At least 50,000 people are being forced out of the centre of Hannover after five unexploded World War II bombs were discovered.
People living in the city, as well as businesses, have been told to ensure their water, electricity and gas supplies are turned off before they leave.
It is one of the biggest post-war operations to diffuse devices, mostly dropped in aerial attacks by Allied forces.
Bomb disposal expert Chris Hunter described the find as "quite a significant incident", telling Sky News: "We don't tend to see five at once."
Among the people moving out of a densely populated area are elderly residents of retirement and nursing homes. Transport throughout the city is also being disrupted.
For those affected, authorities have laid on a range of sports, cultural and leisure activities, including trips to museums and film screenings.
Mr Hunter explained that a property boom and construction work are among the reasons for an increase in the discovery of WWII bombs, as well as people spending more time outdoors as the weather gets warmer.
He said that high-explosives lying dormant for years, on devices that often have booby-trap mechanisms, can be ready to detonate any second.
"It's inherently dangerous," he said.
The evacuation of Hannover is the biggest of its type since Christmas, when an unexploded British bomb forced 54,000 people out of the southern city of Augsberg.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
'Don't ask about my future - I'm fighting to win,' says Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn says he is "fighting to win" the General Election, refusing to address questions about what would happen if he was defeated on 8 June on the scale of the recent local elections.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Mr Corbyn was asked whether he would stand down as Labour leader in those circumstances.
He said: "I've been elected to lead this party and I'm very proud to do so. I'm very proud of the increased membership and the increase in our party activity.
"Obviously I am disappointed in the election results on Thursday.
"We're going all out to elect Labour MPs on 8 June. After that, we'll see what the result is."
:: Analysis: Why it might be worth a punt on a Corbyn win
Pressed about whether he would cling on, Mr Corbyn said: "I'm not answering any of those questions because we are fighting to win this election to get a Labour government that will deliver for the people of this country."
Mr Corbyn says the local election results were partly to do with UKIP's decline rather than Labour's and he urged voters leaving UKIP not to instinctively switch to the Conservatives.
He said: "I think a lot of UKIP voters probably voted Conservative and I would urge them to think very carefully about what they are voting for.
"Do they want to live in a society where the health service is underfunded, where schools have to have collections from the parents to pay for the teachers and there is a growing housing crisis, or do they want a Labour alternative which is fair taxation for those who can afford to pay it."
Mr Corbyn has been backed by his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who has dampened down his earlier suggestion that losing the election would mean "inevitable" resignation.
"I think that we're in there with a real fight. We know how tough it is," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr.
"I think we're going to win this election. Full stop. I'm fighting to win this election," he said, adding: "We're not contemplating any loss. We're gonna win the votes and we're gonna win this election. Why? Because our country needs us."
And former shadow chancellor Alan Johnson told Sky News that talk of a Tory landslide was only built on "wishful thinking in some aspects of the print media".
Asked whether he thought this General Election was a battle for the very existence of the Labour Party he told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "Yes. It is.
"Because, you lose two elections and that's bad enough. To lose three elections on the trot at such a difficult period for our country...
"That's why Jeremy Corbyn's got to step up to the plate. That's why he's got to show that he can do all the things that his supporters believe that he can do. It is an existential threat to the party."
Moving to the subject of Brexit negotiations, Jeremy Corbyn explained to Sky News how he would do things differently to Theresa May.
He said: "I wouldn't accuse them (EU officials) of interfering with this country's elections when there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to suggest they are doing that.
"I wouldn't start negotiations by threatening I might walk away and set up some kind of low tax enterprise on the shores of Europe.
"I would point out to them that we had a referendum, that we've had a decision, that we want to maintain good serious trading relationship with Europe with tariff-free access to the European market."
Mr Corbyn disagreed with the Conservative negotiating position preferring no deal to a bad deal, saying: "To me the deal is fundamentally about trade access."
He added: "If you want World Trade Organisation rules you immediately impose tariffs on yourself.
"What they (the Conservatives) are saying is they don't care about jobs in Sunderland. They don't care about jobs in Birmingham. They don't care about jobs in Swindon. They don't care about jobs in Oxford.
"They don't care about the future of Airbus and its integrated production.
"Surely they need to be a bit more sensible and serious about it."
The Labour leader denied suggestions that his stance might lead to a second referendum.
He said: "We would negotiate sensibly and seriously and respectfully with them and recognise that we all have an interest in reaching a decent agreement."
Mr Corbyn was also quizzed over why Andy Burnham didn't appear by his side when the Labour leader celebrated his mayoral victory in Manchester. He insisted Mr Burnham's absence was "not a problem" and that he and the new Mayor of Greater Manchester were in regular contact.
He said reports that the celebrations were organised by Momentum and therefore excluded Labour Party HQ were inaccurate, insisting that all his events were organised by the Labour Party and all his campaign staff were also party members.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Mr Corbyn was asked whether he would stand down as Labour leader in those circumstances.
He said: "I've been elected to lead this party and I'm very proud to do so. I'm very proud of the increased membership and the increase in our party activity.
"Obviously I am disappointed in the election results on Thursday.
"We're going all out to elect Labour MPs on 8 June. After that, we'll see what the result is."
:: Analysis: Why it might be worth a punt on a Corbyn win
Pressed about whether he would cling on, Mr Corbyn said: "I'm not answering any of those questions because we are fighting to win this election to get a Labour government that will deliver for the people of this country."
Mr Corbyn says the local election results were partly to do with UKIP's decline rather than Labour's and he urged voters leaving UKIP not to instinctively switch to the Conservatives.
He said: "I think a lot of UKIP voters probably voted Conservative and I would urge them to think very carefully about what they are voting for.
"Do they want to live in a society where the health service is underfunded, where schools have to have collections from the parents to pay for the teachers and there is a growing housing crisis, or do they want a Labour alternative which is fair taxation for those who can afford to pay it."
Mr Corbyn has been backed by his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who has dampened down his earlier suggestion that losing the election would mean "inevitable" resignation.
"I think that we're in there with a real fight. We know how tough it is," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr.
"I think we're going to win this election. Full stop. I'm fighting to win this election," he said, adding: "We're not contemplating any loss. We're gonna win the votes and we're gonna win this election. Why? Because our country needs us."
And former shadow chancellor Alan Johnson told Sky News that talk of a Tory landslide was only built on "wishful thinking in some aspects of the print media".
Asked whether he thought this General Election was a battle for the very existence of the Labour Party he told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "Yes. It is.
"Because, you lose two elections and that's bad enough. To lose three elections on the trot at such a difficult period for our country...
"That's why Jeremy Corbyn's got to step up to the plate. That's why he's got to show that he can do all the things that his supporters believe that he can do. It is an existential threat to the party."
Moving to the subject of Brexit negotiations, Jeremy Corbyn explained to Sky News how he would do things differently to Theresa May.
He said: "I wouldn't accuse them (EU officials) of interfering with this country's elections when there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to suggest they are doing that.
"I wouldn't start negotiations by threatening I might walk away and set up some kind of low tax enterprise on the shores of Europe.
"I would point out to them that we had a referendum, that we've had a decision, that we want to maintain good serious trading relationship with Europe with tariff-free access to the European market."
Mr Corbyn disagreed with the Conservative negotiating position preferring no deal to a bad deal, saying: "To me the deal is fundamentally about trade access."
He added: "If you want World Trade Organisation rules you immediately impose tariffs on yourself.
"What they (the Conservatives) are saying is they don't care about jobs in Sunderland. They don't care about jobs in Birmingham. They don't care about jobs in Swindon. They don't care about jobs in Oxford.
"They don't care about the future of Airbus and its integrated production.
"Surely they need to be a bit more sensible and serious about it."
The Labour leader denied suggestions that his stance might lead to a second referendum.
He said: "We would negotiate sensibly and seriously and respectfully with them and recognise that we all have an interest in reaching a decent agreement."
Mr Corbyn was also quizzed over why Andy Burnham didn't appear by his side when the Labour leader celebrated his mayoral victory in Manchester. He insisted Mr Burnham's absence was "not a problem" and that he and the new Mayor of Greater Manchester were in regular contact.
He said reports that the celebrations were organised by Momentum and therefore excluded Labour Party HQ were inaccurate, insisting that all his events were organised by the Labour Party and all his campaign staff were also party members.
Labour's tax guarantee for earners on less than £80,000
The shadow chancellor is heading for a clash with opponents on tax as he unveils plans which are likely to mean increases for anyone earning more than £80,000 a year.
In a speech in east London, John McDonnell will promise what he calls a personal tax guarantee, which he says would protect low and middle income earners.
He will pledge that under a Labour government there would be no increase in the standard rate of VAT, income tax for those earning below £80,000, or personal national insurance contributions.
He will say only the highest earners, the top 5%, would be asked to pay more tax.
But his political opponents are accusing him of a tax raid on the professional classes. They claim anyone earning more than £80,000 would face a tax hike under Labour and that up to 1.2 million people could be hit.
Mr McDonnell's proposals also suggest he would bring back the 50p tax rate introduced by former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling and later scrapped by his Tory successor George Osborne.
In his speech, Mr McDonnell will say: "The choice at this election is very clear on tax, as there is currently only one party which is committing not to raise taxes on middle and low earners - and that is the Labour Party.
"If Labour is elected next month we will guarantee that for the next five years there will be no tax rises for income tax payers earning less than £80,000 a year, no hikes in VAT and no changes in your national insurance contributions either.
"The Labour Party is now the party of low taxes for middle and low earners, while the Tories are the party of tax handouts for the super-rich and big corporations."
His announcement comes only days after the Chancellor Philip Hammond, who was forced to abandon his Budget increases in national insurance contributions, accused Labour of a tax and debt bombshell. Critics also say there are holes in Labour's plans.
Attacking the shadow chancellor's pledge, the Treasury Chief Secretary David Gauke said: "Jeremy Corbyn will have to raise taxes because his nonsensical economic ideas don't add up and he'll make a mess of the Brexit negotiations.
"That's why he talked about raising the basic rate of income tax to 25p in 2015 - and the Lib Dems and SNP, who would prop him up, want to increase taxes too. Every family and business would pay the price for the tax and debt bombshell they would drop on Britain."
The Liberal Democrats' shadow chancellor, Susan Kramer, said: "Labour's so-called tax pledges aren't worth the paper they're written on, given their inability to form a proper opposition, let alone a government."
In a speech in east London, John McDonnell will promise what he calls a personal tax guarantee, which he says would protect low and middle income earners.
He will pledge that under a Labour government there would be no increase in the standard rate of VAT, income tax for those earning below £80,000, or personal national insurance contributions.
He will say only the highest earners, the top 5%, would be asked to pay more tax.
But his political opponents are accusing him of a tax raid on the professional classes. They claim anyone earning more than £80,000 would face a tax hike under Labour and that up to 1.2 million people could be hit.
Mr McDonnell's proposals also suggest he would bring back the 50p tax rate introduced by former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling and later scrapped by his Tory successor George Osborne.
In his speech, Mr McDonnell will say: "The choice at this election is very clear on tax, as there is currently only one party which is committing not to raise taxes on middle and low earners - and that is the Labour Party.
"If Labour is elected next month we will guarantee that for the next five years there will be no tax rises for income tax payers earning less than £80,000 a year, no hikes in VAT and no changes in your national insurance contributions either.
"The Labour Party is now the party of low taxes for middle and low earners, while the Tories are the party of tax handouts for the super-rich and big corporations."
His announcement comes only days after the Chancellor Philip Hammond, who was forced to abandon his Budget increases in national insurance contributions, accused Labour of a tax and debt bombshell. Critics also say there are holes in Labour's plans.
Attacking the shadow chancellor's pledge, the Treasury Chief Secretary David Gauke said: "Jeremy Corbyn will have to raise taxes because his nonsensical economic ideas don't add up and he'll make a mess of the Brexit negotiations.
"That's why he talked about raising the basic rate of income tax to 25p in 2015 - and the Lib Dems and SNP, who would prop him up, want to increase taxes too. Every family and business would pay the price for the tax and debt bombshell they would drop on Britain."
The Liberal Democrats' shadow chancellor, Susan Kramer, said: "Labour's so-called tax pledges aren't worth the paper they're written on, given their inability to form a proper opposition, let alone a government."
President Buhari Set To Receive 82 Chibok Girls
President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Sunday in Abuja, receive the 82 Chibok girls just released from Boko Haram captivity. This was disclosed in a State House statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President.
The statement which confirms Saharareporters earlier revelation that two high-profile Boko Haram commanders were swapped for the released girls said President Buhari is delighted that negotiations entered into have resulted in the release of more ChibokGirls.
"Today, 82 more ChibokGirls were released. After lengthy negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
The released ChibokGirls are due to arrive in Abuja on Sunday, May 7, and will be received by the President," the statement said.
It added that President Buhari is full of gratitude to all those involved in the efforts to secure the release of the girls. Among these, the statement said, were the security agencies, military, Government of Switzerland, International Committee of the Red Cross as well as and local and international non-governmental organizations.
The statement also noted that President Buhari is committed to ensuring the safe return of other Boko Haram captives and has received detailed briefings from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the negotiations that led to the release of the 82 girls.
The statement which confirms Saharareporters earlier revelation that two high-profile Boko Haram commanders were swapped for the released girls said President Buhari is delighted that negotiations entered into have resulted in the release of more ChibokGirls.
"Today, 82 more ChibokGirls were released. After lengthy negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these girls, in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
The released ChibokGirls are due to arrive in Abuja on Sunday, May 7, and will be received by the President," the statement said.
It added that President Buhari is full of gratitude to all those involved in the efforts to secure the release of the girls. Among these, the statement said, were the security agencies, military, Government of Switzerland, International Committee of the Red Cross as well as and local and international non-governmental organizations.
The statement also noted that President Buhari is committed to ensuring the safe return of other Boko Haram captives and has received detailed briefings from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the negotiations that led to the release of the 82 girls.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Steven Seagal's support for Putin gets him blacklisted by Ukraine
Steven Seagal has been banned from entering Ukraine after being branded a national security threat.
The Under Siege star has joined fellow actor Gerard Depardieu in being blacklisted by the authorities in Kiev.
The move comes after the 65-year-old was granted Russian citizenshiplast year, when he was personally presented with a passport by President Vladimir Putin.
Seagal, whose grandmother was from Vladivostok in Russia's far east, has also previously described Mr Putin's seizure of the Crimea as "very reasonable".
The martial artist and musician later performed with his blues band at a concert for pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway region.
Ukraine's security service has reportedly barred Seagal from the country for five years, claiming he had "committed socially dangerous actions...that contradict the interests of maintaining Ukraine's security".
He has not publicly responded to the ban.
Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 sparked the biggest crisis between Moscow and the West since the Cold War and tensions remain high in the region.
Kiev has warned anyone entering "temporarily occupied Crimea" without permission faces being banned from future entry to Ukraine.
Depardieu, who received his Russian passport in 2013 when he abandoned his native France in order to avoid higher taxes, has also been banned by Kiev.
Russian singer Yulia Samoylova cannot compete at this month's Eurovision song contest in Ukraine because she was barred from the country for touring Crimea.
Seagal is a close friend of Mr Putin, with the pair sharing a love of martial arts, and has previously hailed the politician as "one of the great living world leaders".
The actor's fame peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but his action films remain popular in Russia.
The Under Siege star has joined fellow actor Gerard Depardieu in being blacklisted by the authorities in Kiev.
The move comes after the 65-year-old was granted Russian citizenshiplast year, when he was personally presented with a passport by President Vladimir Putin.
Seagal, whose grandmother was from Vladivostok in Russia's far east, has also previously described Mr Putin's seizure of the Crimea as "very reasonable".
The martial artist and musician later performed with his blues band at a concert for pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway region.
Ukraine's security service has reportedly barred Seagal from the country for five years, claiming he had "committed socially dangerous actions...that contradict the interests of maintaining Ukraine's security".
He has not publicly responded to the ban.
Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 sparked the biggest crisis between Moscow and the West since the Cold War and tensions remain high in the region.
Kiev has warned anyone entering "temporarily occupied Crimea" without permission faces being banned from future entry to Ukraine.
Depardieu, who received his Russian passport in 2013 when he abandoned his native France in order to avoid higher taxes, has also been banned by Kiev.
Russian singer Yulia Samoylova cannot compete at this month's Eurovision song contest in Ukraine because she was barred from the country for touring Crimea.
Seagal is a close friend of Mr Putin, with the pair sharing a love of martial arts, and has previously hailed the politician as "one of the great living world leaders".
The actor's fame peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but his action films remain popular in Russia.
80 Kidnapped Chibok Girls Freed By Boko Haram
SaharaReporters has exclusively obtained information the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, has released a batch of more than 80 of the Chibok high school girls who were abducted in mid-April 2014. A top military source just broke the news to Saharareporters.
According to the source, the release of the 80 abducted school girls came after further negotiations between the Islamist group and the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The source said he was not in a position to disclose the terms oof the agreement that led to today's mass release of the Chibok school girls.
Our source revealed that that the 82 girls who just regained their freedom are currently in Banki town in Borno state awaiting airlift to an unknown destination.
The source added that once the girls are secured in a new location they would be debriefed, undergo psycological and medical tests and then be reunited with their families.
According to the source, the release of the 80 abducted school girls came after further negotiations between the Islamist group and the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The source said he was not in a position to disclose the terms oof the agreement that led to today's mass release of the Chibok school girls.
Our source revealed that that the 82 girls who just regained their freedom are currently in Banki town in Borno state awaiting airlift to an unknown destination.
The source added that once the girls are secured in a new location they would be debriefed, undergo psycological and medical tests and then be reunited with their families.
French election: Media warned not to publish hacked Macron emails
The media has been warned not to publish the contents of hacked emails from Emmanuel Macron's presidential campaign.
France's electoral commission has said any organisations that circulate information from the leaked messages may be committing a criminal offence.
On Friday, Mr Macron's campaign team confirmed it had fallen victim to a "massive hacking attack" which resulted in hundreds of internal documents being dumped online.
About nine gigabytes of data was posted by an anonymous user called EMLEAKS, only hours before the end of official election campaigning.
:: March - Aide claims Russia is interfering with Macron campaign
The En Marche! party has said the files only showed the normal functioning of a presidential campaign, but claimed fake documents were being circulated alongside authentic ones in order to sow "doubt and misinformation".
Aides have alleged those behind the cyberattack were attempting to destabilise Sunday's final round between Mr Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
The officials drew comparisons with the emails leaked from Hillary Clinton's campaign in the run-up to last November's presidential election in the US.
:: Who is Emmanuel Macron?
France's electoral commission has said any organisations that circulate information from the leaked messages may be committing a criminal offence.
On Friday, Mr Macron's campaign team confirmed it had fallen victim to a "massive hacking attack" which resulted in hundreds of internal documents being dumped online.
About nine gigabytes of data was posted by an anonymous user called EMLEAKS, only hours before the end of official election campaigning.
:: March - Aide claims Russia is interfering with Macron campaign
The En Marche! party has said the files only showed the normal functioning of a presidential campaign, but claimed fake documents were being circulated alongside authentic ones in order to sow "doubt and misinformation".
Aides have alleged those behind the cyberattack were attempting to destabilise Sunday's final round between Mr Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
The officials drew comparisons with the emails leaked from Hillary Clinton's campaign in the run-up to last November's presidential election in the US.
:: Who is Emmanuel Macron?
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