Sabtu, 20 Mei 2017
Iran election: Hassan Rouhani says voters rejected extremism
Moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said his re-election shows voters reject extremism and want more links with the outside world.
After avoiding a run-off with a 57% outright victory over his main rival, Mr Rouhani said he respected the opponents' right to criticise him.
Mr Rouhani, 68, supports the landmark deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
The decisive victory gives him a strong mandate to seek reforms and revive the country's ailing economy, analysts say.
"The Iranian nation has chosen the path of interaction with the world, a path which is distant from extremism and violence," Mr Rouhani said in first speech after the victory, broadcast on state television.
"The election is now over. I am the president of the nation and need assistance from every single Iranian, even those who oppose me and my policies."
Mr Rouhani also thanked former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, apparently defying a media ban on citing the ex-leader's name.
What were the results?
Turnout in the election was unexpectedly high, at around 70%.
And this is thought to have helped Mr Rouhani, who received close to 23 million votes out of the 40 million that were cast.
His main challenger, former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi received 38.5%, or 15.7 million votes, not enough to take the election to a second round.
On Twitter, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the election showed the "increasing progress" of the "Iranian nation".
Mr Khamenei said Iran would demonstrate "national dignity" and "wisdom" in relations with other countries.
There were celebrations in the capital, Tehran, with young people singing and dancing the central Vali Asr Square, despite efforts by police to move them, AFP news agency reported.
What are the challenges?
The economy seems to be the number one issue.
Average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits after international sanctions were lifted as a result of a nuclear deal signed between Iran, the US and other countries in 2015.
While oil exports have rebounded and inflation is back at single-digits, unemployment remains high, especially among the young people.
Mr Rouhani also promised a moderate vision and an outward-looking Iran and, at rallies, openly attacked the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services.
But Mr Rouhani's own powers are limited by those of Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the last say on many crucial and strategic issues.
Another challenge, experts say, comes from abroad, and the relations with the new US government under President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump opposes the nuclear deal which eased sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, and has called it "worst deal ever".
But, despite the objections, his White House renewed the agreement earlier this week.
'Revenge against hardliners': By Kasra Naji, BBC Persian
Iran's hardliners had pulled all the stops and mobilised all their resources to bring out as many people as possible to grab the last centre of power in Iran that was not under their control, namely the executive branch.
Sensing an effort by the hardliners, supporters of President Rouhani who back his promises to steer the country toward moderation came out in big numbers too. Turnout has been unprecedented. In Tehran, five million people turned out to vote - twice as many as in 2013.
This was a revenge of the people against the hardliners who intimidated them, jailed them, executed them, drove them to exile, pushed them out of their jobs, and discriminated against women.
President Rouhani will now have a bigger mandate to push through his reforms, to put an end to extremism, to build bridges with the outside world, to put the economy back on track.
Iranians have said a resounding Yes to President Rouhani who, in recent years and particularly during the last several weeks of campaigning, promised to expand individual and political freedoms and make all those centres of power, like the Revolutionary Guard, accountable.
What has been the reaction?
The results were announced as Mr Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, Iran's biggest regional rival, for his first foreign trip as president.
In Riyadh, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said he hoped Mr Rouhani would use his new term to "dismantle a network of terrorism and end ballistic missile programme".
The Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, described the election as a "domestic matter", and said Iran was meddling in Arab countries and providing support for the extremist group Al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, congratulated Mr Rouhani for the "strong mandate received" and that Europe was ready to work for better "engagement" and "regional peace".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39987338
After avoiding a run-off with a 57% outright victory over his main rival, Mr Rouhani said he respected the opponents' right to criticise him.
Mr Rouhani, 68, supports the landmark deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
The decisive victory gives him a strong mandate to seek reforms and revive the country's ailing economy, analysts say.
"The Iranian nation has chosen the path of interaction with the world, a path which is distant from extremism and violence," Mr Rouhani said in first speech after the victory, broadcast on state television.
"The election is now over. I am the president of the nation and need assistance from every single Iranian, even those who oppose me and my policies."
Mr Rouhani also thanked former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, apparently defying a media ban on citing the ex-leader's name.
What were the results?
Turnout in the election was unexpectedly high, at around 70%.
And this is thought to have helped Mr Rouhani, who received close to 23 million votes out of the 40 million that were cast.
His main challenger, former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi received 38.5%, or 15.7 million votes, not enough to take the election to a second round.
On Twitter, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the election showed the "increasing progress" of the "Iranian nation".
Mr Khamenei said Iran would demonstrate "national dignity" and "wisdom" in relations with other countries.
There were celebrations in the capital, Tehran, with young people singing and dancing the central Vali Asr Square, despite efforts by police to move them, AFP news agency reported.
What are the challenges?
The economy seems to be the number one issue.
Average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits after international sanctions were lifted as a result of a nuclear deal signed between Iran, the US and other countries in 2015.
While oil exports have rebounded and inflation is back at single-digits, unemployment remains high, especially among the young people.
Mr Rouhani also promised a moderate vision and an outward-looking Iran and, at rallies, openly attacked the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services.
But Mr Rouhani's own powers are limited by those of Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the last say on many crucial and strategic issues.
Another challenge, experts say, comes from abroad, and the relations with the new US government under President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump opposes the nuclear deal which eased sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, and has called it "worst deal ever".
But, despite the objections, his White House renewed the agreement earlier this week.
'Revenge against hardliners': By Kasra Naji, BBC Persian
Iran's hardliners had pulled all the stops and mobilised all their resources to bring out as many people as possible to grab the last centre of power in Iran that was not under their control, namely the executive branch.
Sensing an effort by the hardliners, supporters of President Rouhani who back his promises to steer the country toward moderation came out in big numbers too. Turnout has been unprecedented. In Tehran, five million people turned out to vote - twice as many as in 2013.
This was a revenge of the people against the hardliners who intimidated them, jailed them, executed them, drove them to exile, pushed them out of their jobs, and discriminated against women.
President Rouhani will now have a bigger mandate to push through his reforms, to put an end to extremism, to build bridges with the outside world, to put the economy back on track.
Iranians have said a resounding Yes to President Rouhani who, in recent years and particularly during the last several weeks of campaigning, promised to expand individual and political freedoms and make all those centres of power, like the Revolutionary Guard, accountable.
What has been the reaction?
The results were announced as Mr Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, Iran's biggest regional rival, for his first foreign trip as president.
In Riyadh, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said he hoped Mr Rouhani would use his new term to "dismantle a network of terrorism and end ballistic missile programme".
The Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, described the election as a "domestic matter", and said Iran was meddling in Arab countries and providing support for the extremist group Al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, congratulated Mr Rouhani for the "strong mandate received" and that Europe was ready to work for better "engagement" and "regional peace".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39987338
Label: actor, family, news, politic, religion
Jumat, 19 Mei 2017
Cannes: Netflix film Okja stopped after technical glitch
A screening at the Cannes Film Festival had to be stopped after technical problems during the first few minutes of the film.
Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, had been booed by some in the audience after the Netflix logo appeared at the beginning.
But it then became clear the film was playing in the wrong aspect ratio.
The film has been controversial because producer Netflix has refused to screen it in French cinemas.
After the jeers, the movie was stopped and restarted without explanation.
Some film journalists in the screening uploaded videos of the heckling on social media.
The BBC's Lauren Turner, who was at the screening, said: "There was shouting from the upper seats and it became apparent the aspect ratio was wrong, so they restarted it after about 10 minutes.
"The second time around the audience booed the Netflix logo again. But there was also some cheering at the same time and a warm round of applause at the end."
A statement from the Cannes Film Festival said: "This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festival's technical service, which offers its apologies to the director and his team, to the producers and the audience."
On Thursday, there was also some booing when the Amazon logo came up at the beginning of Wonderstruck, which stars Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.
Earlier this week, Cannes jury chair Pedro Almodovar said he agreed that films should have to be screened in cinemas if producers want them to be considered.
Indiewire film critic David Ehrlich tweeted: "Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped."
The Telegraph's Robbie Collin wrote: "Cannes making an A+ case for the primacy of the cinema experience by projecting the first ten mins of Okja in the wrong aspect ratio."
Blogger Elena Lazic said: "That didn't start well. Screen not open properly, significantly cropped at top... the boos at the Netflix logo were immediately followed by boos at the terrible projection."
The film is a South Korean-American adventure movie about a young girl named Mija who tries to prevent a multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a genetically engineered super-pig named Okja.
Speaking after the film, director Bong Joon Ho said he "loved working with Netflix", adding it was a luxury to be given such a huge budget for it.
Swinton said: "It's an enormous and really interesting conversation that's beginning. But I think, as in many matters, there's room for everybody."
Gyllenhaal added: "It's important to have artistic expression in whatever form we can.
"Debate is essential always. It's a useful thing to have this discussion about how art is perceived and distributed."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39972987
Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, had been booed by some in the audience after the Netflix logo appeared at the beginning.
But it then became clear the film was playing in the wrong aspect ratio.
The film has been controversial because producer Netflix has refused to screen it in French cinemas.
After the jeers, the movie was stopped and restarted without explanation.
Some film journalists in the screening uploaded videos of the heckling on social media.
The BBC's Lauren Turner, who was at the screening, said: "There was shouting from the upper seats and it became apparent the aspect ratio was wrong, so they restarted it after about 10 minutes.
"The second time around the audience booed the Netflix logo again. But there was also some cheering at the same time and a warm round of applause at the end."
A statement from the Cannes Film Festival said: "This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festival's technical service, which offers its apologies to the director and his team, to the producers and the audience."
On Thursday, there was also some booing when the Amazon logo came up at the beginning of Wonderstruck, which stars Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.
Earlier this week, Cannes jury chair Pedro Almodovar said he agreed that films should have to be screened in cinemas if producers want them to be considered.
Indiewire film critic David Ehrlich tweeted: "Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped."
The Telegraph's Robbie Collin wrote: "Cannes making an A+ case for the primacy of the cinema experience by projecting the first ten mins of Okja in the wrong aspect ratio."
Blogger Elena Lazic said: "That didn't start well. Screen not open properly, significantly cropped at top... the boos at the Netflix logo were immediately followed by boos at the terrible projection."
The film is a South Korean-American adventure movie about a young girl named Mija who tries to prevent a multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a genetically engineered super-pig named Okja.
Speaking after the film, director Bong Joon Ho said he "loved working with Netflix", adding it was a luxury to be given such a huge budget for it.
Swinton said: "It's an enormous and really interesting conversation that's beginning. But I think, as in many matters, there's room for everybody."
Gyllenhaal added: "It's important to have artistic expression in whatever form we can.
"Debate is essential always. It's a useful thing to have this discussion about how art is perceived and distributed."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39972987
Label: actor, artist, family, film, news
'Lady Cynthia' rhododendron bush puts Canada town on the map
A small Canadian town hopes to become a tourist attraction thanks to the internet fame of a homeowner's giant rhododendron.
The 25ft (7.6m) by 30ft bush in Ladysmith, British Columbia, is now in peak bloom and putting on quite a show.
The 115-year-old botanical wonder - known as Lady Cynthia - will carry about 4,000 spring blossoms over the next couple of weeks.
The rhododendron is often confused for a tree but is actually a shrub.
Former Ladysmith councillor and local historian Rob Johnson, 73, has convinced the town's Chamber of Commerce to promote "the marvel of nature" as an attraction.
"It's the size of a small house and is a vibrant pink colour," said Mr Johnson.
When it is not in bloom, Mr Johnson says it is "just a nice, big, green shrub".
He said he realised "we should capitalise on this" when he saw the rhododendron attracting comment online.
Local residents in the town of 8,100 have grown accustomed to the huge shrub, which has been in Ladysmith since around 1904.
The first owners of the property are said to have brought Lady Cynthia to the forestry community on a sailing ship from Scotland.
Clearly visible from Ladysmith's harbour, the rhododendron is on a hill in front of a home owned by a lawyer from Texas at 226 Kitchener Street.
Ladysmith's rhododendron is so named because it is a Cynthia hybrid of the plant.
It was first developed in Devon, England, in the mid-19th Century, but thrives in the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39966325
The 25ft (7.6m) by 30ft bush in Ladysmith, British Columbia, is now in peak bloom and putting on quite a show.
The 115-year-old botanical wonder - known as Lady Cynthia - will carry about 4,000 spring blossoms over the next couple of weeks.
The rhododendron is often confused for a tree but is actually a shrub.
Former Ladysmith councillor and local historian Rob Johnson, 73, has convinced the town's Chamber of Commerce to promote "the marvel of nature" as an attraction.
"It's the size of a small house and is a vibrant pink colour," said Mr Johnson.
When it is not in bloom, Mr Johnson says it is "just a nice, big, green shrub".
He said he realised "we should capitalise on this" when he saw the rhododendron attracting comment online.
Local residents in the town of 8,100 have grown accustomed to the huge shrub, which has been in Ladysmith since around 1904.
The first owners of the property are said to have brought Lady Cynthia to the forestry community on a sailing ship from Scotland.
Clearly visible from Ladysmith's harbour, the rhododendron is on a hill in front of a home owned by a lawyer from Texas at 226 Kitchener Street.
Ladysmith's rhododendron is so named because it is a Cynthia hybrid of the plant.
It was first developed in Devon, England, in the mid-19th Century, but thrives in the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39966325
Label: actor, artist, child, family, news
Julian Assange defiant as Sweden drops rape investigation
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said he will not forgive and forget attempts to arrest him over rape allegations which led him to seek asylum in Ecuador's London embassy.
Hailing an "important victory", he said he was prepared for dialogue with the US and UK authorities.
Mr Assange, 45, is wanted in the US over the leaking of military and diplomatic documents.
Sweden said on Friday it had decided to drop its rape investigation.
Meanwhile Ecuador urged the UK to allow him safe passage out of the country.
The Wikileaks founder has chosen to remain in the embassy as he fears extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US.
"Today is an important victory for me and the UN human rights system, but by no means erases seven years of detention without charge... while my children grew up. That is not something I can forgive or forget," he told journalists from a balcony at the embassy.
Image copyright EPA
'War just commencing' by Tom Burridge, BBC News
Standing by the Ecuadorian flag, on the balcony which in recent years has become his podium for addressing the media, Julian Assange delivered a characteristic and vitriolic attack on Western Governments and the European Union.
He spoke slowly to the street below, full of microphones and cameras. There were no questions for the journalists.
In short, he will not be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy any time soon.
In his words: "The war is just commencing".
That seemed to be a colourful characterisation of his battle with British justice, now that the arrest warrant from Sweden has gone away.
If the founder of Wikileaks were to walk out of the embassy then British police would still be compelled to arrest him.
That is because he failed to answer bail when he took up residence at the embassy nearly five years ago.
The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
"My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what will be the best way forward," he added, saying he was also "happy to engage" with the US.
Police in London have said they would still be obliged to arrest Mr Assange if he left the Ecuadorean embassy, despite the Swedish prosecutors' decision.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine.
But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could, potentially, face trial.
The plaintiff in the rape case was "shocked" by the decision, her lawyer said, and maintained her accusations against Mr Assange, Agence France-Presse reported.
Sweden's decision coincided with the release by Wikileaks of another tranche of documents about the US Central Intelligence Agency's technical capabilities.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Correra says previous leaks, of what look like highly sensitive secret documents, have been damaging to the agency.
What does Ecuador say?
Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said that the UK should now grant Mr Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him "no longer holds".
"Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," Mr Long added, quoted by AFP, while criticising the time it took Sweden to send an investigator to London to interview Mr Assange.
"Ecuador regrets that it took Swedish prosecutor more than four years to carry out this interview. This was a wholly unnecessary delay."
Earlier a source at the ministry told the Press Association that Ecuador had "fully co-operated with the Swedish justice system".
The source added that Ecuador would now intensify its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange could "enjoy his asylum in Ecuador".
Why has the case been dropped?
At a press briefing on Friday, Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Mr Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden.
She said that under Swedish law a criminal investigation needed to be conducted "as quickly as possible".
Sweden did not expect Ecuador's co-operation in formally notifying Mr Assange of the allegations against him, a necessary step in proceeding with the case, she added.
But she said: "If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed."
She said it was "regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation", and added: "We are not making any pronouncement about guilt."
How did Mr Assange end up where he is?
The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual.
He also said the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.
Later that year he was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him.
He spent the following months under house arrest in a small rural town in England.
Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day.
What will happen to Mr Assange now?
After the news was announced on Friday, Wikileaks tweeted that the "focus now moves to the UK", but Mr Assange's fate still seems unclear.
The MPS issued a statement saying that its actions had been based on a response to a "European Arrest Warrant for an extremely serious offence".
It went on: "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence."
The MPS said it would "not comment further on the operational plan".
Last month, Mr Samuelson filed a new motion calling for his client's arrest warrant to be lifted.
He cited a comment by new US Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the arrest of Mr Assange would be "a priority".
Mr Samuelson told Agence France-Presse: "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39979343
Hailing an "important victory", he said he was prepared for dialogue with the US and UK authorities.
Mr Assange, 45, is wanted in the US over the leaking of military and diplomatic documents.
Sweden said on Friday it had decided to drop its rape investigation.
Meanwhile Ecuador urged the UK to allow him safe passage out of the country.
The Wikileaks founder has chosen to remain in the embassy as he fears extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US.
"Today is an important victory for me and the UN human rights system, but by no means erases seven years of detention without charge... while my children grew up. That is not something I can forgive or forget," he told journalists from a balcony at the embassy.
Image copyright EPA
'War just commencing' by Tom Burridge, BBC News
Standing by the Ecuadorian flag, on the balcony which in recent years has become his podium for addressing the media, Julian Assange delivered a characteristic and vitriolic attack on Western Governments and the European Union.
He spoke slowly to the street below, full of microphones and cameras. There were no questions for the journalists.
In short, he will not be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy any time soon.
In his words: "The war is just commencing".
That seemed to be a colourful characterisation of his battle with British justice, now that the arrest warrant from Sweden has gone away.
If the founder of Wikileaks were to walk out of the embassy then British police would still be compelled to arrest him.
That is because he failed to answer bail when he took up residence at the embassy nearly five years ago.
The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
"My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what will be the best way forward," he added, saying he was also "happy to engage" with the US.
Police in London have said they would still be obliged to arrest Mr Assange if he left the Ecuadorean embassy, despite the Swedish prosecutors' decision.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine.
But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could, potentially, face trial.
The plaintiff in the rape case was "shocked" by the decision, her lawyer said, and maintained her accusations against Mr Assange, Agence France-Presse reported.
Sweden's decision coincided with the release by Wikileaks of another tranche of documents about the US Central Intelligence Agency's technical capabilities.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Correra says previous leaks, of what look like highly sensitive secret documents, have been damaging to the agency.
What does Ecuador say?
Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said that the UK should now grant Mr Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him "no longer holds".
"Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," Mr Long added, quoted by AFP, while criticising the time it took Sweden to send an investigator to London to interview Mr Assange.
"Ecuador regrets that it took Swedish prosecutor more than four years to carry out this interview. This was a wholly unnecessary delay."
Earlier a source at the ministry told the Press Association that Ecuador had "fully co-operated with the Swedish justice system".
The source added that Ecuador would now intensify its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange could "enjoy his asylum in Ecuador".
Why has the case been dropped?
At a press briefing on Friday, Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Mr Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden.
She said that under Swedish law a criminal investigation needed to be conducted "as quickly as possible".
Sweden did not expect Ecuador's co-operation in formally notifying Mr Assange of the allegations against him, a necessary step in proceeding with the case, she added.
But she said: "If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed."
She said it was "regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation", and added: "We are not making any pronouncement about guilt."
How did Mr Assange end up where he is?
The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual.
He also said the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.
Later that year he was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him.
He spent the following months under house arrest in a small rural town in England.
Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day.
What will happen to Mr Assange now?
After the news was announced on Friday, Wikileaks tweeted that the "focus now moves to the UK", but Mr Assange's fate still seems unclear.
The MPS issued a statement saying that its actions had been based on a response to a "European Arrest Warrant for an extremely serious offence".
It went on: "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence."
The MPS said it would "not comment further on the operational plan".
Last month, Mr Samuelson filed a new motion calling for his client's arrest warrant to be lifted.
He cited a comment by new US Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the arrest of Mr Assange would be "a priority".
Mr Samuelson told Agence France-Presse: "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39979343
Label: actor, crime, law, news
Kamis, 18 Mei 2017
Roger Ailes: Fox News founder dies at 77
The ex-chairman and founder of Fox News Roger Ailes has died aged 77, his family says.
A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was "profoundly sad and heartbroken", calling him a "patriot".
Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.
But he stepped down last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.
At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a "distraction".
Mrs Ailes' statement said: "During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.
"And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life."
The cause of his death has not been made public but CNN said he suffered a fall last week before slipping in to a coma, citing a family friend.
Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox, said Mr Ailes played a "huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years.
"Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs," he added.
End of a kingmaker, by Amol Rajan, BBC News media editor
It would be hard to overstate the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics and culture over the past two decades.
As his bête noire the New York Times put it last year, he was kingmaker in a democracy that is meant to be king-proof, courted by presidential candidates and a confidante of Donald Trump.
Indeed, Trump's election owes a huge debt to the crusading, aggressive, and often conspiratorial agenda of Ailes' network.
Yet last summer he left amid huge controversy, earning tens of millions of dollars in a payout after allegations of sexual harassment were launched against him by former employees.
Ailes always denied the allegations against him. His death denies the rest of us the chance to hear his side of that particularly salacious story.
Born in Warren, Ohio, his big break came in 1967 when Richard Nixon appeared as a guest on a talk show he was working on, persuading the future US president about the power of television.
He played a role in Mr Nixon's successful campaign, as well as for other Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr.
Mr Ailes became the founding boss of Fox News in 1996, turning it into a profits and ratings powerhouse.
It soon became a favourite of right-wing viewers, outpacing liberal-leaning rivals like CNN.
The channel used the slogan "fair and balanced", but its critics saw it as anything but, accusing it of bias and of favouring the Republican Party.
Such was his influence, his biographer Gabriel Sherman quoted him as saying "I want to elect the next president" to a group of Fox executives at a 2010 meeting.
After leaving the company he reportedly helped Donald Trump prepare for the debates during his presidential campaign.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39963887
A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was "profoundly sad and heartbroken", calling him a "patriot".
Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.
But he stepped down last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.
At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a "distraction".
Mrs Ailes' statement said: "During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.
"And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life."
The cause of his death has not been made public but CNN said he suffered a fall last week before slipping in to a coma, citing a family friend.
Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox, said Mr Ailes played a "huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years.
"Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs," he added.
End of a kingmaker, by Amol Rajan, BBC News media editor
It would be hard to overstate the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics and culture over the past two decades.
As his bête noire the New York Times put it last year, he was kingmaker in a democracy that is meant to be king-proof, courted by presidential candidates and a confidante of Donald Trump.
Indeed, Trump's election owes a huge debt to the crusading, aggressive, and often conspiratorial agenda of Ailes' network.
Yet last summer he left amid huge controversy, earning tens of millions of dollars in a payout after allegations of sexual harassment were launched against him by former employees.
Ailes always denied the allegations against him. His death denies the rest of us the chance to hear his side of that particularly salacious story.
Born in Warren, Ohio, his big break came in 1967 when Richard Nixon appeared as a guest on a talk show he was working on, persuading the future US president about the power of television.
He played a role in Mr Nixon's successful campaign, as well as for other Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr.
Mr Ailes became the founding boss of Fox News in 1996, turning it into a profits and ratings powerhouse.
It soon became a favourite of right-wing viewers, outpacing liberal-leaning rivals like CNN.
The channel used the slogan "fair and balanced", but its critics saw it as anything but, accusing it of bias and of favouring the Republican Party.
Such was his influence, his biographer Gabriel Sherman quoted him as saying "I want to elect the next president" to a group of Fox executives at a 2010 meeting.
After leaving the company he reportedly helped Donald Trump prepare for the debates during his presidential campaign.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39963887
Rabu, 17 Mei 2017
Dutch King Willem-Alexander reveals secret flights as co-pilot
For 21 years, the king of the Netherlands has flown twice a month as co-pilot while his passengers were in the dark, he has told a Dutch newspaper.
Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued.
"I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper.
He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s.
Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence.
What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman.
The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway.
Rarely recognised on board
Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane.
He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice.
"The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name."
Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said.
Not the only flying royal
The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots:
Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued.
"I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper.
He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s.
Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence.
What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman.
The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway.
Rarely recognised on board
Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane.
He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice.
"The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name."
Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said.
Not the only flying royal
The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots:
- The Sultan of Brunei is known to fly his own Boeing 747
- Prince Charles is a qualified pilot as are both his sons
- Prince William gives up his role as RAF air ambulance helicopter pilot this year
- Prince Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot
- Jordan's King Abdullah is a trained pilot
Leaving problems on the ground
In his interview, King Willem-Alexander appeared enthusiastic about his future prospects as a co-pilot.
"It also seemed nice to fly to other destinations one day, with more passengers and bigger distances. That was the real motive for training on the 737," he said.
The king explained that the most important thing for him was to have a hobby he could fully concentrate on and that flying was his biggest way of relaxing.
"You have a plane, passengers and crew and you are responsible for them. You can't take your problems with you off the ground. You can completely switch off for a while and focus on something else."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39946532
Label: actor, family, health, news, tech
Cannes Film Festival: Will Smith and Pedro Almodovar clash over Netflix
The row over Netflix's place at Cannes has been reignited by its jury on the first day of the prestigious festival.
For the first time, two Netflix films are competing for the Palme d'Or this year.
However from next year, films will have to be released in French cinemas if they want to be considered.
Jury president Pedro Almodovar agreed with the change, saying films should always be seen on the big screen and he was "concerned" about the issue.
Tilda Swinton film Okja, and The Meyerowitz Stories - starring British actress Emma Thompson and Ben Stiller - are the first Netflix films to be shown at Cannes which are up for the main prize.
The jury, which is also made up of Will Smith, Jessica Chastain and Paolo Sorrentino, will pick the Palme d'Or winner out of the 19 films in competition next weekend.
Almodovar gave a passionate defence of cinema at the festival's opening press conference, saying he didn't think films should be considered for prizes if they had not had a cinema release.
Reading from a pre-prepared statement, he said: "All this doesn't mean I'm not open, or don't celebrate the new technology and the possibilities they offer to us.
"But while I'm alive, I will be fighting for the one thing the new generation is not aware of - the capacity of hypnosis of a large screen for a viewer."
The Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown director said he could not conceive the Palme d'Or - or any other prize - "being given to a film and then not being able to see the film on a big screen".
He was applauded by the audience for his strong remarks.
But Men in Black star Smith - giving an exuberant press conference performance in his debut as a jury member - disagreed with the cinema great.
The star, who has a film in the works with the streaming giant, said his children both go to the movies twice a week and watch Netflix.
"There's very little cross between going to the cinema and watching what they watch on Netflix," he mused, saying they were "two different forms of entertainment" and that Netflix "brings a great amount of connectivity".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39954563
For the first time, two Netflix films are competing for the Palme d'Or this year.
However from next year, films will have to be released in French cinemas if they want to be considered.
Jury president Pedro Almodovar agreed with the change, saying films should always be seen on the big screen and he was "concerned" about the issue.
Tilda Swinton film Okja, and The Meyerowitz Stories - starring British actress Emma Thompson and Ben Stiller - are the first Netflix films to be shown at Cannes which are up for the main prize.
The jury, which is also made up of Will Smith, Jessica Chastain and Paolo Sorrentino, will pick the Palme d'Or winner out of the 19 films in competition next weekend.
Almodovar gave a passionate defence of cinema at the festival's opening press conference, saying he didn't think films should be considered for prizes if they had not had a cinema release.
Reading from a pre-prepared statement, he said: "All this doesn't mean I'm not open, or don't celebrate the new technology and the possibilities they offer to us.
"But while I'm alive, I will be fighting for the one thing the new generation is not aware of - the capacity of hypnosis of a large screen for a viewer."
The Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown director said he could not conceive the Palme d'Or - or any other prize - "being given to a film and then not being able to see the film on a big screen".
He was applauded by the audience for his strong remarks.
But Men in Black star Smith - giving an exuberant press conference performance in his debut as a jury member - disagreed with the cinema great.
The star, who has a film in the works with the streaming giant, said his children both go to the movies twice a week and watch Netflix.
"There's very little cross between going to the cinema and watching what they watch on Netflix," he mused, saying they were "two different forms of entertainment" and that Netflix "brings a great amount of connectivity".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39954563
Label: actor, artist, family, film, news
Macron cabinet: Women are half of France's new minsters
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a gender-balanced cabinet in accordance with an earlier pledge, with 11 of 22 posts taken by women.
Sylvie Goulard is defence minister while Olympic fencing champion Laura Flessel is sports minister.
Bruno Le Maire is economy minister, Gérard Collomb is interior minister and François Bayrou is justice minister.
Mr Macron's decision to pluck figures from across the political spectrum has sent the French right into disarray.
Mr Le Maire is a conservative moderate, Mr Collomb is the Socialist mayor of Lyon and Mr Bayrou is a veteran centrist.
Some 170 elected officials from the right were earlier criticised by hundreds of other lawmakers after they signed a statement backing Mr Macron.
One accused Mr Macron of "blowing up" the political landscape.
France's new president will hope his team delivers a majority in parliamentary elections next month and furthers his aim of political renewal.
He delivered on his pledge of a cabinet of parity - though only one of the top five posts, that of defence, went to a woman.
Other ministerial appointees include Jean-Yves Le Drian, in charge of defence under President François Hollande, who will become foreign minister. Nicolas Hulot, a well-known environmentalist, becomes ecology minister.
Longtime Macron supporter and campaign manager Richard Ferrand is rewarded with the territorial cohesion portfolio.
Other ministerial appointees include:
Agnès Buzyn - health
Murielle Pénicaud - labour
Mounir Mahjoubi - junior minister for digital affairs
Françoise Nyssen - culture
Jean-Michel Blanquer - national education
Jacques Mézard - agriculture and food
Marlène Schiappa, whose successful blog Maman Works saw her dubbed the "spokeswoman for working mums", becomes junior minister for equality between women and men.
As well as the political centre ground, Mr Macron also took in figures from the far left.
The announcement was delayed after candidates were background-checked for their tax records and any potential conflicts of interest.
'A slap'
It comes amid consternation among forces of both the left and right at Mr Macron's offer of "an outstretched hand" to join him in his proclaimed political project of bridging the divide long entrenched in French politics.
After he named Republican Edouard Philippe as prime minister on Monday, more than 170 elected conservatives agreed to sign up to his project, some claiming they were witnessing the "transformation" of politics.
But their move was met by a counter-statement signed by more than 570 conservatives.
Ahead of legislative elections in June, Republican party campaign chief François Baroin accused Mr Macron of "putting a bomb under politics rather than remodelling it".
Meanwhile the Republicans' deputy secretary general, Eric Ciotti, was quoted as calling the pro-Macron initiative "a slap" rather than an outstretched hand - suggesting supporting Republicans were opportunistically seeking a role in the new government.
The initiative has also been criticised on the left, with defeated Socialist presidential candidate Benoît Hamon among the dissenters.
"Who can think that the left will pull itself together if it is part of a coalition led by a member of the Republican party?" he said.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39948523
Sylvie Goulard is defence minister while Olympic fencing champion Laura Flessel is sports minister.
Bruno Le Maire is economy minister, Gérard Collomb is interior minister and François Bayrou is justice minister.
Mr Macron's decision to pluck figures from across the political spectrum has sent the French right into disarray.
Mr Le Maire is a conservative moderate, Mr Collomb is the Socialist mayor of Lyon and Mr Bayrou is a veteran centrist.
Some 170 elected officials from the right were earlier criticised by hundreds of other lawmakers after they signed a statement backing Mr Macron.
One accused Mr Macron of "blowing up" the political landscape.
France's new president will hope his team delivers a majority in parliamentary elections next month and furthers his aim of political renewal.
He delivered on his pledge of a cabinet of parity - though only one of the top five posts, that of defence, went to a woman.
Other ministerial appointees include Jean-Yves Le Drian, in charge of defence under President François Hollande, who will become foreign minister. Nicolas Hulot, a well-known environmentalist, becomes ecology minister.
Longtime Macron supporter and campaign manager Richard Ferrand is rewarded with the territorial cohesion portfolio.
Other ministerial appointees include:
Agnès Buzyn - health
Murielle Pénicaud - labour
Mounir Mahjoubi - junior minister for digital affairs
Françoise Nyssen - culture
Jean-Michel Blanquer - national education
Jacques Mézard - agriculture and food
Marlène Schiappa, whose successful blog Maman Works saw her dubbed the "spokeswoman for working mums", becomes junior minister for equality between women and men.
As well as the political centre ground, Mr Macron also took in figures from the far left.
The announcement was delayed after candidates were background-checked for their tax records and any potential conflicts of interest.
'A slap'
It comes amid consternation among forces of both the left and right at Mr Macron's offer of "an outstretched hand" to join him in his proclaimed political project of bridging the divide long entrenched in French politics.
After he named Republican Edouard Philippe as prime minister on Monday, more than 170 elected conservatives agreed to sign up to his project, some claiming they were witnessing the "transformation" of politics.
But their move was met by a counter-statement signed by more than 570 conservatives.
Ahead of legislative elections in June, Republican party campaign chief François Baroin accused Mr Macron of "putting a bomb under politics rather than remodelling it".
Meanwhile the Republicans' deputy secretary general, Eric Ciotti, was quoted as calling the pro-Macron initiative "a slap" rather than an outstretched hand - suggesting supporting Republicans were opportunistically seeking a role in the new government.
The initiative has also been criticised on the left, with defeated Socialist presidential candidate Benoît Hamon among the dissenters.
"Who can think that the left will pull itself together if it is part of a coalition led by a member of the Republican party?" he said.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39948523
Selasa, 16 Mei 2017
Martha McSally: Man 'threatened to shoot' Trump supporter
A man in the US has been put arrested after threatening to shoot a Republican congresswoman who supports President Donald Trump.
Steve Martan allegedly called Martha McSally's office several times, making death threats and saying she should be careful if she visited Tucson, Arizona.
FBI officials traced the calls back to his mobile phone.
When they visited him, he said he was "venting frustrations" with Ms McSally's votes in support of Mr Trump.
A complaint filed with a local court alleges that Mr Martan called the congressional office three times, using expletives and making general threats such as saying her days were "numbered", as well as threats to wring Ms McSally's neck or shoot her.
Ms McSally said the threats were "especially sickening" in view of the shooting of another congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson six years ago.
Six people died in that attack in 2011, and a total of 13 were wounded.
Ms Giffords survived the attack but spent time in an induced coma and suffered serious brain injury that left one of her arms paralysed and affected her speech. The man who shot her pleaded guilty on 19 counts of murder and attempted murder, and is serving seven life sentences plus 140 years.
Ms Giffords has issued a statement saying that the threats against Ms McSally were "reprehensible and deeply disturbing".
Ms McSally said: "We can disagree about issues and policies. We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line."
Mr Martan has been released from custody, but will have to wear an electronic tag and is not permitted to contact Ms McSally or carry a gun, a local newspaper reported.
He is only allowed to leave the house for his work at a school and for his governmentally-mandated mental health programme.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39940443
Steve Martan allegedly called Martha McSally's office several times, making death threats and saying she should be careful if she visited Tucson, Arizona.
FBI officials traced the calls back to his mobile phone.
When they visited him, he said he was "venting frustrations" with Ms McSally's votes in support of Mr Trump.
A complaint filed with a local court alleges that Mr Martan called the congressional office three times, using expletives and making general threats such as saying her days were "numbered", as well as threats to wring Ms McSally's neck or shoot her.
Ms McSally said the threats were "especially sickening" in view of the shooting of another congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson six years ago.
Six people died in that attack in 2011, and a total of 13 were wounded.
Ms Giffords survived the attack but spent time in an induced coma and suffered serious brain injury that left one of her arms paralysed and affected her speech. The man who shot her pleaded guilty on 19 counts of murder and attempted murder, and is serving seven life sentences plus 140 years.
Ms Giffords has issued a statement saying that the threats against Ms McSally were "reprehensible and deeply disturbing".
Ms McSally said: "We can disagree about issues and policies. We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line."
Mr Martan has been released from custody, but will have to wear an electronic tag and is not permitted to contact Ms McSally or carry a gun, a local newspaper reported.
He is only allowed to leave the house for his work at a school and for his governmentally-mandated mental health programme.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39940443
Label: actor, crime, doctor, family, law, news, Nurse
Maria Sharapova: French Open decides against giving former champion a wildcard
Maria Sharapova will miss the French Open after tournament officials decided not to give the two-time champion a wildcard.
The Russian, 30, was ranked too low to gain direct entry as she continues her return from a 15-month drugs ban.
"There can be a wildcard for the return from injuries - there cannot be a wildcard for the return from doping," French Tennis Federation chief Bernard Giudicelli Ferrandini said.
The French Open begins on 28 May.
Sharapova had been hoping to receive a wildcard either into the main draw or the qualifying tournament.
"I'm very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans," added Giudicelli Ferrandini.
"They might be very disappointed, she might be very disappointed, but it's my responsibility, my mission, to protect the high standards of the game played without any doubt on the result."
Early Rome exit ends Wimbledon main-draw hopes
Sharapova returned to action without a ranking last month and has since risen to 211 in the world after receiving wildcards in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.
That will be enough to at least earn a qualifying spot at Wimbledon next month.
Sharapova needed to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing Italian Open to qualify for Wimbledon's main draw but retired in the second round on Tuesday when leading Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 4-6 6-3 2-1.
"I apologise for having to withdraw from my match with a left thigh injury," she said. "I will be getting all the necessary examinations to make sure it is not serious."
Sharapova will now have to wait until 20 June to discover whether she is among the wildcards at the All England Club.
The former world number one has not played a Grand Slam since she tested positive for heart disease drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
That brought an initial two-year ban, later reduced to 15 months after the Court of Arbitration for Sport found she was not an "intentional doper".
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
The ongoing fight against doping is more important than the line-up for the French Open - that was the message from the French Federation's president.
It is a brave and principled decision, which will upset some fans and broadcasters. Ratings may suffer, but Roland Garros will ultimately be stronger for it.
How could the public take the sport's anti-doping message seriously if one of the Grand Slams had invited a player who was not ranked high enough because of time served for a doping offence?
Sharapova has, in contrast, earned her place in qualifying for Wimbledon, even though injury has now deprived her of the chance to play herself into the main draw.
And assuming she is fit, she is likely to want to play at least two warm-up events.
The Lawn Tennis Association has already offered her a wildcard into the WTA event in Birmingham. If Sharapova also wants to play the week before, she has Nottingham and the Dutch town of Rosmalen to choose between.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/39932614
The Russian, 30, was ranked too low to gain direct entry as she continues her return from a 15-month drugs ban.
"There can be a wildcard for the return from injuries - there cannot be a wildcard for the return from doping," French Tennis Federation chief Bernard Giudicelli Ferrandini said.
The French Open begins on 28 May.
Sharapova had been hoping to receive a wildcard either into the main draw or the qualifying tournament.
"I'm very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans," added Giudicelli Ferrandini.
"They might be very disappointed, she might be very disappointed, but it's my responsibility, my mission, to protect the high standards of the game played without any doubt on the result."
Early Rome exit ends Wimbledon main-draw hopes
Sharapova returned to action without a ranking last month and has since risen to 211 in the world after receiving wildcards in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.
That will be enough to at least earn a qualifying spot at Wimbledon next month.
Sharapova needed to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing Italian Open to qualify for Wimbledon's main draw but retired in the second round on Tuesday when leading Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 4-6 6-3 2-1.
"I apologise for having to withdraw from my match with a left thigh injury," she said. "I will be getting all the necessary examinations to make sure it is not serious."
Sharapova will now have to wait until 20 June to discover whether she is among the wildcards at the All England Club.
The former world number one has not played a Grand Slam since she tested positive for heart disease drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
That brought an initial two-year ban, later reduced to 15 months after the Court of Arbitration for Sport found she was not an "intentional doper".
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
The ongoing fight against doping is more important than the line-up for the French Open - that was the message from the French Federation's president.
It is a brave and principled decision, which will upset some fans and broadcasters. Ratings may suffer, but Roland Garros will ultimately be stronger for it.
How could the public take the sport's anti-doping message seriously if one of the Grand Slams had invited a player who was not ranked high enough because of time served for a doping offence?
Sharapova has, in contrast, earned her place in qualifying for Wimbledon, even though injury has now deprived her of the chance to play herself into the main draw.
And assuming she is fit, she is likely to want to play at least two warm-up events.
The Lawn Tennis Association has already offered her a wildcard into the WTA event in Birmingham. If Sharapova also wants to play the week before, she has Nottingham and the Dutch town of Rosmalen to choose between.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/39932614
Label: actor, artist, family, sport
Everest permit-dodger Ryan Sean Davy arrested in Nepal
A man who tried to climb Everest in Nepal without paying the $11,000 permit fee has been arrested in Kathmandu after walking most of the 154km journey from the mountain's base camp.
A Nepalese friend of Ryan Sean Davy said that the climber was being questioned by tourism officials.
He is due to appear in court on Wednesday where he is expected to receive a heavy fine.
Friends say Mr Davy has no cash, which is why he mostly travelled on foot.
"He is in good heart although worried about his finances and the scale of the punishment he will receive," Mr Davy's Nepalese friend Mohan Gyawali told the BBC.
US-based South African Mr Davy, 43, says he climbed alone to a height of 7,300m (24,000ft) before being found hiding in a cave by officials who confiscated his passport because he did not have a permit to climb Everest.
He has apologised but complained of being treated harshly by officials. It is extremely rare for someone to attempt climbing Everest by themselves.
The overwhelming majority of climbers only tackle the highest mountain in the world with the help of at least one guide and a well-equipped support team at base camp.
"I have no idea of the outcome regarding my Everest no-permit climb," Mr Davy posted on Facebook on Tuesday
Mr Gyawali said that the climber made his way back to Kathmandu using the same route from the base camp that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay followed in 1953 when they became the first people to climb the mountain. The route goes through the small mid-hill town of Jiri.
Nepal relies heavily on income generated from Everest expeditions and some believe the authorities will want to make an example out of Mr Davy to deter other climbers from dodging the permit fee.
Mr Davy said on Facebook: "Expedition companies have no time for wannabe Everesters with no money so someone turned me in."
The climber said he could expect to spend time in jail in addition to a fine of $22,000.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39940772
A Nepalese friend of Ryan Sean Davy said that the climber was being questioned by tourism officials.
He is due to appear in court on Wednesday where he is expected to receive a heavy fine.
Friends say Mr Davy has no cash, which is why he mostly travelled on foot.
"He is in good heart although worried about his finances and the scale of the punishment he will receive," Mr Davy's Nepalese friend Mohan Gyawali told the BBC.
US-based South African Mr Davy, 43, says he climbed alone to a height of 7,300m (24,000ft) before being found hiding in a cave by officials who confiscated his passport because he did not have a permit to climb Everest.
He has apologised but complained of being treated harshly by officials. It is extremely rare for someone to attempt climbing Everest by themselves.
The overwhelming majority of climbers only tackle the highest mountain in the world with the help of at least one guide and a well-equipped support team at base camp.
"I have no idea of the outcome regarding my Everest no-permit climb," Mr Davy posted on Facebook on Tuesday
Mr Gyawali said that the climber made his way back to Kathmandu using the same route from the base camp that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay followed in 1953 when they became the first people to climb the mountain. The route goes through the small mid-hill town of Jiri.
Nepal relies heavily on income generated from Everest expeditions and some believe the authorities will want to make an example out of Mr Davy to deter other climbers from dodging the permit fee.
Mr Davy said on Facebook: "Expedition companies have no time for wannabe Everesters with no money so someone turned me in."
The climber said he could expect to spend time in jail in addition to a fine of $22,000.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39940772
Label: actor, family, health, news
Ethiopian politician Yonatan Tesfaye guilty of terror charge
Ethiopian opposition politician Yonatan Tesfaye has been found guilty of encouraging terrorism for comments he made on Facebook.
He was arrested in December 2015 as a wave of anti-government protests in the Oromia region was gathering momentum.
The authorities objected to several posts including one in which he said the government used "force against the people instead of peaceful discussion".
Ethiopia has been criticised for using anti-terror laws to silence dissent.
Amnesty International described the charges as "trumped up", when they were confirmed in May 2016.
A section of Ethiopia's anti-terror law says that anyone who makes a statement that could be seen as encouraging people to commit an act of terror can be prosecuted.
In a translation of the charge sheet by the Ethiopian Human Rights Project that details the Facebook comments, Mr Yonatan allegedly said: "I am telling you to destroy [the ruling party's] oppressive materials... Now is the time to make our killers lame."
Mr Yonatan, who was a spokesperson for the opposition Blue Party, is due to be sentenced later this month and faces up to 20 years' imprisonment.
The government faced unprecedented protests from November 2015 as people in the Oromia region complained of political and economic marginalisation.
The protests also spread to other parts of the country.
More than 600 people died in clashes between security forces and the demonstrators as the authorities tried to deal with the unrest, according to the state-affiliated Human Rights Commission.
The government introduced a state of emergency last October to bring the situation under control.
Opposition leader Merera Gudina was arrested last December for criticising the state of emergency and he is still being held.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39933874
He was arrested in December 2015 as a wave of anti-government protests in the Oromia region was gathering momentum.
The authorities objected to several posts including one in which he said the government used "force against the people instead of peaceful discussion".
Ethiopia has been criticised for using anti-terror laws to silence dissent.
Amnesty International described the charges as "trumped up", when they were confirmed in May 2016.
A section of Ethiopia's anti-terror law says that anyone who makes a statement that could be seen as encouraging people to commit an act of terror can be prosecuted.
In a translation of the charge sheet by the Ethiopian Human Rights Project that details the Facebook comments, Mr Yonatan allegedly said: "I am telling you to destroy [the ruling party's] oppressive materials... Now is the time to make our killers lame."
Mr Yonatan, who was a spokesperson for the opposition Blue Party, is due to be sentenced later this month and faces up to 20 years' imprisonment.
The government faced unprecedented protests from November 2015 as people in the Oromia region complained of political and economic marginalisation.
The protests also spread to other parts of the country.
More than 600 people died in clashes between security forces and the demonstrators as the authorities tried to deal with the unrest, according to the state-affiliated Human Rights Commission.
The government introduced a state of emergency last October to bring the situation under control.
Opposition leader Merera Gudina was arrested last December for criticising the state of emergency and he is still being held.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39933874
Label: actor, crime, news, politic, terror
Hebe de Bonafini: Head of Argentina Mothers of Plaza de Mayo group indicted
A judge in Argentina has indicted the head of human rights organisation the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Hebe de Bonafini, 88, has been charged with misusing public funds allocated to a social housing project.
The programme, created by former President Cristina Fernández, was managed by Mrs De Bonafini's foundation, a world-famous collective of mothers looking for children who disappeared during the dictatorship.
She maintains her innocence.
As a close ally of the ex-president, she says the case against her is politically motivated and orchestrated by current President Mauricio Macri, who came into power in 2015.
"Thank you Macri for giving me the honour of being accused," she said sarcastically on Monday.
Prosecutors allege that about $13m (£10m) of public funding in the Shared Dreams programme was diverted inappropriately.
Her former aide, Sergio Schoklender, will also be investigated, according to local media.
Mrs De Bonafini has previously refused to appear in court to give evidence.
The movement of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo is highly lauded in Argentina for its human rights work.
It emerged when a military junta ruled the country (1976 -1983) and a group of women paraded around the central square in Buenos Aires to draw attention to their missing children.
Its a tradition they keep, every Thursday, to this day.
Abrupt closure
Mrs Bonafini has two sons who were "disappeared" by the military government.
The mothers group has previously said they wanted to do some of the work their children, who were mostly left-wing activists, would have ended up doing if they were alive.
The $53m Shared Dreams programme was devised to build housing, schools and health centres in low-income neighbourhoods. It was abruptly halted in 2011.
Investigations then revealed that Mr Schoklender was the major shareholder in Meldorek, the construction company used by the Mothers.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39933904
Label: actor, crime, law, news
How dangerous are classified secrets claims for Trump?
The Trump White House has now settled on its defence of the president's meeting with the Russian delegation, in which he reportedly revealed classified information to his guests.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning the president framed any disclosure of intelligence information as a calculated move to advance US national security priorities.
In a press conference hours later, National Security Adviser HR McMaster said Mr Trump's revelations where "wholly appropriate".
This was always going to be the most effective response, as the president has broad powers to declassify whatever he deems necessary. As the old Richard Nixon line goes: "When the president does it, that means it is not illegal".
The president's explanation is not absolution, however. A wave of the hand on Twitter isn't going to make this story go away any time soon. Here are six reasons why.
High crimes and misdemeanours
Let's get the impeachment question out of the way first. Shortly after the Washington Post story detailing the allegations broke, there were cries of "treason" from Mr Trump's more vociferous critics and calls for immediate removal from office.
The charge that Mr Trump, through ignorance or boastfulness, casually disclosed highly classified intelligence for no reason may not be a criminal offence, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't create a political controversy that could, in a worst-case scenario for the president, end in his impeachment.
The process for impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanours" as outlined in the US constitution is a political act. A simple majority of the House of Representatives can impeach, initiating a trial in the Senate and a two-thirds vote necessarily for removal.
As the writers of Lawfare Blog point out, Mr Trump's opponents could accuse him of violations of his oath of office to "preserve, protect, and defend" the US Constitution - a catch-all category cited in the three previous times a president has been seriously threatened with impeachment.
Just because it's possible, however, doesn't mean it's likely. And again, it has nothing to do with the law and everything to do with politics - and how the story plays out from here.
The Russian factor
Like Indiana Jones looking at a chamber full of snakes, many in the Trump White House must be muttering to themselves: "Russians. Why did it have to be the Russians?"
Allegations of cosier-than-desired relations with the US geopolitical adversary have bedevilled Mr Trump since the early days of his presidential campaign.
He's been questioned about the praise he's lavished on President Vladimir Putin, some of his aides are caught up in the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the US 2016 election, his attorney general was forced to recuse himself because of an undisclosed meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak and his first national security adviser was fired for obfuscating about his Russia ties (and is one of the people under FBI investigation to boot).
All of this was hanging in the air as Mr Trump met with Mr Kislyak and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week, just hours after he fired James Comey, the FBI director overseeing the Russia investigation. US press was barred from attending, and the only photos that were released came from the Russian state-run news service.
It was never going to be a good look. Now, in light of the Washington Post's revelations, it's a terrible one.
Mr Trump's tweets explained that he was "sharing" information with the Russian officials in order to foster co-operation on important global issues like the fight against the so-called Islamic State. As Mr Trump points out, he has the "absolute right" to do so.
The fact that it's the Russians involved, however, means the story will pack that much more powerful a punch.
Sceptical allies
Back in January Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli intelligence officials were concerned about sharing sensitive information with the Trump administration because of "fears of a leakage" to Russia.
Yeah, about that...
According to the Washington Post report, Mr Trump may have disclosed information provided to the US by a "key ally" that has "access to the inner workings of the Islamic State". According to multiple news reports that ally was none other than Israel.
That fits in with the Post's original story, which did not identify the ally but said "it has previously voiced frustration with Washington's inability to safeguard sensitive information related to Iraq and Syria". One US official said it was potentially a "blow" to the US relationship with that ally.
Israel has declined to confirm the story and has re-emphasised its security arrangements with the US, but the damage may be done. If key US allies become reluctant to share intelligence data with the US, that would be a significant blow to the nation's national security - even if the details of this particular story are never fully established.
Off the record, one Israeli intelligence official told Buzzfeed News that the story is "our worst fears confirmed".
Throw in last week's Trump tweet implying that he - or someone - may have "tapes" of conversations made in the White House, and the result may be a chilling effect on US foreign relations across the board.
A leaky ship of state
This latest controversy should also be viewed in the context of what has become a simmering feud between the president and members of the intelligence community.
Shortly after he tweeted out that two-part explanation of his White House meeting with the Russians, Mr Trump sent another message on a familiar theme - leaks.
"I have been asking Director Comey and others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community..."
Back in January then-President-elect Trump sent a tweet comparing leaky intelligence agencies to Nazi Germany.
The president is clearly angered by what he views as a litany of embarrassing disclosures -about phone calls with leaders of Australia and Mexico, conversations his national security adviser had with the Russian ambassador and salacious details from a Trump-Russia dossier circulated among intelligence officials.
The president has threatened massive re-organisation of the US intelligence bureaucracy and an aggressive investigation into the source of the leaks - and it appears members of that community are striking back.
The Republican conundrum
Monday evening, upon hearing of details about the Washington Post story, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine echoed a familiar lament.
"Can we have a crisis-free day?" she said. "That's all I'm asking."
On Tuesday morning Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a similar take.
"We could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things," he told Bloomberg Television, "so we can focus on our agenda, which is deregulation, tax reform and repealing and replacing Obamacare."
A few of the Republican usual suspects who have been more outspoken in their criticism are continuing on that tack.
Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan tweeted that the White House should share "details of the president's meeting" with Congress.
Once again Senator John McCain of Arizona found something the president did "deeply disturbing".
Barring further revelations, however, the president has constructed a defence around which Republicans can rally. While members of Mr Trump's party may grouse about the ongoing administration fiascos, previous complaints have been followed by inaction. Until there is evidence to the contrary, this time looks to be no different.
The trust gap
Last week reporters raged over the fact that White House officials, from Vice-President Mike Pence on down, put forward an explanation regarding why the president had fired FBI Director James Comey that was completely undercut within moments of Mr Trump opening his mouth in a sit-down interview on Thursday with NBC News.
The president would later tweet that because he is a "very active president" his press team can't be relied upon to convey his positions with "perfect accuracy".
"Why were so many people giving answers that just weren't correct?" Jonathan Karl asked Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Were you guys in the dark?"
Needless to say reporters this week took the early White House spin that Mr Trump only discussed "common threats" with the Russians, per Deputy National Security Advisor Dina Powell, with more than a grain of salt. It appears their scepticism was at least partially validated when, on Tuesday morning, Mr Trump said he had shared "facts pertaining to terrorism" with Russia.
Presidents and the media typically have an adversarial relationship, but this White House is rapidly burning through any residual goodwill it may have had.
Given that Mr Trump and his team often refer to the press as the "opposition party", however, they may not lose much sleep over this development.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39941124
In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning the president framed any disclosure of intelligence information as a calculated move to advance US national security priorities.
In a press conference hours later, National Security Adviser HR McMaster said Mr Trump's revelations where "wholly appropriate".
This was always going to be the most effective response, as the president has broad powers to declassify whatever he deems necessary. As the old Richard Nixon line goes: "When the president does it, that means it is not illegal".
The president's explanation is not absolution, however. A wave of the hand on Twitter isn't going to make this story go away any time soon. Here are six reasons why.
High crimes and misdemeanours
Let's get the impeachment question out of the way first. Shortly after the Washington Post story detailing the allegations broke, there were cries of "treason" from Mr Trump's more vociferous critics and calls for immediate removal from office.
The charge that Mr Trump, through ignorance or boastfulness, casually disclosed highly classified intelligence for no reason may not be a criminal offence, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't create a political controversy that could, in a worst-case scenario for the president, end in his impeachment.
The process for impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanours" as outlined in the US constitution is a political act. A simple majority of the House of Representatives can impeach, initiating a trial in the Senate and a two-thirds vote necessarily for removal.
As the writers of Lawfare Blog point out, Mr Trump's opponents could accuse him of violations of his oath of office to "preserve, protect, and defend" the US Constitution - a catch-all category cited in the three previous times a president has been seriously threatened with impeachment.
Just because it's possible, however, doesn't mean it's likely. And again, it has nothing to do with the law and everything to do with politics - and how the story plays out from here.
The Russian factor
Like Indiana Jones looking at a chamber full of snakes, many in the Trump White House must be muttering to themselves: "Russians. Why did it have to be the Russians?"
Allegations of cosier-than-desired relations with the US geopolitical adversary have bedevilled Mr Trump since the early days of his presidential campaign.
He's been questioned about the praise he's lavished on President Vladimir Putin, some of his aides are caught up in the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the US 2016 election, his attorney general was forced to recuse himself because of an undisclosed meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak and his first national security adviser was fired for obfuscating about his Russia ties (and is one of the people under FBI investigation to boot).
All of this was hanging in the air as Mr Trump met with Mr Kislyak and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week, just hours after he fired James Comey, the FBI director overseeing the Russia investigation. US press was barred from attending, and the only photos that were released came from the Russian state-run news service.
It was never going to be a good look. Now, in light of the Washington Post's revelations, it's a terrible one.
Mr Trump's tweets explained that he was "sharing" information with the Russian officials in order to foster co-operation on important global issues like the fight against the so-called Islamic State. As Mr Trump points out, he has the "absolute right" to do so.
The fact that it's the Russians involved, however, means the story will pack that much more powerful a punch.
Sceptical allies
Back in January Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli intelligence officials were concerned about sharing sensitive information with the Trump administration because of "fears of a leakage" to Russia.
Yeah, about that...
According to the Washington Post report, Mr Trump may have disclosed information provided to the US by a "key ally" that has "access to the inner workings of the Islamic State". According to multiple news reports that ally was none other than Israel.
That fits in with the Post's original story, which did not identify the ally but said "it has previously voiced frustration with Washington's inability to safeguard sensitive information related to Iraq and Syria". One US official said it was potentially a "blow" to the US relationship with that ally.
Israel has declined to confirm the story and has re-emphasised its security arrangements with the US, but the damage may be done. If key US allies become reluctant to share intelligence data with the US, that would be a significant blow to the nation's national security - even if the details of this particular story are never fully established.
Off the record, one Israeli intelligence official told Buzzfeed News that the story is "our worst fears confirmed".
Throw in last week's Trump tweet implying that he - or someone - may have "tapes" of conversations made in the White House, and the result may be a chilling effect on US foreign relations across the board.
A leaky ship of state
This latest controversy should also be viewed in the context of what has become a simmering feud between the president and members of the intelligence community.
Shortly after he tweeted out that two-part explanation of his White House meeting with the Russians, Mr Trump sent another message on a familiar theme - leaks.
"I have been asking Director Comey and others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community..."
Back in January then-President-elect Trump sent a tweet comparing leaky intelligence agencies to Nazi Germany.
The president is clearly angered by what he views as a litany of embarrassing disclosures -about phone calls with leaders of Australia and Mexico, conversations his national security adviser had with the Russian ambassador and salacious details from a Trump-Russia dossier circulated among intelligence officials.
The president has threatened massive re-organisation of the US intelligence bureaucracy and an aggressive investigation into the source of the leaks - and it appears members of that community are striking back.
The Republican conundrum
Monday evening, upon hearing of details about the Washington Post story, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine echoed a familiar lament.
"Can we have a crisis-free day?" she said. "That's all I'm asking."
On Tuesday morning Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a similar take.
"We could do with a little less drama from the White House on a lot of things," he told Bloomberg Television, "so we can focus on our agenda, which is deregulation, tax reform and repealing and replacing Obamacare."
A few of the Republican usual suspects who have been more outspoken in their criticism are continuing on that tack.
Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan tweeted that the White House should share "details of the president's meeting" with Congress.
Once again Senator John McCain of Arizona found something the president did "deeply disturbing".
Barring further revelations, however, the president has constructed a defence around which Republicans can rally. While members of Mr Trump's party may grouse about the ongoing administration fiascos, previous complaints have been followed by inaction. Until there is evidence to the contrary, this time looks to be no different.
The trust gap
Last week reporters raged over the fact that White House officials, from Vice-President Mike Pence on down, put forward an explanation regarding why the president had fired FBI Director James Comey that was completely undercut within moments of Mr Trump opening his mouth in a sit-down interview on Thursday with NBC News.
The president would later tweet that because he is a "very active president" his press team can't be relied upon to convey his positions with "perfect accuracy".
"Why were so many people giving answers that just weren't correct?" Jonathan Karl asked Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Were you guys in the dark?"
Needless to say reporters this week took the early White House spin that Mr Trump only discussed "common threats" with the Russians, per Deputy National Security Advisor Dina Powell, with more than a grain of salt. It appears their scepticism was at least partially validated when, on Tuesday morning, Mr Trump said he had shared "facts pertaining to terrorism" with Russia.
Presidents and the media typically have an adversarial relationship, but this White House is rapidly burning through any residual goodwill it may have had.
Given that Mr Trump and his team often refer to the press as the "opposition party", however, they may not lose much sleep over this development.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39941124
Label: actor, politic, protest
Trump defends 'absolute right' to share 'facts' with Russia
US President Donald Trump has defended his "absolute right" to discuss sensitive material on terrorism and airline safety at a meeting with Russia's foreign minister.
US media reports said he had shared material that was passed on by a partner that had not given permission.
The White House refused to comment on reports that Israel was the source.
Though not illegal, Mr Trump's alleged gaffe is seen as a breach of trust by many in the intelligence community.
Mr Trump met Sergei Lavrov last week in the Oval Office, out of view of the US media.
Leading Republicans and Democrats have voiced concerns over what was said, with top Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer calling for the transcripts to be released by the White House.
The US Senate Intelligence Committee has also asked for copies of any notes taken in the meeting. CIA Director Mike Pompeo is due to brief the committee later.
Mr Trump's alleged disclosures are not illegal, as the US president has the authority to declassify information.
What was the president's defence?
Mr Trump tweeted: "As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety.
"Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against [IS] & terrorism."
It is not clear if Mr Trump was acknowledging having shared intelligence secrets with the Russian officials, thus contradicting White House statements, or whether he was simply trying to explain what had been discussed.
The BBC's Anthony Zurcher in Washington says this was a carefully constructed defence of the meeting, in which President Trump frames any revelation of intelligence information as a calculated move to advance US national security priorities.
After all, the controversy that swirled around the White House on Monday night was never legal, it was political, and this defence may be enough for Republicans to rally around, he adds.
What happened in the Oval Office?
A report in the Washington Post on Monday said Mr Trump had confided top secret information relating to an IS plot thought to centre on the use of laptop computers on aircraft.
In a conversation with the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the Oval Office on 10 May, the president revealed details that could lead to the exposure of a source of information, officials told the paper.
The intelligence disclosed came from a US ally and was considered too sensitive to share with other US allies, it added.
Others at the meeting realised the mistake and scrambled to "contain the damage" by informing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), says the Post.
The meeting came a day after Mr Trump fired his FBI chief, James Comey, sparking criticism that he had done so because the FBI was investigating his election campaign's alleged Russian ties.
On Tuesday, US media reported the divulged material had been provided to the US by Israel, where Mr Trump is due to visit next week.
How has the White House responded?
Pressed by reporters on Tuesday, National Security Adviser HR McMaster declined to say whether or not Mr Trump had shared classified information with the Russians.
He denied the US president had caused a "lapse in national security".
"What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he's engaged."
He also said President Trump had not been aware of the source of information that was discussed with the Russian officials.
Golden rule: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
Despite the denials issued by the White House that any actual intelligence sources were revealed to the Russians, whatever was said in that Oval Office meeting was enough to alarm certain officials and, reportedly, to alert the CIA and NSA.
They in turn will have needed to warn the country that supplied the intelligence. There is a golden rule in the world of espionage that when one government supplies intelligence to another it must not be passed on to a third party without permission of the original supplier. The reason is simple: it could put the lives of their human informants at risk.
In this case it appears to relate to the discovery of plans by jihadists in Syria to devise a way of smuggling viable explosive devices on board a plane inside a laptop computer. Given the well-publicised ban on laptops in cabins on certain Middle Eastern routes, whoever revealed that information is unlikely to be still in place.
What has the reaction been?
"This is dangerous and reckless" - Dick Durbin, Senate's second-highest ranked Democrat
"Mr President, this isn't about your 'rights', but your responsibilities. You could jeopardise our sources, relationships and security" - Adam Schiff, top Democrat on House Intelligence Committee
"A troubling signal to America's allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future" - Republican Senator John McCain
Levels of US classification - from lowest to highest
US media reports said he had shared material that was passed on by a partner that had not given permission.
The White House refused to comment on reports that Israel was the source.
Though not illegal, Mr Trump's alleged gaffe is seen as a breach of trust by many in the intelligence community.
Mr Trump met Sergei Lavrov last week in the Oval Office, out of view of the US media.
Leading Republicans and Democrats have voiced concerns over what was said, with top Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer calling for the transcripts to be released by the White House.
The US Senate Intelligence Committee has also asked for copies of any notes taken in the meeting. CIA Director Mike Pompeo is due to brief the committee later.
Mr Trump's alleged disclosures are not illegal, as the US president has the authority to declassify information.
What was the president's defence?
Mr Trump tweeted: "As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety.
"Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against [IS] & terrorism."
It is not clear if Mr Trump was acknowledging having shared intelligence secrets with the Russian officials, thus contradicting White House statements, or whether he was simply trying to explain what had been discussed.
The BBC's Anthony Zurcher in Washington says this was a carefully constructed defence of the meeting, in which President Trump frames any revelation of intelligence information as a calculated move to advance US national security priorities.
After all, the controversy that swirled around the White House on Monday night was never legal, it was political, and this defence may be enough for Republicans to rally around, he adds.
What happened in the Oval Office?
A report in the Washington Post on Monday said Mr Trump had confided top secret information relating to an IS plot thought to centre on the use of laptop computers on aircraft.
In a conversation with the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the Oval Office on 10 May, the president revealed details that could lead to the exposure of a source of information, officials told the paper.
The intelligence disclosed came from a US ally and was considered too sensitive to share with other US allies, it added.
Others at the meeting realised the mistake and scrambled to "contain the damage" by informing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), says the Post.
The meeting came a day after Mr Trump fired his FBI chief, James Comey, sparking criticism that he had done so because the FBI was investigating his election campaign's alleged Russian ties.
On Tuesday, US media reported the divulged material had been provided to the US by Israel, where Mr Trump is due to visit next week.
How has the White House responded?
Pressed by reporters on Tuesday, National Security Adviser HR McMaster declined to say whether or not Mr Trump had shared classified information with the Russians.
He denied the US president had caused a "lapse in national security".
"What the president discussed with the foreign minister was wholly appropriate to that conversation and is consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he's engaged."
He also said President Trump had not been aware of the source of information that was discussed with the Russian officials.
Golden rule: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
Despite the denials issued by the White House that any actual intelligence sources were revealed to the Russians, whatever was said in that Oval Office meeting was enough to alarm certain officials and, reportedly, to alert the CIA and NSA.
They in turn will have needed to warn the country that supplied the intelligence. There is a golden rule in the world of espionage that when one government supplies intelligence to another it must not be passed on to a third party without permission of the original supplier. The reason is simple: it could put the lives of their human informants at risk.
In this case it appears to relate to the discovery of plans by jihadists in Syria to devise a way of smuggling viable explosive devices on board a plane inside a laptop computer. Given the well-publicised ban on laptops in cabins on certain Middle Eastern routes, whoever revealed that information is unlikely to be still in place.
What has the reaction been?
"This is dangerous and reckless" - Dick Durbin, Senate's second-highest ranked Democrat
"Mr President, this isn't about your 'rights', but your responsibilities. You could jeopardise our sources, relationships and security" - Adam Schiff, top Democrat on House Intelligence Committee
"A troubling signal to America's allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future" - Republican Senator John McCain
- "We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation's secrets is paramount" - spokesperson for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan
- Congress could do with "a little less drama from the White House" - Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader
- "We generally do not want to have anything to do with this nonsense" - Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman
- "If true, this is not going to instil confidence in allies already wary of sharing the most sensitive information" - senior Nato diplomat quoted by Reuters
Levels of US classification - from lowest to highest
- Confidential: Information that reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national security if disclosed to unauthorised sources. Most military personnel have this level of clearance
- Secret: The same wording in the first sentence above, except it substitutes serious damage
- Top Secret: Again, the same wording except to substitute exceptionally grave damage
- Codeword: Adds a second level of clearance to Top Secret, so that only those cleared with the codeword can see it. Administered by the CIA. The material discussed by Mr Trump with the Russians was under a codeword, sources told the Washington Post.
Label: actor, freedom, politic, terror
Minggu, 14 Mei 2017
Lewis Hamilton on pole position in Spain ahead of Sebastian Vettel
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton edged out Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton failed to improve on his final run, but his first lap was good enough to beat Vettel by 0.051 seconds.
A mistake by the German in the final corner could have been crucial as Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas took third ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Home hero Fernando Alonso produced an exceptional effort to take seventh place for McLaren-Honda.
Sunday's race is live on 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website - with coverage from 11:30 BST.
Hamilton bounces back
Hamilton's superb effort was exactly what he needed after a difficult weekend last time out in Russia, where he finished fourth.
He set the pace in final qualifying with a one minute 19.149 seconds lap, and was just 0.025secs slower on his second run.
That gave Vettel a chance, but he locked up into the last chicane and missed out by just 0.051secs.
Hamilton's pole also owed a lot to a major upgrade the team brought to the race, with a narrower nose cone and major aerodynamic changes around the front of the car.
It was the team's first big upgrade of the season and seemed to have cancelled out two upgrades Ferrari brought to Russia and this race, which were smaller individually but seem to have been worth about the same amount overall.
Vettel rewarded for going with his gut
Vettel still had reason to be thankful - after a last-minute engine change before qualifying, he was told to stop the car on track by his engineer on his first lap of qualifying.
Vettel questioned the decision, asking: "Are you sure?" He was told to try to bring the car back to the pits. But a change of engine settings got the car running properly and Vettel was able to continue.
Bottas was just 0.224secs behind Hamilton despite missing three-quarters of final practice in the morning because of an engine change, edging out Raikkonen by 0.066secs.
Alonso shows his class after Friday embarrassment
Red Bull were fifth and sixth, with Max Verstappen beating team-mate Daniel Ricciardo by nearly half a second and providing evidence that an aerodynamic upgrade had closed the gap to the top two teams.
Verstappen was just 0.557secs off pole position - about half the deficit Red Bull have had over the first four races of the season.
But their progress was overshadowed by Alonso's superlative effort in beating both Force Indias and Felipe Massa's Williams, cars with a Mercedes engine that has at least 100bhp more than McLaren's Honda.
His performance suggests McLaren might be strong at Monaco, which raises doubts about the wisdom of their best asset missing the race and being replaced by Jenson Button, whose motivation to return to F1 after his retirement is being questioned by sources close to the team and driver.
However, Alonso said he had "zero regrets" about missing Monaco.
Alonso said: "Zero regrets. I will race the Indy 500, one of the best or the biggest race in the world.
"There are six cars - two Mercedes, two Ferraris, two Red Bulls - that will be unbeatable for the next couple of races. So to fight for P7 in Monaco? No thanks."
Palmer mystified
Jolyon Palmer - the other British driver on the grid - qualified 17th, knocked out in the first session in which he was just under 0.4secs slower than team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who is 13th on the grid.
"Yesterday felt good," Palmer said. "Today I have struggled. I don't really know why. I just didn't have the pace at all."
What they said
Hamilton: "First Q3 lap was very, very good. The last lap was not quite as good. I was up by 0.2secs I think, but I didn't finish it that way.
"I didn't make a mistake, but it is very gusty out there and sometimes you brake in the same place and the car stops really well or locks up and I braked and the car really stopped [too quickly]. But it was enough to keep me ahead."
Asked whether his mistake was the difference, Vettel said: "I'm afraid it was, yeah. Always the last chicane is a tricky one for me. The second run was really good up to that final chicane."
Alonso, who is missing the next race in Monaco to race in the Indianapolis 500, said: "Maybe running the ovals I learned how to go quick in the straights. It was a good qualifying for us and P7 is a gift.
"Today was a beautiful day, a beautiful qualifying in which we were finding tenth after tenth. Then surprisingly we made it into Q3, and we had another very good lap.
"The important thing is tomorrow, to try to get a few points."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/39908130
Hamilton failed to improve on his final run, but his first lap was good enough to beat Vettel by 0.051 seconds.
A mistake by the German in the final corner could have been crucial as Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas took third ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Home hero Fernando Alonso produced an exceptional effort to take seventh place for McLaren-Honda.
Sunday's race is live on 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website - with coverage from 11:30 BST.
Hamilton bounces back
Hamilton's superb effort was exactly what he needed after a difficult weekend last time out in Russia, where he finished fourth.
He set the pace in final qualifying with a one minute 19.149 seconds lap, and was just 0.025secs slower on his second run.
That gave Vettel a chance, but he locked up into the last chicane and missed out by just 0.051secs.
Hamilton's pole also owed a lot to a major upgrade the team brought to the race, with a narrower nose cone and major aerodynamic changes around the front of the car.
It was the team's first big upgrade of the season and seemed to have cancelled out two upgrades Ferrari brought to Russia and this race, which were smaller individually but seem to have been worth about the same amount overall.
Vettel rewarded for going with his gut
Vettel still had reason to be thankful - after a last-minute engine change before qualifying, he was told to stop the car on track by his engineer on his first lap of qualifying.
Vettel questioned the decision, asking: "Are you sure?" He was told to try to bring the car back to the pits. But a change of engine settings got the car running properly and Vettel was able to continue.
Bottas was just 0.224secs behind Hamilton despite missing three-quarters of final practice in the morning because of an engine change, edging out Raikkonen by 0.066secs.
Alonso shows his class after Friday embarrassment
Red Bull were fifth and sixth, with Max Verstappen beating team-mate Daniel Ricciardo by nearly half a second and providing evidence that an aerodynamic upgrade had closed the gap to the top two teams.
Verstappen was just 0.557secs off pole position - about half the deficit Red Bull have had over the first four races of the season.
But their progress was overshadowed by Alonso's superlative effort in beating both Force Indias and Felipe Massa's Williams, cars with a Mercedes engine that has at least 100bhp more than McLaren's Honda.
His performance suggests McLaren might be strong at Monaco, which raises doubts about the wisdom of their best asset missing the race and being replaced by Jenson Button, whose motivation to return to F1 after his retirement is being questioned by sources close to the team and driver.
However, Alonso said he had "zero regrets" about missing Monaco.
Alonso said: "Zero regrets. I will race the Indy 500, one of the best or the biggest race in the world.
"There are six cars - two Mercedes, two Ferraris, two Red Bulls - that will be unbeatable for the next couple of races. So to fight for P7 in Monaco? No thanks."
Palmer mystified
Jolyon Palmer - the other British driver on the grid - qualified 17th, knocked out in the first session in which he was just under 0.4secs slower than team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who is 13th on the grid.
"Yesterday felt good," Palmer said. "Today I have struggled. I don't really know why. I just didn't have the pace at all."
What they said
Hamilton: "First Q3 lap was very, very good. The last lap was not quite as good. I was up by 0.2secs I think, but I didn't finish it that way.
"I didn't make a mistake, but it is very gusty out there and sometimes you brake in the same place and the car stops really well or locks up and I braked and the car really stopped [too quickly]. But it was enough to keep me ahead."
Asked whether his mistake was the difference, Vettel said: "I'm afraid it was, yeah. Always the last chicane is a tricky one for me. The second run was really good up to that final chicane."
Alonso, who is missing the next race in Monaco to race in the Indianapolis 500, said: "Maybe running the ovals I learned how to go quick in the straights. It was a good qualifying for us and P7 is a gift.
"Today was a beautiful day, a beautiful qualifying in which we were finding tenth after tenth. Then surprisingly we made it into Q3, and we had another very good lap.
"The important thing is tomorrow, to try to get a few points."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/39908130
Label: actor, family, race, sport
Pope Francis canonises two children at Portugal's Fatima shrine
Pope Francis was greeted by crowds of hundreds of thousands as he made saints of two shepherd children at the Fatima shrine complex in Portugal.
"We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints," the pontiff said to loud applause.
It is 100 years since the two - and a third child - reported seeing the Virgin Mary while tending sheep. The third is also on the way to sainthood.
Portugal boosted security and re-imposed border controls temporarily.
Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in the town of Fatima, north of Lisbon, for the ceremony on Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Roman Catholic pilgrims converged on the Fatima Sanctuary from countries as far away as China, Venezuela and East Timor.
The town's local bishop first read out the request for the two "little shepherds" to be canonised before the Pope declared them both saints of the Catholic Church.
Earlier on Saturday, the official Twitter account of the Pope posted a message with reference to the Virgin Mary.
"Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness," it said.
The pontiff also met Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for a private meeting ahead of the ceremony.
Plea for harmony
On Friday, Pope Francis flew into Fatima in a helicopter and travelled through the town in his "Popemobile".
At a candle-lit vigil he called for harmony between all people at the Chapel of the Apparitions and spoke of wars "tearing our world apart".
The chapel is built on the very spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.
Two of the children - Jacinta and Francisco Marto - have been canonised for the miracles attributed to them. They died in the 1918-1919 European influenza pandemic.
The so-called three secrets of Fatima were written down by their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, who died in 2005 aged 97. The beatification process for her began in 2008.
The Church attaches great value to their visions, as Mary is believed to have revealed truths to help mankind. The Church says the first vision came on 13 May 1917.
In a video message to the people of Portugal, the Pope said he was going to present himself to Mary "and I need to feel you close, physically and spiritually, so that we are one heart and one mind".
What are the three secrets?
They are prophecies written down by Lucia, years after the apparitions that the three said they had witnessed. She spent her adult life as a nun at a convent in Coimbra.
The first two secrets in Lucia's account were revealed in 1942.
The first described a terrifying vision of hell, with a "great sea of fire", demons and human souls
The second is interpreted as Mary's prediction that World War One would end and that World War Two would start during the papacy of Pius XI
Mary also called for the "consecration" of Russia, saying: "If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church"
Lucia sealed the third secret in an envelope, which was handed to the Vatican in 1957 and only revealed in 2000
It described an angel demanding "penance!", then the Pope and other clergy climbing a mountain, only to be killed by soldiers firing bullets and arrows.
What does the Vatican say about them?
According to Pope Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, the visions described in the three secrets are "meant to mobilise the forces of change in the right direction".
They are not like the Bible - a text he describes as a "public revelation".
The Fatima visions are "private revelations", he writes. Their purpose is "to help live more fully" in accordance with Christ's teaching.
The late Pope John Paul II was shot by a Turkish gunman on 13 May 1981.
He believed that his survival was due to Mary's divine intervention, and that the third secret had predicted the attack on him.
John Paul donated the bullet to Fatima, and it was inserted into the crown adorning a statue of Mary there.
What about Pope Francis's visit?
He follows John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who also made pilgrimages to the Fatima Sanctuary.
Security was high at the site, with Portugal deploying 6,000 police and emergency workers. Concrete blocks were placed on approach roads, to stop any terrorist "ramming" attack with a vehicle.
Only nine border crossings remained open, with systematic checks, as Portugal temporarily suspended the Schengen open borders pact.
Local accommodation over the weekend was far more expensive than usual, as hotels and residents cashed in on the papal visit.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39904846
"We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints," the pontiff said to loud applause.
It is 100 years since the two - and a third child - reported seeing the Virgin Mary while tending sheep. The third is also on the way to sainthood.
Portugal boosted security and re-imposed border controls temporarily.
Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in the town of Fatima, north of Lisbon, for the ceremony on Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Roman Catholic pilgrims converged on the Fatima Sanctuary from countries as far away as China, Venezuela and East Timor.
The town's local bishop first read out the request for the two "little shepherds" to be canonised before the Pope declared them both saints of the Catholic Church.
Earlier on Saturday, the official Twitter account of the Pope posted a message with reference to the Virgin Mary.
"Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness," it said.
The pontiff also met Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for a private meeting ahead of the ceremony.
Plea for harmony
On Friday, Pope Francis flew into Fatima in a helicopter and travelled through the town in his "Popemobile".
At a candle-lit vigil he called for harmony between all people at the Chapel of the Apparitions and spoke of wars "tearing our world apart".
The chapel is built on the very spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.
Two of the children - Jacinta and Francisco Marto - have been canonised for the miracles attributed to them. They died in the 1918-1919 European influenza pandemic.
The so-called three secrets of Fatima were written down by their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, who died in 2005 aged 97. The beatification process for her began in 2008.
The Church attaches great value to their visions, as Mary is believed to have revealed truths to help mankind. The Church says the first vision came on 13 May 1917.
In a video message to the people of Portugal, the Pope said he was going to present himself to Mary "and I need to feel you close, physically and spiritually, so that we are one heart and one mind".
What are the three secrets?
They are prophecies written down by Lucia, years after the apparitions that the three said they had witnessed. She spent her adult life as a nun at a convent in Coimbra.
The first two secrets in Lucia's account were revealed in 1942.
The first described a terrifying vision of hell, with a "great sea of fire", demons and human souls
The second is interpreted as Mary's prediction that World War One would end and that World War Two would start during the papacy of Pius XI
Mary also called for the "consecration" of Russia, saying: "If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church"
Lucia sealed the third secret in an envelope, which was handed to the Vatican in 1957 and only revealed in 2000
It described an angel demanding "penance!", then the Pope and other clergy climbing a mountain, only to be killed by soldiers firing bullets and arrows.
What does the Vatican say about them?
According to Pope Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, the visions described in the three secrets are "meant to mobilise the forces of change in the right direction".
They are not like the Bible - a text he describes as a "public revelation".
The Fatima visions are "private revelations", he writes. Their purpose is "to help live more fully" in accordance with Christ's teaching.
The late Pope John Paul II was shot by a Turkish gunman on 13 May 1981.
He believed that his survival was due to Mary's divine intervention, and that the third secret had predicted the attack on him.
John Paul donated the bullet to Fatima, and it was inserted into the crown adorning a statue of Mary there.
What about Pope Francis's visit?
He follows John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who also made pilgrimages to the Fatima Sanctuary.
Security was high at the site, with Portugal deploying 6,000 police and emergency workers. Concrete blocks were placed on approach roads, to stop any terrorist "ramming" attack with a vehicle.
Only nine border crossings remained open, with systematic checks, as Portugal temporarily suspended the Schengen open borders pact.
Local accommodation over the weekend was far more expensive than usual, as hotels and residents cashed in on the papal visit.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39904846
Label: actor, family, freedom, health, religion
Angela Merkel faces key test in German state election
Voters in Germany's most populous state are going to the polls in an election seen as a crucial test for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Polls show Mrs Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) could unseat the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period.
A CDU victory would be a boost for Mrs Merkel as she seeks a fourth term in national elections in September.
SPD leader Martin Schulz has predicted that if they win in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) he will become Germany's next chancellor. The SPD are currently junior partners in Germany's governing coalition.
But the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says the party has been slipping in opinion polls and Mr Schulz may live to regret his forecast.
Polls ahead of Sunday's vote put the two parties neck-and-neck.
The CDU's campaign has targeted voters' frustration on issues such as traffic congestion, rising crime and education.
"Being stuck in traffic is time from people's lives," Mrs Merkel said while campaigning recently.
"When you add all the time up over a year, it has become a huge amount of time for commuters."
The CDU has also promised to beef up security with longer prison terms for offenders and more funds for the police.
But state Premier Hannelore Kraft accused Mrs Merkel of ignoring the SPD's achievements on security, telling the broadcaster WDR: "She is an unworthy chancellor."
Mrs Kraft has governed NRW since 2010 in coalition with the Greens. But the Greens have seen their support more than halve, making it difficult for the SPD to muster a coalition.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39912344
Polls show Mrs Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) could unseat the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period.
A CDU victory would be a boost for Mrs Merkel as she seeks a fourth term in national elections in September.
SPD leader Martin Schulz has predicted that if they win in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) he will become Germany's next chancellor. The SPD are currently junior partners in Germany's governing coalition.
But the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says the party has been slipping in opinion polls and Mr Schulz may live to regret his forecast.
Polls ahead of Sunday's vote put the two parties neck-and-neck.
The CDU's campaign has targeted voters' frustration on issues such as traffic congestion, rising crime and education.
"Being stuck in traffic is time from people's lives," Mrs Merkel said while campaigning recently.
"When you add all the time up over a year, it has become a huge amount of time for commuters."
The CDU has also promised to beef up security with longer prison terms for offenders and more funds for the police.
But state Premier Hannelore Kraft accused Mrs Merkel of ignoring the SPD's achievements on security, telling the broadcaster WDR: "She is an unworthy chancellor."
Mrs Kraft has governed NRW since 2010 in coalition with the Greens. But the Greens have seen their support more than halve, making it difficult for the SPD to muster a coalition.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39912344
Label: actor, family, health, politic
Paris Jackson explains nude Instagram posts
Paris Jackson has a message for her 1.4 million followers on Instagram - nudity is natural and "part of what makes us human".
The model and only daughter of the late pop superstar Michael Jackson had earlier been criticised for posting a photo of herself lying in the sun topless alongside her dog - using a pair of strategically placed beetle emojis to cover her nipples.
That post appears to have later been deleted. But Paris, 19, later posted another picture of herself - this time topless and smoking, in black and white - alongside a long message hitting out at critics.
Nudism "started as a movement for 'going back to nature'," she wrote, "and was even called a philosophy". It helps her connect to the earth and is a "beautiful thing" that does not have to be seen as sexual, she said.
"Feminism is being able to express yourself in your own way, whether it's being conservative and wearing lots of clothes or showing yourself."
She continued: "The human body is a beautiful thing and no matter what 'flaws' you have, whether it be scars, or extra weight, stretch marks, freckles, whatever, it is beautiful and you should express yourself however you feel comfortable.
"If this makes some of you upset i completely understand and i encourage you to maybe no longer follow me, but i cannot apologize for this in any way. it is who i am and i refuse to shy away and keep my beliefs a secret."
Paris Jackson has recently been in the spotlight, after having reportedly signed a seven-figure deal to be the face of Calvin Klein. She recently attended the Met Gala in New York as a guest of the brand and will also appear in an upcoming Amazon Studios film alongside David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried and Charlize Theron, Deadline reports.
Paris was just 11 when Michael Jackson died on 25 June, 2009. She recently told Rolling Stone magazine she believed her father was murdered.
The singer died from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol. His doctor Conrad Murray was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Paris also revealed to Rolling Stone that she had been sexually assaulted by a "complete stranger" as a teenager, and spoke openly about depression and a suicide attempt in 2013.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39909833
The model and only daughter of the late pop superstar Michael Jackson had earlier been criticised for posting a photo of herself lying in the sun topless alongside her dog - using a pair of strategically placed beetle emojis to cover her nipples.
That post appears to have later been deleted. But Paris, 19, later posted another picture of herself - this time topless and smoking, in black and white - alongside a long message hitting out at critics.
Nudism "started as a movement for 'going back to nature'," she wrote, "and was even called a philosophy". It helps her connect to the earth and is a "beautiful thing" that does not have to be seen as sexual, she said.
"Feminism is being able to express yourself in your own way, whether it's being conservative and wearing lots of clothes or showing yourself."
She continued: "The human body is a beautiful thing and no matter what 'flaws' you have, whether it be scars, or extra weight, stretch marks, freckles, whatever, it is beautiful and you should express yourself however you feel comfortable.
"If this makes some of you upset i completely understand and i encourage you to maybe no longer follow me, but i cannot apologize for this in any way. it is who i am and i refuse to shy away and keep my beliefs a secret."
Paris Jackson has recently been in the spotlight, after having reportedly signed a seven-figure deal to be the face of Calvin Klein. She recently attended the Met Gala in New York as a guest of the brand and will also appear in an upcoming Amazon Studios film alongside David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried and Charlize Theron, Deadline reports.
Paris was just 11 when Michael Jackson died on 25 June, 2009. She recently told Rolling Stone magazine she believed her father was murdered.
The singer died from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol. His doctor Conrad Murray was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Paris also revealed to Rolling Stone that she had been sexually assaulted by a "complete stranger" as a teenager, and spoke openly about depression and a suicide attempt in 2013.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39909833
Label: actor, artist, family, news, tech
Eurovision 2017: Portugal's ballad wins contest
Portugal have won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in the competition's history.
Salvador Sobral, 27, won with his love ballad Amar Pelos Dois, which was written by his sister.
He said on receiving the trophy: "We live in a world of fast food music. This is a victory for music... music isn't fireworks, music is feeling."
Lucie Jones, representing the UK with I'll Never Give Up on You, came 15th. Bulgaria came second and Moldova third.
Jones, a former X Factor contestant, received 111 points for her performance but didn't seem too upset, tweeting: "I wonnnnnnn!!! Oh no wait..."
It is a considerable improvement for the UK, after last year's entrants Joe and Jake came 24th with 62 points.
Jones secured the UK's highest placing since 2011, when boyband Blue came 11th with 100 points.
Sobral, who has a serious heart condition that saw him miss the first week of rehearsals, reprised his song at the end of the show and was joined by his sister Luisa for a duet.
Their song, which translates as For the Both of Us, won top marks from both from the televoters and the countries' professional juries, getting 758 points altogether. This dwarfed Jamala's win last year for Ukraine with 534 points.
Portugal had been one of the favourites to win, along with Italy's entry, which came sixth.
It wasn't all about the singing, though - last year's winner Jamala had her performance briefly interrupted by a man flashing his bottom.
BBC Monitoring reported that Ukrainian TV identified him as "scandalous" Ukrainian prankster Vitaliy Sedyuk. Jamala continued to sing "unfazed", the broadcaster 1+1 TV said.
The stage invader, wrapped in an Australian flag, was swiftly wrestled off the stage by a security guard.
Graham Norton, who was guiding UK viewers through the contest on BBC One, apologised to anyone who was offended by the incident.
The contest this year took place in the Kiev International Exhibition Centre in Ukraine. The host country could only manage 23rd place out of 26 this time round.
Portugal will now host the contest next year.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39911839
Salvador Sobral, 27, won with his love ballad Amar Pelos Dois, which was written by his sister.
He said on receiving the trophy: "We live in a world of fast food music. This is a victory for music... music isn't fireworks, music is feeling."
Lucie Jones, representing the UK with I'll Never Give Up on You, came 15th. Bulgaria came second and Moldova third.
Jones, a former X Factor contestant, received 111 points for her performance but didn't seem too upset, tweeting: "I wonnnnnnn!!! Oh no wait..."
It is a considerable improvement for the UK, after last year's entrants Joe and Jake came 24th with 62 points.
Jones secured the UK's highest placing since 2011, when boyband Blue came 11th with 100 points.
Sobral, who has a serious heart condition that saw him miss the first week of rehearsals, reprised his song at the end of the show and was joined by his sister Luisa for a duet.
Their song, which translates as For the Both of Us, won top marks from both from the televoters and the countries' professional juries, getting 758 points altogether. This dwarfed Jamala's win last year for Ukraine with 534 points.
Portugal had been one of the favourites to win, along with Italy's entry, which came sixth.
It wasn't all about the singing, though - last year's winner Jamala had her performance briefly interrupted by a man flashing his bottom.
BBC Monitoring reported that Ukrainian TV identified him as "scandalous" Ukrainian prankster Vitaliy Sedyuk. Jamala continued to sing "unfazed", the broadcaster 1+1 TV said.
The stage invader, wrapped in an Australian flag, was swiftly wrestled off the stage by a security guard.
Graham Norton, who was guiding UK viewers through the contest on BBC One, apologised to anyone who was offended by the incident.
The contest this year took place in the Kiev International Exhibition Centre in Ukraine. The host country could only manage 23rd place out of 26 this time round.
Portugal will now host the contest next year.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39911839
Label: actor, artist, contest, news, tech
