Saturday, January 7, 2017
Alec Baldwin mocks Donald Trump in Russian 'Make America Great Again' cap
Alec Baldwin has poked fun at Donald Trump by sporting his classic red "Make America Great Again" baseball cap - but in the Russian language.
The actor posted an image of himself wearing the hat on his Instagram account.
It comes amid a row between Moscow and Washington over whether Russia meddled in the presidential election to help Mr Trump beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Mr Trump appears to have accepted that hacking took place, but has asserted it had no impact on the outcome of the election.
Questions have also been raised over his recent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his cabinet nominations of some people seen as friendly towards Russia.
It is not the first time Baldwin has mocked Mr Trump.
The Hollywood star's unflattering impression of the billionaire businessman on Saturday Night Live has proved a big hit with critics of the US President-elect.
But the parody struck a sour note with the Republican, who has slammed the show on social media as "boring and unfunny".
And Alec Baldwin is not the only star the billionaire has taken to Twitter to criticise.
In his latest online rant, he taunted his reality TV successor Arnold Schwarzenegger for getting lower ratings than he did in his last season as Celebrity Apprentice presenter.
"Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got 'swamped' (or destroyed)," Mr Trump wrote in a tweet on Friday.
"By comparison to the ratings machine, DJT," he added.
In a more diplomatic tone, Schwarzenegger responded a few hours later tweeting: "I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings."
California 'in a state of panic' as storms set in
The threat of heavy downpours and up to eight feet of snow has left residents in California "in a state of panic", officials have said.
The northern part of the US state is expected to be battered by heavy storms over the weekend, prompting flash flood warnings and fears of mudslides.
Forecasters say the adverse weather is being caused by an atmospheric river - a thin corridor of moisture originating in the tropics.
This is expected to bring up to a foot of rain in Santa Cruz, west California, where sandbags have been handed out to residents.
Meanwhile, up to eight feet of snow is expected to fall around Mammoth Lakes in the east.
El Dorado County sheriff's sergeant Todd Hammitt said the forecasts had alarmed those who live within affected areas.
"People are definitely in a state of panic right now," he told the LA Times. We're getting a lot of calls asking if we're going to be able to deal with everything.
"It's the general pandemonium of not knowing what's coming."
He said the state was expecting "heavy, heavy rain".
"It starts out as snow then turns to rain then turns to snow again," he said.
"We have streams, creeks, rivers. We have lakes and ponds. Anybody near a water source could be in jeopardy depending on the severity of the storm."
California has endured five years of drought but has experienced storms with heavy rains since October.
On Friday evening, access to the valley of Yosemite National Park was closed as adverse weather conditions began to set in.
The Truckee River, which flows from Lake Tahoe to Reno in Nevada, is forecast to rise to its highest point in more than a decade.
Meteorologist Zach Tolby said: "This is a classic set up for us for flooding. We're definitely expecting a very wet weekend."
The northern part of the US state is expected to be battered by heavy storms over the weekend, prompting flash flood warnings and fears of mudslides.
Forecasters say the adverse weather is being caused by an atmospheric river - a thin corridor of moisture originating in the tropics.
This is expected to bring up to a foot of rain in Santa Cruz, west California, where sandbags have been handed out to residents.
Meanwhile, up to eight feet of snow is expected to fall around Mammoth Lakes in the east.
El Dorado County sheriff's sergeant Todd Hammitt said the forecasts had alarmed those who live within affected areas.
"People are definitely in a state of panic right now," he told the LA Times. We're getting a lot of calls asking if we're going to be able to deal with everything.
"It's the general pandemonium of not knowing what's coming."
He said the state was expecting "heavy, heavy rain".
"It starts out as snow then turns to rain then turns to snow again," he said.
"We have streams, creeks, rivers. We have lakes and ponds. Anybody near a water source could be in jeopardy depending on the severity of the storm."
California has endured five years of drought but has experienced storms with heavy rains since October.
On Friday evening, access to the valley of Yosemite National Park was closed as adverse weather conditions began to set in.
The Truckee River, which flows from Lake Tahoe to Reno in Nevada, is forecast to rise to its highest point in more than a decade.
Meteorologist Zach Tolby said: "This is a classic set up for us for flooding. We're definitely expecting a very wet weekend."
Red Cross chief defends NHS 'humanitarian crisis' claim
The head of the British Red Cross has defended his claim that the National Health Service is facing a "humanitarian crisis" due to Government cuts.
Mike Adamson told Sky News he was "not trying to embarrass anyone" but hospitals are "feeling the pressure" amid "increasingly chaotic situations".
The phrase "humanitarian crisis" is often used to describe situations in war zones, natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as Ebola.
But the chief executive said the term was justified for the NHS because those the charity had spoken to feel like they are in crisis as they are not able to get the assistance they need.
He said: "We have been called in to support the NHS and help get people home from hospital and free up much-needed beds."
:: Should NHS be likened to war zones and famines?
Hundreds of thousands who used to get assistance from social care are no longer doing so because of billions of pounds of cuts, according to Mr Adamson.
He claimed the charity was helping people leaving hospital who do not have friends and family for assistance, to get back on their feet.
But on some occasions, patients were being discharged without clothes and food was not being cleared in their homes, he said.
Some were being kept in hospital longer because social care packages in the home were not available.
He said his Red Cross volunteers were working with more than 100 hospitals across the country and were "picking up some of the slack".
They have already helped staff at the East Midlands Ambulance Service across Nottingham, Leicester, Kettering, Northampton and Lincoln.
Professor Keith Willett, director for acute care at NHS England, praised the charity's "great service at home" and its ambulance work but said the "humanitarian crisis" claim was an "overstatement".
He admitted: "Clearly demand is very high and it's higher than it's ever been but we have probably the most comprehensive plans in place that we've ever had.
"But it is really very difficult for the moment."
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it was "staggering" the Red Cross had been called on to help, describing it as "a badge of shame" for Prime Minister Theresa May.
It comes as new figures show that between 1 December and 1 January, there were 143 A&E diverts across England - a 63% rise on the 88 recorded for 1 December to 3 January the previous year.
Mike Adamson told Sky News he was "not trying to embarrass anyone" but hospitals are "feeling the pressure" amid "increasingly chaotic situations".
The phrase "humanitarian crisis" is often used to describe situations in war zones, natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as Ebola.
But the chief executive said the term was justified for the NHS because those the charity had spoken to feel like they are in crisis as they are not able to get the assistance they need.
He said: "We have been called in to support the NHS and help get people home from hospital and free up much-needed beds."
:: Should NHS be likened to war zones and famines?
Hundreds of thousands who used to get assistance from social care are no longer doing so because of billions of pounds of cuts, according to Mr Adamson.
He claimed the charity was helping people leaving hospital who do not have friends and family for assistance, to get back on their feet.
But on some occasions, patients were being discharged without clothes and food was not being cleared in their homes, he said.
Some were being kept in hospital longer because social care packages in the home were not available.
He said his Red Cross volunteers were working with more than 100 hospitals across the country and were "picking up some of the slack".
They have already helped staff at the East Midlands Ambulance Service across Nottingham, Leicester, Kettering, Northampton and Lincoln.
Professor Keith Willett, director for acute care at NHS England, praised the charity's "great service at home" and its ambulance work but said the "humanitarian crisis" claim was an "overstatement".
He admitted: "Clearly demand is very high and it's higher than it's ever been but we have probably the most comprehensive plans in place that we've ever had.
"But it is really very difficult for the moment."
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it was "staggering" the Red Cross had been called on to help, describing it as "a badge of shame" for Prime Minister Theresa May.
It comes as new figures show that between 1 December and 1 January, there were 143 A&E diverts across England - a 63% rise on the 88 recorded for 1 December to 3 January the previous year.
UK ends millions in funding for 'Ethiopia's Spice Girls'
Ministers have ended millions of pounds in funding for a five-member female band dubbed Ethiopia's Spice Girls.
Yegna, which aims to enhance the role of women through music and performance, was reportedly promised £5.2m of taxpayers' money to develop a radio drama.
Following criticism over the amount of money being granted to them, the Department for International Development (DfID) confirmed the partnership has now ended.
A DfID spokeswoman said: "Empowering women and girls around the world remains a priority, but we judge there are more effective ways to invest UK aid and to deliver even better results for the world's poorest and value for taxpayers' money."
Responding to the decision, the Girl Effect project, which launched Yegna and promotes women's rights in Ethiopia, said that "new ideas are often resisted and sometimes wilfully misrepresented".
In December, International Development Secretary Priti Patel was challenged about the project when she appeared before the Commons International Development Select Committee.
At the time she said the Yegna grant was simply "one component" of a wider programme promoting the rights and wellbeing of women and girls in the country.
"UK aid in Ethiopia is combating forced child marriage, violence, teen pregnancies - all those really, really big, substantial issues," she said.
"We are doing a range of work there. That is just one programme, one project. It is actually doing substantial work combating the issues that I've highlighted. But at the same time all programmes are under review."
Senior Tory Nigel Evans, who challenged Ms Patel about the project at the select committee hearing, welcomed the announcement as a "great victory for common sense".
He added: "She can now ensure that the money that people want to see spent on the very poorest and saving lives, producing medicine and drugs to the most vulnerable throughout the world - that money will now be spent far more effectively."
Yegna, which aims to enhance the role of women through music and performance, was reportedly promised £5.2m of taxpayers' money to develop a radio drama.
Following criticism over the amount of money being granted to them, the Department for International Development (DfID) confirmed the partnership has now ended.
A DfID spokeswoman said: "Empowering women and girls around the world remains a priority, but we judge there are more effective ways to invest UK aid and to deliver even better results for the world's poorest and value for taxpayers' money."
Responding to the decision, the Girl Effect project, which launched Yegna and promotes women's rights in Ethiopia, said that "new ideas are often resisted and sometimes wilfully misrepresented".
In December, International Development Secretary Priti Patel was challenged about the project when she appeared before the Commons International Development Select Committee.
At the time she said the Yegna grant was simply "one component" of a wider programme promoting the rights and wellbeing of women and girls in the country.
"UK aid in Ethiopia is combating forced child marriage, violence, teen pregnancies - all those really, really big, substantial issues," she said.
"We are doing a range of work there. That is just one programme, one project. It is actually doing substantial work combating the issues that I've highlighted. But at the same time all programmes are under review."
Senior Tory Nigel Evans, who challenged Ms Patel about the project at the select committee hearing, welcomed the announcement as a "great victory for common sense".
He added: "She can now ensure that the money that people want to see spent on the very poorest and saving lives, producing medicine and drugs to the most vulnerable throughout the world - that money will now be spent far more effectively."
Thousands more dismissed over failed coup attempt
Turkey has dismissed more than 6,000 people and ordered the closure of dozens of associations under the state of emergency imposed after the failed coup in July, in a purge that showed no sign of slowing.
More than 100,000 people have already been suspended or sacked so far in a crackdown on those alleged to have links to coup plotters while dozens of media outlets have been shut down.
In the latest government decrees published in the country's official gazette late on Friday, 2,687 police officers including 53 high-ranking commissioners were dismissed.
Meanwhile, 1,699 civil servants were removed from the ministry of justice, including eight members of the Council of State and one from the Supreme Electoral Council, Anadolu, the state news agency, reported late on Friday.
Eight hundred thirty-eight health officials and hundreds of employees from other ministries were also dismissed, in addition to another 631 academics and eight members of the Council of State.
State of emergency
The dismissals are permitted under the state of emergency, which was extended by another three months in October, and was originally imposed in the wake of the coup.
But its scope has been vehemently criticised by the European Union and human rights activists.
The three decrees also ordered the closure of more than 80 associations accused of "activities affecting the security of the state".
Critics have claimed that the crackdown goes well beyond the suspected coup plotters and targets anyone who has dared show opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara blames the coup plot on US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen and says an unrelenting campaign is needed to root out his influence from public life. Gulen denies the allegations.
Turkey also argues the exceptional security measures are necessary in the face of rising threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The country has been hit by two attacks this week, one claimed by ISIL against a high-end Turkish nightclub , and the other which authorities blamed on the PKK in the western city of Izmir .
More than 100,000 people have already been suspended or sacked so far in a crackdown on those alleged to have links to coup plotters while dozens of media outlets have been shut down.
In the latest government decrees published in the country's official gazette late on Friday, 2,687 police officers including 53 high-ranking commissioners were dismissed.
Meanwhile, 1,699 civil servants were removed from the ministry of justice, including eight members of the Council of State and one from the Supreme Electoral Council, Anadolu, the state news agency, reported late on Friday.
Eight hundred thirty-eight health officials and hundreds of employees from other ministries were also dismissed, in addition to another 631 academics and eight members of the Council of State.
State of emergency
The dismissals are permitted under the state of emergency, which was extended by another three months in October, and was originally imposed in the wake of the coup.
But its scope has been vehemently criticised by the European Union and human rights activists.
The three decrees also ordered the closure of more than 80 associations accused of "activities affecting the security of the state".
Critics have claimed that the crackdown goes well beyond the suspected coup plotters and targets anyone who has dared show opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara blames the coup plot on US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen and says an unrelenting campaign is needed to root out his influence from public life. Gulen denies the allegations.
Turkey also argues the exceptional security measures are necessary in the face of rising threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The country has been hit by two attacks this week, one claimed by ISIL against a high-end Turkish nightclub , and the other which authorities blamed on the PKK in the western city of Izmir .
Friday, January 6, 2017
Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo to be sworn in as president
Nana Akufo-Addo is to be sworn in as Ghana's new president after beating incumbent leader John Mahama in last month's election.
Some 11 African heads of state and more than 6,000 people are expected in the ceremony in the capital, Accra, where security will be tight.
Mr Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human rights lawyer, promised free high school education and more factories.
But critics have questioned the viability of his ambitions.
Third time lucky for Nana Akufo-Addo
Ghana profile
Mr Akufo-Addo, from the New Patriotic Party, was elected on his third attempt to reach the post, after a campaign dominated by the country's faltering economy.
Mr Mahama and former leaders John Rawlings and John Kufuor are expected to attend the ceremony in the capital's Independence Square.
Major roads in and around the area have been cordoned off.
Nana Akufo-Addo
72 years old
Human rights lawyer
Campaigned for a return to multi-party democracy under military rule
A former justice and foreign minister in the NPP government from 2001 to 2007, he is running for president for a third time
His main promise was to build a factory in each of Ghana's more than 200 districts
Full profile
Mr Akufo-Addo has vowed to revive the country's economy, saying that "there are brighter days ahead".
An economic slump under Mr Mahama led to an International Monetary Fund bail-out.
The current president has defended his record, saying his government had been up against "strong headwinds" that caused growth to slow, public sector debt to rise and the country's currency, the cedi, to fall.
Ghana has been a multi-party democracy since the end of military rule in 1992 and the transition is seen as reinforcing its reputation for the peaceful transfer of power between administrations.
Some 11 African heads of state and more than 6,000 people are expected in the ceremony in the capital, Accra, where security will be tight.
Mr Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human rights lawyer, promised free high school education and more factories.
But critics have questioned the viability of his ambitions.
Third time lucky for Nana Akufo-Addo
Ghana profile
Mr Akufo-Addo, from the New Patriotic Party, was elected on his third attempt to reach the post, after a campaign dominated by the country's faltering economy.
Mr Mahama and former leaders John Rawlings and John Kufuor are expected to attend the ceremony in the capital's Independence Square.
Major roads in and around the area have been cordoned off.
Nana Akufo-Addo
72 years old
Human rights lawyer
Campaigned for a return to multi-party democracy under military rule
A former justice and foreign minister in the NPP government from 2001 to 2007, he is running for president for a third time
His main promise was to build a factory in each of Ghana's more than 200 districts
Full profile
Mr Akufo-Addo has vowed to revive the country's economy, saying that "there are brighter days ahead".
An economic slump under Mr Mahama led to an International Monetary Fund bail-out.
The current president has defended his record, saying his government had been up against "strong headwinds" that caused growth to slow, public sector debt to rise and the country's currency, the cedi, to fall.
Ghana has been a multi-party democracy since the end of military rule in 1992 and the transition is seen as reinforcing its reputation for the peaceful transfer of power between administrations.
Russia hacking: Putin 'ordered campaign of influence' in US election
Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign to influence the US presidential election, according to a newly declassified report by American spy chiefs.
The Russian leader and his government "aspired to help" Donald Trump's chances of winning by discrediting his rival Hillary Clinton, it is claimed.
Mr Trump unexpectedly beat Mrs Clinton in the election, but he has been sceptical of accusations that Moscow was behind a hacking campaign that sought to boost his chances.
He tweeted: "Gross negligence by the Democratic National Committee allowed hacking to take place. The Republican National Committee had strong defense!"
The report from the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, said: "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election.
"Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency."
It made clear the Russian government had developed a "clear preference for President-elect Donald Trump".
Mr Putin most likely wanted to discredit Mrs Clinton because he blames her for inciting protests against his regime in late 2011 and early 2012, and because he resents her for disparaging comments she has made about him, the report said.
The report said Russian intelligence accessed "elements" of multiple state and local electoral boards, but "the systems targeted or compromised were not involved in counting votes".
US intelligence agencies also believe Moscow hacked into the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Mrs Clinton's campaign team and fed the material to WikiLeaks.
But the report claimed there were also targets associated with the Republican party.
Before he met spy chiefs for a briefing on the report on Friday, the President-elect dismissed the controversy as a "political witch-hunt".
Later, he said he had "constructive talks" with them and vowed to crack down on hacking.
He said he would appoint a team to "aggressively combat and stop cyber attacks" by coming up with a plan within 90 days of him taking office on 20 January.
The President-elect said any hacking during the election campaign had no effect on the result and voting machines were not tampered with.
He said of the intelligence officials: "I have tremendous respect for the work and service done by the men and women of this community to our great nation."
He went on: "While Russia, China, other countries, outside groups and people are consistently trying to break through the cyber infrastructure of our governmental institutions, businesses and organisations including the Democrat National Committee, there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election."
He also claimed there were unsuccessful attempts to hack into the Republican National Committee.
Russia has denied the US government's hacking claims.
President Barack Obama last week imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow and expelled dozens of diplomats in retaliation.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden has told Mr Trump to "grow up" as he criticised his "absolutely mindless" attacks on intelligence agencies.
The row between Mr Trump and his spy chiefs "leaves us in a very dark place", according to the former National Security Agency and CIA director, General Michael Hayden.
He told Sky News that intelligence officials made a "high confidence judgement and he (Trump) said 'take a hike'. Wow".
Gen Hayden added: "That is going to reverberate throughout the community."
The Russian leader and his government "aspired to help" Donald Trump's chances of winning by discrediting his rival Hillary Clinton, it is claimed.
Mr Trump unexpectedly beat Mrs Clinton in the election, but he has been sceptical of accusations that Moscow was behind a hacking campaign that sought to boost his chances.
He tweeted: "Gross negligence by the Democratic National Committee allowed hacking to take place. The Republican National Committee had strong defense!"
The report from the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, said: "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election.
"Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency."
It made clear the Russian government had developed a "clear preference for President-elect Donald Trump".
Mr Putin most likely wanted to discredit Mrs Clinton because he blames her for inciting protests against his regime in late 2011 and early 2012, and because he resents her for disparaging comments she has made about him, the report said.
The report said Russian intelligence accessed "elements" of multiple state and local electoral boards, but "the systems targeted or compromised were not involved in counting votes".
US intelligence agencies also believe Moscow hacked into the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Mrs Clinton's campaign team and fed the material to WikiLeaks.
But the report claimed there were also targets associated with the Republican party.
Before he met spy chiefs for a briefing on the report on Friday, the President-elect dismissed the controversy as a "political witch-hunt".
Later, he said he had "constructive talks" with them and vowed to crack down on hacking.
He said he would appoint a team to "aggressively combat and stop cyber attacks" by coming up with a plan within 90 days of him taking office on 20 January.
The President-elect said any hacking during the election campaign had no effect on the result and voting machines were not tampered with.
He said of the intelligence officials: "I have tremendous respect for the work and service done by the men and women of this community to our great nation."
He went on: "While Russia, China, other countries, outside groups and people are consistently trying to break through the cyber infrastructure of our governmental institutions, businesses and organisations including the Democrat National Committee, there was absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election."
He also claimed there were unsuccessful attempts to hack into the Republican National Committee.
Russia has denied the US government's hacking claims.
President Barack Obama last week imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow and expelled dozens of diplomats in retaliation.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden has told Mr Trump to "grow up" as he criticised his "absolutely mindless" attacks on intelligence agencies.
The row between Mr Trump and his spy chiefs "leaves us in a very dark place", according to the former National Security Agency and CIA director, General Michael Hayden.
He told Sky News that intelligence officials made a "high confidence judgement and he (Trump) said 'take a hike'. Wow".
Gen Hayden added: "That is going to reverberate throughout the community."
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