Alexandria

Escort who claimed Trump secrets 'committed no crimes': lawyer

The lawyer of a Belarussian escort who claimed she had proof of Russian collusion with Donald Trump's election campaign on Wednesday insisted on her innocence after she was released from custody for allegedly coercing women into prostitution. Anastasia Vashukevich, also known as Nastya Rybka, had been expected to speak to the media in Moscow but did not turn up. Vashukevich was arrested at a Moscow airport last week after being deported from Thailand as part of a group convicted of participating in a "sex training course".

Covington Catholic HS Closed Tuesday to Protect Students from Backlash

Covington Catholic High School cancelled classes Tuesday in response to the torrent of outrage and harassment directed at a group of its students who were captured on video in a tense confrontation with an elderly Native American man near the Lincoln Memorial during Saturday’s March for Life. “After meeting with local authorities, we have made the decision to cancel school and be closed on Tuesday, January 22, in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” read an email from school principal Robert Rowe to parents, obtained by Fox 19. Students, parents, faculty and staff are not to be on campus for any reason.

GMC unveils most heavy-duty pickup yet

While GMC's 2020 Sierra Heavy Duty truck is definitely the heartiest of the line, the pickup also features a slew of advanced technological innovations right down to a transparent trailer view. Because "trailering is the most important consideration for Sierra Heavy Duty customers," the company ensured that this model was tailored for those who heave and haul. The truck is equipped standard with the enhanced ProGrade Trailering system first seen in the 2019 Sierra Light Duty pickup, a system which now features 15 camera views including a "transparent trailer view." This technology works in the same fashion that we've seen in systems made for semi-trucks, like Valeo's "XtraVue Trailer," allowing drivers to more easily see what's behind their freight thanks to a strategically placed camera mounted on the rear of the trailer.

Parts of Niagara Falls have frozen over in a stunning winter spectacle

The rushing waters of Niagara Falls were partially frozen over amid a vicious winter storm that blanketed parts of the U.S. and Canada in snow.

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera forced to pay mistress thousands in child support plus perks like Disney World passes

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera has been ordered to pay $20,000 per month in child support to his former mistress with whom he fathered two children with. Court documents showed he will pay for other perks like Disney World and Universal Studio passes as well as private school tuition and $5 million life insurance policies for both kids.

Shutdown hits national security employees across government

Officials serving in intelligence and national security roles in the FBI; the departments of Homeland Security, State and Justice; and other agencies have large numbers of employees either furloughed or working but not being paid.

Florida police run over couple lying in the road to watch lunar eclipse

A police officer in Florida ran over two people lying on a dark road to watch the lunar eclipse, leaving them requring hospital treatment. A statement given to the Palm Beach Post by police said that the two were run over after choosing to lie in the park because it was “extremely dark”.

WaPo Issues Correction after Falsely Labeling Nathan Phillips a Vietnam Vet

The Washington Post issued a correction Tuesday after falsely describing the elderly Native American man whose confrontation with a group of high-school students went viral over the weekend as a veteran of the Vietnam War. “Earlier versions of this story incorrectly said that Native American activist Nathan Phillips fought in the Vietnam War.

Car bomb hits Syria regime stronghold Latakia

A car bomb shook the Syrian regime's coastal stronghold of Latakia on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding more than a dozen others, state news agency SANA reported. According to SANA the bomb blast hit southern Damascus without causing any victims, but the Observatory reported it left a number of people dead and wounded.

Huawei calls for swift end to case of executive arrested in Canada

China's Huawei Technologies wants a quick resolution of the case of its former finance chief Meng Wanzhou, who is accused of violating U.S. sanctions on Iran and has been detained in Canada, its chairman said on Tuesday. The United States has told Canada it will request Meng's extradition, but has not said when it will do so, David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., said in a Globe and Mail interview on Monday.

The Latest: Los Angeles teachers union sued over dues

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on the end of the Los Angeles teachers strike (all times local):

No public mood for compromise as Brexit gulf widens: study

There is "no compromise" on Brexit that commands majority public support in Britain, with opposition to Prime Minister Theresa May's deal the only point of agreement, a leading pollster said Tuesday. "No procedural or substantive option appears to be both widely popular and capable of bridging the Brexit divide," said the University of Strathclyde's John Curtice. "The problem with Brexit is that the centre ground of politics is rather thinly populated," he said, presenting a report entitled "Brexit and Public Opinion 2019" in London.

Supreme Court's actions on transgender troops, gun rights, public prayer signal conservative trend

The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to implement its partial ban against transgender troops in the military in one of several actions.

A century on, Basra's British-era shipyard going strong

Thousands of ships, including former dictator Saddam Hussein's yacht, have passed through the Iraqi shipyard's three docks, where a giant steam engine hauls them out of the water and up the century-old wooden tracks. Mohammed Adnan, who has been operating the huge steam engine for six years now, says it is not easy. "They say they [the British] brought in the wood from Burma... we tried to drill a 1.5 inch nail into it once, we couldn't," said Jassim Hussain Sabour, the shipyard's longest-serving worker.

British 'spy' accused of receiving USB stick with 'state secrets,' lawyer says

Investigators have accused a British citizen held on espionage charges in Russia of receiving a USB stick that contained state secrets, his lawyer has said.  Paul Whelan, 48, believed the USB stick had photographs and other information about a church he had visited, lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov said. FSB security agents swooped in and seized him before he could see what was on the flash drive, he added. Russian media previously claimed he was grabbed at the Metropole Hotel near the Kremlin while receiving a USB stick with a list of employees of a state agency. In the first public appearance since he was detained on December 28, Moscow city court refused an appeal to grant bail to Mr Whelan, leaving him pre-trial confinement in Lefortovo jail until at least the end of February. He faces 10 to 20 years in prison. Mr Whelan, head of security for a Michigan auto parts company who holds American, British, Canadian and Irish passports, appeared calm and well-fed. Dressed in a blue shirt, dark trousers and rimless eyeglasses, the former Marine and police officer declined to answer shouted questions, instead whispering with his lawyers through an opening in the thick glass defendant's cage.  A source told The Telegraph last week that Mr Whelan is accused of gathering information about “classified military structures”. During the hearing, which was closed until the judge returned with a decision, Mr Whelan “refuted in detail the prosecution's arguments,” Mr Zherebenkov said.  “He didn't think these were state secrets, as he did indeed say, 'I'm a friend of Russia,'” the lawyer said. “He has a lot of acquaintances here. For him all these meetings, all these contacts were ordinary and connected with the culture of the country, nothing more.” The defence had offered a bond of up to 30 million roubles (£350,000) for his release. Lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov speaks to Mr Whelan in the defendant's cage Credit: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Russian police have often been accused of faking evidence, and in September, two officers in Izhevsk were given prison sentences for planting a pistol and personal items from a supposed victim on an innocent man. Mr Whelan was detained by the powerful FSB, however, in a much more high-profile bust. Former CIA officers have said the United States wouldn't send an agent to Russia without diplomatic cover. Although Mr Whelan “feels good,” he has an illness that requires medical attention, and Mr Zherebenkov said he had agreed with investigators to have a doctor visit him with an interpreter, as he doesn't speak good Russian. He is reportedly suffering from a hernia as well as a shoulder problem.  Prison monitors have said his cell is better than normal, with good heating, a television and a refrigerator. Vladimir Putin's spokesman denied that Mr Whelan had been detained as a “pawn in a diplomatic game,” but some including US officials have disputed this. There has been speculation Moscow could seek to swap him for a Russian prisoner in the United States. Mr Whelan's twin brother previously told The Telegraph that the family had doubts about the appointment of Mr Zherebenkov to represent him. While the lawyer has successfully defended well-known clients like former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, he is known to have close relationships with state investigators after working as one himself for two decades.  Mr Zherebenkov speaks outside Moscow city court on Tuesday Credit: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Mr Whelan came to Russia in December for a friend's wedding and showed other guests around the Kremlin grounds, relatives have said. Friends contacted the embassy when he failed to appear at the wedding. At least 20 friends on his page on a Russian social network had completed military education or service, while others worked in IT. His twin brother previously told The Telegraph that Mr Whelan had always enjoyed meeting foreign military and law enforcement personnel during his extensive travels.  Mr Whelan first visited Russia while on leave after serving in Iraq in 2007, a trip he described afterward as a chance to “travel throughout the world wherever we want to go and experience the diversity of culture”. He came to Russia on several other occasions and, according to his lawyer, had in May visited Sergiyev Posad, a city near Moscow famous for its ancient monastery complex. He has also reportedly been to the imperial capital of St Petersburg as well as Volgograd, which is known for its Second World War history.  Mr Whelan joined the US Marine Corps reserves in 1994 but was court-martialled over larceny allegations and discharged for bad conduct in 2008.  He was employed at the temporary staffing firm Kelly Services, which operates in countries including Russia, as senior manager of global security and investigations. Most recently he was employed at auto parts supplier BorgWarner, which has said he wasn't in Russia for work.  He also did stints in law enforcement and at one point started an online gun-selling business.

North Dakota couple killed by fallen tree in San Diego

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota couple died while vacationing in San Diego when a 75-foot-tall pine tree crashed onto their rental house as they slept, relatives and police said.

FBI agents say shutdown hinders fight against gangs and terrorism

The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) repeated its call for the partial government shutdown to end, arguing that it is undermining the bureau’s ability to protect the nation.

Three dead from separate avalanches in Colorado and New Mexico

Two deaths have been confirmed in the US after two separate avalanches in Colorado and New Mexico trapped skiers in crushing snow this week and last. Authorities in Aspen, Colorado confirmed the most recent death on Monday, which happened to be the same day that relatives of a New Mexico avalanche victim announced their loss. A second victim of the New Mexico avalanche had already been reported.

Los Angeles teachers return to classes after reaching deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tens of thousands of Los Angeles teachers returned to work Wednesday after voting to ratify a contract, ending a six-day strike at the nation's second-largest district.

Mexico probes negligence in pipeline blast that killed 91

Mexico has opened an investigation into what caused a deadly pipeline explosion, including possible negligence by authorities, the attorney general said Monday, as the death toll rose to 91 people. It is still unclear exactly how events unfolded leading up to the Friday blast, which occurred as hundreds of people rushed to collect fuel in buckets and jerrycans from a geyser of gasoline that was spouting from an illegal pipeline tap near the town of Tlahuelilpan, in the central state of Hidalgo. Attorney General Alejandro Gertz said investigators were trying to determine who tapped the pipeline -- whether locals acting alone or one of the criminal gangs that have turned fuel theft into a booming industry in Mexico.

Ocasio Cortez: ‘The World is Going to End In Twelve Years If We Don’t Address Climate Change’

“Millennials and people, you know, Gen Z and all these folks that will come after us are looking up and we’re like: ‘The world is gonna end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change and your biggest issue is how are we gonna pay for it?’” Ocasio-Cortez told interviewer Tanehisi Coates at an “MLK Now” event in New York. The timeline Ocasio-Cortez referenced was likely based on a U.N. backed report, released last year, that predicted the consequences of man-made climate change would become irreversible in twelve years if global carbon emissions are not immediately and dramatically reduced.

Google spends big on U.S. lobbying amid antitrust, bias battles

Alphabet Inc's Google disclosed on Tuesday that it spent a company-record $21.2 million on lobbying the United States government in 2018, topping its previous high of $18.22 million in 2012, as the search engine operator fights wide-ranging scrutiny into its practices. Google said in a quarterly disclosure to Congress that it spent $4.9 million on lobbying activities during the fourth quarter, slightly above $4.4 million in the same period a year ago. The 2018 total also surpassed $18.04 million spent on lobbying in 2017, according to tracking of the filings by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

McDonald's is giving away free food for one hour next week -- Here's how to get yours

What’s better than bacon when you’re craving something quick, greasy and

Security clearance info on Jared Kushner, John Bolton and Michael Flynn sought by House panel

Congressional committee demands the White House provide information on "breaches" within its security clearance process.

Emiliano Sala: Rescuers give up hope of finding missing footballer alive as experts claim the plane was downed by ice

Rescuers searching for the £15 million Cardiff City footballer, Emiliano Sala, admitted they had given up hope last night, amid fears that his single engine aircraft had crashed into the English channel after the propeller became blocked with ice. The Argentinian born striker sent a message to relatives shortly before taking off expressing fears over the state of the 25-year-old aircraft, It has also emerged that the pilot, Dave Ibbotson, 60, had to abort three attempted takeoffs and had joked with friends that he was a "bit rusty" in the days before the doomed flight. The Piper PA-46 Malibu left Nantes airport in north west France at around 7.15pm on Monday evening and was on route to Cardiff, where Sala was looking forward to joining up with his new teammates. Just after an hour into the flight the pilot asked air traffic control to reduce altitude from 5,000 ft to 2,300 feet. But a short time later the Guernsey coastguard was alerted after the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. David Ibbotson was thought to be the pilot of the aircraft Aviation experts suggested the privately chartered single-engine aircraft should not have been risking the flight in the icy conditions. Alastair Rosenschein, a former pilot, said: "It's already a fairly risky crossing to do in a single engine aircraft, especially in winter and definitely at night. There are icing problems too. It's a strange thing to do though to go and fly over water with one engine at night in winter because if your engine goes you're going in the water". Mystery continued to surround who the owner of the £100 per hour aircraft was, with Cardiff City insisting Sala had rejected their offer of a commercial flight, in favour of sorting out his own arrangements. A source at the club said they had launched an investigation to find out why their record breaking signing had gambled with his life on the "risky" Channel crossing. Neil Warnock took his players on a sombre first training session since the tragedy on Wednesday. Players and staff were described by one source as feeling "absolutely terrible" and "in the dark" about the circumstances of Sala's flight arrangements. Sala, who had been in prolific goal scoring form for Nantes in recent months, had been a dream signing for the club. Willie McKay, a well-known agent, was reported to have played a part in negotiating the club's record-breaking deal, but he told The Telegraph he had nothing to do with Sala's flight. He told The Telegraph: "I have had family members ringing me about this and it's just not true. None of it." Fans have left scarves and flowers at the Cardiff City stadium  The aircraft, which was built in 1984, is registered in the United States rather than Britain through a company based in Norfolk. The firm, Southern Aircraft Consultancy, charges owners around £500 pounds per year to register their aircraft with the Federal Aviation Authority, which means it is harder for the owners to be identified. Three years ago the Piper aircraft, which can carry six passengers, was delivered to the UK from Spain by a British pilot called, David Henderson. Emiliano Sala timeline He told the BBC at the time of the dangers of flying single engine aircraft over water. He said: "One of the problems we can encounter is that ice can build up on the surfaces of the aircraft, on the propeller and on the wings and if is gets too great then ultimately the aeroplane would stop flying and the only way in most of the aeroplanes we fly of getting rid of ice is to descend into warmer air and the ice will dissipate." Missing light aircraft over the English Channel Guernsey Police said rescue workers had launched three aircraft and one helicopter in a bid to find the missing plane. The aircraft scanned 280 sq miles of a target area after reviewing tidal and weather information, while coastal areas around Alderney and off-lying rocks and islands were also examined. But the search was called off on Wednesday evening with local police saying they would take a decision whether to resume the search on Thursday morning. However experienced rescuers warned there was "no hope" of finding the missing pair. A tearful Horacio Sala, father of the footballer, speaks during an interview outside his home in Progreso, Argentina Credit: AP Photo/Mauricio Garin John Fitzgerald, Chief officer of Channel Islands Air Search, said "even the most fit person" would only last a few hours in the water. Mr Fitzgerald said: "Sadly, I really don't think, personally, there is any hope. At this time of year the conditions out there are pretty horrendous if you are actually in the water." Sala had taken flown in the aircraft from Cardiff to Nantes on Saturday evening after finalising his move to the Premier League club. He had wanted to say goodbye to friends and former colleagues at the French club before embarking on his new career at Cardiff. But he had told friends he was worried about the return flight because the outbound trip had been "bumpy". Mr Ibbotson, a highly experienced pilot, from the village of Crowle near Scunthorpe, had joked with friends on social media that he was a "a bit rusty with the ILS", thought to be a reference to the aircraft's Instrument Landing System. Shortly before take off, Sala also sent a WhatsApp voice message to family saying he was "so scared". Media in Argentina reported he said: "I'm on a plane that looks like it's going to fall apart."

Police searching for Round Lake man after girl, 11, drives to school

Police in far north suburban Round Lake are searching for a man after teachers at John J. Murphy Elementary School saw an 11-year-old girl pull up to the school with the adult man in the passenger seat.

‘Fox & Friends’ mistakenly airs Ruth Bader Ginsburg obituary graphic

The hosts of ‘Fox & Friends’ apologised on Monday after airing a graphic suggesting that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. “We need to apologise,” co-host Steve Doocey said later on the program. “A technical error in the control room triggered a graphic of RBG with a date on it.

Israel: Advanced missile defense system successfully tested

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Tuesday that it has successfully tested the country's advanced missile defense system capable of defending against long-range ballistic missile threats.

Tourist killed by falling window from Hong Kong hotel

A hotel employee arrested after a window she was cleaning fell onto a busy Hong Kong street and killed a tourist was released on bail Tuesday as investigators try to work out what caused the fatal tragedy. Police said a 24-year-old female tourist from the Chinese mainland was struck by the window which fell from the 16th floor of the Mira Hotel in the busy Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district on Monday. The accident sparked alarm that a window could possibly fall from the outside of a modern hotel building in a city stacked with skyscrapers.

Huge attack shows Taliban strength at outset of talks

The attack, carried out with a captured military Humvee packed with explosives, killed as many as 100 or more soldiers, police and pro government militiamen at a base in Maidan Wardak province west of Kabul. "The Taliban are doing exactly what they want to do and if it goes on like this then one day we will have Maidan Wardak province fall into the hands of Taliban," said Mohammad Akbar Bakhtyari, the deputy chief of the provincial council. Just hours later, the Taliban confirmed that talks aimed at finding a peace deal had resumed with U.S. officials in Qatar, underlining the strategy adopted by the increasingly invigorated insurgents -- an approach their American foes should understand.

Striking teachers in LA reach tentative settlement with district

Los Angeles public school teachers reached a tentative settlement with school officials Tuesday in order to end a weeklong strike that has affected some 500,000 students. The settlement -- reached after 21 hours of marathon talks that ended early Tuesday -- was set to be voted on by the roughly 30,000 members of the teachers union later in the day and classes are due to resume on Wednesday. "The strike nobody wanted is now behind us," Los Angeles United School District superintendent Austin Beutner said at a joint press conference with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Alex Caputo-Pearl, the president of United Teachers Los Angeles.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: At Ebenezer Baptist Church, a call to action to end 'chaos'

A memorial for Martin Luther King Jr. at Ebenezer Baptist Church proceeded Monday after almost being derailed by the federal government shutdown.

Mr Porter and Off-White unveil their latest collaboration

Mr Porter has presented the fruit of its latest collaboration with streetwear label Off-White: a 44-piece capsule which reinterprets traditional sportswear. Christened "Modern Office," the collection is exclusively available from Mr Porter (www.mrporter.com). "Securing the Mr Porter account has always been a goal for me.

Amazon’s rare discount on the only Instant Pot with a built-in sous vide somehow isn’t sold out

Yesterday afternoon we told you about a killer sale that popped up on Amazon. The $160 Instant Pot 8 Qt Aura Pro Multi-Use Programmable Multicooker with Sous Vide is the only multi-use cooker that Instant Pot makes with a built-in sous vide function, and it almost never goes on sale. Thanks to a $32 clippable coupon on Amazon, it dropped to an all-time low of $127.99. Last time this coupon popped up on Amazon it sold out within about an hour, but today we have some terrific news: it's somehow still available! Hurry up and head to the Amazon page now and you'll still find that $32 coupon there. We have no idea how much longer this deal will last though, so you should definitely take advantage as soon as you can. Here are the highlights from the product page: * Please note this item does not have a pressure cooker function. * Aura Pro replaces 11 commonly used kitchen appliances - Sear/Saute, Bake, Slow Cook, Steam, Stew, Sous Vide, Roast, Yogurt, Rice, Multigrain and Keep Warm, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button! * Microprocessor Technology - The microprocessor controls the time and temperature to ensure consistent cooking results. You can customize your settings using the operation keys +/- to adjust cooking time and temperature to achieve your preferred cooking results. * Sear/Saute - Flexible temperature settings makes it perfect for simmering, caramelizing and sauteing vegetables, and searing meat. Temperature ranges from 250~425°F [120~220°C], you can easily adjust the time from 5 minutes to 1 hour, with a default time of 30 minutes. * Bake - Prevents you from heating up your kitchen. Temperature ranges from 250~425°F [120~220°C], you can adjust the time from 10 minutes to 4 hour, with a default time of 1 hour. * Slow Cooker - Two temperature settings High (H) and Low (L) with the ability to set the cooking time from 30 minutes to 24 hours for both temperature levels and a default time of 4 and 6 hours respectively. * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz

Herschel backpacks are up to 50% off at Nordstrom right now

January and February are seriously soul-sucking. Winter months after the holidays but before spring always feel like a drag, and getting back (and staying) in the swing of things at work or school can be draining. A new backpack may be able to lift your spirits, though. Numerous backpacks from Herschel Supply Co. are up to 50% off at Nordstrom, and these stylin' bad boys may just be the jolt of motivation you need. SEE ALSO: 7 of the best laptops for students heading back to school Finding a bag that can fit a large laptop and the rest of your necessities that's not obnoxious and nerdy is rare, but Herschel is known for nailing practicality and clout. Get long-lasting durability with Herschel's innovative fabric invented specifically to endure everyday use, plus tons of pockets. All of that is arranged into the ultimate minimalistic backpack that backpack appreciators will recognize at a single glance. We're surprised that they're on sale at all, let alone up to half off. Here are a few of our favorite deals: ## Little America backpack -- $49.98 (save $50.02) Image: herschel supply co. The man. The myth. The legend. The Little America backpack. This is one of Herschel's most iconic designs, featuring double straps outside that match the dark gray exterior for a sleek, minimalistic look. For storage, there's a padded exterior pocket and an interior padded compartment for laptops up to 15 inches. Regularly $100, you can save $50.02 and get it for $49.98. ## Retreat Offset Denim backpack -- $49.98 (save $50.02) Image: herschel supply co. An extra-detailed and slightly bigger take on the Little America, the mountaineering-inspired Retreat Offset backpack is decked out in dark denim with off-white accents and a drawstring closure. Its interior has a padded compartment for laptops up to 15 inches. Regularly $100, you can save $50.02 and get it for $49.98. ## Studio Winlaw XL Backpack -- $44.98 (save $45.02) Image: herschel Another classic without the bells and whistles, the Studio Winlaw backpack offers a two-way zipper closure for max convenience and adjustable straps to make carrying it as comfy as possible. The inside is hella spacious, featuring an interior wall pocket and enough depth for a laptop, headphones, and more. Regularly $90, you can save $45.02 and get it for $44.98. ## Surplus Classic XL backpack -- $34.98 (save $35.02) Image: herschel supply co. Adorable and sturdy? We thought it didn't exist. This salmon-colored XL backpack also features a zipper on top and a zipper pocked on the exterior, plus some extra little details to up its aesthetics. There's a laptop sleeve inside, and Minecraft fans will love the pixelated camo interior. Regularly $70, you can save $35.02 and get it for $34.98. Image: herschel supply co. Shop all Herschel Supply Co. at Nordstrom See Details

Supreme Court Allows Redacted Appeal in Possible Mueller Case

Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible obstruction by President Donald Trump. The dispute apparently marks the first time the Supreme Court has been asked to intervene in the probe. The Supreme Court previously refused to block the daily fines, but the company is still pressing the court to hear an appeal.

The Latest: New York City airport faces wind disruptions

The Latest on the winter storm hitting the East Coast (all times local):

Open letter to Xi demands China release detained Canadians

A group of 143 former diplomats and scholars from 19 countries have penned an open letter to Xi Jinping, China’s president, demanding Beijing to “immediately release” two Canadians detained in China.  Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a prominent consultant on North Korean business issues, have been held for six weeks in Beijing. In their respective roles, the two frequently met with Chinese officials, researchers and scholars, the letter noted. The “detentions send a message that this kind of constructive work is unwelcome and even risky in China,” the letter said. “That will lead to less dialogue and greater distrust, and undermine efforts to manage disagreements and identify common ground. Both China and the rest of the world will be worse off as a result.” The pair disappeared as tensions escalated between Canada and China after Meng Wanzhou, a top executive from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, was arrested in December in Vancouver on a US extradition request related to Iran sanctions violations. Although Beijing has denied any link between the detentions and Ms Meng, 46, the two men were seized shortly after China threatened “serious consequences” over her case.  Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrives at a parole office with a security guard in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 Credit:  Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press Last week, China handed down a death sentence to a Canadian citizen on drug trafficking charges in a rushed retrial that experts say is another example of Beijing acting in retaliation for Meng, and further efforts to pressure Ottawa in a diplomatic row that has now lasted weeks.  A spate of British diplomats and politicians have signed the letter, including former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Ambassador to China Sir Christopher Hum, and Member of Parliament Lord David Alton.  Signatories also included Gareth Evans, the former foreign minister of Australia, two US deputy assistant secretaries of state, former ambassadors to China from Canada, the US, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Mexico, and scholars Orville Schell of the Asia Society, Minxin Pei, a professor and expert on Chinese politics at Claremont McKenna College, and Bonnie Glaser, senior advisor for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank. Meng is currently under house arrest as her case remains pending. Kovrig and Spavor have been allowed a handful of consular visits in detention.

'Welcome' refugees in Kansas celebrate their American birthdays

Many of nearly 100 excited children running around a community center in Kansas City over the weekend had two things in common. Far from a strange coincidence, the date is usually assigned to immigrants who arrive in the United States without birth certificates, as refugees often do.

Miami prosecutor probing MLK traffic incident as hate crime

MIAMI (AP) — A traffic incident in Miami involving a gun-wielding white man and a group of black bicyclists protesting housing inequality on Martin Luther King Day is being investigated as a possible hate crime, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Government shutdown: FBI agents warn of impact on efforts to stop terrorism, sex and drug trafficking

FBI agents urged an end to the government shutdown, saying some investigations involving terrorism, street gangs and trafficking have been stalled.

China's Baidu pledges to improve search service after complaint

China's top search engine Baidu Inc said on Wednesday it will improve its media aggregating service after a complaint about the quality of the service and its search results went viral on social media, helping send its shares down sharply. Baidu was placing low-quality pieces from its Baijiahao service, which selects articles from both legacy and independent media outlets for display on Baidu's own webpages, and other Baidu properties toward the top of its search results, journalist Fang Kecheng wrote in an article on Tuesday.

Ronaldo fined for tax evasion, avoids jail

Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost 19 million euros for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence after agreeing a deal. Francesca Lynagh reports.