More than 170 people died after a
Ukrainian Boeing-737 crashed in Iran on January 8.
Ukraine International Airlines flight
PS752 to Kyiv, carrying 176 on board, went down after taking off from Imam
Khomeini airport in Tehran at 06:12 local time.
According to officials, there is no
chance of finding survivors.
The majority of passengers were from
Iran and Canada.
The embassy of Ukraine in Tehran initially
blamed engine failure but later removed the statement.
It said any comment regarding the
cause of the accident prior to a commission’s inquiry was not official.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr
Zelensky warned against “speculation or unchecked theories regarding the
catastrophe” until official reports were ready.
Iranian media blamed technical
problems and quoted an aviation official who said no emergency had been
declared.
In a sign of the potential difficulties facing crash investigators, Ali
Abedzadeh, the head of Iran’s civil aviation organization was quoted as saying
the Ukrainian plane’s black box would not be handed over, either to Boeing or
the Americans.
Ali Abedzadeh said “terrorism” had played no role in the crash,
Iran’s conservative Mehr news agency reported.
Debris and engine parts from the Boeing 737-800 NG plane were found some 6
miles from the airport and rescue workers with face masks searched the wreckage
for victims.
Throughout the morning, Red Crescent workers laid out a long line of body
bags.
Hours before the plane came down Iran carried out a ballistic missile attack
on two air bases housing US forces in Iraq. However, there is no evidence that
the two incidents were linked.
A series of airlines announced on January 8 that they were avoiding both
Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
KLM and Air France said they would use alternative routes while Lufthansa
said it was also canceling its daily flight to Tehran. Air India, Qantas,
Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines were among other airlines
taking action.
According to Ukrainian Foreign
Minister Vadym Prystaiko, among the victims were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11
Ukrainians including all nine crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons and
three Germans,
Ukrainian officials said that 169 people had bought tickets for the flight but two had not boarded the plane.
In retaliation for the US killing of General
Qasem Soleimani, Iran has carried out a ballistic missile attack on air bases
housing US forces in Iraq.
More than a dozen missiles launched from Iran struck two air bases in Irbil
and Al Asad, west of Baghdad.
At this moment, it is unclear if there have been any casualties.
The initial response from Washington has been muted.
President Donald Trump tweeted: “All
is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq.
Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We
have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by
far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Two Iraqi bases housing US and coalition troops were targeted, one at Al
Asad and one in Irbil, at about 02:00 local time on January 8. It came just
hours after the burial of Qasem Soleimani, who controlled Iran’s proxy forces
across the Middle East.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said the attack was “a slap in
the face” for the US and called for an end to their presence in the Middle
East.
Echoing him, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran’s “final answer”
to Qasem Soleimani’s assassination would be to “kick all US forces out of
the region”.
Iraq’s PM Adel Abdul Mahdi said Iran warned him that an attack was imminent
and only areas with US troops would be targeted. There were no reports of Iraqi
casualties, he said.
Just hours after the missile strikes a Ukrainian airliner crashed in Iran
shortly after take-off. There is no evidence that the two incidents are linked.
Several airlines have announced they are avoiding both Iranian and Iraqi
airspace amid the rising tension.
This is the most direct assault by Iran on the US since the seizing of the
US embassy in Tehran in 1979.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack was in retaliation for the death
of Qasem Soleimani on Friday – killed in a missile strike outside Baghdad
airport on the orders of President Trump – and warned US allies that their
bases could also be targeted.
Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Hatami said his country’s response to any US
retaliation would be proportional to the US action.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the attack was
self-defense and denied seeking to escalate the situation into war.
He tweeted: “Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched.
We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.”
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been threatened with jail for using his phone in a New York City court where a jury is being picked for his rape trial.
Judge James Burke asked him: “Is
this really the way you want to end up in jail for the rest of your life, by
texting and violating a court order?”
The judge instructed Harvey Weinstein, who is out on bail, not to answer the
question.
He faces five charges and possibly life in jail if convicted.
The allegations include rape and assault relating to two
unnamed accusers. He is charged with raping one woman in a Manhattan hotel room
in 2013, and performing a forcible sex act on the second woman in 2006.
On January 6, Harvey Weinstein was charged with an additional two counts in
Los Angeles: rape and assault.
He has denied all charges and insists any encounters were consensual.
According to local media, on January 7, Harvey Weinstein, 67, was caught using
two mobile phones in court. He had already been admonished by Judge Burke at
previous court appearances for using a handset.
Judge Burke said: “What did I say
would happen if he so much has a cellphone or electronic device since there
have been repeated violations of this, including some on the record?”
“I believe you said remand,”
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer replied after a heated exchange, meaning to put his
client in jail.
Lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi urged
Judge Burke to jail Harvey Weinstein, who is out on $5 million bail. He is
required to wear an electronic tracking device.
“There is a grave risk that this defendant at some
point will realize that the evidence against him is imposing and overwhelming” and he will try to escape, Joan Illuzzi said.
Judge Burke ultimately declined to
revoke Harvey Weinstein’s bail, but told the former movie mogul he would not
get any further warning.
“I’m not looking for apologies,” Judge Burke said.
“I’m looking for compliance.”
In court, Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer,
Arthur Aidala, asked Judge Burke to delay jury selection, arguing that the jury
pool had been tarnished by the extensive press coverage of the Los Angeles
charges filed on January 6.
Judge Burke rejected the defense
request.
After jury selection, Harvey Weinstein’s New York trial is expected to begin in around two weeks.
In a chaotic scene, Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó has forced his way into the National Assembly (the country’s parliament) building after being stopped by troops. The incident occurred as his rival for the position of parliamentary speaker held a session inside.
Juan Guaido, who was re-elected on January 5 to a second one-year term as head of the opposition-held congress, had pledged to preside over January 7 opening session after security forces blocked him from the building over the weekend to allow allies of President Nicolas Maduro to swear in their own speaker, Luis Parra.
On January 5, security forces blocked him to enter the parliament. He tried
again to break through a cordon on January 7. He and his supporters managed to
push through the riot police. Their arrival prompted pro-government lawmakers
to leave.
Juan Guaidó went on sit down in the Speaker’s chair. He and his supporters
sang the national anthem before he was sworn in as Speaker during a power cut
which forced people to use phone lights.
At least 50 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a stampede as Iranians gathered for the funeral procession of General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad last week.
The deaths in the top military commander’s hometown of Kerman led to the burial ceremony being delayed.
Qasem Soleimani’s burial is the last in a series of funeral events that have
brought millions on to the streets in Iran.
His killing has raised fears of a conflict between the US and Iran.
Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Quds force, was tasked with defending and
projecting Iranian interests abroad, and was hailed as a hero by many in his
home country. Immediately after his death, Iran threatened retaliation.
To the US, Qasem Soleimani was a terrorist, and in explaining why he ordered
the strike, President Donald Trump said he was acting on an
“imminent” threat.
The crush in Kerman happened at the start of a funeral procession that had
drawn vast numbers of people on January 7, ahead of the planned burial.
According to officials, quoted on Iran’s Isna news agency, the death toll at
50, with those injured numbering more than 200.
Video online showed people on the ground with their faces covered by
clothing.
Iranian media later reported that the burial had resumed. Video footage
showed the procession of Qasem Soleimani’s casket. People threw items of
clothing which officials touched against the casket before returning them.
Top Iranian officials renewed their
threats of revenge. “The martyr Qasem Soleimani is more powerful… now
that he is dead,” the Revolutionary Guards’ top general, Maj. Gen,
Hossein Salami, told crowds in Kerman.
The Guards were set up to defend Iran’s Islamic system and are a major
political and military force. The Quds Force is its overseas operations arm.
According to local reports, mourners in Kerman chanted “death to America” and “death to Trump”.
IKEA has agreed to pay $46 million to the parents of a child who was killed when a chest of drawers fell on him.
Two-year-old Jozef Dudek suffocated
in May 2017 when Ikea’s Malm drawers toppled over at the family’s California
home.
The item, which weighs 70lbs, had
been recalled a year earlier over safety concerns after three other children
were killed.
According to lawyers, it is the
largest child wrongful death settlement in US history.
A spokeswoman for the Swedish
furniture giant said: “While no
settlement can alter the tragic events that brought us here, for the sake of
the family and all involved, we’re grateful that this litigation has reached a
resolution.”
In a statement, Jozef’s parents,
Joleen and Craig Dudek, said they were “devastated” by the loss of
their son.
They said: “We never thought that
a two-year-old could cause a dresser just 30 inches high to topple over and
suffocate him.
“It was only later that we
learned that [it] was unstable by design.”
“We are telling our story because
we do not want this to happen to another family,” the couple added.
They urged anyone who still has a recalled Ikea dresser to return it.
Joleen and Craig Dudek also said they would donate $1 million of the
settlement to groups working to protect children from dangerous products.
In 2016, Ikea recalled millions of Malm chests of drawers in North America
over safety concerns. It was the largest recall in the company’s history.
Initially, Ikea warned customers to use wall mounts with them, but the death
of a third child prompted the action.
Curren Collas, 2, Camden Ellis, 2, and 23-month-old Ted McGee were all
crushed by the product.
In December 2016, Ikea agreed to pay $50 million in a combined settlement to
the families of the three toddlers.
Under that settlement, the company agreed to only sell chests in the US that
meet or exceed the national voluntary safety standard for clothing storage
units.
The deaths prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch an
education campaign about the risk of falling chests of drawers.
In 2017, Ikea re-launched the recall in the US and Canada. The Swedish furniture giant said items in its Malm range and other chests and dressers pose a “serious tip-over and entrapment hazard” if not secured to a wall.
President Donald Trump has
threatened Iraq with severe sanctions after its parliament called on US troops
to leave the country.
The president told reporters: “We have a very extraordinarily
expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. We’re
not leaving unless they pay us back for it.”
Tensions are high after the US
assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last week.
Meanwhile, Iran has vowed
“severe revenge”.
The 62-year-old general spearheaded
Iranian military operations in the Middle East and was regarded as a terrorist
by the US.
Qasem Soleimani’s remains have now
returned to Iran, where mourners packed the streets of Tehran on January 6.
Esmail Qaani, the new head of Iran’s
Quds force – which Qasem Soleimani led – has vowed to expel the US from the
Middle East.
Iran’s state radio quoted Esmail
Qaani as saying: “We promise to
continue martyr Soleimani’s path with the same force… and the only
compensation for us would be to remove America from the region.”
The air strike that killed Qasem Soleimani
also claimed the life of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a top Iraqi military figure who
commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group.
Speaking from the presidential
plane, President Trump said that if Iraq asked US forces to depart on an
unfriendly basis, “we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen
before, ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame”.
Some 5,000 US soldiers are in Iraq
as part of the international coalition against the ISIS group.
On January 5, the coalition paused
its operations against ISIS in Iraq, and Iraqi lawmakers passed a non-binding
resolution calling for foreign troops to leave.
The resolution was pushed through by
the parliament’s Shia Muslim bloc – which is close to Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran has announced it
will no longer abide by restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, under
which it agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in
international inspectors in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
President Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, saying he wanted
to force Iran to negotiate a new deal that would place indefinite curbs on its
nuclear program and also halt its development of ballistic missiles.
However, Iran refused and had since been gradually rolling back its
commitments under the deal.
In a statement, Iran said it would no longer observe limitations on its
capacity for enrichment, the level of enrichment, the stock of enriched
material, or research and development.
European leaders, from Germany, France and the UK – which were all signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside China and Russia – responded with a joint statement urging Iran to refrain from “further violent action or proliferation”.
The 77th Golden Globe Awards take place in Beverly
Hills, Los Angeles, California on January 5.
English comedian, actor and writer Ricky Gervais is back to present the Golden Globes for the fifth time this year. The 58-year-old says this will be his “very last” time fronting it.
The awards, which celebrate excellence in film and TV, are dished out on
behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) – who’ll be hoping to
set the agenda once again ahead of next month’s Oscars.
On January 2, the Golden Globes announced a raft of celebrities who will
hand out individual awards on the night, including nominees Margot Robbie, Rami
Malek, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron and
Daniel Craig.
Here is the full list of this year’s
Golden Globes nominees:
Best motion picture – drama
1917
The Irishman
Joker
Marriage Story
The Two Popes
Best performance by an actress in a
motion picture – drama
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan – Little Women
Charlize Theron – Bombshell
Renee Zellweger – Judy
Best actor in a motion picture –
drama
Christian Bale – Ford v Ferrari
Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory
Adam Driver – Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes
Best motion picture – musical or
comedy
Dolemite Is My Name
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Rocketman
Best performance by an actress in a
motion picture – musical or comedy
Ana De Armas – Knives Out
Awkwafina – The Farewell
Cate Blanchett – Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Beanie Feldstein – Booksmart
Emma Thompson – Late Night
Best performance by an actor in a
motion picture – musical or comedy
Daniel Craig – Knives Out
Roman Griffin Davis – Jojo Rabbit
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
Taron Egerton – Rocketman
Eddie Murphy – Dolemite is My Name
Best motion picture – animated
Frozen 2
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
The Lion King
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Best motion picture – foreign
language
The Farewell
Les Miserables
Pain and Glory
Parasite
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Best performance by an actress in a
supporting role in any motion picture
Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell
Annette Bening – The Report
Laura Dern – Marriage Story
Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers
Margot Robbie – Bombshell
Best performance by an actor in a
supporting role in any motion picture
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood
Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes
Al Pacino – The Irishman
Joe Pesci – The Irishman
Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best director in a motion picture
Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho – Parasite
Sam Mendes – 1917
Todd Phillips – Joker
Best screenplay – motion picture
Noah Baumbach – Marriage Story
Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won – Parasite
Anthony McCarten – The Two Popes
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
Steven Zaillian – The Irishman
Best original score
Motherless Brooklyn – Daniel Pemberton
Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
Joker – Hildur Gudnadottir
1917 – Thomas Newman
Marriage Story – Randy Newman
Best original song – motion picture
Beautiful Ghosts – Cats
I’m Gonna Love Me Again – Rocketman
Into the Unknown – Frozen 2
Spirit – The Lion King
Stand Up – Harriet
Best Television series – drama
Big Little Lies
The Crown
Killing Eve
The Morning Show
Succession
Best performance by an actress in a
drama series
Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show
Olivia Colman – The Crown
Jodie Comer – Killing Eve
Nicole Kidman – Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show
Best performance by an actor in a
drama series
Brian Cox – Succession
Kit Harington – Game of Thrones
Rami Malek – Mr Robot
Tobias Menzies – The Crown
Billy Porter – Pose
Best television series – musical or
comedy
Barry
Fleabag
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
The Politician
Best performance by an actress in a
television series – musical or comedy
Christina Applegate – Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Kirsten Dunst – On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Natasha Lyonne – Russian Doll
Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag
Best performance by an actor in a
television series – musical or comedy
Michael Douglas – The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader – Barry
Ben Platt – The Politician
Paul Rudd – Living With Yourself
Ramy Youssef – Ramy
Best television limited series or
motion picture made for television
Catch-22
Chernobyl
Fosse/Verdon
The Loudest Voice
Unbelievable
Best actress in a limited series or
TV movie
Michelle Williams – Fosse/Verdon
Helen Mirren – Catherine the Great
Merritt Wever – Unbelievable
Kaitlyn Dever – Unbelievable
Joey King – The Act
Best performance by an actor in a
limited series or a motion picture made for television
Chris Abbott – Catch-22
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Spy
Russell Crowe – The Loudest Voice
Jared Harris – Chernobyl
Sam Rockwell – Fosse/Verdon
Best performance by an actress in a
supporting role in a series, limited series or a motion picture made for
television
Meryl Streep – Big Little Lies
Helena Bonham Carter – The Crown
Emily Watson – Chernobyl
Patricia Arquette – The Act
Toni Collette – Unbelievable
Best performance by an actor in a
supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Thousands of Iranians have gathered in the city
of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, on January 5 to receive the remains of General
Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad.
The mourners beat their chests and chanted “death to America”.
Qasem Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s sphere of influence across the
Middle East and he was considered to be the country’s second most powerful man.
The assassination of the top military commander marked a significant
escalation between Iran and the US.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who had a close personal
relationship with Qasem Soleimani, warned of “severe revenge” for the
attack.
President Donald Trump, who authorized the attack on Qasem Soleimani on
January 3 – an option refused by both Presidents Bush and Obama as too risky –
said in a tweet that the US was ready to strike 52 sites “important to
Iran & the Iranian culture”.
In a series of tweets likely to raise concerns about a path to war between
the two countries, President Trump said the US would strike Iran “VERY FAST
AND VERY HARD” if Iran targeted American bases or troops.
He said the 52 targets identified by the US represented 52 Americans who
were held hostage in Iran for more than a year from late 1979 after they were
taken from the US embassy in Tehran.
President Trump warned: “The
United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the
biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or
any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment
their way…and without hesitation!”
Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded on Twitter, saying
that the killing of Qasem Soleimani was a breach of international law and that
any targeting of cultural sites would be constitute a war crime.
Thousands of black-clad mourners gathered early on Sunday morning in the
streets in Ahvaz, where Qasem Soleimani’s body had arrived before dawn.
The Irib state news agency showed footage of Qasem Soleimani’s casket,
wrapped in an Iranian flag, being unloaded from a plane as a military band
played, before it was flown on to Ahvaz.
The channel showed crowds gathered in the city’s Mollavi Square, waving
flags and holding aloft portraits of Qasem Soleimani, who is seen by many in
Iran as a hero because of his role as a soldier in the Iran-Iraq war of the
1980s and his closeness to the supreme leader.
In the capital Tehran, members of parliament chanted “death to America” for a few minutes during a session of the house, the ISNA news agency reported.
Rod Stewart has been charged by police after
allegedly punching a security guard at a hotel in Florida.
According to a police report, the altercation occurred after the 74-year-old
singer and his companions, including his son Sean, failed to gain access to a
private event on New Year’s Eve.
Sean Stewart allegedly pushed the security guard and Rod Stewart struck his
chest “with a closed fist”, the report says.
Rod Stewart and his son were both charged with “simple battery”.
The security guard at the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel, named as Jessie Dixon,
told officers that he saw a group of people near the check-in table of the
private event in the children’s area, trying to enter without permission.
Jessie Dixon told police that the group “began to get loud and cause a
scene”, refusing to leave.
According to the affidavit, Sean
Stewart got “nose to nose” with the security guard, who told him to
back away.
The report then alleges that Sean
Stewart, 39, shoved Jessie Dixon backwards, before Rod Stewart stepped towards
the security guard and threw a punch, hitting him in the left ribcage.
The arresting officer says in the
report that he made contact with Rod Stewart, who said he and his family
approached the check-in table to try to gain access to the event for their
children.
According to the affidavit, Rod Stewart
told police that after the family were denied access, Jessie Dixon became
argumentative with them, causing his family to become “agitated”.
The singer apologized for his role
in the incident, the officer’s report says.
The officer says the altercation was
witnessed by two other hotel employees, who signed witness statements
confirming they saw the push by Sean Stewart and the punch by Rod Stewart.
Video footage also revealed Sean
Stewart and his father as the “primary aggressors” in the confrontation,
according to the report.
Both Rod and Sean Stewart were charged and are due to appear at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex on February 5.
Iran’s military commander Qasem Soleimani
was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport on January 3 ordered by President
Donald Trump, the Pentagon has confirmed.
The 62-year-old general spearheaded
Iran’s Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force.
President Trump said the US took its
action to stop, not start, a war. However, the killing marks a major escalation
in tensions.
According to US officials, 3,000
additional troops will be sent to the Middle East as a precaution.
Qasem Soleimani was widely seen as
the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei. The Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC), reported directly to the ayatollah and Qasem Soleimani was hailed
as a heroic national figure.
Under his 21-year leadership of the
Quds Force, Iran bolstered Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militant groups in
Lebanon; expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria; and orchestrated
Syria’s offensive against rebel groups in that country’s long civil war.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said
the US wanted to de-escalate the situation, but that the strike was
“lawful” and “saved lives”.
Later he thanked Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabia’s “steadfast support” and
“for recognizing aggressive threats posed by Iran’s Quds force”, the
state department said.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of
Iranians have been holding rallies in Tehran and other cities, denouncing what
they call US crimes.
Meanwhile, global oil price rose
sharply in the wake of the attack.
Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei said
“severe revenge awaits the criminals” behind the attack. Qasem Soleimani’s
death would double “resistance” against the US and Israel, he added.
The ayatollah also announced three
days of national mourning. He would lead prayers at a funeral ceremony for the
general in Tehran on January 5, Iranian media quoted Qasem Soleimani’s family
as saying.
Later, the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body, said
the US would be held responsible for its “criminal adventurism”.
It said in a statement: “This was
the biggest US strategic blunder in the West Asia region, and America will not
easily escape its consequences.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the attack an “act of international terrorism”.
A countrywide ban on some e-cigarette flavors
has been announced in the US amid concerns about vaping among teens.
The FDA ban applies to mint, candy and fruit flavors that are offered in cartridge-based e-cigarettes, like the popular pods sold by Juul.
However, the US will continue to allow menthol and tobacco flavors, as well
as fruit flavors delivered in other ways.
The action has been under consideration for more than a year, with several
states passing similar rules.
Brazil, India and South Korea are among the dozens of countries that have
announced sweeping vaping bans. Others, like China, have announced
restrictions.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the Trump administration
wanted to continue to offer adults an alternative to traditional cigarettes,
while responding to concerns about growing addiction to a new product among
teens.
He said: “By prioritizing
enforcement against the products that are most widely used by children, our
action today seeks to strike the right public health balance.”
According to health regulators, 55 people have died and more than 2,500
people have been hospitalized with injuries linked to vaping.
Investigators have said they believe vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes
added to marijuana vaping products, is playing a role.
Citing the crisis, President Donald Trump said in September the US would ban
all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco, but the administration loosened its
position after pushback from the industry.
This week, President Trump said: “We
have to protect our families. At the same time, it’s a big industry. We want to
protect the industry.”
Juul, the biggest e-cigarette company in the US, had already pulled its
flavored pods from the market, but the action taken on January 2 forces
competitors to make a similar move, within 30 days.
Advocates for stricter rules have said that teens will switch to menthol if
other options are eliminated.
However, officials said they would take steps against menthol and tobacco
flavored e-cigarettes if the FDA sees that their use among teens is rising.
The age for purchasing tobacco products has been recently raised to 21. E-cigarettes are also governed by those rules.
The US embassy compound in Baghdad has been
attacked by protesters angered by recent deadly US air strikes targeting an
Iranian-backed Iraqi militia.
US troops fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that breached the outer wall of
the embassy, which is in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
A guard post on the street nearby was also set alight.
President Donald Trump accused Iran of “orchestrating” the attack
and said it would be “held fully responsible”.
At least 25 fighters died when the US bombed bases associated with the
Kataib Hezbollah militia in western Iraq and eastern Syria on December 29.
The US said it was retaliating for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base
in Kirkuk on December 20 that killed an American civilian contractor.
Iraq’s PM Adel Abdul Mahdi said on
December 30 that the strikes had violated his country’s sovereignty and would
force it to review its relations with the US.
Kataib Hezbollah’s commander, Abu
Mahdi al-Muhandis, warned that the militia’s response “would be very tough
on the American forces in Iraq”.
Iran described the attacks as a
“clear example of terrorism”.
The protest took place on December
31 after funerals were held in Baghdad for the militia fighters who were killed
in the US strikes.
Thousands of mourners – including
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several other senior militia and paramilitary leaders
– marched towards the Green Zone, where many Iraqi government offices and
foreign embassies are located.
They were allowed by Iraqi security forces to enter the zone and gather on a
street outside the US embassy compound.
Waving Kataib Hezbollah and other militia flags, and chanting anti-American
slogans, the protesters threw stones at the compound’s main gate, pulled down
security cameras, attacked empty guard posts, and started several fires.
The situation later escalated when the embassy’s wall was breached.
The Associated Press reported that a gate used by cars was smashed open and
that dozens of people pushed about 16ft into a corridor leading to the main
embassy building before being forced to retreat by tear gas fired by US troops.
Iraqi soldiers and riot police were reportedly later deployed in the area,
and PM Adel Abdul Mahdi told the protesters to leave the compound immediately.
He added: “Any aggression or
harassment of foreign embassies will be firmly prohibited by the security
forces.”
The Popular Mobilization, a paramilitary force dominated by Iran-backed Shia
militias, reported that 20 protesters were wounded by live rounds and tear-gas
canisters.
According to Al-Sumaria website, Kataib
Hezbollah meanwhile called for protest in front of the embassy until it was
closed and the ambassador was expelled from Iraq.
President Trump tweeted: “Iran
killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always
will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They
will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces
to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”
There was no immediate response from the Iranian government.
It was not clear whether civilian staff were inside the compound during the
attack.
There were reports that the US ambassador, Matthew Tueller, had been evacuated.
Twenty nine intelligence officers have been
sentenced to death in Sudan for the torture and killing of Ahmad al-Khair, a
36-year-old teacher.
Ahmad al-Khair, a teacher in Khashm al-Qirba, in the eastern state of Kassala, was killed in custody on February 1, during protests that led to the overthrow of the Bashir regime.
These are the first sentences handed down over the crackdown on
pro-democracy activists in the months before Omar al-Bashir was toppled in
April.
The prosecution said the death sentences were a just punishment.
After the sentencing, the judge asked Ahmad al-Khair’s brother, Sa’d,
whether he wanted the 29 men to be pardoned – but he said he wanted them to be
executed instead.
A lawyer for the defense said he would appeal.
The court found that Ahmad Al-Khair was beaten and tortured to death by the
officers at a detention center in the eastern state of Kassala.
Under the former President Omar al-Bashir, Sudan enforced the death penalty,
and two people were executed in 2018.
Ahmad Al-Khair’s case drew widespread attention in the country, and his
killing fuelled the protests against the 75-year-old Omar al-Bashir. A huge
crowd rallied outside the court in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital,
Khartoum, to hear the verdict.
At least 170 people were killed during the months-long crackdown against the
protest movement. Omar al-Bashir was eventually overthrown by the military, 30
years after he took power in a coup.
Earlier this month, the former leader was sentenced to two years for corruption.
The court ruled that Omar al-Bashir should serve the sentence in a correctional
facility, as he was too old to be in prison.
The corruption case was linked to a $25 million cash payment he received
from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Omar al-Bashir also faces other
charges – including some related to the 1989 coup that brought him to power,
along with genocide and the killing of protesters.
Omar al-Bashir claimed the payments were made as part of Sudan’s strategic
relationship with Saudi Arabia, and were “not used for private interests
but as donations”.
A series of measures have been
announced by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio to tackle a “crisis” of
anti-Semitic attacks, following a mass stabbing on December 28.
A man brandishing a machete attacked a Hanukkah celebration at the rabbi’s
property in Monsey, north of NYC – an area with a large population of
ultra-Orthodox Jews. The incident happened at about 22:00 on December 28.
The mayor said security would be
stepped up in Jewish areas and schools would teach students to tackle hate.
At least five people were injured in
the knife attack at a rabbi’s house in Monsey.
President Donald Trump called for
unity to fight “the evil scourge” of anti-Semitism following the
attack.
Witnesses said the attacker burst
into the house, which was hosting a Hanukkah celebration, pulled out a large
knife and began stabbing people.
The suspected knifeman, named by
police as 37-year-old Grafton Thomas from Greenwood Lake, NY, has been charged
with attempted murder. The attacker pleaded not guilty, and is being held in
jail with his bail set at $5 million.
Grafton Thomas’ lawyer, Michael
Sussman, issued a statement on behalf of his family which said the suspect
“has a long history of mental illness and hospitalizations”.
The statement said: “He has no history of like violent acts
and no convictions for any crime.
“He has no known history of anti-Semitism and was
raised in a home which embraced and respected all religions and races. He is
not a member of any hate groups.”
Just a day before the attack, Mayor de Blasio had announced extra police
patrols in three areas of Brooklyn with large Jewish populations following a
spate of anti-Semitic incidents.
He told reporters on December 29: “The
spirit we bring today is one of resolve and relentlessness. We will keep adding
as many measures as it takes to end this crisis.”
Bill de Blasio said additional officers would now be deployed to the
districts of Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park.
He said: “People in the community
will see our officers present in front of houses of worship and out on the
streets. We have to give people a sense of security, and we have to show that
this horrible trend we’ve seen over the last weeks will be stopped dead in its
tracks.”
The mayor said changes would be made to the curriculum at schools in Brooklyn starting from next month. He said they would focus on “stopping hate… on building mutual respect, to help young people understand what hate crimes really mean and the dangers they pose to all of us”.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has thanked
President Donald Trump for intelligence that helped foil “acts of
terrorism” on Russian soil, a Kremlin statement announces.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump spoke on the phone on December 29, the
statement said.
According to the Kremlin, the information came via intelligence services,
but it provided no further details.
Russian media is reporting the discovery of a plot to attack St Petersburg
over the New Year period.
According to Tass news agency, two Russian nationals have been arrested and
plans to attack a mass gathering were seized, according to a spokesperson from
the FSB, the Russian intelligence agency.
President Putin and President Trump have spoken on the phone and in person
various times since the latter took office.
Records from the conversations show
they have often talked about Syria, as well as nuclear agreements, North Korea
and trade.
In December 2017, Vladimir Putin
thanked President Trump for another warning from US intelligence agencies,
which again apparently prevented a terrorist plot in St Petersburg, according
to a White House account.
During that call, the Kremlin said
President Putin had promised to reciprocate with information about terrorist
threats to the US.
The US and Russian relations
plummeted after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from neighboring Ukraine
in 2014.
They were also strained when US
intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had interfered in the 2016
presidential election.
Despite this, Donald Trump and
Vladimir Putin have appeared to be on good terms personally – and they have
vowed to co-operate on terrorism.
President Trump has indicated he is considering attending the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow next May, after an invitation from President Putin.
Melanie Panayiotou, the younger sister of George Michael, has died on Christmas Day, at the age of 55, exactly three years after her brother.
Her death has been confirmed by her
family in a statement. It reads that Melanie “passed away suddenly”
over Christmas.
George Michael died on Christmas Day
of 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. He was 53.
Andrew Ridgeley, George’s former
Wham! band mate, described Melanie’s death as “utterly tragic” and
said his thoughts were with her family.
Melanie Panayiotou and George
Michael are survived by their father Kyriacos, known as Jack, and their oldest
sister Yioda, 57. Their mother, Lesley, died in 1997.
In a statement, released through lawyer
John Reid, the Panayiotou family said:
“We would simply ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this very
sad time.
“There will be no further comment.”
London Police also confirmed the death in a statement, which read: “Police were called by London
Ambulance Service at approximately 1935hrs on Wednesday, 25 December to reports
of the sudden death of a woman, aged in her 50s.
“The death is not being treated
as suspicious by police.”
In the last month’s edition of The Big Issue, Melanie Panayiotou spoke
about her hopes for the recently-released romantic comedy Last Christmas, which was inspired by George Michael’s music.
She said: “My family and I hope you all enjoy the film, and Yog’s [George’s]
music old and new, woven beautifully into this fun, easy tale of love and self-love.
“As many of you know, Yog adored Christmas and he loved the idea of this film. I am sure he will be enjoying seeing Emilia [Clark]’s amazing light bulb smile, something they share, across the celestial miles!”
At least 10 people have been reported
dead in the Philippines after Typhoon Phanfone hit the center of the country,
leaving a trail of devastation through.
The storm, also known as Ursula, carried
gusts of close to 118 mph and made landfall several times across various
islands, officials say.
Tens of thousands of people were
left stranded in ports as they tried to make their way home for Christmas.
Phanfone struck close to regions devastated
by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
More than 6,000 people were killed
in November 2013, making it the Philippines’ deadliest storm. With winds of
more than 193mph, it was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall.
Phanfone first made landfall on
Christmas Eve, but continued to pass over the many islands of the central
Philippines throughout Christmas Day. However, the extent of the damage began
to emerge only on December 26.
Local media say at least 10 people
have died – including a three-year-old boy – with most deaths occurring in
Iloilo and Capiz provinces.
AFP quotes officials as saying that
at least 16 people died.
One family was killed when they were swept away by a flash flood as they
attempted to get to higher ground, the Philippine ABS-CBN network reported. It
added that at least 12 people were missing in Iloilo province alone.
The popular tourist island of Boracay appears to have suffered damage,
although the extent is unclear.
In the city of Tacloban, a large fire broke out as the winds rose, but the
city escaped the worst of the damage.
Tacloban suffered enormous damage during Typhoon Haiyan when a storm surge
pushed water into the low-lying city of more than 220,000 people.
On December 26, typhoon Phanfone headed out towards the South China Sea.
Democratic and Republican leaders in
the Senate have clashed over the rules of President Donald Trump’s impeachment
trial.
Democrats want assurances witnesses
and documents will be allowed, to enable what they term a fair trial.
Chuck Schumer says the recent
release of an “explosive” email about aid to Ukraine is a reminder of
why openness is necessary.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell
says he has not ruled out witnesses.
However, he stopped short of
agreeing ahead of time to take testimony during the trial.
President Trump was formally
impeached by the House last week for abuse of power and obstruction of
Congress.
Donald Trump is the third president
in US history to be impeached. However, he is unlikely to be removed from
office, as his Republican party has a majority in the Senate, where the trial
will be held as stipulated in the US Constitution.
He is accused of pressuring
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to start an investigation into his
political rival, Democratic presidential front runner, Joe Biden.
President Trump is accused of doing
this by withholding military aid and making a White House visit contingent on
co-operation.
The trial is expected to begin next
month, after the holiday break.
However, Democrats have so far
refused to hand over the articles of impeachment voted through in the House –
the charges – to the Senate.
They want assurances from Mitch
McConnell that their chosen witnesses – at least four current and former White
House aides with knowledge of the Ukraine affair – will be allowed to testify.
He suggested holding a trial similar
to former President Bill Clinton’s in 1999, in which senators decided which
witnesses to call after opening arguments and a written question period.
Mitch McConnell accused Speaker of
the House Nancy Pelosi of holding “an absurd position” for delaying
handing over the impeachment articles and said she is “apparently trying
to tell us how to run the trial”.
Democrats renewed their demand for witnesses over the weekend after an email
emerged suggesting the White House sought to freeze aid to Ukraine just 91
minutes after President Trump spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone in
July. That call is at the center of the allegations against President Trump –
charges he denies.
Chuck Schumer said he and his Republican counterpart remain at an impasse
after holding a “cordial” meeting on December 19 to discuss trial
rules.
During a news conference in New York on December 22, Chuck Schumer said
Republicans “have come up with no good reason why there shouldn’t be
witnesses, why there shouldn’t be documents”.
He added: “We don’t know what the
witnesses will say. We don’t know how the documents will read. They might
exonerate President Trump or they might further incriminate him. But the truth
should come out on something as important as an impeachment.”
Democrats argue that Republicans will not act as impartial jurors during the impeachment trial, after Mitch McConnell pledged last week to work in “total co-ordination” with the White House. Meanwhile, House of Representatives officials raised the possibility of a second impeachment if new evidence of obstruction by President Trump came to light. The suggestion came in court papers filed by Democrats as they seek the testimony of White House counsel Don McGahn.
For over 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight. Follow Santa on his Christmas Eve journey on NORAD website…
Drinking alcohol is fun for most people.
However, it’s important to consider the amount of alcohol you drink and how it
affects your life, as well as, those around you. It’s easy to start as a social
drinker and eventually become an alcoholic. And most alcoholics have financial
challenges too. That’s why some people do not seek treatment for alcoholism
even when the negative effects of alcohol on their lives and loved ones are
clear.
Some alcoholics are homeless and unemployed.
They live in abject poverty. These are just some of the conditions that hinder
some people from seeking treatment for alcoholism. Nevertheless, some
individuals are genuinely interested in fighting their alcohol addiction. As
such, they may try the dangerous at-home detox or cold-turkey due to their
financial challenges.
Luckily, it’s possible to get substance abuse rehabilitation provided for free if you or a loved one is genuinely interested in beating alcoholism. You just need to know the available free or affordable options that you or a loved one can consider.
Finding
Free or Affordable Rehab
Alcohol use disorder or alcoholism refers to drinking that causes physical or mental health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive consumption of alcohol causes about 88,000 deaths in the United States every year. Seeking affordable or free rehab can, therefore, save a life.
Most residential treatment facilities are
expensive. They require patients to have good insurance and credit. However,
some facilities offer free help to addicts that can’t pay for their services.
Here are some of the options to consider when you want to fight alcoholism on a
budget.
Professional
Rehab Facilities
Despite being for-profit and private, some
facilities offer free help for alcoholics. These treatment centers provide
alternative means of payment, sliding-scale fees, or payment assistance. So, if
you or a loved one wants to fight alcoholism on a budget, don’t hesitate to
ask. Just call or visit the nearby facility to find out if it provides payment
assistance plans. Some of these facilities have assistance plans for
individuals that do not have insurance or employment.
Faith-Based
Rehab
Faith-based programs that target drug addicts
and alcoholics have existed longer than 12-step programs and professional rehabs.
Religious organizations and groups have reached out to communities to assist
people struggling with drug abuse and alcoholism for ages.
And, this is yet to change. Today, there are
many faith-based programs than there were in the last decades. For instance,
it’s possible to get a free drug treatment program offered by a Christian
organization in almost any community. Thus, you can undergo treatment for
alcoholism with such a program even when you have a tight budget.
State
Supported Rehabs
Some states, counties, and cities offer
inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities for drug addicts and alcoholics.
These are completely tax-funded and they do not charge a fee for their
services. Their programs may include long-term residential treatment and short-term
detoxification. They can also provide individual counseling and therapy at
local clinics.
It’s, however, crucial to note that
state-sponsored programs have long waiting lists. That’s because most people
that use them are in the system already. These have interacted with agencies
like the criminal justice system and the county health department.
Additionally, taxpayers’ money supports these
programs. Therefore, they can experience significant cutbacks in funding during
hard economic times. Consequently, their services can be restrained.
Online
Recovery Support
If you Google ‘free rehab near me’ the search
engine will list many options including those providing online support. These
are platforms that offer support aimed at helping people quit drinking. Some
are chat rooms, instant messenger groups, bulletin boards, and email groups. If
you can use these platforms to communicate, you can also use them to get
recovery support.
Any addiction recovery program has an online
presence. In most cases, you will find chat meetings that started many years
ago. That means you can learn about the challenges that different people have
faced while fighting addiction. You can also get the support you need to fight
alcoholism on a budget by checking in with your forum friends.
Mutual
Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous is an example of mutual support groups that have helped many people fight alcohol addiction. This mutual support group has existed for over 75 years. Millions of people have learned to beat addiction and lead sober lives. The group has remained self-supporting via its members’ voluntary donations.
If you wish to regain sobriety but have a tight
budget, attending meetings of a mutual support group can help you. You can also
get a sponsor that will help you through the 12 steps. Most addiction recovery
programs yield better results when mutual support is included. Even if you
don’t have a spiritual inclination, there are secular support groups to
consider. The majority of these groups do not have dues or fees.
Reasons
to Get Professional Help with Alcoholism even on a Budget
Regardless of your financial status, it’s
important to get professional help with alcoholism.
Here are
some of the reasons why rehab is important:
Specialists at the rehab facility
will guide and help you through the detox process. They will make the otherwise
unsafe and painful process comfortable. Attempting to detox from alcohol or
drugs at home can be dangerous without medical supervision. That’s because some
withdrawal symptoms are life-threatening.
Rehab specialists provide the
assistance alcoholics need to avoid relapse. They can even prescribe medication
that facilitates the withdrawal process.
The counseling sessions offered in
the rehab facilities help the patients understand their causes of alcohol abuse
and addiction. This is an important step in the recovery process.
Rehab centers offer specialized
treatment that heals the damage caused by alcohol to the brain structure and
chemistry.
The aftercare support provided by
rehab centers promotes a substance-free life and long-term sobriety.
A tight budget should not be a reason for not
seeking treatment for alcoholism. Many options exist for those in need of
affordable treatment or free alcohol treatment centers. Simply search for a
facility that offers the kind of treatment you need and one that’s within your
budget.
Five people have been sentenced to
death by a court in Saudi Arabia over the murder of the journalist Jamal
Khashoggi last year.
Three others have been jailed over
the case.
Jamal Khashoggi, 59, a prominent
critic of the Saudi government, was killed inside the kingdom’s consulate in
the Turkish city of Istanbul by a team of Saudi agents.
According to the Saudi authorities,
the incident was the result of a “rogue operation” and put 11 unnamed
individuals on trial.
The prince denied any involvement, but i
In October, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman he said he took “full
responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed
by individuals working for the Saudi government”.
A senior aide to the crown prince, Saud al-Qahtani, was sacked and
investigated over the killing but not charged “due to insufficient
evidence”, the public prosecution said. Former Deputy Intelligence Chief
Ahmad Asiri was put on trial but acquitted on the same grounds.
The Turkish foreign ministry said the decision of the Saudi court
“falls short of the expectations of Turkey and the international community
for the clarification of all aspects of this murder and the serving of
justice”.
Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, called the Saudi announcement
“not acceptable”.
The publisher of the Washington Post,
for whom Jamal Khashoggi wrote columns, said: “The complete lack of transparency and the Saudi government’s
refusal to co-operate with independent investigators suggests that this was
merely a sham trial.”
However, Jamal Khashoggi’s son Salah, who lives in Saudi Arabia, tweeted: “We affirm our confidence in the Saudi
judiciary at all levels, that it has been fair to us and that justice has been
achieved.”
Jamal Khashoggi, who went into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, to obtain papers he needed to marry Hatice Cengiz.
