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In RoboCop 3, Dr. Marie Lazarus, RoboCop's chief technician, stated that Murphy's face was indeed transplanted onto a mechanical skull, and that it is not a. The broadcast causes OCPs stock to plunge, driving the company into financial ruin, as a result, McDaggett turns to hiring street gangs and hooligans to assist with.

Washington — A federal appeals court on Sunday denied the Justice Department’s request for an immediate reinstatement of President Donald Trump’s ban on accepting certain travelers and all refugees. The Trump administration had appealed a temporary order restraining the ban nationwide, saying a federal judge in Seattle overreached by “second-guessing” the president on a matter of national security.

The appeals court’s denial of an immediate stay means the legal fight over the ban will continue for days at least. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco asked challengers of the ban to respond by early Monday, and for the Justice Department to file a counter-response by the evening. Acting Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the administration, told the appeals court that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States — an assertion that appeared to invoke the wider battle to come over illegal immigration. “The power to expel or exclude aliens is a fundamental sovereign attribute, delegated by Congress to the executive branch of government and largely immune from judicial control,” according to government’s filing.

The government has suspended the ban’s enforcement in compliance with order of the order of U. District Judge James Robart. His ruling was an extraordinary setback for the new president, who only a week ago acted to suspend America’s refugee program and halt immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries that the government said raise terrorism concerns. Trump mocked Robart, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, calling him a “so-called judge” whose “ridiculous” ruling “will be overturned.” “Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision,” he tweeted.

Trump’s direct attack recalled his diatribes during the campaign against the federal judge of Mexican heritage who oversaw lawsuits alleging fraud by Trump University, and may prompt some tough questions as these challenges rise through the courts. But the government’s brief repeatedly asserted that presidential authority cannot be questioned by judges once the nation’s security is invoked. Congress “vests complete discretion in the President” to impose conditions on alien entry, so Trump isn’t legally required to justify such decisions, it said. His executive order said the ban was necessary for “protecting against terrorism,” and that “is sufficient to end the matter.” The Justice Department asked that Robart’s order be put on hold pending resolution of the appeal, so that the ban can “ensure that those approved for admission do not intend to harm Americans and that they have no ties to terrorism.” The order had caused unending confusion for many foreigners trying to reach the United States, prompted protests across the United States and led to multiple court challenges. Demonstrations took place outside the White House, in New York and near his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump attended an American Red Cross fundraising gala. “We’ll win,” Trump told reporters Saturday night. “For the safety of the country, we’ll win.” The State Department said on Friday that as many as 60,000 foreigners from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen had their visas canceled.

After Robart’s decision, the department reversed course and said they could travel to the U. If they had a valid visa. The department also advised refugee aid agencies that refugees set to travel before Trump signed his order will now be allowed in. A State Department official said in an email obtained by The Associated Press that the government was “focusing on booking refugee travel” through Feb. 17 and working to have arrivals resume as soon as Monday.

The Homeland Security Department no longer was directing airlines to prevent visa-holders affected by Trump’s order from boarding U. S.-bound planes. The agency said it had “suspended any and all actions” related to putting in place Trump’s order. Hearings have also been held in court challenges nationwide. Washington state and Minnesota argued that the temporary ban and the global suspension of the U.

Refugee program harmed residents and effectively mandated discrimination. In his written order Friday, Robart said it’s not the court’s job to “create policy or judge the wisdom of any particular policy promoted by the other two branches,” but rather, to make sure that an action taken by the government “comports with our country’s laws.” Robart’s order also imposes harm on U. Citizens “by thwarting the legal effect of the public’s chosen representative,” it says. 2017-02-05 10:29 2.2 (19.99/22). SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court has denied the Justice Department’s request for an immediate reinstatement of President Donald Trump’s ban on certain travelers and all refugees. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco instead asked both the state of Washington and the Trump administration early Sunday to file more arguments by Monday afternoon.

The Trump administration appealed a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily placed the ban on hold. The higher court’s denial of an immediate stay means legal battles over the ban will continue into the coming week at least. Acting Solicitor General Noel Francisco forcefully argued in the government’s brief Saturday night that presidential authority is “largely immune from judicial control” when it comes to deciding who can enter or stay in the United States. 2017-02-05 10:51 0.8 (18.99/22). Legal battle continues after Trump administration files appeal to ruling that saw restrictions halted A demonstrator against the immigration rules implemented by U. President Donald Trump's administration, protests at Los Angeles international airport in Los Angeles, California, U. S., February 4, 2017.

(Photo: Reuters/Ringo Chiu) The Ninth Circuit U. Court of Appeals early Sunday morning denied a motion by the Justice Department on behalf of President Trump which sought to reinstate enforcement of an immigration and travel ban that targeted seven Muslim-majority nations. The DOJ had filed an official appeal on Saturday night over a federal court ruling issued late Friday in Washington state by US District Court Judge James Robart. It was Robart's ruling, which included a temporary restraining order, that led both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday morning to end their enforcement of the ban. As CNN reports: The Justice Department's strongly worded [Saturday night] court filing lodged a multi-pronged attack on Robart's decision, emphasizing that halting enforcement of the travel ban 'harms the public' and 'second-guesses the President's national security judgment' in the immigration context. '(Robart's ruling) contravenes the considered judgment of Congress that the President should have the unreviewable authority to suspend the admission of any class of aliens,' the Justice Department wrote in its filing.

'Courts are particularly ill-equipped to second-guess the President's prospective judgment about future risks. Unlike the President, courts do not have access to classified information about the threat posed by terrorist organizations operating in particular nations, the efforts of those organizations to infiltrate the United States, or gaps in the vetting process. ' But though the Ninth Circuit agreed to hear the appeal—and asked for all parties to submit legal briefs to support their cases with a Monday deadline—it refused Trump's request to have the travel restrictions reimposed, stating: 'Appellants' request for an immediate administrative stay pending full consideration of the emergency motion for a stay pending appeal is denied.

' Since news arrived Saturday that the restrictions were lifted and airlines were told they could once again allow travelers from the targeted countries with proper documents to board planes to the U. S., those who had be left in limbo—many separated from families, employment opportunities, or school—were reportedly moving fast to make arrangements. According to Reuters: Iraqi Fuad Sharef, his wife and three children spent two years obtaining U. They had packed up to move to America last week, but were turned back to Iraq after a failed attempt to board a U. S.-bound flight from Cairo. On Sunday, the family checked in for a Turkish Airlines flight to New York from Istanbul.

'Yeah, we are very excited. We are very happy,' Sharef told Reuters TV. 'Finally, we have been cleared. We are allowed to enter the United States. ' Rana Shamasha, 32, an Iraqi refugee in Lebanon, was due to travel to the United States with her two sisters and mother on Feb. 1 to join relatives in Detroit until their trip was canceled as a result of the travel ban. She is now waiting to hear from U.

Officials overseeing their case. 'If they tell me there is a plane tomorrow morning, I will go. If they tell me there is one in an hour, I will go,' she told Reuters by telephone in Beirut, saying their bags were still packed. 'I no longer have a house here, work, or anything,' she said. An official at Beirut airport said three Syrian families had left for the United States via Europe on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, immigration experts and refugeee advocates, celebrated the court's ability to push back against the ban they argue is unconstitutional. President Trump's bid to reinstate travel ban rejected by court — ACLU National (@ACLU) February 5, 2017 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License 'Dangerous' and 'Dumb': Trump Signs Executive Order Torching Regulations Trump to State Dept. Officials Objecting to Muslim Ban: 'Get with the Program. Go' Putting Economy at Risk, Trump Vows to 'Do A Big Number' on Dodd-Frank Pressure Builds for Sessions, Tillerson to Make Clear Their Stance on 'Muslim Ban' 2017-02-05 11:13 2.0 (10.99/22). NEW YORK (AP) - You can watch the Super Bowl online for free, but there are a few catches. For starters, you're out of luck on phones unless you're a Verizon customer. And if you're interested in the ads, you may have a surprise in store.

Here's your online guide to the matchup in Houston between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox. ___ WATCHING THE GAME It's true: Some people will be watching the Super Bowl for the actual game on an actual TV.

You can join them even if you don't have a cable subscription or a good signal with an antenna. Just fire up the Fox Sports Go app on many streaming TV devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV and Xbox.

Fox is suspending its usual requirement that you log on with a cable or satellite account, meaning it's free. If you can't get to a TV, try the Fox Sports Go app on a tablet or FoxSportsGo.com on a laptop or desktop. Verizon has exclusive rights on phones. If you're a Verizon customer, you can watch through the NFL Mobile app. Otherwise, find another device.

___ WATCHING THE ADS The Super Bowl is the rare event where viewers do pay attention to ads. A 30-second spot goes for about $5 million. Fox's online stream will get you most of the same ads shown on television. This includes local ads, thanks to a technology Fox is employing to customize the stream to your local station. The catch is that a handful of stations aren't participating, so you may see a static screen denoting a commercial break. There may also be a few cases in which a national or local advertiser has bought the spot for television only; a substitute ad may appear online in its place. You can also watch many of the ads on the web.

Fox is planning to showcase ads at FoxSports.com. You can also check iSpot.tv and YouTube's AdBlitz. Hulu has shown Super Bowl ads in the past, but it isn't planning to this year. You don't have to wait until Sunday, as many of the ads are already available online. ___ GIZMOS GALORE Fox is partnering with Intel to offer replays from the perspective of players on the field. Fox isn't mounting cameras on individual players. Rather, it's using 38 cameras surrounding the field.

Powerful computers then create videos to depict how a play would have looked to the player. Although these are 360-degree videos, don't expect a lot of viewer control.

They will be more like replays shown as part of the regular broadcast, available a few minutes after the play. If you have a virtual-reality headset such as Google Cardboard or Samsung's Gear VR, you can get highlights and top plays through the Fox Sports VR app.

Without a headset, you can also view 360-degree video with a phone, but it won't be as immersive. You'll need to sign in with a cable or satellite account to watch in VR.

___ VIDEO EXTRAS Fox has video specials throughout the week on Facebook and Twitter, as well as Fox websites and apps. On Sunday, Fox is offering a backstage look before the game; the online-only NFL Field Pass stream is expected to include player arrivals, on-field warmups and various stadium activities.

It's not clear whether Fox's pre-game and postgame television coverage will be available through Fox apps and websites. Even if it is available, it's possible a cable or satellite account will be needed. Fox didn't respond to inquiries for clarification. If that's something you need to have online, you may want to invest in an online television package such as Sling TV, PlayStation Vue or DirecTV Now. A subscription will cost at least $25 a month (though weeklong free trials are available). But check to make sure those services offer Fox stations in your city; that's only true in a handful of locations across the country. A subscription to PlayStation Vue or DirecTV Now will also get you Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, an homage to the big game played with puppies.

___ DIGITAL SMARTS Virtual assistants such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa have been tweaked to understand Super Bowl questions. Ask either for player and team stats, or the latest Super Bowl odds (you're on your own for actual bets). And if someone at your party is cheering for, um, the wrong team, Alexa can help with taunts. Just ask, 'Alexa, give me a Patriots burn' or 'Alexa, give me a Falcons burn. ' Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 10:48 2.5 (7.99/22). Works for whales. We turn to the super bowl just hours away. If you were hoping for battle of quarterbacks, congratulations, you got it. One of the quarterbacks will enter the game with new bragging rights, apparently?

Dan and Paula, good morning, guys. That's right.

Matt Ryan named NFL MVP. Game day is finally here. The battle for the Lombardi trophy about to take place at nrg stadium behind me. This super bowl expected to be a clash of the quarterbacks. Certainly for one of them, no stranger to the big game.

The other, is super bowl first timer. This morning, super bowl LI. Just hours away.

And this could be an epic quarterback matchup. New England patriots star Tom Brady. And the man named the league's MVP overnight, Matt Ryan. I just want to say thank you. This San incredible honor for me. Reporter: Making their final walk-throughs before the big game. Brady hoping this super bowl will seal his place in NFL history.

I've been a part of seven really great football teams that have made it this far. Reporter: A win this time would give him the fifth super bowl victory, the most of any NFL quarterback ever. Ryan, flying high for the falcons.

I feel really confident. I believe in our team. The guys that we have. The coaching staff. Reporter: Number 12, a dominating force.

In the league for 17 seasons to Ryan's nine. But, Ryan is coming in with a sharp edge.

Leading the pats' quarterback by 12.8 passing yards per game. And passing for ten more touchdowns than Brady. Reporter: And important to note, Tom Brady was suspended the first four games of the season. Tom Brady's mom made to it Houston.

Posting this photo on Instagram with his parents. News coming out early this week his mother had been dealing with health issues.

She was never able to attend a single game all season long. Great news for Tom Brady that his mom is here for the game tonight. Love to see that photo. Jesse, we know you're a master prognosticate person so not only what are you thinking about this game? What are you predicting? We need preductions? Reporter: All right, Paula, I know on social media I saw you said patriots.

I'm following your lead. I think there will be a ton of points. We're going get the quarterback duel that we want. I going 34-30 patriots pip think Brady gets the record fifth super bowl and fourth super bowl MVP.

We're really going out on a limb. Coming up, police pointing to new evidence to charge a This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. 2017-02-05 10:55 3.1 (6.96/22).

WASHINGTON — As if Super Bowl festivities weren’t exciting enough, animal lovers have their own action-packed Super Sunday tradition. Animal Planet hosts its 13th annual “Puppy Bowl,” Sunday, kicking off festivities with a “Kitty Halftime Dress Rehearsal” airing at noon, followed by the Puppy Bowl XIII Pregame at 2 p.m. Find the full schedule on the Animal Planet site.

The actual “Puppy Bowl” begins at 3 p.m., when “Team Ruff and “Team Fluff” take the field. In a showdown for the “Lombarki Trophy,” dozens of puppies will scuffle, scoot and scuttle across a model stadium to wrack up points for the win. The starting lineup includes 39 puppies, including some with special needs. The pups were recruited from 34 different animal shelters across the United States.

Every year, the Puppy Bowl gives a platform for adoptable dogs, claiming the event is “the biggest game in adoption,” in one of its videos. Generally, the pups are adopted before the Puppy Bowl airs, but Dan Schachner, Puppy Bowl referee, explained in his Reddit Ask Me Anything session, “Literally, it takes MINUTES” for the puppies’ adoption. “As soon as people start watching Puppy Bowl, they can go to AnimalPlanet.com and look up the puppy profile, which will connect you with the shelter or rescue center that has them! And you can be sure that within 5 minutes — you have to act quickly.” The “Puppy Bowl” has become “a pup culture fabric of the Super Bowl,” since its debut in 2005, said Rick Holzman, general manager of Animal Planet in a 2015 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It really started to take on a life of its own in 2011.

That’s when the game surpassed 9 million viewers.” Feline fans won’t want to miss this year’s halftime show, when the musical group Chicago Rock Cats with Kitty Gaga will yowl their rendition of “Puparazzi.” If you’d prefer to watch “cat-letes” in the spotlight, the Hallmark Channel is hosting its fourth annual “Kitten Bowl IV,” airing at noon. And if you enjoy pets of the silent variety, NatGeoWild channel will start showing “Fish Bowl IV” starting at 1 p.m.

Watch a preview of the games below. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others. All Rights Reserved. Need a break? Play a quick game of solitaire or Sudoku.

Or take one of our fun quizzes! Here at the Glass Enclosed Nerve Center, we take our party food very seriously — especially when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday. 2017-02-05 09:45 1.0 (5.62/22). House Speaker Paul Ryan is rooting for “drama” at the Super Bowl and believes it would be “fun to watch” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hand the championship trophy to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Goodell fined the Patriots and suspended the team’s quarterback, four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, for four games for their role in the so-called “Deflategate” scandal. Relations between the commissioner and the Patriots organization reportedly have soured since the incident. Ryan told NBC News that it would be amusing for Mr.

Goodell to have to face Mr. Kraft, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots will compete against the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s Super Bowl. “That would be actually kind of fun to watch.

You know, Roger handing the trophy over to the Krafts. That would be actually kind of interesting,” Mr. Ryan said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Mr. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, explained how he believes the Patriots can win the game — by shutting down Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones. “If they can shut down Julio Jones, which they just swarm. The Patriots’ defense is really good.

If they can shut down Julio Jones, I think they can win this game. So I bet the odds are with them.

I haven’t looked at the actual odds, but I would put the odds on the Patriots,” the speaker said. 2017-02-05 10:31 18.8 (5.26/22). The death toll from three days of heavy snow across Afghanistan rose to 54 on Sunday and there were fears the toll could rise as rescuers began clearing roads to remote areas. Avalanches destroyed scores of homes and blocked roads in central and northeastern provinces, a spokesman for the ministry of natural disasters told AFP. 'So far, 54 persons have lost their lives and 52 were injured as a result of avalanches and freezing weather in 22 provinces,' said Mohammad Omar Mohammadi. He said 168 houses were destroyed and 340 cattle killed.

Authorities fear the toll may rise sharply because rescue crews have yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas. In the badly hit northeastern province of Badakhshan at least 18 people, including three women and two children, were killed when avalanches hit their houses overnight, said provincial spokesman Naweed Frotan. 'Several dozens are still trapped, we are trying to rescue them,' he said, adding that many roads were still blocked.

Five people were killed by avalanches in the Balkhab district of Sari Pul province in northern Afghanistan and at least 70 people trapped under the snow were being rescued, said provincial spokesman Zabiullah Amani. 'The roads to Balkhab are still blocked and we are trying to open them,' he said. Freezing weather killed at least two people and over 100 animals in the western province of Badghis.

In Parwan province just north of Kabul, the spokesman for governor Wahid Sediqqi said 16 people died. The government declared Sunday, a normal working day in Afghanistan, to be a public holiday to deter non-essential travel and ensure schools were closed. Unusually, snow even fell in the southern province of Kandahar. Neighbouring Pakistan was also hit by severe weather, with at least 13 people killed in the northwest by avalanches or heavy rain. An avalanche smashed into eight homes in the village of Shershal in Chitral district, killing nine people including four women and four children.

Gateway Mt6730 Windows 7 Drivers. The region has been hit by heavy snowfall that is four feet (1.2 metres) deep in some places. Six people who had been trapped beneath the snow were rescued. A separate avalanche killed a soldier at a border checkpoint in Chitral district, a military statement said, while six more soldiers were injured. Chitral district mayor Maghfriat Shah said the city's airport was shut because of the weather.

The region's electricity supply was also disrupted after the main power line was damaged. In the Khyber tribal district on the Afghan border in the northwest, three infant girls were killed and two women injured when the roof of their house collapsed in heavy rain. Deadly avalanches are common in Afghanistan's mountainous areas in winter and rescue efforts are frequently hampered by lack of equipment.

Despite billions of dollars in international aid after the ousting of the Taliban government in 2001, Afghanistan remains among the world's poorest nations. Last month heavy snowfall and freezing weather killed 27 children, all under the age of five, in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan.

Strs-emh-us/ks/ia/sm 2017-02-05 10:20 5.0 (5.22/22). President Donald Trump said he respects Vladimir Putin, and when an interviewer called the Russian leader 'a killer,' Trump said the United States has many of them. 'What do you think?

Our country's so innocent,' he told Fox's Bill O'Reilly in an excerpt released by the network. The president's interview was to air Sunday afternoon on the Super Bowl pregame show.

Trump has long expressed a wish for better ties with Moscow, praised Putin and signaled that U. S.-Russia relations could be in line for a makeover, even after U. Intelligence agencies determined that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.

Presidential campaign to help Trump win against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Putin has called Trump a 'very bright and talented man. ' During Putin's years in power, a number of prominent Russian opposition figures and journalists have been killed. In the interview, Trump says, 'I do respect him,' and then is asked why. 'I respect a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with him.

He's a leader of his country. I say it's better to get along with Russia than not.

And if Russia helps us in the fight against ISIS, which is a major fight, and Islamic terrorism all over the world — that's a good thing,' Trump said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. 'Will I get along with him? I have no idea. ' O'Reilly then said about Putin: 'But he's a killer, though. Putin's a killer. ' Trump responded: 'There are a lot of killers.

We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent? ' In the excerpt released by Fox, Trump did not cite specific U. It was not clear whether he expanded on the comment or added context later in the interview. The Kremlin had no immediate comment.

The Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, distanced himself from the president. 'Putin's a former KGB agent. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a credible election. The Russians annexed Crimea, invaded Ukraine and messed around in our elections. And no, I don't think there's any equivalency between the way the Russians conduct themselves and the way the United States does,' McConnell told CNN's 'State of the Union.

' While saying he would not critique 'every utterance' by Trump, McConnell said he thinks 'America's exceptional, America is different, we don't operate in any way the way the Russians do. I think there's a clear distinction here that all Americans understand, and no, I would not have characterized it that way. ' 'I obviously don't see this issue the same way he does.

' Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday denied that Trump's comments were a false equivalency between Putin's actions and those of US leaders, adding that Trump was trying to reset the U. Relationship with Russia, as he promised in the campaign. 'If we were able to work with Russia to hunt down and destroy ISIS and confront radical Islamic terrorism, that would be a good thing,' Pence said on NBC's 'Meet the Press. ' 'What you have in President Trump is someone who is not going to look in the rearview mirror so much as looking out the windshield.

' The Kremlin had no immediate comment. The Trump administration on Thursday revised recent U. Sanctions that had unintentionally prevented American companies from exporting certain consumer electronic products to Russia.

The change allows companies to deal with Russia's security service, which licenses such exports under Russian law. The products were not intended to be covered by the sanctions the Obama administration imposed on Dec. Intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the presidential election. The White House denied it was easing sanctions. Also last week, the U.

Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley condemned Russia's 'aggressive actions' in eastern Ukraine and warned Moscow that U. Sanctions imposed after its annexation of Crimea will remain until the peninsula is returned to Ukraine. But she tempered her criticism, saying it was 'unfortunate' that she had to condemn Russia in her first appearance at the U. Security Council.

'We do want to better our relations with Russia,' Haley said. 2017-02-05 10:54 3.8 (4.99/22). The Super Bowl of two years ago may be remembered as the most-watched television broadcast in US history – at least prior to Super Bowl LI – or for the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl win, or for the questionable call with just seconds remaining that blew Seattle’s last chance to score and resulted in said victory. On the other hand, it might also be remembered for being the last year where we saw a commercial like Carl’s Jr.’s spot for its All-Natural Burger featuring Charlotte McKinney.

In it, the self-described “[curvy] bombshell with big boobs” appears to be shopping naked at a farmer’s market, allowing the brand to make puns galore about going all natural, as well as to liken her posterior to a pert tomato – which even gets pinched by a lucky vendor. It also drew a parallel between her ample bosom and a pair of melons before the big reveal, which was that, of course, she was wearing short shorts and a bikini top all along. GoDaddy was another longtime offender, but, to be fair, has recently changed its tune. But it’s not hard to find plenty more examples of outright sexist Super Bowl ads from brands like Teleflora, which enlisted model Adriana Lima to remind guys that girls who receive flowers on Valentine’s Day are more likely to put out; Chrysler, which laid out in excruciating detail the nearly infinite ways in which women are nagging harpies; and Miller Lite.

It once showcased two beer-drinking women who forgot to button their shirts up all the way and got into a physical altercation because they couldn’t agree on the beer’s best feature and – spoiler alert – ripped each other’s clothes off in both water and wet cement because the writers weren’t clever enough to come up with a valid excuse for them to tumble into a mud pit. In the end, it turned out to be the fantasy of two barflies as their horrified female companions looked on, but, really, that latter detail was Miller throwing female viewers a bone as it high-fived the red-blooded American males in its target demo. It is as if for all of these years, Super Bowl advertisers have only been talking to men. And, over and over, appealing to their baser instincts, no less.

According to Nielsen, from 2011 to 2015, women made up nearly half the Super Bowl audience – between 45% and 47% each year. And when it came to Americans who planned to watch Super Bowl 50, that estimate was as high as eight in ten women.

What’s more, women are estimated to control as much as 85% of household spending decisions. But then in 2016, something remarkable happened Last year, not a single Super Bowl advertiser aired a commercial that objectified women. Instead, we saw Helen Mirren advocate responsible drinking on behalf of Budweiser, Amy Schumer stand alongside Seth Rogen as his running mate and presumed equal for Bud Light and Serena Williams encourage the audience to #DefyLabels for Mini. You Raise Me Up Sheet Music Free Violin more.

For his part, Patrick Hopf, president of marketing platform SourceKnowledge, argued Super Bowl advertising has evolved over the last 20 years to become oriented to a wider viewership because in part of this diverse audience. “It’s no longer geared exclusively towards male sports fans, but funnier and willing to pull on the heartstrings,” he claims. Indeed, Matthew Quint, director of the Center on Global Brand Leadership at Columbia Business School, said he thinks overtly sexualized advertising is on the wane overall and it is a trend that is likely to continue. But that’s not to say the Super Bowl Ad Class of 2016 was perfect. In fact, Kat Gordon, founder of The 3% Conference, which champions creative female talent and leadership, said while there isn't as much overt sexism in ads, women are still noticeably absent from most Super Bowl spots. Case in point from Super Bowl 50: 'Brands seem to have gotten the memo that women watch the game in almost equal numbers as men and drive more social media sharing about the ads than men.

They also typically influence consumer spending at higher rates than men,” Gordon said. “Yet, as recently as [2015], many ads objectified or sexualized women during Super Bowl spots. The good news is they've stopped. The bad news is they don't seem to have found a way to incorporate women into the brand message at all or in more than a sidekick role. There's huge opportunity for brands to invite more consumers into their messages via Super Bowl ads.

The smart ones -- Mini, Intuit, PayPal, Bud Light -- are doing just that. ' Although it is perhaps worth noting Gordon made this comment on January 18, which was before many of the ads below had been released. Further, Tiffany Warren, senior vice president and chief diversity officer at advertising agency Omnicom, said her take -- as of February 1 -- was that Super Bowl ads were “pretty safe this year” and it seems the commercials have returned to more standard Super Bowl fare. “They’re definitely not targeted towards women,” she said. “Maybe the household products are when you look at Persil with Mr. Professional – that’s clearly targeted toward housewives, but in terms of professional women, there are none targeted toward me even though they’re all products I would use.” Warren makes a valid point.

The Class of 2017 isn't otherwise flawless This year is not without issue, for instance when the Yellow Tail Guy asks model Ellie Gonsalves if she wants to “touch [his] Roo” in Yellow Tail’s Big Game Commercial. Then there is Paramount Pictures’ Ghost in the Shell trailer which is arguably more of the same – but it’s also technically a movie ad and not strictly Super Bowl creative. And, at this point, the WeatherTech teaser could go either way – it appears there’s a woman in a lead role, but she’s also – ahem – dressed like a woman, isn’t she, President Trump? Despite these spots, because we had a fully clothed Mirren in 2016 and zero McKinneys, Bar Refaelis or Kate Uptons, an argument can be made that Super Bowl 50 marked the beginning of a shift – and the spots and teasers released as of the Friday before Super Bowl 51 indicate progress continues this year.

As noted above, they may not always hit the mark, but Super Bowl advertisers are speaking to women and including women in lead roles in greater numbers than ever before. Then there is the curious case of Mr.

Clean ’s Cleaner of Your Dreams. Which has turned the age old brand ambassador into a sexpot, driving 5.1 million views on YouTube since its release on January 26, indicating that it has surely hit at least a few brand objectives so far. Although is male objectification much of a move forward? Per marketing analytics firm Origami Logic, which called it a “memorable 30-second commercial,” the video indeed has mixed reviews, receiving more than 16,000 likes and 2,200 dislikes, which are both several times more than any other Super Bowl ad on YouTube this year. This speaks to Gordon’s point about brands still figuring out how to speak to women during the Super Bowl.

It’s also certainly not the first Super Bowl advertiser to objectify a man, remember David Beckham and H&M – but, if nothing else, it demonstrates Procter & Gamble knows women are watching – and buying - and it is acknowledging them, for better or worse. Then there’s Audi, which, on February 1, released Daughter, an ad advocating the presumably unprecedented Super Bowl topic of pay equality. A story in the New York Post noted the timing of the message, which was surely in the works long before election results were in, makes it look an awful lot like Audi was banking on a Clinton presidency. And while I hate to give credence to an argument diminishing pay equality as valid message in and of itself. The message however would perhaps be more poignant if America was under the care of President Clinton instead of Trump however. And even if the message amounts to no more than pandering to women’s brains, it has driven 5.3 million views on YouTube and is certainly a step up from Hyundai’s Ryanville last year in which women’s problems seemingly begin with not being able to stop staring at the dreamboat that is Ryan Reynolds and end with advanced braking technology. Women in lead roles And here’s where it starts to get really interesting.

There are at least four Super Bowl 51 spots so far with women in lead roles. Turkish anti-terrorism police stand by their armoured vehicle during an operation to arrest people over alleged links to the Islamic State group, in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, early Sunday, Feb. (Mahir Alan/Dha-Depo Photos via AP) ISTANBUL – Turkey's anti-terrorism police have detained over 440 people for alleged links to the Islamic State group, the state-run agency reported Sunday. The Anadolu Agency said 60 IS suspects, the vast majority of them foreigners, were taken into custody early Sunday in the capital, Ankara.

It said a total of 445 people were detained in simultaneous pre-dawn police operations that spanned several cities, including Istanbul and Gaziantep, near the border with Syria. The largest operation was in the southeast province of Sanliurfa, where police took into custody more than 100 suspects from multiple addresses and found materials relating to Islamic State militants.

Security forces also apprehended nine suspects who were allegedly preparing an attack in the northwestern city of Izmir. Anadolu did not give the nationalities of all those detained but there were 10 minors among the foreigners detained in Istanbul and the northwestern province of Kocaeli.

Turkey, which last year endured a failed coup attempt and dozens of bloody attacks linked to IS or Kurdish militants, has been stepping up its anti-terrorism efforts. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a New Year Eve mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people. It claims to have multiple cells in Turkey. Turkey is a member of the NATO alliance and the U. S-led coalition against IS. It shares borders with Syria and Iraq, two war-torn nations at the heart of the fight against IS militants. Turkish forces have been deployed in Syria since August with the aim of clearing a border patch of IS militants and Syrian Kurdish fighters that Ankara considers related to its own Kurdish insurgency.

Some of those taken into custody Sunday reportedly were active in conflict zones and engaged in recruitment efforts for IS, relaying its propaganda over social media. 2017-02-05 09:37 10.0 (4.20/22). Well, congratulations Tom Brady, because you've just won the hearts of mothers everywhere. In the build-up to the big game, lots of questions have centered around Tom Brady's father, Tom Brady Sr. It started when Sr. Spoke out against Goodell and the 'witch hunt' that was Deflategate. It continued when Tom reportedly banned his father from speaking to the media, and then culminated when Brady got emotional speaking about his father's influence.

Tom Brady gets emotional when asked who his hero is. Pic.twitter.com/wFL299bieG And now, it's his mom's turn. The night before Super Bowl 51, the two Toms locked Galynn in a 'sandwich kiss'. Sandwich kiss for Mom at Picture Day!!! A photo posted by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on Feb 4, 2017 at 4:04pm PST D'aww 2017-02-05 09:32 0.0 (3.63/22). Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, the NFL's top free-agent acquisition this past season, will play Super Bowl LI with a fracture in his left fibula that he suffered in the NFC Championship Game, according to sources.

Mack immediately will go down in Super Bowl lore, along with former Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood, who played in Super Bowl XIV with a broken fibula, Charles Woodson, who played in Super Bowl XXVII after having surgery for a crack in his right fibula a month earlier and Terrell Owens who played in Super Bowl XXXIX with a fractured fibula injury and torn ligament in his right ankle that he suffered seven weeks before the game. One source said that if this were the regular season, Mack could miss six to eight weeks, but he will be out there Sunday, with concern running high among Atlanta officials. The Falcons are confident Mack will hold up in pass-blocking, but they are uncertain if he will be effective on downfield blocks, or if his leg will hold up. 'Getting him a chance to see him practice at full speed on Wednesday, Thursday was really important for me,' Falcons coach Dan Quinn told ESPN's Ed Werder on Saturday. 'I wanted to make sure he could go do his thing and just really fly and haul. He's such a unique player because of the quickness he plays with so I was pleased to see that.

We held him the week prior to heal and get right. I was pleased he got the work it. It was totally by design.

We were going to give him half his normal reps on Wednesday and Thursday and let him do the normal Friday and that's how we laid out the week for him. It went exactly like we thought. ' Mack will receive a pain-killing injection to help him get through the game, per sources. The fracture occurred above the plate that Mack had inserted in his left leg after he broke his fibula in 2014. The plate might have been a blessing, helping to support a leg that suffered what one source describe as a 'chip fracture. ' Mack didn't practice the week after the NFC Championship game, then was limited in practice this past week. ET Fox • What you need to know • FiveThirtyEight predictions • Quiz: Who should you root for?

'I just know his toughness and strength is so great,' Quinn said earlier this week. 'The good thing is, I know he's feeling better than he did in the NFC Championship Game. But yeah, I'm concerned. I'm not panicked, but I'm concerned.

' Mack initially was hurt in the second quarter of the NFC Championship game win against the Packers, exited for one play, then re-entered the game and played until sitting out the final series. Ben Garland is his backup. 'This game, because of multiple fronts by New England, requires a lot of prep work by the center,' Quinn said. 'Identifying this look, this front, this player's positioning, they (Mack and Garland) spend a lot of time in the film room together normally. And I would say it's been even more these two weeks because this opponent requires even more. ' 2017-02-05 07:24 2.3 (3.31/22).

SANAA, Yemen – The leader of Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen has released an audio recording in which he describes President Donald Trump as the 'White House's new fool' and says a recent U. Raid against the group killed 25 people, including 11 women and children. Addressing his followers in the recording, which emerged late Saturday, Qassim al-Rimi says: 'The White House's new fool has received a painful blow at your hands in his first outing on your land. ' Al-Rimi identifies all 25 purported victims of the Jan. 29 raid and claims that scores of U. Soldiers were killed or wounded. The recording's authenticity could not be immediately verified, but the voice was similar to that of previous recordings by al-Rimi.

Military says a Navy SEAL was killed in the raid. 2017-02-05 09:37 3.2 (3.19/22).

Australia's prime minister has ruled out any deal to get the United States to honour an agreement to resettle hundreds of Muslim refugees. Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull on Sunday also dismissed a Nine Network television network journalist's suggestion that he should be offended that White House spokesman Sean Spicer has repeatedly called him 'Trumbull' in press briefings. Turnbull said: 'The important thing is results. ' Spicer said US President Donald Trump has agreed to honour an Obama administration deal to resettle up to 1,250 asylum seekers rejected by Australia. Trump made the agreement during a conversation with Turnbull last weekend, but has since tweeted, 'I will study this dumb deal! ' Turnbull said Trump had asked for nothing in return for resettling the mostly Muslim refugees from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Australia pays the impoverished Pacific countries of Nauru and Papua New Guinea to keep the refugees in camps. 'Absolutely not,' Turnbull said.

'It's a deal obviously that President Trump has said he wouldn't have entered into, but he has committed to honour it. ' Turnbull said there would be no link between the refugee resettlement and any future US request for military help in the Middle East or the South China Sea. Australia is one of the largest contributors to the US-led military campaign in Iraq and Syria. Australia has resisted US pressure to conduct freedom of navigation exercises close to artificial islands created by China in the contested South China Sea. 'We assess all requests for military assistance on their merits and there is no linkage at all between an arrangement relating to refugee resettlement and any other matters,' Turnbull said.

The Obama administration agreed to resettle Australia's refugees after Australia agreed in September last year to accept Costa Rican refugees fleeing drug wars. AP 2017-02-05 09:46 1.6 (3.14/22). MANSOURA, Egypt – The father of an Egyptian man accused of attacking French soldiers guarding Paris' Louvre museum says he trusts the French judiciary to find out the truth behind his son's alleged involvement. Reda Refaie al-Hamahmy tells The Associated Press late Saturday that his 28-year-old son Abdullah is not a terrorist and that he leads a normal life with his wife and infant son. Speaking at the family home in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, north of Cairo, the father said 'if he is convicted, God be with us. But if he is innocent, they owe us an apology. ' The Paris prosecutor's office says the attacker was shot four times Friday after injuring a soldier patrolling an underground mall near the famous museum but his injuries are no longer life-threatening.

2017-02-05 10:36 3.2 (3.09/22). BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's government on Sunday repealed an emergency decree that decriminalizes some official misconduct following massive demonstrations and condemnation from abroad. The government led by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu originally approved the ordinance in the middle of the night Wednesday, with no input from Parliament. After repealing the decree, Grindeanu asked the justice minister to prepare a draft law to be sent to Parliament for debate and approval.

The center-left Social Democratic Party has a parliamentary majority with a junior partner. President Klaus Iohannis then needs to sign off on the legislation. The country's Constitutional Court is still scheduled to rule on the legality of the original decree. It decriminalized official misconduct if the funds involved were worth less than 200,000 lei ($47,800), which critics said would just encourage officials to steal on the job up to that point.

Grindeanu said the draft should respect the court's rulings, European directives and Romania's criminal code. Protesters demonstrated over the ordinance for a sixth straight day Sunday in the capital, Bucharest. The vast majority have expressed anger that the measure watered down the country's fight against corrupt officials, including the leader of the ruling Social Democrats' party. For the first time, several hundred people rallied Sunday in support of the government outside the presidential palace.

In an abrupt about-face, Grindeanu said Saturday he would repeal the decree at an emergency meeting because he didn't want to 'divide Romania. Romania in this moment seems broken in two.

' Liviu Dragnea, head of the ruling Social Democrats, is one of those who could have benefited from the decree. He is banned by law from serving as prime minister because he was handed a two-year prison sentence in April 2016 for vote-rigging. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 11:08 3.3 (2.70/22). Days after the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Iran, Vice President Mike Pence issued a stern warning to the country in an interview with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. “Iran would do well not to test the resolve of this new president,” Pence said on “This Week” Sunday, adding that Iran should “think twice about their continued hostile and belligerent actions.” When Stephanopoulos pressed the vice president on what actions by Iran would test Trump’s resolve, the vice president specifically mentioned the country's ballistic missile tests and military support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. Asked how the U.

Would respond to another provocation, Pence answered that the “president said everything’s on the table” -- including military action. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Iran Friday, one day after Trump tweeted that the country is 'on notice' for testing its missile test. The economic restrictions will target 13 individuals and 12 entities in what senior administration officials described as a direct response to Iran's missile test and its 'provocative' behavior.

Iranian officials dismissed the sanctions and vowed to 'respond proportionately and reciprocally to any move that targets the interests of the Iranian people.” Pence told Stephanopoulos on ABC's 'This Week' that Iran's provocative tone is an insult to the nuclear deal the country reached with the Obama administration, five other major powers, and the European Union. “Iran should be standing up and be essentially working with the world community. But instead, what we see is this kind of belligerent and hostile behavior, defiant behavior to the world community,” the vice president said. President Trump made a similar argument, tweeting Friday that “Iran is playing with fire. They don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!” Trump criticized the Iran deal heavily throughout the campaign, but his Cabinet picks have taken a softer tone.

In testimony at their Senate confirmation hearings, Defense Secretary James Mattis said America must “live up to her word,” and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson only went so far as to call for a “full review’ of the nuclear agreement. Given the somewhat contradictory views, Stephanopoulos pressed Pence on the administration’s policy toward Iran. “The president and I and our administration think it was a terrible deal,” the vice president said. “We're evaluating [what to do next] as we speak.” Ultimately, Pence said, the decision is President Trump’s. “The president will make that decision in the days ahead, and he'll listen to all of his advisers, whether it be Secretary Tillerson or whether it be Secretary Mattis. We'll take all the inputs.” 2017-02-05 11:03 0.0 (2.43/22). Turkish police on Sunday detained hundreds of suspected members of the Islamic State extremist group in nationwide raids, just over a month after an attack on an Istanbul nightclub claimed by the jihadists.

Among around 400 detained in the biggest operation so far against IS after the New Year attack were foreigners and those suspected of planning attacks in Turkey, the Dogan and Anadolu news agencies reported. The operation around the country saw 150 suspects detained in Sanliurfa in the southeast and 47 in the nearby city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border which has a known jihadist presence, Dogan said. Sixty suspects, mostly foreigners, were detained in four districts in the capital Ankara. Dozens more arrests were made in provinces ranging from Bursa in the west to Bingol in the east.

In the usually peaceful Aegean city of Izmir, nine people suspected of travelling to and from Syria and planning attacks in the city were detained, Anadolu said. Eighteen people were detained in Istanbul and the neighbouring province of Kocaeli on suspicion of planning attacks.

Another 14 foreigners were due to be deported, including 10 children. Thirty-nine people were killed, mainly foreigners, on New Year's night when a gunman went on the rampage inside a plush Istanbul night club. IS claimed the massacre, its first clear claim for a major attack in Turkey although it had been blamed for several bombings in 2016. Police detained the suspected attacker, Abdulgadir Masharipov, an Uzbek national, on January 16 after over two weeks on the run and authorities say he has confessed to the massacre. The Hurriyet daily reported after the attack that IS also planned a simultaneous New Year's strike in Ankara but dropped the plot after arrests by the Turkish authorities.

Turkey was in 2016 shaken by a string of attacks blamed on IS and Kurdish militants that left hundreds dead. It is also engaged in a battle with IS to take the Syrian town of Al-Bab, in the fiercest fighting yet of the Turkish military's campaign inside Syria that started in August. 2017-02-05 06:38 0.0 (2.23/22). Fans who want to watch the Egypt vs.

Cameroon football match live online will be able to catch streaming video of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and see which nation emerges as best on the continent. The teams will meet Sunday in Stade de l’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon, with the AFCON trophy on the line. Kickoff in the championship match is scheduled for 8 p.m. Local time (7 p.m. The match will be available on a number of television broadcast partners (including Eurosport 2 for those in Europe) and will also be streamed live online (a link to streaming video for the 2017 AFCON final can be found below).

Those who watch the Egypt vs. Cameroon football match live online will see an uphill battle for the Cameroon squad. The Egyptian team has conceded just one goal over the course of the entire tournament, and are looking to go a perfect three-for-three in the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Pharaohs have reached the final on two previous occasions, 1986 and 2008, and won both times. As B BC analyst Matthew Kenyon noted, the pace of the game could be determined by how willing Cameroon would be to attack the Egyptian defense. “So it is Cameroon who will dictate what sort of game we get.

If they decide to go for it, we could have as thrilling a contest as the semi-final in which Egypt overcame Burkina Faso on penalties,” he wrote. “If they want to keep it tight, well” Tonight AFCON FINAL: Egypt???????? Cameroon 2100 @EgyptNT @FecafootOfficie #AFCON2017 pic.twitter.com/cPZymmXnaC — DiskiStyle (@DiskiStyle) February 5, 2017 John Bennett also picked Egypt to life the trophy, though noted in his analysis for the BBC that Cameroon has been exceeding expectations since the tournament began.

“Cameroon were written off before they had even arrived in Gabon and then in every round, including the group stage. Somehow though, they managed to knock out the hosts and two of the favourites – Senegal and Ghana.

So it’s very difficult to bet against the Indomitable Lions in the final. “They have a strong team spirit which is reflected in the way they defend from the front.

Michael Ngadeu and Adolphe Teikeu are a solid centre-back pairing but every single player puts in the maximum effort to protect Fabrice Ondoa’s goal.” But fans who watch the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final could see an unlikely ending, as the tournament has been full of surprises. Senegal, which came into the AFCON as a heavy favorite to at least reach the final, failed to advance beyond the quarterfinal. Ghana, another heavy favorite for the tournament, lost to Burkina Faso in Saturday’s third-place match.

Burkina Faso beat Ghana to third in Afcon by #BBCAfrica via @c0nvey — Formen Mathebula (@paform75) February 5, 2017 “Algeria were undercooked, Ivory Coast overrated, Senegal froze, Ghana were too conservative, and DR Congo and Burkina Faso were more unlucky than anyone,” he wrote. “Tunisia and Morocco threw in bad performances when it mattered and so we are left with the two sides who behaved as if they wanted it the most. It reflects very well on the finalists, but not the competition as a whole.” Fans who want to watch the Egypt vs. Cameroon football match live online can click here for streaming video links for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final. [Featured Image by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images] 2017-02-05 09:54 2.8 (2.08/22).

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - The travel ban on refugees and citizens of seven countries has rattled many immigrant families, but its effects are perhaps most widespread among the Iranian-American community. Census Bureau estimates there are nearly 370,000 Iranian immigrants living in the United States. And while Tehran and Washington have a lengthy history of friction, personal ties between residents of the two countries have held strong. Many Iranian Americans travel back to visit family or bring aging parents to join them in the U.

Iranian American supermarket supervisor Alan Tahmasebi says he and his wife have spent more than $7,000 on green card applications for their parents. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the ban following a lawsuit by Washington state and Minnesota that said Trump's order is causing significant harm to residents and effectively mandates discrimination. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 11:01 0.7 (2.08/22). Iranian media reported on Sunday that the country has lifted its ban on U. Wrestlers, allowing them to participate in the Freestyle World Cup later this month.

The report by the semi-official Fars news agency quotes Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi saying that the ban was lifted after the 'discriminative restrictions' on Iranian nationals travelling to the U. Was suspended by a federal judge. The wrestlers were originally banned from the Feb. 16-17 competition after President Donald Trump temporarily suspended travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. The Trump administration is now appealing to reinstate the travel ban.

On Sunday a federal appeals court denied the Justice Department's request for an immediate reinstatement of Trump's ban on accepting certain travelers and refugees. Formal arguments in the case will begin on Monday. The wrestling competition will take place in the Iranian city of Kermanshah. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 2017-02-05 06:35 3.6 (2.06/22). Since President Donald Trump opened the gold-infused ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago resort almost 12 years ago, it has been a popular rental for the American Red Cross, hospitals, medical researchers and other charities for fundraising galas where the wealthiest donors are wined and dined, often netting $1 million or more. But Trump's election puts charities in an awkward position over choosing the resort — recently dubbed the president's Winter White House — for events they may have planned more than a year in advance.

With Trump placing a moratorium on refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries and his promises to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, activists are pressuring charities such as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic to move or cancel their galas this month. As the International Red Cross held a gala fundraiser Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, about three thousand demonstrators marched nearby to protest Trump's now-blocked executive order temporarily limiting immigration.

The event ended peacefully, and there were no arrests. So far, no known Mar-a-Lago charity events have been moved or canceled. More than 2,000 people, including faculty and students from Harvard Medical School, have signed an online petition demanding that Boston-based Dana-Farber move or cancel its Feb. 18 'Discovery Celebration,' featuring a performance by Grammy Award winner David Foster. The cheapest ticket is $1,250.

Petition organizer George Karandinos, a 30-year-old Harvard medical student from Houston, said he understands that canceling or moving the Dana-Farber event would be difficult, 'but they can make a public moral stand that is in line with their stated values' of diversity and supporting scientific exchanges across borders. Plus, he said, a cancellation might attract additional donors.

A similar open letter, signed by more than 1,100 including doctors and medical students, demands that Cleveland Clinic move its Feb. 25 'Reflections of Versailles: A Night in the Hall of Mirrors' gala. Its cheapest ticket also is $1,250. Both Dana-Farber and the Cleveland Clinic said they won't move or cancel their events, but added that it doesn't mean they support the president's policies. Applications filed with the town of Palm Beach show Dana-Farber expects to raise $1.25 million after paying expenses of $250,000.

The Red Cross says it will make $950,000 after spending $400,000. A portion of those expenses would go to Mar-a-Lago. The town did not immediately release Cleveland Clinic's application.

Dana-Farber President Dr. Glimcher issued a statement saying she shares the protesters' concerns about the immigration moratorium and what it will mean for doctors, scientists, students and patients from the affected countries, but that the protesters are unrealistic.

'The forthcoming fundraiser in Palm Beach is planned many months in advance, and raises critical funds to support this lifesaving work. Contracts have been signed, and a large number of people have committed to attend.

Cancelling the event outright would only deny much-needed resources for research and care,' she said. The Cleveland Clinic issued a similar statement. 'The sole purpose of our event in Florida is to raise funds for important research to advance cardiovascular medicine that improves patient care,' spokeswoman Eileen Sheil said. 'In no way is this connected to anything else but helping patients. The event has been held there for years, well before the election.

' Mar-a-Lago director Bernd Lembcke didn't return a call seeking comment. The Trump Organization didn't respond to an emailed request for comment.

Photos of the ballroom complex, including the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom, show large open spaces lighted by chandeliers and surrounded by massive archways and columns. Bathroom fixtures are gold-plated. The walls, ceiling and columns have intricate decorations gilded with gold leaf. Many organizations have been using the venue for years to host their wealthiest donors.

Trump opened the 20,000 square-foot ballroom complex in late 2005 — the inaugural event was the reception for his wedding to Melania Trump. He told reporters the complex cost $35 million, but Palm Beach building records indicate the cost was lower, likely no more than $15 million. Mary Simboski, who teaches in Boston University's fundraising management program, said that while she could not speak to any specific event, major galas like the ones the Cleveland Clinic, Red Cross and Dana-Farber are throwing take a year to plan and are a major part of an organization's fundraising operation. Picking a site like Mar-a-Lago often comes down to location, size, cost and availability, she said, and has nothing to do with politics. Projecting that the groups could perhaps garner more financial support by canceling the event is wishful thinking, she said.

'Hope is not a strategy,' Simboski said. 2017-02-05 10:38 3.4 (2.06/22).

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Sergio Garcia shot a final-round 3-under-par 69 to win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday after holding the tournament lead since the opening round. The Spaniard, who had never posted a top-10 finish in his previous seven Desert Classic appearances, finished on a 19 under 269, three strokes ahead of Open champion and top-ranked European player Henrik Stenson (69). Denmark's Lasse Jensen, whose 65 was the low round of the day, finished tied for third with England's Tyrrell Hatton (67). It was Garcia's first European Tour win since the 2014 Qatar Masters.

In the interim, he also won the Byron Nelson Classic on the PGA Tour last year. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2017-02-05 09:48 3.4 (2.06/22). By Manuel Mogato and Clare Baldwin MANILA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The Philippine government derided Catholic bishops on Sunday as 'out of touch' after they used weekend sermons to attack a war on drugs they said had created a 'reign of terror' for the poor. Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had dramatised President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign and, instead of criticising, should focus on contributing to the 'reign of peace' that innocent people now felt, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said. The church assailed bloodshed that had caused suffering, and said killing people was not the way to deal with illegal drugs. In a pastoral letter read out on Saturday and repeated to congregations at churches on Sunday, bishops said it was disturbing that many people in the majority Catholic nation were indifferent to the killings, or even approved of them. Abella, a former pastor, said the war on drugs had made the country safer, 'far from the 'terror' the bishops paint rather dramatically. ' 'The officials of the CBCP are apparently out of touch with the sentiments of the faithful who overwhelmingly support the changes in the Philippines,' Abella said in a statement.

More than 7,600 people have been killed since Duterte unleashed a ferocious crackdown seven months ago, more than 2,500 in police raids and sting operations. Human rights groups believe many other deaths that police had attributed to vigilantes were carried out by assassins likely colluding with police. The government and police vehemently deny extrajudicial killings have occurred. The CBCP's message was read at numerous churches in Manila attended by Reuters, though not all.

Church sources said the Archdiocese of Manila issued a circular telling parishes to read the pastoral letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters prior to the first readings. The drugs war is a contentious issue, with some bishops keen to make a stand and others hesitant to risk a backlash by criticising a campaign that enjoys broad public support. Duterte has routinely attacked the Church, and as recently as this week called for a 'showdown' with priests whom he has accused of having wives, engaging in homosexual acts, graft and child abuse. In a speech late on Sunday, Duterte shrugged off the bishops' letter and said there would be no let-up in his campaign. 'You Catholics, if you believe in your priests and bishops, you stay with them.

If you want to go to heaven, then go to them,' he said. 'Now, if you want to end drugs. I will go to hell, come join me.

' 'GIVE THEM A CHANCE' Katrina Rufael, an office worker who attended mass at the Baclaran Redemptorist Church, said the pastoral letter was justified. 'We have to oppose the war on drugs, because we cannot just put an end to the life of people who have made mistakes,' she said. 'Let's give them a chance to change. ' Elsewhere in Manila, at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, a packed congregation listened attentively to the plea to stop the killings. 'Life is a gift from God, and only God can take it away,' said Ligaya Reyes, a government worker. 'It was a strong statement, it should have been made a long time ago when the killing began.

' The statement was also heard at a chapel in the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters on Saturday. Not all agreed with it. 'They're not being killed if they just surrender,' said a policeman's wife, who gave her name as Dolores and said the PNP had been unfairly depicted as murderers for shooting drugs suspects resisting arrest.

'What the president's doing right now. He's doing good.

Because for the common people, it's our safety. ' (Reporting by Manuel Mogato and Clare Baldwin, with additional reporting by Ronn Bautista and Karen Lema; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Ian Geoghegan) 2017-02-05 09:44 0.4 (2.06/22). Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Sunday that the military is ready to respond with airstrikes and new offensives if communist rebels launch attacks after both sides lifted separate cease-fires and he announced he was scrapping peace talks with the guerrillas.

Duterte, speaking at a news conference, called the rebels 'terrorists,' as months of steady progress in talks brokered by Norway rapidly turned hostile after New People's Army rebels killed six soldiers and kidnapped two others in fresh violence that enraged the president. 'It seems to me that these terrorists want another 50 years of war, of killing of Filipinos,' Duterte told reporters after attending the wake of three of the slain soldiers in southern Cagayan de Oro city. 'I don't want a bloody thing, but if they choose to do it, fine,' the tough-talking president said. 'With my lifting of the cease-fire, they can begin their attacks and we are prepared and I will use the assets. We have so many planes now, we have jets, I will drop all (the bombs). ' Duterte lifted the government's 6-month-old cease-fire with the rebels Friday and ordered troops to prepare for new fighting after the guerrillas abandoned their own truce two days earlier and killed six soldiers in fresh violence. He angrily said some of the slain soldiers were killed like pigs and raked with gunfire.

He said Saturday that he was scrapping the talks with the rebels and would order government negotiators not to participate in negotiations for a joint cease-fire accord scheduled this month in Norway, adding that 'peace with the communists might not come in this generation. ' The rebels have yet to react to Duterte's moves. Despite his tough talk, Duterte asked thousands of guerrillas to abandon the nearly half a century of bloody rebellion in the countryside with an offer of land reform and housing.

'I'm offering you peace,' he said. 'You should just come down and I will look for money to place you in settlements and I will proceed with the land reform. ' Duterte said that several rebel leaders who were temporarily freed to join the peace talks in Europe should immediately return to the Philippines and go back to prison, warning that he would cancel their passports and order them to be arrested.

The rebel leaders, he said, could also apply for asylum in Europe and opt to die far from their homeland. Despite his tough stance, Duterte said Saturday that he may reconsider his decision if there was a compelling reason, but he did not elaborate. His adviser on the peace talks, Jesus Dureza, suggested Sunday that the president's decision may still change. 'At the moment, he has clearly spoken on the directions we all in government should take,' Dureza said in a statement. 'As I always say, the road to just and lasting peace is not easy to traverse. There are humps and bumps, and curves and detours along the way. What is important is that we all stay the course.

' The setback in the talks is the latest reality check for Duterte, whose crackdown on illegal drugs, which has killed thousands of drug suspects since he took office in June, has also hit a dilemma. Duterte prohibited the 170,000-strong national police and the National Bureau of Investigation, another key law enforcement agency, from enforcing his campaign amid an extortion scandal that was sparked by the killing of a South Korean businessman by police officers involved in the anti-drug fight. Duterte has said he will enlist the military to support the crackdown, now in the hands of a small anti-narcotics agency. That would put more pressure on government forces, who are carrying out an offensive against Muslim extremist groups in three battlefronts in the south and now have to prepare for a possible resumption of fighting with the communist rebels. 2017-02-05 09:09 0.0 (2.06/22).

Britain’s rail franchising system is failing passengers, MPs have warned. In a scathing report, the Commons Transport Select Committee said private operators are restricted in how much they can improve services and efficiency. The relationship between Network Rail – which owns and manages rail infrastructure – and train operating companies (TOCs) is “not as coordinated as it should be”, leading to higher fares and poor performance, the committee warned. We’re concerned about serious shortcomings in @transportgovuk ’s capability and capacity on #RailFranchising. Report: pic.twitter.com/8elOhv1QJr It urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to commission an independent review of its franchising functions, including the possibility of transferring enforcement powers to regulator the Office of Rail and Road. The report added that although there can be no “single template” for franchises, there is “merit” in procuring longer agreements covering smaller areas. There would be less financial risk to firms taking on smaller franchises, which may enable new firms to enter the market, according to the report.

A person buying a train ticket At the time of privatisation in the 1990s there were 25 franchises, compared with just 15 today. Transport user watchdog Transport Focus found that passenger satisfaction suffered a “significant decline” over the past 12 months. Fares rose by an average of 2.3% across Britain on January 2, sparking protests by public transport campaigners and trade unions.

Transport Select Committee chairman Louise Ellman said the current franchising model is “no longer fit for purpose”. View of rail tracks She went on: “While franchising enabled passenger growth and service improvements when it was first rolled out, passenger satisfaction with the railways is falling. “Its core objectives are no longer being met, potential benefits are being lost and the passenger is suffering through higher fares and continued underperformance.” The committee concluded that a wide restructuring of the system would be “prohibitively impractical” because of the burden on resources and the restrictions of existing agreements.

Instead, it recommended that as contracts expire, the DfT should consider whether they should be modified to “align better with the specific market they serve”. A lone rail passenger waiting at a station Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, claimed rail franchising is a “fiasco” which should be replaced by a publicly owned railway that “puts people before profit”. The DfT said £40 billion is being spent on upgrading the railways and the franchising system has brought major investment to help create one of the safest and fastest growing networks in Europe. A department spokesman added: “We can make improvements and the Transport Secretary has been clear that it will take new ways of working, more investment and better collaboration across the industry to tackle the challenges ahead.” The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing rail operators and Network Rail, insisted that passengers and taxpayers have benefited from franchising. View of Ouse Valley viaduct in Sussex Its chief executive, Paul Plummer, said: “Under franchising the railway has gone from costing taxpayers £2 billion a year in terms of day-to-day costs to now contributing £200 million, money which helps to fund the major rail upgrades making journeys more comfortable and reliable.” He added that the RDG supports work to evolve the system. 2017-02-05 06:24 3.1 (2.05/22). Overall, 49% say the Senate should vote to confirm Gorsuch, who is a federal judge.

That's roughly the same share that said so about Samuel Alito in 2005 and Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 shortly after their nominations were announced. Support for Gorsuch is just a hair below that of former President Barack Obama's selection for the same seat, Merrick Garland (52% supported a vote in favor), who did not receive a hearing or confirmation vote in the Senate. Read the complete CNN/ORC poll results About half say Gorsuch's ideological position is about right (49%), less than said so about Garland (56%). About a third, 34%, say they think Gorsuch will be too conservative, higher than the share who said so of other successful GOP nominees Alito (29%), John Roberts (24%) or Clarence Thomas (20%). Overall, though, 39% say they have a positive first impression of Gorsuch, significantly higher than the 24% who say they have a negative impression of him. More, 45%, said they had a positive first impression of Garland after his pick was announced last year and 54% felt positively about Roberts after his announcement. Republicans are broadly behind a vote in favor of Gorsuch (84% say the Senate should confirm him), while Democrats are mostly opposed (61% say he should not be confirmed).

The partisan divide was a bit less sharp on Garland, with 80% of Democrats in support of confirmation and 54% of Republicans opposed. Now, Democrats are more apt to say Gorsuch would be 'too conservative' on the bench (53% say so) than Republicans were to say that Garland would be 'too liberal' in March of last year shortly after his nomination was announced (44%).

About half (51%) say Senate Democrats would be justified if they used Senate procedures to block Gorsuch, only slightly higher than the 48% who said Senate Republicans would be justified in doing so with Obama's selection to replace Scalia before Garland was named as the then-president's pick. Assessing the Republican leaders in Congress who will manage Gorsuch's confirmation process, their approval ratings are on the rise. At the outset of this first period of GOP control of both houses of Congress and the White House since 2007, 39% approve of the way they're handling their jobs. That's the highest approval rating for GOP leadership since the CNN/ORC poll began asking in 2008, and above the 35% who approved shortly after they regained control of the House of Representatives in 2011. It falls well below the 60% who approved of Democratic leaders in Congress in 2009, however, as that party began a two-year stint in control of both houses of Congress and the White House.

Democratic leaders now hold a lower approval rating than Republicans, just 33% approve. This marks the first time in CNN/ORC polling dating back to 2008 that the Democratic leadership has an approval rating below that of the Republican leadership. The difference stems from perceptions of each party's leaders among their own faithful: Just 59% of Democrats approve of their party's leaders, compared with 77% of Republicans who approve of their leaders. The same poll found that 42% of Americans feel the media is being too critical of Trump, with 36% saying the media are providing fair treatment to the President and 22% believing that the media aren't being critical enough.

Republicans are especially skeptical about the President's coverage, with 85% saying the media are being too tough on Trump. Those figures are a sharp departure from assessments of media coverage during the early days of Obama's time in office. Back then, 55% felt the media was giving the new president a fair shake, 18% that media were too critical and 26% not critical enough. The CNN/ORC poll was conducted by telephone January 31 through February 2 among a random national sample of 1,002 adults. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, it is larger for subgroups.

2017-02-05 10:06 0.0 (2.03/22). The US Department of Defense is to buy another tranche of F-35 warrior jets from builder Lockheed Martin during a reduce price-per-plane than prior orders. In December, newly-elected US President Donald Trump pronounced a cost of a Pentagon’s many costly counterclaim programme was “out of control”. The new order, 90 jets for $8.5bn, brings a cost of any aircraft to about $95m, down from a prior $102m. Lockheed pronounced Mr Trump had “sharpened a concentration on pushing down a price”.

The US supervision expects to spend tighten to $400bn in a entrance decades to rise and buy 2,443 of a supersonic warrior jets. Lockheed, a primary contractor, and a partners including Northrop Grumman, United Technologies Corp’s Pratt Whitney, and a UK’s BAE Systems have been operative on building a some-more cost-effective supply chain. So, counterclaim analysts had approaching that orders would tumble in cost as prolongation rises. Lockheed Martin pronounced on Friday: “President Trump’s personal impasse in a F-35 module accelerated a negotiations and sensory a concentration on pushing down a price.” ‘Fair deal’ Shares of Lockheed fell neatly after a boss done his “out of control” Tweet in December, and afterwards fell again after Mr Trump complained about a troops executive during a news discussion a subsequent month. However, Lockheed’s shares have given recovered.

Pentagon F-35 plan conduct Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan pronounced a agreement was a “good and satisfactory understanding for a taxpayers, a US government, allies and industry”. The UK supervision has committed to shopping adult to 138 F-35s, and has already taken smoothness of during slightest 3 jets for analysis and testing. The F-35 programme has been stubborn by delays, and in 2014 an engine glow led to a education of a aircraft. 2017-02-05 08:48 2.1 (1.33/22).

A federal appeals court early Sunday denied the Trump administration’s request to reinstate the “extreme vetting” program to deny U. Entry by potential terrorists. The decision delivered a second blow to President Trump’s Jan.

27 order to hit the pause button on refugees and visitors coming from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — while the government develops better screening methods to identify terrorists. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Fransisco rejected the Justice Department ‘s emergency motion to immediately reinstate the program while a full appeal proceeds in court.

A federal judge in Seattle ruled against the program Friday, restoring the flow of visitors and refugees. Trump has predicted that his administration will ultimately prevail. For the safety of the country, we’ll win,” the president told reporters Saturday at a gala at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is spending the weekend. The appeals court said the Trump administration now must reply in support of the emergency motion by 3 p.m. 2017-02-05 10:21 4.8 (1.24/22).

NEW YORK — Taylor Swift’s pre-Super Bowl concert broke some news: She announced it may be her only concert of this year; she performed for the smallest number of fans in some time — 9,000 people is intimate for this pop star — and she sang her newest single live for the first time. She also made some references to football during the 90-minute show, telling the crowd about her early country-turned-pop hit, “You Belong With Me,” with lyrics about high school cheerleaders, bleachers and boys. “I felt like it might be appropriate,” she said. Swift rocked the night at Club Nomadic — starting late Saturday and ending early Sunday morning — wearing a sheer, short Versace dress and fresh bangs. The 27-year-old mostly performed songs from her Grammy-winning 2014 album “1989” and 2012’s “Red,” including pop smashes like “Shake It Off,” ”Blank Space,” ”Bad Blood,” ”Style,” ”We Are Never Getting Back Together,” ”22″ and “I Knew You Were Trouble.” “It’s good to be in Houston, Texas tonight,” she yelled. She worked the stage from the left to right, and strutted up the middle platform to sing closely to her feverish fans at the annual DIRECTV NOW Super Saturday Night — where past performers include Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. “I swear you don’t.

You don’t want it,” Swift said after fans begged for the towel she used to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Swift also debuted the live performance of “I Don’t Want to Live Forever,” her Top 5 duet with former One Direction member Zayn from the “Fifty Shades Darker” soundtrack. The crowd — full of Swift’s fans 18 and over — roared loudly, in hopes Zayn would appear. “He’s definitely not (here),” she assured them.

But she asked the audience to sing along, as she stripped the song to acoustic form, strumming her guitar. She also slowed things down when performing songs she wrote for others — saying it was one of her biggest accomplishments of the last year.

She sang a soft version “This Is What I Came For,” the EDM hit she wrote with former boyfriend Calvin Harris (Rihanna’s vocals are on the original). Swift also sang “Better Man,” a recent No.1 country hit she wrote for Grammy-winning group Little Big Town. Swift’s last tour was a stadium trek with 60,000 seats. The singer, who won the album of the year Grammy last year for her first official pop album “1989,” said the pre-Super Bowl show would likely be her only one this year. “As far as I know I’m only doing one show in 2017, and as far as I know, this is that show,” she said.

“You are attending 100 percent of my tour dates.” 2017-02-05 06:44 3.3 (1.06/22). PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The oceanic whitetip shark's declining status in the wild warrants listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, an arm of the federal government has determined. The shark is found around the world, mostly in open water, and the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife called on the government to list the species. The listing would be the most widespread shark listing in the U. The National Marine Fisheries Service said in a document published in the Federal Register in December that the sharks are indeed likely to become endangered in all or at least a significant portion of their range 'within the foreseeable future. ' Threats to the sharks include fishing pressure all over the world, as their fins are prized in Asian markets for use in soup. The sharks have declined by 80 to 90 percent in the Pacific Ocean since the 1990s, and 50 percent to 85 percent in the Atlantic Ocean since the 1950s, said Chelsey Young, a natural resource management specialist for the fisheries service.

'The oceanic whitetip has very large pectoral fins, and so they have fetched a high price on the international market in Asia,' Young said. 'It incentivized the fin trade. ' The fisheries service is collecting public comments about the shark's status until March and is expected to make a final decision in November. Listing the species as threatened would afford it protections aimed at recovery. The shark is also listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Additional protections would only help, said Lora Snyder, a campaign director for conservation group Oceana.

The group has also pushed for a broader ban on the U. Shark fin trade, which is already restricted. 'In order to truly combat the global trade of shark fins, which kills tens of millions of sharks every year, we need to pass a full ban in the U. On the buying and selling of shark fins,' Snyder said. Attacks on humans by the sharks are extremely rare. Oceanic whitetips are thought to be responsible for some of the deaths of sailors who were aboard the USS Indianapolis, a Navy cruiser that was sunk during World War II. But there have been only 10 documented non-provoked attacks on humans by the sharks, according to the Florida Museum, which collects records about shark attacks.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 10:58 2.0 (1.06/22). By Fatos Bytyci MITROVICA, Kosovo, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Local Serbs in Kosovo used bulldozers on Sunday to demolish a wall they built in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica, following weeks of tension over the issue between Kosovo and Serbia. The Serbs, who do not recognize Kosovo as a state, started constructing the wall in December, saying it was to protect against a landslip, but the Pristina government said the structure was an attempt to further divide the city along ethnic lines and should be destroyed.

Tensions have grown in recent weeks because of the wall and a train sent by Serbia carrying the slogan 'Kosovo is Serbia' which was stopped by Kosovo border police. Kosovo, backed by the U.

And major western European states, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade considers it part of its territory and supports the Serb minority. Serbia's president has accused the authorities in Pristina of wanting to start a war, while his Kosovo counterpart has accused Serbia of potentially using the example of Russia in Crimea to annex the northern part of Kosovo. 'Shame on them. They could have built three houses with this money,' one man, Jovo Ilic, said, watching two bulldozers destroying the wall. Italian Carabinieri were guarding the area as part of the NATO mission that still has a force stationed in Kosovo to keep the fragile peace.

The deal to destroy the two-metre tall concrete wall was reached following EU-mediated talks between the government in Pristina and Serb representatives. Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa had threatened local Serbs that if they did not take down the wall, his government would do it. Visiting the demolition site the European Union representative in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, said: 'I can assure (you) there will no walls here.

This shows that both parties can reach a deal when there is a political will. ' Kosovo Albanians make up more than 90 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million population. Northern Kosovo is home to a Serb minority of around 40,000 to 50,000 people. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Andrew Bolton) 2017-02-05 09:40 3.0 (1.06/22). Walter Mazzarri is confident he can bring the best out of January signing M'Baye Niang and hopes the Frenchman can stay at Vicarage Road beyond his loan spell. Niang starred in Watford's 2-1 victory over 10-man Burnley on Saturday, producing an assist and scoring on his home debut to steer the Hornets to back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since September. The 22-year-old joined the club from Serie A giants AC Milan after falling out with manager Vincenzo Montella and despite showing promise in the past, his attitude had been questioned.

But Mazzarri is confident Niang can fulfil his potential under his stewardship. M'Baye Niang scores for Watford in their narrow 2-1 Premier League win against Burnley The 22-year-old, on loan from Serie A giants AC Milan, wheels away to celebrate his goal 'I treat him as if he were my son,' the Watford boss said. 'Speaking with him every day, of course. I ask him for suggestions and I think he listens to me as well. A player with his qualities, if he has made mistakes in the past the important thing is that he doesn't do it anymore and he keeps following my suggestions.

'Niang did very well against Arsenal, also because he is a player that did not play a lot with Milan this season. But he still needs to get the perfect condition I want. 'I'm (also) happy with the midfield, especially in the first half. Tom Cleverley and Etienne Capoue, they managed to hold the midfield - but I don't like to talk about single players, I want to talk about the full team in general.' Watford lie 10th in the Premier League and will look to maintain that position, having finished 13th in the previous campaign. Mazzarri, however, is not focused on his side's league position and wants to improve the mentality of his players. 'I don't like looking too much at the table,' the Italian added.

Walter Mazzarri is confident he can bring the best out of January signing Niang Watford manager Mazzarri is confident Niang can fulfil his potential under his stewardship 'But the only time I look at the table is because it's important to reach our objective of staying in the Premier League. I look at the performance and I want my team to grow with the performance, the mentality and the way of playing.' Burnley, on the other hand, suffered another away defeat - their 10th of the season - and were dealt an early blow by Jeff Hendrick's dismissal. But Clarets manager Sean Dyche was encouraged by their second-half display and is not concerned about their form on the road.

'To come and deliver a second half like that is tremendous and it shows a lot about the character, the stomach and belief of the team to go and be effective,' he said. 'And no baggage for this away thing. We're in the Premier League.

It's not easy to be rolling up and getting points away from home. That's the challenge. 'We haven't won a game - so what?' He joined the club from Serie A giants AC after falling out with manager Vincenzo Montella 2017-02-05 09:33 2.5 (1.06/22).

A bettor using his phone app put $1.1 million on the Atlanta Falcons plus 3 points in the Super Bowl, part of an influx of money that could make Sunday a record day in Las Vegas sports books. Sports books around the city said betting was strong leading up to the game, with a good chance the action will top the record $132.5 million wagered on last year's game between Denver and Carolina.

'I wouldn't bet against it,' said Jay Kornegay, who runs the sports book at the Westgate Las Vegas. 'It will be close, but I think we could easily set another record. ' The unidentified bettor who wagered the $1.1 million was a customer of CG Technology, which operates a string of sports books in the city.

The bettor will get $2.1 million back if the Falcons win the game or lose by 1 or 2 points. 'For a Super Bowl a bet of that size is not all that unusual,' said Jason Simbal, vice president of risk for CG Technology. 'Historically we'll generally take a bet of $500,000 and up on the Super Bowl. ' Simbal said the line at his company's books did not move on the big bet, largely because of a number of smaller bets made on the New England Patriots.

He and other bookmakers said there was such strong action on both teams that the line hasn't moved off 3 points since it was first set nearly two weeks ago. 'We're pretty balanced, with 53 percent of the money on the Falcons,' Simbal said. 'It seems like everybody else is in a similar position, too. ' At the Westgate, Kornegay said the betting line was 80 deep Saturday afternoon as bettors who had been studying the line for the last 12 days began putting money on their favorite. Kornegay said bookies were getting such good two-way action that there is almost no risk of losing money on the biggest bet game of the year.

'It's a very comfortable booking game for us,' Kornegay said. 'We pretty much know what we need to do and it's very easy to position yourself there with not much effort. ' The situation was similar at the South Point hotel-casino, where veteran oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro was enjoying a relatively relaxing day Saturday. 'This is a bookmaker's delight,' Vaccaro said. 'We haven't had to move one number, one side, one total or the money line. ' Nevada sports books made $13.3 million on last year's game, which drew a record handle.

That was in line with the 10 percent books charge bettors as the vigorish or 'vig' as it's known in the industry. Bettors can wager on hundreds of so-called 'props,' or proposition bets at most books that include everything from who will win the coin flip to whether the game will go to overtime. The props have taken on a life of their own in recent years, with books trying to outdo each other with new offerings. At the William Hill string of books, one bettor wagered $500 that the Patriots would score exactly 46 points.

The odds against it were 150-1, meaning the ticket would cash for $75,000 if it hit. Another wager was $100 someone put on there being no touchdowns in the game at 500-1 odds, which would pay off $50,000. Vaccaro, who has been running sports books in Las Vegas since the late 1970s, said he can't remember a Super Bowl where there was almost no movement on any of the lines. 'This is as good as it gets for us,' he said. 2017-02-05 09:21 0.0 (1.06/22). Stoke boss Mark Hughes has brushed off the lack of a handshake from West Brom chief Tony Pulis.

The Potters lost 1-0 at Albion on Saturday, with growing tension between the two managers following last month’s transfer of Saido Berahino. The pair have offered differing versions of the negotiations, specifically when Stoke were made aware of Berahino’s eight-week Football Association ban.

Saido Berahino (left) and Stoke City manager Mark Hughes sign autographs Striker Berahino was suspended between October and December and Hughes claimed Albion did not tell Stoke about it until the Potters asked them. Press Association Sport understands the Baggies remain adamant they did everything right. The Daily Mail reported Berahino tested positive for a recreational drug during his time at The Hawthorns, although neither club have confirmed the reason. Hughes conceded he did not know why Pulis did not approach him as he would have expected him to.

🎥 Mark Hughes reacts to today's 1-0 @premierleague defeat to @WBA at the Hawthorns #SCFC pic.twitter.com/PnlwZP5JXw He said: “I didn’t see him to shake his hand. I was on the touchline for some time after the game. Who’s the onus on? I don’t know. “He didn’t shake my hand before the game either. I would have thought being the guest of the club he would have come over and welcomed me to the ground.

“With most managers you have moments of disagreements during the game but usually you have a beer after and get on with it. You’ve picked up on a non-handshake but I’m not too upset about it.” 🎥 Albion Head Coach Tony Pulis reflects on a great day for the Baggies after a 1-0 win over @stokecity at The Hawthorns. #WBA pic.twitter.com/e77Shy7ZKp Baggies assistant manager Dave Kemp, asked to attend the press conference by Pulis, dismissed any worries over the lack of a handshake. He added: “Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t, I wouldn’t read too much into that. He wants his team to win, our manager wants his team to win.

It’s just the way it is.” James Morrison scored an early winner for Albion, who stayed eighth in the Premier League, but Kemp played down any Europa League talk. 📷 Matchwinner James Morrison speaks post-match: 'We've got a good bunch of lads here and we dig deep for each other. ' #WBA pic.twitter.com/3H9W1oMGe3 He added: “Let’s not get too excited, we have 36 points, putting a good run of form together, game by game and see where it takes us. It wasn’t too long ago people were worried about the other end of the table.” Meanwhile, West Midlands Police confirmed there were no arrests after rival fans tried to confront each other at the end of the game. 2017-02-05 09:14 1.5 (1.06/22). Eden Hazard reflected on a special goal after tearing through Arsenal to consolidate Chelsea’s place at the top of the Premier League.

Hazard scored Chelsea’s second in Saturday’s 3-1 win which saw Antonio Conte’s side take a 12-point lead over the Gunners. The Belgium playmaker ran half the length of the field and evaded any would-be tacklers before netting his 10th goal of the season.

Eden Hazard Today's man of the match - @hazardeden10 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mVnOYqerWm 'I score a few goals, a few beautiful goals,' Hazard told Chelsea TV. 'But this one is special. It’s against Arsenal and we won the game. 'This one is one of the best. @hazardeden10 🔥 #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/Im3phTwazl Conte praised Hazard’s all-round display and wants him to repeat the performance.

The Italian said: 'He played very well. I hope to play always in this way. He has great talent and we need this talent.

' Chelsea have won 16 of 18 Premier League games since September’s losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, ensuring a convincing margin between themselves and the next best. Tottenham are second, nine points adrift. Chelsea have won 9 #PL home matches in a row with an aggregate score of 27-4 pic.twitter.com/UKqBLpb56G Conte has vowed to avoid complacency, relying on his own experience as a player and manager and the pedigree of his players in the dressing room. Many won the 2014-15 title and N’Golo Kante was a champion last term with Leicester. Hazard, who was Chelsea’s player of the year in the title win of two seasons ago under Jose Mourinho, says the Blues are focusing only on next Sunday’s trip to Burnley. 'The gap is more big now. We want to stay there, top of the league forever,' Hazard added.

Chelsea maintain their 9-point lead at the top of the #PL Will anyone catch them? Pic.twitter.com/M5eHslQhgq 'We are full of confidence.

We don’t want to focus too far (ahead). We take game after game and be ready for the next one. 'The next one is next week, so now we have a good week for training to get ready for the next game. ' Marcos Alonso scored the opener and Cesc Fabregas a third, before Olivier Giroud’s late consolation. Half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal. The Blues lead at the break courtesy of @marcosalonso03 's 13th minute header!

👏 #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/bP0JHVebgV And Hazard felt Chelsea could have won more convincingly, before sounding a warning for Burnley. He added: 'We could score two or three more goals. We keep it for the next game, I think. ' After Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger anointed Chelsea champions this week, Conte insisted the title race is not yet over. 'Antonio, Antonio.' 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Yxc5GxSr0R 'There are 14 games to play before the end of the season and there are 42 points to take,' he added. 'Now it’s important to celebrate this win, but then it’s important to think next game against Burnley, a really tough game, because Burnley when they play at home are dangerous.

' 2017-02-05 07:59 0.7 (1.05/22). Harriet Harman has said she regrets not standing to be Labour leader, amid calls for Jeremy Corbyn to do more to promote women in the party. The former deputy leader said it was “a bit of a mystery” to her why she failed to put herself forward for the role when Gordon Brown resigned in 2010. Harman said Corbyn needed to do more to encourage women into leadership roles, saying “it can’t carry on raining men” within the Labour party. Asked whether she wished she had stood for leader, Harman told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “In a way I do, and I think the moment I should have run is in 2010 when Gordon [Brown] stood down. It sort of took everybody by surprise as we all thought he would stay and hand over.

“Then I became acting leader and suddenly realised I could do it, so at that moment I should have stepped forward and it is a bit of a mystery to me why I didn’t. But I think the world is full of men who aren’t up to the job pushing themselves forward, and loads of women who are up to the job who don’t, and for that moment I was probably one of them.” The Labour veteran said the shortage of women in senior roles was a problem for Labour, which prides itself on being the party of equality.

Harman said: “It is a paradox. If I knew what the problem was and we could just throw a switch and change it But certainly more and more people are beginning to recognise that it just looks downright old-fashioned to think that men have to make the decisions and women have to abide by them. “I was brought up at a time when there was the old phrase that ‘men were men and women were glad of it’.

Well we just need to move a bit beyond that in the Labour party.” The MP for Camberwell and Peckham said: “It is down to all of us to say it can’t just carry on raining men in the Labour party. “Men at the top have got to share power with women. That hasn’t happened yet but it has got to. It is part of really changing Labour to make us the modern, progressive party we ought to be.” Pressed on whether Corbyn needed to do more, she said: “We should be doing more to make sure this equality happens – of course he should be, we all should be.” Harman admitted Labour was not mounting an effective opposition as it lacked the necessary public support. She said: “I think you can’t be an effective opposition if you haven’t got enough public support because the government doesn’t need to worry about you, they only look at their own side. “They don’t need to be concerned about us.

So we do need more public support in order to be an effective opposition, let alone a credible alternative government. We certainly have work to do.” Harman also defended Labour’s record on Brexit, as she said the conflicting views within the party reflected divisions across the country. She said: “It is the tactics now that the party is divided on, not the principles.

We still want to make sure that there is social justice, economic prosperity, we want the country to be united, all of those principles remain the same. “But tactically it is very difficult and you know when you are in opposition it is only bad choices, as you don’t set the context, and therefore it is a very turbulent time. “We have got to make the best of the bad situation we are in for the country and make sure the government can do as well as they can for the country and not make things even worse.” 2017-02-05 09:30 4.2 (1.05/22). Lady Gaga is about to one-up the singer who turned lemons into lemonade by turning grapes into delicious wine.

Gaga plans to launch her own brand of wine called ' Grigio Girls '. Named after a bonus track on her 2016 album, Joanne. Her company filed paperwork to produce wine, wine coolers, wine cocktails and wine punches with the name. We're guessing Pinot Grigio will be the flagship product.

'Grigio Girls' is a song inspired by Gaga's friend, Sonja, who has cancer -- it's about how Gaga and her girlfriends would get together, pop open a bottle and cry for her. Their own brand of wine seems like a perfect tribute. Lady Gaga's not totally new to the food and drink biz, though -- her parents own an Italian restaurant in NYC called Joanne Trattoria. 2017-02-05 08:50 2.5 (1.05/22). Romania scrapped Sunday a contentious corruption decree in a climbdown after the biggest mass demonstrations since 1989, but protesters kept up pressure by taking to the streets for a sixth straight day. As thousands of people gathered in Bucharest and elsewhere, the government announced it had approved a repeal of the decree that would have decriminalised certain corruption offences.

This fulfilled the promise made late on Saturday by a pale and tired-looking Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu after a fifth day of demonstrations that were the largest since the ouster of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. But the announcement didn't stop demonstrators gathering again on Sunday to make it clear to Grindeanu and his left-wing government, which has been in office only a month, that they were on thin ice and that corruption must be rooted out. 'I hope that this is a real repeal.

We are going to keep an eye on them to make sure we are not being had,' said protester Daniel, 35. 'Today we are going to break new records,' electrician Florian, 40, told AFP in Bucharest, distributing free pretzels and tea at Victory Square, the epicentre of this week's protests. By midafternoon, around a thousand people could be seen gathering in the square and the crowd was expected to swell later with buses arriving from outside the capital. Again they brandished placards, chanted and blew whistles and plastic vuvuzela horns in the national colours of blue, yellow and red. Later in the evening they were all to sing the national anthem. The decree, passed Tuesday and due to enter into force on February 10, was to make abuse of power a crime only punishable by jail if the sums involved exceeded 200,000 lei (44,000 euros, $47,500).

The government also wants in a separate decree to be reviewed by parliament next week to free some 2,500 people from prison serving sentences of less than five years. Grindeanu, from the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD), had said that the measures were to bring penal law into line with the constitution and reduce overcrowding in prisons. But critics saw a brazenly transparent attempt by the PSD to let off many of its own officials and lawmakers ensnared in a major anti-corruption drive of recent years. This push saw almost 2,000 people convicted for abuse of power between 2014 and 2016, and a serving prime minister, five ministers, 16 lawmakers and five senators go on trial. - 'Must stay vigilant' - Grindeanu's climbdown on Saturday evening -- he said he wanted to avoid 'dividing the nation' -- sparked cheers and celebrations that went late into the night. But he said the government still needed to bring laws into line with the constitution, slamming what he called a campaign of misinformation and 'distortion'.

Raluca, a demonstrator in her 30s, said she was delighted but that the government was still not to be trusted. 'People are going to remain very vigilant with this government,' she told AFP late Saturday. Her words were echoed on Sunday morning by Rado, one of a sweaty trio peddling away on bikes fixed to the ground at Victory Square. 'Usually we do a Sunday trip, we cycle around 100-150 kilometres (60-90 miles),' said the 27-year-old who works for an online sports shop. 'And since we have to look out for the thieves in our government, we decided just to come here and train,' he told AFP. 'We just want someone competent to run the state for the people.

Not for themselves, for their own benefit and bank accounts. ' 2017-02-05 10:40 3.3 (1.04/22). Taylor Swift isn't part of the Super Bowl, but you wouldn't know it by the crowd which showed up for her concert Saturday night in Houston. There were almost enough current and former football players to form a team, and even Patriots owner Robert Kraft attended. Celebrities included Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Renner, John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen. For 90 minutes, Swift performed before a packed house at a pop-up venue called Club Nomadic.

She told the audience this would be her only concert in 2017. But you won't see Swift's performance unless you're a subscriber to DirecTV Now, the new over-the-top service for consumers to stream channels on any device, anyhwere, without a satellite dish. The network, owned by AT&T, has a deal with Swift which includes her own exclusive channel, Taylor Swift Now.

'It's a multi-year deal, it comes with content, her exclusive library,' said Brad Bentley, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for AT&T Entertainment Group. You read that right. AT&T has an entertainment group, and the Swift concert is a crucial part in rebranding the telecom giant as an entertainment company. This isn't your father's Ma Bell.

'My job is advertising and transforming the brand,' said Bentley, who spoke while nursing a pre-concert beverage on a balcony overlooking the VIP area. Camera crews were everywhere. 'The amount of media we've gotten over the last few days is through the roof,' he added. 'We almost achieved our goal for the weekend yesterday (Friday). ' DirecTV Now launched only a couple months ago and had 200,000 subscribers by the end of the year, according to AT&T's earnings report. Subscriptions cost as low as $35 a month (HBO is $5 extra), and if you are an AT&T Wireless customer, streaming doesn't cut into your data usage allowance. Reviews have been mixed, with some reviewers saying viewing was glitchy at times.

'It's just 65, 75 days into existence, so there has been some stability that we're working through,' said Bentley. He said it was not uncommon for there to be a few hiccups across different networks, but those should be worked out in the next month or two. AT&T is determined to acquire and create more content.

'What we did launching DirecTV Now in just 18 months would have never happened prior to an AT&T transaction,' said Bentley. 'Now with the Time Warner transaction coming, we're planning to become that media company which didn't exist before. ' It's not clear when the Time Warner transaction is coming. President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to the deal. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson met with Trump in New York before the inauguration, though the company said the two men did not discuss the merger. 'I don't think he understood the facts,' said Bentley of the President.

'I think when you look at it--the facts of vertical integration.really unlocking value for consumers--I think he will definitely change his mind. ' Bentley called the merger 'pro-consumer' and one that doesn't eliminate competitors. While the traditional telecom side of AT&T invested $40 million in its network in Houston ahead of the Super Bowl, Bentley wouldn't say how much the company spent to make a splash with Taylor Swift (DirecTV has held these pre-Super Bowl concerts for a dozen years, but this is the first under the Now brand).

Some of the cost of the performance was offset by sponsors, like LeEco, a Chinese handset and TV company buying Vizio and entering the U. This will not be the only exclusive concert Taylor Swift performs under her agreement with DirecTV Now, though, again, she told the audience that Saturday night was her only show in 2017. DirecTV Now also has a Reese Witherspoon channel in the works, and up next it's taking over the behind-the-scenes making of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. 'What's supercharging this is this little Time Warner deal,' Bentley said.

'That obviously is going to put us on a whole other level. ' That's assuming the deal is approved. Regardless, the night before the Super Bowl was won by T-Swift. This even though the name 'Super Bowl' could not be attached to the event, as AT&T would not pay the hefty price for an NFL stamp of approval. Bentley was asked if there was any pushback from the NFL for bringing one of music's biggest female stars to town less than 24 hours before Lady Gaga takes the stage Sunday at halftime. 'No comment,' he replied.

2017-02-05 08:50 0.0 (1.04/22). The 4-month-old Iranian girl who was barred by the Trump administration's travel ban from entering the United States to receive life-saving surgery will receive treatment months later than normal for her complex congenital heart defect, her doctors explained on Saturday. Two in 10,000 newborns suffer from the condition, the doctors said. In the United States, where doctors have successfully treated this condition since the 1980s, physicians would have operated on a child suffering from this health issue within a few days to a week of birth. PHOTOS: Reunions and greetings amid Trump's immigration ban Related: Iranian Baby Needing Surgery Gets Documents to Come to U. S.: NY Gov The girl, Fatemeh Reshad, was slated to arrive in Oregon — where her grandparents and uncle, all American citizens, live — to receive the surgery that would fix her fatal heart defect.

But because of the travel ban, the baby and her mother were prevented from boarding the flight that would have brought them to the United States. When President Donald Trump signed the applicable executive order Jan. 27, it barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations — including Fatemah's native Iran — from entering the country for 90 days. The president said the order was intended protect Americans from the dangers of terrorism. Fatemah gained special permissions from the Department of Homeland Security on Friday, according to Jennifer Morrissey, one of the attorneys working pro bono on the family's behalf. Along with a group of attorneys and a number of New York and Oregon lawmakers, Morrissey worked to find her a path to the United States despite the travel ban. With their help, Fatemah can now come to the United States to receive the life-saving care she needs.

The Oregon Health and Science University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital physician-in-chief Dana Braner, head of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Dr. Irving Shen, and Interim Head of Pediatric Cardiology Laurie Armsby answered questions related to the child's health issues, procedure and risks. The family's lawyer provided details relevant to her case. 'The family has been warned that there is an urgency to this care,' said Armsby, whose hospital addresses six to 10 of these operations a year. 'I feel for them that they've been put through a tremendous strain as any delay might affect their child. ' Typically a baby who had undergone this procedure would be discharged in only a few weeks, but Fatemah faces a longer recovery phase because her heart defect is being addressed later than usual.

The doctors hope that she will be able to go home in a few months, and they are working with her doctors in Iran to build up follow-up care practices. The doctors said that while the defect is uncommon, the risk of the procedure is not high. From when the baby enters the operating room to his/her exit, the surgery takes about five or six hours while the actual repairs itself takes about 90 minutes.

RELATED: Protesters and lawyers welcome international travelers in airports amid travel ban 'We anticipate a good result, a surgery that will provide her a very active and full life,' Armsby said. The family has received an outpouring of support since their case was well-publicized by lawmakers. New York Gov.

Andrew Cuomo dedicated his attention and efforts to gain the family special permissions past Trump's travel ban. Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici took to the House floor on Friday morning to share the story of the young girl. The hospital and immigration organizations are doing whatever they can to lessen the family's load.

Related: Over 100,000 Visas Have Been Revoked by Immigration Ban, Justice Dept. Reveals The International Refugee Assistance Program is helping organize the family's travel, the physicians working with Reshad have agreed to waive their fees and the hospital is attempting to keep the cost of the operation as low as possible. 'We do not think the family will have significant burden for this care,' said Braner. Morrissey said they are overwhelmingly relieved and thrilled that Reshad will be able to come to the United States for the necessary surgery.

'I think it's the clearest illustration of why the travel ban was poorly thought out, poorly implemented and had significant humanitarian consequences,' Morrissey said of the Reshad family's experience. On Friday, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the travel ban. The judge's ruling is applicable nationwide and Homeland Security officials are no longer enforcing the ban at airports. The White House said it will seek an emergency stay against the judge's order as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the family is expected to arrive in the United States in the next few days for the lifesaving procedure.

'For 90 years, Doernbecher Children's Hospital has believed that every child is amazing, every child deserves the best care, every child adds something that hasn't been added before,' Braner said. 'We are thrilled to take care of this child from Iran,' he added. More from NBC News: Mass deportation would cost families, U. Billions: study Scientists are mad about Trump policies and now they're taking action Yes or no: New interface lets ALS patients communicate 2017-02-05 08:14 5.6 (1.03/22). Donald Trump’s proposed multi-billion dollar border wall is running into some roadblocks of opposition among Senate Republicans.

He reports that many Republicans “bluntly told CNN they'd likely vote against any Trump plan that is not fully offset with spending cuts” while also noting some gentle substantive objections from some members of the caucus. The most noteworthy of the objectors is Senator John Cornyn of Texas, both because he is the number two Republican in the Senate, and also because he’s from Texas — right on the border. 'I don't think we're just going to be able to solve border security with a physical barrier,” he told Raju, “because people can come under, around it and through it. ' This is in stark contrast to the posture of House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is, and to go along with the fiction that congressional appropriations would just be an advance on hypothetical repayment. As recently as October, Ryan was saying he would Donald Trump on the grounds that he’d been caught on tape confessing to a casual acquaintance that he routinely sexually assaults women.

But that was when Ryan thought Trump was going to lose. Since he won, Ryan’s strategy for gaining Trump’s support for his own passion project of has been to support whatever Trump says or does. The Senate seems less inclined to about-face. A key issue here is that Texas is a large conservative state that sends many influential Republicans to congress. It’s on the US-Mexico border, and while much of that border already features walls or fences, much of the border does not.

This is, in part, because Texas does not want this wall. The closer you get to where it would be built, the less people want it. (R-TX) who represents far-and-away the largest swathe of currently unwalled border — from the outskirts of El Paso down almost to the other end of the stat, calling it “unnecessary” and “too expensive.” He has separately referred to it as “wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars.” A big part of the issue is that unlike in Arizona and New Mexico where the border runs along a very straight line largely through federally owned land, in Texas the border follows a squiggly natural boundary and goes through privately owned land. Trying to literally conform a border wall to this fractal terrain would be ridiculous. Any feasible construction project is going to need to be straighter than the actual border, which is going to mean using the federal government’s eminent domain powers to take privately owned land and basically redraw the border. This has been a, since he’s an enthusiastic proponent of using eminent domain to benefit private economic development projects, which many conservatives regard as unconstitutional.

A border wall — unlike a parking garage for an Atlantic City casino — is pretty clearly meant to serve a public function, so the constitutional issue wouldn’t necessarily arise. Nonetheless, it’s generally the case that people don’t like it when the government comes in and takes their land. And it’s easy to imagine they wouldn’t like it if the government came in to take their land so that the president of the United States could avoid admitting that one of his campaign promises was kind of dumb. Moreover, it’s questionable it even would serve its stated purpose. Unauthorized immigration from Mexico has already slowed to a trickle (indeed, by most estimates more people are leaving than arriving), and the since it’s in the middle of nowhere.

It’s worth noting that the sections of Texas where fences have been built in the past report that it’s, and when the Texas Tribune surveyed the state’s 38-member congressional delegation it found that. Beyond the specific local objections to the wall, the fiscal cost looms large. The $12-$15 billion that it would cost isn’t beyond the fiscal capacity of the United States, but it is a lot of money to spend on what amounts to a pet project for the president.

Insisting on offsetting it with spending cuts is a pretty unassailably conservative position — conservatives are supposed to be against spending, after all — that should protect anyone who wants to do it from their base. Meanwhile, the White House is poorly positioned to argue that the wall needs to be deficit-financed because the president rather famously promised that — rather than America’s children — will pay for the wall. By the same token, putting together a package of offsetting spending cuts will be very difficult to sell because, again, Trump promised that Mexico will pay for the wall. Meanwhile, it’s unlikely red-state Democrats feel particularly pressured to bail Trump out on this, because they can always say that they want what their constituents voted for: Trump’s promise that Mexico will pay for the wall. Which means that in fiscal terms all roads more or less lead back to Trump’s campaign pledge, which was to make Mexico pay for a border wall. The Trump White House, of course, has no way of making this happen since Trump has rendered himself so politically toxic in Mexico that it would be suicide for any Mexican politician to agree to any deal that could even possibly be construed as Mexico paying for a border wall.

This has left the administration flailing, suggesting at one point that might somehow constitute Mexico paying for the wall. All of this could be moot, however, since it’s rarely been clear how serious Trump himself is about the wall. Newt Gingrich opined shortly after the election that it was a mere A lot of the border is already walled or fenced, and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly just could do the job. Which leaves open one possibility: it wouldn’t be very difficult to appropriate money for additional wall construction. That would be enough for Trump to make a visit to a border wall construction site and declare victory — while Republican senators relieved to have avoided paying $14 billion for a wall would surely be happy to let Trump have the political win. 2017-02-05 11:00 0.0 (1.03/22). She's been instrumental in raising awareness for LGBT actors since appearing on Orange Is The Black.

And Laverne Cox embraced her flair for a posh frock on Saturday night. The actress was in attendance at the 69th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills.

All a-flutter: Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox stuns at the Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills in a chiffon emerald gown Emerald is the new black: The plunging fluttering dress featured a single cross of black detailing on it and had a slit at the leg She arrived at the event in a stunning floor-length chiffon emerald gown, featuring a fluttering train which she was sure to utilise for dramatic flair in front of the cameras. The plunging dress featured a single cross of black detailing on it and had a slit at the leg. The transgender icon flashed her toned pins, showing off her shiny black heels. Toting a square black bag - with a bold white cross on it and white beading at the handle - the star smiled radiantly for photographers as they snapped away at her. Stunning: Her wavy raven locks shimmered as she swished her train around her, clearly excited to be at the event Thai Nguyen Atelier Similar to this design from the AW16 collection Buy now Stepping out to the 69th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills, Laverne Cox was a vision in emerald green, wearing a custom-made dress by Thai Nguyen. We love the gorgeous green shade, plus the statement black sequin panels.

Although it's a bespoke design created especially for Laverne, it bears a lot of similarity to a gown found in the autumn/winter '16 collection. Vietnamese-American fashion designer Thai Nguyen specialises in couture meets custom designs and has become a real red-carpet favourite, with everyone from Jennifer Lopez, to Kate Beckinsale stepping out in his creations. Click right to familiarise yourself with this couture designer, or head to our edit below to get the look.

We've hunted out some real emerald gems from PrettyLittleThing, Phase Eight, Ghost and ASOS. PrettyLittleThing Laurie emerald maxi dress (now £20) Buy now Phase Eight Alyssa dress Buy now Ghost Salma dress Buy now ASOS TALL Pleated Maxi Dress with Cut Out Side Buy now Her wavy raven locks shimmered as she swished her train around her, clearly excited to be at the event. Posting her outfit onto Instagram, she captioned it, thanking those responsible for her look. 'Custom gown @thainguyenatelier, clutch @thaleblanc, earrings and ring @effyjewelry.

Hair @ursulastephen, makeup @theladydeja, styling by @christinajpacelli,' she typed. Laverne strutted along the red carpet into the event, which celebrates the cream of the directing crop from the world of TV and film.

The star will be appearing in a new series, Doubt, which will debut this month. She will join Katherine Heigl and Steven Pasquale in the cast. Smiley: Laverne strutted along the red carpet into the event, which celebrates the cream of the directing crop from the world of TV and film 2017-02-05 09:55 4.5 (1.03/22). On the same day local sports fans are celebrating the Falcons’ second Super Bowl berth in history, another Atlanta sports icon is also marking a milestone. 5, 2017, is also the 83rd birthday of Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth’s then-all-time home run record of 714 home runs on April 8, 1974. Aaron retired after the 1976 season with 755 home runs. At the end of the Braves 2016 season, Aaron accompanied the team’s home plate from Turner Field to the new SunTrust Park in Cobb County.

PHOTOS: Happy birthday, Hank Aaron (© 2017 WXIA) 2017-02-05 09:50 1.3 (1.03/22). Omar Ibraham, dressed in a dark jacket and pants, heard his name called by the woman who would change his life forever. He stood up and took a step forward. Ibraham could see the piece of paper she was holding — the one she had warned him just an hour earlier to never laminate. She said that would destroy its power. Ibraham took a second step. His heart was pounding.

Is this really happening? He saw the powerful senator, wearing a crisp blue suit, smiling. There was the judge, unmistakable in his black robes, battling a cold. The mayor and a state senator stood beneath a basketball hoop in the gym. There were flags on the wall from dozens of countries.

He had noticed earlier that Somalia wasn’t among them. The 33-year-old Somalian kept walking.

All eyes were on him. He was moments away from completing his years-long journey toward U. Citizenship Friday. The official paper that would prove it was within his grasp. He’d always wanted to be a citizen of the United States, but in recent weeks, he had begun to wonder if the nation wanted him. A week earlier, President Trump had issued an executive order barring refugees from seven countries — including his native Somalia.

That was when his wife and two children, now living in Nairobi, Kenya, found their path to join him in Colorado was frozen. Ibraham, who is Muslim, watched the news and saw that a mosque had been burned down in Texas last week.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric was openly displayed on television and in social media. His wife would sometimes feel down. He said, however, he remained hopeful. “In the next election, I can vote. As an American citizen, I will try to do good for the United States and work for unity,” he said. “And as a citizen, I can also hopefully help move things forward for my family.” He became a citizen Friday afternoon at Dunn Elementary School, joining 25 others from 13 countries that took the oath and got their official papers.

The ceremony — run by Kristi Barrows, director of the U. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Denver district — featured fifth-graders singing “This Land Is Your Land” and short speeches by U. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell.

Bennet recalled his family’s immigration history. The senator’s mother was smuggled out of the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II. She then immigrated to the United States. “They were able to succeed beyond their wildest dreams because America welcomed them,” Bennet said.

“We welcome them not with prejudice, but with opportunity.” Sameen Abbasi, a 29-year-old from Pakistan, was excited to join her husband as a fellow U. Citizen and the couple sought out Bennet after the ceremony to thank him for his statement opposing Trump’s executive order. Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) who wasn’t at the ceremony but wrote a letter that was read aloud to the new citizens, reportedly had also criticized the Trump proposal by saying it went too far. Abbasi, also Muslim, said the process of becoming a citizen had been exciting, but the push by the Trump administration targeting nations with Muslim majorities in recent weeks had dampened her spirits. She said the tone from the White House seemed to be setting people on edge. “It doesn’t feel as welcoming right now,” she said.

“People see me and they know I’m different, but they can’t tell by looking at me if I’m a citizen or not.” On average since 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalizes 706,000 people a year in public ceremonies or through small procedures in courts. Mexico accounts for the largest volume of those becoming naturalized, followed by India and the Philippines. Of those countries named by Trump in the executive order, only Iraq and Iran cracked the top 20 for the number of people naturalized — a combined total of about 25,000 people in 2015, according to Homeland Security. Ibraham said he worried about being targeted for being a Muslim, but he also believed he was better off in the United States than in the refugee camp in Kenya or Somalia, where his family fled from when he was a child.

The camp, he said, was never a home — even though he lived in it for 12 years. His family was crammed into a temporary shelter that had two rooms — one of which he shared with his brothers. He said sometimes he’d sleep outside, though he said sometimes that would get too hot. Every other day, he said, they would check a big board in the camp to see if their names were on it — the start of their process of finding a new country. His parents and his three brothers were the first to come to the United States.

He and his sister left the camp together in 2010. Ibraham remembered his first step onto a hot, crowded bus that took him away from his wife and child and toward freedom. They had been awaiting their chance to leave — eventually relocating to Nairobi to live and wait for notification that they’d been accepted to the United States as refugees. He wept as he waved goodbye to them — their figures disappearing in the distance and dust. A long flight to Miami followed and then to Fort Worth, Texas — where some of his family lived at the time — before reuniting with his brothers and parents in Greeley, where he is taking classes to become a big rig driver.

The soft-spoken Ibraham remembered what he told his wife before he boarded the bus and after he’d kissed their 1-year-old daughter. “I am going to the United States and I’ll come back for you,” Ibraham said. “Everything is going to be all right.” He visited a few years ago, but now he waits and hopes his wife and children can soon join him. Standing in the gym after Friday’s ceremony, his brother held a smartphone and took a picture with him holding his citizenship papers, a small American flag and a copy of the U. His sister called him. Was he a citizen yet? Yes, he replied, smiling.

Ibraham texted the photo to his wife, who would show it to his daughter, now 7, and his 3-year-old son — the boy and his father have not yet met. He said he would talk to them another time. His brother gathered up his coat. It was time to go home.

Ali Vayeghan was one of an unknown number of people whose plans were disrupted by President Trump's entry ban. UC Berkeley was home of the free speech movement. Today, California's flagship university is under fire from the right and left.

Tread cautiously. That's how Super Bowl advertisers are feeling in the fraught political landscape. Snapchat app maker Snap's IPO filing might be the biggest ever for a Los Angeles company. New research from Georgia Tech reveals how frog tongues work. A speech by conservative firebrand and Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled at UC Berkeley on Wednesday amid violent protests that prompted President Trump to suggest cutting funding to the university. Two Republicans senators have defected and will vote against Betsy DeVos for secretary of Education. Could President Trump’s proposed 20% border tax set off an international food fight?

Are emails and texts sent on the personal devices of government employees a public record? 22,000 new U. Factory jobs could be generated by limiting car imports from Mexico. Gorsuch, a highly regarded conservative jurist best known for upholding religious liberty rights in the legal battles over Obamacare, is President Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Gorsuch, a highly regarded conservative jurist best known for upholding religious liberty rights in the legal battles over Obamacare, is President Trump's Supreme Court nominee. 2017-02-05 07:30 2.6 (1.02/22). Talk about sibling rivalry.

They may not be running a marathon any time soon, but they sure can sprint! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and P rince Harry were out in support today for their Heads Together teams for the London Marathon -- and after meeting with and encouraging those running this year, they took off on a little sprint themselves. Taking part in a relay with several other Heads Together team members, the royals threw themselves into the first 100 meter sprint of the relay.

Prince Harry came in first (but, to be fair, he once totally beat Usain Bolt in a race ), with William not far behind. Kate definitely held her own -- getting off to a faster start than William, though he wound up taking second place away from her in the end!

Whether or not the royal trio planned on participating in training day, they sure seemed to have fun, to the delight of the day's participants. Making a point to have a strong Heads Together team at the London Marathon this year further supports William, Kate and Harry's goal to eliminate the stigmas around mental health. Taking over as the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year, the organization, and the famous trio behind it, are every day getting closer to that goal. See more photos from the above day -- including the royal sprint!

More from AOL.com: This is the sleekest activity and sleep tracker Wait, are Prince William and Kate Middleton running a marathon or not? Fitness model posts inspiring picture of struggle with anorexia 2017-02-05 11:00 0.0 (1.02/22). LYON, France (AP) - The Latest on France's far right conference Sunday in the southeast city of Lyon. (all times local): 3:40 p.m. Far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says France is threatened by two 'totalitarianisms' in the form of economic globalization and Islamic fundamentalism.

Le Pen said during a speech at her National Front party's conference Sunday in Lyon that those threats are 'planting itself in some neighborhoods. And vulnerable minds. ' Le Pen listed the veils some Muslim women wear, mosques and prayer in the streets of France as unacceptable cultural dangers 'no French person.attached to his dignity can accept.

' Le Pen's speech closes the two-day conference in Lyon. ___ 12:30 p.m. A far-right French political figure says Britain's decision to leave the European Union and the election of U.

President Donald Trump have given the French a 'reason to vote' because it can result in real change. National Front official Florian Philippot spoke ahead of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's speech at a National Front party conference Sunday in Lyon.

Le Pen will be speaking about her 144 presidential promises unveiled a day earlier, a nationalist agenda aimed at throwing off the European Union, NATO and the status quo. In her platform, Le Pen envisioned a thriving nation 'made in France,' with its citizens first in line for state services and the state unshackled by the rules-laden European Union. Among her promises: No more membership in NATO's integrated command. No more euro currency, European Union or open borders. Immigration, especially by Muslims, would be contained. And no more second chances for foreigners under surveillance as suspected potential terrorists - those thousands would be expelled. ___ 12:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front isn't a new quantity in French politics - she has headed the anti-immigrant party since 2011 and came in third in the presidential vote in 2012. Early polls consistently show Le Pen among France's two top presidential candidates, but suggest she'll lose by a wide margin in the May 7 runoff. The candidate just two weeks ago considered the most likely to beat Le Pen and win, former conservative Prime Minister Francois Fillon, has seen his support plummet as French prosecutors investigate possibly fictitious parliamentary aide jobs once held by his wife and two children. Former budget minister Emmanuel Macron, who rebelled against the Socialist Party to strike out on his own, could end up facing Le Pen in the second-round vote. Also running for the French presidency are leftists Jean-Luc Melenchon and Benoit Hamon.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 10:58 3.6 (1.02/22). HINZENBACH, Austria (AP) - Sara Takanashi of Japan won her second ski jumping World Cup competition in two days on Sunday to close in on the overall record for most World Cup wins.

Her 52nd career victory left Takanashi one short of the best mark set by Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria. Takanashi had jumps of 89 and 92 meters to gather 254.8 points and beat Carina Vogt by 4.8 points. The Olympic champion from Germany trailed the winner by one meter in each round.

Maren Lundby of Norway jumped 85.5 and 89.5 meters to place third with 245.2 points. After also winning Saturday's competition on the same hill, Takanashi leads the World Cup standings by 267 points ahead of Japanese teammate Yuki Ito. The women's World Cup continues in Ljubno, Slovenia, next weekend. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2017-02-05 10:48 1.7 (1.02/22). MADRID (AP) - A missed penalty. A goal disallowed for offside. An inspired goalkeeper.

It all led to another disappointing setback for Sevilla, which was held by Villarreal to a scoreless draw at home on Sunday and missed a chance to move closer to the Spanish league lead. Samir Nasri failed from the penalty spot in the 49th minute, Wissam Ben Yedder had his goal disallowed for offside in the 59th, and Vicente Iborra's close-range header was brilliantly saved by Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo in the 82nd, keeping Sevilla from being able to gain much ground atop the standings.

The result left Sevilla in third place with 43 points, two behind Barcelona and four behind leader Real Madrid. Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Saturday, while Madrid had its Sunday game at Celta Vigo postponed because of wind damage to Celta's Balaidos' Stadium. Madrid will have two games in hand over Barcelona and Sevilla after this weekend's matches.

Sevilla was coming off a 3-1 loss at Espanyol, a result that halted its five-game winning streak in the league, which revived its hopes of contending for the title. Villarreal, which lost only once in its last eight games, stayed in fifth place with 35 points, four behind Atletico Madrid, which beat Leganes 2-0 on Saturday at its Vicente Calderon Stadium. Asenjo was crucial in salvaging Villarreal's point at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Seville. In addition to guessing right to make the stop in the penalty kick taken by Nasri, he made two superb saves from close-range headers, one in each half. The most spectacular one came after Iborra's attempt near the end. Forward Adrian Lopez had a couple of clear chances for Villarreal, also one in each half, but failed to capitalize on them.

Ben Yedder's goal was disallowed in a close call for offside not long after Nasri's missed penalty. The league was yet to set a date for the match between Celta and Madrid, which had to be called off after Vigo officials said they could not guarantee the 'safety of spectators and players' after winds tore off parts of the roof at Balaidos Stadium. There are few dates open to reschedule the game, as Madrid is still playing in the Champions League and Celta in the Copa del Rey. Madrid also still has to play a league game at Valencia after it was postponed because of Madrid's participation in FIFA's Club World Cup in December. On Friday, bad weather in northwestern Spain also forced the postponement of the match between Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis. Deportivo's Riazor Stadium also was damaged by heavy winds. ___ Tales Azzoni on Twitter: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 10:38 1.7 (1.02/22). A series of high-profile arrests in Russia, purportedly including officers of the country’s secretive Federal Security Service and a cybersecurity expert, has intelligence officials on both sides of the Atlantic trying to unravel a mystery they suspect may be connected to Russian hacking in the U. Russian news media have described the arrests—including at least two intelligence officials at the FSB, the successor agency to the KGB, and an employee at Kaspersky Lab, Russia’s most prominent cybersecurity firm—as being part of a treason case. Russian officials haven’t publicly confirmed details of the case or the arrests, but local news outlets have reported dramatic details, including the arrest of one of the intelligence officers at an FSB meeting, with the suspect being led away with a bag over his head. The reports have fueled speculation among Western intelligence officials who have been monitoring the situation closely that the arrests may be tied to allegations that Russia was involved in hacking aimed at influencing the recent U.

Presidential election and an unverified dossier alleging collusion between the Kremlin and the President Donald Trump’s campaign. The roundup of Russian intelligence officials has the earmarks of a classic mole hunt, some current and former intelligence officials said. But they said there are other plausible explanations why Russian authorities would go after their own spies, including cracking down on government officials who moonlight as hackers-for-hire and may have been jeopardizing ongoing intelligence operations. The Kremlin has made only a cryptic acknowledgment of the recent arrests. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had most likely been briefed on a cyber-espionage case that has been making headlines in Russia. “I do not rule out that, as part of [intelligence] reports, information was provided in a timely manner to the president” on the matter, Mr.

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. 2017-02-05 10:36 5.1 (1.02/22).

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The NYPD’s Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce is expected to give an update Sunday morning on the investigation into the murder of Queens jogger Karina Vetrano. Six months and two days after the Queens jogger’s death, police are questioning a suspect in Karina Vetrano‘s murder, sources told CBS2 on Saturday. Sources say the suspect is a man in his 20s from East New York, Brooklyn. He was taken into custody around 6 p.m.

Saturday and brought to the 106th Precinct station house for questioning. His name has not been released. Sources tell CBS2 police say they have “solid evidence” linking him to the crime. The 30-year-old Vetrano was strangled when she went for a run alone in Spring Creek Park on Aug.

2 of last year. Later that night, her father found her battered body in a marsh not far from their Howard Beach home. Investigators found DNA on her body, but it did not match anyone in the data banks. Earlier this week, her parents, Phil and Cathy Vetrano, asked the state to allow familial DNA testing, which allows investigators to see if a suspect’s relative is in the DNA system, potentially leading them to the killer. Authorities are expected to give an update on the investigation at around 11:30 a.m. At this time, no charges have been filed. 2017-02-05 10:06 1.4 (1.02/22).

The latest incident was documented by New Yorker Gregory Locke in a Facebook post Saturday night, after he was met by the racist scrawlings when boarding the subway in Manhattan. Locke described how, following a moment of uncomfortable silence, one passenger made a call for hand sanitizer to remove the ink, and passengers worked together to remove the hateful comments. The graffiti was plastered across every window and advertisement, according to Locke. “I've never seen so many people simultaneously reach into their bags and pockets looking for tissues and Purel.

Within about two minutes, all the Nazi symbolism was gone,” he wrote. The Facebook post has been shared over 120,000 times, as fellow New Yorkers commended the subway riders for their actions. The New York City subway has been the target of anti-Semitic graffiti on a number of occasions in recent months.

A woman was verbally abused by a man on the subway in Manhattan last week with a tirade of anti-Semitic slurs, according to the New York Daily News. Two passengers intervened, and the man fled. READ MORE: Anti-Semitic hate crimes reach ‘record high’ in UK Earlier this month, a poster for a Jewish museum posted in a subway station was defaced with swastikas, prompting city council members to denounce the graffiti. In November, swastikas and a series of racist, homophobic, and anti-Obama statements were found scrawled on the walls and door of a subway car. KKK fliers and business cards were also reportedly distributed on some services. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a statement in December condemning hate crimes on the NYC subway, after a Muslim New York City Transit employee was assaulted by a male passenger on her way to work. 2017-02-05 09:50 0.0 (1.02/22).

Britain’s housing shortage can be resolved without building on “large tracts” of green belt land, a minister has said as the Government prepared to publish its long-awaited housing white paper. Housing minister Gavin Barwell said the Government wanted to encourage more housebuilding of all kinds – including more social housing and the provision of homes to rent. But he insisted that the white paper, expected to be released on Tuesday, would not propose any change to the rules on the green belt. Letting signs “We are not going to weaken the protections.

We have a clear manifesto commitment. There is no need to take huge tracts of land out of the green belt to solve the housing crisis,” he told ITV1’s Peston on Sunday.

“They (councils) can take land out of the green belt in exceptional circumstances but they should have looked at every alternative first. That policy is not going change.” However his comments failed to reassure Conservative critics who warned that local authorities were already encroaching on green belt land. Has @GavinBarwellMP reassured Andrew Mitchell by confirming there would be no change on @Conservatives green belt policy? #Peston pic.twitter.com/Xiu1gKTnrg Former minister Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, said large numbers of homes had been approved for green belt land in the West Midlands without any objection by ministers. “We have seen in Birmingham a monstrous plan put forward by the Labour council to build 6,000 on our treasured green belt and it has been waved through by ministers,” he told Peston on Sunday. Mr Barwell, acknowledged that the white paper would represent a “change of tone” from past Conservative housing policy which had concentrated on promoting home ownership.

@BrandonLewis @sajidjavid @GavinBarwellMP - perfect storm under Tory watch of rising homelessness, rising rents and falling home ownership It will include proposals to amend planning rules to enable councils to plan for more build-to-rent-properties as well as measures to ensure more secure, longer term tenancies are available in the private rented sector. “Absolutely we want to be a Government that helps people that are working hard to get onto the housing ladder but if you are going to have a country that works for everyone you have to have something to say to people that want to rent a home as well,” he said. He said however that ultimately there had to be more housebuilding if people were going to be helped into affordable homes. “Housing has become more and more unaffordable for people who are trying to buy or trying to rent because governments for 30 or 40 years have not built enough homes,” he said. “We want to see more housing built in this country of every kind. At the moment we are far too dependent on a small number of large developers building our homes.

“We need to get more people involved in building homes and more different kinds of tenure – for outright ownership for shared ownership, for renting.” 2017-02-05 09:50 1.8 (1.02/22). LYON, France (AP) - Britain's decision to leave the European Union and the election of U. President Donald Trump have given the French a 'reason to vote' because it can result in real change, the top lieutenant of far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen declared Sunday ahead of her long-awaited speech. Le Pen supporters were pouring into the congress center in Lyon on Sunday, the second day of a conference by her anti-immigrant National Front party. She will be speaking about her 144 presidential promises unveiled a day earlier, a nationalist agenda aimed at throwing off the European Union, NATO and the status quo.

National Front official Florian Philippot said people who thought voting 'served nothing' because it brought no change now have proof that an alternative is possible. He says he likes Trump's tweets because they 'break the politically correct' mold. He claimed that National Front membership rose after Brexit and again after the Trump victory but gave no figures. In her platform Saturday, Le Pen envisioned a thriving nation 'made in France,' with its citizens first in line for state services and the state unshackled by the rules-laden European Union. Among her promises: No more membership in NATO's integrated command. No more euro currency, European Union or open borders.

Immigration, especially by Muslims, would be contained. And no more second chances for foreigners under surveillance as suspected potential terrorists - those thousands would be expelled. The French would guard their own borders, spend francs instead of euros, defend themselves and give priority to French citizens for public housing and other services over EU citizens and immigrants. Philippot conceded Sunday that Le Pen's program would mean a 'slight increase' in the nation's debt in the first year if she is elected in the two-round presidential election on April 23 and May 7. Le Pen's plan calls for adding 15,000 police, 6,000 customs officers to guard borders and more hospital workers. But she hopes those expenses would be countered by outing fiscal fraud, decreasing immigrants and their ability to automatically access social services as well as doing away with regional councils and reducing the number of French lawmakers.

'We're going to relaunch growth by economic patriotism,' Philippot told reporters. Unlike Trump, Le Pen isn't a new quantity in French politics - she has headed the National Front since 2011 and came in third in the presidential vote in 2012. Early polls consistently show Le Pen among France's two top presidential candidates, but suggest she'll lose by a wide margin in the May 7 runoff.

The candidate just two weeks ago considered the most likely to beat Le Pen and win, former conservative Prime Minister Francois Fillon, has seen his support plummet as French prosecutors investigate possibly fictitious parliamentary aide jobs once held by his wife and two children. Former budget minister Emmanuel Macron, who rebelled against the Socialist Party to strike out on his own, could end up facing Le Pen in the second-round vote. Macron, a centrist, also chose Lyon for a rally this weekend, as did leftist presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Also running is leftist Benoit Hamon, who easily beat former Prime Minister Manuel Valls to be the Socialist Party's presidential candidate. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 09:49 6.2 (1.02/22). David Moyes has praised the impact made by Sunderland’s new signing Bryan Oviedo and returning African Nations Cup duo Lamine Kone and Didier Ndong. On Saturday Sunderland impressively won 4-0 at relegation rivals Crystal Palace, with Kone and Ndong on the scoresheet before Jermain Defoe’s double, to secure their biggest away victory since they defeated Bradford by the same scoreline in 1999.

The win, in which Oviedo was handed his debut, was their first of 2017 and came after an improved and resilient performance in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham, when Kone and Ndong were again available. David Moyes (Jonathan Brady/PA) #KeepTheFaith pic.twitter.com/Q95R1w2A3W Tuesday’s result ended a run of three successive defeats and after Moyes strengthened his squad in January and Saturday’s victory took his 20th-placed team to within two points of climbing out of the bottom three, the wider picture surrounding their season has become far more positive. “Getting them back has been very big for us,” the Sunderland manager said of the Ivory Coast’s Kone and Gabon’s Ndong. “They played against Tottenham in midweek and they were great in that game as well. “Kone has done really well and he played well again (at Palace).

Ndong is young and sometimes we expect a bit too much of him, but he has great energy and he scored a good goal. AJ --->JD 😜 great win today ⚽❤ pic.twitter.com/Vg0Px7AC2j “We’ve missed them both in January. “Our left-back (Oviedo) was terrific because he was up against Wilfried Zaha, who we know is a real threat.

“Against Tottenham we were very resilient, but we didn’t play very well. (At Palace) we played much better.” Moyes also recruited Joleon Lescott and Darron Gibson during the January transfer window, finally giving his squad the options they have needed, but was left concerned after the impressive Adnan Januzaj, Jack Rodwell and John O’Shea suffered injuries in Saturday’s victory. 😎 After that brace @IAmJermainDefoe becomes #SAFC 's second highest top scorer. Only Super Kev has netted more goals in the @premierleague pic.twitter.com/teBznYnIRB “(Januzaj) had a bit of a hip injury, but he played very well and he played the pass for Jermain’s second goal,” said Moyes, 53.

“Rodwell came off feeling his hamstring, which is a real blow for us because he has started to come into a bit better form. “We’ve brought a couple of players in, but we just can’t afford to be losing any. John O’Shea was also feeling his hamstring a little bit.” The result and performance were the worst of Palace’s season and they slipped to 19th, level on 19 points with Sunderland, when they had hoped to climb out of the relegation zone. SA: It's been a problem all season. 7 points at home all season - I've got to turn that around. Full-back Joel Ward described their afternoon as “unacceptable”. “First half they out-worked us and we let them play, let them pick up the ball in dangerous areas and didn’t cope with what they threw at us, and that’s unacceptable,” the 27-year-old told the club’s official website.

“We wanted to come into the game with the momentum from (winning 2-0 at) Bournemouth the other night, but we didn’t do that and by the time we did it was too late. “We need to come off the ropes swinging, and that’s just the start of it.” 2017-02-05 09:34 3.2 (1.02/22). Jack Sock and Steve Johnson prevailed in a three-set doubles match Saturday as the United States took a 3-0 lead over Switzerland to clinch a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Sock and Johnson posted a 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Henri Laaksonen and Adrien Bossel in the match at Birmingham, Ala. The United States faces Australia in April. The Aussies advanced with a 4-1 victory over the Czech Republic.

Sock and Johnson were forced into two tiebreakers but remained in control of the match as their long partnership helped them fight off the charge of the two Swiss players. 'We played together a bunch of times in the past, so just once we get going we get the familiarity back with one another,' Johnson said.

'Everything kind of clicked toward the end or we got it going, so just keep it rolling. ' Switzerland played without its top two players -- 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.

The two countries finish play Sunday with two singles matches. 'We will be ready to play (Sunday) for sure, even though this thing is decided,' United States captain Jim Courier said.

'I think I can speak for all of us when I say we're anxious to get down there and battle on. We really want to get out to the semifinals and see what we can do this year.

' The Australians certainly have their sights on the United States. The Americans hold a 26-20 edge in their Davis Cup battles. 'We really want to make a good run this year and we've given ourselves an opportunity to do that now,' Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt said. 'We know it's going to get a lot tougher along the way.

We have a good team going forward and we're going to look forward to this next quarterfinal. ' 2017-02-05 09:31 4.9 (1.02/22). Sarah Silverman has called for a military coup against President Donald Trump. The comedian posted in all-capital letters Wednesday night to her nearly 10 million followers to 'wake up & join the resistance. ' She added, 'Once the military is w us fascists get overthrown.

Mad king & his handlers go bye bye. ' WAKE UP & JOIN THE RESISTANCE.

ONCE THE MILITARY IS W US FASCISTS GET OVERTHROWN. MAD KING & HIS HANDLERS GO BYE BYE❤❤❤❤ Silverman tweeted amid the violent riots that broke out in Berkeley, California, over Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos' now-canceled speech at UC Berkeley. Director Judd Apatow, known for 'Knocked Up' and 'Trainwreck,' said in a now-deleted tweet about the riots, 'This is just the beginning. When will all the fools who are still supporting Trump realize what is at stake?

' Filmmaker Lexi Alexander chimed in, defending the riot on Twitter telling her followers to 'punch Nazis,' 'riot when your college invites a Nazi,' and 'set it all on fire. ' Hate speech is not free speech Hate speech is not free speech Hate speech is not free speech It's called incitement. It's a crime. 2017-02-05 09:31 4.5 (1.02/22). AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military says two soldiers were wounded in fighting with rebels in the separatist east, but that artillery attacks were significantly lower after a week in which fighting surged.

The rebels' command on Sunday reported scores of mortar and tank firings by government forces. Eduard Basurin, spokesman for the rebel military command in Donetsk, did not report any casualties. A sharp escalation in fighting over the past week has killed at least 33 people, centering on Avdiivka, a government-held town just north of rebel-controlled Donetsk. Nearly 180 homes or apartments in the town of 35,000 people were damaged in the shelling, according to Pavlo Zhebrivsky, a government official in the Donetsk region. More than 9,800 have died from fighting between troops and Russia-backed rebels since April 2014.

2017-02-05 09:28 4.3 (1.02/22). Ireland intend to vent their anger on Italy in Rome next weekend for the slow start that caught them cold in Scotland. Flanker Sean O’Brien has predicted a brutal review session on Monday when Ireland will pick apart the problems of their 27-22 RBS 6 Nations loss to Scotland in Edinburgh. Stuart Hogg’s brace and a third score from Alex Dunbar ensured the Scots prevailed, with Greig Laidlaw landing two decisive late penalties.

Sean O'Brien (Mike Egerton/PA) IRTV: Post match press conference #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder Boss Joe Schmidt has admitted an under-cooked first-half showing cost Ireland any chance of victory - and Leinster’s O’Brien insists the squad are determined not to let their anger slip any time soon. “We have to make sure our frustration ensures that we don’t repeat the slow start,” said O’Brien, predicting a fierce reaction in Saturday’s clash with Italy in Rome.

“I’m sure that will be the case - because we’ll be well reminded of it on Monday when we review this game. “Scotland put us under a lot of pressure too now, they are a tough side and you have to give them credit but our standards weren’t where they should have been.” Post Match Joe: we were late arriving to the stadium and we seemed to be late to everything in the first half. #TeamOfUs #shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/ibVOR8b4lW Ireland rallied from 21-5 down to lead 22-21 in the final third against Scotland, thanks to tries from Keith Earls, Iain Henderson and Paddy Jackson.

The visitors were unable to cling on however, with head coach Schmidt later revealing the squad had arrived at the ground 15 minutes late. Ireland never quite shook off their rushed preparations, with peerless full-back Hogg twice slicing through off-kilter defensive alignment to stun Schmidt’s men.

Centre Dunbar coasted over from a cheeky lineout ruse that caught Ireland napping too, leaving O’Brien to lament an unusually lax start. JS: You make your own luck. We were a little bit sluggish in certain areas and let them set the tempo. The 29-year-old flanker has now challenged Ireland to unleash their latent fury on Conor O’Shea’s Azzurri, in a bid to salvage any slim title hopes. “It is unusual for us to start like that, yeah,” said O’Brien. “We were making a few poor decisions in defence and sitting off them a little bit.

“We probably gave them a little bit too much respect early on. JS: you can prepare to best of your ability but it's what you deliver that counts. We now have to go to Rome and work for the points “So that’s what we’ve got to put right. “We’ll pull ourselves together this week, regroup and put in a performance next weekend. “We need to be a little more urgent in attack, it was a little bit lethargic on both sides of the ball in that first 20 minutes. That’s what let us down.” 2017-02-05 09:04 5.3 (1.02/22). By Mark McIntyre, CBS2 Meteorologist/Weather Producer Good Sunday morning everybody!

If you’re going to be out & about early today, bundle up! It’s gonna feel frigid out there with chills in the teens & 20s. We’ll have more clouds through the day along with a few passing flurries – best bet north & west of NYC. It’ll be warmer though, with highs in the upper 30s & low 40s. (credit: CBS2) Tomorrow will be a sunny & crisp day with highs in the low 40sbut it will be the calm before a stormy couple of days midweek. Tuesday will feature an icy mix north/west and rain for the rest along with temps in the mid 40sand Wednesday will be even warmer with temps nearing 60 in the City & points south!

It will get quite windy as well on Wednesday. (credit: CBS2) In the meantime, enjoy the relatively quiet weather, and stay warm today! 2017-02-05 09:00 3.9 (1.02/22). MADRID (AP) - Actor-turned-director Raul Arevalo's first film, 'The Fury of a Patient Man,' won best picture and he was honored for best directorial debut and best original screenplay at the 31st Spanish Film Academy's Goya Awards. Arevalo, 37, shared the screenplay award Saturday night with David Pulido for co-writing the dark thriller. While 'Fury' took the biggest prize, Juan Antonio Bayona's 'A Monster Calls' swept up nine awards, including best director for Bayona and many of the technical awards.

The film, which stars Liam Neeson, Felicity Jones and Sigourney Weaver, tells the story of a troubled boy whose nightmares become very real. Emma Suarez claimed two Goyas, for best actress in Pedro Almodovar's 'Julieta' and for best supporting actress in 'La Proxima Piel' ('The Next Skin').

Roberto Alamo won best actor for 'May God Save Us' while best supporting actor went to Manolo Solo for 'The Fury of a Patient Man. ' 'Timecode,' which has been nominated for this year's Oscar Awards, won the Goya for best short film. Silvia Perez Cruz won best original song for 'Ai, ai, ai.

' The singer concluded her acceptance speech with a moving a cappella lament for those Spaniards who lost their homes during the country's recent economic crisis. The honors Saturday were not Arevalo's first successes at the Goya Awards. As an actor, Arevalo had also won a Goya in 2010 for best supporting actor for 'Gordos. ' The annual Goya Awards are Spain's version of the Oscars, honoring excellence in filmmaking for full-length features, shorts, animated films and documentaries. There are two separate categories to honor the best European film and the best Spanish-language film from outside Spain.

Members of the Spanish Film Academy are eligible to vote. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 2017-02-05 08:58 1.0 (1.02/22).

Trump has been so adamant against companies outsourcing to countries outside the U. But did you know that his own products, even Ivanka’s shoes, are made offshore? For those who are not familiar with Ivanka Trump’s products, these lines that were made available on Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus are supposed to be top-of-the-line, luxury products, just like many other Trump-signatured products as the Donald J. Trump Collection of ties, suits, and other accessories, and Trump Home.

But what’s wrong with these luxury products, you ask? Well, just a refresher, do you remember Donald Trump’s policies on job outsourcing and how it affects jobs in the United States? Well Donald Trump has spouted a lot of promises during his campaign period, all under the banner of making America great again. One of the things that he made very clear was how he was feeling about companies shipping off jobs overseas, or an American company to outsource jobs to a country outside the U.

A common outsourced job that we are very familiar with is process or factory work and a lot of American fashion and technology brands like Hewlett Packard, Forever 21, IBM, heck even Apple, outsource their productions offshore. A lot of companies do this since minimum wage labor abroad, especially in Asian countries like China, India, and the Philippines, where a number of American companies outsource their factory work, is very low. This then allows them to save so much more and triple their profits. “Companies are not going to leave the United States anymore without consequences. These companies aren’t going to be leaving anymore, they aren’t going to be taking people’s hearts out.” In a series of tweets in 2016, in fact, Trump solidifies his proposed policies, Politico reports. Is going to substantially reduce taxes and regulations on businesses, but any business that leaves our country for another country fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.

Without retribution or consequence, is WRONG! There will be a tax on our soon to be strong border of 35% for these companies wanting to sell their product, cars, A.

Units etc., back across the border. This tax will make leaving financially difficult, but these companies are able to move between all 50 states, with no tax or tariff being charged. Please be forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake.” With Donald Trump’s arduous advocacy against job outsourcing, you would think he runs his company accordingly (did you know he swore not to eat Oreos anymore because Nabisco moved some U. Factory jobs to Mexico?). You would think that Trump’s products are manufactured in the United States, then. Well, prepare to be surprised.

The Donald J. Collection of apparel and fashion accessories are made in a lot of countries. Trump sport coats were made in India, Trump suits were made in Indonesia, some shirts are made in China and Bangladesh, while Trump eyeglasses were made in China. Trump Home furnitures, manufactured in partnership with global luxury furniture brand, Dorya, has components made in Germany. Several other Trump Home items like mirrors, ceramic vases, wall decor, and kitchen items are made in China. Items that could be found in Trump Hotels, too, are sourced from China, such as hotel pens, shampoo, body wash, laundry bags, and bath towels, among others.

@IvankaTrump Shoes Definitely MADE IN CHINA! Pic.twitter.com/bJmG1245Br — scs (@muses220) November 21, 2016 Just like Donald Trump’s clothing, Ivanka Trump’s shoes are made in China #NeverTrump pic.twitter.com/zGzJi8gLLy — Catalina Reasoner (@CatReasoner) August 7, 2016 How do you like to view Donald Trump and his daughter’s manufacturing techniques?

Hypocrisy or business-savvy? [Featured Image by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images] 2017-02-05 08:57 4.2 (1.02/22). John Terry believes the Football Association should fast-track former England players into management and coaching roles. Terry spoke out at the end of a week in which his former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard retired and Steven Gerrard began working as an academy coach at Liverpool. Former England captain Terry is still a Chelsea player at the age of 36, but admits he would love to be the manager at Stamford Bridge one day. John Terry pictured at Stamford Bridge on Saturday prior to Chelsea's 3-1 win over Arsenal Terry is still a Chelsea player at the age of 36 but has struggled for first-team football this term 'I feel it's very important we get the best players back in the game,' Terry told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme. 'This generation of footballers have earned very good money throughout their time, and we need to make it easier for them to get into coaching roles - by not doing the full length of the FA coaching course, which I know (technical director) Dan Ashworth at the FA is on board with.

'He's trying to help these players get back out there because they've got so much knowledge to pass on. Not only to the kids, but to experienced players in the dressing room that haven't achieved what these guys have achieved.' Terry was discussing how England's so-called golden generation missed out on silverware at international level, but he sees their accrued knowledge and expertise as being transferable to the youngsters of today. He added: 'They can pass that education and those experiences on, they've certainly got something to give.'

Terry's own Chelsea playing career appears to be winding down as he has only made four Premier League starts this season. Terry's former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard (centre) retired from football this week Steven Gerrard, Terry's ex-England-team-mate, began working as Liverpool academy coach But Terry says managing a club he has represented over 700 times would be 'a dream'. Asked about forming a future management double act with Lampard at Chelsea, Terry said: 'We used to laugh and joke about that. That would be the dream for us two. 'But I don't think it's as simple as that.

We both appreciate and understand that it's important to get our coaching badges. 'It's important to go out and gain the experience, whether that's in the youth, reserves or other teams at Chelsea, or at other football clubs. 'We wouldn't want to come to Stamford Bridge inexperienced and take the team, and not do it justice.

'If we get to come back in 10 or 15 years and be at the peak of our careers as managers, and do a great job, that would be unbelievable.' Terry says managing a club he has represented over 700 times would be 'a dream' Terry has been a bit-part player under Antonio Conte this season as Chelsea have surged clear at the top of the Premier League. He has had only six minutes of league action since the start of September, but insists he has enjoyed working with the former Juventus boss.

'Antonio Conte's doing a fantastic job at the Bridge,' Terry said. 'He's got new ideas and it's been great for me working with him towards the end of my career. 'I genuinely feel I can play for another couple of years. 'You want to play every week, but there comes a point when you're not. It happens to everyone, it happens to the best footballers in the world. 'But players are getting longer life out of their careers.

Look at Ryan Giggs who played until his forties, or Frank Lampard and Stevie G.' Eden Hazard ran the show as Chelsea comfortably defeated Arsenal on Saturday afternoon Terry, however, says he is enjoying watching Chelsea right now with Conte's side holding a nine-point lead over second-placed Tottenham. Saturday's 3-1 home victory over Arsenal again underlined their title credentials, with Eden Hazard in sparkling form and the scorer of a brilliant solo goal.

'Before these two games - Liverpool away and Arsenal at home - we would have taken four points all day long,' Terry said. 'We picked up a very good point at Liverpool and being the early kick-off (on Saturday) it was very important to pick up three points. 'We sent the message to everyone else that we're not dropping points and we're looking strong, and then the pressure's on everyone else. 'We've been in that position before when you're behind a team and they keep winning and winning. 'It's very difficult mentally then to keep going out there and performing.' Antonio Conte congratulates Hazard on his scintillating performance at Stamford Bridge 2017-02-05 08:56 3.2 (1.02/22).

Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again–just watch. He can do much better!

Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012 Everyone knows I am right that Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart. In a couple of years, he will thank me.

Be smart, Robert. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2012 Kristen then talked about her breakup with Pattinson that happened in 2012. She said Donald Trump got “insane” because of the breakup. Then, Stewart dropped a bomb.

What she said next was a direct question on the U. President’s sexual preferences. “To be fair, I don’t think Donald Trump hated me. I think he’s in love with my boyfriend.” Kristen Stewart backed her claim with another tweet by Donald Trump. In the tweet, Trump offered an open invite for Robert Pattinson to attend the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant. The invite was surprising, since Rob had nothing to do with the show.

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) February 5, 2017 “The men all had erections, and every single one of the women was ovulating left and right.” [Featured image 2017-02-05 08:54 2.5 (1.02/22). Johannesburg - The role of Gauteng Premier David Makhura in the deaths of 94 mental health patients is set to be investigated during an oversight committee meeting, the DA said on Sunday.

'Makhura can expect tough questioning at the next OCPOL meeting which should be held within the next two weeks,' said DA MPL Jack Bloom in a statement. He said that the Oversight Committee on the Premier's Office and Legislature (OCPOL) had agreed to the meeting, in accordance with a reference made in the report to the office of the premier, and its role in the matter. 'It is simply not credible that the Premier and his office were unaware of the problems and the need for swift intervention,' said Bloom.

A time-line of the decision making process behind the decision to transfer patients from Life Healthcare Esidemeni to various unlicensed NGOs has also been requested. 'I have also requested that the Premier and senior officials should appear before the committee for questions.

' On Thursday, EFF members of the provincial legislature laid 94 charges of murder against Makhura and former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. The MEC resigned shortly after the release of a report by Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, who found that nearly 80% of the patients had died between March and December 2016 after the department cancelled its contract with Esidemeni as part of cost-cutting measures. In the aftermath of Makgoba’s damming report, the Democratic Alliance, Cope and the ANCYL have called for Makhura to step down. The families of those who died are also considering legal action. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the DA also released another statement in which it voiced its support for an investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission to take place. 'We must learn from the unnecessary deaths of 94 South Africans and ensure that it does not happen again,' said MP Wilmot James. 2017-02-05 08:45 1.0 (1.02/22).

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pistons had another win streak cut short Saturday night, and it was an all-too-familiar scene. One half of acceptable basketball, aided by a quarter of exceptional shooting, squashed by clumsy ball control and a willingness to do anything about it in the other. Detroit committed a season-high 21 turnovers, 17 of which came in the second half, and lost another game to the Indiana Pacers, 105-84, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. 'They were just being way more aggressive than we were defensively,' said Marcus Morris, who led the Pistons with 19 points, and only turned it over once.

'The ball was stagnant and it was easy for them to cover the ball. Everyone was just watching. ' The Pistons - who watched a mini two-game in streak snapped by the red-hot Pacers, winners of six straight - committed 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone, marred by a 4 for 12 shooting effort and just 14 points. After lighting up the scoreboard for 58 points in the first half, Detroit (23-28) scored just 26 points in the second, equaling its point total from the second quarter. 'Disappointing,' Pistons guard Reggie Jackson said. 'We had been playing well, then couldn't find good shots.

It's just one of the first few times in a while we felt we hadn't been forced consistently into bad shots or turnovers, and they made us pay. 'That's a team that has been playing well as of late, and they came out and were definitely the aggressor tonight.

' Detroit had committed just four turnovers in the first half, but the Pacers ratcheted up the pressure early in the third. They took the lead on six straight points, then went on a 16-3 run later on that included five Pistons turnovers. Andre Drummond recorded a team-high six turnovers, with five coming in the game-deciding third quarter, while Jon Leuer (14 points, 7 rebounds) was forced into four.

Tobias Haris, who played 22 minutes off the bench, had three. 'They made us very stagnant, and when we're like that we're not very good because we're really not a one-on-one team,' said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy. 'I mean, we have guys that can get their own shot a little bit -- Tobias and Marcus -- but basically, we need to get the ball moving and we didn't.

'We also needed to have much better screening and movement away from the ball, to get people open. We didn't have any of that, and we tried to play out of our pick-and-roll game tonight, and we couldn't get anything out of that. Hey, we just didn't play well and their defense was outstanding. I give them a lot of credit. ' It was the second 20-turnover game of the season for Detroit, which turned up fortunate to beat Washington by a point last month in the other.

The Pistons' lethargic offense in the second half Saturday made sure they were never in position to mount a comeback. They got some help in the form of another Charlotte loss, meaning they temporarily hang on to eighth place in the East, but the players know better play must follow. Adding salt to the wound, Detroit has now lost eight of its last nine to the Pacers and is 2-15 at Indiana dating back to the 2008-09 season. 'I've been saying this for a while, all season -- when a team gets aggressive, I feel like we take a step back instead of taking the challenge and getting right back with it,' Morris said. 'I just feel like we kind of get on our heels.

'It's been concerning the whole year, so it's not like -- we've just got to be better, man. We've got to be the aggressor. We can't keep allowing people to come out and do this. Impose their will like this. ' 2017-02-05 08:15 3.6 (1.02/22).

Qatar Airways launched the world's longest scheduled commercial service with its inaugural flight from Doha to Auckland taking off eight minutes early on Sunday, a company spokeswoman said. Flight QR920 left the Qatari capital at 05:02 (0202 GMT) and is set to land in New Zealand at 07:30 local time on Monday (1830 GMT). The Boeing 777 flight will take 16 hours and 20 minutes, pass over 10 time zones, five countries and travel 14,535 kilometres (9,032 miles) before reaching Auckland. But even that flying time may be looked on jealously by passengers on the return flight which, due to high-altitude winds, will take 17 hours and 30 minutes, according to the company website. This will make it the world's longest passenger service in terms of flying time, according to tracking website flightradar24. Qatar Airways did not immediately have a figure for the number of passengers who boarded on Sunday, but it is believed there are four pilots and 15 crew on the plane. In March last year, Emirates airline launched what was then thought to be the world's longest non-stop scheduled commercial flight, with a service from Dubai to Auckland, spanning 14,200 kilometres (8,824 miles).

2017-02-05 08:02 2.4 (1.02/22). Barney Frank (D-Mass.) in an interview Sunday criticized President Trump for his plans to target his namesake Dodd-Frank financial reform law. 'Much of that law is popular,' Frank said during an interview with John Catsimatidis that aired on New York's AM 970. 'The executive order that the president offered with a lot of hype has no specifics.

In fact, it doesn't do anything. ' Trump on Friday signed a pair of executive orders aimed at lightening the regulatory load on financial institutions. While the orders are somewhat limited in scale, they indicate that the Trump's administration plans to make an overhaul of Wall Street rules a priority. Dodd–Frank, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2010 and partially named after the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was designed to reform the financial regulatory process by adding a set of new market oversight mechanisms. “We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank because, frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine, who have nice businesses who can’t borrow money,' Trump said on Friday morning before signing an executive order on the issue.

'They just can’t get any money because the banks just won’t let them borrow, because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank. ' Frank pushed back on Sunday. 'There are no restrictions on lending in this bill. There are restrictions on the manipulation of derivatives of complex financial instruments like the ones AIG used that got people into serious trouble,' he explained. 'What I'm afraid of is that we are going to get back to the period when large financial institutions, to make some short-term money, get themselves into situations where they won't be able to pay off their debt and we will get back into a crisis,' the former lawmaker warned.

Frank also predicted that since Trump's team cannot reform Dodd-Frank by executive order it will instead choose to not enforce the law. 'I do not think he's going to get 60 senators to vote to get rid of all this. So what you then have, I believe, is he's going to appoint people who won't enforce the law,' he said. 2017-02-05 08:00 4.5 (1.02/22). A teenager has been shot dead in a pub car park in North Wales.

Police said the 18-year-old was in a vehicle outside the Ship Inn at Llandedrog, near Pwllheli, Gwynedd. Four people have been arrested following the shooting, which emergency services were alerted to just after midnight on Sunday. North Wales Police confirmed that the family of the victim, who is local to the area, has been informed. A post-mortem examination is due to take place. Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams said: 'We are keen to speak with anyone who was in the local area last night and who may have seen a number of males in a Land Rover Discovery vehicle at the location.' Police said the 18-year-old was in a vehicle outside the Ship Inn at Llandedrog, near Pwllheli, Gwynedd when he was shot 2017-02-05 07:40 4.8 (1.02/22).

NASHVILLE - During the first six weeks of 2016, Petr Mrazek was arguably the best goaltender in the NHL. In his first 13 appearances of 2016, Mrazek had a 10-2-1 record, 1.31 goals-against average and.951 save percentage - vaulting to the top of the NHL in the latter two categories. Saturday night in Nashville, he showed that same form in recording his first shutout of the season, making 42 saves during a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. Coach Jeff Blashill started him on back-to-back nights with the hope that Mrazek might catch fire as the Red Wings desperately try to keep their 25-season playoff streak alive and Mrazek came through. 'Belief,' Blashill said when asked why he came back with Mrazek after he backstopped Friday's 5-4 victory over the Islanders. 'I got belief that - I've said this before - we need to go on a run and in order to go on a run we need a goalie to get hot and I know Petr can get hot.

'I've seen it in the American League, I've seen in the NHL. Last year in January he was probably the best goalie in the league. So I guess belief would be the word why I went back with him. ' Mrazek made a couple of big saves on one-timers by Ryan Johansen and James Neal in the first period, he robbed Filip Forsberg with a glove save in the second and then recorded his first shutout since Feb. 8, 2016 by turning aside 17 shots in the final 20 minutes.

'It feels great, first shutout of the year,' said Mrazek, who squared his record at 12-12-5. 'What I said two days ago, even 5-4, the most important thing is we bring home two points. 'Every game's different. This one, everything went in our way.

They hit the post in the first period. I think guys did a great job in front of me. They were blocking lots of shots. I think we played a good road game. 'I knew first period was going to be tough, back-to-back games against good teams. We knew they were going to come hard so that was a great first period.

' Mike Green scored the only goal of the game with 90 seconds left in the first period to give the Red Wings just their 12th lead of the season heading into the first intermission. After watching Mrazek turn back nine shots in the first period, Blashill had a feeling something good was going to happen. 'Right from the onset I looked at Petr and thought 'That's the Petr I know' when he's got tons of confidence and looks big in the net,' Blashill said. 'I thought he was excellent tonight right from the get-go. 'There's lots of nights where I've sat on the bench and said to myself, 'Boy if it's not off somebody's legs he's not letting one in.'

And that's the way I felt tonight. There's just nights where I can feel like he isn't going to let one in when it's man against man. I don't know. He looks bigger in the net, pucks are sticking to him, he's got a swagger to him. He looked excellent right from the onset. ' The Red Wings needed the big night from Mrazek because they once again struggled offensively and the league's worst power play lived up to its billing.

Detroit was 0-for-5 on the power play and wasted a great chance to score an insurance goal when during a two-man advantage for 64 seconds in the third period. It was the second time in three games the Red Wings had a 5-on-3 for more than a minute but failed to score. 'Sometimes on 5-on-3s you overthink it a little too much, 'said Green, whose goal was his 10th of the season. 'I think maybe that was the case but if we continue to get them, we'll make sure that we bear down. I think that it's never easy. 'We've got to establish more shots. We've got to move to the open areas.

But like I said I think you overthink it sometimes. ' On the flip side, the Red Wings killed off Nashville's three power plays, all of which came in the third period, when the referees handed out seven penalties after calling two in the first 40 minutes. 'I thought the penalty kill was excellent,' Blashill said. 'When your power play is struggling, you put lots of pressure on your penalty kill.

I thought the penalty kill was excellent. I thought the guys did a great of blocking shots through the game 5-on-5 but also on the kill.

' The Red Wings moved back over the.500 mark by raising their record to 22-21-9. Nashville, which entered the game with an 8-2-1 record in their previous 11 games, fell to 25-19-8. 2017-02-05 07:06 2.3 (1.02/22). JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for international unity against Iran after Tehran's recent ballistic missile test. Netanyahu spoke Sunday ahead of his visit to London where he will meet Prime Minister Theresa May to 'deepen bilateral diplomatic, security, economic and technological ties. ' He said 'In the diplomatic sphere, I intend to emphasize the need for a common front against Iran's defiant aggression which has raised its head in recent days.

' Iran and Israel are bitter enemies. Netanyahu vehemently opposes the 2015 deal that imposed curbs on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions. He says it won't stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The deal does not include provisions against missile tests. The Trump administration later ordered some sanctions against Iran in retaliation for the missile test. 2017-02-05 06:57 0.7 (1.00/22). MILAN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - AC Milan's season continued to nosedive after a Luis Muriel penalty condemned them to a 1-0 home defeat against Sampdoria on Sunday and they were booed off the pitch by an angry San Siro crowd.

Milan defender Cristian Zapata lost possession in midfield to set up a Sampdoria counter-attack which ended when Fabio Quagliarella was tripped by Gabriel Paletta to concede a penalty in the 70th minute. Zapata's fellow Colombian Muriel sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way to hand Milan their third successive league defeat, leaving them in eighth place in Serie A and struggling to qualify for Europe next season. Milan's misery was compounded when Jose Sosa was booked twice in five minutes and sent off. (Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Toby Davis) 2017-02-05 10:03 5.1 (1.00/22). 'Saturday Night Live' had viewers across the United States in an uproar over actress Melissa McCarthy's portrayal of White House press secretary Sean Spicer in its latest episode Saturday night. But there's a notable cameo in the sketch that Michigan viewers may especially take interest in: Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos, portrayed by Kate McKinnon.

McCarthy's Spicer introduced McKinnon's DeVos a few minutes into the White House press briefing skit. With DeVos, a western Michigan school reform advocate, facing questions regarding her candidacy for Secretary of Education - a final vote is expected Tuesday - Spicer brings DeVos to the podium to take some questions.

Read more: The first reporter immediately asks about DeVos' position on proficiency vs. Growth in the education system, following up on a notorious back-and-forth between DeVos and U. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, during her confirmation hearing last month. You can watch the exchange in the clip below, at around the 5:45 mark.

McKinnon portrayed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton throughout the 2016 campaign. 2017-02-05 09:21 0.8 (0.02/22).

Married At First Sight couple Andrew and Lauren tied the knot on Sunday night's episode of the hit reality show. But it seems their romance could be over as quickly as it began after the bride made it clear she was less than impressed with Andrew's stature. As Lauren first laid eyes on her soon-to-be husband, she seemed far from excited about what was to come. 'You've got these expectations and one of my criteria was tall,' she said. 'I mean, I'll never be able to wear heels again - ever!' Married At First Sight couple Andrew and Lauren's romance could be over as quickly as it began after the bride made it clear she was less than impressed with Andrew's stature Lauren said: 'You've got these expectations and one of my criteria was tall' The couple tied the knot on Sunday night's episode of the hit reality show Lauren added: 'I've normally gone for really tall guys - and he's not really tall. Can I turn back now?

Despite the initially hesitation, all appeared to be going well after the vows were exchanged. 'There's great banter - we're bouncing off each other and I guess that will deepen as we go on,' Lauren said. But after the picture perfect wedding was over, Lauren turned into the runaway bride, giving her husband the slip after they went out for a drink together. 'Came back from the wedding, everything was good, she seemed to be having a really great time,' Andrew said. 'We made plans to go out, down the elevator out the front, and the closest bar was quite busy, looked fun. After the picture perfect wedding was over, Lauren turned into the runaway bride Lauren's disappearing act left Andrew confused, and he said there was 'no excuse' for what she had done 'I turned around and Lauren had vanished, she was gone, didn’t say goodbye, didn’t say where she was going, and that was literally the last I spoke to her.

'I haven’t heard from Lauren at all. There’s no excuse for what she did.' A confused Andrew was seen repeatedly calling his bride, who left her wedding dress and overnight bag in their shared apartment. Lauren, who has an 11-year-old son Dylan, was also initially hesitant about telling Andrew she had a child.

But the news went down well, and the couple enjoyed more than a few kisses at their wedding reception. Just why she made a run for it, and whether or not she will return, remains to be seen. A confused Andrew was seen repeatedly calling his bride, who left her wedding dress and overnight bag in their shared apartment ‘I turned around and Lauren had vanished, she was gone, didn’t say goodbye, didn’t say where she was going, and that was literally the last I spoke to her,' Andrew said 2017-02-05 07:21 2.9 (0.01/22).

Every Italy attack is ending in an error at the moment, just what O'Shea said he didn't want So we're through 20 minutes and it's still 0-0. Italy will take great heart from that, even though they're living off scraps. Wales go through 10 phases after another lineout win, but as they snake across the field Jonathan Davies kicks forward with his feet, which Andrea Lovotti to win a drop out from the 22.

16 minutes: Wales go to the corner and make a statement of intent, after Tommaso Benvenuti clears his man out in the ruck before the ball is out. Wales win their line out and quickly win an advantage. Biggar takes a shot to nothing which Giulio Bisegni touches down. Wales go to the corner again Dan Biggar drops a bomb across the field which Williams hauls in, but he can't keep hold as he struggles to stay in touch. 11 minutes: Really patient defence from decent pick and go from Wales, which forces a turnover, but just as the hosts look to launch an attack they knock forward themselves and it's an Italy put-in at the scrum as we come back for the advantage. Luke McLean is able to clear.

Eight minutes: That Italian dominance at the scrum was short lived, as they collapse in Wales territory and allow the visitors to clear with the penalty. In the build up to this it's been said the Italians fancy themselves in the scrum, which they backed up in the first of the game as they win the penalty off Nick Smith. With find touch. Looks like the Northampton wing has a dead leg. Hopefully no more than that. A quick blood replacement, too, with Cory Hill on for the captain Wyn Jones for a spell.

An early shot for Halfpenny who sets up for a shot from just inside half way, after the Italians were called for obstruction after the full-back's up and under. He misses to the right Fair play to Conor O'Shea, he appears to have learnt the words. Great atmosphere. Before we get started, the captains will be presented to the Italian president. Sergio Parisse leads the hosts, with Alun Wyn Jones leading Wales. So we're nearly ready to go! NIK SIMON: The Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, is here to watch his first ever Six Nations match today.

He will sit alongside Jill Morris, the British ambassador to Italy, as the pair take a welcome break from Brexit discussions. His attendance is being talked about as a landmark seal of approval for rugby in Italy. ITALY: 15-Edoardo Padovani; 14-Giulio Bisegni, 13-Tommaso Benvenuti, 12-Luke McLean 11-Giovanbattista Venditti; 10-Carlo Canna, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Andrea Lovotti, 2-Ornel Gega, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 4-Marco Fuser, 5-George Biagi, 6-Abraham Steyn, 7-Maxime Mata M'Banda, 8-Sergio Parisse (captain) Replacements: 16-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17-Sami Panico, 18-Pietro Ceccarelli, 19-Joshua Furno, 20-Francesco Minto, 21-Giorgio Bronzini, 22-Tommaso Allan, 23-Michele Campagnaro It's looking pretty wet in Rome, what impact will that have on the game? It's generally accepted that wet conditions, in any Six Nations game Italy are involved in, will play into their hands. We'll see Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny; 14-George North, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Scott Williams, 11-Liam Williams; 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Rhys Webb; 1-Nicky Smith, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Samson Lee, 4-Jake Ball, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (captain); 6-Sam Warburton, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Ross Moriarty Replacements: 16-Scott Baldwin, 17-Rob Evans, 18-Tomas Francis, 19-Cory Hill, 20-James King, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-Sam Davies, 23-Jamie Roberts NIK SIMON: The Welsh Pavarottis, more commonly known as the London Welsh Male Voice Choir, have been warming up their vocal chords. Alun-Wyn Jones is also going through the gears as Wales get ready for kick off.

Rumour has it, a local pizza has been created featuring the skipper’s face. Here we go then on another afternoon of Six Nations rugby. Yesterday was a pretty good start, with Scotland and England coming out victorious, and now it's the turn of Wales and Italy. The game in Rome kicks off at 2pm and we'll have it all, live. 2017-02-05 10:03 1.2 (0.01/22). Rob Gronkowski is a tight end for the New England Patriots. He has received several awards, including the award for the NFL receiving touchdowns leader in 2011, and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2014.

Gronkowski has become a fan-favorite as t he NFL’s first tight end with the most receiving touchdowns in the league. If you want to know how much Rob Gronkowski’s net worth is, and more about his income, we have all the details for you. Robert Gronkowski was born on May 14, 1989 in Amherst, New York and was raised in Williamsville. He went to Williamsville North High School for three years, where he played tight end in football and center in basketball. Due to his impeccable football skills, he was named an All-Western New York first-team and All-State Second-team player. Gronkowski is the second youngest of five brothers.

His eldest brother, Gordie Jr., played baseball during his college days, and for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League in 2011. Dan Gronkowski also used to play as a tight end at Maryland and was selected to play during the 2009 NFL Draft, where he played for five years. His third brother, Chris Gronkowski also played football for two years at the University of Maryland before transferring to Arizona, and then playing for the NFL for four seasons. Their youngest brother, Glenn Gronkowski is also into football. He is a fullback for the Patriots. In 2006, Rob Gronkowski moved to Suburban Pittsburgh, where he went to Woodland Hills High School for his senior year.

After graduating, he went to the University of Arizona and joined the Arizona Wildcats Football team from 2007 to 2009. Before the 2009 season, he was placed on the watchlist for the Lombardi Award, which is presented to the most outstanding college football lineman or linebacker.

In 2012, Gronkowski signed a $54.0 million contract extension for six years. At the time, it was said to be the highest-paid contract for a tight end. According to Spotrac, Gronkowski was guaranteed nearly $13.0 million, with an $8.0 million signing bonus and an annual salary of $9.0 million, which will only increase when the contract expires in 2020. Though Rob Gronkowski’s net worth is $24.0 million, he does not spend it on expensive cars, watches, or other frivolous things. In 2015, Gronkowski’s book, It’s Good to be Gronk!

Was released, and in it he wrote, “To this day, I still haven’t touched one dime of my signing bonus money or NFL contract money. I live off my marketing money and haven’t blown it on any big-money expensive cars, expensive jewelry or tattoos and still wear my favorite pair of jeans from high school.” Here are the details of Rob Gronkowski’s salary and contracts according to Spotrac: Aside from contract bonuses and playing, Gronkowski earns a great deal of money from endorsements. In 2012, he signed a two year contract with Dunkin’ Donuts to promote their brand on TV and radio. That same year, he invested and sponsored the Bodyarmor SuperDrink.

Before 2013, PLB Sports manufactured a frosted corn flakes cereal called Gronk Flakes, which was sold in New England at Stop & Shops, as well as online. Gronk Flakes are produced by the same company that manufactured Flutie Flakes, promoted by former NFL quarterback, Doug Flutie. A portion of the sales benefited the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation.

In January 2015, Gronkowski paired up with Opendorse to endorse the Zynga mobile application, “NFL Showdown: Football Manager.” In April 2016, he teamed up with Monster Energy and launched the “Gronk” beverage, which will be distributed by Coca-Cola. Rob Gronkowski has also cameoed in films and television, usually as himself. He was in the Entourage movie, as well as Family Guy. We can also see him in 2017’s The Clapper, American Violence, and You Can’t Have It. Floyd Mayweather Net Worth: The World’s Highest-Paid Athlete After last year’s win in the world’s highest-grossing boxing fight ever.

Click here to read more After last year’s win in the world’s highest-grossing boxing fight ever. Click here to read more 2017-02-05 10:00 1.4 (0.01/22).

Manchester United will hope to keep the pressure on their rivals in their pursuit of the top four when they travel to Leicester City to conclude Sunday's action. The Red Devils visit the King Power Stadium sixth in the table but know victory will keep up their hopes of reaching the Champions League next term. The champions though are far away from their title chasing heroics last term, and instead go into the game just one point away from the relegation zone. Follow all the action as it happens. 2017-02-05 09:56 2.6 (0.01/22). Pittsburgh Penguins 4, St.

Louis Blues 1 ST. LOUIS -- Sidney Crosby scored two goals and assisted on another Saturday night to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the St. Louis Blues on Saturday for their third straight victory.

Crosby, who did not record a point against Columbus on Friday, has not gone two consecutive games without a point since Feb. 24-27 of last year. He scored at least one point in 35 of the 45 games he played this season. Crosby's second goal of the game, his league-leading 30th of the season, came into an empty net with 18 seconds to play. Crosby earned his second point of the night when he set up defenseman Justin Schultz for the Penguins' third goal at 12:02 of the second period. It was his 29th assist of the season.

The two points left him three shy of reaching the 1,000 point mark. Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Boston Bruins 5 BOSTON -- Rookie William Nylander had three goals for his first career hat trick and James van Riemsdyk scored with 1:36 remaining as Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak.

The young Maple Leafs blew leads of 4-1 and 5-4 before van Riemsdyk beat Boston backup goaltender Zane McIntrye.

When most people think of waste collection, they think of the weekly waste pickup at the curb outside the home. For most of us, the typical waste collection truck loaded by men picking up individual trash cans and dumping them in the back of the truck is all there is to waste collection. What most of us do not realize is that weekly residential waste collection is only one of many wastestreams. In fact, residential waste is often not the largest wastestream in terms of total tons disposed of at the local landfill. Commercial collection, in all of its varieties, is the wastestream generated by industry and business that is often unseen by the average person.

Furthermore, instead of going to the community’s municipal solid waste landfill, these wastestreams are often sent to their own uniquely constructed and operated landfills that have been specifically designed to receive these wastes. Being out of the public eye is the result of commercial waste being collected by its own specialized bins, rolloff boxes, and similar containers, and transported by specialized vehicles. The differences between waste sources and waste types can get confusing.

But it is necessary to understand them so as to differentiate the needs of the various types of waste collection operations. The resulting contrast will go along way to explain need for specialized commercial waste collection practices. Sources of Waste Waste sources fall into one of two broad categories: residential and nonresidential. Residential waste collection is properly defined as being an operation limited to single-family dwellings, either rural or urban.

Residential waste does not normally include multifamily dwellings, though each source is a residence and produces the same type of municipal solid waste. A single-family residence is typically defined either as a detached structure (such as an individual house on a lot or on a more extensive rural property, surrounded by open space) or as town houses and row homes. Though these latter structures are physically attached, each unit is typically considered to be a single-family dwelling, since they are each occupied by only one family and have individual trash collection services being provided for each dwelling. On the other hand, the term multifamily dwellings usually refers to multiple attached structures (apartments, condominiums, dormitories, etc.) sharing a centralized community trash disposal system and are provided with joint waste collection services.

Multifamily dwellings, even though they are residential sources and also produce municipal solid waste, are commercial in nature. They typically represent large blocks of rental units, making them commercial operations. As such, the waste containers and collection procedures at apartment complexes will differ from those of suburban neighborhoods. In addition to multifamily dwellings, nonresidential waste sources include commercial businesses, retail outlets, institutions, offices, farms, industries, energy generation, forestry, and mining operations. These nonresidential waste sources are defined as commercial, industrial, or medical. Commercial waste is generated by premises and locations used for trade or business activities. Factories, mines, power plants, lumber operations, and agriculture create industrial waste (which can be further classified as either hazardous or nonhazardous).

Medical waste is generated by health care facilities such as doctor’s offices and hospitals. Photo: Perkins A commercial bin with tipper is seen in action. Types of Waste Residential waste sources produce municipal solid waste almost exclusively. The types of waste generated by nonresidential waste sources can each be further divided into two types, municipal and industrial.

This later designation is a much broader category encompassing many types of industrial activities, not just factories. The first type, municipal solid waste, includes wastes such as scrap paper, foodwaste, yardwaste, used corrugated cardboard, pieces of plastic, scrap metal, glass shards, wood fragments, and other waste objects (including durable goods, nondurable goods, containers and packaging, appliances, automobile tires, clothing, or wood pallets) generated by residential (both single-family and multifamily households) and commercial sources. Industrial waste is generated by industrial processes and activities, not by individual humans.

It includes everything that is not considered municipal solid waste. It contains an even wider range of waste types than municipal solid waste, including: compostable organic waste and other biodegradable waste, construction and demolition debris, fly ash and other coal combustion byproducts, industrial sewage sludge, industrial slag, electronic waste, hazardous waste of all kinds (metals, volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds), nuclear and radioactive waste, and sharps and other medical waste. In general, while municipal solid waste is generated by both residential and nonresidential sources, only nonresidential sources can produce industrial waste. Of these nonresidential sources, industrial waste is almost always generated by noncommercial activities. Types of Waste Collection Operations All waste has to be physically picked up from a designated loading point (either the curb in front of your house, a container behind a restaurant, or a community bin located in an apartment complex parking lot). Each location and waste source relies on a specialized collection vehicle that has been matched to the waste container.

There are seven major types of waste collection vehicles (frontloaders, rearloaders, recycling trucks, rolloff trucks, pneumatic collection trucks, automated sideloaders, and grapplers) but only the first four are used extensively for most residential and commercial waste collection. The other types are specialized for specific operations. Rearloaders typically collect residential waste from individual waste cans. These are loaded manually into the rear of the truck, though some models come with partially automated loading mechanisms to handle larger waste cans called toters. Once placed in the truck bed, waste is compacted within the truck by a hydraulically powered sweep-and-slide blade.

The blade sweeps the waste forward to the front of the truck, increasing its density and making room for additional loads. Front loaders are the mainstay for most commercial waste collection fleets. Using a hydraulically powered forklift, the front-end loader lifts and flips the large waste bin so that it empties into a hopper located in the rear of the truck.

The waste is then compacted by a packer blade, similar in operation to the rearloader’s sweep-and-slide blade. The operation is usually fully automated, though the truck operators often use spotters for safety purposes. For the most part, frontloaders collect waste from large dumpsters that temporarily store waste generated by nonresidential businesses or residential waste from multifamily housing units (apartments and condos). These trucks use a forklift to deposit waste into a hopper for containment during transport. Inside the hopper, the waste is compacted by a packer blade to increase its density and free up additional capacity the next load. Typically, these trucks can operate without the need for manual loaders, though they often use spotters. Though not strictly considered waste collection vehicles, rolloff trucks are used to collect and place the larger rolloff boxes used to collect waste from industrial and construction sites.

In an operation similar to that of the working of a dump truck, a rolloff truck can raise its bed to a steep angle (with the low end near the rear tires) or lower its bed to a flat horizontal position by means of a hydraulically operated mechanism. As the bed is raised, the rolloff box it caries can then slide backwards to the ground. Once its rear end touches the ground, the truck moves forward to allow room for complete movement and placement of the rolloff box. Conversely, a rolloff truck can back up to an already in place (and filled) rolloff box, raise its bed once again so that the box may slide back on to the truck and be pulled into a horizontal position for transport once the truck bed is lowered. The sliding movement of the box as it is placed and retrieved in a controlled manner is achieved by means of either a winch or a hook lift system.

A winch system attaches a cable line to the rolloff box and then rewinds to pull it onto the raised bed, or unwinds to lower it safely off the bed. Hook lift systems are typically used for smaller rolloff boxes (20-cubic-yard capacity and smaller). It is comprised of a 90-degree, hydraulically operated, extendable arm with a hook on the end that grabs the rolloff box as it is being moved. Working in tandem with the hydraulically raised and lowered truck bed, the hook lift ensures safe placement and retrieval of the rolloff box. This emphasis on safety is absolutely necessary since commercial waste removal operations are neither simple nor inherently safe. Factors affecting commercial waste collection include the positioning of the bin or rolloff box, the type of waste container, its capacity, frequency of service, and final destination (landfill, transfer station, or material recovery facility). Problems that can occur during waste collection and transport include overflow and spillage during collection, blown debris from the back of the truck during transport, fire and ignition due to sparks cause by metal striking pavement, illegal or improper dumping of unacceptable waste into the container prior to pickup, and contact with overhead power lines.

To guard against these occurrences, spotters usually direct the truck operator during loading and off loading, tarps are placed to cover the waste and prevent blown dust and debris, waste containers are located to minimize the chance of an accident or fire, and the bins may be locked or chained to prevent unwanted access. Characteristics of Rolloff Boxes As the largest waste transport containers, rolloff boxes are in a category by themselves. Essentially open-top trash bins with a rectangular shape and large holding capacity, rolloff boxes are typically used for bulk waste or such potentially hazardous waste as construction-and-demolition debris, or industrial solid waste.

Rolloff boxes can also be sued to haul storm debris, bulk agricultural waste, and such building materials as sand or structural fill soil. The shape and size of the rolloff box determines the size and model of truck used to haul and place it. Typical storage capacities range from 10 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards. The cost of renting or purchasing a rolloff box is based on its size.

However, size is not the only cost factor. With weight limitations being imposed on most hauling routes, overfilling or carrying high-density wastes can result in overage charges or other fines. In addition to rental costs and transport costs, there are costs with the actual disposal of the waste. Tipping fees at landfills are based on tons received and measured by weighing the rolloff truck as it enters the facility full and then again when it leaves empty.

Being heavy and bulky metal containers, rolloff boxes are prone to causing damage to paved surfaces (asphalt or concrete). To avoid this liability, most rolloff boxes are equipped with heavy-duty metal wheels at each corner. Since even these can scratch paved surfaces, it is accepted practice to place protective plywood or other sheeting under the wheel locations. A dirt surface is not considered an acceptable location for placing rolloff boxes, though gravel is suitable. For most projects, local permits have to be acquired to allow for delivery and placement of the boxes. Commercial Collection Equipment Suppliers Autocar/Grand Vehicle Works is a company with a proud history, going back to the early 20th century as a manufacturer of cars and trucks. A part of Grand Vehicle Works since 2001, Autocar carries on its long tradition as a producer of LCF Class 8 trucks for waste hauling.

The company’s Xpeditor product comes standard equipped with improved ergonomic cabs, integrated body controls, improved body-to-chassis interface as well as a hybrid drive version. For frontloader applications, Autocar engineered a stronger, lighter front end and moved the front axle position forward in the Xpeditor to accept heavier engines and still maintain the ability to haul large payloads. Big Truck Rental LLC is a truck dealer with a broad selection of frontloader, sideloader, rearloader, and rolloff truck rentals. The company’s rolloff fleet includes late-model Mack Granites, Kenworth M2 T-800s, and IHC 7500s. These come equipped with 78,000 GAWR triaxles, Heil’s KwikLift hoist systems, automatic tarp-deployment systems, and a 60,000-pound-strength cable in an outside rail hoist. Operated by either automatic or manual transmissions, they utilize 405-horsepower Mack engines. Safety, rider comfort, and ease of operation are enhanced by auto-adjusting back up alarms, mid-body turn-and-clearance lights, and integral air conditioners with heater/defroster features.

Crane Carrier is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty, custom-built, specialty vehicles including commercial refuse collection trucks, rolloff container haulers, mobile drill-rig chassis, terminal tractors, airport refueling vehicles, as well as custom chassis serving the construction and agricultural vocations. Its CCC LET (low-entry-tilt) and LET2 truck chassis are the mainstays of the company’s refuse truck fleet. The LET models are low-entry-tilt crew cabs with low door openings. Powered by 385-horsepower Cummins engines, these chassis provide the foundational framework for multiple kinds of refuse truck configurations.

Heil Environmental has developed a KwikLift cable hoist, a member of their family of roll-off hoists. Their system can load and unload rolloff containers in half the time of conventional hoists. The KwikLift’s free cable length is 10 feet, while needing only 28 feet of cable versus typical cable hoists that require 78 feet of cable. This is achieved by the design of the hoist’s traveling carriage. The carriage is hydraulically powered to travel the entire length of the hoist. Because the cable sheave is attached to the carriage, every foot of carriage travel (either extending or retracting) produces 2 feet of cable movement. This is why its loading and unloading time is half that of standard roll-off hoists.

Additionally, the carriage can be cycled back and forth in a manner that produces rapid container movement to help shake loose stubborn loads and materials stuck to the box sides in less time. The carriage can also pull a container far forward on the hoist, making it safer to haul shorter containers. The container rollers do not interfere with the tandem fenders. One of its major safety features is the increased visibility during operation. Typically, an operator in the cab of a truck operating a rolloff hoist must deal with visual obstructions from the hoist frame, cylinders, and hoist mechanism. The KwikLift’s center-mounted cylinder and traveling carriage eliminate these obstructions, leaving a clearer view between the hoist rails and enabling the operator to view the container and lifting operation.

Another safety feature is that the extended cable length is always less than the distance to the cab while a housing surrounds the cable sheave. If a cable failure does occur, the restraint mechanism and the shorter length of the cable act together to prevent the whip-like action of a broken cable from reaching the cab and possibly injuring the operator.

John Elliott, the owner of JFE Transport in Andover, NH, has this to say: “The KwikLift cable hoist system proved to be the ideal match for the contract’s non-stop, ash-handling requirements. The cycle times were much faster than any other hoist systems that I’ve ever run.

In fact, we can operate the system at full speed just a few notches above idling. In spite of the high utilization, heavy loads, and abrasive ash, the rollers and wear pads held up very well.” Complementing the KwikLift are Heil’s DuaLift and LowLift hoist systems. The DuaLift, in effect, provides the performance of two trucks in one.

It can service both hook and cable containers with a single chassis. With many of the same operational features as the KwikLift, the DuaLift provides twice the alignment forgiveness as standard reeving hoists while unloading containers more quickly. Their LowLift is designed to operate at shallower loading angles, resulting in a smaller operational footprint with shorter loading and offloading cycle times. Because the LowLift has a rotating tail section, container loading and unloading can be performed without the need to fully extend the lift cylinders.

This makes the LowLift model ideally suited for indoor applications and those with low overhead clearance. Like the DuaLift and KwikLift, the LowLift utilizes an efficient traveling carriage design. One satisfied customer is J.R.

Pesek, owner, Town & Country Disposal, of Kansas City: “Initially, I was a skeptic. Quickly, I realized it was one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. The flexibility to handle any type of container with one truck was very appealing. I did my homework and had one of my best drivers put the DuaLift to the test. On average, we can count on one-and-a-half to two extra pulls per truck per day.” The Heil family of hoists uses the same design for both diesel and CNG-powered units.

This serves the customer in two ways: commonality among parts and low container roller heights. Avoiding the need to raise the container rollers minimizes the overall height of the vehicle in transit and enables a lower center of gravity. (Ampliroll) is a hoist system provider with 30 years of experience in the design and manufacture of hook lifts that have been used in construction, roofing, landscaping, waste, truck maintenance, agriculture, military, firefighting, and general transportation applications.

It has a unique design that reduces the cycle time in loading and unloading, but also allows one truck to be used for multiple applications. All new products are tested for an industry-leading 24,000 cycles in the company’s test facility, using a weight calculation program to determine the correct hook lift and installation parameters for the appropriate application. The advanced design uses high-pressure hydraulics to achieve a strong, maintenance-free hook-lift system with a high degree of safety. As a result of this design, the company’s Ampliroll hook lift is often as much as 1,000 pounds lighter than competitive hook lifts. McNeilus Companies Inc., an Oshkosh Corp. Company, is a leading manufacturer of refuse truck bodies and concrete mixers. With an extensive network of factory-owned service and support centers, McNeilus provides its customers with superior aftermarket support.

Within the refuse industry, McNeilus is an industry-leading manufacturer of garbage trucks and fields a complete line of rear-loading, front-loading, and automated side-loading units to augment any refuse collection operation. Each product line offers multiple models to fit your specific needs. Innovative technologies such as Excalibre cylinders and command zone controls are models of providing continuous improvement. Through the company’s Next Generation Initiatives (Ngen) campaign, McNeilus has been a leading producer of alternatively fueled compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicles. New Way manufactures the Mammoth and West Series Mammoth front-end loaders. The Mammoth features one-piece body sides for superior strength and appearance, along with a curved hopper that adds strength in a critical area, strong steel specs, heavy-duty arms, and torque tube assembly designed for the heavy lifting.

Weighing between 16,100 and 18,300 pounds, it has a holding capacity of 34 to 40 cubic yards. The Western Series Mammoth is similar to the standard Mammoth, but fills the niche for a lighter weight, fast cycling, and high-compaction front-load body for use in areas where local Department of Transportation weight concerns are an issue. With over 10% less weight, the WS Mammoth, has a similar design and performance. Premier Truck Sales Inc. Has been in business for over 25 years and has grown into a well-recognized provider of used high-quality equipment for work-related applications. The company line features a truck and trailer inventory of over 200 units.

Chief of these for commercial waste collection is the Kenworth T800. This truck comes equipped with a 485-horsepower Cummins ISX engine delivering power to an Ultra Shift transmission.

A Galfab hoist with a capacity of 80,000 pounds and a Pioneer automatic tarp-deployment system complete its capabilities. The Rantoul Truck Center has one of the largest assortments of rolloff trucks in the Midwest. Its fleet includes trucks manufactured by Mack, Freightliner, International, and Volvo. All its rolloff trucks come with an automatic tarp system as standard equipment. In addition to its general-purpose rolloff trucks, Rantoul has a large assortment of refuse truck rentals, including rearloaders, frontloaders, and grapple trucks. Photo: Perkins This cart tipper offers extra mobility.

Rush Refuse Systems, a subsidiary of Rush Enterprises, is a dedicated business developed to solely support the refuse industry with a work-ready inventory and dedicated sales specialists. It is backed by Rush Truck Centers, the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States, with 78 dealer locations around the country. Rush Truck Centers represents industry-leading truck brands. Its locations serve as one-stop centers offering an integrated approach to meeting customer needs, from sales of new and used vehicles and equipment to aftermarket parts, service, and body shop operations, plus a wide array of financial services, including financing, insurance, leasing, and rental. The company also provides vehicle upfitting, custom modifications, chrome accessories, and tires. Wayne Engineering has been a leading manufacturer of chassis-mounted productivity solutions for the solid waste industry for over 50 years.

Wayne was a pioneer in automated collection with the introduction of the first Wayne Curbtender ASL back in the 1970s. The mainstay of its current fleet is the Titan commercial frontloader. Ease of control is provided by a fully proportional joystick with feathering action. Though a middleweight truck, its durability and structural strength is ensured by an ultra-high strength-to-weight ratio, curved shell for superior compaction, innovative bolt-on arm for improved maintenance, long-life, torque-tube arm bearings (steel on steel). Safety features include a rear camera (5-inch color LCD), automatic cam-over-latch tailgate locking system, adjustable “up arm” deceleration valve, and cab shield with hinged extension. Galfab rolloff hoists are designed and built with long-term durability in mind.

With models ranging in size from 30,000-pound single axles to 75,000-pound multiaxles, Galfab has a wide range of hoists for multiple applications. Its Outside Rail rolloff hoist is the most commonly used hoist in the industry today. Galfab offers this hoist with either a standard 8-inch mainframe with a 2-inch subframe, or a 10-inch subframeless hoist. The heavy-duty version of the Outside Rail rolloff hoist has a 10-inch mainframe and 75,000-pound capacity, making it useful or large debris and heavy scrap applications. The Inside/Outside Rail rolloff hoist has the ability to pick up outside rail containers as well as large containers. This hoist has a Cor-Ten divider rail and inside rollers for the inside rail containers.

The Extendible Tail rolloff hoist has a sliding tail that allows for low loading height in locations that have limited overhead clearance, and the ability to pick up a container located below ground level. Curotto-Can Inc. Is a major supplier of frontloader attachments, especially those with automated residential collection container arms. Adding an automated tipper attachment such as the one made by Curotto-Can allows a frontloader to handle automated residential collections as well as large waste bins.

Curotto-Can provides the hauler with a means to handle a small generator cart without having to send a second collection vehicle to service the account. This provides both operational flexibility and expanded markets for a hauler’s services. For example, organics programs use carts for small generators, and the Curotto-Can gripper system handles extremely dense material without the hazard of dropping a cart or breaking the bar/pocket on tipper based systems.

This allows haulers a way to provide single-stream service to small generators with only one vehicle. Their commercial Gripper is capable of handling the heaviest of carts filled with greenwaste, foodwaste, or such recycled material as crushed glass. Tippers usually have difficulty lifting small but heavy carts. This has more to do with the structural weakness of the cart and the bar pocket where the lifter arms are inserted. This can result in the cart being lost in the hopper.

Unlike tipper arms, the Curotto Commercial Gripper “grips” the entire cart with a 2,000-psi hydraulically operated positive lock system having a lift capacity of 500 pounds and 32 to 96 gallons. This eliminates the problem of lost or broken carts, and the resultant safety issue of operators having to climb into the hopper to retrieve the lost carts. Easily installed, the Curotto Commercial Gripper is mounted low and forward on the fork tube. This avoids the operational problems of tippers mounted directly on the fork tube, including interference issues when they are fully tipped in the hopper and collide with the top of the packer blade or canopy. Perkins Manufacturing Co. Designs and builds cart lifters for the waste collection industry, including customized industrial lifters like the company’s self-contained electro-mechanical lifters.

These compact electrical lifters run on 110 V, requiring no need for separate hydraulics, and they come in three types: US, European, and Combination style machines for dumping bins up to 96 gallons. These lifters can be installed directly to a compactor body or a collection container, or a structural mounting stand can be provided. Use them to feed shredders, dump into dockside rolloffs, load material onto conveyors, handle medical waste, or process organic materials. The system features simple push-button operation with lockout controls preventing undesired operation.

Using the lifter improves workplace safety while reducing the potential for workplace injuries. Cycle time is 14 seconds to dump and another 14 seconds to return to the lowered position. It has a rated capacity of 300 pounds. When it comes to waste collection systems, one size does not fit all.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of rolloff boxes and mechanisms to choose from. Nor does an operation have to be limited to one type of system.

The inherent diversity of this market provides its own operational flexibility. Article Meta Data.