 2014 it was just easier to choose January 1 as my birthday from the drop down list," Alawi told AFP. "The internet was also slow and it was difficult to convert the date to a Western calendar." Even the official identity card, or Tazkira, held by most Afghans offers little official clarity, with a person´s age "determined based on physical appearance". "My Tazkira says I was three years old in 1365 in the Hijri calendar (1986). That is the year my Tazkira was issued," Abdul Hadi, who is now 34, told AFP. "There is no blank space for a date of birth in an Afghan Tazkira. How can you remember your date of birth if you don´t have one on the record?" Authorities are trying to change that. In recent years Afghan hospitals in major cities have started issuing newborn babies with birth certificates -- something previous generations lack. The government also plans to issue e-Tazkiras, or computerised national ID cards, to Afghans which would include their date of birth, if it is known. But the process has been stalled for years by political and technical problems. In the absence of official records, some educated parents resort to recording their children´s birthdays on slips of paper which are often kept in a copy of the Koran. "I hope one day all Afghans have their proper date of births so that social media doesn´t have to tell them how old they are," Alawi said

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CM Punjab takes notice of influenza cases in Multan MULTAN: Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the spread of influenza in the province Sunday morning, a day after four people died of the viral illness in Multan.  Shehbaz directed relevant authorities to take all possible measures for the prevention of influenza and advised them to organise awareness campaign regarding the illness. Moreover, the Punjab health department informed that as many as 18 people have been diagnosed with influenza in Punjab. Influenza has claimed eight lives so far, it added.  Seasonal influenza claims four lives in Multan At least 22 people have been diagnosed with the disease that has claimed eight lives in December On Saturday, four people in Multan died after contracting seasonal influenza.  Statistics released by the Health Department for the month of December state that over 35 patients at the Nishtar Hospital were diagnosed with symptoms that include influenza, cough, joint pain, running nose, vomiting, and fever. Patients who died after contracting seasonal influenza were already suffering from another disease, said the Spokesperson of the Health Department in Multan Dr Atta-ur-Rehman. Seasonal influenza can spread through contact with the bacteria discharged by an infected person's coughing and sneezing. Pregnant women, senior citizens, and children are susceptible to the disease.

CM Punjab takes notice of influenza cases in Multan MULTAN: Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the spread of influenza in the province Sunday morning, a day after four people died of the viral illness in Multan.  Shehbaz directed relevant authorities to take all possible measures for the prevention of influenza and advised them to organise awareness campaign regarding the illness. Moreover, the Punjab health department informed that as many as 18 people have been diagnosed with influenza in Punjab. Influenza has claimed eight lives so far, it added.  Seasonal influenza claims four lives in Multan At least 22 people have been diagnosed with the disease that has claimed eight lives in December On Saturday, four people in Multan died after contracting seasonal influenza.  Statistics released by the Health Department for the month of December state that over 35 patients at the Nishtar Hospital were diagnosed with symptoms that include influenza, cough, joint pain, running nose, vomiting, and fever. Patients who died after contracting seasonal influenza were already suffering from another disease, said the Spokesperson of the Health Department in Multan Dr Atta-ur-Rehman. Seasonal influenza can spread through contact with the bacteria discharged by an infected person's coughing and sneezing. Pregnant women, senior citizens, and children are susceptible to the disease.

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Indian superstar Rajinikanth enters politics after decades of speculation Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday announced his decision to float a political party. PTI file photo NEW DELHI: A big star of India’s Tamil-language movies, Rajinikanth, said on Sunday he is launching a political party, adding drama to a heated political scene in a state with a history of film stars becoming chief ministers. Tamil Nadu, which accounts for the bulk of India’s automobile exports, has been in political limbo since the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016. Jayalalithaa was a popular actress before joining politics. Rajinikanth, called the “superstar” by his fans, enters the political scene at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is looking to make inroads into the southern state that’s been ruled by two south Indian parties for decades. Over the past five decades, Tamil Nadu has chosen between the two Dravidian parties, both of which claim anti-caste social justice and secularism as their core ideology. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not win a seat in Tamil Nadu’s 2016 elections. The next state election is due in 2021. “I’ll push for spiritual politics without caste or religious leanings,” Rajinikanth said. “If I come to power and am not able to deliver in three years, I’ll resign. Democracy is in a state of distress in the state.” In Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth often plays larger-than-life characters that project him as a saviour of the masses. The actor, who has been in a few Hindi movies, has created a frenzy among fans ahead of every release. But opponents say politics would be different. Subramanian Swamy, a BJP leader, dismissed Rajinikanth’s plunge into politics as “media hype”. Tamil Nadu, a state of more than 70 million people, is sometimes called the “Detroit of Asia”. It is home to factories of companies including BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Renault.

Indian superstar Rajinikanth enters politics after decades of speculation Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday announced his decision to float a political party. PTI file photo NEW DELHI: A big star of India’s Tamil-language movies, Rajinikanth, said on Sunday he is launching a political party, adding drama to a heated political scene in a state with a history of film stars becoming chief ministers. Tamil Nadu, which accounts for the bulk of India’s automobile exports, has been in political limbo since the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016. Jayalalithaa was a popular actress before joining politics. Rajinikanth, called the “superstar” by his fans, enters the political scene at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is looking to make inroads into the southern state that’s been ruled by two south Indian parties for decades. Over the past five decades, Tamil Nadu has chosen between the two Dravidian parties, both of which claim anti-caste social justice and secularism as their core ideology. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not win a seat in Tamil Nadu’s 2016 elections. The next state election is due in 2021. “I’ll push for spiritual politics without caste or religious leanings,” Rajinikanth said. “If I come to power and am not able to deliver in three years, I’ll resign. Democracy is in a state of distress in the state.” In Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth often plays larger-than-life characters that project him as a saviour of the masses. The actor, who has been in a few Hindi movies, has created a frenzy among fans ahead of every release. But opponents say politics would be different. Subramanian Swamy, a BJP leader, dismissed Rajinikanth’s plunge into politics as “media hype”. Tamil Nadu, a state of more than 70 million people, is sometimes called the “Detroit of Asia”. It is home to factories of companies including BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Renault.

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Pak-India NSAs met in Bangkok on Dec 26: report [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cu6WOQ style=center] Pakistan's National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua held a secret meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on December 26, according to a report in the Indian media. The Sunday Express reported that the December 26 meeting between Doval and Janjua took place at a ‘neutral venue’ in Bangkok. The report, quoting sources, stated that the date and venue of the meeting were pre-planned.  Pakistani officials are yet to comment, officially or anonymously, on the meeting.  The last time the two NSAs met, in December 2015 in Bangkok, the incident was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop-over in Lahore to attend then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding.  National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua calls on Nawaz Sharif in Lahore Matters pertaining to national security discussed in the meeting, sources say On December 28, Janjua held a five-hour long meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence. Sources said matters of national security were discussed during the meeting.  Earlier, on December 18, at a seminar in Islamabad, Janjua had said the United States is following the Indian policy on the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He had said further that the US has given India a role in Afghanistan’s political process, giving New Delhi priority over Islamabad. The Indian media report stated that the latest meeting, said to have lasted over two hours, saw a discussion on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.  Former ISI chief stresses open dialogue on national security National security policy is no more the domain of the political leadership or the security establishment only, says Islam The Pakistan Army, in a recent press conference, said India increased its ceasefire violations across the LoC in 2017. “52 civilians were martyred and 254 injured [in the 1,813 violations],” army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had said.

Pak-India NSAs met in Bangkok on Dec 26: report [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cu6WOQ style=center] Pakistan's National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua held a secret meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on December 26, according to a report in the Indian media. The Sunday Express reported that the December 26 meeting between Doval and Janjua took place at a ‘neutral venue’ in Bangkok. The report, quoting sources, stated that the date and venue of the meeting were pre-planned.  Pakistani officials are yet to comment, officially or anonymously, on the meeting.  The last time the two NSAs met, in December 2015 in Bangkok, the incident was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop-over in Lahore to attend then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding.  National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua calls on Nawaz Sharif in Lahore Matters pertaining to national security discussed in the meeting, sources say On December 28, Janjua held a five-hour long meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence. Sources said matters of national security were discussed during the meeting.  Earlier, on December 18, at a seminar in Islamabad, Janjua had said the United States is following the Indian policy on the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He had said further that the US has given India a role in Afghanistan’s political process, giving New Delhi priority over Islamabad. The Indian media report stated that the latest meeting, said to have lasted over two hours, saw a discussion on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.  Former ISI chief stresses open dialogue on national security National security policy is no more the domain of the political leadership or the security establishment only, says Islam The Pakistan Army, in a recent press conference, said India increased its ceasefire violations across the LoC in 2017. “52 civilians were martyred and 254 injured [in the 1,813 violations],” army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had said.

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Lodhran by-poll: Ali Tareen summoned on Jan 4 for scrutiny of papers PTI's candidate for NA-154, Ali Tareen, submits his nomination papers. Photo: Geo News  LODHRAN: The returning officer (RO) for NA-154 has issued summons to candidates of the Feb 12 by-election for scrutiny of their nomination papers. According to details, a total of 14 candidates are contesting the by-poll, being held after the Supreme Court-ordered disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Jahangir Tareen.  Officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan said that Shafique Arain, Sajid Inam, Nafeez Ahmed and Mirza Ali Beg’s nomination papers have already been approved. The RO said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's candidate Ameer Baloch has been summoned on January 3 and Ali on Jan 4.  The RO added that the scrutiny will conclude on Jan 5 after which objections against nomination papers can be filed until Jan 9.  Ali, the son of Jahangir Tareen, submitted his nomination papers on Thursday. Jahangir Tareen's son submits nomination papers for NA-154 Ali Tareen will be contesting on Feb 12 against the son of his father's electoral rival, Siddique Baloch, in the Lodhran by-poll Jahangir, formerly the PTI's general secretary, lost his seat earlier this month when he was disqualified by the Supreme Court for not being 'honest' and 'truthful' as per Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. Ali, a foreign-educated businessman, entrepreneur and social worker based in Lahore and Lodhran, posted on Twitter on Thursday that becoming an MNA was never part of his plan but he made the decision following the "request" of the people of Lodhran. Interestingly, Ali's main contender will be Ameer, whose father, Siddique Baloch, is Jahangir Tareen's main rival in the constituency.  In the May 2013 general elections, Siddique defeated Jahangir in NA-154 by a margin of 10,000 votes. However, Siddique was disqualified in August 2015 for possessing a fake degree and Jahangir then bagged the seat after defeating Siddique, who was later allowed to contest the by-poll, with a margin of around 35,000 votes.

Lodhran by-poll: Ali Tareen summoned on Jan 4 for scrutiny of papers PTI's candidate for NA-154, Ali Tareen, submits his nomination papers. Photo: Geo News  LODHRAN: The returning officer (RO) for NA-154 has issued summons to candidates of the Feb 12 by-election for scrutiny of their nomination papers. According to details, a total of 14 candidates are contesting the by-poll, being held after the Supreme Court-ordered disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Jahangir Tareen.  Officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan said that Shafique Arain, Sajid Inam, Nafeez Ahmed and Mirza Ali Beg’s nomination papers have already been approved. The RO said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's candidate Ameer Baloch has been summoned on January 3 and Ali on Jan 4.  The RO added that the scrutiny will conclude on Jan 5 after which objections against nomination papers can be filed until Jan 9.  Ali, the son of Jahangir Tareen, submitted his nomination papers on Thursday. Jahangir Tareen's son submits nomination papers for NA-154 Ali Tareen will be contesting on Feb 12 against the son of his father's electoral rival, Siddique Baloch, in the Lodhran by-poll Jahangir, formerly the PTI's general secretary, lost his seat earlier this month when he was disqualified by the Supreme Court for not being 'honest' and 'truthful' as per Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. Ali, a foreign-educated businessman, entrepreneur and social worker based in Lahore and Lodhran, posted on Twitter on Thursday that becoming an MNA was never part of his plan but he made the decision following the "request" of the people of Lodhran. Interestingly, Ali's main contender will be Ameer, whose father, Siddique Baloch, is Jahangir Tareen's main rival in the constituency.  In the May 2013 general elections, Siddique defeated Jahangir in NA-154 by a margin of 10,000 votes. However, Siddique was disqualified in August 2015 for possessing a fake degree and Jahangir then bagged the seat after defeating Siddique, who was later allowed to contest the by-poll, with a margin of around 35,000 votes.

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Anderson wins Abu Dhabi exhibition event ABU DHABI: Kevin Anderson won the 10th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Saturday, joining a roll of honour that includes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as its only previous winners. The South African world number 14 was in imperious form once again, beating Spain´s world number 20 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the final. Anderson played three matches in the six-man exhibition tournament and won all of them in straight sets, including wins against two players ranked higher than him -- world number five Dominic Thiem and number 10 Pablo Carreno Busta. "It feels great to win a tournament that has been played for 10 years and has such great champions in the past," said Anderson, who heads to Pune in India for the Maharashtra Open before flying down to Melbourne for the Australian Open. "I am very happy with the way I played and I am very excited about the next few weeks and obviously, the rest of 2018. "I have set big goals for myself and this is a good start towards that. I can definitely take the confidence from here to my next few tournaments. "I worked very hard during the pre-season and it was good to put that to test here. I was very pleased with the way I served and with my movements on the court." The 31-year-old Anderson, who had lost to Bautista Agut in their only previous head-to-head, started strongly by breaking the 29-year-old Spaniard in the opening game. He then held on to his extremely reliable service to close the first set in 37 minutes. The second set was closely contested for just over an hour, with Bautista Agut showing real intention by breaking Anderson in the second game to go 2-0 up. However, the 2017 US Open runner-up broke right back and the set went with serve thereafter. In the tie-breaker, Anderson just proved too strong and closed it without losing a point. Bautista Agut, who had beaten Andy Murray in a one-set match on Friday after would-be opponent Novak Djokovic withdrew injured, said: "I am happy with the way I played my three matches and I am very happy with the tournament, but Kevin served very well today and played very aggressive."

Anderson wins Abu Dhabi exhibition event ABU DHABI: Kevin Anderson won the 10th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Saturday, joining a roll of honour that includes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as its only previous winners. The South African world number 14 was in imperious form once again, beating Spain´s world number 20 Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in the final. Anderson played three matches in the six-man exhibition tournament and won all of them in straight sets, including wins against two players ranked higher than him -- world number five Dominic Thiem and number 10 Pablo Carreno Busta. "It feels great to win a tournament that has been played for 10 years and has such great champions in the past," said Anderson, who heads to Pune in India for the Maharashtra Open before flying down to Melbourne for the Australian Open. "I am very happy with the way I played and I am very excited about the next few weeks and obviously, the rest of 2018. "I have set big goals for myself and this is a good start towards that. I can definitely take the confidence from here to my next few tournaments. "I worked very hard during the pre-season and it was good to put that to test here. I was very pleased with the way I served and with my movements on the court." The 31-year-old Anderson, who had lost to Bautista Agut in their only previous head-to-head, started strongly by breaking the 29-year-old Spaniard in the opening game. He then held on to his extremely reliable service to close the first set in 37 minutes. The second set was closely contested for just over an hour, with Bautista Agut showing real intention by breaking Anderson in the second game to go 2-0 up. However, the 2017 US Open runner-up broke right back and the set went with serve thereafter. In the tie-breaker, Anderson just proved too strong and closed it without losing a point. Bautista Agut, who had beaten Andy Murray in a one-set match on Friday after would-be opponent Novak Djokovic withdrew injured, said: "I am happy with the way I played my three matches and I am very happy with the tournament, but Kevin served very well today and played very aggressive."

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Iran blocks internet on third night of protests Iranians chant slogans in support of the regime as they march towards the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  TEHRAN: Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles. Unverified videos on social media appeared to show thousands marching through the western cities of Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, while reports spread rapidly that several people had been shot dead by police in the town of Dorud. A swirl of wild rumours, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to confirm the reports. The authorities appeared to respond by cutting internet access to mobile phones, with the main networks interrupted at least in Tehran shortly before midnight, AFP reporters said. Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, the most popular social media service in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an "armed uprising". Meanwhile, the conservative Mehr news agency posted videos of protesters attacking a town hall in central Tehran, overturning a police car and burning the Iranian flag. There was chaos earlier around the capital´s university as hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the regime. But the authorities could also count on a show of strength, with hundreds of counter-demonstrators seizing control of the university entrance, chanting "Death to the seditionists". The authorities were also fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 had already been scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime supporters to the streets across the country. "We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," said Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli. 'A new plot' The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole. There were even chants in favour of the monarchy toppled by the revolution of 1979, while others criticised the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home. State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah. "The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency. Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran. "Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women´s affairs, wrote on Twitter. She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests. US President Donald Trump tweeted later that Iran´s people wanted change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever". 'Serious challenges' But officials in Iran warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days. "The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," tweeted Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. "People have the right for their voice to be heard." There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month. Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions. Some of this week´s protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorised lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts. Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging. "Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP. "Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved." Since taking power in 2013, Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow. Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate. "Solving people´s economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline cleric defeated by Rouhani in May´s presidential election.

Iran blocks internet on third night of protests Iranians chant slogans in support of the regime as they march towards the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  TEHRAN: Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles. Unverified videos on social media appeared to show thousands marching through the western cities of Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, while reports spread rapidly that several people had been shot dead by police in the town of Dorud. A swirl of wild rumours, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to confirm the reports. The authorities appeared to respond by cutting internet access to mobile phones, with the main networks interrupted at least in Tehran shortly before midnight, AFP reporters said. Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, the most popular social media service in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an "armed uprising". Meanwhile, the conservative Mehr news agency posted videos of protesters attacking a town hall in central Tehran, overturning a police car and burning the Iranian flag. There was chaos earlier around the capital´s university as hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the regime. But the authorities could also count on a show of strength, with hundreds of counter-demonstrators seizing control of the university entrance, chanting "Death to the seditionists". The authorities were also fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 had already been scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime supporters to the streets across the country. "We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," said Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli. 'A new plot' The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole. There were even chants in favour of the monarchy toppled by the revolution of 1979, while others criticised the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home. State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah. "The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency. Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran. "Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women´s affairs, wrote on Twitter. She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests. US President Donald Trump tweeted later that Iran´s people wanted change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever". 'Serious challenges' But officials in Iran warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days. "The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," tweeted Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. "People have the right for their voice to be heard." There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month. Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions. Some of this week´s protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorised lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts. Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging. "Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP. "Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved." Since taking power in 2013, Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow. Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate. "Solving people´s economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline cleric defeated by Rouhani in May´s presidential election.

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Sharif duo expected to meet Saudi crown prince, other officials in Riyadh today Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif (left) and former PM Nawaz Sharif. Photo: File  RIYADH: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia Saturday night, confirming sources' statement earlier in the day that he would be travelling to the Kingdom and would return on January 2, 2018, for the next hearing of the corruption cases against him. Nawaz — who also leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — was welcomed at Riyadh airport by Khan Hasham bin Siddique, the country's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The ex-prime minister joins his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique — both of whom are already in the Kingdom. Nawaz and Shehbaz are expected to meet the Saudi crown prince and other senior officials of the Kingdom today. Shehbaz performed Umrah on Saturday and is expected to join his brother in Riyadh today.  [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lqceUh style=center] A few days ago, Mussadiq Malik — the adviser to incumbent Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi — said Shehbaz is on a personal visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Reports, based on PML-N sources, had stated earlier that the Sharif brothers are also expected to tour London after concluding their trip to the Kingdom. Not 'necessary' that trips are political Nawaz leaves today to join Shehbaz, Saad Rafique in Saudi Arabia During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman A day prior, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah — while speaking on Geo News' talk show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath — had said the Sharif brothers will discuss the issues the Muslim Ummah and the region face at present during their visit. Nawaz and Shehbaz “will not be talking about national matters; they will be discussing issues being faced by the Muslim world and the region,” he had said. On the other hand, Sanaullah had, however, rejected the opponents' speculation that the former prime minister was trying to obtain another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). “If Saudi Arabia is getting an NRO done, then where is the other party?” he had remarked. Separately, in Quetta, Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal had downplayed the Sharif duo's trip to the Kingdom, saying Muslims gather there all year round for religious purposes. "It isn't necessary that the trips are political in nature," he said. Similarly, Climate Change Minister Senator Mushahidullah Khan had commented that Saudi Arabia's involvement in Pakistani politics is nothing new.

Sharif duo expected to meet Saudi crown prince, other officials in Riyadh today Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif (left) and former PM Nawaz Sharif. Photo: File  RIYADH: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia Saturday night, confirming sources' statement earlier in the day that he would be travelling to the Kingdom and would return on January 2, 2018, for the next hearing of the corruption cases against him. Nawaz — who also leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — was welcomed at Riyadh airport by Khan Hasham bin Siddique, the country's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The ex-prime minister joins his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique — both of whom are already in the Kingdom. Nawaz and Shehbaz are expected to meet the Saudi crown prince and other senior officials of the Kingdom today. Shehbaz performed Umrah on Saturday and is expected to join his brother in Riyadh today.  [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lqceUh style=center] A few days ago, Mussadiq Malik — the adviser to incumbent Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi — said Shehbaz is on a personal visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Reports, based on PML-N sources, had stated earlier that the Sharif brothers are also expected to tour London after concluding their trip to the Kingdom. Not 'necessary' that trips are political Nawaz leaves today to join Shehbaz, Saad Rafique in Saudi Arabia During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman A day prior, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah — while speaking on Geo News' talk show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath — had said the Sharif brothers will discuss the issues the Muslim Ummah and the region face at present during their visit. Nawaz and Shehbaz “will not be talking about national matters; they will be discussing issues being faced by the Muslim world and the region,” he had said. On the other hand, Sanaullah had, however, rejected the opponents' speculation that the former prime minister was trying to obtain another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). “If Saudi Arabia is getting an NRO done, then where is the other party?” he had remarked. Separately, in Quetta, Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal had downplayed the Sharif duo's trip to the Kingdom, saying Muslims gather there all year round for religious purposes. "It isn't necessary that the trips are political in nature," he said. Similarly, Climate Change Minister Senator Mushahidullah Khan had commented that Saudi Arabia's involvement in Pakistani politics is nothing new.

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Serena says good to be back, despite loss to Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi Serena Williams of the US serves during her Women's singles third round match against Nicole Gibbs of the US during the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Reed/Files Serena Williams was pleased to get back on the court despite losing what was her first match in almost a year — against Jelena Ostapenko — at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. It was Williams’ first outing since winning her 23rd grand slam singles title at the Australian Open in January, while pregnant, before taking time out to have the baby. But she failed to fully rediscover her rhythm and quickly dropped the first set 6-2 to the Latvian Ostapenko, the French Open champion. The 36-year-old American roared back to win the second set 6-3 before losing the decisive tiebreak 10-5 in the exhibition match. Williams admitted her mind wandered to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. — her child — during the match. “Motherhood is phenomenal. "I was a little worried out there and I looked at my camp and I was like ‘Is Olympia ok?'. But it’s really good,” she said in her on-court interview. ”I‘m excited, it’s good to be back on the court. This was such a good time for me. “It’s my first time playing in Abu Dhabi so thank you guys for the support. First matches back are always super incredibly hard, especially after having a baby but it was great, I’m glad I could do it here.” Williams has registered for the Australian Open, which begins on January 15 at Melbourne Park.

Serena says good to be back, despite loss to Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi Serena Williams of the US serves during her Women's singles third round match against Nicole Gibbs of the US during the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Reed/Files Serena Williams was pleased to get back on the court despite losing what was her first match in almost a year — against Jelena Ostapenko — at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. It was Williams’ first outing since winning her 23rd grand slam singles title at the Australian Open in January, while pregnant, before taking time out to have the baby. But she failed to fully rediscover her rhythm and quickly dropped the first set 6-2 to the Latvian Ostapenko, the French Open champion. The 36-year-old American roared back to win the second set 6-3 before losing the decisive tiebreak 10-5 in the exhibition match. Williams admitted her mind wandered to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. — her child — during the match. “Motherhood is phenomenal. "I was a little worried out there and I looked at my camp and I was like ‘Is Olympia ok?'. But it’s really good,” she said in her on-court interview. ”I‘m excited, it’s good to be back on the court. This was such a good time for me. “It’s my first time playing in Abu Dhabi so thank you guys for the support. First matches back are always super incredibly hard, especially after having a baby but it was great, I’m glad I could do it here.” Williams has registered for the Australian Open, which begins on January 15 at Melbourne Park.

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India's censors clear Padmavati, objectors vow to continue protests A worker tapes a message in support of the release of the upcoming Bollywood film "Padmavati" on its poster at a cinema hall in Kolkata, India, November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/Files MUMBAI: India’s censors cleared on Saturday the controversial, Viacom Inc-backed film Padmavati that looks into the relationship of a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler, after suggesting some modifications. The Bollywood film — which was slated to be released on December 1 — was indefinitely postponed by a studio run by a partnership of Viacom and Network 18 owned by Mumbai’s Reliance Industries. That followed a row over its historical content, in states such as Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Members of hardline Hindu fringe groups — as well as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — had criticized Padmavati, accusing its director of distorting history by showing Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji as the “lover” of Queen Padmavati, belonging to the Rajput Hindu warrior clan. “This was an unprecedented and tough situation,” Prasoon Joshi — the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) — said in an email. Joshi said he was “glad that following a balanced approach, we resolved the task at hand in a pragmatic and positive manner”. The board asked that the name of the film be changed to Padmavat to reflect that the source material was an epic poem of the same name and not from actual historical events, Joshi said. He added that the producers and director had been asked to run a disclaimer saying the movie does not “claim historical accuracy”, and that they were “completely in agreement” with the suggestions. Viacom18 Motion Pictures — the studio behind the movie — did not respond to a request for comment. It earlier said the film captured “Rajput valour, dignity and tradition in all its glory”. The film stars popular actress Deepika Padukone, who was the target of Rajput groups who were against its release. A BJP politician was ordered to apologize publicly by his party after he offered a reward for anyone who beheaded Padukone for her portrayal of Queen Padmavati. Despite the suggested modifications by a special committee, a group — that says it represents the Rajputs — vowed Saturday to keep protesting against the movie. “We had given a whole list of objections regarding the movie,” Ajit Singh — the president of Rajput Karni Sena — told Reuters. “The decision has been taken in haste and only a few cuts to the movie will not do justice to the history and legend of the person. "We will continue our protests.”

India's censors clear Padmavati, objectors vow to continue protests A worker tapes a message in support of the release of the upcoming Bollywood film "Padmavati" on its poster at a cinema hall in Kolkata, India, November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/Files MUMBAI: India’s censors cleared on Saturday the controversial, Viacom Inc-backed film Padmavati that looks into the relationship of a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler, after suggesting some modifications. The Bollywood film — which was slated to be released on December 1 — was indefinitely postponed by a studio run by a partnership of Viacom and Network 18 owned by Mumbai’s Reliance Industries. That followed a row over its historical content, in states such as Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Members of hardline Hindu fringe groups — as well as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — had criticized Padmavati, accusing its director of distorting history by showing Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji as the “lover” of Queen Padmavati, belonging to the Rajput Hindu warrior clan. “This was an unprecedented and tough situation,” Prasoon Joshi — the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) — said in an email. Joshi said he was “glad that following a balanced approach, we resolved the task at hand in a pragmatic and positive manner”. The board asked that the name of the film be changed to Padmavat to reflect that the source material was an epic poem of the same name and not from actual historical events, Joshi said. He added that the producers and director had been asked to run a disclaimer saying the movie does not “claim historical accuracy”, and that they were “completely in agreement” with the suggestions. Viacom18 Motion Pictures — the studio behind the movie — did not respond to a request for comment. It earlier said the film captured “Rajput valour, dignity and tradition in all its glory”. The film stars popular actress Deepika Padukone, who was the target of Rajput groups who were against its release. A BJP politician was ordered to apologize publicly by his party after he offered a reward for anyone who beheaded Padukone for her portrayal of Queen Padmavati. Despite the suggested modifications by a special committee, a group — that says it represents the Rajputs — vowed Saturday to keep protesting against the movie. “We had given a whole list of objections regarding the movie,” Ajit Singh — the president of Rajput Karni Sena — told Reuters. “The decision has been taken in haste and only a few cuts to the movie will not do justice to the history and legend of the person. "We will continue our protests.”

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Macron to raise human rights issues with Erdogan French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speak ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Feferberg/Pool/Files PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will raise human rights issues with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan when they meet next Friday, the Elysee said on Saturday. Erdogan's visit to France comes as he faces widespread criticism over a far-reaching crackdown against opponents linked to last year's failed coup attempt — which has seen the arrest of opposition politicians, journalists and activists — and led to accusations of human rights abuses. The meeting "will be an opportunity to discuss issues related to bilateral relations between our two countries, as well as regional issues including a particular focus on the Syria issue… but also the on the Palestinian issue," said the Elysee, adding that "the issue of human rights" would be discussed. Earlier, on Saturday, Erdogan announced he would travel to France to discuss bilateral relations in a televised speech to members of his ruling AKP party. After a year of particularly strained ties with European countries, Erdogan has recently expressed hope for a better relationship with the EU, telling Turkish journalists on Thursday, "I always say this. We must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends." Erdogan launched a huge purge of state institutions after the attempted coup in July 2016; more than 55,000 people have been arrested since then and human rights groups have regularly reported accusations of torture and abuse. Loup Bureau — a French journalist who was detained in a Turkish prison for more than seven weeks on "terror" charges — returned to France in September after Macron appealed to Erdogan for his release. Also in September, Macron — in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini — said "Turkey has objectively moved away from the European Union in recent months, with disturbing drifts that can not remain without consequence".

Macron to raise human rights issues with Erdogan French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speak ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Feferberg/Pool/Files PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will raise human rights issues with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan when they meet next Friday, the Elysee said on Saturday. Erdogan's visit to France comes as he faces widespread criticism over a far-reaching crackdown against opponents linked to last year's failed coup attempt — which has seen the arrest of opposition politicians, journalists and activists — and led to accusations of human rights abuses. The meeting "will be an opportunity to discuss issues related to bilateral relations between our two countries, as well as regional issues including a particular focus on the Syria issue… but also the on the Palestinian issue," said the Elysee, adding that "the issue of human rights" would be discussed. Earlier, on Saturday, Erdogan announced he would travel to France to discuss bilateral relations in a televised speech to members of his ruling AKP party. After a year of particularly strained ties with European countries, Erdogan has recently expressed hope for a better relationship with the EU, telling Turkish journalists on Thursday, "I always say this. We must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends." Erdogan launched a huge purge of state institutions after the attempted coup in July 2016; more than 55,000 people have been arrested since then and human rights groups have regularly reported accusations of torture and abuse. Loup Bureau — a French journalist who was detained in a Turkish prison for more than seven weeks on "terror" charges — returned to France in September after Macron appealed to Erdogan for his release. Also in September, Macron — in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini — said "Turkey has objectively moved away from the European Union in recent months, with disturbing drifts that can not remain without consequence".

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Trump on Iran: 'Oppressive regimes cannot last forever' US President Donald Trump walks with US Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Gene Gibson — the commanding officer of the Lake Worth Inlet Station — during an invitation for Coast Guard service members to play golf at Trump International Golf Course in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. AFP/Nicholas Kamm WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran Saturday, warning that the country's people want change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever." Trump posted on Twitter two clips of his speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September, wherein he took aim at the Iranian regime, which Washington has held out as its top adversary in the Middle East. "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice," he tweeted, quoting from the speech. "The world is watching!" Trump's posts — his second time addressing the subject in as many days — came as several hundred anti-government demonstrators clashed with police at the University of Tehran in a third straight day of protests. Hundreds of counter-protesters also massed outside the entrance to the university, chanting "Death to the seditionists" in a show of support for the regime. Videos shared by social media users outside Iran but which could not be independently verified claimed to show thousands marching peacefully against the regime in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan, and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator!" "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most," Trump said, again quoting from the UN speech. Trump also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as "opportunistic."

Trump on Iran: 'Oppressive regimes cannot last forever' US President Donald Trump walks with US Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Gene Gibson — the commanding officer of the Lake Worth Inlet Station — during an invitation for Coast Guard service members to play golf at Trump International Golf Course in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. AFP/Nicholas Kamm WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran Saturday, warning that the country's people want change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever." Trump posted on Twitter two clips of his speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September, wherein he took aim at the Iranian regime, which Washington has held out as its top adversary in the Middle East. "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice," he tweeted, quoting from the speech. "The world is watching!" Trump's posts — his second time addressing the subject in as many days — came as several hundred anti-government demonstrators clashed with police at the University of Tehran in a third straight day of protests. Hundreds of counter-protesters also massed outside the entrance to the university, chanting "Death to the seditionists" in a show of support for the regime. Videos shared by social media users outside Iran but which could not be independently verified claimed to show thousands marching peacefully against the regime in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan, and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator!" "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most," Trump said, again quoting from the UN speech. Trump also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as "opportunistic."

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Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump LEFT: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 28, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS; RIGHT: US President Donald Trump plays host to members of the US Coast Guard he invited to play golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "pragmatic cooperation" in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president's New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that "a constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world". According to the statement, Putin said that "mutual respect" should be "a base to develop relations" between the two countries. "This would allow us to move towards building pragmatic cooperation, orientated on the long term," the statement quoted Putin as saying. The Russian president also sent messages to other heads of state, including the leaders of former Soviet countries, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, and Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In his wishes to the Syrian leader, with whom he met during a surprise visit to Russia's Syrian air base Hmeimim earlier this month, Putin "expressed sincere hope that key changes for the better will continue in Syria in the new year". The statement added that Putin told Assad "Russia will continue to show all kind of support to the Syrian Arab Republic in order to protect its state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity". Russia became involved in the Syrian conflict in September 2015, when it began an aerial campaign in support of Assad's military. Putin ordered a partial withdrawal of the Russian army from Syria earlier this month. On ordering the partial withdrawal, Putin praised his country's armed forces for having "brilliantly accomplished" their mission which saw Syrian government forces make major gains from extremists and assorted anti-regime rebel groups. Russia does retain a military presence in Syria, however, through its naval base at Tartus, whose expansion Moscow agreed earlier this month, as well as Hmeimim, where Russian singers performed a New Year variety show Saturday. Moscow hopes to host government and rebel group representatives at the end of January in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to push both sides closer to a political settlement of a seven-year conflict which has cost more than 340,000 lives and displaced millions more.

Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump LEFT: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 28, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS; RIGHT: US President Donald Trump plays host to members of the US Coast Guard he invited to play golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "pragmatic cooperation" in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president's New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that "a constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world". According to the statement, Putin said that "mutual respect" should be "a base to develop relations" between the two countries. "This would allow us to move towards building pragmatic cooperation, orientated on the long term," the statement quoted Putin as saying. The Russian president also sent messages to other heads of state, including the leaders of former Soviet countries, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, and Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In his wishes to the Syrian leader, with whom he met during a surprise visit to Russia's Syrian air base Hmeimim earlier this month, Putin "expressed sincere hope that key changes for the better will continue in Syria in the new year". The statement added that Putin told Assad "Russia will continue to show all kind of support to the Syrian Arab Republic in order to protect its state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity". Russia became involved in the Syrian conflict in September 2015, when it began an aerial campaign in support of Assad's military. Putin ordered a partial withdrawal of the Russian army from Syria earlier this month. On ordering the partial withdrawal, Putin praised his country's armed forces for having "brilliantly accomplished" their mission which saw Syrian government forces make major gains from extremists and assorted anti-regime rebel groups. Russia does retain a military presence in Syria, however, through its naval base at Tartus, whose expansion Moscow agreed earlier this month, as well as Hmeimim, where Russian singers performed a New Year variety show Saturday. Moscow hopes to host government and rebel group representatives at the end of January in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to push both sides closer to a political settlement of a seven-year conflict which has cost more than 340,000 lives and displaced millions more.

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Karachi to celebrate New Year's Eve with ease as roads cleared of containers Police removing containers from the main roads leading towards Sea View Beach. Photo: Geo News KARACHI: Residents of Karachi will be celebrating New Year's Eve tonight without having to traverse through containers placed in and around the city's Defence locality.  The 'good news' came late Saturday night as Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal visited different areas of the city to review security measures for New Year's Eve. He noted that his visit comes on the back of citizens' complaints about difficulties they are facing after containers were allegedly placed on the roads. As is the case every year, the majority of roads surrounding Sea View Beach in Defence Housing Authority are blocked with containers to minimise the crowd at the beach.  [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lvzLCx style=center] Siyal visited various areas near the metropolis' Defence and Clifton locales, including Sea View, and mentioned — while speaking to the media — that he has ordered the removal of the said containers. Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal speaking to the media late Saturday. Photo: Geo News  "No containers will be placed on the roads before New Year's Eve," he told journalists, adding that none of the roads will be blocked with or without the use of containers. The minister, however, advised police to put into effect Section 144 to take action against those indulging in aerial firing or one-wheeling as well as those who ride motorcycles without silencers. "I, myself, will be there to monitor roads around Sea View," he commented. The minister added that being a Muslim he will not be celebrating New Year but will ensure that residents, who do wish to celebrate, are provided adequate facilities.  Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah during his visit on Sunday. Photo: Geo News Later, on Sunday morning, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited different areas of the city to monitor the ongoing development projects.  During his visit, Shah directed the South DIG to ensure no containers block access to Sea View Beach. "The citizens of Karachi are responsible and will not create problems," he asserted. 

Karachi to celebrate New Year's Eve with ease as roads cleared of containers Police removing containers from the main roads leading towards Sea View Beach. Photo: Geo News KARACHI: Residents of Karachi will be celebrating New Year's Eve tonight without having to traverse through containers placed in and around the city's Defence locality.  The 'good news' came late Saturday night as Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal visited different areas of the city to review security measures for New Year's Eve. He noted that his visit comes on the back of citizens' complaints about difficulties they are facing after containers were allegedly placed on the roads. As is the case every year, the majority of roads surrounding Sea View Beach in Defence Housing Authority are blocked with containers to minimise the crowd at the beach.  [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lvzLCx style=center] Siyal visited various areas near the metropolis' Defence and Clifton locales, including Sea View, and mentioned — while speaking to the media — that he has ordered the removal of the said containers. Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal speaking to the media late Saturday. Photo: Geo News  "No containers will be placed on the roads before New Year's Eve," he told journalists, adding that none of the roads will be blocked with or without the use of containers. The minister, however, advised police to put into effect Section 144 to take action against those indulging in aerial firing or one-wheeling as well as those who ride motorcycles without silencers. "I, myself, will be there to monitor roads around Sea View," he commented. The minister added that being a Muslim he will not be celebrating New Year but will ensure that residents, who do wish to celebrate, are provided adequate facilities.  Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah during his visit on Sunday. Photo: Geo News Later, on Sunday morning, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited different areas of the city to monitor the ongoing development projects.  During his visit, Shah directed the South DIG to ensure no containers block access to Sea View Beach. "The citizens of Karachi are responsible and will not create problems," he asserted. 

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Pakistan's girl cadets dream of taking power In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets parade at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP MARDAN: At a revolutionary school in Pakistan, Durkhanay Banuri dreams of becoming military chief.  Thirteen-year-old Durkhanay, a student at Pakistan's first ever Girls' Cadet College, established earlier this year in the deeply conservative northwest, brims with enthusiasm and confidence as she sketches out her life plan. "I want to be the army chief," she tells AFP. "Why not? When a woman can be prime minister, foreign minister and governor of the State Bank, she can also be chief of the army staff ... I will make it possible and you will see." The dreams of many women in the region were once limited to merely leaving the house. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Durkhanay Banuri, a Pakistani cadet, gives an interview to AFP at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP Durkhanay and her 70 classmates in Mardan, a town in militancy-hit Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) province roughly 110 kilometres (70 miles) from Islamabad, are aiming much higher. Cadet colleges in Pakistan, which are run by the government with officers from the military´s education branch, strive to prepare bright male students for the armed forces and civil services. Their graduates are usually given preference for selection to the army, which in Pakistan can mean their future is secured: they are likely to be granted land and will benefit from the best resources and training in the country. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets warm up at a training session at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP As a result, such colleges play an outsised role in Pakistan´s education system, which has been woefully underfunded for decades. Military might  According to a 2016 government study, a staggering 24 million Pakistani children are out of school, with a larger share of girls staying home than boys -- 12.8 million compared to 11.2 million. Hundreds of boys study at the cadet colleges across the country. But girls are still not allowed in these elite schools, with the special college at Mardan the one exception. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, a Pakistani cadet, read books in a library at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP "Such colleges can help girls qualify to be part of the armed forces, foreign service, civil services or become engineers and doctors," said retired Brigadier Naureen Satti, underscoring their importance in the long fight for equality by Pakistan´s women. In starched khaki uniforms and red berets, Durkhanay and her classmates march the parade ground, stepping to the beat of a barking drill instructor, before racing to change into physical training and martial arts kits. 'Game changer' The military would not disclose how many of its members, which a 2015 Credit Suisse report said number more than 700,000 active personnel, are currently women. But a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that at least 4,000 are now believed to be serving in the armed forces. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets parade at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP He gave no further details, and it is unclear how far the women have managed to foray from their administrative past, though some have managed to become high profile role models -- including, notably, Ayesha Farooq, who in 2013 became Pakistan´s first-ever female fighter pilot. The Girls' Cadet College principal, retired brigadier Javid Sarwar, vowed his students would be prepared for whatever they wanted to do, "including the armed forces". "I want these girls to avail their brilliance and fight injustices in society, and this is possible if they get a standard education," he told AFP, adding that plans are to induct a second batch of 80 girls from all over Pakistan by March next year. For 57,000 rupees ($540) each three-term semester, his students get room and board along with access to computers and the internet, a luxury for some Pakistani schools. It is a "game changer" in a region where religious conservative norms see many women keep some form of purdah -- confined to women-only quarters at home -- and "could only dream of coming out of their houses in the past", says college vice-principal Shama Javed. Durkhanay and her classmates are confident the college will give them a fighting chance in Pakistan. Affifa Alam, who wants to follow Farooq´s path and become an air force pilot, said the college represents a "big change". "This will help us (in) realising the dream of women´s empowerment," she said.

Pakistan's girl cadets dream of taking power In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets parade at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP MARDAN: At a revolutionary school in Pakistan, Durkhanay Banuri dreams of becoming military chief.  Thirteen-year-old Durkhanay, a student at Pakistan's first ever Girls' Cadet College, established earlier this year in the deeply conservative northwest, brims with enthusiasm and confidence as she sketches out her life plan. "I want to be the army chief," she tells AFP. "Why not? When a woman can be prime minister, foreign minister and governor of the State Bank, she can also be chief of the army staff ... I will make it possible and you will see." The dreams of many women in the region were once limited to merely leaving the house. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Durkhanay Banuri, a Pakistani cadet, gives an interview to AFP at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP Durkhanay and her 70 classmates in Mardan, a town in militancy-hit Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) province roughly 110 kilometres (70 miles) from Islamabad, are aiming much higher. Cadet colleges in Pakistan, which are run by the government with officers from the military´s education branch, strive to prepare bright male students for the armed forces and civil services. Their graduates are usually given preference for selection to the army, which in Pakistan can mean their future is secured: they are likely to be granted land and will benefit from the best resources and training in the country. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets warm up at a training session at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP As a result, such colleges play an outsised role in Pakistan´s education system, which has been woefully underfunded for decades. Military might  According to a 2016 government study, a staggering 24 million Pakistani children are out of school, with a larger share of girls staying home than boys -- 12.8 million compared to 11.2 million. Hundreds of boys study at the cadet colleges across the country. But girls are still not allowed in these elite schools, with the special college at Mardan the one exception. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, a Pakistani cadet, read books in a library at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP "Such colleges can help girls qualify to be part of the armed forces, foreign service, civil services or become engineers and doctors," said retired Brigadier Naureen Satti, underscoring their importance in the long fight for equality by Pakistan´s women. In starched khaki uniforms and red berets, Durkhanay and her classmates march the parade ground, stepping to the beat of a barking drill instructor, before racing to change into physical training and martial arts kits. 'Game changer' The military would not disclose how many of its members, which a 2015 Credit Suisse report said number more than 700,000 active personnel, are currently women. But a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that at least 4,000 are now believed to be serving in the armed forces. In this picture taken on October 25, 2017, Pakistani cadets parade at the Pakistan Army´s first Girls´ Cadet College in Mardan. Photo: AFP He gave no further details, and it is unclear how far the women have managed to foray from their administrative past, though some have managed to become high profile role models -- including, notably, Ayesha Farooq, who in 2013 became Pakistan´s first-ever female fighter pilot. The Girls' Cadet College principal, retired brigadier Javid Sarwar, vowed his students would be prepared for whatever they wanted to do, "including the armed forces". "I want these girls to avail their brilliance and fight injustices in society, and this is possible if they get a standard education," he told AFP, adding that plans are to induct a second batch of 80 girls from all over Pakistan by March next year. For 57,000 rupees ($540) each three-term semester, his students get room and board along with access to computers and the internet, a luxury for some Pakistani schools. It is a "game changer" in a region where religious conservative norms see many women keep some form of purdah -- confined to women-only quarters at home -- and "could only dream of coming out of their houses in the past", says college vice-principal Shama Javed. Durkhanay and her classmates are confident the college will give them a fighting chance in Pakistan. Affifa Alam, who wants to follow Farooq´s path and become an air force pilot, said the college represents a "big change". "This will help us (in) realising the dream of women´s empowerment," she said.

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Saint Petersburg supermarket attack suspect arrested Russian Emergency Ministry members gather outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/Files MOSCOW: Russian investigators on Saturday arrested a suspect linked to the Saint Petersburg bomb that tore through a supermarket, wounding 18 people, in an attack labelled by President Vladimir Putin as an "act of terror". Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city and Putin's hometown — was the scene of a deadly metro bombing in April and is set to host games during next year's football World Cup, raising fears of similar attacks. "The suspect is being questioned," Svetlana Petrenko — a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee — said in a statement. "The organiser and direct perpetrator who triggered an improvised explosive device on December 27 in a supermarket in Saint Petersburg was arrested during a special operation by the FSB", the security services added, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The news agency quoted a source close to the case as saying the suspect was 35-year-old Dmitry Lukyanenko — a resident of Saint Petersburg and member of the nationalist "New Age" movement. The homemade bomb had been placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. A pregnant woman was among those injured in the blast, which was claimed by Daesh. Eight people remain in hospital. Putin's 2015 decision to begin a military intervention in Syria's conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has made Russia a priority target for extremist groups. 'Killed on the spot' Wednesday's bombing came after the FSB security service said earlier this month it had prevented a terror attack on a key Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump. The city's subway was also targeted by a bomb attack in April that left 15 dead and dozens wounded, claimed by a little-known group linked to Al-Qaeda. Earlier this month, Alexander Bortnikov — the head of Russia's FSB security service — said that at least 4,500 Russians had left the country to fight with "terrorists" in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions. Putin himself warned after Wednesday's bombing that armed criminals could be "liquidated on the spot". "As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin told officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign during an awards ceremony. He said he had ordered the nation's security services to "act decisively" and "liquidate bandits on the spot" if armed militants put up resistance. Over the past 20 years, Russia fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya, leading militants from the North Caucasus to frequently target Russians through suicide bombings and other attacks.

Saint Petersburg supermarket attack suspect arrested Russian Emergency Ministry members gather outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/Files MOSCOW: Russian investigators on Saturday arrested a suspect linked to the Saint Petersburg bomb that tore through a supermarket, wounding 18 people, in an attack labelled by President Vladimir Putin as an "act of terror". Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city and Putin's hometown — was the scene of a deadly metro bombing in April and is set to host games during next year's football World Cup, raising fears of similar attacks. "The suspect is being questioned," Svetlana Petrenko — a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee — said in a statement. "The organiser and direct perpetrator who triggered an improvised explosive device on December 27 in a supermarket in Saint Petersburg was arrested during a special operation by the FSB", the security services added, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The news agency quoted a source close to the case as saying the suspect was 35-year-old Dmitry Lukyanenko — a resident of Saint Petersburg and member of the nationalist "New Age" movement. The homemade bomb had been placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. A pregnant woman was among those injured in the blast, which was claimed by Daesh. Eight people remain in hospital. Putin's 2015 decision to begin a military intervention in Syria's conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has made Russia a priority target for extremist groups. 'Killed on the spot' Wednesday's bombing came after the FSB security service said earlier this month it had prevented a terror attack on a key Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump. The city's subway was also targeted by a bomb attack in April that left 15 dead and dozens wounded, claimed by a little-known group linked to Al-Qaeda. Earlier this month, Alexander Bortnikov — the head of Russia's FSB security service — said that at least 4,500 Russians had left the country to fight with "terrorists" in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions. Putin himself warned after Wednesday's bombing that armed criminals could be "liquidated on the spot". "As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin told officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign during an awards ceremony. He said he had ordered the nation's security services to "act decisively" and "liquidate bandits on the spot" if armed militants put up resistance. Over the past 20 years, Russia fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya, leading militants from the North Caucasus to frequently target Russians through suicide bombings and other attacks.

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FDP leader wants Germany to deport minor refugees linked to crime Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner arrives for the board meeting at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Files BERLIN: Germany should be able to deport unaccompanied minor refugees who commit crimes if their families can be identified, the head of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said in remarks released ahead of publication on Sunday. FDP leader Christian Lindner spoke amid growing debate about unaccompanied refugees after the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old German girl on Wednesday by a suspect later identified by police as her former boyfriend — a 15-year-old Afghan refugee who had entered Germany in early 2016. Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that authorities should be able to deport unaccompanied minors who resisted “educational measures” and caused problems if their families could be identified in their home countries. The girl — who was killed — had filed charges days earlier accusing the Afghan teenager of harassing and threatening her after she broke up with him, police officials said. The number of unaccompanied minors among migrants entering Germany fell sharply from nearly 35,939 in 2016 and 22,255 a year earlier to 8,107 in the first 10 months of 2017, according to the German Federal Office of Migrant and Refugees (BAMF). Although seen as a domestic dispute, the stabbing case has touched a nerve as German cities tighten security for New Year’s Eve celebrations amid continued concern about possible extremist attacks and after the mass groping of women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve 2015. Many far-right commentators have seized on the stabbing and the 2015 Cologne incident to justify their anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. In Berlin, police are erecting a special safety zone for women at the mile-long street that runs from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column in the capital’s Tiergarten park. In the interview, Lindner also renewed his criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to open the doors to over a million migrants — mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan — without adequate controls. “We need a new immigrant policy in Europe that ensures that the problems are addressed,” Lindner said, noting that securing borders could help prevent right-wing populists from spreading xenophobic sentiment. “Our country will only stay tolerant and open to the world if people can rely on our legal system at any time and any place,” he said. The FDP last month withdrew from talks with Merkel’s conservatives and the environmental Greens on forming a new government after the September election. But migration will also be a key topic in upcoming coalition talks between Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Conservatives want to limit the number of refugees admitted each year to 200,000 or less; the SPD rejects any such cap.

FDP leader wants Germany to deport minor refugees linked to crime Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner arrives for the board meeting at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Files BERLIN: Germany should be able to deport unaccompanied minor refugees who commit crimes if their families can be identified, the head of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said in remarks released ahead of publication on Sunday. FDP leader Christian Lindner spoke amid growing debate about unaccompanied refugees after the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old German girl on Wednesday by a suspect later identified by police as her former boyfriend — a 15-year-old Afghan refugee who had entered Germany in early 2016. Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that authorities should be able to deport unaccompanied minors who resisted “educational measures” and caused problems if their families could be identified in their home countries. The girl — who was killed — had filed charges days earlier accusing the Afghan teenager of harassing and threatening her after she broke up with him, police officials said. The number of unaccompanied minors among migrants entering Germany fell sharply from nearly 35,939 in 2016 and 22,255 a year earlier to 8,107 in the first 10 months of 2017, according to the German Federal Office of Migrant and Refugees (BAMF). Although seen as a domestic dispute, the stabbing case has touched a nerve as German cities tighten security for New Year’s Eve celebrations amid continued concern about possible extremist attacks and after the mass groping of women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve 2015. Many far-right commentators have seized on the stabbing and the 2015 Cologne incident to justify their anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. In Berlin, police are erecting a special safety zone for women at the mile-long street that runs from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column in the capital’s Tiergarten park. In the interview, Lindner also renewed his criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to open the doors to over a million migrants — mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan — without adequate controls. “We need a new immigrant policy in Europe that ensures that the problems are addressed,” Lindner said, noting that securing borders could help prevent right-wing populists from spreading xenophobic sentiment. “Our country will only stay tolerant and open to the world if people can rely on our legal system at any time and any place,” he said. The FDP last month withdrew from talks with Merkel’s conservatives and the environmental Greens on forming a new government after the September election. But migration will also be a key topic in upcoming coalition talks between Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Conservatives want to limit the number of refugees admitted each year to 200,000 or less; the SPD rejects any such cap.

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Erica Garner, activist daughter of New York chokehold victim, dies at 27 Garner is the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality-Reuters Erica Garner, the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality, died on Saturday, a posting on her official Twitter account showed. Garner, 27, suffered a heart attack triggered by an asthma attack a week ago, family members told the New York Daily News. She became an activist against police brutality after the July 2014 death of her father, Eric Garner. The 43-year-old father of six died while New York City officers were attempting to arrest him on suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. Eric Garner also suffered from asthma. “If anything, (what) she would want us to do in memory of her is keep fighting for justice, and keep fighting for families,” said civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton in a video posted online. Sharpton became an adviser to Eric Garner’s family after his death. Erica Garner often wore clothing emblazoned with “I can’t breathe,” the words her father wheezed when an officer allegedly put him in a chokehold while trying to subdue him. That phrase became a rallying cry during protests across the United States in 2014 against police brutality, particularly against black people. The New York Police Department has banned the use of chokeholds on suspects for more than two decades, but decided against indicting Daniel Pantaleo, the white officer who sought to subdue Garner. Activists say the prosecutor in the case, a Republican, was not aggressive enough in seeking the indictment. A video of the incident went viral on social media in the days after it occurred in front of a beauty parlor in one of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island. After the grand jury’s decision, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union released a statement from Pantaleo saying he never intended to harm Eric Garner and felt bad about his death.

Erica Garner, activist daughter of New York chokehold victim, dies at 27 Garner is the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality-Reuters Erica Garner, the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality, died on Saturday, a posting on her official Twitter account showed. Garner, 27, suffered a heart attack triggered by an asthma attack a week ago, family members told the New York Daily News. She became an activist against police brutality after the July 2014 death of her father, Eric Garner. The 43-year-old father of six died while New York City officers were attempting to arrest him on suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. Eric Garner also suffered from asthma. “If anything, (what) she would want us to do in memory of her is keep fighting for justice, and keep fighting for families,” said civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton in a video posted online. Sharpton became an adviser to Eric Garner’s family after his death. Erica Garner often wore clothing emblazoned with “I can’t breathe,” the words her father wheezed when an officer allegedly put him in a chokehold while trying to subdue him. That phrase became a rallying cry during protests across the United States in 2014 against police brutality, particularly against black people. The New York Police Department has banned the use of chokeholds on suspects for more than two decades, but decided against indicting Daniel Pantaleo, the white officer who sought to subdue Garner. Activists say the prosecutor in the case, a Republican, was not aggressive enough in seeking the indictment. A video of the incident went viral on social media in the days after it occurred in front of a beauty parlor in one of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island. After the grand jury’s decision, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union released a statement from Pantaleo saying he never intended to harm Eric Garner and felt bad about his death.

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President-elect Weah says Liberia 'open for business', vows to fight corruption President-elect George Weah — of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) — attends a news conference at party headquarters, after the announcement of the presidential election results, in Monrovia, Liberia, December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon MONROVIA: Liberian President-elect George Weah on Saturday declared the country open to investment and pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, in his first speech to the nation since decisively winning an election this week. Speaking in front of reporters and aides packed into a small conference room at his party headquarters, Weah thanked his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for enabling Liberia’s first democratic transition in over 70 years but said he was determined to usher in sweeping changes. “Those looking to cheat the Liberian people through corruption will have no place,” said Weah, 51, alluding to a series of high-profile scandals that have tarnished Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year presidency. Weah, a former soccer star who became the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, scored a landslide victory over Vice President Joseph Boakai in Tuesday’s run-off. He faces sky-high expectations from his base of young supporters, who want him to fix rampant unemployment and poverty, but deep scepticism from others who see him as lacking the experience and knowledge for the job. His campaign was thin on policy specifics and he will now be faced with the messy realities of reviving an economy gutted by low prices for chief exports rubber and iron ore and dwindling foreign donor support. Weah said he would assemble his cabinet in the coming days ahead of his inauguration in mid-January and work to expand the country’s revenue base. “To investors, we say Liberia is open for business,” he said. He also urged Liberians overseas — whose remittances account for over a quarter of national GDP — to return home, calling for national unity in a country that was devastated by civil war from 1989 to 2003 and remains riven by divisions based on ethnicity, class, and political affiliation. “We are not enemies,” he said in comments addressed to his political opponents. “We welcome you with open arms as we try to build our country.” “Two days ago the world watched me cry. I did not cry because I won. I cried that many people lost their lives in the struggle for change.” The speech was closely followed across the country of five million people. “The main thing I took from him was that Liberia is open for business,” said John Davies, a 30-year-old businessman. “We need Liberians to come home and work for our country.”

President-elect Weah says Liberia 'open for business', vows to fight corruption President-elect George Weah — of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) — attends a news conference at party headquarters, after the announcement of the presidential election results, in Monrovia, Liberia, December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon MONROVIA: Liberian President-elect George Weah on Saturday declared the country open to investment and pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, in his first speech to the nation since decisively winning an election this week. Speaking in front of reporters and aides packed into a small conference room at his party headquarters, Weah thanked his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for enabling Liberia’s first democratic transition in over 70 years but said he was determined to usher in sweeping changes. “Those looking to cheat the Liberian people through corruption will have no place,” said Weah, 51, alluding to a series of high-profile scandals that have tarnished Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year presidency. Weah, a former soccer star who became the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, scored a landslide victory over Vice President Joseph Boakai in Tuesday’s run-off. He faces sky-high expectations from his base of young supporters, who want him to fix rampant unemployment and poverty, but deep scepticism from others who see him as lacking the experience and knowledge for the job. His campaign was thin on policy specifics and he will now be faced with the messy realities of reviving an economy gutted by low prices for chief exports rubber and iron ore and dwindling foreign donor support. Weah said he would assemble his cabinet in the coming days ahead of his inauguration in mid-January and work to expand the country’s revenue base. “To investors, we say Liberia is open for business,” he said. He also urged Liberians overseas — whose remittances account for over a quarter of national GDP — to return home, calling for national unity in a country that was devastated by civil war from 1989 to 2003 and remains riven by divisions based on ethnicity, class, and political affiliation. “We are not enemies,” he said in comments addressed to his political opponents. “We welcome you with open arms as we try to build our country.” “Two days ago the world watched me cry. I did not cry because I won. I cried that many people lost their lives in the struggle for change.” The speech was closely followed across the country of five million people. “The main thing I took from him was that Liberia is open for business,” said John Davies, a 30-year-old businessman. “We need Liberians to come home and work for our country.”

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Former Catalan leader urges Spain to accept secessionist election win Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont attends an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, December 23, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal/Files MADRID: Catalonia’s former leader Carles Puigdemont on Saturday urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept the results of a December 21 local election which gave a slim majority to parties favouring a split of the northeastern region from Spain. The election failed to resolve Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades with pro-independence parties taking 70 of 135 seats in the Catalan parliament but not managing to gain a majority of the popular vote. “The ballot boxes have spoken, democracy has spoken, everyone has been able to express themselves. What is Rajoy waiting for in order to accept the results?” said Puigdemont, speaking from Brussels where he is in self-imposed exile. Catalonia had demonstrated it was a democratically mature population that had won the right to become a republic, he said in a televised speech. He asked Rajoy to start negotiating with independence leaders. Puigdemont travelled to Brussels after being fired by Rajoy as leader of the wealthy region following an October declaration of independence by Catalonia. The region held an illegal referendum on secession from Spain on October 1. Rajoy called on Friday for the Catalan parliament to be formed on January 17, the first step in what is likely to be a drawn-out process to form a government. However, it is not clear how pro-independence forces will form an administration with Puigdemont in Brussels facing arrest in Spain for his role in organizing the referendum and former deputy Oriol Junqueras held in custody in a Madrid jail. Rajoy urged on Friday for a regional administration to be formed as soon as possible that would listen to all Catalans and not just half of them. The December 21 election, called by Rajoy after Madrid took over the region’s local administration, failed to deliver a strong mandate to any party and underlined how Catalan society is evenly split into pro-independence and unionist camps. Anti-independence party Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) scored most votes in the election but does not have enough seats or allies to form a government.

Former Catalan leader urges Spain to accept secessionist election win Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont attends an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, December 23, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal/Files MADRID: Catalonia’s former leader Carles Puigdemont on Saturday urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept the results of a December 21 local election which gave a slim majority to parties favouring a split of the northeastern region from Spain. The election failed to resolve Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades with pro-independence parties taking 70 of 135 seats in the Catalan parliament but not managing to gain a majority of the popular vote. “The ballot boxes have spoken, democracy has spoken, everyone has been able to express themselves. What is Rajoy waiting for in order to accept the results?” said Puigdemont, speaking from Brussels where he is in self-imposed exile. Catalonia had demonstrated it was a democratically mature population that had won the right to become a republic, he said in a televised speech. He asked Rajoy to start negotiating with independence leaders. Puigdemont travelled to Brussels after being fired by Rajoy as leader of the wealthy region following an October declaration of independence by Catalonia. The region held an illegal referendum on secession from Spain on October 1. Rajoy called on Friday for the Catalan parliament to be formed on January 17, the first step in what is likely to be a drawn-out process to form a government. However, it is not clear how pro-independence forces will form an administration with Puigdemont in Brussels facing arrest in Spain for his role in organizing the referendum and former deputy Oriol Junqueras held in custody in a Madrid jail. Rajoy urged on Friday for a regional administration to be formed as soon as possible that would listen to all Catalans and not just half of them. The December 21 election, called by Rajoy after Madrid took over the region’s local administration, failed to deliver a strong mandate to any party and underlined how Catalan society is evenly split into pro-independence and unionist camps. Anti-independence party Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) scored most votes in the election but does not have enough seats or allies to form a government.

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Turkey's Erdogan to discuss Syria with Macron in Paris: source Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference at Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/Files PARIS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Paris on January 5 to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron — with the conflict in Syria high on the agenda — a source in the French president’s office said on Saturday. Among the regional crises the two leaders plan to discuss, there would be a particular focus on Syria as well as on the Palestinian situation, the source said, weeks after US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move stirred concern among Western allies and outrage in the Arab World. Erdogan earlier this week made some of his harshest comments in weeks regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling him a terrorist and saying it was impossible for peace efforts in Syria to continue if he did not leave power. Macron, meanwhile, said recently that France would push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including al-Assad, and promised “initiatives” early next year. The Elysee source said “the question of human rights will also be raised” when Erdogan and Macron meet. A security crackdown in Turkey after a failed coup in 2016 has drawn criticism from campaigners as well as the European Union, which is overseeing Ankara’s halting bid to join the bloc.

Turkey's Erdogan to discuss Syria with Macron in Paris: source Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference at Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/Files PARIS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Paris on January 5 to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron — with the conflict in Syria high on the agenda — a source in the French president’s office said on Saturday. Among the regional crises the two leaders plan to discuss, there would be a particular focus on Syria as well as on the Palestinian situation, the source said, weeks after US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move stirred concern among Western allies and outrage in the Arab World. Erdogan earlier this week made some of his harshest comments in weeks regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling him a terrorist and saying it was impossible for peace efforts in Syria to continue if he did not leave power. Macron, meanwhile, said recently that France would push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including al-Assad, and promised “initiatives” early next year. The Elysee source said “the question of human rights will also be raised” when Erdogan and Macron meet. A security crackdown in Turkey after a failed coup in 2016 has drawn criticism from campaigners as well as the European Union, which is overseeing Ankara’s halting bid to join the bloc.

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FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off: NYT US President Donald Trump. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot WASHINGTON: Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The conversation between Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer — the diplomat — in London was a driving factor behind the FBI’s decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow’s contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported. Two months after the meeting, Australian officials passed the information that came from Papadopoulos to their American counterparts when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, according to the newspaper, which cited four current and former US and foreign officials. Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said. Papadopoulos — a Chicago-based international energy lawyer — pleaded guilty on October 30 to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials. It was the first criminal charge alleging links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The White House has played down the former aide’s campaign role, saying it was “extremely limited” and that any actions he took would have been on his own. The New York Times, however, reported that Papadopoulos helped set up a meeting between the then-candidate Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and edited the outline of Trump’s first major foreign policy speech in April 2016. The federal investigation, which is now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has hung over Trump’s White House since he took office almost a year ago. Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller’s team of being biased against the Republican president. Lawyers for Papadopoulos did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Mueller’s office declined to comment. Ty Cobb — Trump’s White House attorney — declined to comment on the New York Times report. “Out of respect for the special counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this,” he said in a statement. Mueller has charged four Trump associates, including Papadopoulos, in his investigation. Russia has denied interfering in the US election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off: NYT US President Donald Trump. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot WASHINGTON: Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The conversation between Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer — the diplomat — in London was a driving factor behind the FBI’s decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow’s contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported. Two months after the meeting, Australian officials passed the information that came from Papadopoulos to their American counterparts when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, according to the newspaper, which cited four current and former US and foreign officials. Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said. Papadopoulos — a Chicago-based international energy lawyer — pleaded guilty on October 30 to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials. It was the first criminal charge alleging links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The White House has played down the former aide’s campaign role, saying it was “extremely limited” and that any actions he took would have been on his own. The New York Times, however, reported that Papadopoulos helped set up a meeting between the then-candidate Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and edited the outline of Trump’s first major foreign policy speech in April 2016. The federal investigation, which is now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has hung over Trump’s White House since he took office almost a year ago. Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller’s team of being biased against the Republican president. Lawyers for Papadopoulos did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Mueller’s office declined to comment. Ty Cobb — Trump’s White House attorney — declined to comment on the New York Times report. “Out of respect for the special counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this,” he said in a statement. Mueller has charged four Trump associates, including Papadopoulos, in his investigation. Russia has denied interfering in the US election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

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Two demonstrators reported killed in western Iran as street protests hit Tehran An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest — driven by anger over economic problems — in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2017. AFP/STR DUBAI: Street protests hit Iran for a third day running on Saturday, spreading to the capital Tehran with crowds confronting police and attacking some state buildings, and a social media report said two demonstrators had been shot dead in a provincial town. The wave of anti-government demonstrations — prompted in part by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption — are the most serious since months of unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of the then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saturday’s protests, in fact, coincided with state-sponsored rallies staged across the Islamic Republic to mark the final suppression of the 2009 unrest by security forces, with mass pro-government events in Tehran and Mashhad. Pro-government rallies were held in some 1,200 cities and towns in all, state television reported. At the same time, anti-government demonstrations broke out anew in a string of cities and in Tehran, for the first time, where protesters confronted and stoned riot police around the main university, with pro-government crowds nearby. Videos posted on social media from the western town of Dorud showed two young men lying motionless on the ground, covered with blood, and a voiceover said they had been shot dead by riot police firing on protesters. Other protesters in the video chanted, “I will kill whoever killed my brother!” The video — like others posted during the current protest wave — could not be immediately authenticated. In an earlier footage, marchers in Dorud shouted, “Death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Social media video from Mashhad showed protesters overturning a riot police car and police motorcycles set ablaze. In Tehran, the semi-official news agency Fars said up to 70 students gathered in front of its main university and hurled rocks at police, also chanting, “Death to the dictator.” Social media footage showed riot police using clubs to disperse more protesters marching in nearby streets, and arresting some of them. The student news agency ISNA said police shut two metro stations to prevent more protesters arriving. In Tehran and Karaj west of the capital, protesters smashed windows on state buildings and set fires in the streets. Images carried by the semi-official news agency Tasnim showed burning garbage bins and smashed-up bus shelters in the street lining the university after the protests subsided. Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari — the Revolutionary Guards’ deputy security chief in Tehran — said the situation in the capital was under control and warned protesters would face “the nation’s iron fist” if unrest persisted. “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those (anti-government) slogans and burned public property and cars,” Kowsari told ISNA. The United States condemned the scores of arrests of protesters reported by Iranian media since Thursday. President Donald Trump tweeted, “The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.” State media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying in response to an earlier Trump tweet criticizing the arrests, “The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic claims by American officials and Mr. Trump.” Iranian media also reported street protests in the cities of Kashan, Arak, Ahvaz, Zanjan, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman. The elite Revolutionary Guards and its Basij militia — which spearheaded the security crackdown that crushed the protests of 2009 — said in a statement carried by state media, “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Discontent Openly political protests are rare in the Islamic Republic, where security services are omnipresent. But there is considerable discontent over high unemployment, inflation, and alleged graft. Some of the new protests have turned political over issues, including Iran’s costly involvement in regional conflicts, such as those in Syria and Iraq. Joblessness has risen and annual inflation is running at about eight percent, with shortages of some foods contributing to higher prices and hardship for many families. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli warned against attempts to promote protests via social media. “We ask people not to take part in unlawful gatherings. If they plan a gathering they should apply (for a permit),” he told the Young Journalists Club news website. On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Mashhad — one of the holiest places in Islam — to protest against high prices, shouting anti-government slogans. Police arrested 52 people, according to a judicial official. An unnamed official quoted by state broadcaster IRIB’s website said on Friday IRIB had not covered the protests so far “after being asked by relevant bodies that the issue should not be reflected on state radio and television”. Most detainees freed Most of those arrested in the last two days had been released, state television said, without giving details. “Enemy websites and foreign media continue to try to exploit economic hardships and the legitimate demands of the people in this respect to launch illegal gatherings and possible unrest,” it said. Though purely political protests are seldom seen in Iran, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. President Hassan Rouhani’s leading achievement — a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions — has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment has risen to 12.4 percent this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, up 1.4 percentage points and leaving about 3.2 million Iranians jobless.

Two demonstrators reported killed in western Iran as street protests hit Tehran An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest — driven by anger over economic problems — in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2017. AFP/STR DUBAI: Street protests hit Iran for a third day running on Saturday, spreading to the capital Tehran with crowds confronting police and attacking some state buildings, and a social media report said two demonstrators had been shot dead in a provincial town. The wave of anti-government demonstrations — prompted in part by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption — are the most serious since months of unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of the then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saturday’s protests, in fact, coincided with state-sponsored rallies staged across the Islamic Republic to mark the final suppression of the 2009 unrest by security forces, with mass pro-government events in Tehran and Mashhad. Pro-government rallies were held in some 1,200 cities and towns in all, state television reported. At the same time, anti-government demonstrations broke out anew in a string of cities and in Tehran, for the first time, where protesters confronted and stoned riot police around the main university, with pro-government crowds nearby. Videos posted on social media from the western town of Dorud showed two young men lying motionless on the ground, covered with blood, and a voiceover said they had been shot dead by riot police firing on protesters. Other protesters in the video chanted, “I will kill whoever killed my brother!” The video — like others posted during the current protest wave — could not be immediately authenticated. In an earlier footage, marchers in Dorud shouted, “Death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Social media video from Mashhad showed protesters overturning a riot police car and police motorcycles set ablaze. In Tehran, the semi-official news agency Fars said up to 70 students gathered in front of its main university and hurled rocks at police, also chanting, “Death to the dictator.” Social media footage showed riot police using clubs to disperse more protesters marching in nearby streets, and arresting some of them. The student news agency ISNA said police shut two metro stations to prevent more protesters arriving. In Tehran and Karaj west of the capital, protesters smashed windows on state buildings and set fires in the streets. Images carried by the semi-official news agency Tasnim showed burning garbage bins and smashed-up bus shelters in the street lining the university after the protests subsided. Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari — the Revolutionary Guards’ deputy security chief in Tehran — said the situation in the capital was under control and warned protesters would face “the nation’s iron fist” if unrest persisted. “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those (anti-government) slogans and burned public property and cars,” Kowsari told ISNA. The United States condemned the scores of arrests of protesters reported by Iranian media since Thursday. President Donald Trump tweeted, “The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.” State media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying in response to an earlier Trump tweet criticizing the arrests, “The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic claims by American officials and Mr. Trump.” Iranian media also reported street protests in the cities of Kashan, Arak, Ahvaz, Zanjan, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman. The elite Revolutionary Guards and its Basij militia — which spearheaded the security crackdown that crushed the protests of 2009 — said in a statement carried by state media, “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Discontent Openly political protests are rare in the Islamic Republic, where security services are omnipresent. But there is considerable discontent over high unemployment, inflation, and alleged graft. Some of the new protests have turned political over issues, including Iran’s costly involvement in regional conflicts, such as those in Syria and Iraq. Joblessness has risen and annual inflation is running at about eight percent, with shortages of some foods contributing to higher prices and hardship for many families. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli warned against attempts to promote protests via social media. “We ask people not to take part in unlawful gatherings. If they plan a gathering they should apply (for a permit),” he told the Young Journalists Club news website. On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Mashhad — one of the holiest places in Islam — to protest against high prices, shouting anti-government slogans. Police arrested 52 people, according to a judicial official. An unnamed official quoted by state broadcaster IRIB’s website said on Friday IRIB had not covered the protests so far “after being asked by relevant bodies that the issue should not be reflected on state radio and television”. Most detainees freed Most of those arrested in the last two days had been released, state television said, without giving details. “Enemy websites and foreign media continue to try to exploit economic hardships and the legitimate demands of the people in this respect to launch illegal gatherings and possible unrest,” it said. Though purely political protests are seldom seen in Iran, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. President Hassan Rouhani’s leading achievement — a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions — has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment has risen to 12.4 percent this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, up 1.4 percentage points and leaving about 3.2 million Iranians jobless.

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Traffic collisions in Karachi, Jauharabad claim five lives File Photo KARACHI: At least one person died and two others were injured late Saturday night here in the city in two separate traffic accidents, rescue sources said. One man died when a truck rammed into a motorcycle on Mai Kolachi Road, an official from the emergency response team disclosed. Another two were wounded in a traffic collision near Aisha Bawany School, on Shahrah-e-Faisal, late night, authorities stated. One dead, two injured in separate traffic accidents in Karachi Body recovered from Orangi A dead body was recovered from a vehicle in Khairabad locale of the metropolis' Orangi Town, rescue officers stated. It is, however, yet to be identified and cause of death be determined. Four dead in Jauharabad A traffic accident left four people dead — two of whom were women — near the College Crossing area here in the city, rescue officials said. However, no further details were provided nor the identities of the deceased.

Traffic collisions in Karachi, Jauharabad claim five lives File Photo KARACHI: At least one person died and two others were injured late Saturday night here in the city in two separate traffic accidents, rescue sources said. One man died when a truck rammed into a motorcycle on Mai Kolachi Road, an official from the emergency response team disclosed. Another two were wounded in a traffic collision near Aisha Bawany School, on Shahrah-e-Faisal, late night, authorities stated. One dead, two injured in separate traffic accidents in Karachi Body recovered from Orangi A dead body was recovered from a vehicle in Khairabad locale of the metropolis' Orangi Town, rescue officers stated. It is, however, yet to be identified and cause of death be determined. Four dead in Jauharabad A traffic accident left four people dead — two of whom were women — near the College Crossing area here in the city, rescue officials said. However, no further details were provided nor the identities of the deceased.

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Police detain 16 suspects, including wanted criminal, in Hafizabad raid File Photo HAFIZABAD: At least 16 suspects were taken into custody late Sunday night following search operations carried out by police in various areas around the city, including Pindi Bhattian, Jalalpur, and Sukheki, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) said. The detainees included one wanted criminal as well, officials noted. Authorities added that weapons and contraband were recovered from the arrestees, against whom respective cases were registered.

Police detain 16 suspects, including wanted criminal, in Hafizabad raid File Photo HAFIZABAD: At least 16 suspects were taken into custody late Sunday night following search operations carried out by police in various areas around the city, including Pindi Bhattian, Jalalpur, and Sukheki, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) said. The detainees included one wanted criminal as well, officials noted. Authorities added that weapons and contraband were recovered from the arrestees, against whom respective cases were registered.

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Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

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Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

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Ibrahimovic sidelined for a month with knee injury Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts during the Premier League match against Burnley, in Manchester's Old Trafford, Britain, December 26, 2017. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/Files Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be sidelined for a month with a knee injury, manager Jose Mourinho said. The former Sweden international was not in Saturday’s squad as Mourinho’s men were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Southampton at Old Trafford — United’s third successive draw. Ibrahimovic was re-signed by United in the summer, having departed the club at the end of last season, and overcame meniscus and cruciate ligament damage to return to action in late November. However, Mourinho — who saw Romelu Lukaku carried off on a stretcher during Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Southampton — said Ibrahimovic is set for another injury layoff. “We lost Ibrahimovic for a month, he stops his run to recovery, he has been running for many months, what he needs is to play,” Mourinho said.

Ibrahimovic sidelined for a month with knee injury Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts during the Premier League match against Burnley, in Manchester's Old Trafford, Britain, December 26, 2017. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/Files Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be sidelined for a month with a knee injury, manager Jose Mourinho said. The former Sweden international was not in Saturday’s squad as Mourinho’s men were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Southampton at Old Trafford — United’s third successive draw. Ibrahimovic was re-signed by United in the summer, having departed the club at the end of last season, and overcame meniscus and cruciate ligament damage to return to action in late November. However, Mourinho — who saw Romelu Lukaku carried off on a stretcher during Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Southampton — said Ibrahimovic is set for another injury layoff. “We lost Ibrahimovic for a month, he stops his run to recovery, he has been running for many months, what he needs is to play,” Mourinho said.

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Schaeuble does not rule out minority government for Germany CDU's Wolfgang Schaeuble — the president of the German lower house of Parliament Bundestag — is seen during a session in Berlin, Germany, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/Files BERLIN: Former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and Social Democrats on Saturday to quickly form a new government, but said he could not rule out a minority government if no deal is reached. Germany’s constitution does not favour a minority government but that remains an option, Schaeuble — a leading conservative who is now president of the Bundestag (lower house of the German Parliament) — told Berlin’s Tagesspiegel newspaper. A deal between Merkel’s conservative camp (Union) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is her best chance of securing a fourth term in office. But Merkel’s possible coalition partners are angling for concessions beforehand. “A stable alliance between the Union and the SPD would be preferable,” Schaeuble said, adding that the chancellor could still form a minority government. “It would work one way or another,” he said when asked about that possibility. Coalition talks should be completed “sooner rather than later”, he said, noting that the Bundestag was not fully capable of action until a government had been formed. He noted that President Frank-Walter Steinmeier — who stepped in after Merkel’s talks with two smaller parties collapsed in November — had urged conservatives and the SPD to reach an agreement as soon as possible, and said Merkel and other politicians had supported that call. Horst Seehofer — the head of the CSU Bavarian sister party of Merkel’s conservatives — told DPA news agency a new “grand coalition” should be completed by Easter, which falls on April 1 in 2018. Seehofer said he favoured new elections over a minority government. Merkel's stature waning A new poll conducted for Die Welt newspaper showed waning support for Merkel, who has been unable to form a new government three months after national elections. Her talks on forming a three-way coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats fell apart in November. The poll showed that 46 percent wished Merkel would resign immediately as chancellor, with an additional 17 percent of those polled saying that she should quit if the coalition talks with the SPD also failed. A separate poll conducted for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 33 percent of Germans trusted Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), followed by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere with 32 percent, if Merkel resigned. FDP leader Christian Lindner told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Germany’s political system was in the middle of a major transition, and many conservatives also favoured a “renewal”. Simone Peter, one of the co-leaders of the Greens, told the Funke newspaper chain she hoped a stable new government could be formed, and that the new elections should be “the absolute last resort”. She said the Greens remained open to dialogue if Merkel’s talks with the SPD failed. SPD members on Saturday rejected a call by the CSU to raise military spending that could strain exploratory talks about a coalition that are due to start on January 7. A draft CSU resolution seen by Reuters on Friday called for military spending to reach NATO’s target of two percent of economic output and rejected the idea of an “ever closer” European Union backed by SPD leader Martin Schulz. SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner said on Twitter that his party was focused on spending for families, education, health care and education.

Schaeuble does not rule out minority government for Germany CDU's Wolfgang Schaeuble — the president of the German lower house of Parliament Bundestag — is seen during a session in Berlin, Germany, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/Files BERLIN: Former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and Social Democrats on Saturday to quickly form a new government, but said he could not rule out a minority government if no deal is reached. Germany’s constitution does not favour a minority government but that remains an option, Schaeuble — a leading conservative who is now president of the Bundestag (lower house of the German Parliament) — told Berlin’s Tagesspiegel newspaper. A deal between Merkel’s conservative camp (Union) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is her best chance of securing a fourth term in office. But Merkel’s possible coalition partners are angling for concessions beforehand. “A stable alliance between the Union and the SPD would be preferable,” Schaeuble said, adding that the chancellor could still form a minority government. “It would work one way or another,” he said when asked about that possibility. Coalition talks should be completed “sooner rather than later”, he said, noting that the Bundestag was not fully capable of action until a government had been formed. He noted that President Frank-Walter Steinmeier — who stepped in after Merkel’s talks with two smaller parties collapsed in November — had urged conservatives and the SPD to reach an agreement as soon as possible, and said Merkel and other politicians had supported that call. Horst Seehofer — the head of the CSU Bavarian sister party of Merkel’s conservatives — told DPA news agency a new “grand coalition” should be completed by Easter, which falls on April 1 in 2018. Seehofer said he favoured new elections over a minority government. Merkel's stature waning A new poll conducted for Die Welt newspaper showed waning support for Merkel, who has been unable to form a new government three months after national elections. Her talks on forming a three-way coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats fell apart in November. The poll showed that 46 percent wished Merkel would resign immediately as chancellor, with an additional 17 percent of those polled saying that she should quit if the coalition talks with the SPD also failed. A separate poll conducted for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 33 percent of Germans trusted Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), followed by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere with 32 percent, if Merkel resigned. FDP leader Christian Lindner told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Germany’s political system was in the middle of a major transition, and many conservatives also favoured a “renewal”. Simone Peter, one of the co-leaders of the Greens, told the Funke newspaper chain she hoped a stable new government could be formed, and that the new elections should be “the absolute last resort”. She said the Greens remained open to dialogue if Merkel’s talks with the SPD failed. SPD members on Saturday rejected a call by the CSU to raise military spending that could strain exploratory talks about a coalition that are due to start on January 7. A draft CSU resolution seen by Reuters on Friday called for military spending to reach NATO’s target of two percent of economic output and rejected the idea of an “ever closer” European Union backed by SPD leader Martin Schulz. SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner said on Twitter that his party was focused on spending for families, education, health care and education.

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Online Tatkal booking software under CBI scanner

Online Tatkal booking software under CBI scanner

A number of online software, being used allegedly by travel agents to trick the Tatkal booking systems, have come under the scanner of the C...
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Muslim women can now travel for Haj without male guardian: PM Modi

Muslim women can now travel for Haj without male guardian: PM Modi

Terming the policy of allowing Muslim women to perform Haj only in the company of a male guardian as "injustice", Prime Minister N...
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Move from 'Positive India' to 'Progressive India,' says PM Modi in 2017's final Mann ki Baat

Move from 'Positive India' to 'Progressive India,' says PM Modi in 2017's final Mann ki Baat

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2C3g7Vr
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Muslim women have found way to free themselves from practice of triple talaq: PM Modi

Muslim women have found way to free themselves from practice of triple talaq: PM Modi

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2q57tEc
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CBSE class X, XII board exam likely to start from March 5

CBSE class X, XII board exam likely to start from March 5

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2q1uDeB
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After phone call with Amit Shah, Nitin Patel ready to take charge of ministries

After phone call with Amit Shah, Nitin Patel ready to take charge of ministries

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2zRY8zi
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Jawan martyred as Pakistan violates ceasefire in J&K

Jawan martyred as Pakistan violates ceasefire in J&K

Pakistani troops again violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, killi...
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China is 'out-competing' us, Rahul Gandhi tells PM Modi

China is 'out-competing' us, Rahul Gandhi tells PM Modi

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2CgUKUV
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After the giddy early years of the millennium, a sense of grown-upness to 2018

After the giddy early years of the millennium, a sense of grown-upness to 2018

There is a sense of grown-upness even in the new economy: the heady days of startups give way to investors becoming choosy and cautious. f...
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How more and more Indian students and professionals are choosing Canada over the US

How more and more Indian students and professionals are choosing Canada over the US

Though the 1,86,267 Indian students enrolled in US campuses in 2016-17 still outnumber the 1,00,000 studying in Canada, the latter is showin...
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Stars will again rise in southern politics in 2018

Stars will again rise in southern politics in 2018

But with DMK chief M Karunanidhi no longer active in the party’s affairs owing to old age — he is 93 — new political aspirants are hoping to...
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Once a Red Corridor, Jharkhand hamlet is now set for green drive

Once a Red Corridor, Jharkhand hamlet is now set for green drive

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2q3ihmk
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Need to bring change from the base: Superstar Rajinikanth's key quotes

Need to bring change from the base: Superstar Rajinikanth's key quotes

Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday created a flurry of excitement and anticipation among supporters, when he finally made a long-awaited announ...
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MP warns govt about pitfalls of digi currency

MP warns govt about pitfalls of digi currency

Udasi wrote to PMO a couple of months back from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://i...
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Assam citizens list to give BJP an edge

Assam citizens list to give BJP an edge

NRC Will Help It Act On Promise Of Delineating Genuine Citizens from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Ti...
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J&K: One jawan martyred, two injured, in terrorist attack on CRPF camp

J&K: One jawan martyred, two injured, in terrorist attack on CRPF camp

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2Cp5jEw
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Rajkummar, Patralekhaa groove to 'Jumma Chumma'

Rajkummar, Patralekhaa groove to 'Jumma Chumma'

Recently, the actor posted a video of them grooving on Amitabh Bachchan's 'Jumma Chumma' song from the film 'Hum'. fro...
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Pic: Katrina Kaif soaks in some sun and sand on the beach

Pic: Katrina Kaif soaks in some sun and sand on the beach

It’s that time of the year to bid goodbye to the year gone by with a smile and ring in the New Year on an exotic vacation. from Latest Ent...
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Pic: Hrithik spotted with Sussanne and kids

Pic: Hrithik spotted with Sussanne and kids

Recently, the actor was spotted with Sussane and their kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan at the airport. from Latest Entertainment News, Movies Ne...
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10 Bollywood actresses who made a style statement in 2017

10 Bollywood actresses who made a style statement in 2017

The year 2017 has undoubtedly been one of the most glamourous years we have had. Before we wrap up the year, let us take a look at 10 Bollyw...
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Top Headlines: Gossip and celebrity updates for December 2017

Top Headlines: Gossip and celebrity updates for December 2017

Ending a year full of controversies related to films, the death of many veterans to celebrity couples turning parents and grand B-town weddi...
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Movie Review: Jumanji

Movie Review: Jumanji

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2pQURjS
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Style files 2017: 10 actresses who left a mark

Style files 2017: 10 actresses who left a mark

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2EhXizj
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Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast December 31, 2017 at 07:20AM BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast December 31, 2017 at 07:20AM BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

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Pak-India NSAs met in Bangkok on Dec 26: report [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cu6WOQ style=center] Pakistan's National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua held a secret meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on December 26, according to a report in the Indian media. The Sunday Express reported that the December 26 meeting between Doval and Janjua took place at a ‘neutral venue’ in Bangkok. The report, quoting sources, stated that the date and venue of the meeting were pre-planned.  Pakistani officials are yet to comment, officially or anonymously, on the meeting.  The last time the two NSAs met, in December 2015 in Bangkok, the incident was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop-over in Lahore to attend then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding.  National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua calls on Nawaz Sharif in Lahore Matters pertaining to national security discussed in the meeting, sources say On December 28, Janjua held a five-hour long meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence. Sources said matters of national security were discussed during the meeting.  Earlier, on December 18, at a seminar in Islamabad, Janjua had said the United States is following the Indian policy on the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He had said further that the US has given India a role in Afghanistan’s political process, giving New Delhi priority over Islamabad. The Indian media report stated that the latest meeting, said to have lasted over two hours, saw a discussion on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.  Former ISI chief stresses open dialogue on national security National security policy is no more the domain of the political leadership or the security establishment only, says Islam The Pakistan Army, in a recent press conference, said India increased its ceasefire violations across the LoC in 2017. “52 civilians were martyred and 254 injured [in the 1,813 violations],” army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had said.

Pak-India NSAs met in Bangkok on Dec 26: report [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cu6WOQ style=center] Pakistan's National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua held a secret meeting with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on December 26, according to a report in the Indian media. The Sunday Express reported that the December 26 meeting between Doval and Janjua took place at a ‘neutral venue’ in Bangkok. The report, quoting sources, stated that the date and venue of the meeting were pre-planned.  Pakistani officials are yet to comment, officially or anonymously, on the meeting.  The last time the two NSAs met, in December 2015 in Bangkok, the incident was followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop-over in Lahore to attend then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding.  National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua calls on Nawaz Sharif in Lahore Matters pertaining to national security discussed in the meeting, sources say On December 28, Janjua held a five-hour long meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence. Sources said matters of national security were discussed during the meeting.  Earlier, on December 18, at a seminar in Islamabad, Janjua had said the United States is following the Indian policy on the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He had said further that the US has given India a role in Afghanistan’s political process, giving New Delhi priority over Islamabad. The Indian media report stated that the latest meeting, said to have lasted over two hours, saw a discussion on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.  Former ISI chief stresses open dialogue on national security National security policy is no more the domain of the political leadership or the security establishment only, says Islam The Pakistan Army, in a recent press conference, said India increased its ceasefire violations across the LoC in 2017. “52 civilians were martyred and 254 injured [in the 1,813 violations],” army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had said.

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Palestine recalls ambassador for attending DPC rally Palestinian ambassador Walid Abu Ali and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed at the rally. Photo: DPC ISLAMABAD: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday night called back his ambassador in Pakistan for violating diplomatic norms by attending a mass rally held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday to protest the US decision of recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Walid Abu Ali was directed to immediately return to Ramallah for his unauthorised presence in the rally. The spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants issued a statement saying, “The ministry considers the participation of our Ambassador in Pakistan [Walid Abu Ali] in a mass solidarity rally with Jerusalem held in Rawalpindi on Friday and in the presence of people accused of terrorism as an unintended mistake but not justified. Accordingly, the ministry decided directly, from the sovereignty of the President of the State of Palestine, to summon the Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan immediately.” Speculations were rife at the Diplomatic Enclave this weekend, with rumors doing the rounds that the Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan, Walid Abu Ali, was being recalled after he was seen rubbing shoulders with the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, declared as a terrorist by the United Nations, at the rally organised by Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) to protest the US decision on Jerusalem. While the Embassy of Palestine was maintaining silence in Islamabad, and there was jubilation in Delhi over its diplomatic success, sadly, the Foreign Office spokesman was quite evasive when asked if the reports circulating from New Delhi were correct, by simply responding, “Not to the best of my knowledge”. Demands for the recall of Walid Abu Ali started in New Delhi on Friday, where the Modi government was greatly angered with such a display of solidarity by the highest Palestinian diplomat in Islamabad. Initially, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs first summoned the Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Abu Al Haija to lodge protest. It is rather unusual in diplomacy that one ambassador is summoned to protest about his counterpart in another country. “We are taking up the matter strongly with the Palestinian ambassador in New Delhi and with the Palestinian authorities,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told the media. The spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants further stressed that the State of Palestine was keen to maintain good relations with the friendly Republic of India against the war and in dealing with terrorist threats. “Our two countries (India and Palestine) are real partners in the war against terror. “At the same time, the State of Palestine appreciates India’s support for and its tireless efforts to end the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine, on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital the most recent of which was the honorable position of India in the UNGA resolution last week”, the Palestinian statement added.

Palestine recalls ambassador for attending DPC rally Palestinian ambassador Walid Abu Ali and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed at the rally. Photo: DPC ISLAMABAD: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday night called back his ambassador in Pakistan for violating diplomatic norms by attending a mass rally held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday to protest the US decision of recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Walid Abu Ali was directed to immediately return to Ramallah for his unauthorised presence in the rally. The spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants issued a statement saying, “The ministry considers the participation of our Ambassador in Pakistan [Walid Abu Ali] in a mass solidarity rally with Jerusalem held in Rawalpindi on Friday and in the presence of people accused of terrorism as an unintended mistake but not justified. Accordingly, the ministry decided directly, from the sovereignty of the President of the State of Palestine, to summon the Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan immediately.” Speculations were rife at the Diplomatic Enclave this weekend, with rumors doing the rounds that the Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan, Walid Abu Ali, was being recalled after he was seen rubbing shoulders with the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, declared as a terrorist by the United Nations, at the rally organised by Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) to protest the US decision on Jerusalem. While the Embassy of Palestine was maintaining silence in Islamabad, and there was jubilation in Delhi over its diplomatic success, sadly, the Foreign Office spokesman was quite evasive when asked if the reports circulating from New Delhi were correct, by simply responding, “Not to the best of my knowledge”. Demands for the recall of Walid Abu Ali started in New Delhi on Friday, where the Modi government was greatly angered with such a display of solidarity by the highest Palestinian diplomat in Islamabad. Initially, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs first summoned the Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Abu Al Haija to lodge protest. It is rather unusual in diplomacy that one ambassador is summoned to protest about his counterpart in another country. “We are taking up the matter strongly with the Palestinian ambassador in New Delhi and with the Palestinian authorities,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told the media. The spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants further stressed that the State of Palestine was keen to maintain good relations with the friendly Republic of India against the war and in dealing with terrorist threats. “Our two countries (India and Palestine) are real partners in the war against terror. “At the same time, the State of Palestine appreciates India’s support for and its tireless efforts to end the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine, on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital the most recent of which was the honorable position of India in the UNGA resolution last week”, the Palestinian statement added.

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Iran blocks internet on third night of protests Iranians chant slogans in support of the regime as they march towards the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  TEHRAN: Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles. Unverified videos on social media appeared to show thousands marching through the western cities of Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, while reports spread rapidly that several people had been shot dead by police in the town of Dorud. A swirl of wild rumours, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to confirm the reports. The authorities appeared to respond by cutting internet access to mobile phones, with the main networks interrupted at least in Tehran shortly before midnight, AFP reporters said. Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, the most popular social media service in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an "armed uprising". Meanwhile, the conservative Mehr news agency posted videos of protesters attacking a town hall in central Tehran, overturning a police car and burning the Iranian flag. There was chaos earlier around the capital´s university as hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the regime. But the authorities could also count on a show of strength, with hundreds of counter-demonstrators seizing control of the university entrance, chanting "Death to the seditionists". The authorities were also fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 had already been scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime supporters to the streets across the country. "We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," said Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli. 'A new plot' The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole. There were even chants in favour of the monarchy toppled by the revolution of 1979, while others criticised the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home. State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah. "The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency. Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran. "Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women´s affairs, wrote on Twitter. She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests. US President Donald Trump tweeted later that Iran´s people wanted change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever". 'Serious challenges' But officials in Iran warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days. "The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," tweeted Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. "People have the right for their voice to be heard." There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month. Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions. Some of this week´s protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorised lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts. Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging. "Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP. "Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved." Since taking power in 2013, Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow. Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate. "Solving people´s economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline cleric defeated by Rouhani in May´s presidential election.

Iran blocks internet on third night of protests Iranians chant slogans in support of the regime as they march towards the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  TEHRAN: Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles. Unverified videos on social media appeared to show thousands marching through the western cities of Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz, while reports spread rapidly that several people had been shot dead by police in the town of Dorud. A swirl of wild rumours, combined with travel restrictions and a near-total media blackout from official agencies, made it difficult to confirm the reports. The authorities appeared to respond by cutting internet access to mobile phones, with the main networks interrupted at least in Tehran shortly before midnight, AFP reporters said. Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, the most popular social media service in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an "armed uprising". Meanwhile, the conservative Mehr news agency posted videos of protesters attacking a town hall in central Tehran, overturning a police car and burning the Iranian flag. There was chaos earlier around the capital´s university as hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the regime. But the authorities could also count on a show of strength, with hundreds of counter-demonstrators seizing control of the university entrance, chanting "Death to the seditionists". The authorities were also fortunate that annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 had already been scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime supporters to the streets across the country. "We urge all those who receive these calls to protest not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens," said Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli. 'A new plot' The protests began in the second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole. There were even chants in favour of the monarchy toppled by the revolution of 1979, while others criticised the regime for supporting the Palestinians and other regional movements rather than focusing on problems at home. State news channel IRINN said it had been banned from covering the protests that spread to towns and cities including Qom and Kermanshah. "The enemy wants once again to create a new plot and use social media and economic issues to foment a new sedition," Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent cleric, told a crowd in Tehran, according to the conservative Fars news agency. Other officials also pointed the blame outside Iran. "Although people have a right to protest, protesters must know how they are being directed," Massoumeh Ebtekar, vice president in charge of women´s affairs, wrote on Twitter. She posted images from Twitter accounts based in the United States and Saudi Arabia, voicing support for the Mashhad protests. US President Donald Trump tweeted later that Iran´s people wanted change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever". 'Serious challenges' But officials in Iran warned against dismissing the public anger seen in recent days. "The country is facing serious challenges with unemployment, high prices, corruption, lack of water, social gap, unbalanced distribution of budget," tweeted Hesamoddin Ashena, cultural adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. "People have the right for their voice to be heard." There has been particular anger at welfare cuts and fuel price increases in the latest budget announced earlier this month. Since the 2009 protests were ruthlessly put down by the Revolutionary Guards, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of pressing for change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, often on a sector-by-sector basis as bus drivers or teachers or workers from specific factories protest against unpaid wages or poor conditions. Some of this week´s protests were directed against financial scandals linked to unauthorised lending institutions which collapsed with the loss of hundreds of thousands of accounts. Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of reformist media network Nazar that broke the news of the Mashhad protests, said they were more focused on the economy than those in 2009, which were sparked by allegations of election-rigging. "Then, they were middle-class and their slogans went beyond economic matters to things like cultural liberties," he told AFP. "Today, the concerns are economic. There are people who have lost their life savings. They will protest until their problems are resolved." Since taking power in 2013, Rouhani has sought to clean up the banking sector and kickstart the economy, but many say progress has been too slow. Aware that economic problems can quickly spiral into political chaos, officials from across the political spectrum have called for greater efforts to tackle poverty and the 12 percent unemployment rate. "Solving people´s economic problems is the chief priority in the country," tweeted Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline cleric defeated by Rouhani in May´s presidential election.

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Macron to raise human rights issues with Erdogan French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speak ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Feferberg/Pool/Files PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will raise human rights issues with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan when they meet next Friday, the Elysee said on Saturday. Erdogan's visit to France comes as he faces widespread criticism over a far-reaching crackdown against opponents linked to last year's failed coup attempt — which has seen the arrest of opposition politicians, journalists and activists — and led to accusations of human rights abuses. The meeting "will be an opportunity to discuss issues related to bilateral relations between our two countries, as well as regional issues including a particular focus on the Syria issue… but also the on the Palestinian issue," said the Elysee, adding that "the issue of human rights" would be discussed. Earlier, on Saturday, Erdogan announced he would travel to France to discuss bilateral relations in a televised speech to members of his ruling AKP party. After a year of particularly strained ties with European countries, Erdogan has recently expressed hope for a better relationship with the EU, telling Turkish journalists on Thursday, "I always say this. We must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends." Erdogan launched a huge purge of state institutions after the attempted coup in July 2016; more than 55,000 people have been arrested since then and human rights groups have regularly reported accusations of torture and abuse. Loup Bureau — a French journalist who was detained in a Turkish prison for more than seven weeks on "terror" charges — returned to France in September after Macron appealed to Erdogan for his release. Also in September, Macron — in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini — said "Turkey has objectively moved away from the European Union in recent months, with disturbing drifts that can not remain without consequence".

Macron to raise human rights issues with Erdogan French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speak ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Feferberg/Pool/Files PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will raise human rights issues with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan when they meet next Friday, the Elysee said on Saturday. Erdogan's visit to France comes as he faces widespread criticism over a far-reaching crackdown against opponents linked to last year's failed coup attempt — which has seen the arrest of opposition politicians, journalists and activists — and led to accusations of human rights abuses. The meeting "will be an opportunity to discuss issues related to bilateral relations between our two countries, as well as regional issues including a particular focus on the Syria issue… but also the on the Palestinian issue," said the Elysee, adding that "the issue of human rights" would be discussed. Earlier, on Saturday, Erdogan announced he would travel to France to discuss bilateral relations in a televised speech to members of his ruling AKP party. After a year of particularly strained ties with European countries, Erdogan has recently expressed hope for a better relationship with the EU, telling Turkish journalists on Thursday, "I always say this. We must reduce the number of enemies and increase the number of friends." Erdogan launched a huge purge of state institutions after the attempted coup in July 2016; more than 55,000 people have been arrested since then and human rights groups have regularly reported accusations of torture and abuse. Loup Bureau — a French journalist who was detained in a Turkish prison for more than seven weeks on "terror" charges — returned to France in September after Macron appealed to Erdogan for his release. Also in September, Macron — in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini — said "Turkey has objectively moved away from the European Union in recent months, with disturbing drifts that can not remain without consequence".

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Trump on Iran: 'Oppressive regimes cannot last forever' US President Donald Trump walks with US Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Gene Gibson — the commanding officer of the Lake Worth Inlet Station — during an invitation for Coast Guard service members to play golf at Trump International Golf Course in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. AFP/Nicholas Kamm WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran Saturday, warning that the country's people want change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever." Trump posted on Twitter two clips of his speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September, wherein he took aim at the Iranian regime, which Washington has held out as its top adversary in the Middle East. "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice," he tweeted, quoting from the speech. "The world is watching!" Trump's posts — his second time addressing the subject in as many days — came as several hundred anti-government demonstrators clashed with police at the University of Tehran in a third straight day of protests. Hundreds of counter-protesters also massed outside the entrance to the university, chanting "Death to the seditionists" in a show of support for the regime. Videos shared by social media users outside Iran but which could not be independently verified claimed to show thousands marching peacefully against the regime in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan, and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator!" "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most," Trump said, again quoting from the UN speech. Trump also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as "opportunistic."

Trump on Iran: 'Oppressive regimes cannot last forever' US President Donald Trump walks with US Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Gene Gibson — the commanding officer of the Lake Worth Inlet Station — during an invitation for Coast Guard service members to play golf at Trump International Golf Course in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. AFP/Nicholas Kamm WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump weighed in on protests in Iran Saturday, warning that the country's people want change and "oppressive regimes cannot endure forever." Trump posted on Twitter two clips of his speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September, wherein he took aim at the Iranian regime, which Washington has held out as its top adversary in the Middle East. "Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice," he tweeted, quoting from the speech. "The world is watching!" Trump's posts — his second time addressing the subject in as many days — came as several hundred anti-government demonstrators clashed with police at the University of Tehran in a third straight day of protests. Hundreds of counter-protesters also massed outside the entrance to the university, chanting "Death to the seditionists" in a show of support for the regime. Videos shared by social media users outside Iran but which could not be independently verified claimed to show thousands marching peacefully against the regime in several cities including Khorramabad, Zanjan, and Ahvaz, with chants of "Death to the dictator!" "The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most," Trump said, again quoting from the UN speech. Trump also tweeted in support of the protesters late Friday, prompting Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahran Ghasemi to dismiss his remarks as "opportunistic."

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Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump LEFT: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 28, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS; RIGHT: US President Donald Trump plays host to members of the US Coast Guard he invited to play golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "pragmatic cooperation" in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president's New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that "a constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world". According to the statement, Putin said that "mutual respect" should be "a base to develop relations" between the two countries. "This would allow us to move towards building pragmatic cooperation, orientated on the long term," the statement quoted Putin as saying. The Russian president also sent messages to other heads of state, including the leaders of former Soviet countries, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, and Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In his wishes to the Syrian leader, with whom he met during a surprise visit to Russia's Syrian air base Hmeimim earlier this month, Putin "expressed sincere hope that key changes for the better will continue in Syria in the new year". The statement added that Putin told Assad "Russia will continue to show all kind of support to the Syrian Arab Republic in order to protect its state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity". Russia became involved in the Syrian conflict in September 2015, when it began an aerial campaign in support of Assad's military. Putin ordered a partial withdrawal of the Russian army from Syria earlier this month. On ordering the partial withdrawal, Putin praised his country's armed forces for having "brilliantly accomplished" their mission which saw Syrian government forces make major gains from extremists and assorted anti-regime rebel groups. Russia does retain a military presence in Syria, however, through its naval base at Tartus, whose expansion Moscow agreed earlier this month, as well as Hmeimim, where Russian singers performed a New Year variety show Saturday. Moscow hopes to host government and rebel group representatives at the end of January in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to push both sides closer to a political settlement of a seven-year conflict which has cost more than 340,000 lives and displaced millions more.

Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump LEFT: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 28, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS; RIGHT: US President Donald Trump plays host to members of the US Coast Guard he invited to play golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "pragmatic cooperation" in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president's New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that "a constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world". According to the statement, Putin said that "mutual respect" should be "a base to develop relations" between the two countries. "This would allow us to move towards building pragmatic cooperation, orientated on the long term," the statement quoted Putin as saying. The Russian president also sent messages to other heads of state, including the leaders of former Soviet countries, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, and Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In his wishes to the Syrian leader, with whom he met during a surprise visit to Russia's Syrian air base Hmeimim earlier this month, Putin "expressed sincere hope that key changes for the better will continue in Syria in the new year". The statement added that Putin told Assad "Russia will continue to show all kind of support to the Syrian Arab Republic in order to protect its state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity". Russia became involved in the Syrian conflict in September 2015, when it began an aerial campaign in support of Assad's military. Putin ordered a partial withdrawal of the Russian army from Syria earlier this month. On ordering the partial withdrawal, Putin praised his country's armed forces for having "brilliantly accomplished" their mission which saw Syrian government forces make major gains from extremists and assorted anti-regime rebel groups. Russia does retain a military presence in Syria, however, through its naval base at Tartus, whose expansion Moscow agreed earlier this month, as well as Hmeimim, where Russian singers performed a New Year variety show Saturday. Moscow hopes to host government and rebel group representatives at the end of January in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to push both sides closer to a political settlement of a seven-year conflict which has cost more than 340,000 lives and displaced millions more.

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Saint Petersburg supermarket attack suspect arrested Russian Emergency Ministry members gather outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/Files MOSCOW: Russian investigators on Saturday arrested a suspect linked to the Saint Petersburg bomb that tore through a supermarket, wounding 18 people, in an attack labelled by President Vladimir Putin as an "act of terror". Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city and Putin's hometown — was the scene of a deadly metro bombing in April and is set to host games during next year's football World Cup, raising fears of similar attacks. "The suspect is being questioned," Svetlana Petrenko — a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee — said in a statement. "The organiser and direct perpetrator who triggered an improvised explosive device on December 27 in a supermarket in Saint Petersburg was arrested during a special operation by the FSB", the security services added, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The news agency quoted a source close to the case as saying the suspect was 35-year-old Dmitry Lukyanenko — a resident of Saint Petersburg and member of the nationalist "New Age" movement. The homemade bomb had been placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. A pregnant woman was among those injured in the blast, which was claimed by Daesh. Eight people remain in hospital. Putin's 2015 decision to begin a military intervention in Syria's conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has made Russia a priority target for extremist groups. 'Killed on the spot' Wednesday's bombing came after the FSB security service said earlier this month it had prevented a terror attack on a key Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump. The city's subway was also targeted by a bomb attack in April that left 15 dead and dozens wounded, claimed by a little-known group linked to Al-Qaeda. Earlier this month, Alexander Bortnikov — the head of Russia's FSB security service — said that at least 4,500 Russians had left the country to fight with "terrorists" in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions. Putin himself warned after Wednesday's bombing that armed criminals could be "liquidated on the spot". "As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin told officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign during an awards ceremony. He said he had ordered the nation's security services to "act decisively" and "liquidate bandits on the spot" if armed militants put up resistance. Over the past 20 years, Russia fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya, leading militants from the North Caucasus to frequently target Russians through suicide bombings and other attacks.

Saint Petersburg supermarket attack suspect arrested Russian Emergency Ministry members gather outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/Files MOSCOW: Russian investigators on Saturday arrested a suspect linked to the Saint Petersburg bomb that tore through a supermarket, wounding 18 people, in an attack labelled by President Vladimir Putin as an "act of terror". Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city and Putin's hometown — was the scene of a deadly metro bombing in April and is set to host games during next year's football World Cup, raising fears of similar attacks. "The suspect is being questioned," Svetlana Petrenko — a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee — said in a statement. "The organiser and direct perpetrator who triggered an improvised explosive device on December 27 in a supermarket in Saint Petersburg was arrested during a special operation by the FSB", the security services added, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The news agency quoted a source close to the case as saying the suspect was 35-year-old Dmitry Lukyanenko — a resident of Saint Petersburg and member of the nationalist "New Age" movement. The homemade bomb had been placed in a locker at the supermarket in northwestern Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. A pregnant woman was among those injured in the blast, which was claimed by Daesh. Eight people remain in hospital. Putin's 2015 decision to begin a military intervention in Syria's conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has made Russia a priority target for extremist groups. 'Killed on the spot' Wednesday's bombing came after the FSB security service said earlier this month it had prevented a terror attack on a key Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump. The city's subway was also targeted by a bomb attack in April that left 15 dead and dozens wounded, claimed by a little-known group linked to Al-Qaeda. Earlier this month, Alexander Bortnikov — the head of Russia's FSB security service — said that at least 4,500 Russians had left the country to fight with "terrorists" in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions. Putin himself warned after Wednesday's bombing that armed criminals could be "liquidated on the spot". "As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday," Putin told officers who took part in Russia's Syria campaign during an awards ceremony. He said he had ordered the nation's security services to "act decisively" and "liquidate bandits on the spot" if armed militants put up resistance. Over the past 20 years, Russia fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya, leading militants from the North Caucasus to frequently target Russians through suicide bombings and other attacks.

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FDP leader wants Germany to deport minor refugees linked to crime Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner arrives for the board meeting at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Files BERLIN: Germany should be able to deport unaccompanied minor refugees who commit crimes if their families can be identified, the head of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said in remarks released ahead of publication on Sunday. FDP leader Christian Lindner spoke amid growing debate about unaccompanied refugees after the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old German girl on Wednesday by a suspect later identified by police as her former boyfriend — a 15-year-old Afghan refugee who had entered Germany in early 2016. Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that authorities should be able to deport unaccompanied minors who resisted “educational measures” and caused problems if their families could be identified in their home countries. The girl — who was killed — had filed charges days earlier accusing the Afghan teenager of harassing and threatening her after she broke up with him, police officials said. The number of unaccompanied minors among migrants entering Germany fell sharply from nearly 35,939 in 2016 and 22,255 a year earlier to 8,107 in the first 10 months of 2017, according to the German Federal Office of Migrant and Refugees (BAMF). Although seen as a domestic dispute, the stabbing case has touched a nerve as German cities tighten security for New Year’s Eve celebrations amid continued concern about possible extremist attacks and after the mass groping of women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve 2015. Many far-right commentators have seized on the stabbing and the 2015 Cologne incident to justify their anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. In Berlin, police are erecting a special safety zone for women at the mile-long street that runs from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column in the capital’s Tiergarten park. In the interview, Lindner also renewed his criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to open the doors to over a million migrants — mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan — without adequate controls. “We need a new immigrant policy in Europe that ensures that the problems are addressed,” Lindner said, noting that securing borders could help prevent right-wing populists from spreading xenophobic sentiment. “Our country will only stay tolerant and open to the world if people can rely on our legal system at any time and any place,” he said. The FDP last month withdrew from talks with Merkel’s conservatives and the environmental Greens on forming a new government after the September election. But migration will also be a key topic in upcoming coalition talks between Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Conservatives want to limit the number of refugees admitted each year to 200,000 or less; the SPD rejects any such cap.

FDP leader wants Germany to deport minor refugees linked to crime Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner arrives for the board meeting at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, November 20, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Files BERLIN: Germany should be able to deport unaccompanied minor refugees who commit crimes if their families can be identified, the head of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said in remarks released ahead of publication on Sunday. FDP leader Christian Lindner spoke amid growing debate about unaccompanied refugees after the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old German girl on Wednesday by a suspect later identified by police as her former boyfriend — a 15-year-old Afghan refugee who had entered Germany in early 2016. Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that authorities should be able to deport unaccompanied minors who resisted “educational measures” and caused problems if their families could be identified in their home countries. The girl — who was killed — had filed charges days earlier accusing the Afghan teenager of harassing and threatening her after she broke up with him, police officials said. The number of unaccompanied minors among migrants entering Germany fell sharply from nearly 35,939 in 2016 and 22,255 a year earlier to 8,107 in the first 10 months of 2017, according to the German Federal Office of Migrant and Refugees (BAMF). Although seen as a domestic dispute, the stabbing case has touched a nerve as German cities tighten security for New Year’s Eve celebrations amid continued concern about possible extremist attacks and after the mass groping of women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve 2015. Many far-right commentators have seized on the stabbing and the 2015 Cologne incident to justify their anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. In Berlin, police are erecting a special safety zone for women at the mile-long street that runs from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column in the capital’s Tiergarten park. In the interview, Lindner also renewed his criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to open the doors to over a million migrants — mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan — without adequate controls. “We need a new immigrant policy in Europe that ensures that the problems are addressed,” Lindner said, noting that securing borders could help prevent right-wing populists from spreading xenophobic sentiment. “Our country will only stay tolerant and open to the world if people can rely on our legal system at any time and any place,” he said. The FDP last month withdrew from talks with Merkel’s conservatives and the environmental Greens on forming a new government after the September election. But migration will also be a key topic in upcoming coalition talks between Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Conservatives want to limit the number of refugees admitted each year to 200,000 or less; the SPD rejects any such cap.

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Erica Garner, activist daughter of New York chokehold victim, dies at 27 Garner is the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality-Reuters Erica Garner, the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality, died on Saturday, a posting on her official Twitter account showed. Garner, 27, suffered a heart attack triggered by an asthma attack a week ago, family members told the New York Daily News. She became an activist against police brutality after the July 2014 death of her father, Eric Garner. The 43-year-old father of six died while New York City officers were attempting to arrest him on suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. Eric Garner also suffered from asthma. “If anything, (what) she would want us to do in memory of her is keep fighting for justice, and keep fighting for families,” said civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton in a video posted online. Sharpton became an adviser to Eric Garner’s family after his death. Erica Garner often wore clothing emblazoned with “I can’t breathe,” the words her father wheezed when an officer allegedly put him in a chokehold while trying to subdue him. That phrase became a rallying cry during protests across the United States in 2014 against police brutality, particularly against black people. The New York Police Department has banned the use of chokeholds on suspects for more than two decades, but decided against indicting Daniel Pantaleo, the white officer who sought to subdue Garner. Activists say the prosecutor in the case, a Republican, was not aggressive enough in seeking the indictment. A video of the incident went viral on social media in the days after it occurred in front of a beauty parlor in one of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island. After the grand jury’s decision, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union released a statement from Pantaleo saying he never intended to harm Eric Garner and felt bad about his death.

Erica Garner, activist daughter of New York chokehold victim, dies at 27 Garner is the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality-Reuters Erica Garner, the daughter of a New York man whose death during an attempted arrest helped spark the “Black Lives Matter” movement against police brutality, died on Saturday, a posting on her official Twitter account showed. Garner, 27, suffered a heart attack triggered by an asthma attack a week ago, family members told the New York Daily News. She became an activist against police brutality after the July 2014 death of her father, Eric Garner. The 43-year-old father of six died while New York City officers were attempting to arrest him on suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. Eric Garner also suffered from asthma. “If anything, (what) she would want us to do in memory of her is keep fighting for justice, and keep fighting for families,” said civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton in a video posted online. Sharpton became an adviser to Eric Garner’s family after his death. Erica Garner often wore clothing emblazoned with “I can’t breathe,” the words her father wheezed when an officer allegedly put him in a chokehold while trying to subdue him. That phrase became a rallying cry during protests across the United States in 2014 against police brutality, particularly against black people. The New York Police Department has banned the use of chokeholds on suspects for more than two decades, but decided against indicting Daniel Pantaleo, the white officer who sought to subdue Garner. Activists say the prosecutor in the case, a Republican, was not aggressive enough in seeking the indictment. A video of the incident went viral on social media in the days after it occurred in front of a beauty parlor in one of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island. After the grand jury’s decision, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association union released a statement from Pantaleo saying he never intended to harm Eric Garner and felt bad about his death.

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President-elect Weah says Liberia 'open for business', vows to fight corruption President-elect George Weah — of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) — attends a news conference at party headquarters, after the announcement of the presidential election results, in Monrovia, Liberia, December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon MONROVIA: Liberian President-elect George Weah on Saturday declared the country open to investment and pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, in his first speech to the nation since decisively winning an election this week. Speaking in front of reporters and aides packed into a small conference room at his party headquarters, Weah thanked his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for enabling Liberia’s first democratic transition in over 70 years but said he was determined to usher in sweeping changes. “Those looking to cheat the Liberian people through corruption will have no place,” said Weah, 51, alluding to a series of high-profile scandals that have tarnished Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year presidency. Weah, a former soccer star who became the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, scored a landslide victory over Vice President Joseph Boakai in Tuesday’s run-off. He faces sky-high expectations from his base of young supporters, who want him to fix rampant unemployment and poverty, but deep scepticism from others who see him as lacking the experience and knowledge for the job. His campaign was thin on policy specifics and he will now be faced with the messy realities of reviving an economy gutted by low prices for chief exports rubber and iron ore and dwindling foreign donor support. Weah said he would assemble his cabinet in the coming days ahead of his inauguration in mid-January and work to expand the country’s revenue base. “To investors, we say Liberia is open for business,” he said. He also urged Liberians overseas — whose remittances account for over a quarter of national GDP — to return home, calling for national unity in a country that was devastated by civil war from 1989 to 2003 and remains riven by divisions based on ethnicity, class, and political affiliation. “We are not enemies,” he said in comments addressed to his political opponents. “We welcome you with open arms as we try to build our country.” “Two days ago the world watched me cry. I did not cry because I won. I cried that many people lost their lives in the struggle for change.” The speech was closely followed across the country of five million people. “The main thing I took from him was that Liberia is open for business,” said John Davies, a 30-year-old businessman. “We need Liberians to come home and work for our country.”

President-elect Weah says Liberia 'open for business', vows to fight corruption President-elect George Weah — of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) — attends a news conference at party headquarters, after the announcement of the presidential election results, in Monrovia, Liberia, December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon MONROVIA: Liberian President-elect George Weah on Saturday declared the country open to investment and pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, in his first speech to the nation since decisively winning an election this week. Speaking in front of reporters and aides packed into a small conference room at his party headquarters, Weah thanked his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for enabling Liberia’s first democratic transition in over 70 years but said he was determined to usher in sweeping changes. “Those looking to cheat the Liberian people through corruption will have no place,” said Weah, 51, alluding to a series of high-profile scandals that have tarnished Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year presidency. Weah, a former soccer star who became the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995, scored a landslide victory over Vice President Joseph Boakai in Tuesday’s run-off. He faces sky-high expectations from his base of young supporters, who want him to fix rampant unemployment and poverty, but deep scepticism from others who see him as lacking the experience and knowledge for the job. His campaign was thin on policy specifics and he will now be faced with the messy realities of reviving an economy gutted by low prices for chief exports rubber and iron ore and dwindling foreign donor support. Weah said he would assemble his cabinet in the coming days ahead of his inauguration in mid-January and work to expand the country’s revenue base. “To investors, we say Liberia is open for business,” he said. He also urged Liberians overseas — whose remittances account for over a quarter of national GDP — to return home, calling for national unity in a country that was devastated by civil war from 1989 to 2003 and remains riven by divisions based on ethnicity, class, and political affiliation. “We are not enemies,” he said in comments addressed to his political opponents. “We welcome you with open arms as we try to build our country.” “Two days ago the world watched me cry. I did not cry because I won. I cried that many people lost their lives in the struggle for change.” The speech was closely followed across the country of five million people. “The main thing I took from him was that Liberia is open for business,” said John Davies, a 30-year-old businessman. “We need Liberians to come home and work for our country.”

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Former Catalan leader urges Spain to accept secessionist election win Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont attends an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, December 23, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal/Files MADRID: Catalonia’s former leader Carles Puigdemont on Saturday urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept the results of a December 21 local election which gave a slim majority to parties favouring a split of the northeastern region from Spain. The election failed to resolve Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades with pro-independence parties taking 70 of 135 seats in the Catalan parliament but not managing to gain a majority of the popular vote. “The ballot boxes have spoken, democracy has spoken, everyone has been able to express themselves. What is Rajoy waiting for in order to accept the results?” said Puigdemont, speaking from Brussels where he is in self-imposed exile. Catalonia had demonstrated it was a democratically mature population that had won the right to become a republic, he said in a televised speech. He asked Rajoy to start negotiating with independence leaders. Puigdemont travelled to Brussels after being fired by Rajoy as leader of the wealthy region following an October declaration of independence by Catalonia. The region held an illegal referendum on secession from Spain on October 1. Rajoy called on Friday for the Catalan parliament to be formed on January 17, the first step in what is likely to be a drawn-out process to form a government. However, it is not clear how pro-independence forces will form an administration with Puigdemont in Brussels facing arrest in Spain for his role in organizing the referendum and former deputy Oriol Junqueras held in custody in a Madrid jail. Rajoy urged on Friday for a regional administration to be formed as soon as possible that would listen to all Catalans and not just half of them. The December 21 election, called by Rajoy after Madrid took over the region’s local administration, failed to deliver a strong mandate to any party and underlined how Catalan society is evenly split into pro-independence and unionist camps. Anti-independence party Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) scored most votes in the election but does not have enough seats or allies to form a government.

Former Catalan leader urges Spain to accept secessionist election win Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont attends an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, December 23, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal/Files MADRID: Catalonia’s former leader Carles Puigdemont on Saturday urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept the results of a December 21 local election which gave a slim majority to parties favouring a split of the northeastern region from Spain. The election failed to resolve Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades with pro-independence parties taking 70 of 135 seats in the Catalan parliament but not managing to gain a majority of the popular vote. “The ballot boxes have spoken, democracy has spoken, everyone has been able to express themselves. What is Rajoy waiting for in order to accept the results?” said Puigdemont, speaking from Brussels where he is in self-imposed exile. Catalonia had demonstrated it was a democratically mature population that had won the right to become a republic, he said in a televised speech. He asked Rajoy to start negotiating with independence leaders. Puigdemont travelled to Brussels after being fired by Rajoy as leader of the wealthy region following an October declaration of independence by Catalonia. The region held an illegal referendum on secession from Spain on October 1. Rajoy called on Friday for the Catalan parliament to be formed on January 17, the first step in what is likely to be a drawn-out process to form a government. However, it is not clear how pro-independence forces will form an administration with Puigdemont in Brussels facing arrest in Spain for his role in organizing the referendum and former deputy Oriol Junqueras held in custody in a Madrid jail. Rajoy urged on Friday for a regional administration to be formed as soon as possible that would listen to all Catalans and not just half of them. The December 21 election, called by Rajoy after Madrid took over the region’s local administration, failed to deliver a strong mandate to any party and underlined how Catalan society is evenly split into pro-independence and unionist camps. Anti-independence party Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) scored most votes in the election but does not have enough seats or allies to form a government.

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Turkey's Erdogan to discuss Syria with Macron in Paris: source Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference at Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/Files PARIS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Paris on January 5 to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron — with the conflict in Syria high on the agenda — a source in the French president’s office said on Saturday. Among the regional crises the two leaders plan to discuss, there would be a particular focus on Syria as well as on the Palestinian situation, the source said, weeks after US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move stirred concern among Western allies and outrage in the Arab World. Erdogan earlier this week made some of his harshest comments in weeks regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling him a terrorist and saying it was impossible for peace efforts in Syria to continue if he did not leave power. Macron, meanwhile, said recently that France would push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including al-Assad, and promised “initiatives” early next year. The Elysee source said “the question of human rights will also be raised” when Erdogan and Macron meet. A security crackdown in Turkey after a failed coup in 2016 has drawn criticism from campaigners as well as the European Union, which is overseeing Ankara’s halting bid to join the bloc.

Turkey's Erdogan to discuss Syria with Macron in Paris: source Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference at Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/Files PARIS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Paris on January 5 to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron — with the conflict in Syria high on the agenda — a source in the French president’s office said on Saturday. Among the regional crises the two leaders plan to discuss, there would be a particular focus on Syria as well as on the Palestinian situation, the source said, weeks after US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move stirred concern among Western allies and outrage in the Arab World. Erdogan earlier this week made some of his harshest comments in weeks regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling him a terrorist and saying it was impossible for peace efforts in Syria to continue if he did not leave power. Macron, meanwhile, said recently that France would push for peace talks involving all parties in the six-year-old Syrian conflict, including al-Assad, and promised “initiatives” early next year. The Elysee source said “the question of human rights will also be raised” when Erdogan and Macron meet. A security crackdown in Turkey after a failed coup in 2016 has drawn criticism from campaigners as well as the European Union, which is overseeing Ankara’s halting bid to join the bloc.

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FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off: NYT US President Donald Trump. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot WASHINGTON: Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The conversation between Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer — the diplomat — in London was a driving factor behind the FBI’s decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow’s contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported. Two months after the meeting, Australian officials passed the information that came from Papadopoulos to their American counterparts when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, according to the newspaper, which cited four current and former US and foreign officials. Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said. Papadopoulos — a Chicago-based international energy lawyer — pleaded guilty on October 30 to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials. It was the first criminal charge alleging links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The White House has played down the former aide’s campaign role, saying it was “extremely limited” and that any actions he took would have been on his own. The New York Times, however, reported that Papadopoulos helped set up a meeting between the then-candidate Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and edited the outline of Trump’s first major foreign policy speech in April 2016. The federal investigation, which is now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has hung over Trump’s White House since he took office almost a year ago. Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller’s team of being biased against the Republican president. Lawyers for Papadopoulos did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Mueller’s office declined to comment. Ty Cobb — Trump’s White House attorney — declined to comment on the New York Times report. “Out of respect for the special counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this,” he said in a statement. Mueller has charged four Trump associates, including Papadopoulos, in his investigation. Russia has denied interfering in the US election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off: NYT US President Donald Trump. Image Courtesy: Reuters Video/Screenshot WASHINGTON: Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The conversation between Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer — the diplomat — in London was a driving factor behind the FBI’s decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow’s contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported. Two months after the meeting, Australian officials passed the information that came from Papadopoulos to their American counterparts when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, according to the newspaper, which cited four current and former US and foreign officials. Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said. Papadopoulos — a Chicago-based international energy lawyer — pleaded guilty on October 30 to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials. It was the first criminal charge alleging links between the Trump campaign and Russia. The White House has played down the former aide’s campaign role, saying it was “extremely limited” and that any actions he took would have been on his own. The New York Times, however, reported that Papadopoulos helped set up a meeting between the then-candidate Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and edited the outline of Trump’s first major foreign policy speech in April 2016. The federal investigation, which is now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has hung over Trump’s White House since he took office almost a year ago. Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller’s team of being biased against the Republican president. Lawyers for Papadopoulos did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Mueller’s office declined to comment. Ty Cobb — Trump’s White House attorney — declined to comment on the New York Times report. “Out of respect for the special counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this,” he said in a statement. Mueller has charged four Trump associates, including Papadopoulos, in his investigation. Russia has denied interfering in the US election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

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Two demonstrators reported killed in western Iran as street protests hit Tehran An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest — driven by anger over economic problems — in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2017. AFP/STR DUBAI: Street protests hit Iran for a third day running on Saturday, spreading to the capital Tehran with crowds confronting police and attacking some state buildings, and a social media report said two demonstrators had been shot dead in a provincial town. The wave of anti-government demonstrations — prompted in part by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption — are the most serious since months of unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of the then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saturday’s protests, in fact, coincided with state-sponsored rallies staged across the Islamic Republic to mark the final suppression of the 2009 unrest by security forces, with mass pro-government events in Tehran and Mashhad. Pro-government rallies were held in some 1,200 cities and towns in all, state television reported. At the same time, anti-government demonstrations broke out anew in a string of cities and in Tehran, for the first time, where protesters confronted and stoned riot police around the main university, with pro-government crowds nearby. Videos posted on social media from the western town of Dorud showed two young men lying motionless on the ground, covered with blood, and a voiceover said they had been shot dead by riot police firing on protesters. Other protesters in the video chanted, “I will kill whoever killed my brother!” The video — like others posted during the current protest wave — could not be immediately authenticated. In an earlier footage, marchers in Dorud shouted, “Death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Social media video from Mashhad showed protesters overturning a riot police car and police motorcycles set ablaze. In Tehran, the semi-official news agency Fars said up to 70 students gathered in front of its main university and hurled rocks at police, also chanting, “Death to the dictator.” Social media footage showed riot police using clubs to disperse more protesters marching in nearby streets, and arresting some of them. The student news agency ISNA said police shut two metro stations to prevent more protesters arriving. In Tehran and Karaj west of the capital, protesters smashed windows on state buildings and set fires in the streets. Images carried by the semi-official news agency Tasnim showed burning garbage bins and smashed-up bus shelters in the street lining the university after the protests subsided. Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari — the Revolutionary Guards’ deputy security chief in Tehran — said the situation in the capital was under control and warned protesters would face “the nation’s iron fist” if unrest persisted. “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those (anti-government) slogans and burned public property and cars,” Kowsari told ISNA. The United States condemned the scores of arrests of protesters reported by Iranian media since Thursday. President Donald Trump tweeted, “The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.” State media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying in response to an earlier Trump tweet criticizing the arrests, “The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic claims by American officials and Mr. Trump.” Iranian media also reported street protests in the cities of Kashan, Arak, Ahvaz, Zanjan, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman. The elite Revolutionary Guards and its Basij militia — which spearheaded the security crackdown that crushed the protests of 2009 — said in a statement carried by state media, “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Discontent Openly political protests are rare in the Islamic Republic, where security services are omnipresent. But there is considerable discontent over high unemployment, inflation, and alleged graft. Some of the new protests have turned political over issues, including Iran’s costly involvement in regional conflicts, such as those in Syria and Iraq. Joblessness has risen and annual inflation is running at about eight percent, with shortages of some foods contributing to higher prices and hardship for many families. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli warned against attempts to promote protests via social media. “We ask people not to take part in unlawful gatherings. If they plan a gathering they should apply (for a permit),” he told the Young Journalists Club news website. On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Mashhad — one of the holiest places in Islam — to protest against high prices, shouting anti-government slogans. Police arrested 52 people, according to a judicial official. An unnamed official quoted by state broadcaster IRIB’s website said on Friday IRIB had not covered the protests so far “after being asked by relevant bodies that the issue should not be reflected on state radio and television”. Most detainees freed Most of those arrested in the last two days had been released, state television said, without giving details. “Enemy websites and foreign media continue to try to exploit economic hardships and the legitimate demands of the people in this respect to launch illegal gatherings and possible unrest,” it said. Though purely political protests are seldom seen in Iran, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. President Hassan Rouhani’s leading achievement — a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions — has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment has risen to 12.4 percent this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, up 1.4 percentage points and leaving about 3.2 million Iranians jobless.

Two demonstrators reported killed in western Iran as street protests hit Tehran An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest — driven by anger over economic problems — in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2017. AFP/STR DUBAI: Street protests hit Iran for a third day running on Saturday, spreading to the capital Tehran with crowds confronting police and attacking some state buildings, and a social media report said two demonstrators had been shot dead in a provincial town. The wave of anti-government demonstrations — prompted in part by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption — are the most serious since months of unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of the then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saturday’s protests, in fact, coincided with state-sponsored rallies staged across the Islamic Republic to mark the final suppression of the 2009 unrest by security forces, with mass pro-government events in Tehran and Mashhad. Pro-government rallies were held in some 1,200 cities and towns in all, state television reported. At the same time, anti-government demonstrations broke out anew in a string of cities and in Tehran, for the first time, where protesters confronted and stoned riot police around the main university, with pro-government crowds nearby. Videos posted on social media from the western town of Dorud showed two young men lying motionless on the ground, covered with blood, and a voiceover said they had been shot dead by riot police firing on protesters. Other protesters in the video chanted, “I will kill whoever killed my brother!” The video — like others posted during the current protest wave — could not be immediately authenticated. In an earlier footage, marchers in Dorud shouted, “Death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Social media video from Mashhad showed protesters overturning a riot police car and police motorcycles set ablaze. In Tehran, the semi-official news agency Fars said up to 70 students gathered in front of its main university and hurled rocks at police, also chanting, “Death to the dictator.” Social media footage showed riot police using clubs to disperse more protesters marching in nearby streets, and arresting some of them. The student news agency ISNA said police shut two metro stations to prevent more protesters arriving. In Tehran and Karaj west of the capital, protesters smashed windows on state buildings and set fires in the streets. Images carried by the semi-official news agency Tasnim showed burning garbage bins and smashed-up bus shelters in the street lining the university after the protests subsided. Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari — the Revolutionary Guards’ deputy security chief in Tehran — said the situation in the capital was under control and warned protesters would face “the nation’s iron fist” if unrest persisted. “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those (anti-government) slogans and burned public property and cars,” Kowsari told ISNA. The United States condemned the scores of arrests of protesters reported by Iranian media since Thursday. President Donald Trump tweeted, “The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most.” State media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying in response to an earlier Trump tweet criticizing the arrests, “The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic claims by American officials and Mr. Trump.” Iranian media also reported street protests in the cities of Kashan, Arak, Ahvaz, Zanjan, Bandar Abbas, and Kerman. The elite Revolutionary Guards and its Basij militia — which spearheaded the security crackdown that crushed the protests of 2009 — said in a statement carried by state media, “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Discontent Openly political protests are rare in the Islamic Republic, where security services are omnipresent. But there is considerable discontent over high unemployment, inflation, and alleged graft. Some of the new protests have turned political over issues, including Iran’s costly involvement in regional conflicts, such as those in Syria and Iraq. Joblessness has risen and annual inflation is running at about eight percent, with shortages of some foods contributing to higher prices and hardship for many families. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli warned against attempts to promote protests via social media. “We ask people not to take part in unlawful gatherings. If they plan a gathering they should apply (for a permit),” he told the Young Journalists Club news website. On Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Mashhad — one of the holiest places in Islam — to protest against high prices, shouting anti-government slogans. Police arrested 52 people, according to a judicial official. An unnamed official quoted by state broadcaster IRIB’s website said on Friday IRIB had not covered the protests so far “after being asked by relevant bodies that the issue should not be reflected on state radio and television”. Most detainees freed Most of those arrested in the last two days had been released, state television said, without giving details. “Enemy websites and foreign media continue to try to exploit economic hardships and the legitimate demands of the people in this respect to launch illegal gatherings and possible unrest,” it said. Though purely political protests are seldom seen in Iran, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. President Hassan Rouhani’s leading achievement — a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions — has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment has risen to 12.4 percent this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, up 1.4 percentage points and leaving about 3.2 million Iranians jobless.

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Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

Repairs begin on Libyan oil pipeline damaged by blast BENGHAZI: Repairs were carried out on Saturday on a Libyan oil pipeline badly damaged by an explosion four days earlier, an engineer said. The explosion on Tuesday — about 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Es Sider terminal — reduced output by an estimated 70,000-100,000 barrels per day (BPD), according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya pipeline blast to cause drop in production: NOC 'NOC continues to investigate the causes of the explosion' north of the town of Marada, it said in a statement A picture sent to Reuters by the engineer — who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media — showed workers attending to a stretch of exposed pipeline. Other photos posted online showed a new section of pipe being lowered into the ground by a digger. The work on Saturday would be followed by testing, the engineer said. It was not clear how long it would take for production to be restored. Waha Oil Co — which operates the pipeline — has described the cause of the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, without giving any details.

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Schaeuble does not rule out minority government for Germany CDU's Wolfgang Schaeuble — the president of the German lower house of Parliament Bundestag — is seen during a session in Berlin, Germany, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/Files BERLIN: Former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and Social Democrats on Saturday to quickly form a new government, but said he could not rule out a minority government if no deal is reached. Germany’s constitution does not favour a minority government but that remains an option, Schaeuble — a leading conservative who is now president of the Bundestag (lower house of the German Parliament) — told Berlin’s Tagesspiegel newspaper. A deal between Merkel’s conservative camp (Union) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is her best chance of securing a fourth term in office. But Merkel’s possible coalition partners are angling for concessions beforehand. “A stable alliance between the Union and the SPD would be preferable,” Schaeuble said, adding that the chancellor could still form a minority government. “It would work one way or another,” he said when asked about that possibility. Coalition talks should be completed “sooner rather than later”, he said, noting that the Bundestag was not fully capable of action until a government had been formed. He noted that President Frank-Walter Steinmeier — who stepped in after Merkel’s talks with two smaller parties collapsed in November — had urged conservatives and the SPD to reach an agreement as soon as possible, and said Merkel and other politicians had supported that call. Horst Seehofer — the head of the CSU Bavarian sister party of Merkel’s conservatives — told DPA news agency a new “grand coalition” should be completed by Easter, which falls on April 1 in 2018. Seehofer said he favoured new elections over a minority government. Merkel's stature waning A new poll conducted for Die Welt newspaper showed waning support for Merkel, who has been unable to form a new government three months after national elections. Her talks on forming a three-way coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats fell apart in November. The poll showed that 46 percent wished Merkel would resign immediately as chancellor, with an additional 17 percent of those polled saying that she should quit if the coalition talks with the SPD also failed. A separate poll conducted for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 33 percent of Germans trusted Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), followed by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere with 32 percent, if Merkel resigned. FDP leader Christian Lindner told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Germany’s political system was in the middle of a major transition, and many conservatives also favoured a “renewal”. Simone Peter, one of the co-leaders of the Greens, told the Funke newspaper chain she hoped a stable new government could be formed, and that the new elections should be “the absolute last resort”. She said the Greens remained open to dialogue if Merkel’s talks with the SPD failed. SPD members on Saturday rejected a call by the CSU to raise military spending that could strain exploratory talks about a coalition that are due to start on January 7. A draft CSU resolution seen by Reuters on Friday called for military spending to reach NATO’s target of two percent of economic output and rejected the idea of an “ever closer” European Union backed by SPD leader Martin Schulz. SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner said on Twitter that his party was focused on spending for families, education, health care and education.

Schaeuble does not rule out minority government for Germany CDU's Wolfgang Schaeuble — the president of the German lower house of Parliament Bundestag — is seen during a session in Berlin, Germany, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/Files BERLIN: Former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and Social Democrats on Saturday to quickly form a new government, but said he could not rule out a minority government if no deal is reached. Germany’s constitution does not favour a minority government but that remains an option, Schaeuble — a leading conservative who is now president of the Bundestag (lower house of the German Parliament) — told Berlin’s Tagesspiegel newspaper. A deal between Merkel’s conservative camp (Union) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is her best chance of securing a fourth term in office. But Merkel’s possible coalition partners are angling for concessions beforehand. “A stable alliance between the Union and the SPD would be preferable,” Schaeuble said, adding that the chancellor could still form a minority government. “It would work one way or another,” he said when asked about that possibility. Coalition talks should be completed “sooner rather than later”, he said, noting that the Bundestag was not fully capable of action until a government had been formed. He noted that President Frank-Walter Steinmeier — who stepped in after Merkel’s talks with two smaller parties collapsed in November — had urged conservatives and the SPD to reach an agreement as soon as possible, and said Merkel and other politicians had supported that call. Horst Seehofer — the head of the CSU Bavarian sister party of Merkel’s conservatives — told DPA news agency a new “grand coalition” should be completed by Easter, which falls on April 1 in 2018. Seehofer said he favoured new elections over a minority government. Merkel's stature waning A new poll conducted for Die Welt newspaper showed waning support for Merkel, who has been unable to form a new government three months after national elections. Her talks on forming a three-way coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats fell apart in November. The poll showed that 46 percent wished Merkel would resign immediately as chancellor, with an additional 17 percent of those polled saying that she should quit if the coalition talks with the SPD also failed. A separate poll conducted for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 33 percent of Germans trusted Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), followed by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere with 32 percent, if Merkel resigned. FDP leader Christian Lindner told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Germany’s political system was in the middle of a major transition, and many conservatives also favoured a “renewal”. Simone Peter, one of the co-leaders of the Greens, told the Funke newspaper chain she hoped a stable new government could be formed, and that the new elections should be “the absolute last resort”. She said the Greens remained open to dialogue if Merkel’s talks with the SPD failed. SPD members on Saturday rejected a call by the CSU to raise military spending that could strain exploratory talks about a coalition that are due to start on January 7. A draft CSU resolution seen by Reuters on Friday called for military spending to reach NATO’s target of two percent of economic output and rejected the idea of an “ever closer” European Union backed by SPD leader Martin Schulz. SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner said on Twitter that his party was focused on spending for families, education, health care and education.

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Ten people die after car crash in southwest Mexico A forensic technician ties a used police line together to seal off a crime scene in Monterrey, Mexico, February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/Files MEXICO CITY: Ten people died and two were injured in a car crash and fire on the southwestern Mexican coast near the tourist hotspot of Acapulco, the nation’s civil protection agency said on Saturday. In the accident late Friday, two cars and a motorcycle collided on the highway between Acapulco and beach city Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero, the civil protection communications centre said. The centre said it did not know whether there were any foreigners among the victims. Guerrero’s civil protection agency said a one-year-old and four-year-old were killed in the accident, and that others who died ranged from 26 to 76 years old. The wounded survivors are aged 8 and 18. The highway along the Pacific Coast is typically busier than usual at year-end when tourists flock to beaches for vacations. Last week a dozen tourists — including US, Brazilian, Canadian, and Swedish citizens — were killed when their bus crashed and flipped over on a highway in the Yucatan peninsula state of Quintana Roo, where many popular tourist sites are located.

Ten people die after car crash in southwest Mexico A forensic technician ties a used police line together to seal off a crime scene in Monterrey, Mexico, February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/Files MEXICO CITY: Ten people died and two were injured in a car crash and fire on the southwestern Mexican coast near the tourist hotspot of Acapulco, the nation’s civil protection agency said on Saturday. In the accident late Friday, two cars and a motorcycle collided on the highway between Acapulco and beach city Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero, the civil protection communications centre said. The centre said it did not know whether there were any foreigners among the victims. Guerrero’s civil protection agency said a one-year-old and four-year-old were killed in the accident, and that others who died ranged from 26 to 76 years old. The wounded survivors are aged 8 and 18. The highway along the Pacific Coast is typically busier than usual at year-end when tourists flock to beaches for vacations. Last week a dozen tourists — including US, Brazilian, Canadian, and Swedish citizens — were killed when their bus crashed and flipped over on a highway in the Yucatan peninsula state of Quintana Roo, where many popular tourist sites are located.

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Zambia deploys army to battle cholera after 41 deaths Zambian President Edgar Lungu has promised a crackdown on street food stalls, bars and restaurants that do not meet minimum food hygiene standards. Photo: AFP/File LUSAKA: Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu has deployed the army to help combat a cholera outbreak that has claimed 41 lives in the capital Lusaka and affected 1,550 more since September. The initial outbreak began on September 28 according to the World Health Organization and Zambia’s health ministry subsequently launched efforts to limit the spread of the disease. Cholera is a water-borne disease which goes hand in hand with poverty and while readily treatable can be lethal if unaddressed. "I have directed all the three wings of the Defence Force to join the Ministry of Health... to escalate efforts to minimise the spread of cholera in our capital city and the rest of the country," Lungu wrote on his official, verified Facebook page late Friday. "Lusaka has been recording an average of 60 new cases every day. I’ve noted with great sadness that a total of 41 people have died of the disease since its outbreak. "The outbreak was initially linked to contaminated water from shallow wells and unsanitary conditions in the residential and public areas affected. But we now note that the spread of cholera is being propagated through contaminated food." Lungu added that there would be a crackdown on street food stalls, bars and restaurants that do not meet minimum food hygiene standards. "I am deeply concerned at the rampaging advance of the outbreak," he said.

Zambia deploys army to battle cholera after 41 deaths Zambian President Edgar Lungu has promised a crackdown on street food stalls, bars and restaurants that do not meet minimum food hygiene standards. Photo: AFP/File LUSAKA: Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu has deployed the army to help combat a cholera outbreak that has claimed 41 lives in the capital Lusaka and affected 1,550 more since September. The initial outbreak began on September 28 according to the World Health Organization and Zambia’s health ministry subsequently launched efforts to limit the spread of the disease. Cholera is a water-borne disease which goes hand in hand with poverty and while readily treatable can be lethal if unaddressed. "I have directed all the three wings of the Defence Force to join the Ministry of Health... to escalate efforts to minimise the spread of cholera in our capital city and the rest of the country," Lungu wrote on his official, verified Facebook page late Friday. "Lusaka has been recording an average of 60 new cases every day. I’ve noted with great sadness that a total of 41 people have died of the disease since its outbreak. "The outbreak was initially linked to contaminated water from shallow wells and unsanitary conditions in the residential and public areas affected. But we now note that the spread of cholera is being propagated through contaminated food." Lungu added that there would be a crackdown on street food stalls, bars and restaurants that do not meet minimum food hygiene standards. "I am deeply concerned at the rampaging advance of the outbreak," he said.

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IN PICTURES: World prepares to ring in New Year As the New Year approaches, countries across the globe are gearing for celebrations, with buildings and landmarks being lit up for a festive mood. Lifesize structures of 2018 have been prepared for display in some places, while in the other, festivals are being organised to welcome yet another set of 12 months.  A giant lantern in the shape of a dog is seen ahead of New Year celebrations at Xinghai Square in Dalian, Liaoning province, China December 29 ,2017. Photo: Reuters A woman sells "Happy New Year 2018" headgear at Martin Place in Sydney on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  Pinatas representing political figures who made headlines in 2017 or referring to special events of the year are seen in Lima on December 29, 2017. Pinatas with the faces, among others, of Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and former President Alberto Fujimori, who had been serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and was pardoned by Kuczynski on Christmas Eve, will be burnt on New Year´s Eve as part of traditional celebrations in Peru. Photo: AFP  People look at confetti as it's thrown from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee as part of the annual confetti test ahead of the New Year´s Eve ball-drop celebrations in Times Square in New York City, New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters A woman stands next to a festive decoration for the New Year in Sevastopol, Crimea December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People pose for a photo in Times Square ahead of New Year celebrations as a cold weather front hits the region in Manhattan, in New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People walk past festive decorations for the New Year and Christmas season in Sevastopol, Crimea December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People look at confetti as it was thrown from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee as part of the annual confetti test ahead of the New Year´s Eve ball-drop celebrations in Times Square in New York City, New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters Thousands of biodegradable balloons are released by members of the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the New Year in Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 29, 2017. Photo: AFP  People perform the "Caluseii" (little horse) dance during a new year and winter festival during which groups from northern Romanian villages are invited to sing winter carols and dance on December 29, 2017 in the city of Vatra Dornei. Photo: AFP Dressed up men take part in a new year and winter festival during which groups from northern Romanian villages are invited to sing winter carols and dance on December 29, 2017 in the city of Vatra Dornei. Photo: AFP  Thousands of biodegradable balloons are released by members of the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the New Year in Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 29, 2017. Photo: AFP 

IN PICTURES: World prepares to ring in New Year As the New Year approaches, countries across the globe are gearing for celebrations, with buildings and landmarks being lit up for a festive mood. Lifesize structures of 2018 have been prepared for display in some places, while in the other, festivals are being organised to welcome yet another set of 12 months.  A giant lantern in the shape of a dog is seen ahead of New Year celebrations at Xinghai Square in Dalian, Liaoning province, China December 29 ,2017. Photo: Reuters A woman sells "Happy New Year 2018" headgear at Martin Place in Sydney on December 30, 2017. Photo: AFP  Pinatas representing political figures who made headlines in 2017 or referring to special events of the year are seen in Lima on December 29, 2017. Pinatas with the faces, among others, of Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and former President Alberto Fujimori, who had been serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and was pardoned by Kuczynski on Christmas Eve, will be burnt on New Year´s Eve as part of traditional celebrations in Peru. Photo: AFP  People look at confetti as it's thrown from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee as part of the annual confetti test ahead of the New Year´s Eve ball-drop celebrations in Times Square in New York City, New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters A woman stands next to a festive decoration for the New Year in Sevastopol, Crimea December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People pose for a photo in Times Square ahead of New Year celebrations as a cold weather front hits the region in Manhattan, in New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People walk past festive decorations for the New Year and Christmas season in Sevastopol, Crimea December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters People look at confetti as it was thrown from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee as part of the annual confetti test ahead of the New Year´s Eve ball-drop celebrations in Times Square in New York City, New York, US, December 29, 2017. Photo: Reuters Thousands of biodegradable balloons are released by members of the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the New Year in Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 29, 2017. Photo: AFP  People perform the "Caluseii" (little horse) dance during a new year and winter festival during which groups from northern Romanian villages are invited to sing winter carols and dance on December 29, 2017 in the city of Vatra Dornei. Photo: AFP Dressed up men take part in a new year and winter festival during which groups from northern Romanian villages are invited to sing winter carols and dance on December 29, 2017 in the city of Vatra Dornei. Photo: AFP  Thousands of biodegradable balloons are released by members of the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the New Year in Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 29, 2017. Photo: AFP 

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Firefighters battle blaze in Manchester apartment block File photo/Reuters LONDON: Firefighters battled a blaze in a tower block in central Manchester, northern England, on Saturday with flames engulfing several apartments on the ninth floor. The Manchester fire service said it had sent 12 fire engines to tackle the blaze in the Northern Quarter of the city and urged people to avoid the area. It told those living nearby to keep doors and windows shut. The local Manchester Evening News said it was not yet known if anyone was hurt in the fire but said several ambulances were at the scene. Britain is still reeling from a fire that ripped through the Grenfell Tower social housing block in west London that killed 71 people on June 14. That fire was Britain’s deadliest since World War Two, gutting the 24-storey building that housed a multi-ethnic community living in a poor area within one of London’s richest boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea.

Firefighters battle blaze in Manchester apartment block File photo/Reuters LONDON: Firefighters battled a blaze in a tower block in central Manchester, northern England, on Saturday with flames engulfing several apartments on the ninth floor. The Manchester fire service said it had sent 12 fire engines to tackle the blaze in the Northern Quarter of the city and urged people to avoid the area. It told those living nearby to keep doors and windows shut. The local Manchester Evening News said it was not yet known if anyone was hurt in the fire but said several ambulances were at the scene. Britain is still reeling from a fire that ripped through the Grenfell Tower social housing block in west London that killed 71 people on June 14. That fire was Britain’s deadliest since World War Two, gutting the 24-storey building that housed a multi-ethnic community living in a poor area within one of London’s richest boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea.

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CM Punjab takes notice of influenza cases in Multan

CM Punjab takes notice of influenza cases in Multan

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Epilepsy drugs work for most patients, but there’s room for improvement

Epilepsy drugs work for most patients, but there’s room for improvement

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8 sex trends that will be big in 2018

8 sex trends that will be big in 2018

2018 brings with it some very interesting and innovative sex trends which you sure would want to try. from LifeStyle - Latest Lifestyle Ne...
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Bizarre beauty trends of 2017

Bizarre beauty trends of 2017

Here are the top 5 most bizarre trends that dominated beauty world this year. from LifeStyle - Latest Lifestyle News, Hot Trends, Celebrit...
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Weekly Books News (Dec 21-31)

Weekly Books News (Dec 21-31)

Watch the video containing this week's top books news! from LifeStyle - Latest Lifestyle News, Hot Trends, Celebrity Styles & Even...
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Outdoor lighting ideas for New Year party

Outdoor lighting ideas for New Year party

Light up your home with these wonderful ideas and ring in 2018 in style! from LifeStyle - Latest Lifestyle News, Hot Trends, Celebrity Sty...
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Top fashion inventions of 2017

Top fashion inventions of 2017

'Futuristic Fashion' is the new sexy and 2017 saw some of the really bizarre wearable technologies. from LifeStyle - Latest Lifest...
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These 5 BIG celebs opened up about depression in 2017!

These 5 BIG celebs opened up about depression in 2017!

Celebrities are ‘coming out of the closet’ about having fought depression and anxiety more and more. from LifeStyle - Latest Lifestyle New...
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Centre caps administrative charge for land acquisition

Centre caps administrative charge for land acquisition

Asks states to cap charge at 2.5% of compensation== from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India...
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RSS affiliates meet Shah, FM, talk farm crisis, GST

RSS affiliates meet Shah, FM, talk farm crisis, GST

Six RSS-affiliated organisations have held two rounds of meetings with the BJP brass, including party chief Amit Shah, and finance minister ...
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BJP leadership in no mood to entertain sulking satraps

BJP leadership in no mood to entertain sulking satraps

Deputy Gujarat chief minister Nitin Patel's reluctance to join office due to unhappiness over his apparent "downsizing" underl...
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Padmavati row: Rajputs reject CBFC clearance

Padmavati row: Rajputs reject CBFC clearance

The Rajput community continues to oppose the release of "Padmavati" despite CBFC offering to clear the controversial film with a U...
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CBFC clears ‘Padmavati’ on certain conditions

CBFC clears ‘Padmavati’ on certain conditions

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2CcGBI9
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Sushant and Kriti's sojourn in the Alps

Sushant and Kriti's sojourn in the Alps

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2zQBmrv
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Dee Wallace Joins Horror All-Stars in DEAD Afterlife

Dee Wallace Joins Horror All-Stars in DEAD Afterlife

Horror icons Michael Berryman, Bill Moseley and Kane Hodder have united for DEAD afterlife. from Casting News http://ift.tt/2C9xS9D
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Here’s where your favourite Bollywood celebs are vacationing for New Year Various Bollywood stars took to social media to share snaps of them vacationing at happening places around the world ahead of New Year. Here are Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Kareena and Saif giving their fans some major vacation goals! I like me better when I’m with youu A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 27, 2017 at 7:05am PST Alia is away at the peaceful, beautiful Bali island with her girlfriends, and she seems to be having an amazing time. Feels A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 28, 2017 at 10:24pm PST वातावरण ️ A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 29, 2017 at 2:53am PST Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna meanwhile are enjoying the deep "blue sea and skies to match, long conversations and fishing for a catch" in Cape Town. Deep blue sea and skies to match, long conversations and fishing for a catch :) A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Dec 26, 2017 at 4:44am PST Forever making every ride full of adventure and amusement, my favourite companion...for life! Happy birthday, Tina A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Dec 28, 2017 at 7:54pm PST I want to be like a child again-to climb trees and perch on branches, only because the tree exists and so do I... #treehuggers #familyfunday #capetown A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on Dec 27, 2017 at 8:59pm PST And of course Saifeena along with the little Taimur on vacation have already hit the headlines with their adorable family photo. The trio is in  Switzerland to celebrate New Year.  A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Dec 28, 2017 at 8:54pm PST

Here’s where your favourite Bollywood celebs are vacationing for New Year Various Bollywood stars took to social media to share snaps of them vacationing at happening places around the world ahead of New Year. Here are Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Kareena and Saif giving their fans some major vacation goals! I like me better when I’m with youu A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 27, 2017 at 7:05am PST Alia is away at the peaceful, beautiful Bali island with her girlfriends, and she seems to be having an amazing time. Feels A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 28, 2017 at 10:24pm PST वातावरण ️ A post shared by Alia ️ (@aliaabhatt) on Dec 29, 2017 at 2:53am PST Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna meanwhile are enjoying the deep "blue sea and skies to match, long conversations and fishing for a catch" in Cape Town. Deep blue sea and skies to match, long conversations and fishing for a catch :) A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Dec 26, 2017 at 4:44am PST Forever making every ride full of adventure and amusement, my favourite companion...for life! Happy birthday, Tina A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Dec 28, 2017 at 7:54pm PST I want to be like a child again-to climb trees and perch on branches, only because the tree exists and so do I... #treehuggers #familyfunday #capetown A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on Dec 27, 2017 at 8:59pm PST And of course Saifeena along with the little Taimur on vacation have already hit the headlines with their adorable family photo. The trio is in  Switzerland to celebrate New Year.  A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Dec 28, 2017 at 8:54pm PST

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NAB chief takes notice of irregularities in Gwadar land allotment [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2CdlAgA style=center] ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has taken notice of irregularities revealed in land allotment in Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA) – an autonomous body formed by the provincial government to develop and manage Gwadar Industrial Estate. According to a notification dated December 30, NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has taken notice of irregularities disclosed on an extensive scale in allotment of industrial and commercial plots in GIEDA, which resulted in losses running into millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The GIEDA put the development of Balochistan on stake; instead of being an industrial development authority it turned into an estate agency, reads the notification. The authority, instead of allotting plots to genuine investors, distributed the land to relatives and other preferred buyers, the notification adds. Earlier in August, NAB Balochistan chapter launched an inquiry into an alleged multi-billion scam featuring illegal land allotment in Gwadar, after reports of private individuals being allotted 3,167 acres of state land worth Rs 70 billion in the port city. During the initial inquiry, it was revealed that certain individuals, in connivance with influential people and revenue authorities, were transferred about 12,000 acres of land. After the scam was exposed, however, the land was restored in favour of the government.

NAB chief takes notice of irregularities in Gwadar land allotment [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2CdlAgA style=center] ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has taken notice of irregularities revealed in land allotment in Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA) – an autonomous body formed by the provincial government to develop and manage Gwadar Industrial Estate. According to a notification dated December 30, NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has taken notice of irregularities disclosed on an extensive scale in allotment of industrial and commercial plots in GIEDA, which resulted in losses running into millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The GIEDA put the development of Balochistan on stake; instead of being an industrial development authority it turned into an estate agency, reads the notification. The authority, instead of allotting plots to genuine investors, distributed the land to relatives and other preferred buyers, the notification adds. Earlier in August, NAB Balochistan chapter launched an inquiry into an alleged multi-billion scam featuring illegal land allotment in Gwadar, after reports of private individuals being allotted 3,167 acres of state land worth Rs 70 billion in the port city. During the initial inquiry, it was revealed that certain individuals, in connivance with influential people and revenue authorities, were transferred about 12,000 acres of land. After the scam was exposed, however, the land was restored in favour of the government.

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Smith century secures Ashes Test draw with England Another hundred for Steve Smith, Dec 30, 2017/Getty Images  MELBOURNE: Steve Smith scored his 23rd Test century to bat out a draw for Australia in the fourth Ashes Test and deny England their first win of the series in Melbourne on Saturday. The Australia skipper stonewalled the English bowling attack to remain unconquered on 102 for his third century of the series when the Test was called a draw late on the final day. Smith joined the legendary Don Bradman as the only batsmen to score centuries in four consecutive Melbourne Tests. He also joined Ricky Ponting as the only batsmen in Test history to have made six centuries in a calendar year on multiple occasions. Australia only lost two wickets on the fifth day but coasted through after lunch to finish on 263 for four with Mitchell Marsh not out on 29. The hosts have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney next week. It was just the second drawn Boxing Day Test in 20 years, although there was criticism of the lifeless state of the Melbourne Cricket Ground drop-in pitch. Smith and Marsh comfortably batted through after lunch to ensure England were unable to go for the win after leading by 164 runs on the first innings, following a record-breaking unbeaten 244 from opener Alastair Cook. The Australia captain led the salvage operation in a 275-ball vigil to take his series tally to 604 runs at an average of 151.00 after losing batting partners David Warner and Shaun Marsh before lunch on the final day. After two painstaking hours of minimal scoring, the tourists grabbed the wickets of Warner and Marsh to briefly raise hopes of grabbing their first win in an already-decided series. Warner had looked set for his 22nd Test hundred and second century of the match before he attempted to slog the second ball of Joe Root´s first over. The ball, pitched into the foot marks, skewed into the air and James Vince took a comfortable catch in the covers to give Root the perfect present on his 27th birthday. Warner dropped his head realising he had botched a golden chance to claim Test twin centuries for a fourth time in his career. The normally adventurous opener played with great circumspection to keep England at bay, batting for 301 minutes and 227 balls in his slowest Test innings. His dismissal also ended a 107-run stand with Smith, which helped Australia wipe out the innings deficit. There was some rare excitement in the final over before lunch when Marsh edged Stuart Broad to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who took a splendid catch. Cook was named man-of-the-match after carrying his bat in England´s first innings. England opener Cook carries bat in record innings Cook's unbeaten 244 is the highest ever score by an opener to have carried his bat through an innings It was the highest score by a batsman carrying his bat in Test history, bettering New Zealander Glenn Turner´s 223 not out against the West Indies in Kingston in 1972. The last Englishman to carry his bat through a Test innings was Mike Atherton with 94 against New Zealand in 1997. Cook also surpassed the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test match at the famous MCG, bettering the 208 by West Indian great Viv Richards in 1984. There was a total attendance of 262,616 fans over the five days.

Smith century secures Ashes Test draw with England Another hundred for Steve Smith, Dec 30, 2017/Getty Images  MELBOURNE: Steve Smith scored his 23rd Test century to bat out a draw for Australia in the fourth Ashes Test and deny England their first win of the series in Melbourne on Saturday. The Australia skipper stonewalled the English bowling attack to remain unconquered on 102 for his third century of the series when the Test was called a draw late on the final day. Smith joined the legendary Don Bradman as the only batsmen to score centuries in four consecutive Melbourne Tests. He also joined Ricky Ponting as the only batsmen in Test history to have made six centuries in a calendar year on multiple occasions. Australia only lost two wickets on the fifth day but coasted through after lunch to finish on 263 for four with Mitchell Marsh not out on 29. The hosts have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney next week. It was just the second drawn Boxing Day Test in 20 years, although there was criticism of the lifeless state of the Melbourne Cricket Ground drop-in pitch. Smith and Marsh comfortably batted through after lunch to ensure England were unable to go for the win after leading by 164 runs on the first innings, following a record-breaking unbeaten 244 from opener Alastair Cook. The Australia captain led the salvage operation in a 275-ball vigil to take his series tally to 604 runs at an average of 151.00 after losing batting partners David Warner and Shaun Marsh before lunch on the final day. After two painstaking hours of minimal scoring, the tourists grabbed the wickets of Warner and Marsh to briefly raise hopes of grabbing their first win in an already-decided series. Warner had looked set for his 22nd Test hundred and second century of the match before he attempted to slog the second ball of Joe Root´s first over. The ball, pitched into the foot marks, skewed into the air and James Vince took a comfortable catch in the covers to give Root the perfect present on his 27th birthday. Warner dropped his head realising he had botched a golden chance to claim Test twin centuries for a fourth time in his career. The normally adventurous opener played with great circumspection to keep England at bay, batting for 301 minutes and 227 balls in his slowest Test innings. His dismissal also ended a 107-run stand with Smith, which helped Australia wipe out the innings deficit. There was some rare excitement in the final over before lunch when Marsh edged Stuart Broad to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who took a splendid catch. Cook was named man-of-the-match after carrying his bat in England´s first innings. England opener Cook carries bat in record innings Cook's unbeaten 244 is the highest ever score by an opener to have carried his bat through an innings It was the highest score by a batsman carrying his bat in Test history, bettering New Zealander Glenn Turner´s 223 not out against the West Indies in Kingston in 1972. The last Englishman to carry his bat through a Test innings was Mike Atherton with 94 against New Zealand in 1997. Cook also surpassed the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test match at the famous MCG, bettering the 208 by West Indian great Viv Richards in 1984. There was a total attendance of 262,616 fans over the five days.

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PAT-led All Parties Conference to bring major party leaders to Lahore today [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2zOKxIW style=center] LAHORE: Leaders of major political parties will gather today in Lahore to attend an All Parties Conference called by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) over the Model Town incident inquiry report. Leaders from PSP, PPP, PTI, MQM, PML-Q and other parties will present a joint front against the government in protest of the 2014 incident in which 14 people were killed and scores injured. PAT chief Tahirul Qadri has stepped up demands for resignation from Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanuallah after the release of the Model Town inquiry report prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission. PTI and PPP have meanwhile assured PAT of support for getting justice for the victims of the incident. Will abide by all decisions taken in APC, says Zardari after meeting Qadri Party has always raised its voice against injustice and for the rights of the poor, says Zardari PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said, while addressing a joint press conference with Tahirul Qadri, that the party will abide by all decisions taken in the All Parties Conference scheduled for December 30. "Shehbaz Sharif will have to step down, cases are registered against Nawaz and Rana Sanaullah will also need to step down," said Zardari while reiterating his earlier demand. PTI chief Imran Khan also reiterated his support for the PAT chief on Friday, saying the Model Town incident is a humanitarian issue and he will always support Qadri in raising voice against the injustice.  Culprits identified by report should be brought to justice: Kamal Pakistan Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal in a media talk after arriving at Lahore airport today said that those identified as responsible by the Najfi report should be brought to justice. The report has brought out everything in the open, he added. "We will see what the agenda of the APC is, and what decisions are made," Kamal said, adding that he is attending the conference to express solidarity with those who faced brutalities.  The incident on June 17, 2014 claimed lives of at least 14 people and left over 100 others injured during an 'anti-encroachment operation' by Punjab Police outside Idara Minhajul Quran in Lahore's Model Town.  Model Town report The Punjab government on Lahore High Court's orders had made the report of the Model Town incident public on December 5. Police tried to cover up who gave orders to shoot: Model Town inquiry report Punjab govt issued commission report on Tuesday after orders by the Lahore High Court The inquiry report said that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters. It added that no legal opinion was sought from the Punjab advocate general prior to the start of the operation.

PAT-led All Parties Conference to bring major party leaders to Lahore today [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2zOKxIW style=center] LAHORE: Leaders of major political parties will gather today in Lahore to attend an All Parties Conference called by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) over the Model Town incident inquiry report. Leaders from PSP, PPP, PTI, MQM, PML-Q and other parties will present a joint front against the government in protest of the 2014 incident in which 14 people were killed and scores injured. PAT chief Tahirul Qadri has stepped up demands for resignation from Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanuallah after the release of the Model Town inquiry report prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission. PTI and PPP have meanwhile assured PAT of support for getting justice for the victims of the incident. Will abide by all decisions taken in APC, says Zardari after meeting Qadri Party has always raised its voice against injustice and for the rights of the poor, says Zardari PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said, while addressing a joint press conference with Tahirul Qadri, that the party will abide by all decisions taken in the All Parties Conference scheduled for December 30. "Shehbaz Sharif will have to step down, cases are registered against Nawaz and Rana Sanaullah will also need to step down," said Zardari while reiterating his earlier demand. PTI chief Imran Khan also reiterated his support for the PAT chief on Friday, saying the Model Town incident is a humanitarian issue and he will always support Qadri in raising voice against the injustice.  Culprits identified by report should be brought to justice: Kamal Pakistan Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal in a media talk after arriving at Lahore airport today said that those identified as responsible by the Najfi report should be brought to justice. The report has brought out everything in the open, he added. "We will see what the agenda of the APC is, and what decisions are made," Kamal said, adding that he is attending the conference to express solidarity with those who faced brutalities.  The incident on June 17, 2014 claimed lives of at least 14 people and left over 100 others injured during an 'anti-encroachment operation' by Punjab Police outside Idara Minhajul Quran in Lahore's Model Town.  Model Town report The Punjab government on Lahore High Court's orders had made the report of the Model Town incident public on December 5. Police tried to cover up who gave orders to shoot: Model Town inquiry report Punjab govt issued commission report on Tuesday after orders by the Lahore High Court The inquiry report said that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters. It added that no legal opinion was sought from the Punjab advocate general prior to the start of the operation.

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Nawaz leaves today to join Shehbaz, Saad Rafique in Saudi Arabia [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cd3riX style=center] LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif leaves for Saudi Arabia today, where he will join his brother, the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique. Nawaz will depart for Riyadh today afternoon and is expected to return on Jan 2, 2018, in time for his next court hearing, said sources. During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Earlier on Friday, Saad Rafique left for Saudi Arabia along with his family, after Chief Minister Shehbaz reached Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia  Sources stated that the Sharif brothers are also expected to visit London after concluding their trip to the kingdom. According to Mussadiq Malik — the prime minister's adviser — Shehbaz is on a personal visit to the kingdom and will also perform Umrah. ‘Nawaz, Shehbaz to discuss Muslim Ummah issues in Saudi Arabia’ Speaking in Geo News talk show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath’, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Sharif brothers will discuss issues being faced by the Muslim Ummah and the region during their visit to Saudi Arabia. “They [Nawaz and Shehbaz] will not be talking about national matters, they will be discussing issues being faced by the Muslim world and the region,” he said, rejecting speculation by opponents that Nawaz was trying to get another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Nawaz trying for another NRO, claims Imran Imran Khan addressed media in Islamabad “If Saudi Arabia is getting an NRO done then where is the other party?” Sanaullah remarked. Eluding to PTI chairman Imran Khan, the minister added that if the opponents “resort to sit-ins again so close to the elections, the opponents will be the ones to bear losses.” Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, during a visit to Quetta earlier, played down the visits to Saudi Arabia saying all year round Muslims gather in Saudi Arabia for religious purposes.  "It isn't necessary that the trips are political in nature," he said. Senator Mushahidullah, sharing his views on the visit, said the involvement of Saudi Arabia in Pakistani politics is nothing new.  In the past as well, Saudi Arabia played its role between the government and opposition during PNA movement, he added.  Musharraf is a coward: Nawaz  During a meeting with party members in Raiwind on Friday, Nawaz Sharif called former dictator Pervez Musharraf a "coward". "If Musharraf has any courage he should come to Pakistan and face the courts," said the former premier, adding that it was "high time those breaking the Constitution were punished." 

Nawaz leaves today to join Shehbaz, Saad Rafique in Saudi Arabia [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Cd3riX style=center] LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif leaves for Saudi Arabia today, where he will join his brother, the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique. Nawaz will depart for Riyadh today afternoon and is expected to return on Jan 2, 2018, in time for his next court hearing, said sources. During the Saudi visit, the PML-N leadership is expected to meet with important personalities including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Earlier on Friday, Saad Rafique left for Saudi Arabia along with his family, after Chief Minister Shehbaz reached Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia  Sources stated that the Sharif brothers are also expected to visit London after concluding their trip to the kingdom. According to Mussadiq Malik — the prime minister's adviser — Shehbaz is on a personal visit to the kingdom and will also perform Umrah. ‘Nawaz, Shehbaz to discuss Muslim Ummah issues in Saudi Arabia’ Speaking in Geo News talk show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath’, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Sharif brothers will discuss issues being faced by the Muslim Ummah and the region during their visit to Saudi Arabia. “They [Nawaz and Shehbaz] will not be talking about national matters, they will be discussing issues being faced by the Muslim world and the region,” he said, rejecting speculation by opponents that Nawaz was trying to get another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Nawaz trying for another NRO, claims Imran Imran Khan addressed media in Islamabad “If Saudi Arabia is getting an NRO done then where is the other party?” Sanaullah remarked. Eluding to PTI chairman Imran Khan, the minister added that if the opponents “resort to sit-ins again so close to the elections, the opponents will be the ones to bear losses.” Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, during a visit to Quetta earlier, played down the visits to Saudi Arabia saying all year round Muslims gather in Saudi Arabia for religious purposes.  "It isn't necessary that the trips are political in nature," he said. Senator Mushahidullah, sharing his views on the visit, said the involvement of Saudi Arabia in Pakistani politics is nothing new.  In the past as well, Saudi Arabia played its role between the government and opposition during PNA movement, he added.  Musharraf is a coward: Nawaz  During a meeting with party members in Raiwind on Friday, Nawaz Sharif called former dictator Pervez Musharraf a "coward". "If Musharraf has any courage he should come to Pakistan and face the courts," said the former premier, adding that it was "high time those breaking the Constitution were punished." 

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India declines visas to Pakistani pilgrims [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2zNVmLo style=center] Pakistan on Saturday regretted India's decision to refuse visas to Pakistanis pilgrims travelling to the country to participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA) in Delhi beginning from Monday. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal in a statement said it was a last-minute decision by India to decline the the visas. This is unfortunate and runs counter to the letter and spirit of the 1974 Protocol and objective of people-to-people contacts, he added. The spokesperson said such measures also undermine the efforts aimed at improving the environment and normalising relations between the two countries. The protocol governs visits by the citizens of both countries for religious purposes. A number of religious pilgrims from both countries are issued visas every year to visit places of religious importance. 

India declines visas to Pakistani pilgrims [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2zNVmLo style=center] Pakistan on Saturday regretted India's decision to refuse visas to Pakistanis pilgrims travelling to the country to participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA) in Delhi beginning from Monday. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal in a statement said it was a last-minute decision by India to decline the the visas. This is unfortunate and runs counter to the letter and spirit of the 1974 Protocol and objective of people-to-people contacts, he added. The spokesperson said such measures also undermine the efforts aimed at improving the environment and normalising relations between the two countries. The protocol governs visits by the citizens of both countries for religious purposes. A number of religious pilgrims from both countries are issued visas every year to visit places of religious importance. 

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Pakistan refused to give access to foreign couple’s abductor: US media [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lrUreq style=center] Detailing one of the causes of the ‘rift’ between Pakistan and US, a report in the New York Times claims that relations between the two countries soured after Pakistan refused to give access to the United States to one of the abductors of the American-Canadian couple, who were recovered earlier in October. The newspaper claims that one of the abductors of the couple was also arrested at the same time the couple was rescued.  “When Pakistani forces freed a Canadian-American family this fall held captive by militants, they also captured one of the abductors. United States officials saw a potential windfall: He was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network who could perhaps provide valuable information about at least one other American hostage,” says the report.  The US had demanded access to the suspect, but the request was rejected by Pakistani officials - “the latest disagreement in the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between the countries.” In response, the Trump administration is considering to withhold $255 million in aid that it had delayed sending to Islamabad, the newspaper said. Pakistan Army rescues Canadian-US family  On October 12, the Pakistan Army recovered five foreign hostages who were held as captives in Afghanistan, said a statement released by the Army's media wing. The hostages, a Canadian, his US national wife and their three children were rescued from the captivity of terrorists, after the couple was captured in Afghanistan in 2012, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Rescued US-Canadian family arrives in Canada The family travelled from Pakistan to London and then to Toronto, where they arrived late on Friday: Canadian media US intelligence services had been tracking the movement of the hostages and informed their Pakistani partners when the hostages were moved across the Pak-Afghan border into Kurram Agency on October 11, 2017. The Army further said that the successful execution of the hostage-rescue operation underscored the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan’s continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy. American Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. 

Pakistan refused to give access to foreign couple’s abductor: US media [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lrUreq style=center] Detailing one of the causes of the ‘rift’ between Pakistan and US, a report in the New York Times claims that relations between the two countries soured after Pakistan refused to give access to the United States to one of the abductors of the American-Canadian couple, who were recovered earlier in October. The newspaper claims that one of the abductors of the couple was also arrested at the same time the couple was rescued.  “When Pakistani forces freed a Canadian-American family this fall held captive by militants, they also captured one of the abductors. United States officials saw a potential windfall: He was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network who could perhaps provide valuable information about at least one other American hostage,” says the report.  The US had demanded access to the suspect, but the request was rejected by Pakistani officials - “the latest disagreement in the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between the countries.” In response, the Trump administration is considering to withhold $255 million in aid that it had delayed sending to Islamabad, the newspaper said. Pakistan Army rescues Canadian-US family  On October 12, the Pakistan Army recovered five foreign hostages who were held as captives in Afghanistan, said a statement released by the Army's media wing. The hostages, a Canadian, his US national wife and their three children were rescued from the captivity of terrorists, after the couple was captured in Afghanistan in 2012, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Rescued US-Canadian family arrives in Canada The family travelled from Pakistan to London and then to Toronto, where they arrived late on Friday: Canadian media US intelligence services had been tracking the movement of the hostages and informed their Pakistani partners when the hostages were moved across the Pak-Afghan border into Kurram Agency on October 11, 2017. The Army further said that the successful execution of the hostage-rescue operation underscored the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan’s continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy. American Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. 

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Pakistan refused to give access to foreign couple’s abductor: US media [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lrUreq style=center] Detailing one of the causes of the ‘rift’ between Pakistan and US, a report in the New York Times claims that relations between the two countries soured after Pakistan refused to give access to the United States to one of the abductors of the American-Canadian couple, who were recovered earlier in October. The newspaper claims that one of the abductors of the couple was also arrested at the same time the couple was rescued.  “When Pakistani forces freed a Canadian-American family this fall held captive by militants, they also captured one of the abductors. United States officials saw a potential windfall: He was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network who could perhaps provide valuable information about at least one other American hostage,” says the report.  The US had demanded access to the suspect, but the request was rejected by Pakistani officials - “the latest disagreement in the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between the countries.” In response, the Trump administration is considering to withhold $255 million in aid that it had delayed sending to Islamabad, the newspaper said. Pakistan Army rescues Canadian-US family  On October 12, the Pakistan Army recovered five foreign hostages who were held as captives in Afghanistan, said a statement released by the Army's media wing. The hostages, a Canadian, his US national wife and their three children were rescued from the captivity of terrorists, after the couple was captured in Afghanistan in 2012, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Rescued US-Canadian family arrives in Canada The family travelled from Pakistan to London and then to Toronto, where they arrived late on Friday: Canadian media US intelligence services had been tracking the movement of the hostages and informed their Pakistani partners when the hostages were moved across the Pak-Afghan border into Kurram Agency on October 11, 2017. The Army further said that the successful execution of the hostage-rescue operation underscored the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan’s continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy. American Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. 

Pakistan refused to give access to foreign couple’s abductor: US media [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2lrUreq style=center] Detailing one of the causes of the ‘rift’ between Pakistan and US, a report in the New York Times claims that relations between the two countries soured after Pakistan refused to give access to the United States to one of the abductors of the American-Canadian couple, who were recovered earlier in October. The newspaper claims that one of the abductors of the couple was also arrested at the same time the couple was rescued.  “When Pakistani forces freed a Canadian-American family this fall held captive by militants, they also captured one of the abductors. United States officials saw a potential windfall: He was a member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network who could perhaps provide valuable information about at least one other American hostage,” says the report.  The US had demanded access to the suspect, but the request was rejected by Pakistani officials - “the latest disagreement in the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between the countries.” In response, the Trump administration is considering to withhold $255 million in aid that it had delayed sending to Islamabad, the newspaper said. Pakistan Army rescues Canadian-US family  On October 12, the Pakistan Army recovered five foreign hostages who were held as captives in Afghanistan, said a statement released by the Army's media wing. The hostages, a Canadian, his US national wife and their three children were rescued from the captivity of terrorists, after the couple was captured in Afghanistan in 2012, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Rescued US-Canadian family arrives in Canada The family travelled from Pakistan to London and then to Toronto, where they arrived late on Friday: Canadian media US intelligence services had been tracking the movement of the hostages and informed their Pakistani partners when the hostages were moved across the Pak-Afghan border into Kurram Agency on October 11, 2017. The Army further said that the successful execution of the hostage-rescue operation underscored the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan’s continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy. American Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. 

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India summons its high commissioner in Pakistan over spy Jadhav Bisaria will leave Islamabad for New Delhi today India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has summoned Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to hold consultations over the matter of family reunion of spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Bisaria will leave Islamabad for New Delhi today. India has alleged that Jadhav’s family was harassed while they were visiting him in Pakistan. Swaraj claimed that the visit was used by Pakistan for propaganda purposes. On December 25, Jadhav’s mother and wife met him at the Pakistani Foreign Office in Islamabad. The meeting was allowed by Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. Jadhav confessed to his role as an Indian spy and terrorist during the meeting with his family, according to reports in the Indian media. Indian FM alleges spy Jadhav’s family was harassed Sushma Swaraj says if there was a camera in Jadhav's wife's shoes, it should have been displayed to the media During the meeting with his mother Avanti and wife Chetna on December 25 in Islamabad, Jadhav admitted he was an Indian spy and had engineered a spate of terror attacks on Pakistani soil. The meeting lasted almost 40 minutes, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. Indian diplomats, including Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, accompanied Jadhav's family and were present during the meeting, which was conducted in a specially prepared room via an intercom through a glass partition. Comprehensive security check was necessary, FM Asif on Jadhav's family meeting Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday categorically rejected all Indian allegations regarding Jadhav's meeting with his family, saying that a comprehensive security check was necessary, which was earlier agreed upon by both the sides through diplomatic channels. He said the visitors were treated with dignity and respect, adding that the change of clothes and removal of jewelry were entirely for security reasons. “The visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting. All their belongings were returned to them before they left. The wife's shoes were retained as they did not clear the security check. A metal chip has been found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed,” said the statement.

India summons its high commissioner in Pakistan over spy Jadhav Bisaria will leave Islamabad for New Delhi today India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has summoned Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to hold consultations over the matter of family reunion of spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Bisaria will leave Islamabad for New Delhi today. India has alleged that Jadhav’s family was harassed while they were visiting him in Pakistan. Swaraj claimed that the visit was used by Pakistan for propaganda purposes. On December 25, Jadhav’s mother and wife met him at the Pakistani Foreign Office in Islamabad. The meeting was allowed by Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. Jadhav confessed to his role as an Indian spy and terrorist during the meeting with his family, according to reports in the Indian media. Indian FM alleges spy Jadhav’s family was harassed Sushma Swaraj says if there was a camera in Jadhav's wife's shoes, it should have been displayed to the media During the meeting with his mother Avanti and wife Chetna on December 25 in Islamabad, Jadhav admitted he was an Indian spy and had engineered a spate of terror attacks on Pakistani soil. The meeting lasted almost 40 minutes, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. Indian diplomats, including Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, accompanied Jadhav's family and were present during the meeting, which was conducted in a specially prepared room via an intercom through a glass partition. Comprehensive security check was necessary, FM Asif on Jadhav's family meeting Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday categorically rejected all Indian allegations regarding Jadhav's meeting with his family, saying that a comprehensive security check was necessary, which was earlier agreed upon by both the sides through diplomatic channels. He said the visitors were treated with dignity and respect, adding that the change of clothes and removal of jewelry were entirely for security reasons. “The visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting. All their belongings were returned to them before they left. The wife's shoes were retained as they did not clear the security check. A metal chip has been found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed,” said the statement.

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Finance adviser Miftah Ismail targets tax reforms, touts rupee flexibility New finance chief Miftah Ismail/Reuters  ISLAMABAD: New finance ministry chief Miftah Ismail said he plans significant tax reforms in the five months before the government’s term ends ahead of a 2018 election, and touted a policy of greater currency flexibility. Pakistan’s government has in recent months devalued the rupee, imposed tariffs on imported goods and sought to boost exports to reduce growing balance of payments pressures fuelling concern about health of the nearly $300 billion economy. The country this month borrowed $2.5 billion from international markets via a Sukuk and eurobond offers that were vastly oversubscribed and fetched lower-than-expected rates. Ismail, a wealthy businessman and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, was on Wednesday appointed as finance adviser to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a role that makes him de facto finance minister. Ismail told Reuters in an interview he plans tax reforms to focus on widening the tax base, simplifying tax structures, and slashing personal tax rates to encourage more people to file returns. “We have to reduce rates and the prime minister is very eager to especially reduce rates on individuals,” Ismail said at his home in Islamabad, referring to his close ally Abbasi. Tax rates on individuals vary in Pakistan, but can be as high as 30 percent for salaried individuals and 35 percent for non-salaried individuals. “(Abbasi) wants to bring it to 15 percent or so,” Ismail said. Pakistan has a very narrow tax base. Successive governments have promised to rein in tax evaders and boost revenues but have faced fierce resistance to change, including from the many politicians and businessmen believed to be among those dodging their taxes. The central bank devalued the currency by about 5 percent this month, and the market expects further weakening of the rupee before the polls in mid-2018 to ease balance of payments pressure stemming from a widening trade deficit and growing fiscal deficit. Miftah Ismail appointed PM’s adviser on finance Miftah Ismail has been appointed Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, with the status of Federal Minister The devaluation followed the departure of Ishaq Dar, the previous finance minister who was staunchly opposed to a weaker rupee and had admonished the central bank for an attempt to weaken the currency in July. Ismail said the government has altered its policy of the past few years, under which it had essentially pegged the rupee to the dollar and defended its value. “We’ve decided to not do that,” Ismail added. Analysts say Pakistan’s central bank effectively sets the currency rate as it is the biggest player in the thinly traded rupee market and controls what is widely understood to be a managed float system. When asked if he would be opposed to the rupee weakening another 5 percent, as the market expects, Ismail said there was a policy of greater flexibility for the currency and he would not be hostile to it either weakening or firming. “I‘m a big believer in the free market,” he said. “We are largely letting the rupee be.” Ismail also said Pakistan may return to international markets for a fresh bond offering but that this was unlikely before late 2018. “We will probably not go back to the international markets to issue a new bond until the end of next calendar year so it will not be in this fiscal year anymore,” he said.

Finance adviser Miftah Ismail targets tax reforms, touts rupee flexibility New finance chief Miftah Ismail/Reuters  ISLAMABAD: New finance ministry chief Miftah Ismail said he plans significant tax reforms in the five months before the government’s term ends ahead of a 2018 election, and touted a policy of greater currency flexibility. Pakistan’s government has in recent months devalued the rupee, imposed tariffs on imported goods and sought to boost exports to reduce growing balance of payments pressures fuelling concern about health of the nearly $300 billion economy. The country this month borrowed $2.5 billion from international markets via a Sukuk and eurobond offers that were vastly oversubscribed and fetched lower-than-expected rates. Ismail, a wealthy businessman and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, was on Wednesday appointed as finance adviser to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a role that makes him de facto finance minister. Ismail told Reuters in an interview he plans tax reforms to focus on widening the tax base, simplifying tax structures, and slashing personal tax rates to encourage more people to file returns. “We have to reduce rates and the prime minister is very eager to especially reduce rates on individuals,” Ismail said at his home in Islamabad, referring to his close ally Abbasi. Tax rates on individuals vary in Pakistan, but can be as high as 30 percent for salaried individuals and 35 percent for non-salaried individuals. “(Abbasi) wants to bring it to 15 percent or so,” Ismail said. Pakistan has a very narrow tax base. Successive governments have promised to rein in tax evaders and boost revenues but have faced fierce resistance to change, including from the many politicians and businessmen believed to be among those dodging their taxes. The central bank devalued the currency by about 5 percent this month, and the market expects further weakening of the rupee before the polls in mid-2018 to ease balance of payments pressure stemming from a widening trade deficit and growing fiscal deficit. Miftah Ismail appointed PM’s adviser on finance Miftah Ismail has been appointed Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, with the status of Federal Minister The devaluation followed the departure of Ishaq Dar, the previous finance minister who was staunchly opposed to a weaker rupee and had admonished the central bank for an attempt to weaken the currency in July. Ismail said the government has altered its policy of the past few years, under which it had essentially pegged the rupee to the dollar and defended its value. “We’ve decided to not do that,” Ismail added. Analysts say Pakistan’s central bank effectively sets the currency rate as it is the biggest player in the thinly traded rupee market and controls what is widely understood to be a managed float system. When asked if he would be opposed to the rupee weakening another 5 percent, as the market expects, Ismail said there was a policy of greater flexibility for the currency and he would not be hostile to it either weakening or firming. “I‘m a big believer in the free market,” he said. “We are largely letting the rupee be.” Ismail also said Pakistan may return to international markets for a fresh bond offering but that this was unlikely before late 2018. “We will probably not go back to the international markets to issue a new bond until the end of next calendar year so it will not be in this fiscal year anymore,” he said.

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Cold Canada forced to cancel some New Year's events Visitors try to keep warm at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls as cities across Canada cancel events due to the deep freeze/AAP OTTAWA: Canadians pride themselves on living with cold weather -- but sub-zero temperatures proved too much even for them Friday, with concerts canceled and ski hills closed for safety reasons during an extreme year-end cold snap. Temperatures almost reached -58 F (-50 C) in two central Canadian cities, Regina and Winnipeg. In the capital Ottawa, meanwhile, authorities announced the cancelation of some shows marking the end of Canada´s 150th anniversary celebrations held this year. The events scheduled for Saturday and New Year´s Eve on Sunday have been modified due to the Environment Canada weather service´s "extreme cold warning and due to public health and safety concerns," the Ministry of Culture said in a statement. Appearances by DJs Carl and Evana Muren, DJ Shub, and hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall have been canceled for New Year´s Eve but a fireworks display will go ahead. The "Canada 150" ice hockey tournament has been moved indoors from an outdoor rink in front of Parliament. Environment Canada on Friday maintained its extreme cold warning for six of the country´s 10 provinces, including British Columbia in the far west, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, as well as the Yukon territory in the northwest. "We invite all Canadians and visitors to consider the extreme weather conditions and to dress warmly and prepare accordingly to prevent frostbite and other injuries," the ministry said. Quebec´s Bromont ski resort said it was closing at 3:30 pm on Friday afternoon "due to the latest weather forecast, safety matters, and at the request of Hydro-Quebec to reduce the power demand during the peak period." The mountain would reopen on Saturday but with only a few slopes operating. Mont Orford, a ski resort east of Montreal, has also reduced its hours.

Cold Canada forced to cancel some New Year's events Visitors try to keep warm at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls as cities across Canada cancel events due to the deep freeze/AAP OTTAWA: Canadians pride themselves on living with cold weather -- but sub-zero temperatures proved too much even for them Friday, with concerts canceled and ski hills closed for safety reasons during an extreme year-end cold snap. Temperatures almost reached -58 F (-50 C) in two central Canadian cities, Regina and Winnipeg. In the capital Ottawa, meanwhile, authorities announced the cancelation of some shows marking the end of Canada´s 150th anniversary celebrations held this year. The events scheduled for Saturday and New Year´s Eve on Sunday have been modified due to the Environment Canada weather service´s "extreme cold warning and due to public health and safety concerns," the Ministry of Culture said in a statement. Appearances by DJs Carl and Evana Muren, DJ Shub, and hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall have been canceled for New Year´s Eve but a fireworks display will go ahead. The "Canada 150" ice hockey tournament has been moved indoors from an outdoor rink in front of Parliament. Environment Canada on Friday maintained its extreme cold warning for six of the country´s 10 provinces, including British Columbia in the far west, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, as well as the Yukon territory in the northwest. "We invite all Canadians and visitors to consider the extreme weather conditions and to dress warmly and prepare accordingly to prevent frostbite and other injuries," the ministry said. Quebec´s Bromont ski resort said it was closing at 3:30 pm on Friday afternoon "due to the latest weather forecast, safety matters, and at the request of Hydro-Quebec to reduce the power demand during the peak period." The mountain would reopen on Saturday but with only a few slopes operating. Mont Orford, a ski resort east of Montreal, has also reduced its hours.

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Gunman kills two at Houston garage, takes his own life Scene of the shooting  AUSTIN: A former worker at a Houston auto repair shop fatally shot two employees on Friday and then committed suicide, Houston police said. "The two people he shot were found dead on the scene," Houston homicide Detective D. Crowder said by telephone. The gunmen fired on the two employees, exited the shop and killed himself in a nearby yard. The incident unfolded in a manner of minutes, police said. The identities of the victims and the shooter have not been released.

Gunman kills two at Houston garage, takes his own life Scene of the shooting  AUSTIN: A former worker at a Houston auto repair shop fatally shot two employees on Friday and then committed suicide, Houston police said. "The two people he shot were found dead on the scene," Houston homicide Detective D. Crowder said by telephone. The gunmen fired on the two employees, exited the shop and killed himself in a nearby yard. The incident unfolded in a manner of minutes, police said. The identities of the victims and the shooter have not been released.

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US crude ends year above $60 on strong global oil demand A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US, April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files CALGARY: US oil prices closed above $60 a barrel on the final trading day of the year — the first time since mid-2015 — as the commodity ended 2017 with a 12 percent gain spurred by strong demand and declining global inventories. International benchmark Brent crude futures ended the year with a 17 percent rise, supported by ongoing supply cuts by top producers OPEC and Russia as well as strong demand from China. The spread between the benchmarks widened throughout the year, as Brent responded to the drawdown in supply from major world producers while US output continued to grow. The gains indicate that the global glut that has dogged the market since 2014 is shrinking. Earlier this year, oil prices slumped on concerns that rising crude production from Nigeria, Libya, and elsewhere would undermine output cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia. But prices have rallied nearly 50 percent since the middle of the year on robust demand and strong compliance with the production limits. “That trend is likely to continue into 2018 and worldwide oil inventories will continue their decline,” Andrew Lipow — the president of Houston-based Lipow Oil Associates — said. Lipow said he expected US crude prices to creep up to around $63 a barrel by the end of next year, while Brent would remain around $67 a barrel as US oil exports rise to record levels. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $60.42, the highest close since June 2015. Brent crude futures were last up 45 cents at $66.62 a barrel at 1932 GMT. Brent broke through $67 this week for the first time since May 2015. WTI prices were supported by data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) late Thursday showing domestic oil production declined last week to 9.75 million barrels per day (BPD) from 9.79 million BPD the previous week. Monthly EIA data released on Friday showed US crude production hit a 46-year high in October, but the country’s oil exports and demand also rose. US output is up almost 16 percent since mid-2016. Analysts expect production to top 10 million BPD in the next few weeks and to keep growing, limiting efforts by other producers to cap global supplies. “The US shale impact is now encroaching on uncharted territory,” analysts at RBC Capital Markets wrote this month, saying it had “redrawn the global crude flow map”. WTI prices were further boosted by an EIA report of a 4.6 million barrel weekly drop in US commercial crude storage levels. Inventories are down by almost 20 percent from historic highs last March, and well below this time last year or in 2015. Extreme cold weather across much of North America could also boost US crude prices by causing production problems in the oilfields. Pipeline outages In international markets, China has issued crude oil import quotas totalling 121.32 million tonnes for 44 companies in its first batch of allowances for 2018. China’s imports at around 8.5 million BPD — already the world’s biggest — are expected to hit another record in 2018 as new refining capacity is brought online and Beijing allows more independent refiners to import crude. Pipeline outages in Libya and the North Sea have supported oil prices, although both disruptions are expected to be resolved by early January. Libya is to start repairing the pipeline near the Es Sider terminal this weekend, a Libyan oil official said, while the Forties pipeline was already pumping close to normal levels, according to trading sources.

US crude ends year above $60 on strong global oil demand A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US, April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files CALGARY: US oil prices closed above $60 a barrel on the final trading day of the year — the first time since mid-2015 — as the commodity ended 2017 with a 12 percent gain spurred by strong demand and declining global inventories. International benchmark Brent crude futures ended the year with a 17 percent rise, supported by ongoing supply cuts by top producers OPEC and Russia as well as strong demand from China. The spread between the benchmarks widened throughout the year, as Brent responded to the drawdown in supply from major world producers while US output continued to grow. The gains indicate that the global glut that has dogged the market since 2014 is shrinking. Earlier this year, oil prices slumped on concerns that rising crude production from Nigeria, Libya, and elsewhere would undermine output cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia. But prices have rallied nearly 50 percent since the middle of the year on robust demand and strong compliance with the production limits. “That trend is likely to continue into 2018 and worldwide oil inventories will continue their decline,” Andrew Lipow — the president of Houston-based Lipow Oil Associates — said. Lipow said he expected US crude prices to creep up to around $63 a barrel by the end of next year, while Brent would remain around $67 a barrel as US oil exports rise to record levels. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $60.42, the highest close since June 2015. Brent crude futures were last up 45 cents at $66.62 a barrel at 1932 GMT. Brent broke through $67 this week for the first time since May 2015. WTI prices were supported by data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) late Thursday showing domestic oil production declined last week to 9.75 million barrels per day (BPD) from 9.79 million BPD the previous week. Monthly EIA data released on Friday showed US crude production hit a 46-year high in October, but the country’s oil exports and demand also rose. US output is up almost 16 percent since mid-2016. Analysts expect production to top 10 million BPD in the next few weeks and to keep growing, limiting efforts by other producers to cap global supplies. “The US shale impact is now encroaching on uncharted territory,” analysts at RBC Capital Markets wrote this month, saying it had “redrawn the global crude flow map”. WTI prices were further boosted by an EIA report of a 4.6 million barrel weekly drop in US commercial crude storage levels. Inventories are down by almost 20 percent from historic highs last March, and well below this time last year or in 2015. Extreme cold weather across much of North America could also boost US crude prices by causing production problems in the oilfields. Pipeline outages In international markets, China has issued crude oil import quotas totalling 121.32 million tonnes for 44 companies in its first batch of allowances for 2018. China’s imports at around 8.5 million BPD — already the world’s biggest — are expected to hit another record in 2018 as new refining capacity is brought online and Beijing allows more independent refiners to import crude. Pipeline outages in Libya and the North Sea have supported oil prices, although both disruptions are expected to be resolved by early January. Libya is to start repairing the pipeline near the Es Sider terminal this weekend, a Libyan oil official said, while the Forties pipeline was already pumping close to normal levels, according to trading sources.

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Where deadly Bronx fire raged, an eerie, icy calm Bronx: There are barely any traces of fire on the apartment building´s facade, no puddles of water on the ground, and only a handful of onlookers. The scene of New York´s deadliest fire in decades -- 12 are dead -- seems frozen by the frigid temperatures, which dropped to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius). On Friday, only two fire trucks, their lights still flashing, hinted at the drama that had unfolded the evening before in the Bronx. On the sidewalk, water blasted out by fire hoses encased the branches of a tree in ice -- a reminder of the Christmas decorations adorning 187th Street a few yards (meters) away, which are at odds with the tragic blaze. In this neighborhood, historically Italian but now multicultural, just a few people came to look at the building, which remains behind yellow security tape whipped by a frigid wind. Boy, three, playing with stove caused deadly New York fire, officials say The toddler had a history of fiddling with the stove in the kitchen of his family’s first-floor apartment, his mother said Two men come and go from the corner grocery. They are in their 20s, their shoulders covered with a blanket from the Red Cross. With a faraway look in their eyes, they decline to answer questions from reporters. Rafik Al-Jabali, 47, a neighbor who operates one of three grocery stores on the nearest corner, saw the tragedy quickly unfold. "It happened like this," he says, snapping his fingers. Jabali lives in the building right across the street from the doomed apartment block. He says he was in bed when the fire started. By the time he got to the window, firefighters had already begun working. Thick, dark smoke poured out of several windows. Moments later, he saw a woman taken out on a stretcher. "She was already dead," Jabali said, lowering his eyes. Haunted by the images Joel Rodriguez, 40, lives on the ground floor of the building and was able to escape rather easily, even though smoke had turned the corridors "pitch black." He saw several of his neighbors, brought out -- naked or largely exposed, deprived of their dignity -- on stretchers. Some of them were burned. "It was very tough," Rodriguez says. "I still have the images in my mind. I can´t erase them," he adds, his eyes masked by dark glasses. The city´s fire chief said Friday that a three-year-old boy playing with stove burners apparently accidentally ignited the fire. The victims included three small girls and an unidentified boy. Rodriguez says the building was home to "happy people" who brought out their barbecues in summer, noting: "Everybody has fun. We all get along. There´s no dispute or nothing." A visibly fatigued Rodriguez says he slept a little in his car, between visits to the hospital where his wife is being treated for smoke inhalation. He has a hard time seeing himself return to live in the building of light-colored bricks that was built in the early 20th century and which has become a tomb. "Today, I wouldn´t want to come back. It´s a memorial site right now," Rodriguez says. ´Today, they have nothing´  Behind him, Kenneth Cruiz arrives with a cart full of clothes that he had saved for victims of this year´s hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, but never had the chance to give away. "This morning, my wife added three more jackets and I came over," he says, marching towards a school where most of the fire survivors are staying. A police officer says nobody is there, even if at least seven of his colleagues are stationed in the entrance, and dozens of officials come and go. He lets Cruiz leave the clothes. "My good deed," Cruiz says. "I´m sure a few hours ago, these people had everything, Christmas presents and everything. Today, they have nothing.

Where deadly Bronx fire raged, an eerie, icy calm Bronx: There are barely any traces of fire on the apartment building´s facade, no puddles of water on the ground, and only a handful of onlookers. The scene of New York´s deadliest fire in decades -- 12 are dead -- seems frozen by the frigid temperatures, which dropped to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius). On Friday, only two fire trucks, their lights still flashing, hinted at the drama that had unfolded the evening before in the Bronx. On the sidewalk, water blasted out by fire hoses encased the branches of a tree in ice -- a reminder of the Christmas decorations adorning 187th Street a few yards (meters) away, which are at odds with the tragic blaze. In this neighborhood, historically Italian but now multicultural, just a few people came to look at the building, which remains behind yellow security tape whipped by a frigid wind. Boy, three, playing with stove caused deadly New York fire, officials say The toddler had a history of fiddling with the stove in the kitchen of his family’s first-floor apartment, his mother said Two men come and go from the corner grocery. They are in their 20s, their shoulders covered with a blanket from the Red Cross. With a faraway look in their eyes, they decline to answer questions from reporters. Rafik Al-Jabali, 47, a neighbor who operates one of three grocery stores on the nearest corner, saw the tragedy quickly unfold. "It happened like this," he says, snapping his fingers. Jabali lives in the building right across the street from the doomed apartment block. He says he was in bed when the fire started. By the time he got to the window, firefighters had already begun working. Thick, dark smoke poured out of several windows. Moments later, he saw a woman taken out on a stretcher. "She was already dead," Jabali said, lowering his eyes. Haunted by the images Joel Rodriguez, 40, lives on the ground floor of the building and was able to escape rather easily, even though smoke had turned the corridors "pitch black." He saw several of his neighbors, brought out -- naked or largely exposed, deprived of their dignity -- on stretchers. Some of them were burned. "It was very tough," Rodriguez says. "I still have the images in my mind. I can´t erase them," he adds, his eyes masked by dark glasses. The city´s fire chief said Friday that a three-year-old boy playing with stove burners apparently accidentally ignited the fire. The victims included three small girls and an unidentified boy. Rodriguez says the building was home to "happy people" who brought out their barbecues in summer, noting: "Everybody has fun. We all get along. There´s no dispute or nothing." A visibly fatigued Rodriguez says he slept a little in his car, between visits to the hospital where his wife is being treated for smoke inhalation. He has a hard time seeing himself return to live in the building of light-colored bricks that was built in the early 20th century and which has become a tomb. "Today, I wouldn´t want to come back. It´s a memorial site right now," Rodriguez says. ´Today, they have nothing´  Behind him, Kenneth Cruiz arrives with a cart full of clothes that he had saved for victims of this year´s hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, but never had the chance to give away. "This morning, my wife added three more jackets and I came over," he says, marching towards a school where most of the fire survivors are staying. A police officer says nobody is there, even if at least seven of his colleagues are stationed in the entrance, and dozens of officials come and go. He lets Cruiz leave the clothes. "My good deed," Cruiz says. "I´m sure a few hours ago, these people had everything, Christmas presents and everything. Today, they have nothing.

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Arise, Sir Ringo: Beatles drummer knighted in UK honours list British musician and former Beatles member Ringo Starr speaking to the press to promote his new album 'Give More Love' in London, Britain, September 14, 2017. AFP/Chris J Ratcliffe/Files LONDON: Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and sole surviving Bee Gee Barry Gibb were each awarded a knighthood in Britain's traditional New Year Honours, announced late on Friday. The two music legends were joined on the prestigious annual achievement list by Golden Globe-winning actor Hugh Laurie, renowned dancer Darcey Bussell, and hip-hop artist Wiley. Lesser known recipients include 101-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen — honoured for his services to World War II education — and Lucia Mee, 18, the youngest person rewarded, for her efforts to raise organ donation awareness. Starr, 77 — real name Richard Starkey — became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965, but 52 years later has now been given a knighthood for services to music. "It's an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love," he said in a brief statement released Friday. Starr follows in the footsteps of his famous bandmate, who became Sir Paul McCartney in 1997. McCartney told a British radio station "it's about time" Starr was knighted. Gibb — a singer, songwriter, and record producer who already held a commander (CBE) title — received his knighthood for services to music and charity. "The magic, the glow, and the rush will last me the rest of my life," he said. 'Truly humbled' Dancer Bussell — the former principal at The Royal Ballet and president of The Royal Academy of Dance — said she was "truly humbled" after learning of her damehood for promoting dance in Britain and abroad. Comedic actor, writer, and musician Laurie — the star of The Night Manager, House, and numerous movies — won a CBE. Meanwhile, hip-hop artist Wiley — born Richard Cowie — who is often hailed the "godfather of grime" music, received an MBE. He thanked his family "for being there for me when I needed them". "It feels like the school grade I wanted and didn't get but now I'm finally there," the musician added. Recipients of Britain's famous honours system are chosen twice a year, on the Queen's birthday and ahead of the new year. Anybody can nominate someone for an award to receive one of the various accolades, which range from knighthoods and CBEs — honouring national or regional roles — to OBEs and MBEs aimed at more local achievements. Recommendations are considered by one of nine expert committees spanning different specialisations, from arts and media to science and technology. Politicians knighted The latest New Year's Honours list awarded 1,123 people, with 70 percent having worked in their local communities. Efe Ezekiel — who has mentored thousands of children between the ages of three and 25 in the London area — was among those recognised for her positive impact on people's lives. "They truly do need great role models," she said ahead of the official announcement. "For me, this is one of the most wonderful honours, it's blown my mind at the moment — still," Ezekiel added. Politicians, who have long been honoured in the biannual lists, were also among the awardees. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg — a prominent campaigner for Britain to remain in the European Union — and influential Conservative backbench lawmaker Graham Brady both earned knighthoods. Professor John Curtice — who led the exit polls that accurately predicted recent general elections, including Labour's surprise gains in June — also received a knighthood for services to social sciences and politics. In sport, Heather Knight — the captain of England's World Cup-winning cricket team — earned an OBE alongside head coach Mark Robinson, while women's cricket director Clare Connor was upgraded to a CBE. Meanwhile player of the tournament Tammy Beaumont and player of the final Anya Shrubsole also received MBEs for their endeavours.

Arise, Sir Ringo: Beatles drummer knighted in UK honours list British musician and former Beatles member Ringo Starr speaking to the press to promote his new album 'Give More Love' in London, Britain, September 14, 2017. AFP/Chris J Ratcliffe/Files LONDON: Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and sole surviving Bee Gee Barry Gibb were each awarded a knighthood in Britain's traditional New Year Honours, announced late on Friday. The two music legends were joined on the prestigious annual achievement list by Golden Globe-winning actor Hugh Laurie, renowned dancer Darcey Bussell, and hip-hop artist Wiley. Lesser known recipients include 101-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen — honoured for his services to World War II education — and Lucia Mee, 18, the youngest person rewarded, for her efforts to raise organ donation awareness. Starr, 77 — real name Richard Starkey — became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965, but 52 years later has now been given a knighthood for services to music. "It's an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love," he said in a brief statement released Friday. Starr follows in the footsteps of his famous bandmate, who became Sir Paul McCartney in 1997. McCartney told a British radio station "it's about time" Starr was knighted. Gibb — a singer, songwriter, and record producer who already held a commander (CBE) title — received his knighthood for services to music and charity. "The magic, the glow, and the rush will last me the rest of my life," he said. 'Truly humbled' Dancer Bussell — the former principal at The Royal Ballet and president of The Royal Academy of Dance — said she was "truly humbled" after learning of her damehood for promoting dance in Britain and abroad. Comedic actor, writer, and musician Laurie — the star of The Night Manager, House, and numerous movies — won a CBE. Meanwhile, hip-hop artist Wiley — born Richard Cowie — who is often hailed the "godfather of grime" music, received an MBE. He thanked his family "for being there for me when I needed them". "It feels like the school grade I wanted and didn't get but now I'm finally there," the musician added. Recipients of Britain's famous honours system are chosen twice a year, on the Queen's birthday and ahead of the new year. Anybody can nominate someone for an award to receive one of the various accolades, which range from knighthoods and CBEs — honouring national or regional roles — to OBEs and MBEs aimed at more local achievements. Recommendations are considered by one of nine expert committees spanning different specialisations, from arts and media to science and technology. Politicians knighted The latest New Year's Honours list awarded 1,123 people, with 70 percent having worked in their local communities. Efe Ezekiel — who has mentored thousands of children between the ages of three and 25 in the London area — was among those recognised for her positive impact on people's lives. "They truly do need great role models," she said ahead of the official announcement. "For me, this is one of the most wonderful honours, it's blown my mind at the moment — still," Ezekiel added. Politicians, who have long been honoured in the biannual lists, were also among the awardees. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg — a prominent campaigner for Britain to remain in the European Union — and influential Conservative backbench lawmaker Graham Brady both earned knighthoods. Professor John Curtice — who led the exit polls that accurately predicted recent general elections, including Labour's surprise gains in June — also received a knighthood for services to social sciences and politics. In sport, Heather Knight — the captain of England's World Cup-winning cricket team — earned an OBE alongside head coach Mark Robinson, while women's cricket director Clare Connor was upgraded to a CBE. Meanwhile player of the tournament Tammy Beaumont and player of the final Anya Shrubsole also received MBEs for their endeavours.

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Wall Street quiet on last trading day of a strong year The Dow Jones Industrial Average is seen setting a record high close for a trading year as the final day of trading for the year draws to a close at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly NEW YORK: There were no fireworks on Wall Street for the last trading day of the year, as US stocks closed out their best year since 2013 on a down note, with losses in technology and financial stocks keeping equities in negative territory for the session. Major indexes hit a series of record highs in 2017, lifted by a combination of strong economic growth, solid corporate earnings, low interest rates, and hopes for a tax cut from US President Donald Trump’s administration. The benchmark S&P 500 surged 19.5 percent this year, the blue-chip Dow 25.2 percent, and Nasdaq 28.2 percent, as each of the major Wall Street indexes scored the best yearly performance since 2013. The market has also remained resilient in the face of tensions in North Korea and political turmoil in Washington. The S&P 500 only saw four sessions all year with a decline of more than 1 percent while the CBOE Volatility index topped out at 15.96 on a closing basis, well below its long-term average of 20. “The real question is what happens as we head into 2018,” Sam Stovall — the chief investment strategist at New York-based CFRA Research — said. “There is an awful lot of optimism built into share prices right now that could set us up for disappointment.” Among sectors, the technology index has been the best performer, up 37 percent and led by a gain of 87.6 percent in Micron Technology (MU.O). Telecom services (down 5.7 percent) and energy (down 3.7 percent) were the only two sectors to end the year in the red. The rally is widely expected to extend into 2018, boosted by gains from a new law that lowers the tax burden on US corporations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 118.29 points (0.48 percent) on Friday to close at 24,719.22, the S&P 500 lost 13.93 points (0.52 percent) to 2,673.61, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 46.77 points (0.67 percent) to 6,903.39. For the week, the Dow lost 0.13 percent, the S&P 500 shed 0.36 percent and the Nasdaq lost 0.81 percent. Apple declined 1.08 percent after issuing a rare apology for slowing older iPhones with flagging batteries. Goldman Sachs lost 0.68 percent after saying its fourth-quarter profit would take a $5 billion hit related to the new tax law. Amazon fell 1.4 percent after Trump targeted the online retailer in a call for the country’s postal service to raise prices of shipments in order to recoup costs. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.46-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.91-to-1 ratio favoured decliners. The S&P 500 posted 36 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 81 new highs and 20 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 4.94 billion shares, compared to the 6.4 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Wall Street quiet on last trading day of a strong year The Dow Jones Industrial Average is seen setting a record high close for a trading year as the final day of trading for the year draws to a close at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York, US, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly NEW YORK: There were no fireworks on Wall Street for the last trading day of the year, as US stocks closed out their best year since 2013 on a down note, with losses in technology and financial stocks keeping equities in negative territory for the session. Major indexes hit a series of record highs in 2017, lifted by a combination of strong economic growth, solid corporate earnings, low interest rates, and hopes for a tax cut from US President Donald Trump’s administration. The benchmark S&P 500 surged 19.5 percent this year, the blue-chip Dow 25.2 percent, and Nasdaq 28.2 percent, as each of the major Wall Street indexes scored the best yearly performance since 2013. The market has also remained resilient in the face of tensions in North Korea and political turmoil in Washington. The S&P 500 only saw four sessions all year with a decline of more than 1 percent while the CBOE Volatility index topped out at 15.96 on a closing basis, well below its long-term average of 20. “The real question is what happens as we head into 2018,” Sam Stovall — the chief investment strategist at New York-based CFRA Research — said. “There is an awful lot of optimism built into share prices right now that could set us up for disappointment.” Among sectors, the technology index has been the best performer, up 37 percent and led by a gain of 87.6 percent in Micron Technology (MU.O). Telecom services (down 5.7 percent) and energy (down 3.7 percent) were the only two sectors to end the year in the red. The rally is widely expected to extend into 2018, boosted by gains from a new law that lowers the tax burden on US corporations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 118.29 points (0.48 percent) on Friday to close at 24,719.22, the S&P 500 lost 13.93 points (0.52 percent) to 2,673.61, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 46.77 points (0.67 percent) to 6,903.39. For the week, the Dow lost 0.13 percent, the S&P 500 shed 0.36 percent and the Nasdaq lost 0.81 percent. Apple declined 1.08 percent after issuing a rare apology for slowing older iPhones with flagging batteries. Goldman Sachs lost 0.68 percent after saying its fourth-quarter profit would take a $5 billion hit related to the new tax law. Amazon fell 1.4 percent after Trump targeted the online retailer in a call for the country’s postal service to raise prices of shipments in order to recoup costs. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.46-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.91-to-1 ratio favoured decliners. The S&P 500 posted 36 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 81 new highs and 20 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 4.94 billion shares, compared to the 6.4 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

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Putin toughens terrorist recruitment sentences Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia, December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev/Files MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law Friday a bill toughening sentences for terrorist recruitment as the country deals with the issue of returning extremists from Syria. Official publication of the law came two days after a bomb attack on a supermarket in Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city — injured 14 people. 10 hurt as blast rips through supermarket in Russia's St Petersburg Nobody was killed in the explosion, and it was not immediately clear what the motive for it was The new law — which parliament voted through on December 14 and the upper chamber approved on December 26 — immediately raises the maximum sentence for terrorist recruitment and finance to life from 10 years. Russia's military intervened in Syria in September 2015 to shore up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and combat extremists, making Russia a major target for such groups. After Putin announced a partial troop withdrawal earlier this month, security services voiced fears of jihadists returning to Russia from Syria after Daesh lost most of its self-proclaimed caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq. Putin called Wednesday's blast in his home city of Saint Petersburg an "act of terror" and Thursday warned armed criminals they faced being "liquidated on the spot". Russia's FSB security service said two weeks ago it had broken up a Daesh cell planning a December 16 terror attack at an Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg — a key tourist attraction. That attack was foiled with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump.

Putin toughens terrorist recruitment sentences Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia, December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev/Files MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law Friday a bill toughening sentences for terrorist recruitment as the country deals with the issue of returning extremists from Syria. Official publication of the law came two days after a bomb attack on a supermarket in Saint Petersburg — Russia's second city — injured 14 people. 10 hurt as blast rips through supermarket in Russia's St Petersburg Nobody was killed in the explosion, and it was not immediately clear what the motive for it was The new law — which parliament voted through on December 14 and the upper chamber approved on December 26 — immediately raises the maximum sentence for terrorist recruitment and finance to life from 10 years. Russia's military intervened in Syria in September 2015 to shore up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and combat extremists, making Russia a major target for such groups. After Putin announced a partial troop withdrawal earlier this month, security services voiced fears of jihadists returning to Russia from Syria after Daesh lost most of its self-proclaimed caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq. Putin called Wednesday's blast in his home city of Saint Petersburg an "act of terror" and Thursday warned armed criminals they faced being "liquidated on the spot". Russia's FSB security service said two weeks ago it had broken up a Daesh cell planning a December 16 terror attack at an Orthodox cathedral in Saint Petersburg — a key tourist attraction. That attack was foiled with the help of America's CIA, which led Putin to thank US President Donald Trump.

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Facebook, Twitter face deadline in Brexit fake news probe A 3D-printed Facebook logo is displayed in front of the Twitter logo, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration LONDON: Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are facing a deadline in Britain to cooperate with an inquiry into the so-called fake news in the Brexit referendum campaign, a parliamentary committee chairman said Friday. The companies have been given until January 18 to share information requested by British lawmakers probing suspected Russian interference around the vote, according to Damian Collins — the chair of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee. Collins told AFP both his committee and the Government would review what action could be taken if the tech titans fail to comply. "It's been over a month since we made the request to Facebook for this information and we need to see some action," Collins said. "They have ignored our requests… for information on any activity relating to fake accounts and in fact only responded in relation to accounts set up in the USA but not set up here." "We have had similar issues with Twitter and we have gone back to them and asked them for deeper investigations," he added. The Conservative Party member of parliament said the committee had been clear in its requests to the companies, as it examines influence exerted during the 2016 referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. "We want to know what links there are between fake accounts set up here and Russian agencies," he said. "They have not answered our questions." Collins added it was "simply not credible" for Facebook to continue profiting from advertising while stonewalling his inquiry. The company had shown itself capable of acting, such as during the French presidential election when it removed 35,000 accounts, he said. "They are best placed to do their own investigating as they know the characteristics of their accounts holders and what payments have been made from Russian agencies and what acocunts they relate to," Collins added. Facebook and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. The EU is also looking into whether the social media companies have done enough to prevent misinformation peddling on their platforms. It launched a public consultation on the phenomenon in November, the first step in a process that could see the promotion of bogus news stories made illegal in Europe.

Facebook, Twitter face deadline in Brexit fake news probe A 3D-printed Facebook logo is displayed in front of the Twitter logo, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration LONDON: Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are facing a deadline in Britain to cooperate with an inquiry into the so-called fake news in the Brexit referendum campaign, a parliamentary committee chairman said Friday. The companies have been given until January 18 to share information requested by British lawmakers probing suspected Russian interference around the vote, according to Damian Collins — the chair of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee. Collins told AFP both his committee and the Government would review what action could be taken if the tech titans fail to comply. "It's been over a month since we made the request to Facebook for this information and we need to see some action," Collins said. "They have ignored our requests… for information on any activity relating to fake accounts and in fact only responded in relation to accounts set up in the USA but not set up here." "We have had similar issues with Twitter and we have gone back to them and asked them for deeper investigations," he added. The Conservative Party member of parliament said the committee had been clear in its requests to the companies, as it examines influence exerted during the 2016 referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. "We want to know what links there are between fake accounts set up here and Russian agencies," he said. "They have not answered our questions." Collins added it was "simply not credible" for Facebook to continue profiting from advertising while stonewalling his inquiry. The company had shown itself capable of acting, such as during the French presidential election when it removed 35,000 accounts, he said. "They are best placed to do their own investigating as they know the characteristics of their accounts holders and what payments have been made from Russian agencies and what acocunts they relate to," Collins added. Facebook and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. The EU is also looking into whether the social media companies have done enough to prevent misinformation peddling on their platforms. It launched a public consultation on the phenomenon in November, the first step in a process that could see the promotion of bogus news stories made illegal in Europe.

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Facebook, Twitter face deadline in Brexit fake news probe A 3D-printed Facebook logo is displayed in front of the Twitter logo, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration LONDON: Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are facing a deadline in Britain to cooperate with an inquiry into the so-called fake news in the Brexit referendum campaign, a parliamentary committee chairman said Friday. The companies have been given until January 18 to share information requested by British lawmakers probing suspected Russian interference around the vote, according to Damian Collins — the chair of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee. Collins told AFP both his committee and the Government would review what action could be taken if the tech titans fail to comply. "It's been over a month since we made the request to Facebook for this information and we need to see some action," Collins said. "They have ignored our requests… for information on any activity relating to fake accounts and in fact only responded in relation to accounts set up in the USA but not set up here." "We have had similar issues with Twitter and we have gone back to them and asked them for deeper investigations," he added. The Conservative Party member of parliament said the committee had been clear in its requests to the companies, as it examines influence exerted during the 2016 referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. "We want to know what links there are between fake accounts set up here and Russian agencies," he said. "They have not answered our questions." Collins added it was "simply not credible" for Facebook to continue profiting from advertising while stonewalling his inquiry. The company had shown itself capable of acting, such as during the French presidential election when it removed 35,000 accounts, he said. "They are best placed to do their own investigating as they know the characteristics of their accounts holders and what payments have been made from Russian agencies and what acocunts they relate to," Collins added. Facebook and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. The EU is also looking into whether the social media companies have done enough to prevent misinformation peddling on their platforms. It launched a public consultation on the phenomenon in November, the first step in a process that could see the promotion of bogus news stories made illegal in Europe.

Facebook, Twitter face deadline in Brexit fake news probe A 3D-printed Facebook logo is displayed in front of the Twitter logo, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration LONDON: Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are facing a deadline in Britain to cooperate with an inquiry into the so-called fake news in the Brexit referendum campaign, a parliamentary committee chairman said Friday. The companies have been given until January 18 to share information requested by British lawmakers probing suspected Russian interference around the vote, according to Damian Collins — the chair of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport select committee. Collins told AFP both his committee and the Government would review what action could be taken if the tech titans fail to comply. "It's been over a month since we made the request to Facebook for this information and we need to see some action," Collins said. "They have ignored our requests… for information on any activity relating to fake accounts and in fact only responded in relation to accounts set up in the USA but not set up here." "We have had similar issues with Twitter and we have gone back to them and asked them for deeper investigations," he added. The Conservative Party member of parliament said the committee had been clear in its requests to the companies, as it examines influence exerted during the 2016 referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. "We want to know what links there are between fake accounts set up here and Russian agencies," he said. "They have not answered our questions." Collins added it was "simply not credible" for Facebook to continue profiting from advertising while stonewalling his inquiry. The company had shown itself capable of acting, such as during the French presidential election when it removed 35,000 accounts, he said. "They are best placed to do their own investigating as they know the characteristics of their accounts holders and what payments have been made from Russian agencies and what acocunts they relate to," Collins added. Facebook and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. The EU is also looking into whether the social media companies have done enough to prevent misinformation peddling on their platforms. It launched a public consultation on the phenomenon in November, the first step in a process that could see the promotion of bogus news stories made illegal in Europe.

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US military to accept transgender recruits on Monday: Pentagon Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump salutes as he presides over a military parade following Trump's swearing-in ceremony in Washington, DC, US, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files Transgender people will be allowed for the first time to enlist in the US military starting on Monday as ordered by federal courts, the Pentagon said on Friday after President Donald Trump’s administration decided not to appeal rulings that blocked his transgender ban. Two federal appeals courts — one in Washington and one in Virginia — last week rejected the administration’s request to put on hold orders by lower court judges requiring the military to begin accepting transgender recruits on January 1. A Justice Department official said the administration will not challenge those rulings. “The Department of Defense has announced that it will be releasing an independent study of these issues in the coming weeks," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "So rather than litigate this interim appeal before that occurs, the administration has decided to wait for DOD’s study and will continue to defend the president’s lawful authority in district court in the meantime,” he added. Lawyers representing currently serving transgender service members and aspiring recruits said they had expected the administration to appeal those rulings to the conservative-majority Supreme Court but were hoping that would not happen. Major Dave Eastburn — a Pentagon spokesman — said as of now, the Department of Defense plans to start accepting transgender recruits on Monday. In a move that appealed to his hard-line conservative supporters, Trump announced in July that he would prohibit transgender people from serving in the military, reversing Democratic former President Barack Obama’s policy of accepting them. Trump said on Twitter at the time that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” Four federal judges — in Baltimore, Washington, DC, Seattle, and Riverside, California — have issued rulings blocking Trump’s ban while legal challenges to the Republican president’s policy proceed. The judges said the ban would likely violate the right under the US Constitution to equal protection under the law. Openly transgender individuals would be able to join the armed forces for the first time, subject to certain medical standards set forth by the Pentagon. “There has been a tremendous amount of care, thought and planning that has gone into the policy that is set to go into effect on Jan. 1 allowing transgender people to enlist,” Jennifer Levi — a lawyer with LGBT  advocacy group GLAD — said. Both GLAD and the ACLU represent plaintiffs in the lawsuits filed against the administration. The administration had argued that the military was not prepared to train the personnel needed to properly assess transgender applicants. The Obama administration had set a deadline of July 1 of this year to begin accepting transgender recruits. But James Mattis — Trump’s defence secretary — postponed that date to January 1, which the president’s ban then put off indefinitely. Trump also has taken other steps aimed at rolling back transgender rights. In October, his administration said that a federal law banning gender-based workplace discrimination does not protect transgender employees, reversing an Obama-era position. In February, Trump rescinded guidance issued by the Obama administration saying that public schools should allow transgender students to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

US military to accept transgender recruits on Monday: Pentagon Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump salutes as he presides over a military parade following Trump's swearing-in ceremony in Washington, DC, US, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files Transgender people will be allowed for the first time to enlist in the US military starting on Monday as ordered by federal courts, the Pentagon said on Friday after President Donald Trump’s administration decided not to appeal rulings that blocked his transgender ban. Two federal appeals courts — one in Washington and one in Virginia — last week rejected the administration’s request to put on hold orders by lower court judges requiring the military to begin accepting transgender recruits on January 1. A Justice Department official said the administration will not challenge those rulings. “The Department of Defense has announced that it will be releasing an independent study of these issues in the coming weeks," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "So rather than litigate this interim appeal before that occurs, the administration has decided to wait for DOD’s study and will continue to defend the president’s lawful authority in district court in the meantime,” he added. Lawyers representing currently serving transgender service members and aspiring recruits said they had expected the administration to appeal those rulings to the conservative-majority Supreme Court but were hoping that would not happen. Major Dave Eastburn — a Pentagon spokesman — said as of now, the Department of Defense plans to start accepting transgender recruits on Monday. In a move that appealed to his hard-line conservative supporters, Trump announced in July that he would prohibit transgender people from serving in the military, reversing Democratic former President Barack Obama’s policy of accepting them. Trump said on Twitter at the time that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” Four federal judges — in Baltimore, Washington, DC, Seattle, and Riverside, California — have issued rulings blocking Trump’s ban while legal challenges to the Republican president’s policy proceed. The judges said the ban would likely violate the right under the US Constitution to equal protection under the law. Openly transgender individuals would be able to join the armed forces for the first time, subject to certain medical standards set forth by the Pentagon. “There has been a tremendous amount of care, thought and planning that has gone into the policy that is set to go into effect on Jan. 1 allowing transgender people to enlist,” Jennifer Levi — a lawyer with LGBT  advocacy group GLAD — said. Both GLAD and the ACLU represent plaintiffs in the lawsuits filed against the administration. The administration had argued that the military was not prepared to train the personnel needed to properly assess transgender applicants. The Obama administration had set a deadline of July 1 of this year to begin accepting transgender recruits. But James Mattis — Trump’s defence secretary — postponed that date to January 1, which the president’s ban then put off indefinitely. Trump also has taken other steps aimed at rolling back transgender rights. In October, his administration said that a federal law banning gender-based workplace discrimination does not protect transgender employees, reversing an Obama-era position. In February, Trump rescinded guidance issued by the Obama administration saying that public schools should allow transgender students to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.

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Djokovic sub Murray ring rusty on return ABU DHABI: Andy Murray made his comeback from a nearly five months injury layoff, losing a one-set match to Spain´s Roberto Bautista Agut in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Friday. The former world number one, winner of three Grand Slam titles, lost 6-2 after filling in for Novak Djokovic, who was a late withdrawal Friday after a recurrence of pain in his right elbow. The 30-year-old Scot was last seen in action in his loss to Sam Querrey in Wimbledon and then shut down the season after that to recover from a niggling hip injury. Murray moved gingerly on the court and clearly showed the rust physically, although he never clutched his back or showed any overt signs of still carrying the injury. Refusing to run down several balls in the opening few games, he was more competitive towards the end, the highlight being a 12 minute 15 second battle to hold his serve at 1-5 down. However, the damage was already done as he lost his first two service games to go 0-4 down at one stage. Murray did not speak to the media, but told the court-side commentator: "Obviously I made a slow start and Roberto is one of the best players in the world. "When you haven´t competed for a while, it takes time to get up to that pace. I started to feel a bit better towards the end but I need to keep improving for sure. "It was nice to be able to play. I was just planning on stopping here for a couple of days on the way to Australia to get some practice in with the guys. "But obviously it was unfortunate that Novak was not able to play and I was here so I agreed to play a set and obviously I am happy to be able to come out here and play in front of everyone." South African world No14 Kevin Anderson continued his impressive run of form, dispatching world No5 Dominic Thiem 7-6 (6), 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes. The US Open runner-up this year will meet Bautista Agut in the final Saturday after the Spaniard benefited from Djokovic´s late withdrawal from the tournament. The former world No1 Djokovic, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, was expected to make his comeback after nearly five months of layoff due to an elbow injury, but felt pain in the same spot while practicing and withdrew. Anderson and Thiem traded one break each in the first set before the powerful service game of the tall South African helped him hold sway over the Austrian. Winner of all their three previous head-to-head matches on the ATP Tour, Anderson then broke Thiem in the opening game of the second set, and that proved decisive in the end. In the match to decide the fifth-sixth place, Russia´s Andrey Rublev beat Spain´s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2. The highlight of what has traditionally been a men´s exhibition tournament will be the comeback match of the former women´s No1 Serena Williams on Saturday. The 36-year-old American, the most successful player in the history of women´s tennis with 23 grand slam titles, plays the reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a match scheduled to be held before the men´s final. Williams was last seen in action winning the Australian Open this January. She then took a sabbatical and to give birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia, in September.

Djokovic sub Murray ring rusty on return ABU DHABI: Andy Murray made his comeback from a nearly five months injury layoff, losing a one-set match to Spain´s Roberto Bautista Agut in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Friday. The former world number one, winner of three Grand Slam titles, lost 6-2 after filling in for Novak Djokovic, who was a late withdrawal Friday after a recurrence of pain in his right elbow. The 30-year-old Scot was last seen in action in his loss to Sam Querrey in Wimbledon and then shut down the season after that to recover from a niggling hip injury. Murray moved gingerly on the court and clearly showed the rust physically, although he never clutched his back or showed any overt signs of still carrying the injury. Refusing to run down several balls in the opening few games, he was more competitive towards the end, the highlight being a 12 minute 15 second battle to hold his serve at 1-5 down. However, the damage was already done as he lost his first two service games to go 0-4 down at one stage. Murray did not speak to the media, but told the court-side commentator: "Obviously I made a slow start and Roberto is one of the best players in the world. "When you haven´t competed for a while, it takes time to get up to that pace. I started to feel a bit better towards the end but I need to keep improving for sure. "It was nice to be able to play. I was just planning on stopping here for a couple of days on the way to Australia to get some practice in with the guys. "But obviously it was unfortunate that Novak was not able to play and I was here so I agreed to play a set and obviously I am happy to be able to come out here and play in front of everyone." South African world No14 Kevin Anderson continued his impressive run of form, dispatching world No5 Dominic Thiem 7-6 (6), 6-4 in one hour and 32 minutes. The US Open runner-up this year will meet Bautista Agut in the final Saturday after the Spaniard benefited from Djokovic´s late withdrawal from the tournament. The former world No1 Djokovic, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, was expected to make his comeback after nearly five months of layoff due to an elbow injury, but felt pain in the same spot while practicing and withdrew. Anderson and Thiem traded one break each in the first set before the powerful service game of the tall South African helped him hold sway over the Austrian. Winner of all their three previous head-to-head matches on the ATP Tour, Anderson then broke Thiem in the opening game of the second set, and that proved decisive in the end. In the match to decide the fifth-sixth place, Russia´s Andrey Rublev beat Spain´s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2. The highlight of what has traditionally been a men´s exhibition tournament will be the comeback match of the former women´s No1 Serena Williams on Saturday. The 36-year-old American, the most successful player in the history of women´s tennis with 23 grand slam titles, plays the reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a match scheduled to be held before the men´s final. Williams was last seen in action winning the Australian Open this January. She then took a sabbatical and to give birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia, in September.

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Boy, three, playing with stove caused deadly New York fire, officials say Fire Department of New York (FDNY) personnel work on the scene of an apartment fire in Bronx, New York, US, December 28, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky NEW YORK: A 3-year-old boy playing with the burners on a kitchen stove started a fire in a New York City apartment building that killed 12 people, including four children, city officials said on Friday. The toddler had a history of fiddling with the stove in the kitchen of his family’s first-floor apartment, his mother told officials investigating the deadliest fire in the city since 1990. Shortly before 7 PM (midnight GMT) on Thursday the child, who had been left unattended, started screaming as the kitchen filled with smoke and fire, Daniel Nigro, the city’s fire department commissioner, told reporters at a news conference. His mother grabbed him and a younger sibling, running outside to safety and leaving the apartment door open. “The stairway acted like a chimney,” Nigro said at the Friday news conference. The blaze swept out the apartment doorway to higher floors of the five-story building, fanned by fresh oxygen each time frightened tenants flung open windows. “People had very little time to react,” he said. “They couldn’t get back down the stairs. Those that tried perished.” Apartment fire kills 12 in New York's Bronx A one-year-old child was among those killed in the fire on a bitterly cold night with temperatures well below zero Children aged 1, 2, and 7 — as well as a boy whose age was unknown — died, along with four men and four women, according to the New York Police Department. Among the dead were at least three members of the same family Karen Francis, 37, Charmela Francis, 7, and Kylie Francis, 2. Also identified as deceased were Maria Batiz, 58, and 19-year-old Shantay Young. “Children starting fires is not rare,” Nigro said. He emphasized that young children should not be left unattended, and those fleeing apartment fires should always shut doors behind them once the last person is out. Authorities said firefighters rescued 12 people from the building and four people were in the hospital in critical condition. More than 160 firefighters responded to the four-alarm blaze, the first arriving about 3 minutes after emergency calls came in. About 20 people were already on fire escapes, Nigro said. New York City is going through a bitter cold snap with temperatures in the low-teens Fahrenheit (minus teens Celsius)and high winds. At least 14 families were homeless, and four of them were taken to hotels, according to the American Red Cross. “There’s still around 10 families we have not connected with yet,” said Michael de Vulpillieres, a Red Cross spokesman. Red Cross representatives stationed on the block offered blankets and smoke alarm installations to residents. Firefighters sifted through the charred interior of the building, but the exterior showed little damage and the red fire escapes were intact. Shards of glass and chunks of ice littered the sidewalk outside. The building, with 26 apartments, has at least six open building code violations, according to city records. One violation was for a broken smoke detector in an apartment on the first floor, reported in August. “I know there were concerns raised about the building itself,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told WNYC. “Based on the research we have at this moment, it does not appear there was anything problematic about the building or the fire safety in the building.” The building is in the Belmont section of the Bronx, a primarily residential, close-knit neighbourhood known as the “Little Italy” of the borough, near Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo. It was the deadliest fire in the city since an arsonist torched a Bronx nightclub in 1990, killing 87 people inside the venue that did not have fire exits, alarms or sprinklers, the New York Times reported. In 2007, 10 immigrants from Mali, including nine children, died after a space heater caught fire in a Bronx building.

Boy, three, playing with stove caused deadly New York fire, officials say Fire Department of New York (FDNY) personnel work on the scene of an apartment fire in Bronx, New York, US, December 28, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky NEW YORK: A 3-year-old boy playing with the burners on a kitchen stove started a fire in a New York City apartment building that killed 12 people, including four children, city officials said on Friday. The toddler had a history of fiddling with the stove in the kitchen of his family’s first-floor apartment, his mother told officials investigating the deadliest fire in the city since 1990. Shortly before 7 PM (midnight GMT) on Thursday the child, who had been left unattended, started screaming as the kitchen filled with smoke and fire, Daniel Nigro, the city’s fire department commissioner, told reporters at a news conference. His mother grabbed him and a younger sibling, running outside to safety and leaving the apartment door open. “The stairway acted like a chimney,” Nigro said at the Friday news conference. The blaze swept out the apartment doorway to higher floors of the five-story building, fanned by fresh oxygen each time frightened tenants flung open windows. “People had very little time to react,” he said. “They couldn’t get back down the stairs. Those that tried perished.” Apartment fire kills 12 in New York's Bronx A one-year-old child was among those killed in the fire on a bitterly cold night with temperatures well below zero Children aged 1, 2, and 7 — as well as a boy whose age was unknown — died, along with four men and four women, according to the New York Police Department. Among the dead were at least three members of the same family Karen Francis, 37, Charmela Francis, 7, and Kylie Francis, 2. Also identified as deceased were Maria Batiz, 58, and 19-year-old Shantay Young. “Children starting fires is not rare,” Nigro said. He emphasized that young children should not be left unattended, and those fleeing apartment fires should always shut doors behind them once the last person is out. Authorities said firefighters rescued 12 people from the building and four people were in the hospital in critical condition. More than 160 firefighters responded to the four-alarm blaze, the first arriving about 3 minutes after emergency calls came in. About 20 people were already on fire escapes, Nigro said. New York City is going through a bitter cold snap with temperatures in the low-teens Fahrenheit (minus teens Celsius)and high winds. At least 14 families were homeless, and four of them were taken to hotels, according to the American Red Cross. “There’s still around 10 families we have not connected with yet,” said Michael de Vulpillieres, a Red Cross spokesman. Red Cross representatives stationed on the block offered blankets and smoke alarm installations to residents. Firefighters sifted through the charred interior of the building, but the exterior showed little damage and the red fire escapes were intact. Shards of glass and chunks of ice littered the sidewalk outside. The building, with 26 apartments, has at least six open building code violations, according to city records. One violation was for a broken smoke detector in an apartment on the first floor, reported in August. “I know there were concerns raised about the building itself,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told WNYC. “Based on the research we have at this moment, it does not appear there was anything problematic about the building or the fire safety in the building.” The building is in the Belmont section of the Bronx, a primarily residential, close-knit neighbourhood known as the “Little Italy” of the borough, near Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo. It was the deadliest fire in the city since an arsonist torched a Bronx nightclub in 1990, killing 87 people inside the venue that did not have fire exits, alarms or sprinklers, the New York Times reported. In 2007, 10 immigrants from Mali, including nine children, died after a space heater caught fire in a Bronx building.

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Stock performance in 2017 points to wealth for many nations DAX board — the German share price index — is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 22, 2017. REUTERS/Staff/Remote Markets bid 2017 goodbye on a modestly defensive note on Friday, but the year will be best remembered for leaving global investors wealthier. A pick-up in global growth boosted corporate profits and commodities during the year, while tame inflation kept central banks from snatching away the punch bowl of easy monetary policy. MSCI’s world equity index shed 0.12 percent on Friday, leaving it short of an all-time intraday high reached earlier in the session but nonetheless enough to give the index an unparalleled record of gains each month this year. The large and mid-size companies in the index of 47 countries added more than $8 trillion to their market value during the year. “By all accounts, 2017 has been a great year for the market,” Arian Vojdani — an investment strategist at Bethesda, Maryland-based MV Financial — said. Craig James — the chief economist at fund manager CommSec — said of the 73 bourses the firm tracks globally, all but nine recorded gains in local currency terms this year. Major indexes from Japan to the United States and emerging markets are up double-digit percentages for the year, with the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index up 7 percent. Caution signs US markets offered caution signs for the new year in the year’s final hours of trading on Friday. Wall Street stocks and the US dollar drooped, helping safe-haven bonds and gold, and a reminder that after a run-up with so few obstacles there may be little room for error. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 118.29 points (0.48 percent) to 24,719.22, the S&P 500 lost 13.93 points (0.52 percent) to 2,673.61, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 46.77 points (0.67 percent) to 6,903.39. “The key issue is whether the low growth rates of prices and wages will continue, thus prompting central banks to remain on the monetary policy sidelines,” said CommSec’s James. “Globalization and technological change have been influential in keeping inflation low. In short, consumers can buy goods whenever they want and wherever they are,” he added. One of the early issues for 2018 will be the March 4 Italian election. As things currently stand the vote is expected to produce a hung parliament that could ultimately catapult four-times premier Silvio Berlusconi back to centre stage. Ten-year Italian government bond yields rose to two-month highs on Friday at just over 2 percent. Bond prices fall as their yields rise. The dollar is suffering, too, despite the widely held assumption at the start of the year that, with the US Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates and lawmakers poised to cut taxes, the only way for greenback was up. Three rate hikes and a tax bill later, the dollar hit a losing streak in which its value sank by 9.7 percent, in the dollar’s biggest annual decline since 2003. The dollar’s loss has been a gain for emerging markets and the euro, which charged ahead 14 percent for the year. The wilting dollar has also lifted commodities priced in the currency, which have also benefited from a synchronized pick-up in global trade and surprisingly strong demand from China. Everything from coal to iron ore has reaped gains. Copper has been a stand-out performer in part due to expectations of rising demand for the mass production of electric vehicles. The industrial metal is turning in its largest annual gains since the global financial crisis ebbed in 2009, but it slipped off its four-year highs on Friday. Copper futures lost 0.51 percent to $7,251.50 a tonne on Friday. Gold turned in a banner year, too, despite not being needed for its role as a guard against inflation, which has been tame. At $1,303.22 an ounce, the shiny metal saw its biggest annual gain since 2010. Oil ended the year at around its highest prices in 2-1/2 years after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and a surprise fall in US production. US crude rose 0.47 percent to $60.12 per barrel and Brent was at $66.62, up 0.7 percent on the day. Benchmark 10-year US Treasury notes last rose 8/32 in price to yield 2.405 percent, down a bit from the 2.439 opening figure for the year despite the Fed’s rate hikes as weak inflation and strong demand for bonds kept rates in check and financial conditions easy.

Stock performance in 2017 points to wealth for many nations DAX board — the German share price index — is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 22, 2017. REUTERS/Staff/Remote Markets bid 2017 goodbye on a modestly defensive note on Friday, but the year will be best remembered for leaving global investors wealthier. A pick-up in global growth boosted corporate profits and commodities during the year, while tame inflation kept central banks from snatching away the punch bowl of easy monetary policy. MSCI’s world equity index shed 0.12 percent on Friday, leaving it short of an all-time intraday high reached earlier in the session but nonetheless enough to give the index an unparalleled record of gains each month this year. The large and mid-size companies in the index of 47 countries added more than $8 trillion to their market value during the year. “By all accounts, 2017 has been a great year for the market,” Arian Vojdani — an investment strategist at Bethesda, Maryland-based MV Financial — said. Craig James — the chief economist at fund manager CommSec — said of the 73 bourses the firm tracks globally, all but nine recorded gains in local currency terms this year. Major indexes from Japan to the United States and emerging markets are up double-digit percentages for the year, with the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index up 7 percent. Caution signs US markets offered caution signs for the new year in the year’s final hours of trading on Friday. Wall Street stocks and the US dollar drooped, helping safe-haven bonds and gold, and a reminder that after a run-up with so few obstacles there may be little room for error. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 118.29 points (0.48 percent) to 24,719.22, the S&P 500 lost 13.93 points (0.52 percent) to 2,673.61, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 46.77 points (0.67 percent) to 6,903.39. “The key issue is whether the low growth rates of prices and wages will continue, thus prompting central banks to remain on the monetary policy sidelines,” said CommSec’s James. “Globalization and technological change have been influential in keeping inflation low. In short, consumers can buy goods whenever they want and wherever they are,” he added. One of the early issues for 2018 will be the March 4 Italian election. As things currently stand the vote is expected to produce a hung parliament that could ultimately catapult four-times premier Silvio Berlusconi back to centre stage. Ten-year Italian government bond yields rose to two-month highs on Friday at just over 2 percent. Bond prices fall as their yields rise. The dollar is suffering, too, despite the widely held assumption at the start of the year that, with the US Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates and lawmakers poised to cut taxes, the only way for greenback was up. Three rate hikes and a tax bill later, the dollar hit a losing streak in which its value sank by 9.7 percent, in the dollar’s biggest annual decline since 2003. The dollar’s loss has been a gain for emerging markets and the euro, which charged ahead 14 percent for the year. The wilting dollar has also lifted commodities priced in the currency, which have also benefited from a synchronized pick-up in global trade and surprisingly strong demand from China. Everything from coal to iron ore has reaped gains. Copper has been a stand-out performer in part due to expectations of rising demand for the mass production of electric vehicles. The industrial metal is turning in its largest annual gains since the global financial crisis ebbed in 2009, but it slipped off its four-year highs on Friday. Copper futures lost 0.51 percent to $7,251.50 a tonne on Friday. Gold turned in a banner year, too, despite not being needed for its role as a guard against inflation, which has been tame. At $1,303.22 an ounce, the shiny metal saw its biggest annual gain since 2010. Oil ended the year at around its highest prices in 2-1/2 years after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and a surprise fall in US production. US crude rose 0.47 percent to $60.12 per barrel and Brent was at $66.62, up 0.7 percent on the day. Benchmark 10-year US Treasury notes last rose 8/32 in price to yield 2.405 percent, down a bit from the 2.439 opening figure for the year despite the Fed’s rate hikes as weak inflation and strong demand for bonds kept rates in check and financial conditions easy.

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UAE cancels Tunisia handball games amid row over women TUNIS: The UAE men´s handball team cut short a trip to Tunisia Friday, the Tunisian federation said after it appointed female referees for a game in apparent solidarity with women in a row with Emirates Airline. The Gulf visitors forfeited two games after Emirates received instructions to deny Tunisian women access to its planes over a feared "terrorist attack" involving a woman carrying a Tunisian passport. In response, the North African country on Sunday halted Emirates flights between Tunis and Dubai. Handball federation secretary general Amir Saadi said women had been appointed as referees for a friendly match between the two national teams on Friday. But, according to Saadi, the UAE team announced it was forfeiting that game and another scheduled for Saturday for "technical reasons", citing the absence of 10 players and injuries of four others. They had said "there was no link with political affairs", he added. Tunisian social media users have slammed the travel measures against women from their country as "discriminatory" and "humiliating". A source in the office of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said the two countries were in talks to find a solution. Transport Minister Radhouane Ayara on Thursday, however, told Sham FM radio the discussions had not made much ground. Political analyst Hamza Meddeb said the tensions between Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates were linked in part to Tunisia not choosing sides in the Gulf region´s worst crisis in years. The UAE was among a group of countries to sever ties with Qatar in June over its alleged support for religious extremism and close ties to Iran. Doha has denied all charges. Meddeb said the United Arab Emirates wanted to discourage ruling party Nida Tounes from allying with party Ennahda ahead of local elections in May.

UAE cancels Tunisia handball games amid row over women TUNIS: The UAE men´s handball team cut short a trip to Tunisia Friday, the Tunisian federation said after it appointed female referees for a game in apparent solidarity with women in a row with Emirates Airline. The Gulf visitors forfeited two games after Emirates received instructions to deny Tunisian women access to its planes over a feared "terrorist attack" involving a woman carrying a Tunisian passport. In response, the North African country on Sunday halted Emirates flights between Tunis and Dubai. Handball federation secretary general Amir Saadi said women had been appointed as referees for a friendly match between the two national teams on Friday. But, according to Saadi, the UAE team announced it was forfeiting that game and another scheduled for Saturday for "technical reasons", citing the absence of 10 players and injuries of four others. They had said "there was no link with political affairs", he added. Tunisian social media users have slammed the travel measures against women from their country as "discriminatory" and "humiliating". A source in the office of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said the two countries were in talks to find a solution. Transport Minister Radhouane Ayara on Thursday, however, told Sham FM radio the discussions had not made much ground. Political analyst Hamza Meddeb said the tensions between Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates were linked in part to Tunisia not choosing sides in the Gulf region´s worst crisis in years. The UAE was among a group of countries to sever ties with Qatar in June over its alleged support for religious extremism and close ties to Iran. Doha has denied all charges. Meddeb said the United Arab Emirates wanted to discourage ruling party Nida Tounes from allying with party Ennahda ahead of local elections in May.

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Crypto-crime: Ukraine kidnappers free analyst for $1-mn Bitcoin ransom A Bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin, Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Files KIEV: Kidnappers in Ukraine have released an employee at a UK-registered cryptocurrency exchange after getting more than $1 million in bitcoins as ransom, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister told Reuters on Friday. Pavel Lerner — a leading analyst and blockchain expert — was abducted by unknown masked people on December 26, according to a statement by his company, EXMO Finance, on its website. “This is the first such case in Ukraine linked to bitcoins,” Anton Gerashchenko — an adviser to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov — said in a phone text message. It was unclear who paid the ransom. Lerner’s work at EXMO did not involve access to the financial assets of its users, the company said, adding that the platform was operating normally. “At the moment, he is safe, and there was no physical harm inflicted on him,” the statement said. “Nevertheless, Pavel is currently in a state of major stress, therefore, he will not provide any official comments in the coming days.” News of the release came as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rebounded after two days of losses partly related to regulators toughening rules on digital currencies in an effort to curb excessive speculation. Many digital currencies surged in value this year. Balaclavas Strana.ua — a local news website — had earlier reported that six gun-toting men in dark clothing and balaclavas had snatched Lerner and pushed him into a minibus with stolen number plates. Kiev police have begun a criminal investigation after a man was kidnapped in the Obolon district of Kiev, Oksana Blyshchyk — the Kiev police spokeswoman — said by phone without revealing the name of the victim. EXMO has 900,000 users as of December 2017, according to its website. “We would like to note that the story of Pavel’s abduction has overgrown with rumours that might tamper with the official investigation,” EXMO said in its statement. “That said, EXMO currently refrains from any comments or suggestions of own versions of the possible scenario, in the nearest future.” Separately, the company announced on Thursday that it had been hit by a denial-of-service attack.

Crypto-crime: Ukraine kidnappers free analyst for $1-mn Bitcoin ransom A Bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin, Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Files KIEV: Kidnappers in Ukraine have released an employee at a UK-registered cryptocurrency exchange after getting more than $1 million in bitcoins as ransom, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister told Reuters on Friday. Pavel Lerner — a leading analyst and blockchain expert — was abducted by unknown masked people on December 26, according to a statement by his company, EXMO Finance, on its website. “This is the first such case in Ukraine linked to bitcoins,” Anton Gerashchenko — an adviser to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov — said in a phone text message. It was unclear who paid the ransom. Lerner’s work at EXMO did not involve access to the financial assets of its users, the company said, adding that the platform was operating normally. “At the moment, he is safe, and there was no physical harm inflicted on him,” the statement said. “Nevertheless, Pavel is currently in a state of major stress, therefore, he will not provide any official comments in the coming days.” News of the release came as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rebounded after two days of losses partly related to regulators toughening rules on digital currencies in an effort to curb excessive speculation. Many digital currencies surged in value this year. Balaclavas Strana.ua — a local news website — had earlier reported that six gun-toting men in dark clothing and balaclavas had snatched Lerner and pushed him into a minibus with stolen number plates. Kiev police have begun a criminal investigation after a man was kidnapped in the Obolon district of Kiev, Oksana Blyshchyk — the Kiev police spokeswoman — said by phone without revealing the name of the victim. EXMO has 900,000 users as of December 2017, according to its website. “We would like to note that the story of Pavel’s abduction has overgrown with rumours that might tamper with the official investigation,” EXMO said in its statement. “That said, EXMO currently refrains from any comments or suggestions of own versions of the possible scenario, in the nearest future.” Separately, the company announced on Thursday that it had been hit by a denial-of-service attack.

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Crypto-crime: Ukraine kidnappers free analyst for $1-mn Bitcoin ransom A Bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin, Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Files KIEV: Kidnappers in Ukraine have released an employee at a UK-registered cryptocurrency exchange after getting more than $1 million in bitcoins as ransom, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister told Reuters on Friday. Pavel Lerner — a leading analyst and blockchain expert — was abducted by unknown masked people on December 26, according to a statement by his company, EXMO Finance, on its website. “This is the first such case in Ukraine linked to bitcoins,” Anton Gerashchenko — an adviser to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov — said in a phone text message. It was unclear who paid the ransom. Lerner’s work at EXMO did not involve access to the financial assets of its users, the company said, adding that the platform was operating normally. “At the moment, he is safe, and there was no physical harm inflicted on him,” the statement said. “Nevertheless, Pavel is currently in a state of major stress, therefore, he will not provide any official comments in the coming days.” News of the release came as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rebounded after two days of losses partly related to regulators toughening rules on digital currencies in an effort to curb excessive speculation. Many digital currencies surged in value this year. Balaclavas Strana.ua — a local news website — had earlier reported that six gun-toting men in dark clothing and balaclavas had snatched Lerner and pushed him into a minibus with stolen number plates. Kiev police have begun a criminal investigation after a man was kidnapped in the Obolon district of Kiev, Oksana Blyshchyk — the Kiev police spokeswoman — said by phone without revealing the name of the victim. EXMO has 900,000 users as of December 2017, according to its website. “We would like to note that the story of Pavel’s abduction has overgrown with rumours that might tamper with the official investigation,” EXMO said in its statement. “That said, EXMO currently refrains from any comments or suggestions of own versions of the possible scenario, in the nearest future.” Separately, the company announced on Thursday that it had been hit by a denial-of-service attack.

Crypto-crime: Ukraine kidnappers free analyst for $1-mn Bitcoin ransom A Bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin, Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Files KIEV: Kidnappers in Ukraine have released an employee at a UK-registered cryptocurrency exchange after getting more than $1 million in bitcoins as ransom, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister told Reuters on Friday. Pavel Lerner — a leading analyst and blockchain expert — was abducted by unknown masked people on December 26, according to a statement by his company, EXMO Finance, on its website. “This is the first such case in Ukraine linked to bitcoins,” Anton Gerashchenko — an adviser to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov — said in a phone text message. It was unclear who paid the ransom. Lerner’s work at EXMO did not involve access to the financial assets of its users, the company said, adding that the platform was operating normally. “At the moment, he is safe, and there was no physical harm inflicted on him,” the statement said. “Nevertheless, Pavel is currently in a state of major stress, therefore, he will not provide any official comments in the coming days.” News of the release came as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rebounded after two days of losses partly related to regulators toughening rules on digital currencies in an effort to curb excessive speculation. Many digital currencies surged in value this year. Balaclavas Strana.ua — a local news website — had earlier reported that six gun-toting men in dark clothing and balaclavas had snatched Lerner and pushed him into a minibus with stolen number plates. Kiev police have begun a criminal investigation after a man was kidnapped in the Obolon district of Kiev, Oksana Blyshchyk — the Kiev police spokeswoman — said by phone without revealing the name of the victim. EXMO has 900,000 users as of December 2017, according to its website. “We would like to note that the story of Pavel’s abduction has overgrown with rumours that might tamper with the official investigation,” EXMO said in its statement. “That said, EXMO currently refrains from any comments or suggestions of own versions of the possible scenario, in the nearest future.” Separately, the company announced on Thursday that it had been hit by a denial-of-service attack.

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Hostiles Review: Christian Bale Takes on the Savage West

Hostiles Review: Christian Bale Takes on the Savage West

A bleak and merciless portrayal of the old west, Hostiles is well-made but suffers from whitewashing. from Movie Reviews http://ift.tt/2Di...
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Driving While Black Trailer Mixes Comedy with Biting Commentary

Driving While Black Trailer Mixes Comedy with Biting Commentary

Dominique Purdy travels the mean streets of Los Angeles trying to avoid the cops at all costs in Driving While Black. from Movie Trailers ...
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Nicolas Cage Goes Kid-Killer Crazy in Bonkers Mom and Dad Trailer

Nicolas Cage Goes Kid-Killer Crazy in Bonkers Mom and Dad Trailer

Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair go completely insane as a couple of parents who want to murder their children in the first trailer for Mom and ...
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Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha's road to the final

Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha's road to the final

Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha's road to the final from Sports - Videos - The Times of India http://ift.tt/2lmaOsX
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Gunman kills 11 in Daesh-claimed attacks on Egypt church, shop Security forces stand guard at the site of an attack on a church in the Helwan district south of Cairo, Egypt, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh CAIRO: A gunman killed at least 11 people on Friday in attacks on a Coptic Orthodox church and a Christian-owned shop near Cairo before he was wounded and arrested, the Egyptian interior ministry and church officials said. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks, in a statement carried out by its Amaq news agency, though it provided no evidence for the claim. Police have stepped up security measures around churches ahead of Coptic Christmas celebrations on January 7, deploying officers outside Christian places of worship and setting up metal detectors at some of the bigger churches. Militants have claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority in recent years, including two bombings on Palm Sunday in April and a blast at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral in December 2016 that killed 28 people. Earlier reports by security sources and state media said at least two attackers were involved in Friday’s attack, and that one was shot dead and another fled the scene. The interior ministry did not explain the reason for the different accounts. The Coptic Church said the gunman first shot at a Christian-owned shop 4 kilometres (3 miles) away, killing two people, before proceeding to the Mar Mina church in the southern Cairo suburb of Helwan. The Interior Ministry said he opened fire at the entrance to the site and tried to throw an explosive device. The gunman killed at least nine people — including a policeman — at the church, according to Interior Ministry and Coptic Church accounts. The Church said a young woman had died later from her wounds, bringing the civilian death toll at the church to eight. The ministry said security forces had “immediately dealt with the (attacker) and arrested him after he was wounded”. It added, “Legal measures have been taken,” without elaborating. An Egyptian woman stands next to a cordoned off bullet-riddled wall at the site of a gun attack at a church. Image: AFP.  Gunman identified Investigators have identified the gunman, the ministry said, adding that he had carried out several attacks since last year. Egypt is also grappling with a deadly Daesh insurgency in the North Sinai region. The health ministry said five people had been wounded, including two women who it said were in a serious condition. A joint funeral for eight of those killed was held on Friday evening at the Virgin Mary church in Helwan. Pope Tawadros II — the head of the Coptic Church — led mourning for the victims. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also offered his condolences to the families and ordered security forces to increase safety measures at sensitive sites, his office said in a statement. US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Friday with al-Sisi and condemned the attack, the White House said in a statement. Cairo’s state prosecutor said that an investigation had been launched into the incident. “The shooting began at 10:30 AM and carried on for more than 15 minutes… There was more than one attacker,” Mohammed Hussein Abdelhadi — who lives close to the church — told Reuters. A witness who did not want to give his name said the policeman was killed while he was closing the church gate to stop the gunman getting in.

Gunman kills 11 in Daesh-claimed attacks on Egypt church, shop Security forces stand guard at the site of an attack on a church in the Helwan district south of Cairo, Egypt, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh CAIRO: A gunman killed at least 11 people on Friday in attacks on a Coptic Orthodox church and a Christian-owned shop near Cairo before he was wounded and arrested, the Egyptian interior ministry and church officials said. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks, in a statement carried out by its Amaq news agency, though it provided no evidence for the claim. Police have stepped up security measures around churches ahead of Coptic Christmas celebrations on January 7, deploying officers outside Christian places of worship and setting up metal detectors at some of the bigger churches. Militants have claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority in recent years, including two bombings on Palm Sunday in April and a blast at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral in December 2016 that killed 28 people. Earlier reports by security sources and state media said at least two attackers were involved in Friday’s attack, and that one was shot dead and another fled the scene. The interior ministry did not explain the reason for the different accounts. The Coptic Church said the gunman first shot at a Christian-owned shop 4 kilometres (3 miles) away, killing two people, before proceeding to the Mar Mina church in the southern Cairo suburb of Helwan. The Interior Ministry said he opened fire at the entrance to the site and tried to throw an explosive device. The gunman killed at least nine people — including a policeman — at the church, according to Interior Ministry and Coptic Church accounts. The Church said a young woman had died later from her wounds, bringing the civilian death toll at the church to eight. The ministry said security forces had “immediately dealt with the (attacker) and arrested him after he was wounded”. It added, “Legal measures have been taken,” without elaborating. An Egyptian woman stands next to a cordoned off bullet-riddled wall at the site of a gun attack at a church. Image: AFP.  Gunman identified Investigators have identified the gunman, the ministry said, adding that he had carried out several attacks since last year. Egypt is also grappling with a deadly Daesh insurgency in the North Sinai region. The health ministry said five people had been wounded, including two women who it said were in a serious condition. A joint funeral for eight of those killed was held on Friday evening at the Virgin Mary church in Helwan. Pope Tawadros II — the head of the Coptic Church — led mourning for the victims. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also offered his condolences to the families and ordered security forces to increase safety measures at sensitive sites, his office said in a statement. US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Friday with al-Sisi and condemned the attack, the White House said in a statement. Cairo’s state prosecutor said that an investigation had been launched into the incident. “The shooting began at 10:30 AM and carried on for more than 15 minutes… There was more than one attacker,” Mohammed Hussein Abdelhadi — who lives close to the church — told Reuters. A witness who did not want to give his name said the policeman was killed while he was closing the church gate to stop the gunman getting in.

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Ranji Trophy: Delhi's road to the final

Ranji Trophy: Delhi's road to the final

Ranji Trophy: Delhi's road to the final from Sports - Videos - The Times of India http://ift.tt/2lmLfYS
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Price protests turn political in Iran as rallies spread Protesters take to the streets in Qom, Iran, December 29, 2017. Image Courtesy: BBC Video/Screenshot DUBAI: Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans in several cities across Iran on Friday, Iranian news agencies and social media reports said, as price protests turned into the largest wave of demonstrations since nationwide pro-reform unrest in 2009. Police dispersed anti-government demonstrators in the western city of Kermanshah as protests spread to Tehran and several other cities a day after rallies in the northeast, the semi-official news agency Fars said. The outbreak of unrest reflects growing discontent over rising prices and alleged corruption, as well as concern about the Islamic Republic’s costly involvement in regional conflicts such as those in Syria and Iraq. An official said a few protesters had been arrested in Tehran, and footage posted on social media showed a heavy police presence in the capital and some other cities. Washington criticized the arrests. ”The United States strongly condemns the arrest of peaceful protesters. We urge all nations to publicly support the Iranian people and their demands for basic rights and an end to corruption. About 300 demonstrators gathered in Kermanshah after what Fars said was a “call by the anti-revolution”. They shouted: “Political prisoners should be freed” and “Freedom or death”, and some public property was destroyed. Fars did not name any opposition groups. The protests in Kermanshah, the main city in a region where an earthquake killed over 600 people in November, took place a day after hundreds rallied in Iran’s second largest city Mashhad to protest at high prices and shout anti-government slogans. Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators yelling, “The people are begging, the clerics act like God”. Fars said there were protests in the cities of Sari and Rasht in the north, Qazvin west of Tehran and Qom south of the capital, and also in Hamadan in western Iran. It said many marchers who wanted to raise economic demands left the rallies after demonstrators shouted political slogans. Pro-government rallies planned State television said annual nationwide rallies and events were scheduled for Saturday to commemorate pro-government demonstrations held in 2009 to counter protests by reformists. The Revolutionary Guards, which along with its Basij militia spearheaded a crackdown against the protesters in 2009, said in a statement carried by state media that there were efforts to repeat that year’s unrest but added: “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Mohsen Nasj Hamadani, deputy security chief in Tehran province, said about 50 people had rallied in a square but most had left after being asked to by police, while a few who refused were “temporarily detained”, the ILNA news agency reported. In the central city of Isfahan, a resident said protesters had joined a rally held by factory workers demanding back-pay. “The slogans quickly changed from the economy to those against (President Hassan) Rouhani and the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei),” the resident said by telephone. In Qom, a stronghold of the clergy, footage posted on social media showed protesters attacking Ayatollah Khamenei by name. “Seyyed Ali should be ashamed and leave the country alone,” they chanted. Protests were held also in the town of Quchan near the Turkmen border, and in Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, social media and Iranian news websites reported. Police arrested 52 people in Thursday’s protests, Fars quoted a judicial official as saying in Mashhad, one of the holiest places in Islam. In social media footage, which could not be authenticated, riot police were seen using water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds. Openly political protests are rare in Iran, where security services are omnipresent. Fresh protests over economy in Iran, say officials Protesters believe the economy was in a poor state under President Hassan Rouhani The last unrest of national significance occurred in 2009 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president ignited eight months of street protests. Pro-reform rivals said the vote was rigged. However, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. Prominent conservative cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda called earlier for tough action against the protests. “If the security and law enforcement agencies leave the rioters to themselves, enemies will publish films and pictures in their media and say that the Islamic Republic system has lost its revolutionary base in Mashhad,” the state news agency IRNA quoted Alamolhoda as saying. 'Death to dictator' Some social media videos showed demonstrators chanting “Death to Rouhani” and “Death to the dictator”. Protests were also held in at least two other northeastern cities. Alamolhoda, the representative of Ayatollah Khamenei in Mashhad, said a few people had taken advantage of Thursday’s protests against rising prices to chant slogans against Iran’s role in regional conflicts. Tehran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s civil war, militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group. “Some people had come to express their demands, but suddenly, in a crowd of hundreds, a small group that did not exceed 50 shouted deviant and horrendous slogans such as ‘Let go of Palestine’, ‘Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I’d give my life (only) for Iran’,” Alamolhoda said. Social media videos also showed demonstrators chanting ”Leave Syria, think about us”, criticizing Iran’s military and financial support for Assad. Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, a close Rouhani ally, suggested that hardline conservative opponents of the pragmatist president might have triggered the protests but lost control of them. “Those who are behind such events will burn their own fingers,” IRNA quoted Jahangiri as saying. Rouhani’s leading achievement, a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s disputed nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions, has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment stood at 12.4 percent in this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, up 1.4 percent from the previous year. About 3.2 million Iranians are jobless, out of a total population of 80 million.

Price protests turn political in Iran as rallies spread Protesters take to the streets in Qom, Iran, December 29, 2017. Image Courtesy: BBC Video/Screenshot DUBAI: Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans in several cities across Iran on Friday, Iranian news agencies and social media reports said, as price protests turned into the largest wave of demonstrations since nationwide pro-reform unrest in 2009. Police dispersed anti-government demonstrators in the western city of Kermanshah as protests spread to Tehran and several other cities a day after rallies in the northeast, the semi-official news agency Fars said. The outbreak of unrest reflects growing discontent over rising prices and alleged corruption, as well as concern about the Islamic Republic’s costly involvement in regional conflicts such as those in Syria and Iraq. An official said a few protesters had been arrested in Tehran, and footage posted on social media showed a heavy police presence in the capital and some other cities. Washington criticized the arrests. ”The United States strongly condemns the arrest of peaceful protesters. We urge all nations to publicly support the Iranian people and their demands for basic rights and an end to corruption. About 300 demonstrators gathered in Kermanshah after what Fars said was a “call by the anti-revolution”. They shouted: “Political prisoners should be freed” and “Freedom or death”, and some public property was destroyed. Fars did not name any opposition groups. The protests in Kermanshah, the main city in a region where an earthquake killed over 600 people in November, took place a day after hundreds rallied in Iran’s second largest city Mashhad to protest at high prices and shout anti-government slogans. Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators yelling, “The people are begging, the clerics act like God”. Fars said there were protests in the cities of Sari and Rasht in the north, Qazvin west of Tehran and Qom south of the capital, and also in Hamadan in western Iran. It said many marchers who wanted to raise economic demands left the rallies after demonstrators shouted political slogans. Pro-government rallies planned State television said annual nationwide rallies and events were scheduled for Saturday to commemorate pro-government demonstrations held in 2009 to counter protests by reformists. The Revolutionary Guards, which along with its Basij militia spearheaded a crackdown against the protesters in 2009, said in a statement carried by state media that there were efforts to repeat that year’s unrest but added: “The Iranian nation ... will not allow the country to be hurt.” Mohsen Nasj Hamadani, deputy security chief in Tehran province, said about 50 people had rallied in a square but most had left after being asked to by police, while a few who refused were “temporarily detained”, the ILNA news agency reported. In the central city of Isfahan, a resident said protesters had joined a rally held by factory workers demanding back-pay. “The slogans quickly changed from the economy to those against (President Hassan) Rouhani and the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei),” the resident said by telephone. In Qom, a stronghold of the clergy, footage posted on social media showed protesters attacking Ayatollah Khamenei by name. “Seyyed Ali should be ashamed and leave the country alone,” they chanted. Protests were held also in the town of Quchan near the Turkmen border, and in Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, social media and Iranian news websites reported. Police arrested 52 people in Thursday’s protests, Fars quoted a judicial official as saying in Mashhad, one of the holiest places in Islam. In social media footage, which could not be authenticated, riot police were seen using water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds. Openly political protests are rare in Iran, where security services are omnipresent. Fresh protests over economy in Iran, say officials Protesters believe the economy was in a poor state under President Hassan Rouhani The last unrest of national significance occurred in 2009 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president ignited eight months of street protests. Pro-reform rivals said the vote was rigged. However, demonstrations are often held by workers over lay-offs or non-payment of salaries and by people who hold deposits in non-regulated, bankrupt financial institutions. Prominent conservative cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda called earlier for tough action against the protests. “If the security and law enforcement agencies leave the rioters to themselves, enemies will publish films and pictures in their media and say that the Islamic Republic system has lost its revolutionary base in Mashhad,” the state news agency IRNA quoted Alamolhoda as saying. 'Death to dictator' Some social media videos showed demonstrators chanting “Death to Rouhani” and “Death to the dictator”. Protests were also held in at least two other northeastern cities. Alamolhoda, the representative of Ayatollah Khamenei in Mashhad, said a few people had taken advantage of Thursday’s protests against rising prices to chant slogans against Iran’s role in regional conflicts. Tehran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s civil war, militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group. “Some people had come to express their demands, but suddenly, in a crowd of hundreds, a small group that did not exceed 50 shouted deviant and horrendous slogans such as ‘Let go of Palestine’, ‘Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I’d give my life (only) for Iran’,” Alamolhoda said. Social media videos also showed demonstrators chanting ”Leave Syria, think about us”, criticizing Iran’s military and financial support for Assad. Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, a close Rouhani ally, suggested that hardline conservative opponents of the pragmatist president might have triggered the protests but lost control of them. “Those who are behind such events will burn their own fingers,” IRNA quoted Jahangiri as saying. Rouhani’s leading achievement, a 2015 deal with world powers that curbed Iran’s disputed nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions, has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Unemployment stood at 12.4 percent in this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, up 1.4 percent from the previous year. About 3.2 million Iranians are jobless, out of a total population of 80 million.

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Russian tankers fueled North Korea via transfers at sea: sources A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva, October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/Files LONDON/MOSCOW: Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea, according to two senior Western European security sources, providing an economic lifeline to the secretive Communist state. The sales of oil or oil products from Russia — the world’s second-biggest oil exporter and a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council — breach UN sanctions, the security sources said. The transfers in October and November indicate that smuggling from Russia to North Korea has evolved to loading cargoes at sea since Reuters reported in September that North Korean ships were sailing directly from Russia to their homeland. “Russian vessels have made ship-to-ship transfers of petrochemicals to North Korean vessels on several occasions this year in breach of sanctions,” the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. A second source, who independently confirmed the existence of the Russian ship-to-ship fuel trade with North Korea, said there was no evidence of Russian state involvement in the latest transfers. “There is no evidence that this is backed by the Russian state but these Russian vessels are giving a lifeline to the North Koreans,” the second European security source said. The two security sources cited naval intelligence and satellite imagery of the vessels operating out of Russian Far Eastern ports on the Pacific but declined to disclose further details to Reuters, saying it was classified. Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the Russian Customs Service both declined to comment when asked on Wednesday if Russian ships had supplied fuel to North Korean vessels. The owner of one ship accused of smuggling oil to North Korea denied any such activity. The latest report came as China, responding on Friday to criticism from US President Donald Trump, denied it had illicitly shipped oil products to North Korea. North Korea relies on imported fuel to keep its struggling economy functioning. It also requires oil for its intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear program that the United States says threatens the peace in Asia. “The vessels are smuggling Russian fuel from Russian Far Eastern ports to North Korea,” said the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Reuters was unable to independently verify that the vessels had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels, whether the Russian state knew about the sales or how many Russian vessels were involved in the transfers. It was also unclear how much fuel may have been smuggled. Ship satellite positioning data consulted by Reuters and available on Reuters Eikon shows unusual movements by some of the Russian vessels named by the security sources including switching off the transponders which give a precise location. The security sources said the Russian-flagged tanker Vityaz was one vessel that had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels. Vityaz The Vityaz left the port of Slavyanka near Vladivostok in Russia on Oct. 15 with 1,600 tonnes of oil, according to Russian port control documents. Documents submitted by the vessel’s agent to the Russian State Port Control authority showed its destination as a fishing fleet in the Japan Sea. Shipping data showed the vessel switched off its transponder for a few days as it sailed into open waters. According to the European security sources, the Vityaz conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with the North Korean Flagged Sam Ma 2 tanker in open seas during October. Reuters could not independently verify the transfer as ship tracking data showed that the Sam Ma 2 had turned off its transponder from the start of August. The owner of the Russian vessel denied any contact with North Korean vessels but also said it was unaware that the vessel was fuelling fishing boats. Yaroslav Guk, deputy director of the tanker’s owner, Vladivostok-based Alisa Ltd, said the vessel had no contacts with North Korean vessels. “Absolutely no, this is very dangerous,” Guk told Reuters by telephone. “It would be complete madness.” When contacted a second time, Guk said the vessel did not have any contacts with North Korean ships and that he would not answer further questions. An official at East Coast Ltd, the vessel’s transport agent, declined to comment. Two other Russian flagged tankers made similar journeys between the middle of October and November, leaving from the ports of Slavyanka and Nakhodka into open seas where they switched off their transponders, shipping data showed. In September, Reuters reported that at least eight North Korean ships that left Russia loaded with fuel this year headed for their homeland despite declaring other destinations, a ploy that US officials say is often used to undermine sanctions. A Russian shipping source with knowledge of Far Eastern marine practices said North Korean vessels had stopped loading fuel in Russia’s Far Eastern ports but that fuel is delivered at sea by tankers using ship-to-ship transfers, or even by fishing vessels. China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea after Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation. The United States has proposed that the United Nations Security Council blacklist 10 ships for transporting banned items from North Korea, according to documents seen by Reuters this month. The vessels are accused of “conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum products to North Korean vessels or illegally transporting North Korean coal to other countries for exports,” the United States said in its proposal.

Russian tankers fueled North Korea via transfers at sea: sources A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva, October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/Files LONDON/MOSCOW: Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea, according to two senior Western European security sources, providing an economic lifeline to the secretive Communist state. The sales of oil or oil products from Russia — the world’s second-biggest oil exporter and a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council — breach UN sanctions, the security sources said. The transfers in October and November indicate that smuggling from Russia to North Korea has evolved to loading cargoes at sea since Reuters reported in September that North Korean ships were sailing directly from Russia to their homeland. “Russian vessels have made ship-to-ship transfers of petrochemicals to North Korean vessels on several occasions this year in breach of sanctions,” the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. A second source, who independently confirmed the existence of the Russian ship-to-ship fuel trade with North Korea, said there was no evidence of Russian state involvement in the latest transfers. “There is no evidence that this is backed by the Russian state but these Russian vessels are giving a lifeline to the North Koreans,” the second European security source said. The two security sources cited naval intelligence and satellite imagery of the vessels operating out of Russian Far Eastern ports on the Pacific but declined to disclose further details to Reuters, saying it was classified. Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the Russian Customs Service both declined to comment when asked on Wednesday if Russian ships had supplied fuel to North Korean vessels. The owner of one ship accused of smuggling oil to North Korea denied any such activity. The latest report came as China, responding on Friday to criticism from US President Donald Trump, denied it had illicitly shipped oil products to North Korea. North Korea relies on imported fuel to keep its struggling economy functioning. It also requires oil for its intercontinental ballistic missile and its nuclear program that the United States says threatens the peace in Asia. “The vessels are smuggling Russian fuel from Russian Far Eastern ports to North Korea,” said the first security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Reuters was unable to independently verify that the vessels had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels, whether the Russian state knew about the sales or how many Russian vessels were involved in the transfers. It was also unclear how much fuel may have been smuggled. Ship satellite positioning data consulted by Reuters and available on Reuters Eikon shows unusual movements by some of the Russian vessels named by the security sources including switching off the transponders which give a precise location. The security sources said the Russian-flagged tanker Vityaz was one vessel that had transferred fuel to North Korean vessels. Vityaz The Vityaz left the port of Slavyanka near Vladivostok in Russia on Oct. 15 with 1,600 tonnes of oil, according to Russian port control documents. Documents submitted by the vessel’s agent to the Russian State Port Control authority showed its destination as a fishing fleet in the Japan Sea. Shipping data showed the vessel switched off its transponder for a few days as it sailed into open waters. According to the European security sources, the Vityaz conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with the North Korean Flagged Sam Ma 2 tanker in open seas during October. Reuters could not independently verify the transfer as ship tracking data showed that the Sam Ma 2 had turned off its transponder from the start of August. The owner of the Russian vessel denied any contact with North Korean vessels but also said it was unaware that the vessel was fuelling fishing boats. Yaroslav Guk, deputy director of the tanker’s owner, Vladivostok-based Alisa Ltd, said the vessel had no contacts with North Korean vessels. “Absolutely no, this is very dangerous,” Guk told Reuters by telephone. “It would be complete madness.” When contacted a second time, Guk said the vessel did not have any contacts with North Korean ships and that he would not answer further questions. An official at East Coast Ltd, the vessel’s transport agent, declined to comment. Two other Russian flagged tankers made similar journeys between the middle of October and November, leaving from the ports of Slavyanka and Nakhodka into open seas where they switched off their transponders, shipping data showed. In September, Reuters reported that at least eight North Korean ships that left Russia loaded with fuel this year headed for their homeland despite declaring other destinations, a ploy that US officials say is often used to undermine sanctions. A Russian shipping source with knowledge of Far Eastern marine practices said North Korean vessels had stopped loading fuel in Russia’s Far Eastern ports but that fuel is delivered at sea by tankers using ship-to-ship transfers, or even by fishing vessels. China on Friday denied reports it has been illicitly selling oil products to North Korea after Trump said he was not happy that China had allowed oil to reach the isolated nation. The United States has proposed that the United Nations Security Council blacklist 10 ships for transporting banned items from North Korea, according to documents seen by Reuters this month. The vessels are accused of “conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum products to North Korean vessels or illegally transporting North Korean coal to other countries for exports,” the United States said in its proposal.

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White House, Congress prepare for talks on spending, immigration Demonstrators protest in front of the White House — after the Trump administration scrapped the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — in Washington, US, September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files WEST PALM BEACH: The White House said on Friday it was set to kick off talks next week with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on immigration policy, government spending and other issues that need to be wrapped up early in the new year. The expected flurry of legislative activity comes as Republicans and Democrats begin to set the stage for midterm congressional elections in November. US President Donald Trump’s Republican Party is eager to maintain control of Congress while Democrats look for openings to wrest seats away in the Senate and the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, Trump’s budget chief Mick Mulvaney and legislative affairs director Marc Short will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan — both Republicans — and their Democratic counterparts, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the White House said. That will be followed up with a weekend of strategy sessions for Trump, McConnell and Ryan on January 6 and 7 at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, according to the White House. The Senate returns to work on January 3 and the House on January 8. Congress passed a short-term government funding bill last week before taking its Christmas break but needs to come to an agreement on defence spending and various domestic programs by January 19, or the government will shut down. Also on the agenda for lawmakers is disaster aid for people hit by hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, and by wildfires in California. The House passed an $81 billion package in December, which the Senate did not take up. The White House has asked for a smaller figure, $44 billion. Deadlines also loom for soon-to-expire protections for young adult immigrants who entered the country illegally as children, known as “Dreamers.” In September, Trump ended Democratic former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — which protected Dreamers from deportation and provided work permits — effective in March, giving Congress until then to devise a long-term solution. Democrats, some Republicans and a number of large companies have pushed for DACA protections to continue. Trump and other Republicans have said that will not happen without Congress approving broader immigration policy changes and tougher border security. Democrats oppose funding for a wall promised by Trump along the US-Mexican border. “The Democrats have been told, and fully understand, that there can be no DACA without the desperately needed WALL at the Southern Border and an END to the horrible Chain Migration & ridiculous Lottery System of Immigration etc,” Trump said in a Twitter post on Friday. Trump wants to overhaul immigration rules for extended families and others seeking to live in the United States. Republican US Senator Jeff Flake — a frequent critic of the president — said he would work with Trump to protect Dreamers. “We can fix DACA in a way that beefs up border security, stops chain migration for the DREAMers, and addresses the unfairness of the diversity lottery. If POTUS (Trump) wants to protect these kids, we want to help him keep that promise,” Flake wrote on Twitter. Congress in early 2018 also must raise the US debt ceiling to avoid a government default. The US Treasury would exhaust all of its borrowing options and run dry of cash to pay its bills by late March or early April if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling before then, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Trump, who won his first major legislative victory with the passage of a major tax overhaul this month, has also promised a major infrastructure plan.

White House, Congress prepare for talks on spending, immigration Demonstrators protest in front of the White House — after the Trump administration scrapped the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — in Washington, US, September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files WEST PALM BEACH: The White House said on Friday it was set to kick off talks next week with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on immigration policy, government spending and other issues that need to be wrapped up early in the new year. The expected flurry of legislative activity comes as Republicans and Democrats begin to set the stage for midterm congressional elections in November. US President Donald Trump’s Republican Party is eager to maintain control of Congress while Democrats look for openings to wrest seats away in the Senate and the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, Trump’s budget chief Mick Mulvaney and legislative affairs director Marc Short will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan — both Republicans — and their Democratic counterparts, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the White House said. That will be followed up with a weekend of strategy sessions for Trump, McConnell and Ryan on January 6 and 7 at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, according to the White House. The Senate returns to work on January 3 and the House on January 8. Congress passed a short-term government funding bill last week before taking its Christmas break but needs to come to an agreement on defence spending and various domestic programs by January 19, or the government will shut down. Also on the agenda for lawmakers is disaster aid for people hit by hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, and by wildfires in California. The House passed an $81 billion package in December, which the Senate did not take up. The White House has asked for a smaller figure, $44 billion. Deadlines also loom for soon-to-expire protections for young adult immigrants who entered the country illegally as children, known as “Dreamers.” In September, Trump ended Democratic former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — which protected Dreamers from deportation and provided work permits — effective in March, giving Congress until then to devise a long-term solution. Democrats, some Republicans and a number of large companies have pushed for DACA protections to continue. Trump and other Republicans have said that will not happen without Congress approving broader immigration policy changes and tougher border security. Democrats oppose funding for a wall promised by Trump along the US-Mexican border. “The Democrats have been told, and fully understand, that there can be no DACA without the desperately needed WALL at the Southern Border and an END to the horrible Chain Migration & ridiculous Lottery System of Immigration etc,” Trump said in a Twitter post on Friday. Trump wants to overhaul immigration rules for extended families and others seeking to live in the United States. Republican US Senator Jeff Flake — a frequent critic of the president — said he would work with Trump to protect Dreamers. “We can fix DACA in a way that beefs up border security, stops chain migration for the DREAMers, and addresses the unfairness of the diversity lottery. If POTUS (Trump) wants to protect these kids, we want to help him keep that promise,” Flake wrote on Twitter. Congress in early 2018 also must raise the US debt ceiling to avoid a government default. The US Treasury would exhaust all of its borrowing options and run dry of cash to pay its bills by late March or early April if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling before then, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Trump, who won his first major legislative victory with the passage of a major tax overhaul this month, has also promised a major infrastructure plan.

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Four alleged gang-rapists killed in Multan shootout File Photo MULTAN: Four alleged gang-rapists were shot dead in a shootout Friday night here in the Seetal Mari police station's jurisdiction, Geo News reported, citing law enforcement agencies' (LEAs) officials. According to security officials of the area's police station, five armed dacoits had entered Zulfiqar's house — with another stationed outside as a lookout — with the intention to rob. Of those who entered, four had gang-raped his wife. Two of those robbers — Ajmal and Ashraf — had been taken into custody and were being transported to identify their accomplices when the latter opened fire on the police mobile in order to help the arrested suspects escape detention. An encounter ensued subsequently, with police officers shooting at the attackers in response. However, it was the accomplices' bullets that killed the detained suspects, LEAs noted. While the retaliatory gunfire resulted in two unidentified assailants being killed, three of their accomplices managed to escape by taking advantage of the nighttime. Police have consequently commenced a search operation for the attackers who fled in the dark. Later, LEAs identified the deceased suspects as Abdul Malik (alias Malki) and Qamar (alias Goda).

Four alleged gang-rapists killed in Multan shootout File Photo MULTAN: Four alleged gang-rapists were shot dead in a shootout Friday night here in the Seetal Mari police station's jurisdiction, Geo News reported, citing law enforcement agencies' (LEAs) officials. According to security officials of the area's police station, five armed dacoits had entered Zulfiqar's house — with another stationed outside as a lookout — with the intention to rob. Of those who entered, four had gang-raped his wife. Two of those robbers — Ajmal and Ashraf — had been taken into custody and were being transported to identify their accomplices when the latter opened fire on the police mobile in order to help the arrested suspects escape detention. An encounter ensued subsequently, with police officers shooting at the attackers in response. However, it was the accomplices' bullets that killed the detained suspects, LEAs noted. While the retaliatory gunfire resulted in two unidentified assailants being killed, three of their accomplices managed to escape by taking advantage of the nighttime. Police have consequently commenced a search operation for the attackers who fled in the dark. Later, LEAs identified the deceased suspects as Abdul Malik (alias Malki) and Qamar (alias Goda).

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2G verdict show stealer in eventful 2017 in Delhi courts

2G verdict show stealer in eventful 2017 in Delhi courts

The failure of the prosecution in 2G cases overshadowed its success in prosecuting political heavyweights in coal scam cases in which former...
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Warrant issued against official for not appearing for dowry death case

Warrant issued against official for not appearing for dowry death case

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2pXjqvQ
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I-T dept, TN govt officials visits Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence

I-T dept, TN govt officials visits Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence

A team of state government officials and income tax officials visited late former chief minister Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence on...
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'No person here disputes Muslim preference for BSP'

'No person here disputes Muslim preference for BSP'

BJP dismisses talk that BSP will put up a performance that will worry them, pointing that BSP scored a blank in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. ...
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Trying to address farm challenges: Gujarat chief secretary

Trying to address farm challenges: Gujarat chief secretary

Gujarat saw a tough fight in the recently-concluded assembly polls, with BJP winning only 7 seats more than what was needed for an absolute ...
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Lalu Prasad is great at playing caste card: Former CBI man

Lalu Prasad is great at playing caste card: Former CBI man

Biswas dissected Lalu’s comment made immediately after the conviction by the CBI court in Ranchi. The RJD chief equated himself with Ambedka...
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Elderly face trouble due to UID: BJP MP

Elderly face trouble due to UID: BJP MP

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2DyfEuI
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Congress MLA slaps cop, gets one back in return

Congress MLA slaps cop, gets one back in return

Congress MLA from Dalhousie and All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Asha Kumari on Friday courted a controversy after she slapped ...
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Both ADMK, DMK oppose legislation

Both ADMK, DMK oppose legislation

Further, during these four intervening months, the Centre could have consulted various Muslim bodies before presenting the bill in its prese...
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Shiv Sena MP demands judicial probe

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Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant and BJP's Kirit Somaiya demanded a judicial probe into the fire at Kamala Mills in Mumbai and sought a fire s...
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'Govt wasted historic opportunity'

'Govt wasted historic opportunity'

Those who have read the Triple Talaq Bill will agree that, in essence, it reads more like a statement of intent rather than a concrete legis...
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Overall rabi sown area dips, but pulses' on rise

Overall rabi sown area dips, but pulses' on rise

After recording marginally higher sown area under rabi crops for the past two weeks this month as compared to the corresponding period last ...
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Crack in new Gujarat cabinet? Sulking deputy CM Nitin Patel avoids office

Crack in new Gujarat cabinet? Sulking deputy CM Nitin Patel avoids office

Signs of discontent were visible in the newly inducted Vijay Rupani govt as deputy CM Nitin Patel, who suffered the ignominy of being stripp...
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Was duped by weight-loss pill ad, says Venkaiah Naidu

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Asking the government to take steps to end the menace of misleading and fake advertisements, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday share...
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2 Times Network heroes rescue over 150 people

2 Times Network heroes rescue over 150 people

Two security personnel from the Times Network exhibited exemplary courage and heroism in the midst of the Kamala Mills tragedy on Friday and...
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Palestine's Pakistan envoy shares dais with Hafiz Saeed, India issues demarche

Palestine's Pakistan envoy shares dais with Hafiz Saeed, India issues demarche

The presence of the Palestinian envoy at a JuD rally is a slap on the face for India, just last week India voted for a UNGA resolution again...
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Mamata expresses concern over attempts to distort history

Mamata expresses concern over attempts to distort history

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged attempts were being made to "distort" the country's history to se...
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Demand for stray cow protection board, limit on wedding expenses among pvt member Bills introduced in LS

Demand for stray cow protection board, limit on wedding expenses among pvt member Bills introduced in LS

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2zM9yok
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BJP leader sends footwear online to Pakistan high commission

BJP leader sends footwear online to Pakistan high commission

from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India http://ift.tt/2EcopLY
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Lara Dutta's daughter Saira learns some tennis from father Mahesh Bhupathi

Lara Dutta's daughter Saira learns some tennis from father Mahesh Bhupathi

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2ls0L5K
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Salman Khan will always be a son to Dharmendra

Salman Khan will always be a son to Dharmendra

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2CehUes
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Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's pictures that will give you some serious relationship goals

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's pictures that will give you some serious relationship goals

Having tied the knot officially recently, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have never failed to impress us with their camaraderie and have bee...
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Pic: Twinkle Khanna has a “perfect birthday” with her loved ones

Pic: Twinkle Khanna has a “perfect birthday” with her loved ones

Twinkle took to Instagram to share a picture on her birthday. Seen in the picture is the birthday girl surrounded by her husband Akshay Kuma...
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Krishna Shroff dares to bare all in risqué photo series

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Krishna Shroff, the sister of Bollywood hunk Tiger Shroff, has found herself making headlines once again for her risqué photoshoot. from L...
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Movie Review: Jumanji-Welcome To The Jungle

Movie Review: Jumanji-Welcome To The Jungle

A thoroughly enjoyable holiday film that makes the most of its charming cast. from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News,...
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Malaika Arora parties with Arbaaz Khan

Malaika Arora parties with Arbaaz Khan

from Latest Entertainment News, Movies News, Celebrity News, Breaking News | Entertainment - Times of India http://ift.tt/2zKXHqo
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