Sunday, December 31, 2017

Saudi squeeze on Prince Alwaleed has more at stake than money - latimes

Almost two months into it, Saudi Arabia's crackdown on corruption is yielding at least some of the $100 billion the kingdom is targeting. Dozens of former officials and businessmen have exchanged part of their wealth for freedom.

But in the increasingly drawn-out case of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the public face of the Saudi royal family to many foreign executives and investors, there's more at stake than taking over his global business empire and talks on a settlement have hit an impasse.

The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is about to enter a crucial few months that will show his true motives and the scope of his power.

How the case unfolds will help investors and diplomats answer a question puzzling them since the nightly raids of Nov. 4: Whether the purge is an effort to root out graft before selling shares in the country's oil giant, or simply a shakedown to boost state coffers while he asserts himself at home and abroad. - Read More

Saudi squeeze on Prince Alwaleed has more at stake than money


Saudi Arabia demands $6 billion for the release of Prince Al-Waleed ...

Pope, in year-end message, says 2017 was marred by war and lies

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis in his year-end message said that 2017 had been marred by war, lies and injustice, and he urged people to take responsibility for their actions.

At his last public event of the year, an evening vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff said that humanity had “wasted and wounded” the year “in many ways with works of death, with lies and injustices”.

While war was the most obvious sign of “unrepentant and absurd pride”, many other transgressions had caused “human, social and environmental degradation”.

“We must take responsibility for everything before God, our brothers and our creation,” he said.

“We must take responsibility for everything before God, our brothers and our creation,” he said. - Read More

Pope, in year-end message, says 2017 was marred by war and lies

UN chief issues 'red alert,' urges world to come together in 2018 to tackle pressing challenges

31 December 2017 – In his message on the New Year, United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres is calling for unity among the global community to tackle overwhelming challenges and defend values shared by all.

“On New Year's Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert – a red alert for our world,” said the Secretary-General.

“As we begin 2018, I call for unity. […] We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together,” he expressed.

Recalling that last year he urged that 2017 be a year for peace, the UN chief noted that unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world went in reverse.

Perils, including deepening conflicts and new dangers emerged, and global concerns over nuclear weapons reached the highest since the Cold War, he added.

At the same time, impacts of climate change worsened at an alarming rate, inequalities grew and there were horrific violations of human rights.

“Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise,” said Mr. Guterres. - Read More

UN chief issues 'red alert,' urges world to come together in 2018 to tackle pressing challenges


Afghan parties must agree on ‘convincing peace process’ to end 40 years of conflict, says UN envoy

Trump Signed 96 Laws In 2017. Here Is What They Do And How They Measure Up

When President Trump signed the $1.5 trillion tax cut bill on Friday at the White House, he made a bold claim — that his "legislative approvals" were off the charts. "No. 1 in the history of our country," he said, citing 88 as the number of bills he had signed into law.

The actual number of laws Trump signed this year is 96. His claim of historic achievement isn't accurate, either.

But that didn't stop him from repeating the erroneous claim Wednesday during a visit with firefighters in West Palm Beach, Fla.

"We have signed more legislation than anybody," Trump said.

He hasn't. In sheer numbers of bills signed into law during a president's first year in office (Jan. 20-Dec. 31), Trump is behind his six most recent predecessors.

According to tallies by GovTrack, Trump also trails Nixon, Kennedy and Eisenhower. - Read More, NPR

Trump Signed 96 Laws In 2017. Here Is What They Do And How They Measure Up


Trump Accomplished A Lot In 2017, But At What Cost?

2018 New Year celebrations around the world

Read More, Latimes

2018 New Year celebrations around the world

Rouhani acknowledges Iranian discontent as protests continue - the Guardian



People take to the streets again despite heavy police presence and efforts to block social media apps

Iranian authorities have threatened a crackdown against protesters and scrambled to block social media apps allegedly used to incite unrest as the biggest demonstrations in nearly a decade continued for a fourth day.

People across Iran took to the streets again on Sunday evening in defiance of a heavy presence of riot police and state warnings to stay away.

The demonstrations began over economic grievances on Thursday but have since taken on a political dimension, with unprecedented calls for the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to step down.

Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, in his first comments about the protests, aired on national television on Sunday night, said “people have the right to criticise”, but said the authorities would not tolerate antisocial behaviour. He said criticism was “different from violence and destroying pubic properties”. - Read More

 
Rouhani acknowledges Iranian discontent as protests continue

Iran protests: Violence on third day of demonstrations

Some anti-establishment protests happening in Iranian cities have turned violent, video footage shows.
They began three days ago - initially in protest at falling living standards - and are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009.

Two demonstrators are reported dead in Dorud after sustaining gunshot wounds in a video posted on social media.

Videos filmed elsewhere in the country show protesters setting fire to police vehicles and there are reports of attacks on government buildings. - Read More

Iran protests: Violence on third day of demonstrations - BBC News


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam to run for Libya president in 2018 - africanews

A spokesperson for the Gadaffi family has said that Saif al-Islam Gadaffi, the son of the former Libyan leader will contest in the upcoming presidential elections.

Basem al-Hashimi al-Soul told the influential local media agency, Egypt Today, that Saif al-Islam has the support and credentials required to end the chaos that has gripped Libya since the overthrow of his father Muammar Gadaffi in 2011.

“Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan president, enjoys the support of major tribes in Libya so he can run for the upcoming presidential elections due in 2018,” said Libyan Tribal Chief and spokesperson of the Gaddafi family, Basem al-Hashimi al-Soul - Read More

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam to run for Libya president in 2018 ...


france24

Trump Signed 96 Laws In 2017. Here Is What They Do And How They Measure Up

When President Trump signed the $1.5 trillion tax cut bill on Friday at the White House, he made a bold claim — that his "legislative approvals" were off the charts. "No. 1 in the history of our country," he said, citing 88 as the number of bills he had signed into law.

The actual number of laws Trump signed this year is 96. His claim of historic achievement isn't accurate, either.

But that didn't stop him from repeating the erroneous claim Wednesday during a visit with firefighters in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"We have signed more legislation than anybody," Trump said.

He hasn't. In sheer numbers of bills signed into law during a president's first year in office (Jan. 20-Dec. 31), Trump is behind his six most recent predecessors. More, NPR

Trump Signed 96 Laws In 2017. Here Is What They Do And How They Measure Up


When Harry Met Barack: Obama Tells Prince About Life After White House

The U.K.'s Prince Harry took over editing duties for Wednesday at BBC Radio 4's Today program. And he managed to snag a rather high-profile guest: Barack Obama.

The full audio of the interview is available here for the next six days. The interview was taped in September during the Invictus Games in Toronto, an event created by Harry for wounded, injured or ill servicemen and veterans.

The conversation is billed as the first interview with the former president since leaving the White House, and it's not exactly hard-hitting.

But it does offer a window into Obama's life now: still driven by purpose, but with less adrenalin and more leisurely breakfasts.

"I didn't used to experience traffic," Obama says. "I used to cause traffic." - Read More

When Harry Met Barack: Obama Tells Prince About Life After White House

Friday, December 22, 2017

چطور رد پایتان را در گوگل پاک کنید - BBC Persian

می‌داند دنبال چه می‌گردید، به چه چیزهایی علاقه دارید و کجاها رفته‌اید. خیلی چیزهای دیگر را هم می‌داند و نگه می‌دارد. وقتی درباره گوگل حرف می‌زنیم، حریم خصوصی شما چندان هم خصوصی نیست.

گوگل می‌گوید: "وقتی از خدمات گوگل استفاده می‌کنید، درباره اطلاعات خود به ما اعتماد می‌کنید." تو خود حدیث مفصل بخوان از این مجمل.

اما آن چه ممکن است همه از آن خبر نداشته باشیم این است که گوگل این امکان را هم می‌دهد که بخشی از سابقه اطلاعاتی را که به اشتراک می‌گذارید، از بین ببرید.

در این مطلب چند امکان را برای پاک کردن رد پا در گوگل مرور می‌کنیم: - Read More

چطور رد پایتان را در گوگل پاک کنید - BBC.com

Vice President Mike Pence Meets with Senior Afghan Officials in Kabul - U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan

Press Releases

Vice President Mike Pence met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, and other senior Afghan leaders at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on December 21.  Vice President Pence and President Ghani were accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass and Resolute Support and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Commander General John W. Nicholson, Jr. in talks highlighting President Trump’s South Asia strategy and its positive effects on Afghanistan’s security situation.  They also focused on prospects for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, the need for the Afghan government’s continued progress on reforms, and the importance of preparing for timely parliamentary and presidential elections.

During the visit, Vice President Pence reaffirmed U.S. support for Afghanistan’s Government of National Unity, as well as U.S. support to the Afghan people in the areas of peace, security, and economic development.

Vice President Pence also met with the leadership of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and greeted the soldiers serving here. - Read More 

U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan


Vice President Mike Pence Meets with Senior Afghan Officials in Kabul

U.S. Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan John R. Bass Presents his Credentials to President Ashraf Ghani

Security Council further tightens sanctions against DPR Korea

22 December 2017 – The United Nations Security Council today imposed new sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), increasing the depth of measures imposed on the country in the wake of its continued nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, including the ballistic missile launch on 28 November.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council also decided that all UN Member States shall “prohibit” the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and various types of equipment and raw materials.

The restrictions also applied with respect to the Member States’ territories, nationals, flagged vessels, aircraft, pipelines, rail lines, or vehicles and whether or not originating in their territories.

The Security Council also decided that Member States shall repatriate all DPRK nationals earning income in that Member State’s jurisdiction and all DPRK government safety oversight attachés monitoring DPRK workers abroad “immediately but no later than 24 months,” unless the Member State determined that the national’s repatriation is prohibited under applicable national and international law, or if that national is a national of that Member State.

Further, in relation to maritime interdiction of cargo vessels, the Council decided that Member States shall seize, inspect, and impound any vessel in their ports if the Member State has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel was involved in activities, or the transport of items, prohibited by relevant UN resolutions.

On the political side, the Security Council expressed its “deep concern” at the grave hardship that the people in the DPRK are subjected to and condemns the country for pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles instead of the welfare of its people. - Read More

Security Council further tightens sanctions against DPR Korea

UN chief stresses need to denuclearize Korean Peninsula, avoid ‘sleepwalking into war’

Shingles vaccine 'has cut cases by a third' in England

Health
Cases of shingles have reduced by 35% in England since a vaccine was offered to 70-year-olds, Public Health England says.
But it is urging more people in their 70s to get their free injection against the painful condition. They are most at risk of shingles and more likely to develop complications, such as severe nerve pain.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chicken pox virus and results in a nasty skin rash and fever.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at Public Health England, encouraged all those eligible to make an appointment at their GP practice to get the shingles vaccine.

"It's the best way to avoid this very nasty disease and the long-term complications that can develop from having it," she said.

"Our population is aging and the risk from getting shingles and complications is higher as you get older.

"Immunisation is the best way to protect yourself from this painful, sometimes debilitating condition." - Read More

Shingles vaccine 'has cut cases by a third' in England - BBC News

California says the only safe way to talk on your cell phone is to text

Earlier this month, the California department of health released guidelines warning residents to avoid putting mobile phones up to their heads.

“Keep your phone away from your body,” the state health department writes. “Although the science is still evolving, some laboratory experiments and human health studies have suggested the possibility” that typical long-term cell phone use could be linked to “brain cancer and tumors of the acoustic nerve,” “lower sperm counts,” and “effects on learning and memory.”

Mobile phones emit radiation, which is measured in radio-frequency (RF) energy. In the manual that comes pre-installed on your iPhone, Apple explicitly tells you to use a hands-free option like speakerphone or headphones while talking in order to “reduce exposure to RF energy.” The manual also notes that cell phones are currently tested for radiation assuming the devices would be kept at least 5 mm (0.2 in) away from the body while being carried. That’s a lot more than the thickness of pocket fabric. (On an iPhone 6 and above, you can find this information by going to Settings > General > About > Legal > RF Exposure.)

Previous iPhone manuals were even more conservative: The manual for the iPhone 5 says users should carry their iPhones a full 10 millimeters (or 0.39 inches) away from their bodies at all times.

US law demands that all cell phones function in such a way that they cause less than 1.6 watts of radiation to be absorbed by the human body, per gram of body tissue (known as specific absorption rate, or SAR 1.6). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tests all mobile phones coming onto the market for compliance. But that rule is designed only to prevent harm from excess heat that can be generated by RF waves. It doesn’t consider (pdf) other potential biological effects, like DNA damage or altered protein expression—the FCC calls these all “ambiguous and unproven.”

Further, while cell phones are tested against a simulated human head in the “talking” position, they are not tested against the body (or in a pocket) in the “carrying” position. Instead, the tests assume the user is holding the phone away from the body whenever the phone is broadcasting at full power. And since RF energy exposure increases sharply if the phone is in contact with your body, and falls off rapidly at a distance, some worry that FCC testing is missing a lot of actual exposure.

Experts and organizations like the nonprofit Environmental Working Group have expressed concern over these rules, citing studies that show links between cell phone radiation exposure and heightened cancer risk. In 2011, a World Health Organization report classified radiation from cell phones as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”; in particular, the WHO noted that cell phone use correlated with an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer. - Read More

California says the only safe way to talk on your cell phone is to text


Thursday, December 21, 2017

Trump threatens to cut aid to U.N. members over Jerusalem vote

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that vote in favor of a draft United Nations resolution calling for the United States to withdraw its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly will hold a rare emergency special session on Thursday - at the request of Arab and Muslim countries - to vote on a draft resolution, which the United States vetoed on Monday in the 15-member U.N. Security Council.

The remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favor of the Egyptian-drafted resolution, which did not specifically mention the United States or Trump but which expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, in a letter to dozens of U.N. states on Tuesday seen by Reuters, warned that Trump had asked her to “report back on those countries who voted against us.”

According to figures from the U.S. government’s aid agency USAID, in 2016 the United States provided some $13 billion in economic and military assistance to countries in sub-Saharan Africa and $1.6 billion to states in East Asia and Oceania.

It provided some $13 billion to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, $6.7 billion to countries in South and Central Asia, $1.5 billion to states in Europe and Eurasia and $2.2 billion to Western Hemisphere countries, according to USAID. - More, Reuters

Trump threatens to cut aid to U.N. members over Jerusalem vote

Pence Makes His First Trip To Afghanistan As Vice President

Vice President Pence made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Thursday. It is the first visit to the country by the president or vice president under the Trump administration, and comes four months after Trump unveiled his strategy for the United States' role in the country.

"I bring greetings from your commander in chief," Pence told troops at the Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul. "Before I left the Oval Office yesterday, I asked the president if he had a message for the troops.

"He said, 'Tell them I love them,' " Pence said.

Pence met with Afghani President Ashraf Ghani before the speech, arriving at a courtyard near the Presidential Palace in Kabul via helicopter. - NPR

Pence Makes His First Trip To Afghanistan As Vice President



General Assembly demands all States comply with UN resolutions regarding status of Jerusalem

21 December 2017 – By an overwhelming majority, Member States in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday “demanded” that all countries comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the status of Jerusalem, following an earlier decision by the United States to recognize the Holy City as the capital of Israel.

Through a resolution adopted by a recorded vote of 128 in favour to nine against (Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo, United States), with 35 abstentions, the 193-member Assembly expressed “deep regret” over recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem and stressed that the Holy City “is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations in line with relevant UN resolutions.”

Action in the Assembly today follows a failed attempt by the Security Council on Monday adopt a similar text reflecting regret among the body’s members about “recent decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem,” with a veto from the United States, a permanent member of the Council.

Ahead of that failed resolution, Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council that the security situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory had become more tense in the wake of US President Donald Trump's decision on 6 December to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Subsequently, Yemen and Turkey, in their respective capacities as Chair of the Arab Group and the Chair of the Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, requested the President of the General Assembly to “urgently resume’ the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly in accordance with the so-named ‘Uniting for peace’ procedure.

This procedure, under Assembly resolution 377 (1950), is a pathway around a Security Council veto. By it, the Assembly can call an emergency special session to consider a matter “with a view to making appropriate recommendations to members for collective measures,” if the Security Council fails to act or if there is lack of unanimity among the Council’s permanent members, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States. - Read More
General Assembly demands all States comply with UN resolutions regarding status of Jerusalem

Middle East: Security Council fails to adopt resolution on Jerusalem

Migration compact must balance regional, global realities, says UN envoy

Afghan parties must agree on ‘convincing peace process’ to end 40 years of conflict, says UN envoy

21 December 2017 – The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan on Thursday highlighted the need for the country to achieve a political settlement with the armed opposition, pointing to an upcoming February meeting between the parties as an opportunity not to be missed.

“We must use the upcoming winter months, when conflict levels tend to decrease, to advance on this issue before the cycle of violence is renewed next spring,” Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, told the Security Council.

“I once again call on the Taliban to express a clear willingness to begin negotiations towards a political settlement, and to start the initial dialogue,” he said.

In that context, he highlighted the significance of the ‘Kabul Process’ meeting, to be held on 1 February 2018, where the Government is expected to present a strategic concept for reaching the settlement, as an opportunity that must not be missed.

The so called Kabul Process spells out a transition to greater Afghan responsibility and ownership, in both security and civilian areas.

Mr. Yamamoto, also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), informed the 15-member Council of the holding of the parliamentary elections next year, followed by presidential elections in April 2019. - Read More

Afghan parties must agree on ‘convincing peace process’ to end 40 years of conflict, says UN envoy

شورای امنیت ملل متحد اوضاع افغانستان را بررسی کرد | طلوع‌نیوز

Pence visits Afghanistan, says U.S. will 'see this through'

KABUL (Reuters) - Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet its leaders and underscore U.S. commitment to the country four months after President Donald Trump agreed to an open-ended war against insurgents here.

Pence arrived on a military plane at Bagram Airfield under the cover of darkness on Thursday night after leaving Washington on Wednesday night. He then flew by helicopter to Kabul, where he met President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah at the presidential palace.

Pence told the leaders he hoped his presence there was tangible evidence that the United States was “here to see this through.”

In a reversal of his campaign call for a swift withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, Trump in August pledged a stepped-up military campaign against Taliban insurgents and signaled the United States would send more troops to fight in what is the longest war in its history.

At the end of August, there were some 11,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and more have since arrived.

Ghani expressed gratitude to the U.S. government and said Afghanistan’s partnership with the United States was cemented in sacrifice.

Pence told reporters the strategy of increased troops on the ground and greater authorities for military leaders was paying dividends.

“The results are really beginning to become evident around the country,” he said, adding that Ghani and Abdullah had said “they’ve begun to see a sea change in the attitudes among the Taliban.” Pence said their hope was that “eventually the enemy will tire of losing  ” and be willing to talk peace.  More, Reuters

Pence visits Afghanistan, says U.S. will 'see this through'

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

وزیر خارجه آلمان با مقام‌های حکومت افغانستان در کابل دیدار کرد

یک روز بعد از دیدار وزیر دفاع جمهوری فدرال آلمان از افغانستان، زیگمار گابریل وزیر خارجه آلمان نیز به افغانستان سفر کرد. او برعلاوه سربازان آلمانی، با مقام‌های دولت افغانستان ملاقات کرد.

زیگمار گابریل وزیر خارجه آلمان در یک سفر از قبل اعلام ناشده به کابل، روز چهارشنبه با رئیس جمهور اشرف غنی و رئیس اجرایی عبدالله عبدالله ملاقات کرد.

وزیر خارجه آلمان همچنین از جریان کار بازسازی سفارت آلمان در کابل کسب معلومات کرد که به تاریخ ۳۱ ماه می در نتیجه انفجار مرگباری شدیداَ آسیب دیده بود. در این انفجار دست کم ۱۵۰ تن کشته و صدها نفر دیگر زخمی شده بودند.

سفر وزیر خارجه آلمان به کابل زیر تدابیر شدید امنیتی صورت گرفت و خبر آن زمانی اعلام شد که هواپیمای او کابل را ترک کرد.

گابریل در این سفر همچنین از پایگاه نیروهای آلمانی در مزار شریف در شمال افغانستان بازدید کرد؛ جایی که اکثریت حدود ۱۰۰۰ سرباز آلمانی مستقر اند.

بعد از اظهارات وزیر دفاع آلمان، وزیر خارجه این کشور نیز گفت که افزایش سربازان آلمانی در افغانستان مورد بحث و بررسی قرار می‌گیرد. - Read More, DW

وزیر خارجه آلمان با مقام‌های حکومت افغانستان در کابل دیدار کرد