2 Killed in Iran as Official Says Protesters Will ‘Pay the Price’

By MARTIN FACKLER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lq9LJm

Trump shakes up diplomacy in first year

From "Rocket Man" to glowing orbs and all the awkward handshakes in between, take a look back at all the ways President Trump shook up global diplomacy in his first year in office.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2EcUtiX
http://ift.tt/2Coa6nb

Russia sentences financier, Magnitsky advocate to prison

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court on Friday sentenced the financier who has advocated for a U.S. law targeting Russian officials over human rights abuses to nine years in prison in absentia over tax evasion and funneling money overseas.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2EfnHO5
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Rare public protests spread across Iran amid spiraling inflation

Iranian police clashed with protesters demonstrating against government corruption on Friday, in a rare public show of discontent in the Islamic republic.  About 300 people gathered in the western city of Kermanshah on Friday calling for a "revolution", shouting "where's my paycheck?", "the people are begging, the clerics act like God" and “death to the dictator”. It followed a day after similar protests in the northeastern city of Mashhad, where more than 50 were arrested.  President Hassan Rouhani's government has been unable to control spiralling prices - the costs of basics such as milk and eggs has doubled in a week. And despite the loosening of international sanctions in 2015, the country has seen little economic growth and few ordinary residents feel they have benefitted.  There have been calls on social media for protests up and down the country, despite warnings from the government against illegal gatherings. Protestors attack security forces in Iran (location unknown) #http://iranprotestspic.twitter.com/aeS8zVyM9X— Wladimir (@vvanwilgenburg) December 29, 2017 The outbreak of unrest reflects growing discontent over rising prices and alleged corruption, as well as concern over the country’s costly involvement in regional conflicts such as Syria and Iraq. There were also chants in Mashhad on Thursday of "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran" and "leave Syria, think about us". Mohsen Nasj Hamadani, deputy security chief in Tehran province, said about 50 people had rallied in a Tehran square and most left after being asked to by police, but a few who refused were "temporarily detained", the ILNA news agency reported. In the central city of Isfahan, a resident said protesters joined a rally held by factory workers demanding back-pay. "The slogans quickly changed from the economy to those against Rouhani and the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)," the resident said by telephone. Chants in the holy city of Qom tonight, the spiritual center of #Iran: “We don’t want an Islamic Republic!” http://pic.twitter.com/ilawigFGej— Holly Dagres (@hdagres) December 29, 2017 In Qom, a stronghold of the Shi'ite clergy, footage posted on social media showed protesters attacking Ayatollah Khamenei by name. "Seyyed Ali should be ashamed and leave the country alone," they chanted. Police arrested 52 people in Thursday's protests, Fars quoted a judicial official as saying in Mashhad, one of the holiest places in Shi'ite Islam. In social media footage, riot police were seen using water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds. Some social media videos showed demonstrators chanting "Death to Rouhani" and "Death to the dictator". Protests were also held in at least two other northeastern cities. Openly political protests are rare in Iran, where security services are omnipresent. The last unrest of national significance occurred in 2009 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election as president ignited eight months of street protests. Pro-reform rivals said the vote was rigged. The protests came as Tehran looked to have bowed to internal pressure to relax its strict Islamic dress codes. Morality police in the capital said they will no longer automatically arrest women for failing to women seen without the proper hijab head-covering in public, mandated since the 1979 revolution. For nearly 40 years, women in Iran have been forced to cover their hair and wear long, loose garments.  Younger and more liberal-minded women have long pushed the boundaries of the official dress code, wearing loose headscarves that do not fully cover their hair and painting their nails, drawing the ire of conservatives. The announcement signalled an easing of punishments for violating the country's conservative dress code, as called for by the reform-minded Iranians who helped re-elect President Rouhani, a relative moderate, earlier this year.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Dxq6CT
http://ift.tt/2pYnGLm

Deadly Police Shooting May Have Been Result of Online Gaming Prank

The practice is known as "swatting"

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2pXOH1A
http://ift.tt/2lk79N7

Where deadly Bronx fire raged, an eerie, icy calm

There are barely any traces of fire on the apartment building's facade, no puddles of water on the ground, and only a handful of onlookers. On Friday, only two fire trucks, their lights still flashing, hinted at the drama that had unfolded the evening before in the Bronx.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Eho5M3
http://ift.tt/2CrHbyu

Deadly Bronx Fire Caused by Child Playing With Stove, Officials Say

12 people perished in the fire

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2C9z4cY
http://ift.tt/2pXuQ2E

2 Dead, 1 Injured In Shooting At California Law Firm

A shooter opened fire at a southern California law firm Friday, killing one man and injuring another before fatally turning the gun on himself, police said.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2zR1mTB
http://ift.tt/2luhgOx

Turkey detains 75 Islamic State suspects: police, media

Turkish police detained 75 suspected Islamic State members in two operations on Friday, state media and police said, after arresting about 120 such suspects across Turkey a day earlier, tightening security ahead of the New Year. Some 500 police officers took part in simultaneous raids across Ankara, and many of those detained were foreign nationals, state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Materials seized in the raids indicated some of the suspects had made preparations for an attack over New Year, it added.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Ct1lZc
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Legal recreational pot in California: What you need to know

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California on Monday becomes the nation's largest state to offer legal recreational marijuana sales. Here's a snapshot of how the market will work and how the state will regulate a pot economy estimated to be worth $7 billion:

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2CpvYB5
http://ift.tt/2BZhqop

US eyes increased pumping from biggest federal water project

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday it will look at revving up water deliveries to farmers from California's Central Valley Project, the largest federal water project in the United States, in what environmental groups called a threat to protections for struggling native salmon and other endangered species.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Cox5kv
http://ift.tt/2q1HL3x

Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "pragmatic cooperation" in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president's New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that "a constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world".

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Ct7Vin
http://ift.tt/2hu0wZR

Iran protests: 'Iron fist' threatened if unrest continues

After three days of demonstrations, the country's Revolutionary Guard threatens a crackdown.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2q01uAF
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Call for tech giants to face taxes over extremist content

Internet firms are "ruthless profiteers" who fail to fight terrorism, the security minister says.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BXa9oZ
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Britons will feel pride in 2018, says Theresa May

The prime minister says 2017 was a turbulent year, but insists she is making progress on Brexit.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2CkKz0F
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Labour 'staking out centre ground', says Jeremy Corbyn

The "old political consensus is finished", the Labour leader says in his new year message.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2C0Wm0H
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Luann de Lesseps Checks Herself into Alcohol Treatment Center After Palm Beach Arrest

Days after her headline-making arrest, Luann de Lesseps is heading to rehab

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2ChvgWz
http://ift.tt/2EfqQ0x

Situation Report: Russia Slams U.S. Missile Defense Sale to Japan

Saudi blockade of Yemen taking a toll, Turkey buys Russian military kit

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2zLBbOj
http://ift.tt/2EfsO0L

Iran protests continue into third night

Unverified videos on social media appeared to show thousands marching through the western cities of Khorramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz and many smaller towns, while reports spread rapidly that several people had been shot dead by police in the town of Dorud. Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, the most popular social media service in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an "armed uprising". Annual rallies marking the defeat of the last major protest movement in 2009 had already been scheduled for Saturday morning and brought thousands of regime supporters to the streets across the country.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2EiUO3P
http://ift.tt/2loMhnP

India's 'moonwalking' traffic cop turns heads

"I have been a Michael Jackson fan for years and copied his moonwalk step to halt traffic 12 years ago," Singh told AFP. "It's a tiring task maintaining traffic amid noise pollution and reckless motorists but moonwalking amuses commuters and drivers," Singh added, after another tiring day seemingly gliding backwards across the street. Singh claims the number of traffic violations at the high court intersection where he spends most days has fallen over the years.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Ef6Jj8
http://ift.tt/2pRQLIg

For Trump, a Year of Reinventing the Presidency

By PETER BAKER from NYT U.S. http://ift.tt/2lxPReO

Kristaps Porzingis’s 30 Points Help Knicks Top Pelicans and End Skid

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports http://ift.tt/2CrIRIl

Susan Romeo, Peter Moesta

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2EgLM7g

Rosanna Perretta, Robert Menna

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2lvgZek

Merav Silverman, Ian Ramsay

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2Cs8vg2

Marisa Franklin, Raphael Graybill

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2lvKn4k

Kira Ramani, Kevin Hernandez

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2Cu7Pa6

Kelly Jones, Daniel Howell

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2zRaIPn

Katherine Davis, Michael Golden

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2lxPIbg

Jessica Perez, Daniel Suvor

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2CpbuZ4

Erica Andersen, Jonathan Donenberg

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2zSlfcY

Elizabeth Nugent, Nicholas Lotito

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2lt3tb8

Bette Marston, Brian Canter

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2EkhFfn

Ava Bastian, Stephanie Lizza

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2CmW5sb

Anthony Sibilia, Joseph Marino

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2C0jGLS

Ann Nguyen, Andrew Dewhurst

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2Ek2YJ0

Alicia Franck, Brinkley Serkedakis

By Unknown Author from NYT Fashion & Style http://ift.tt/2ElvyJW

What’s on TV Sunday: New Year’s Eve Celebrations and Dave Chappelle

By ANDREW R. CHOW from NYT Arts http://ift.tt/2En6ouL

Greek Prime Minister Seeks to Block Asylum for Turkish Officer

By NIKI KITSANTONIS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Cqfuc5

Corrections: December 31, 2017

By Unknown Author from NYT Corrections http://ift.tt/2CrhcqZ

Clashes over US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital claim 13th victim

A Gazan died on Saturday after being wounded by Israeli fire during a protest on the border over US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a Palestinian health official said. Jamal Muslih, 20, of Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, had been seriously wounded by live fire on Friday, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said. He was buried on Saturday afternoon. Muslih’s death brings to 13 the number of Palestinians killed since US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv. Mourners at the funeral of Jamal Muslih, who died after being wounded by Israeli fire Credit: Mahmud Hams/AFP Eleven protesters died after clashes with Israeli troops, and two others were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza earlier in the month. More than 50 Palestinians were wounded in the Friday clashes on the Gaza-Israel border as part of a "day of rage" over the US declaration, called for by both Gaza rulers Hamas and fellow militant group Islamic Jihad. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said at least 16 people were wounded when Israeli troops fired live rounds during demonstrations, while others were hit with rubber-coated bullets. Earlier on Friday, militants in Gaza fired three rockets at southern Israel, two of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defence system, with the third hitting a village near the border, causing damage but no casualties. Israeli aircraft and tanks targeted two Hamas positions near the border on Friday afternoon in response, again causing damage but no casualties. UN vote to condemn Trump recognising Jerusalem as capital of Israel Late Saturday, the Israeli army carried out a second attack, with fighter jets "targeted an observation post belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in the southern Gaza Strip," a statement read. According to the army, the Friday projectile attack on Israel proved that "Iran, through radical and rogue terror organisations, is operating to deteriorate the situation," risking lives in Gaza and threatening to cause "an escalation". The Israeli defence ministry has in recent weeks been increasingly highlighting the ties between Hamas and Iran, most notably in a series of Facebook posts by COGAT, the unit responsible for activities in the Palestinian territories. Speaking on Channel 2 television Saturday night, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed that the projectiles fired from Gaza at Israel on Friday were made and supplied by Iran. Rockets from Gaza are often fired by fringe Islamist groups but Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks from the territory.    

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Cm2Ryy
http://ift.tt/2lr86mI

Man Arrested in Connection to Hoax 911 Phone Call that Led to Death of Innocent Man

A man has been arrested in Los Angeles in connection to a hoax phone call that led to the death of an unarmed man in Wichita, Kansas, according to multiple reports

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2DBZErr
http://ift.tt/2ClG7yC

Some countries reverse free expression, seeing it as threat

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Two Turkish journalists face possible life sentences on charges they sent "subliminal messages" on television encouraging a government coup. In Hungary, oligarchs loyal to the prime minister have gained control of much of the media after the leading independent newspaper was shut down. And in Poland, a reporter is being threatened with a military trial for writing a book critical of the defense minister.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2DuLBnx
http://ift.tt/2luQVjy

Court refuses to release elephants from zoo after campaigners say they are 'persons entitled to liberty'

A Connecticut court has refused to free three elephants from a zoo after an animal rights group asked it to do so. The court ruled that Minnie, Beulah, and Karen do not qualify as “persons entitled to liberty and equality” under state law. Judge James Bentivegna wrote in the decision that “the petition is wholly frivolous on its face” because it relied on applying “human rights of freedom and equality” to the animals.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Ce8yPD
http://ift.tt/2lpslRP

Hogmanay event will go ahead in full despite storm

Scotland is expected to be battered by winds of up to 80mph on New Year's Eve.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2luZtai
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Man killed in Call of Duty ‘swatting’ hoax

A man has been arrested after an alleged prank call led to police shooting dead a 28-year-old man.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lpOnUF
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

New Year Honours 2018: Praise for stars on list

A Bee Gee and ballerina are among those awarded, while Sir Paul McCartney hails "best pal" Ringo Starr.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lnok0p
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Trump's Russia inquiry 'started by Australian tip-off'

An Australian diplomat was told about "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in a London bar, reports say.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2CrQIFY
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

County Durham child dies after Egypt pool incident

The girl was flown back to the UK but died on 26 December, five days after the accident.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lpVcFB
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

One treated after fire in Manchester block of flats

One person was taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation after the fire in the city centre.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lt3Fr1
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Niagara Falls becomes ice-covered spectacle

Temperatures are set to remain below minus 10 degrees Celsius in the area for the next week.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DDtvA7
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Black Lives Matter activist dies at 27

She became a Black Lives Matter activist after her father died while under police restraint.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lm9FT4
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Newspaper headlines: Adonis hits out and 'Dad's Army border force'

Sunday's papers feature Lord Adonis calling for a minister to resign and claims of a new volunteer border force.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DBYJrg
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

When a drag king met a drag queen

Sequins, sexuality and stereotyping - when drag queen Dave Lynn met drag king Sammy Silver.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2ElgvjI
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

How people kept their New Year pledges

The inspirational stories from around England to get you off to a good start in 2018.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2BZvdv4
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Police: Man kills 2, then himself at Houston auto shop

HOUSTON (AP) — A man walked into a Houston auto shop where he used to work Friday and fatally shot two employees before going outside and killing himself, police said.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2zOQOEL
http://ift.tt/2BZC87x

US eyes increased pumping from biggest federal water project

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday it will look at revving up water deliveries to farmers from California's Central Valley Project, the largest federal water project in the United States, in what environmental groups called a threat to protections for struggling native salmon and other endangered species.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Cox5kv
http://ift.tt/2q1HL3x

Russia calls ongoing strain with US a major disappointment

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin views the continued strain on Russia's relations with the United States as a major disappointment of the year, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Friday.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2luHHnu
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Al Franken Makes First Public Speech Since Announcing His Resignation

thanked his supporters and friends during a speech in Minneapolis Thursday night, in what is expected to be one of his final public appearances as a senator.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2BV8yQm
http://ift.tt/2ClStGW

How fake news plagued 2017

False stories, pictures and video were widely shared, sowing confusion about the biggest news stories of the year.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2lvuYkc
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Cheer up Luv - How photo project highlights harassment

Women are speaking out about sexual harassment through photographer Eliza Hatch's powerful project Cheer Up Luv.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2vCQ4kA
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A look back at the town of Cumbernauld

Cumbernauld was a new town built to house people from the nearby overcrowded city of Glasgow. We revisit to see how it has fared as a community.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2loTPa6
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Missed this week's entertainment news?

Take a look at some of the week's biggest stories in the world of arts and entertainment.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2EhYMJP
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Pen pals defy age gap to become friends

Five months since their first letters, a group of schoolchildren and care home residents finally meet up.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2CdXGBu
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

What next for Brexit in 2018?

What are the key dates and developments to watch out for as Britain and the EU move forward?

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2CsBMre
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Can Hull build on its UK City of Culture status beyond 2017?

As 2017 draws to a close can Hull build on its cultural year?

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2CdYQwF
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

In memoriam: Entertainment and arts figures we lost in 2017

A look back at some of the arts and entertainment figures who died in 2017.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2q5dBfY
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The future of international justice

After the end of the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, will wider worldwide justice be done?

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2loOgZj
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The best science long reads of 2017 (part two)

The second part of our selection of the best science and environment reads this year.

from BBC News - Home http://ift.tt/2DzG6UU
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

LA Man Arrested For 'Swatting' Call That Led To Innocent Kansas Man's Death

Authorities arrested a 25-year-old man in California for a “swatting” prank emergency call that led to the death of an innocent 28-year-old Kansas man who was shot by police responders on Thursday evening as he stood on his front doorstep.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2zPruhD
http://ift.tt/2lvdHb5

Trump talks China, North Korea in impromptu interview

Speaking with the New York Times, the president acknowledged he’s “been soft” on China on trade, and decried the Russia investigation, but said he thinks Robert Mueller is “going to be fair.”

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2Ehfclw
http://ift.tt/2gjWxyH

Obama: Here are some inspiring 2017 stories

For the New Year, former President Barack Obama shared three uplifting news stories from 2017, encouraging Americans to look beyond the negativity that has seemed to dominate the news this year.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2BUITHx
http://ift.tt/2lk0TVP

Gainesville 'Hot Cop' Resigns Amid Investigation Over Alleged Anti-Semitic Comments

Investigators were also looking into allegations Michael Hamill had consensual sex while on the job.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2zRVLwg
http://ift.tt/2CfbVGi

California set for New Year's buzz with recreational marijuana sales

California adults not content to ring in the New Year with the traditional fizz of champagne can look forward to celebrating with the buzz of marijuana, purchased for the first time from state-licensed retailers of recreational pot. Dozens of newly authorized marijuana stores are due to open for business across California on Jan. 1, launching yet another chapter in America's drug culture and the largest regulated commercial market for cannabis in the United States - one valued at several billion dollars. Newly permitted retailers will rely on a hodge-podge of marijuana producers in the state's illicit "gray market" to stock their shelves for the next six months, until state-licensed growers can harvest their first crops.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2CaqsDa
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

San Juan Mayor Says Trump Lacks 'Good-Hearted' American Values

One-hundred days after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz on Friday again slammed President Donald Trump’s response to a disaster the president says wasn’t a “real catastrophe,” even though it left at least 64 dead.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines http://ift.tt/2BUJ1XM
http://ift.tt/2zMjAWh