Ikea has warned teenagers to stop sneaking into its stores for illegal sleepovers.
The Swedish furniture giant has lost its sense of humour over the escapades of young pranksters after 10 similar incidents in Britain, the US, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Australia and Poland over the past year.
Most recently, two 14-year-old girls narrowly avoided arrest after they were caught in a branch in Jonkoping, Sweden.
Ikea spokeswoman Johanna Iritz said trespassers often hid in wardrobes at closing time.
She warned the company was taking the sleepovers "seriously" as it could not guarantee the safety of those involved.
She said the fun was "overrated" and anyone trying the stunt could face arrest.
Two Belgian YouTubers have been credited with starting the craze with their video of a 12-hour stay in a store, which has been viewed more than 1.7 million times.
The pair filmed themselves jumping on beds and reading bedtime stories before hiding in a wardrobe and leaving undetected after the store reopened.
A less successful British attempt, in which two young men were caught by a security guard three hours after the store closed has had more than 2.3 million views on YouTube.
Ikea - which has has 340 stores in 28 countries - might have to accept its own share of the blame for the fad - having staged its own "Big Sleepover" promotional event at stores around the world in 2011.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Trump: Berlin attacks prove I was right on Muslim ban
Donald Trump has said Monday's attacks in Berlin and Ankara proved he was right to propose curbing Muslim immigration in the US.
When asked if the attacks had changed his stance on a "complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the US, the President-elect said he was "100% correct" over the proposal.
He said: "You know my plans. All along, I've been proven to be right. What's happening is disgraceful."
Mr Trump added that the Berlin Christmas market lorry crash "was an attack on humanity and it's got to be stopped".
:: Putin to attend funeral of murdered Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov
During his Republican primary campaign, Mr Trump pledged to introduce a ban on Muslims entering the US "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".
He claimed the proposal was in response to the level of hatred toward Americans among "large segments of the Muslim population".
The comments prompted a wave of criticism on both sides of the Atlantic, with former Prime Minister David Cameron calling them "divisive, stupid and wrong".
After becoming the Republican presidential nominee, Mr Trump shifted his rhetoric to focus on temporarily halting immigration from an unspecified list of countries with ties to terrorism.
Officials working for Mr Trump's transition team declined to comment on whether the President-elect would push ahead for a ban on Muslims, but said his policies "might upset those with their heads stuck in the politically correct sand".
A spokesman said: "President-elect Trump has been clear that we will suspend admission of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives."
The proposal for a ban on Muslim immigration remains on Mr Trump's campaign website.
When asked if the attacks had changed his stance on a "complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the US, the President-elect said he was "100% correct" over the proposal.
He said: "You know my plans. All along, I've been proven to be right. What's happening is disgraceful."
Mr Trump added that the Berlin Christmas market lorry crash "was an attack on humanity and it's got to be stopped".
:: Putin to attend funeral of murdered Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov
During his Republican primary campaign, Mr Trump pledged to introduce a ban on Muslims entering the US "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".
He claimed the proposal was in response to the level of hatred toward Americans among "large segments of the Muslim population".
The comments prompted a wave of criticism on both sides of the Atlantic, with former Prime Minister David Cameron calling them "divisive, stupid and wrong".
After becoming the Republican presidential nominee, Mr Trump shifted his rhetoric to focus on temporarily halting immigration from an unspecified list of countries with ties to terrorism.
Officials working for Mr Trump's transition team declined to comment on whether the President-elect would push ahead for a ban on Muslims, but said his policies "might upset those with their heads stuck in the politically correct sand".
A spokesman said: "President-elect Trump has been clear that we will suspend admission of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives."
The proposal for a ban on Muslim immigration remains on Mr Trump's campaign website.
Final evacuations resume in Aleppo as snow hits
The final phase of evacuations from former rebel-held parts of Aleppo is under way, with families braving the sleet and snow to leave the city.
The last hospital patients in east Aleppo have now been moved, as have all residents needing urgent medical care, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Aleppo's hospitals and doctors were regularly targeted by Syrian government forces as they sought to get rid of opposition fighters this year.
Last month, the United Nations said it believed there were no functioning medical facilities left in the city.
Around 25,000 people have been bused out of Aleppo since last week as part of a deal overseen by the Red Cross and brokered by Syrian government backer Russia and rebel supporter Turkey.
Under the deal, all civilians and opposition fighters should be out of the area within two days, according to Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
He also told reporters after a meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts that they had agreed fighting terrorism was more of a priority than removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Some of Aleppo's residents have described the evacuations as forced displacement.
Once eastern Aleppo has been evacuated - predicted to happen overnight - the Syrian government is expected to announce that it has complete control over city.
Among those saved earlier in the week was Bana Alabed who, with her mother, has been tweeting from the war-torn city.
On Wednesday she met Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, where she received an emotional hug from the leader.
It is not clear whether Bana and her family will stay in Turkey, a country hosting some 2.7 million refugees from Syria.
Earlier on Wednesday, eight buses of residents from two villages in Syria's Idlib province, where rebels remain in control, arrived west of Aleppo.
The evacuations from the Shia-majority villages of Foua and Kafraya were part of the Aleppo ceasefire deal.
Meanwhile, 14 Turkish soldiers were killed and more than 33 injured in fighting against Islamic State militants near the town of al Bab, about 25 miles north east of Aleppo, in northern Syria on Wednesday.
There were also 138 jihadists killed in the clashes, according to the Turkish military.
The last hospital patients in east Aleppo have now been moved, as have all residents needing urgent medical care, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Aleppo's hospitals and doctors were regularly targeted by Syrian government forces as they sought to get rid of opposition fighters this year.
Last month, the United Nations said it believed there were no functioning medical facilities left in the city.
Around 25,000 people have been bused out of Aleppo since last week as part of a deal overseen by the Red Cross and brokered by Syrian government backer Russia and rebel supporter Turkey.
Under the deal, all civilians and opposition fighters should be out of the area within two days, according to Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
He also told reporters after a meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts that they had agreed fighting terrorism was more of a priority than removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Some of Aleppo's residents have described the evacuations as forced displacement.
Once eastern Aleppo has been evacuated - predicted to happen overnight - the Syrian government is expected to announce that it has complete control over city.
Among those saved earlier in the week was Bana Alabed who, with her mother, has been tweeting from the war-torn city.
On Wednesday she met Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, where she received an emotional hug from the leader.
It is not clear whether Bana and her family will stay in Turkey, a country hosting some 2.7 million refugees from Syria.
Earlier on Wednesday, eight buses of residents from two villages in Syria's Idlib province, where rebels remain in control, arrived west of Aleppo.
The evacuations from the Shia-majority villages of Foua and Kafraya were part of the Aleppo ceasefire deal.
Meanwhile, 14 Turkish soldiers were killed and more than 33 injured in fighting against Islamic State militants near the town of al Bab, about 25 miles north east of Aleppo, in northern Syria on Wednesday.
There were also 138 jihadists killed in the clashes, according to the Turkish military.
Ankara assassination strains diplomatic ties
Vladimir Putin's spokesperson has described the murder of Russia's ambassador in Turkey as a serious blow to Turkey, according to Russian news media.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's spokesperson, has been further quoted as saying that Turkish authorities should not rush with any theories on who is behind the assassination of Andrey Karlov before the investigation produces results.
"This is certainly a blow to the country's prestige," Peskov was quoted as saying on Wednesday by the RIA news agency.
Karlov was killed on Monday evening at a photograph exhibition in Ankara by Mevlut Mert Altintas of the Turkish capital's riot-police squad. He was then killed in a police operation.
Peskov said Russia did not believe Altintas acted alone, but refused to explain the reasons for the suspicion.
"We should not rush with any theories before the investigators establish who were behind the assassination of our ambassador," he said without offering suggestions about who those people might be.
Possible Gulen links
Russia has flown a team of 18 investigators and foreign ministry officials to Turkey to take part in the inquiry. Karlov's body and his family have been returned to Russia.
A senior Turkish government official told Al Jazeera on Monday that Turkey was focusing on possible links to the Gulen network.
The network, led by self-exiled Turkish Muslim leader Fethullah Gulen, is accused by Turkey of orchestrating the July 22 failed coup, and is seen by the government of Recept Tayyip Erdogan as a terrorist organisation.
Gulen has denied the accusations.
A Turkish official said on Tuesday evening that Mevlet Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, spoke to John Kerry, US secretary of state, by phone and provided information on the assailant.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerry was told that that both Turkey and Russia "know" that the network led by Gulen was behind the attack.
Turkey is pressing the US to extradite Gulen to Turkey to stand trial for his alleged role in the coup attempt.
During the phone call, Kerry raised concerns about "some of the rhetoric coming out of Turkey with respect to American involvement or support, tacit or otherwise, for this unspeakable assassination", John Kirby, Kerry's spokesman, said.
"It is a ludicrous claim, absolutely false," Kirby said.
Much of Turkey's media, both broadcast and print, has reported claims that the assassin had links to the Gulen network, including reports of Gulen literature being found in his home, and of him having studied at a Gulen-run school.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's spokesperson, has been further quoted as saying that Turkish authorities should not rush with any theories on who is behind the assassination of Andrey Karlov before the investigation produces results.
"This is certainly a blow to the country's prestige," Peskov was quoted as saying on Wednesday by the RIA news agency.
Karlov was killed on Monday evening at a photograph exhibition in Ankara by Mevlut Mert Altintas of the Turkish capital's riot-police squad. He was then killed in a police operation.
Peskov said Russia did not believe Altintas acted alone, but refused to explain the reasons for the suspicion.
"We should not rush with any theories before the investigators establish who were behind the assassination of our ambassador," he said without offering suggestions about who those people might be.
Possible Gulen links
Russia has flown a team of 18 investigators and foreign ministry officials to Turkey to take part in the inquiry. Karlov's body and his family have been returned to Russia.
A senior Turkish government official told Al Jazeera on Monday that Turkey was focusing on possible links to the Gulen network.
The network, led by self-exiled Turkish Muslim leader Fethullah Gulen, is accused by Turkey of orchestrating the July 22 failed coup, and is seen by the government of Recept Tayyip Erdogan as a terrorist organisation.
Gulen has denied the accusations.
A Turkish official said on Tuesday evening that Mevlet Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, spoke to John Kerry, US secretary of state, by phone and provided information on the assailant.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerry was told that that both Turkey and Russia "know" that the network led by Gulen was behind the attack.
Turkey is pressing the US to extradite Gulen to Turkey to stand trial for his alleged role in the coup attempt.
During the phone call, Kerry raised concerns about "some of the rhetoric coming out of Turkey with respect to American involvement or support, tacit or otherwise, for this unspeakable assassination", John Kirby, Kerry's spokesman, said.
"It is a ludicrous claim, absolutely false," Kirby said.
Much of Turkey's media, both broadcast and print, has reported claims that the assassin had links to the Gulen network, including reports of Gulen literature being found in his home, and of him having studied at a Gulen-run school.
EU judges rule against UK Government's 'snooper's charter'
EU member states cannot force internet companies to keep email data on a "general and indiscriminate" basis, the European Court of Justice has ruled.
The EU's highest court found that only targeted retention aimed at fighting serious crime could justify serious interference by the state.
Legislation which provided for the "general and indiscriminate" retention of data "exceeds the limits of what is strictly necessary and cannot be considered to be justified within a democratic society", it said.
The judgement, which was made in response to a complaint by deputy Labour leader Tom Watson, could have major implications for the Government's controversial Investigatory Powers Act - labelled the "snooper's charter" by critics - which recently passed into law.
This requires communications companies to keep data for a year, something civil liberties campaigners say should be dropped in light of the ruling.
Communications data does not include the content of emails and telephone conversations, but the emails and phone numbers used and the times of the exchanges.
The case will now be sent back to the Court of Appeal in London.
Mr Watson's challenge was in relation to the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) 2014, which was passed by the previous coalition government, which has been replaced by the Investigatory Powers Act.
A Home Office spokesperson said the Government was "disappointed" with the judgement.
"The Government will be putting forward robust arguments to the Court of Appeal about the strength of our existing regime for communications data retention and access," they said.
"Given the importance of communications data to preventing and detecting crime, we will ensure plans are in place so that the police and other public authorities can continue to acquire such data in a way that is consistent with EU law and our obligation to protect the public."
Mr Watson, whose challenge was originally backed by Conservative MP David Davis before he became Brexit Secretary, said the ruling "shows it's counter-productive to rush new laws through Parliament without proper scrutiny".
"At a time when we face a real and ever-present terrorist threat, the security forces may require access to personal information none of us would normally hand over," he said.
"That's why it's absolutely vital that proper safeguards are put in place to ensure this power is not abused, as it has been in the recent past.
"Most of us can accept that our privacy may occasionally be compromised in the interests of keeping us safe but no one would consent to giving the police or the Government the power to arbitrarily seize our phone records or emails to use as they see fit."
A spokesman for Mr Davis said he had withdrawn his name from the case when he was appointed to the Government.
"Like any minister, he will now make his arguments on any issue within Cabinet, and takes collective responsibility very seriously," he said.
Liberty, which supported the case, said ministers would now have to amend the Investigatory Powers Act.
"Today's judgment upholds the rights of ordinary British people not to have their personal lives spied on without good reason or an independent warrant," Director Martha Spurrier said.
The EU's highest court found that only targeted retention aimed at fighting serious crime could justify serious interference by the state.
Legislation which provided for the "general and indiscriminate" retention of data "exceeds the limits of what is strictly necessary and cannot be considered to be justified within a democratic society", it said.
The judgement, which was made in response to a complaint by deputy Labour leader Tom Watson, could have major implications for the Government's controversial Investigatory Powers Act - labelled the "snooper's charter" by critics - which recently passed into law.
This requires communications companies to keep data for a year, something civil liberties campaigners say should be dropped in light of the ruling.
Communications data does not include the content of emails and telephone conversations, but the emails and phone numbers used and the times of the exchanges.
The case will now be sent back to the Court of Appeal in London.
Mr Watson's challenge was in relation to the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) 2014, which was passed by the previous coalition government, which has been replaced by the Investigatory Powers Act.
A Home Office spokesperson said the Government was "disappointed" with the judgement.
"The Government will be putting forward robust arguments to the Court of Appeal about the strength of our existing regime for communications data retention and access," they said.
"Given the importance of communications data to preventing and detecting crime, we will ensure plans are in place so that the police and other public authorities can continue to acquire such data in a way that is consistent with EU law and our obligation to protect the public."
Mr Watson, whose challenge was originally backed by Conservative MP David Davis before he became Brexit Secretary, said the ruling "shows it's counter-productive to rush new laws through Parliament without proper scrutiny".
"At a time when we face a real and ever-present terrorist threat, the security forces may require access to personal information none of us would normally hand over," he said.
"That's why it's absolutely vital that proper safeguards are put in place to ensure this power is not abused, as it has been in the recent past.
"Most of us can accept that our privacy may occasionally be compromised in the interests of keeping us safe but no one would consent to giving the police or the Government the power to arbitrarily seize our phone records or emails to use as they see fit."
A spokesman for Mr Davis said he had withdrawn his name from the case when he was appointed to the Government.
"Like any minister, he will now make his arguments on any issue within Cabinet, and takes collective responsibility very seriously," he said.
Liberty, which supported the case, said ministers would now have to amend the Investigatory Powers Act.
"Today's judgment upholds the rights of ordinary British people not to have their personal lives spied on without good reason or an independent warrant," Director Martha Spurrier said.
'Plastic rice' seized in Nigeria
Nigeria has confiscated 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice" smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessmen, the customs service says.
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said the fake rice was intended to be sold in markets during the festive season.
He said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it.
It is not clear where the seized bags came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year.
Rice is the most popular staple food in Nigeria.
Whoever made this fake rice did an exceptionally good job - on first impression it would have fooled me. When I ran the grains through my fingers nothing felt out of the ordinary.
But when I smelt a handful of the "rice" there was a faint chemical odour. Customs officials say when they cooked up the rice it was too sticky - and it was then abundantly clear this was no ordinary batch.
They've sent a sample to the laboratories to determine exactly what the "rice" is made of.
They are also warning the public not to consume the mystery foodstuff as it could be dangerous.
Fake food scandals are thankfully rare in Nigeria when you compare it to countries such as China.
The big scandal here is fake pharmaceutical drugs that a kill a huge number of people every year.
A total of 102 sacks, each containing 25kg (55lb), was seized.
Investigations are under way to establish how much of the contraband has already been sold.
The customs official called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity.
Mr Mamudu did not explain how the plastic rice was made but said it had been branded as "Best Tomato Rice".
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said the fake rice was intended to be sold in markets during the festive season.
He said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it.
It is not clear where the seized bags came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year.
Rice is the most popular staple food in Nigeria.
Whoever made this fake rice did an exceptionally good job - on first impression it would have fooled me. When I ran the grains through my fingers nothing felt out of the ordinary.
But when I smelt a handful of the "rice" there was a faint chemical odour. Customs officials say when they cooked up the rice it was too sticky - and it was then abundantly clear this was no ordinary batch.
They've sent a sample to the laboratories to determine exactly what the "rice" is made of.
They are also warning the public not to consume the mystery foodstuff as it could be dangerous.
Fake food scandals are thankfully rare in Nigeria when you compare it to countries such as China.
The big scandal here is fake pharmaceutical drugs that a kill a huge number of people every year.
A total of 102 sacks, each containing 25kg (55lb), was seized.
Investigations are under way to establish how much of the contraband has already been sold.
The customs official called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity.
Mr Mamudu did not explain how the plastic rice was made but said it had been branded as "Best Tomato Rice".
Polish driver Lukasz Urban 'still alive' during lorry attack on Berlin market
The Polish driver of the lorry that ploughed into the Berlin market was still alive after the attack and was shot dead just before the hijacker fled, say reports.
It is believed Lukasz Urban, 37, was beaten and stabbed before the lorry was driven by the hijacker at the market in Breitscheidplatz on Monday evening killing 12 people.
He died from a gunshot wound and was found in the truck's passenger seat.
He worked for his cousin Ariel Zurawski's transport company in northern Poland and had been come from Italy to deliver steel beams.
Zurawski was shown a picture of his injuries which suggested he had been alive until he was shot after the attack, Bild newspaper reported.
He told the newspaper: "It was terrible. There were bruises, his face was swollen. It looked like a fight."
"One person would not have been able to overpower him," Zurawski said of the relative he had grown up with, a heavyset man who weighed 120 kilos (265 pounds) and stood 183 centimetres (six feet) tall.
At around 3pm on Monday Urban spoke briefly to his wife and the couple agreed to talk again an hour later but they never did.
According to Zurawski, GPS data from the vehicle showed it had been driven, but only made small movements "as if someone was learning how to drive it".
An investigator told Die Welt newspaper that the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the driver several times, possibly because the Pole grabbed the steering wheel in an attempt to save people.
Police are still looking for the hijacker and said they are now hunting a Tunisian man after finding an identity document in the truck.
Der Spiegel reported that the document, believed to be asylum office papers, contained the name of Anis A who was born in Tataouine, Tunisia, in 1992.
A 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker was detained and released because of a lack of evidence in the aftermath of the attack in the German capital.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
It is believed Lukasz Urban, 37, was beaten and stabbed before the lorry was driven by the hijacker at the market in Breitscheidplatz on Monday evening killing 12 people.
He died from a gunshot wound and was found in the truck's passenger seat.
He worked for his cousin Ariel Zurawski's transport company in northern Poland and had been come from Italy to deliver steel beams.
Zurawski was shown a picture of his injuries which suggested he had been alive until he was shot after the attack, Bild newspaper reported.
He told the newspaper: "It was terrible. There were bruises, his face was swollen. It looked like a fight."
"One person would not have been able to overpower him," Zurawski said of the relative he had grown up with, a heavyset man who weighed 120 kilos (265 pounds) and stood 183 centimetres (six feet) tall.
At around 3pm on Monday Urban spoke briefly to his wife and the couple agreed to talk again an hour later but they never did.
According to Zurawski, GPS data from the vehicle showed it had been driven, but only made small movements "as if someone was learning how to drive it".
An investigator told Die Welt newspaper that the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the driver several times, possibly because the Pole grabbed the steering wheel in an attempt to save people.
Police are still looking for the hijacker and said they are now hunting a Tunisian man after finding an identity document in the truck.
Der Spiegel reported that the document, believed to be asylum office papers, contained the name of Anis A who was born in Tataouine, Tunisia, in 1992.
A 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker was detained and released because of a lack of evidence in the aftermath of the attack in the German capital.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
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