Youngstown

California Sen. Kamala Harris announces 2020 presidential bid on 'Good Morning America'

Sen. Kamala Harris of California announced Monday that she is running to unseat President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Death toll from Mexico fuel explosion rises to 89

The death toll from a fiery explosion in central Mexico rose to 89 on Monday as authorities vowed to hold accountable those responsible for a deliberate fuel-line puncture that drew hundreds of people looking to gather gasoline before it ignited. Images captured by local media showed a torrent of fuel escaping from a pipeline as people converged on the site with buckets and jerrycans to collect gasoline.

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:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Reacts to Aaron Sorkin's Comments That Congress Members Need to Grow Up

“They need to stop acting like young people, ok? It’s time to do that,” Sorkin said.

Florida police run over couple lying in the road to watch lunar eclipse

A police officer in Florida ran over two people lying on a dark road to watch the lunar eclipse, leading them requring hospital treatment. A statement given to the Palm Beach Post by police said that the two were run over after choosing to lay in the park because its as “extremely dark”.

After the storm: Dangerous stretch of subzero AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to grip northeastern US

A polar plunge of brutal cold has descended on the northeastern United States, which can threaten lives and complicate travel and cleanup efforts following the weekend snowstorm.

Israel Strikes Iranian Targets in Syria, 11 Reported Dead

The overnight missile strikes killed 11 people, including as many as four Syrian soldiers, foreign media reported, and damaged the international airport in Damascus. State-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported waves of attacks early Monday and the interception of dozens of missiles, and Israel took the unusual step of acknowledging the assault. The operation followed a day of violence that began with a raid on Syria widely attributed to the Israeli air force, and the firing of a surface-to-surface missile from Syria that Israel blamed on Iranian Quds forces stationed there.

Report: China population growth continued to slow in 2018

BEIJING (AP) — China's population growth rate continued to slow in 2018, spelling possible trouble ahead as a swelling number of retirees pushes up against a shrinking labor pool.

Giuliani says Trump pursued Moscow tower throughout '16, raising questions

U.S. President Donald Trump pursued a business deal to erect a tower bearing his name in Moscow throughout 2016, his attorney said on Sunday, raising new questions for congressional investigators looking into possible ties between the president and Russia. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said he may have continued to pursue the project and had discussions about it with his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, until as late as October or November 2016, when Trump was closing in on his election victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Moscow deal ultimately did not materialize but Giuliani's remarks suggest that Trump's discussions about the project with Cohen may have dragged on months longer than had been publicly known.

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.

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.

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.

‘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: New York City airport faces wind disruptions

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

Christian education under attack after second lady teaches at private school

Conservative millennial Allie Beth Stuckey weighs in.

Israeli raids inside Syria since 2013

Beirut (AFP) - Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in neighbouring Syria since 2013, targeting regime forces along with their allies Iran and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

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.

Giuliani backtracks on comments Trump sought Moscow deal throughout 2016

Giuliani backtracked Monday from earlier comments that Trump pursued a business deal to erect a tower bearing his name in Moscow throughout 2016.

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.

'We Are All Stakeholders of Our Global Future': Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, Talks Change and Progress

"Big issues in the world cannot be solved by governments alone"

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.

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.

Suicide attack on Kurdish-US convoy in Syria 'kills 5'

A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of US troops and their allies in Syria on Monday, killing five members of a Kurdish-led force fighting the Islamic State group, a monitor said. The assault, claimed by IS jihadists, came less than a week after another deadly attack on US forces in Syria, and a month after Washington announced a US troop pullout from the war-torn country. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five fighters from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces were killed in the blast on a road in northeastern Hasakeh province.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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 ##

Germany's Maas skeptical on UK-Ireland talks solving Brexit deadlock

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday it was unclear how any talks between Britain and Ireland on resolving the question of the Irish backstop could help the European Union's deal with London on Brexit. British Prime Minister Theresa May is to set out her plans for Brexit on Monday after UK lawmakers rejected her deal with the EU last week, throwing the process into disarray. Asked by ZDF television about media reports on possible plans by May to negotiate a bilateral deal with the Irish government, Maas said it was unclear how it would work.

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.

Videos show fuller picture of DC clash between high school students, Native Americans

New videos reveal a fuller picture of what led up the clash and seems to show the students being verbally attacked first, by a different group of demonstrators at the Lincoln Memorial.

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.

Elon Musk gets green light to deliver Tesla Model 3 cars in Europe

Tesla has secured approval from regulators to sell its Model 3 cars in Europe, in a move that will bring it in direct competition with the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Peugeot in their home market. Dutch vehicle authority RDW approved Tesla's request to sell the most affordable of its electric cars on Monday, meaning that British customers can order the car from next month. Production of right hand driving vehicles, the standard in the UK, is not due to start until mid 2019. The announcement comes days after chief executive Elon Musk issued a letter to all of his employees, describing 2018 as "the most challenging in Tesla's history". In the same letter, Musk said he had "no choice" but to reduce full time employee headcount by 7pc and retain only the most critical temps and contractors.  "There isn't any other way," he said. Workers will now focus on producing a cheaper version of the Model 3 in an attempt to boost sales.  Shipments of Model 3 vehicles to Europe and Asia are expected to generate a profit for the company in future, Musk said.  Tesla's Model 3 is currently priced at over $35,000 (£27,200), has a range of 220 miles and a top speed of 130 mph. The model first went on sale at the end of 2018.  Tesla was forced to push back its production targets last year when it failed to hit the 5,000 vehicle a week target by the end of 2017.

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.

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.

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.

Arab economic summit in Beirut urges Syrian refugee returns

Arab states at an economic summit in Beirut called on world powers on Sunday to step up efforts to enable Syrian refugees to return home. The United Nations says that 5.6 million Syrian refugees live in five neighboring countries - Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq - and it is not yet safe for them to return. Since conflict broke out in Syria in 2011, more than 1 million people have fled across the border to Lebanon, where aid agencies say most live in extreme poverty.

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.

Airlines already canceling flights into Monday from Winter Storm Harper

Flight headaches were on the rise Saturday as a winter storm moved toward the Northeast. Cancellations spiked into the thousands, with more likely.

Martin Luther King Jr Day 2019: Who was the civil rights leader and will Trump's government shutdown affect the holiday?

Each year Americans celebrate the life of the US civil rights movement’s best-known spokesman and leader on Martin Luther King Jr Day. The movement pioneered by Martin Luther King pressured the American government to end legalised segregation in the United States. This year’s holiday is the second of Donald Trump’s presidency and could clash with the US government shutdown if the closure is not resolved by 21 January 2019.

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)

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.

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.