After Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's address that preparations for launching an ICBM have 'reached the final stage'
Donald Trump insists North Korea won’t develop a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the United States.
Trump addressed the issue Monday evening on Twitter. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Sunday in his annual New Year’s address that preparations for launching an ICBM have “reached the final stage.” He did not explicitly say a test was imminent.
Trump tweeted: “North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen!”
It was unclear if Trump meant he would stop North Korea or he was simply doubting the country’s capabilities. His aides did not immediately respond to questions seeking clarification.
Trump then berated North Korea’s most important ally, tweeting: “China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but won’t help with North Korea. Nice!”
Monday, January 2, 2017
Obama May Have One Last Shot to Put Merrick Garland on Supreme Court
Due to a somewhat arcane procedural period in the Senate, President Obama may have one final opportunity to see Judge Merrick Garland, his 2016 nominee to the Supreme Court, be put on the bench.
During the "intersession recess", the moment or so between the time the presiding officer of the Senate gavels-out the 114th Congress and gavels-in the 115th, Obama may be able to exercise his 'recess appointment' powers and place Garland on the court, the Washington Times reported.
However, such a move could be legally complicated.
While the president can indeed make 'recess appointments' to various positions when the legislature is not in session, the Supreme Court voted unanimously in 2014 to overturn several of Obama's 2012 appointees made during a recess.
The court considered Congress in-session at the time, therefore preempting any executive action.
But, such a risk has not stopped several activists from urging Obama to throw one final Hail Mary in hopes of scoring his nominee late Justice Antonin Scalia's former spot on the court.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
During the "intersession recess", the moment or so between the time the presiding officer of the Senate gavels-out the 114th Congress and gavels-in the 115th, Obama may be able to exercise his 'recess appointment' powers and place Garland on the court, the Washington Times reported.
However, such a move could be legally complicated.
While the president can indeed make 'recess appointments' to various positions when the legislature is not in session, the Supreme Court voted unanimously in 2014 to overturn several of Obama's 2012 appointees made during a recess.
The court considered Congress in-session at the time, therefore preempting any executive action.
But, such a risk has not stopped several activists from urging Obama to throw one final Hail Mary in hopes of scoring his nominee late Justice Antonin Scalia's former spot on the court.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
The Gambia opposition warns Yahya Jammeh to step aside
The Gambia's opposition says longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh could be considered a rebel leader if he takes up arms and doesn't step down later this month, a warning issued after the president vowed any foreign troop presence would be tantamount to an act of war.
Halifa Sallah, the spokesman of the opposition coalition, said on Monday that Jammeh will be a private citizen as of January 19 and would have no constitutional mandate to be in command of the armed forces of The Gambia.
The president of ECOWAS - the Economic Community of West African States - has said West African leaders will send troops into the country if Jammeh refuses to step down after losing the December 1 election.
"Any president whose term of office expires who takes up arms against an incoming president whose term should begin according to law, would be regarded by the international community as a rebel leader," Sallah said, reading a statement by the coalition.
Jammeh railed against the West African regional bloc ECOWAS that has urged him to step down. He claims numerous voting irregularities invalidate the December 1 ballot won by the opposition coalition's Adama Barrow. Jammeh's party is challenging the results in court.
Meanwhile, Barrow says he is planning a January 19 inauguration, which puts him on a collision course with Jammeh, who seized power in a bloodless 1994 military coup.
Barrow, ECOWAS, the African Union and United Nations have carefully calculated their steps, Sallah said, adding Jammeh should do the same "so that no mistakes would be made that would undermine the peace and security of the country".
ECOWAS, the AU and the UN, however, would not need to manage Gambian affairs if the constitution is followed and a peaceful transition is made, Barrow has said, urging Jammeh to open up a channel of communication, according to the coalition statement.
The coalition's warning came a day after intelligence agents ordered two radio stations to shut down - Taranga FM and Hill Top Radio.
Hill Top Radio chief executive Basiru Darboe said three men identifying as National Intelligence Agents said the shutdown orders came from the outgoing president, but no reasons were given.
The Jammeh regime has long been accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing its opponents.
Halifa Sallah, the spokesman of the opposition coalition, said on Monday that Jammeh will be a private citizen as of January 19 and would have no constitutional mandate to be in command of the armed forces of The Gambia.
The president of ECOWAS - the Economic Community of West African States - has said West African leaders will send troops into the country if Jammeh refuses to step down after losing the December 1 election.
"Any president whose term of office expires who takes up arms against an incoming president whose term should begin according to law, would be regarded by the international community as a rebel leader," Sallah said, reading a statement by the coalition.
Jammeh railed against the West African regional bloc ECOWAS that has urged him to step down. He claims numerous voting irregularities invalidate the December 1 ballot won by the opposition coalition's Adama Barrow. Jammeh's party is challenging the results in court.
Meanwhile, Barrow says he is planning a January 19 inauguration, which puts him on a collision course with Jammeh, who seized power in a bloodless 1994 military coup.
Barrow, ECOWAS, the African Union and United Nations have carefully calculated their steps, Sallah said, adding Jammeh should do the same "so that no mistakes would be made that would undermine the peace and security of the country".
ECOWAS, the AU and the UN, however, would not need to manage Gambian affairs if the constitution is followed and a peaceful transition is made, Barrow has said, urging Jammeh to open up a channel of communication, according to the coalition statement.
The coalition's warning came a day after intelligence agents ordered two radio stations to shut down - Taranga FM and Hill Top Radio.
Hill Top Radio chief executive Basiru Darboe said three men identifying as National Intelligence Agents said the shutdown orders came from the outgoing president, but no reasons were given.
The Jammeh regime has long been accused of imprisoning, torturing and killing its opponents.
Sky Data poll: Britain more racist and less happy
The events of 2016 have left Britain a nation divided, a Sky Data poll suggests.
Whether on community relations, the economy or politics, Britons say they feel less united as a country - and do not expect things to get any better in 2017.
A Nation Divided: Community Relations
Our polling shows three quarters of the public (74%) think Britain is a more divided country than it was a year ago, with just 7% saying it is more united.
And two thirds (67%) think we are less happy as a nation than a year before. Just 8% believe we are happier.
Many believe tensions between communities will increase in the wake of the Brexit referendum, with Article 50 set to be triggered by the end of March.
Some 55% think relations between communities will worsen as we leave the EU, while 14% think they will improve.
Unsurprisingly, there is a wide disparity in views depending on opinions about the EU referendum.
Leave voters are evenly split - 30% think relations will worsen, 27% improve and 28% think there will be no change.
In contrast, 80% of Remain voters think relations will deteriorate, with just 1% expecting an improvement.
A majority also believe Britain is a more racist place than 12 months ago.
The Home Office has said that allegations of crimes motivated by race or religious hate increased by 41% following the Brexit vote.
Some 57% think Britain is now more racist, with 6% believing we are now less racist as a country - 31% say there has been no change.
A Nation Divided: The Economy
Looking ahead to 2017, many Britons are gloomy about the economy.
Half of the people we polled think the UK economy will get worse over the next year, 19% think it will improve and 17% say it will stay the same.
And 45% say the economy will deteriorate as we leave the EU, with 27% saying it will improve and 13% expecting no change.
Leave voters expect the economy to improve (54% to 12% who expect the economy to get worse), while the vast majority of Remain voters expect the economy to worsen (76% to 5% improve).
A total of 37% think their personal financial situation will worsen due to Brexit, with 35% saying it will stay the same and 12% expecting an improvement.
Meanwhile, 42% of workers expect the prospects of their employers to remain stable as we leave the EU, with 29% expecting their prospects to get worse and 11% saying they will get better.
The fall in the value of the pound is a particular concern, with the majority expecting it to be bad for the economy (56%), British businesses (51%), their employers (50%) and themselves personally (50%).
A Nation Divided: Politics
We've all been told by the Prime Minister that "Brexit means Brexit", but there is little trust that Britain's politicians can make a success of it.
Just 11% think the Government is doing a good job in negotiating the UK's departure from the EU, while 48% think they're doing a bad job.
And more think the Government will get a bad deal (42%) than a good deal (22%) when negotiations are complete.
Views on Brexit appear to influence people's views on this - 61% of Remainers think they will get a bad deal, with 10% expecting a good deal, while 41% of Leavers expect a good deal compared with 23% expecting a bad deal.
Much hope rests on Theresa May to get a good deal for Britain.
She is the only prominent politician seen as more likely to do a good job than a bad job negotiating Brexit, with little public trust in Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson or MEP and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
Whether on community relations, the economy or politics, Britons say they feel less united as a country - and do not expect things to get any better in 2017.
A Nation Divided: Community Relations
Our polling shows three quarters of the public (74%) think Britain is a more divided country than it was a year ago, with just 7% saying it is more united.
And two thirds (67%) think we are less happy as a nation than a year before. Just 8% believe we are happier.
Many believe tensions between communities will increase in the wake of the Brexit referendum, with Article 50 set to be triggered by the end of March.
Some 55% think relations between communities will worsen as we leave the EU, while 14% think they will improve.
Unsurprisingly, there is a wide disparity in views depending on opinions about the EU referendum.
Leave voters are evenly split - 30% think relations will worsen, 27% improve and 28% think there will be no change.
In contrast, 80% of Remain voters think relations will deteriorate, with just 1% expecting an improvement.
A majority also believe Britain is a more racist place than 12 months ago.
The Home Office has said that allegations of crimes motivated by race or religious hate increased by 41% following the Brexit vote.
Some 57% think Britain is now more racist, with 6% believing we are now less racist as a country - 31% say there has been no change.
A Nation Divided: The Economy
Looking ahead to 2017, many Britons are gloomy about the economy.
Half of the people we polled think the UK economy will get worse over the next year, 19% think it will improve and 17% say it will stay the same.
And 45% say the economy will deteriorate as we leave the EU, with 27% saying it will improve and 13% expecting no change.
Leave voters expect the economy to improve (54% to 12% who expect the economy to get worse), while the vast majority of Remain voters expect the economy to worsen (76% to 5% improve).
A total of 37% think their personal financial situation will worsen due to Brexit, with 35% saying it will stay the same and 12% expecting an improvement.
Meanwhile, 42% of workers expect the prospects of their employers to remain stable as we leave the EU, with 29% expecting their prospects to get worse and 11% saying they will get better.
The fall in the value of the pound is a particular concern, with the majority expecting it to be bad for the economy (56%), British businesses (51%), their employers (50%) and themselves personally (50%).
A Nation Divided: Politics
We've all been told by the Prime Minister that "Brexit means Brexit", but there is little trust that Britain's politicians can make a success of it.
Just 11% think the Government is doing a good job in negotiating the UK's departure from the EU, while 48% think they're doing a bad job.
And more think the Government will get a bad deal (42%) than a good deal (22%) when negotiations are complete.
Views on Brexit appear to influence people's views on this - 61% of Remainers think they will get a bad deal, with 10% expecting a good deal, while 41% of Leavers expect a good deal compared with 23% expecting a bad deal.
Much hope rests on Theresa May to get a good deal for Britain.
She is the only prominent politician seen as more likely to do a good job than a bad job negotiating Brexit, with little public trust in Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson or MEP and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
Man killed in police shooting near M62 motorway
A man has died after he was shot by police in Huddersfield near the M62 motorway, West Yorkshire Police says.
The man was shot during a "pre-planned operation" at around 6pm, a spokesman said.
The slip roads east and west bound at junction 24 of the M62 remain closed.
The case is being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which said its investigators were at the scene.
Gemma Wilson, Lindley Councillor, told Sky News: "I assumed at first it was a crash but realised if it was, it was a major one due to the volume of police in the area and the wide area that was cordoned off.
"It was obviously concerning to see so many police cars as clearly something serious had happened so close to home".
"I saw about five or six police cars around the roundabout," she added.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Around 6pm this evening (...) during a pre-planned policing operation near to the M62 in Huddersfield a police firearm was discharged and a man has died."
West Yorkshire Police are "fully cooperating" with the IPCC investigation, he added.
The man was shot during a "pre-planned operation" at around 6pm, a spokesman said.
The slip roads east and west bound at junction 24 of the M62 remain closed.
The case is being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which said its investigators were at the scene.
Gemma Wilson, Lindley Councillor, told Sky News: "I assumed at first it was a crash but realised if it was, it was a major one due to the volume of police in the area and the wide area that was cordoned off.
"It was obviously concerning to see so many police cars as clearly something serious had happened so close to home".
"I saw about five or six police cars around the roundabout," she added.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Around 6pm this evening (...) during a pre-planned policing operation near to the M62 in Huddersfield a police firearm was discharged and a man has died."
West Yorkshire Police are "fully cooperating" with the IPCC investigation, he added.
Rebecca Ferguson Will Perform at Donald Trump's Inauguration
Former X Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson says she has been asked to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony.
The star said she would "graciously accept" the invitation to take part in the 20 January event in Washington DC if she can sing Strange Fruit.
Strange Fruit is a song that protests against racism, particularly the lynching of African-Americans in the early 20th century.
It was recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939 but had previously been written as a poem by teacher Abel Meeropol.
The track has "huge historical importance" and used to be "blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial", according to Ferguson.
In a Twitter post, she said the song "speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the US" and is "a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world".
The star said she would "graciously accept" the invitation to take part in the 20 January event in Washington DC if she can sing Strange Fruit.
Strange Fruit is a song that protests against racism, particularly the lynching of African-Americans in the early 20th century.
It was recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939 but had previously been written as a poem by teacher Abel Meeropol.
The track has "huge historical importance" and used to be "blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial", according to Ferguson.
In a Twitter post, she said the song "speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the US" and is "a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world".
Dozens killed in Brazil prison riot involving rival drug gangs
Around 60 people have been killed in a prison riot in the Brazilian city of Manaus, security officials have said.
Sergio Fontes, the head of security for Amazonas state, told a news conference he fears more dead will be discovered as the extent of the unrest becomes clear.
The riot at Anisio Jobim prison was sparked by a fight between rival drug gangs on Sunday afternoon, and was quelled on Monday morning.
Globo TV reported a group of inmates exchanged fire with police and held 12 prison guards hostage.
Mr Fontes said 74 prisoners were taken hostage, with some executed and others released.
The Em Tempo newspaper reported several of the dead had their decapitated bodies thrown over the prison wall.
A video posted on the newspaper's website showed dozens of bloodied and mutilated bodies piled on top of each other on the prison floor as other inmates walked about.
Mr Fontes said authorities were still counting the prisoners to determine how many had escaped.
International watchdogs have often been critical of Brazil's prison system, with overcrowding the norm and deadly riots a frequent occurrence.
The riot in Manaus is the latest clash between inmates aligned with First Capital Command (PCC) gang and a local criminal group known as the North Family.
The North Family is widely believed to be attacking PCC inmates at the behest of the Rio de Janeiro-based Red Command (CV) drug gang, Brazil's second largest.
Analysts have said a truce between PCC and CV broke down last year, sparking months of prison battles between the gangs and raising fears the violence could spread to other facilities.
Sergio Fontes, the head of security for Amazonas state, told a news conference he fears more dead will be discovered as the extent of the unrest becomes clear.
The riot at Anisio Jobim prison was sparked by a fight between rival drug gangs on Sunday afternoon, and was quelled on Monday morning.
Globo TV reported a group of inmates exchanged fire with police and held 12 prison guards hostage.
Mr Fontes said 74 prisoners were taken hostage, with some executed and others released.
The Em Tempo newspaper reported several of the dead had their decapitated bodies thrown over the prison wall.
A video posted on the newspaper's website showed dozens of bloodied and mutilated bodies piled on top of each other on the prison floor as other inmates walked about.
Mr Fontes said authorities were still counting the prisoners to determine how many had escaped.
International watchdogs have often been critical of Brazil's prison system, with overcrowding the norm and deadly riots a frequent occurrence.
The riot in Manaus is the latest clash between inmates aligned with First Capital Command (PCC) gang and a local criminal group known as the North Family.
The North Family is widely believed to be attacking PCC inmates at the behest of the Rio de Janeiro-based Red Command (CV) drug gang, Brazil's second largest.
Analysts have said a truce between PCC and CV broke down last year, sparking months of prison battles between the gangs and raising fears the violence could spread to other facilities.
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