Jallikattu protesters keep up pressure, government mulls options14 min ago

Chennai/New Delhi, Jan 19: Protests demanding jallikattu swelled on the streets of Tamil Nadu after agitators rejected statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and the state braced for a shutdown tomorrow. Late night reports indicated that the state government could consider promulgating an ordinance to ensure holding of jallikattu or convene the Assembly for adopting a resolution in its favour.

MSP hits out at Angus and Mearns Clydesdale Bank closures

A local politician believes Clydesdale Bank has “abandoned” its rural customers with the news of the closure of three of its branches in the Angus and Mearns area. Mairi Evans, Angus North and Mearns MSP, has hit out at the bank’s announcement that its Brechin, Forfar and Stonehaven branches are to close as three of 40 offices that are being axed across Scotland.

North Korea prepares missile launch for inauguration day

North Korea is preparing to test new rockets, a report said Thursday, after its leader Kim Jong-Un said the country was in the final stages of developing inter-continental ballistic missiles. Pyongyang’s missile programme and its pursuit of nuclear arms have seen it repeatedly sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

Cornish firm unveils plans for UK’s only lithium mining operation

Cornwall looks set for a mining revival amid plans to tap into huge reserves of precious metal lithium in what could put the UK at the forefront of a potential A 70 billion global market. Lithium – dubbed “white petroleum” – is used in the rapidly growing market for electric cars and rechargeable batteries in everything from mobile phones to cordless vacuums.

Cold intensifies in MP

Bhopal : Courtesy winds changing direction from southwest to northeast, cold intensified – after a brief respite in the past two days – at several places in Madhya Pradesh. “Cold wave is likely to blow over the Chambal Division’s northern parts in the next 24 hours.

Buried hotel one of many snow rescues in Italy

An Italian firefighters helicopter flies during rescue operations in the area where an hotel was hit by an avalanche in Farindola, Italy, early Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. A hotel in the mountainous region hit again by quakes has been covered by an avalanche, with reports of dead.

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Tigerair to resume flights between Australia and Bali

‘Help, we are dying of the cold’: Desperate guests trapped in Italian ski hotel send texts to loved-ones after huge avalanche hits the building killing up to 30 people The wedge salads are on me! Trump pays one fan’s $1,000 dinner bill as he’s mobbed while stopping by his DC hotel for a meal after ditching press pool 36 hours before inauguration Aaron Rodgers’ family doesn’t ‘trust’ Olivia Munn: More details of NFL star’s rift with relatives emerge ‘after he chose model over her’ Overweight and rather whiffy, the REAL young Queen Victoria: New book claims Lord Melbourne dropped hints to the monarch about her personal hygiene and gave her slimming tips ‘Nope’: The last word of cold-blooded killer as he is executed for invading family’s home and murdering two young girls and their parents who had left the door open while preparing New Year’s party Poll shows Hillary Clinton would BEAT Bill … (more)

Philippine police chief apologizes to South Korea in killing

” The Philippine national police chief has apologized to South Korea over the death of a Korean man who was arrested illegally and then slain by members of an anti-drug task force at the main police camp in Manila. Police Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa said the policemen detained Jee Ickjoo with a fake arrest warrant last October with the intent of holding him for ransom, but killed him the same day.

Saudi economic agenda tied to human rights

An economic agenda in Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030, which aims to boost non-oil revenue could lead to a better human rights record, the United Nations said. According to assessments from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, most people in Saudi Arabia are “convinced” poverty has been eradicated in the country.

Stars of ‘Hidden Figures’ among SAG Awards presenters

” The nominated stars of “Moonlight,” ”Hidden Figures,” ”Manchester by the Sea” and “Captain Fantastic” will be among the presenters at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Producers announced Thursday that Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris of “Moonlight,” Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae of “Hidden Figures,” Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges of “Manchester by the Sea” and “Captain Fantastic” star Viggo Mortensen will take on presentation duties at the Jan. 29 ceremony in Los Angeles.

Michael Fuller

“I studied for a year at the University of Dakar in Senegal,” says Michael Fuller, who was at the time a philosophy major at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

Friendly rivals Le Roy, Renard hunt key points

French coaches Herve Renard and Claude le Roy loom large over the key Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash between Morocco and Togo in Oyem Friday. Renard, a Cup of Nations winner with Zambia in 2012 and the Ivory Coast in 2015, was hired by Morocco last year and given a mandate to reach the semi-finals.

Cameroon 188×128

Cameroon now know a draw against Gabon in their final Group A game on Sunday will secure them a place in the last eight. Cameroon’s forward Benjamin Moukandjo acknowledges supporters at the end of their 2-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday.

Mideast expects big changes under Trump

Donald Trump’s all-but-dismissal of human rights as a foreign policy principle could land like an earthquake across a Middle East landscape beset by warring factions and beleaguered governments, with some players eyeing the prospect of once unimaginable new alliances. Syria is the foremost test of Trump’s promise of a return to a hard-headed realpolitik and could quickly show whether America is truly abandoning promotion of democracy and the rule of law in a way that could reshape much of the region’s post-Cold War, post-9/11 order.

Alex Newsome gets a Super new contract

Glen Innes product Alex Newsome’s star continues to rise in the rugby game after the outside back signed a deal with the western Force for season 2017. Go West: Glen Innes rugby product and 2016 Country Eagles star Alex Newsome’s surge to the peak of the game continues after the flying outside back signed a deal with Super Rugby franchise the Western Force.

UPDATE 1-Allianz, Standard Chartered form bancassurance pact in Asia

FRANKFURT, Jan 19 German insurer Allianz and Standard Chartered Bank on Thursday announced a 15-year agreement to distribute Allianz’s general insurance products in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. The deal to distribute travel, personal accident, fire and motor insurance products to Standard Chartered’s retail banking clients will start in 2017, the companies said in a joint statement.

Travel Update

M27 – Two lanes are closed on between junctions 11 and 12 on the eastbound carriageway due to a vehicle fire. Delays are expected to last until 8am, Highways England has said.

Thursday morning’s traffic and travel

Roads are looking generally clear this Thursday morning with just a few minor incidents to look out for across the Black Country and North Worcestershire, including: Water main work and temporary traffic lights on A442 Franche Road in Kidderminster at the Woodland Avenue junction, so expect delays. Some delays again on A451 Stourbridge Road in Kidderminster at the Springfield Lane junction due to gas main work and temporary traffic lights.

Germany reviewing nearly 550 migrants deemed a security risk

Germany said on Wednesday it would review the cases of nearly 550 asylum seekers who have been deemed a security risk, spurred by new questions about the handling of a Tunisian migrant who killed 12 people last month at a Berlin Christmas market. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told lawmakers the country’s Joint Terrorism Task Force would look carefully at each of the 547 people identified as a security risk to determine if they needed to be deported or taken into custody.

Jallikattu protests spread: All you need to know

Today, Tamil Nadu chief minister Pannerselvam met with PM Narendra Modi to discuss the escalating pro-Jallikattu protests in Tamil Nadu. The latter told the CM that while the Centre appreciated the cultural significance of Jallikattu, the matter is presently in court.