David Shadrach

China: Fears growing over disappeared rights activist NEWS / HUMAN RIGHTS  China Human Rights Asia Pacific Concern is growing over the fate of a Chinese artist who disappeared after posting videos and messages critical of China’s Communist Party. Hua Yong is thought to be in police custody after filming protests against forced evictions of migrant workers. Their mistreatment has become a very sensitive issue in China.Adrian Brown reports from Beijing.

Narendra Modi's BJP set to win Gujarat state election NEWS / INDIA  READ MORE India: Economic woes are key factor in Gujarat election READ MORE Will election change fate of the Agariyas of Gujarat? Gujarat India Elections Asia Modi showed his ink-marked finger after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on December 14 [Amit Dave/Reuters] New Delhi, India - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP is set to win a key election contest in the western state of Gujarat. The BJP was leading on Monday in more than 100 seats in the 182-member state house, well clear of the halfway mark of 92 required to rule. In 2012, the BJP won 115 of Gujarat's 182 seats. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has governed Gujarat for the past 22 years and Modi was the chief minister of the state three times. Advertisement "Our party cannot be defeated for a hundred years," the prime minister had said to a crowd of supporters in a rally at Morbi in Gujarat on 28 November. On Monday, vote counting b...

Ministers meet to thrash out Brexit end deal Theresa May and her senior ministers are to formally discuss for the first time what the UK's long-term relationship with the EU should be. The EU has agreed that Brexit negotiations can now move on to discussing the UK and the EU's future relationship. Until now they have only been discussing "divorce" issues like how much money the UK owes. Not everyone agrees how closely aligned the UK should stay to EU trade rules. Group calls for a 'shared market' with EU May: I won't be derailed on Brexit What next for Brexit talks? Brexit: All you need to know The UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016 and Brexit is due to happen at 23:00 GMT on 29 March, 2019. The full cabinet will hold another discussion on Tuesday. BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said there was a "clear divide" between ministers, with some like Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd calling for the UK t...

Qatar marks National Day amid Gulf crisis NEWS / MIDDLE EAST  READ MORE Celebrating National Day in Qatar Marcela Daza [Facebook] Mahmoud Ibrahim [Facebook] Fathima Zafra Afker (R) with husband [Facebook] Qatar Middle East GCC, Qatar is celebrating National Day amid the ongoing Gulf diplomatic crisis, which appears to have created a greater sense unity among the nation's 2.5 million residents. The annual holiday is observed on December 18 to mark the date in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani succeeded his father as the emir and led the country towards unity. A two-day holiday from December 17 to 18 was announced by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Saturday. With 300 mini drones up in the sky, Qatar's residents were treated to a synchronised airshow on Sunday night - also planned for Monday - at the waterfront of Katara cultural village in the capital, Doha. A military parade along Doha's corniche will be held at 3pm on Monday. Various cultura...

Jerusalem as capital: All the latest NEWS / JERUSALEM  CASUALTIES Nine people killed 1933 injuries: PRCS 260 arrests: PPS Besides words, what can be done? Protests from Jakarta to Rabat Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital Battle for Jerusalem Jerusalem Israeli–Palestinian conflict Palestine Middle East, The decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has generated a series of reactions in Palestine and around the world. Here are the latest developments, both on the diplomatic and street front, as of Monday, December 18: Latest developments The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on a draft resolution calling for the withdrawal of US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, diplomats say, a move likely to face a Washington veto. The Israeli military says it has carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in reaction to new rocket attacks out of the Palestinian territory. The...

News Daily: Brexit 'end' plan, and UK embassy worker's murder By Justin Parkinson BBC News Hello. Here's your morning briefing: May to discuss 'end' plan for Brexit EU countries have agreed that talks on Brexit can move on. So what does the UK want from its future relationship with them? Theresa May will address that subject - the so-called "end state" - later when she chairs the "Brexit cabinet" , consisting of a dozen or so of her most senior ministers. The prime minister will also update Parliament on last week's Brussels summit, telling MPs she wants to sign trade deals with countries outside the EU during the "implementation period" immediately after Brexit happens in March 2019. The EU says discussions on the long-term trading relationship between itself and the UK are not likely to start before next March - although "internal preparatory discussions" can take place before then. Labour argues the timescale could ...

Saudi-led coalition air raids 'kill 10 women' in Yemen NEWS / YEMEN  THE LISTENING POST: Yemen - Media battles, narrative divides (25:40) Middle East Yemen War & Conflict, An image purportedly showing the vehicle targeted by the Saudi-led coalition [Media Committee in Sanaa] At least eight women and two girls heading home from a wedding have been killed in an air attack in central-west Yemen , a health official has told Al Jazeera. Saba news agency, aligned with Yemen's Houthi group, cited a security source as saying that the women's vehicle was struck by three Saudi-led coalition air raids late on Saturday. The attack reportedly took place at around 11pm local time (20:00 GMT) in the Harib al-Qaramish district of the Marib governorate, east of the capital, Sanaa, where the wedding had taken place. So far, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels has not commented on the alleged air attack. Mohammad al-Sheab, head of the health bureau in Marib,said that t...

UN Security Council to weigh resolution on Jerusalem NEWS / MIDDLE EAST  READ MORE UN resolutions on occupied East Jerusalem READ MORE Trump's Jerusalem move: Key questions answered Jerusalem Middle East Politics, The draft resolution calls on all UN member states not to move their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem [File: Richard Drew/AP Photo] The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Monday on a draft resolution regarding the status of Jerusalem , less than two weeks after US President Donald Trump declared the city Israel's capital. Trump made the announcement on December 6, saying at the time that the US would be moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The leaked Egyptian-drafted resolution obtained, however, does not mention the United States by name, saying it "deeply regrets recent decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem". Mike Hanna, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, said it was understood that countries such as Egypt ...

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017: World 10,000m champion Mo Farah wins 17 Dec Sports Personality of the Year: Mo Farah World 10,000m champion Sir Mo Farah has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017. The 34-year-old won his third successive world 10,000m gold medal in London in August, despite almost falling twice late in the race. He becomes the first long-distance runner to win the Sports Personality award since Paula Radcliffe in 2002. World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea was second and two-time Paralaympic champion Jonnie Peacock third. Farah, who could not be at the ceremony in Liverpool, was presented the award on video link by stepdaughter Rhianna. Sports Personality: Relive the action from Liverpool How the night unfolded in pictures, video and on social Spoty finish beyond wildest dreams, says runner-up Rea Former Liverpool and Scotland striker Kenny Dalglish announced the award at a sold-out Echo Arena after a public vote. Farah, who was at the Sir Mo Farah...

Austrian far-right joins coalition led by PM Sebastian Kurz Austria's president has approved a coalition government between the conservative People's Party and the far-right Freedom Party. The deal will make Austria the only Western European state with a governing far-right party, which is opposed to migration and the European Union. The parties previously governed the country together between 2000 and 2005. But at just 31, the People's Party's Sebastian Kurz is set to become the world's youngest head of government. No details have been given about the government's programme, but several important ministerial roles are expected to be handed to the smaller Freedom Party as part of the deal. What propels young leaders to power? President Alexander Van der Bellen gave the green light to the deal on Saturday morning. He said the new government had assured him of both a pro-EU stance and a continued commitment to the European convention on human rights. The election ...

Billionaire Sabih al-Masri detained in Saudi Arabia NEWS / JORDAN  WATCH 25:00 The cost of Saudi Arabia's purge Saudi Arabia Jordan Middle East Sabih al-Masri, who reportedly holds Saudi and Jordanian citizenship, was held for questioning, reports said [Alaa Badarneh/EPA] Palestinian billionaire businessman Sabih al-Masri has been detained in Saudi Arabia on a business trip to Riyadh, his family confirmed to Reuters news agency. The 80-year-old founder of Zara Investment Holding and chairman of Arab Bank was held in the Saudi capital for questioning last week about "information related to corruption", according to Rai al-Youm. The Arab news website reported on Saturday that no formal charges were made against al-Masri, who reportedly also holds Saudi and Jordanian citizenship. Al-Masri, one of Jordan's most prominent businessman, is the cousin of the billionaire Munib al-Masri, the wealthiest person in Palestine. He also founded the Palestine Securities Exchange, an...

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ANC gathers to choose leader to replace Jacob Zuma South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) is preparing to choose a new party leader to succeed President Jacob Zuma. The main candidates are the current deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, President Zuma's ex-wife. Whoever wins is likely to succeed Mr Zuma as South African president. But their bitter leadership battle has raised fears that the ANC could split before national elections in 2019. President Zuma can remain head of state until those elections. He has been in office since 2009 and South Africa limits the presidency to two five-year terms. Who are the main candidates? Why ANC leadership vote matters Jacob Zuma - South Africa's controversial leader As delegates gathered for the four-day conference in Johannesburg, Mr Zuma, who faces multiple corruption allegations, has urged the party to unite behind the eventual winner. The leadership contest is exp...

Heinz Wolff, Great Egg Race presenter and scientist, dies Renowned scientist and TV presenter Heinz Wolff has died, aged 89. The German-born inventor, famed for hosting BBC Two's long-running science show The Great Egg Race, died of heart failure on 15 December, his family said in a statement. A former advisor to the European Space Agency, he later moved to London's Brunel University to work on projects linked to the ageing population. Brunel colleagues described him as an "inventive and inspirational leader". A Jewish refugee, Wolff moved to the UK from Berlin aged 11 on the day World War Two broke out in September 1939. He went on to graduate from University College London with a first-class honours degree in physiology and physics.

US: Jury deliberation begins for first J20 defendants NEWS / PROTESTS  READ MORE US targets anti-Trump activists' Facebook accounts READ MORE Trump's America: Where activists face felony charges Human Rights Protests United States US & Canada Donald Trump The trial of six people facing more than 50 years in prison over felony charges related to January 20 protests against the inauguration of US President Donald Trump neared its conclusion on Friday as the jury began its deliberations. Nearly 200 people were charged with various felonies and misdemeanours related to destruction of property - mostly windows of businesses - after being arrested during a protest in Washington, DC on inauguration day. The charges stem from the January 20 demonstration against the inauguration of Trump, organised by an umbrella group, named Disrupt J20, which included anti-capitalist, anti-fascist and other activists and individuals. The trial has been criticised as a criminalisation of free sp...

US tax bill: Republicans agree sweeping changes US Republicans from both houses of Congress have revealed their joint bill for the biggest overhaul of the country's tax system in 30 years. The plan brings the US corporate tax rate down to 21% from the current 35%. The top individual income tax drops to 37% from 39.6%. President Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to cut taxes, and passing the legislation marks a significant victory. He has said he wants the bill signed into law before Christmas. Democrats have argued that the tax cuts will favour only the rich and offer little to the middle class. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation said on Friday the measures would add as much as $1.4tn (£1tn) to the $20tn national debt over 10 years. The Senate and the House of Representatives - which both have Republican majorities - are due to vote on the measures next week. What is in the final version of the US tax plan? Reality Check: Will tax plan hurt Trump? Friday's agreement...

Syria blame game continues after failed Geneva talks NEWS / SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR  READ MORE Syrian children suffer in camps, no relief in sight Middle East Syria's Civil War, The UN-backed conference aims to end Syria's war by bringing together the Syrian government and the opposition [Erik De Castro/Reuters] The United States has urged the Syrian government to "participate fully" in negotiations with the opposition, while a Syrian official blamed opposition preconditions for yet another failed round of talks in Geneva . Referring to the negotiations, which ended in the Swiss city on Thursday without any results, the US state department commended the Syrian opposition's "constructive participation", which it said stood in contrast to the "obstructionism and procrastination" of the government delegation. "We support [UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan] de Mistura's call for the regime's supporters to use their leverage to urge the...

Protests held across world against US Jerusalem move NEWS / JERUSALEM  Battle for Jerusalem Jerusalem Palestine Middle East, Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza as thousands of people protest in the occupied Palestinian territories and across the world over the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Another was critically wounded by Israeli forces in Ramallah after an alleged stabbing attempt. More than a week after US President Donald Trump announced the decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, anger among Palestinians and their supporters continues to grow. After Friday prayers concluded at the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem , hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets to demonstrate but were prevented from entering the Old City by barricades put up by Israelis. Advertisement Marches also took place to the north in Ramallah and in Bethlehem, where protesters faced off with Israeli soldiers. Protests spread to t...

Trump criticises Roy Moore after Alabama loss NEWS / POLITICS  United States Politics US & Canada, After congratulating the Democratic candidate, Doug Jones, for winning the Alabama election , Trump wrote some tweets critical of the Republican candidate and his loss. US President Donald Trump has distanced himself from Roy Moore with a series of tweets after the Republican suffered a historic defeat for the party in conservative Alabama. The loss also narrows the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49, which could complicate Trump's future legislative plans. Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan reports from the White House.