Youngstown

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:

Four aid volunteers found guilty of dropping off water, food for migrants in Arizona desert

Friday's verdict is the first conviction against humanitarian aid volunteers along the U.S.-Mexico border since 2009.

Erdogan: Turkey is ready to take over Syria's Manbij

Turkey is ready to take over security in Syria's Manbij, President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Erdogan said an attack that left four Americans dead last week in Manbij was an act of provocation aimed at affecting Trump's decision last month to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. The attack occurred nearly a month after Trump confounded his own national security team with the surprise decision on Dec. 19 to withdraw all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, declaring Islamic State had been defeated there.

Chile earthquake: Magnitude 6.7 quake rocks north of country

A magnitude- 6.7 earthquake hit the coast of north Chile, causing buildings to shake and fears of a possible tsunami. It reportedly caused homes to rattle, as well as minor damage to old buildings and power outages in the nearby coastal city of La Serena – a popular beach town about 250 miles north of Santiago. Chilean mining group Antofagasta Plc said operations were continuing as normal at its Los Pelambres copper mine following the nearby earthquake.

AFP to cut 95 jobs, CEO says, scaling back initial 125 target

Agence France-Presse will cut 95 jobs over the next five years, 30 fewer than announced in October, without affecting targeted savings, CEO Fabrice Fries said Monday. Presenting a revised version of his "transformation plan" to employee representatives, Fries said the company would still save 14 million euros ($15.9 million) on wage costs and five million euros on other expenses by 2023. To achieve this, management will convert 15 of the current 175 expatriate postings into local jobs and realise savings through replacing senior employees with younger ones.

Christian Schools Like Karen Pence's Are The Real Threat To Academic Freedom

Last week, the "second lady" of the United States, Karen Pence, went to work

The Entry-Level 2019 Porsche Cayenne Deserves Your Attention

Porsche’s base Cayenne will have you seeking out the roads usually reserved for sports cars.

Video shows Florida toddler walking towards police with hands up during her father's arrest

TPD said the toddler unexpectedly got out the pickup truck and imitated her parents, who were suspects, walking toward officers with her hands raised.

Different angle of video of Catholic high school students and Native American shows the man approached them

Viral video of confrontation between students and Native Americans draws outrage; Garrett Tenney reports.

Reports: Ice storm creates treacherous travel in New England as temperatures plummet across snow-covered Northeast

The snowstorm that caused nearly a thousand flights to be canceled at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is expected to bring difficult and dangerous travel to a large swath of the Northeast through at least Sunday.

Open letter to Xi demands China release detained Canadians

A group of 143 former diplomats and scholars from 19 countries have penned an open letter to Xi Jinping, China’s president, demanding Beijing to “immediately release” two Canadians detained in China.  Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a prominent consultant on North Korean business issues, have been held for six weeks in Beijing. In their respective roles, the two frequently met with Chinese officials, researchers and scholars, the letter noted. The “detentions send a message that this kind of constructive work is unwelcome and even risky in China,” the letter said. “That will lead to less dialogue and greater distrust, and undermine efforts to manage disagreements and identify common ground. Both China and the rest of the world will be worse off as a result.” The pair disappeared as tensions escalated between Canada and China after Meng Wanzhou, a top executive from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, was arrested in December in Vancouver on a US extradition request related to Iran sanctions violations. Although Beijing has denied any link between the detentions and Ms Meng, 46, the two men were seized shortly after China threatened “serious consequences” over her case.  Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrives at a parole office with a security guard in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 Credit:  Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press Last week, China handed down a death sentence to a Canadian citizen on drug trafficking charges in a rushed retrial that experts say is another example of Beijing acting in retaliation for Meng, and further efforts to pressure Ottawa in a diplomatic row that has now lasted weeks.  A spate of British diplomats and politicians have signed the letter, including former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Ambassador to China Sir Christopher Hum, and Member of Parliament Lord David Alton.  Signatories also included Gareth Evans, the former foreign minister of Australia, two US deputy assistant secretaries of state, former ambassadors to China from Canada, the US, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Mexico, and scholars Orville Schell of the Asia Society, Minxin Pei, a professor and expert on Chinese politics at Claremont McKenna College, and Bonnie Glaser, senior advisor for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank. Meng is currently under house arrest as her case remains pending. Kovrig and Spavor have been allowed a handful of consular visits in detention.

Staff fraud may cost China's DJI drone maker $150 million

Chinese drone maker DJI has placed 45 employees under investigation for alleged fraud that could cost the company more than one billion yuan ($150 million) in losses, the firm said Monday. The world's top civilian drone maker said in an internal memo that most of the employees involved in the fraud worked in the supply chain, and 29 were fired while 16 were reported to the police. The case is expected to involve more than 100 people and many people will be facing a sentence in jail, according to Friday's memo, whose authenticity was confirmed by a company spokeswoman on Monday.

Russia opens civil cases against Facebook, Twitter - report

Russia's communication watchdog said on Monday it was opening administrative proceedings against Twitter and Facebook for failing to explain how they plan to comply with local data laws, the Interfax news agency reported. Roskomnadzor, the watchdog, was quoted as saying that Twitter and Facebook had not explained how and when they would comply with legislation that requires all servers used to store Russians' personal data to be located in Russia.

The First 1500 Toyota Supra Buyers Get This Special Launch Edition

With visual tweaks and a commemorative plaque, this car is a bid to make the new 2020 Supra more collectible.

World's oldest man, 113, dies at his home in northern Japan

TOKYO (AP) — The world's oldest man has died at his home — a hot springs inn — in northern Japan at the age of 113.

Tourist killed by falling window from Hong Kong hotel

A hotel employee arrested after a window she was cleaning fell onto a busy Hong Kong street and killed a tourist was released on bail Tuesday as investigators try to work out what caused the fatal tragedy. Police said a 24-year-old female tourist from the Chinese mainland was struck by the window which fell from the 16th floor of the Mira Hotel in the busy Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district on Monday. The accident sparked alarm that a window could possibly fall from the outside of a modern hotel building in a city stacked with skyscrapers.

May to Brief Cabinet on Where She Goes Next: Brexit Update

(Bloomberg) -- Theresa May is preparing to set out where Brexit goes next after the overwhelming rejection of her deal a week ago. She’s due to present a plan to Parliament on Monday, where members are already working on plans to take control of the process.

Trump confuses weather with climate change again: 'Wouldn’t be bad to have a little good old fashioned Global Warming right now!'

Donald Trump has again confused weather with climate change, suggesting the US would benefit from “a little of that good old fashioned Global Warming right now” amid forecasts of snow and cold conditions. Large parts of the Country are suffering from tremendous amounts of snow and near record setting cold. In November, Mr Trump conflated seasonal weather with climate change, suggesting chilly conditions meant global warming wasn’t real.

Missteps in Mexican pipeline blast trigger new scrutiny of fuel plan

State oil firm Pemex did not close the gasoline pipe when first notified by the military, about four hours before Friday's blast, because it considered the leak "minimal," Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told a news conference. In the hours that followed, the leak grew and as many as 800 people brought plastic containers to the gushing duct, filling up with free fuel in what witnesses described as an almost festive atmosphere. Relatives of some of the victims said fuel shortages stemming from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's plan attracted people to the leak at the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline, a few miles from a major refinery.

Israel increasingly goes public with its strikes in Syria

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Monday claimed responsibility for a series of airstrikes on Iranian military targets in Syria, drifting further away from its longstanding policy of playing down or covering up its military activities in the war-torn country.

Prince Philip 'could be sent on driving awareness course' as police investigate crash

The Duke of Edinburgh could be sent on a drivers’ awareness course, it has emerged, as police continue to investigate a crash which left two women hospitalised. The Duke, 97, is understood to have no intention of giving up driving, having been photographed on public roads driving a new car less than 48 hours after the accident. He is understood to be complying with a Norfolk Police investigation, which will see him interviewed about what happened. Two women, aged 45 and 28, will also be asked for their recollections of the accident, after their Kia Carens collided with the Duke’s Land Rover Freelander on the A149 on Thursday. Both police and palace have emphasised that the investigation will be conducted in the same way as any other traffic accident, despite one of the involved parties being married to the Queen. That process would see him interviewed in the coming days, before police officers recommend whether to proceed with charging anyone involved. The scene of the crash, on the A149 at Sandringham The Duke has already passed an eye test as part of the investigation, celebrating by defiantly driving himself around the public roads near to Sandringham alone less than 48 hours after the accident. He was caught on camera driving in dark glasses without wearing a seatbelt, in a gesture that has been criticised by onlookers. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of the photograph. “Suitable words of advice have been given to the driver and this is in line with our standard response when being made aware of or receiving such images showing this type of offence.” The law states that drivers can be fined up to £500 if caught without a seatbelt. The Duke of Edinburgh drives the Queen and Barack and Michelle Obama during their visit to Windsor Credit: Geoff Pugh If the Duke was found to be at fault for the Sandringham accident, he could be charged with driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum penalty of nine points on a driving record and a £5,000 fine. It is thought unlikely that a prosecution would come to court. A police source said yesterday that non-royal drivers involved in a similar collision would more likely be offered a drivers’ awareness course, with improving their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case. The Duke reportedly said "I'm such a fool" after being pulled from his wrecked Land Rover Freelander on Thursday after it flipped on its side following the collision with a Kia close to Sandringham. Witnesses claim he had told police at the scene he had been “dazzled” by the low sun at 2.45pm. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “As is standard procedure with injury collisions, the incident will be investigated and any appropriate action taken.”

Why the stock market is headed for a swift recovery

Everywhere I look, people seek negatives and ignore positives. When that happens, better times lie ahead for the stock market.

10 ways to make your binge-watch as comfortable as possible

In Binged, Mashable breaks down why we binge-watch, how we binge-watch, and what it does to us. Because binge-watching is the new normal. * * * Binge-watching is basically an endurance sport, so you need to be sure you're prepared. After all, if you're going to watch You until your eyes fall out (recommended), why not make the experience as pleasant as possible? That means paying close attention to the conditions under which you watch: the couch, the temperature, the vibe, and (most importantly) the snacks. Some hot tips: ## 1\. Assemble your snacks before the binge-watch begins To truly maximize your experience, I recommend selecting one salty snack, one sweet snack, and one wild-card snack. Some suggestions from my colleagues, whose tastes range from great to truly horrifying: * Takis * Sno-Caps in popcorn * Uncrustables * Plain Lay's chips and Greek yogurt * Chocolate-covered pretzels * Trader Joe's olive oil popcorn * Literally a ham-and-cheese sandwich dipped in orange juice (cursed) * Celery and peanut butter * Peanut butter straight from the jar Note: you can always sub in pizza for any category (or all three). ## 2\. Keep no less than three beverages in front of you at all times One of the beverages should be water. For the other two, I like to choose a large, gulp-able beverage -- like Gatorade or, if I am feeling brave, seltzer -- as well as a fancy, small beverage, like a blood orange San Pellegrino or one of those high-end lemonades with cursive lettering on the bottle. SEE ALSO: Watching your favorite TV show a million times isn't compulsive. It's a comfort binge. ## 3\. Get up every hour to stretch You don't have to do a full yoga class, but it's nice to remind your body that it is, in fact, capable of movement.  > Netflix: are you still watching? > Me: pic.twitter.com/yUbJ6KjVct > > -- sara reinis (@SaraReinis) March 7, 2018 ## 4\. Consider the two-blanket approach I have radiators in my apartment and do not control my own heat, which means that sometimes my living room is 1,000 degrees. This is too hot. If I open the window, though (see #7), it becomes too cold. That's why I prefer to have two blankets near me when I binge-watch: one thick blanket for the cold times and one thinner cotton blanket for the medium times. During the hot times, I use no blanket at all. ## 5\. Consider your spinal column If you need to bring a bed pillow onto the couch for back support, so be it. If you're binge-watching in bed, consider acquiring a backrest pillow. Maybe one ... with a cupholder? ## 6\. If you're watching a show featuring heavy subject matter, take more breaks While there is certainly no shame in binge-watching, it can have adverse effects on your mental health -- especially if the show you choose deals with emotionally fraught topics. In these cases, treat yourself to a few more breaks than you normally would. We're not saying go outside (imagine!), but maybe do a few more stretches, check in with your friends, and drink some extra water. ## 7\. Open a window Let your binge-watching farts (different than regular farts) fly freely into the atmosphere. ## 8\. Text people about what you're watching If you do not have a binge-watching partner literally sitting next to you, it can be fun to live-text the show with a fellow binge-watcher in another location. It also reminds you that you have friends. Crucial!  What you should not do, however, is send texts about the show to someone who has not seen the whole show yet. Avoid committing this friendship crime at all costs. > When Netflix freezes to ask if you're still watching and you see yourself reflected in the screen pic.twitter.com/tDdSSN6PR5 > > -- Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) February 16, 2018 ## 9\. Switch positions When you have a nest, you have a nest, so switching rooms isn't necessary. But alternating between sitting up and lying down, or even just lying down on the other end of the couch, can be kinda nice. After all, lying down in a second location is a fun twist on lying down. ## 10\. Respect the air If you've chosen some really good snacks (and also haven't left the couch for six hours), the room can start to smell a little ... rank. That's when it's time to light a candle. On the off-chance Gilmore Girls is your binge-watch, there is a Gilmore Girls candle designed to burn in tandem with the 2016 revival. There are also Stranger Things-themed candles. Or you could just burn a regular one. It's your binge-watch, after all! ## WATCH: Netflix is raising its prices ##

The Latest: New York City airport faces wind disruptions

The Latest on the winter storm hitting the East Coast (all times local):

France hits Google with 50 million euro data consent fine

France's data watchdog on Monday announced a fine of 50 million euros ($57 million) for US search giant Google, using the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the first time. Google was handed the record fine from the CNIL regulator for failing to provide transparent and easily accessible information on its data consent policies, a statement said. The CNIL said Google made it too difficult for users to understand and manage preferences on how their personal information is used, in particular with regards to targeted advertising.

New details come to light of viral video of Catholic high school students and Native American man

Full video tells different story of viral moment between Native American and student; panel reaction on 'The Story.'

Trump’s press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders sparks outcry by saying Martin Luther King Jr ‘gave his life’

Donald Trump’s White House spokeswoman has triggered anger by writing that slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King “gave his life”. On a day when people across the country paid respects to the campaigner, organiser and preacher who 50 years ago was central to the still unrealised push for African American equality, Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote of King: “Today we honour a great American who gave his life to right the wrong of racial inequality. People were quick to point out that King, hated by the white political establishment of the 1960s and spied on by the FBI, had been shot dead in April 1968 at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Greeks Marching as Storm Grows Over Tsipras's Macedonia Deal

Protesters, some wearing traditional army suits, chanted slogans like “Macedonia is Greek,” and asking the government to hold a referendum for the issue, while police used tear gas to keep demonstrators away from parliament. Under the so-called Prespes agreement, Greece’s neighbor will change its name to Republic of North Macedonia in exchange for the Greeks ending opposition to its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Many Greeks say Macedonia should only be used to refer to their country’s northern region of that name -- the birthplace of Alexander -- and see any use as an attempt to steal their cultural heritage.

Model who alleged Russian meddling in US election tells Moscow court she will not publish Deripaska recordings

Anastasia Vashukevich, the model who recorded a former employer of Paul Manafort allegedly discussing US relations with a Russian deputy prime minister during the 2016 election, has promised in a Moscow court not to release any further recordings.  Ms Vashukevich previously claimed to have evidence of Russian interference in the US election from a fling with Oleg Deripaska, the metals magnate to whom Donald Trump's campaign manager Manafort reportedly promised private briefings, something Deripaska always denied. Video she uploaded to Instagram showed Mr Deripaska speaking on a yacht in 2016 with Sergei Prikhodko, a deputy prime minister and long-time aide to Vladimir Putin. In a separate audio recording, Mr Deripaska is heard discussing Russia's “bad relations with America”. The pair talked about the “issue with America,” Ms Vashukevich had claimed. After her Instagram posts were discovered in February 2018, Ms Vashukevich was arrested while leading a sex training seminar in Thailand, and Mr Deripaska successfully sued Ms Vashukevich for violating his right to privacy with her photographs and recordings. A Russian court ordered her to delete the posts and pay him £5,800 in emotional damages. She and her partner from the sex training received a suspended sentence for soliciting and conspiracy last week and deported to Belarus, their native country. On her way there, they were arrested in a Moscow airport on Thursday. They face prostitution charges carrying up to six years in prison. After being led by bailiffs into a glass defendant's cage on Saturday, Ms Vashukevich asked Mr Deripaska's forgiveness and promised no more revelations. Ms Vashukevich was deported by Thailand and arrested at Moscow airport Credit: Vasily Maximov/AFP “There won't be any more audio recordings about Oleg Deripaska,” she told journalists from a glass defendant's cage. “I won't compromise him anymore, so he can relax, really, I've had enough." She claimed that she was now subject to "fabricated" criminal cases in Thailand, Russia and Belarus. Ms Vashukevich declined to comment when asked by The Telegraph if the prostitution charges against her were related to claims of Russian election interference. The court delayed a hearing on her confinement until Tuesday after investigators said they didn't have enough evidence to make their arguments. Mr Deripaska has denied interference and said he never received an offer of private briefings. He is under US sanctions, but sanctions against some of his companies are set to be lifted this week despite controversy in congress. Mr Deripaska is seen speaking to Mr Prikhodko in footage posted by Ms Vashukevich Credit: Instagram The meeting on the yacht took place in August 2016 off the coast of Norway, according to an investigation by opposition activist Alexei Navalny. A private jet linked to Mr Deripaska had flown between New York and Moscow and then to Norway in the previous days, Mr Navalny found. Manafort, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate with Robert Mueller's investigation into election interference, told a Russian acquaintance he could offer private briefings to Mr Deripaska the month before, according to emails seen by The Atlantic and other publications. Russia ordered YouTube to take down Mr Navalny's video investigation, but it is still available and has more than 8 million views. While in jail in Thailand, Ms Vashukevich claimed to have more than 16 hours of audio recordings and photographs providing evidence of Russian interference in the US election. She promised to provide the evidence if the United States gave her asylum. Miss Vashukevich in detention in Thailand  Credit:  JORGE SILVA/REUTERS Ms Vashukevich told CNN she witnessed Mr Deripaska meeting three Americans in 2016 and 2017 and said “they had a plan for the election”. She said she had photographs of one of the Americans with Mr Deripaska, but refused to name any of the men. CNN also reported FBI agents had unsuccessfully tried to see her in Thailand.

United Airlines passengers stranded over 15 hours at frigid Canadian military base

United Flight 179 passengers leaving New Jersey were stranded for nearly a day in Canada and then sent back to Newark Liberty International Airport.

‘Fox & Friends’ mistakenly airs Ruth Bader Ginsburg obituary graphic

The hosts of ‘Fox & Friends’ apologised on Monday after airing a graphic suggesting that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. “We need to apologise,” co-host Steve Doocey said later on the program. “A technical error in the control room triggered a graphic of RBG with a date on it.

The Latest: Bitter cold freezes US regions hit by storm

BOSTON (AP) — The Latest on the winter storm moving across the country (all times local):

Ghosn awaits fate after vowing to stay in Japan if bailed

Carlos Ghosn awaits his fate as a Tokyo court prepares to rule on his bail request after the ousted Nissan boss vowed to remain in Japan if released and offered to provide more collateral. "As the court considers my bail application, I want to emphasise that I will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the Court concludes are warranted," Ghosn said in a statement released by his US-based representatives. A spokeswoman for Ghosn, Devon Spurgeon, said his family had already rented an apartment in Tokyo where he promised to reside while awaiting trial.

The best UK deals for Blue Monday: ManCave beard oils, Rimmel highlighters, L’Oréal face masks, and more

Welcome to Blue Monday -- a party you definitely don't want to attend.  If you aren't familar with this date, and why it's blue, it's probably a good thing, because Blue Monday is the name given to the date in January claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. That day is today!  The third Monday of January has been awarded this gloomy title due to a combination of post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights, and the arrival of some pretty unpleasant credit card bills. It's not all doom and gloom though, because Blue Monday can be used as a catalyst to make some positive changes to turn your frown upside down. In this list of the best Blue Monday deals, we have tracked down discounts on personal care products including face masks, moisturisers, highlighters, and self-tanning elixers. Basically, all the stuff that is going to make you feel good and glow, literally. You can save on a bunch of different ManCave products, including ManCave blackspice beard oil and ManCave dace and stubble cleanser. We have also sourced deals on Rimmel and Max Factor items, like Rimmel insta strobing highlighter and Max Factor miracle glow duo pro illuminator. Last but certainly not least, you can save on L'Oreal products like the L'Oreal Paris 3 pure clays and charcoal detox mask, reduced to just £4.80. These are the best deals from across the internet for Jan. 21. ## ManCave products This wash bag set is an Amazon exclusive. Image: Amazon * ManCave Essentials Wash Bag Set -- £17 * ManCave Blackspice Beard Oil -- £5.25 (list price £9.99) * ManCave Anti-Ageing & SPF20 Moisturiser -- £4.20 (list price £8.99) * ManCave Texturising Hair Paste -- £4 (list price £8.50) * ManCave Face and Stubble Cleanser -- £4.49 (list price £5.99) ## ## Rimmel deals This Rimmel London insta fix and matte powder is down to £2.96. Image: Amazon * Rimmel London Insta Fix & Matte Powder -- £2.96 (list price £4.99) * Rimmel London Kate Sculpting Highlighter Palette -- £5.59 (buy two and save £6.99) * Rimmel Magnif'eyes 12 Pan Eyeshadow Palette -- £5.82 (buy two and save £8.99) * Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Eye Contouring Palette -- £6.47 (buy two and save £8.99) * Rimmel Insta Strobing Highlighter -- £3.88 (buy two and save £5.99) ## ## Max Factor offers You'll literally be glowing. Image: amazon * Max Factor CC Concealer Stick -- £7.98 (list price £9.99) * Max Factor Miracle Glow Duo Pro Illuminator -- £6.39 (list price £10.99) * Max Factor CC Concealer Stick for Dark Spots -- £5.68 (list price £9.99) * Max Factor CC Reduce Dullness Concealer Stick -- £5.81 (list price £9.99) * Max Factor Miracle Glow Duo Pro Illuminator Creamy Highlighter -- £8.79 (list price £10.99) ## ## L'Oreal deals Treat your face right. Image: amazon * L'Oreal Sublime Self-Tanning Elixir -- £9.18 (list price £14.99) * L'Oreal Paris 3 Pure Clays and Charcoal Detox Mask -- £4.80 (list price £7.99) * L'Oreal Paris 3 Pure Clays and Marine Algae Blemish Rescue Mask -- £4.80 (list price £7.99) * L'Oreal Paris 3 Pure Clays and Red Algae Glow Mask -- £4.73 (list price £7.99) * L'Oreal Paris 3 Pure Clays and Yuzu Lemon Bright Mask -- £4.73 (list price £7.99)

Top US senator urges meeting between Trump and Khan

Leading US Senator Lindsey Graham vowed Sunday to urge President Donald Trump to meet Imran Khan to boost Washington's Afghanistan peace efforts, calling the Pakistani prime minister an "agent of change". The Republican -- an influential ally of Trump -- made the comments in Islamabad after meeting with the Pakistani leader, saying Khan was a "new partner" who could potentially help with a peace deal in Afghanistan.

ProSieben sees pressure easing as Netflix raises prices

ProSiebenSat.1 Media believes that price increases by U.S. streaming giant Netflix could ease competitive pressures on the German group's core TV business and is bullish on growth at its e-commerce arm, CEO Max Conze said. Conze took the helm at the Munich-based broadcaster last June but has had a rough welcome from investors who have sent its shares to seven-year lows on doubts that he can revive its ailing free-to-air TV business. The former CEO of UK appliances company Dyson told Reuters that plans to relaunch a German streaming venture in cooperation with Discovery Inc, public broadcaster ZDF, publisher Axel Springer and possibly others were on track for late summer.

How to get a free dozen from Krispy Kreme this week

Until Jan. 27, Krispy Kreme is offering a free dozen of original glazed donuts with any dozen purchase.

Congo opposition leader declares himself president as court upholds election result

Congo's political standoff deepend on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader. As Mr Tshisekedi's supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had opened the way to a “constitutional coup d'etat”, raising fears of more violence. Rwandan President Paul Kagame - the chair of the African Union which has said it has “serious concerns” about the vote and called for the results to be delayed - was due to arrive in Kinshasa with an AU delegation to discuss the crisis on Monday. Last month's delayed election was meant to mark the first democratic transfer of power in the vast central African country, where conflicts have regularly destabilised the region. Felix Tshisekedi, leader of Congolese main opposition party, the UDPS Credit:  BAZ RATNER But monitors pointed to major flaws in the poll. Unrest over the vote has already killed 34 people, wounded 59 and led to 241 “arbitrary arrests” in the past week, according to the U.N. human rights office. In the early hours of Sunday, the Constitutional Court ruled that a legal challenge to the result filed by Fayulu was inadmissible. “Felix Tshisekedi will become the fifth president of the republic,” government spokesman Lambert Mende said as he welcomed the judgement. Mr Fayulu issued statements dismissing the ruling. “The constitutional court has just confirmed that it serves a dictatorial regime ... by validating false results, (and enabling) a constitutional coup d'etat,” he said in one. “I am now considering myself as the sole legitimate President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he added in another statement. He called for people to mount peaceful demonstrations - though the streets of the capital were calm on Sunday afternoon. Mr Fayulu says Mr Tshisekedi and outgoing President Joseph Kabila made a deal to cheat him out of a more than 60-percent win - an accusation they both dismiss. The provisional results, announced on Jan. 10, showed Mr Tshisekedi winning with a slim margin over Fayulu. In a speech, Mr Tshisekedi welcomed the victory and said he would seek to mend divisions in the country. “This is the end of one fight and the start of another in which I will enlist all the Congolese people: a fight for well-being, for a Congo that wins,” he said. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a bloc which includes South Africa and Angola, congratulated Tshisekedi and called for a peaceful transfer of power. “SADC calls upon all Congolese to accept the outcome, and consolidate democracy and maintain a peaceful and stable environment following the landmark elections,” it said. On Thursday, SADC eased pressure on Congolese authorities by backing off earlier calls for a recount. Independent monitors flagged major problems with the election, including faulty voting machines and polling stations where many were unable to vote. The Catholic Church, which had a 40,000-strong team of observers, denounced the provisional result. A tally from the church reviewed by Reuters from about 70 percent of polling stations suggested a victory of 62 percent for Mr Fayulu, a former Exxon Mobil country manager.  MrTshisekedi and Mr Ramazani were virtually neck-and-neck second place with 16.93 percent and 16.88 percent, respectively. Congo - which was ruled by kleptocratic dictator Mobutu Sese Seko for 32 years before tumbling into chaos and war in the late 1990s - is a vital source of copper and other metals, including cobalt.

British Airway is giving one of its Boeing 747s a 1960s-era paint scheme

British Airways will paint one of its Boeing 747's in a retro scheme that dates to the 1960s as part of an effort to commemorate its 100th birthday.

Stealth Shocker: China Claims It Can Track Air Force F-22 Raptors

No more stealth?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responds to Aaron Sorkin’s demand for newly elected Democrats ‘stop acting like young people’

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress has responded to producer Aaron Sorkin’s demand that the new intake of Democrats ‘stop acting like young people’ - saying if politicians do not show up and fight for them, they cannot expect their vote. Speaking on CNN, where he was promoting his Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway, the 57-year said he liked the newly elected young Democrats in Congress, but suggested they needed to act differently. “I really like the new crop of young people who were just elected to Congress.

Bitter cold cancels some U.S. lunar eclipse festivities

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Many lunar eclipse festivities were canceled due to a flash freeze across the central and northeastern U.S. states on Sunday, with icy roadways rather than cloudy skies blamed by astronomers for spoiling the party. Star gazers from Los Angeles to New York had planned to gather at parks and observatories to keep their eyes on the sky for the total eclipse, known as a super blood wolf moon, expected to appear at 11:41 p.m. EST (0441 GMT). Days earlier, it seemed the biggest threat to the cosmic fun was cloudy skies but it turned out a wet, wide-ranging snowstorm followed by a deep freeze on Sunday made driving and outdoor activities too hazardous.

'Welcome' refugees in Kansas celebrate their American birthdays

Many of nearly 100 excited children running around a community center in Kansas City over the weekend had two things in common. Far from a strange coincidence, the date is usually assigned to immigrants who arrive in the United States without birth certificates, as refugees often do.

Macron Seeks a Dose of Charlemagne to Renew Merkel Partnership

While Germany was always hesitant to embrace Macron’s plans, chances for a more cooperative stance were dealt a serious blow after Ralph Brinkhaus outmaneuvered an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel in September to become head of her party’s parliamentary group. The 50-year-old finance expert has since championed fiscal restraint in plans to strengthen the euro area and set red lines on issues including European defense and foreign policy.