Authorities in Central China's Hubei have passed a regulation to protect a national park in the province.
2017年11月30日星期四
Financial jobs mostly likely to be replaced by AI: Deloitte
Finance employees are most likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) in the future, said a research report by Deloitte on Nov. 30, China News reported. ...
Foreign academicians of China's top science think tanks not merely a title: Xinhua
Foreign academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) will make unique contributions to the development of China instead of being merely crowned with a title, Xinhua said in an article published on Nov. 30. ...
Chinese park halts island renovation project to protect migrant bird
A park in eastern China's city of Wenzhou recently halted the ongoing renovation of its lake island, in a bid to maintain the ecology for a wild bird that has flew there for the winter. ...
Beijing bans fireworks in city proper
Beijing authorities have passed a regulation that bans fireworks in the city proper in light of heavy air pollution and casualties caused by fireworks in recent years.
Over 200 pterosaur eggs found in Xinjiang
215 fossilized pterosaur eggs that lived more than 100 million years ago have been unearthed in Hami, Xinjiang autonomous region, with 16 of them first found with three-dimension preserved embryos inside, the paper.cn reported.
Large oil field discovered in Xinjiang
An oil company announced Thursday that it had found a conglomerate oil field with an estimated one-billion-tonne reserve in the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Netizens to select China's 'Good Samaritans' for 2017
An online poll to select grassroots heroes whose good deeds have received widespread accolades will be conducted from Dec. 1 to 20.
2 dead, 3 missing after China shipwreck
Two bodies have been retrieved and three people remain missing in the shipwreck off the coast of southern China's Guangdong Province.
Beijing upgrades 500 public toilets
Beijing authorities have upgraded 500 public toilets this year as part of a "toilet revolution."
More flights return Chinese tourists stranded in Bali
Since Wednesday, China Eastern Airlines, one of the country's major state-owned carriers, has sent seven planes to collect Chinese tourists stranded in Bali, Indonesia, after a volcano eruption.
Police monitor new "human rental" service app in China
Candy (not her real name), who claims to be a junior at a university in east China's Nanjing City, said she has earned about 20,000 yuan from September to November by dating a young guy she barely knows. ...
Philanthropy forum hears cooperation key to global progress
Synergetic Cooperation among charitable organizations will help achieve the goal of building a community of shared future for mankind, officials agreed at a philanthropy forum.
Researchers photograph elusive forest musk deer
Forest musk deer, an endangered species protected by Chinese law, were photographed at Houhe National Nature Reserve in Hubei province, 18 years after the species was first documented in 1999.
Cop taunts would-be killer with lube on way to prison: 'You are going to need a lot of this'
The police officer who Kevin Rojas nearly killed during a traffic stop turned up at his sentencing hearing with a prop: a tube of lubricant. (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office).
A police officer taunted the Jacksonville man who shot him multiple times last year by taking out a tube of K-Y Jelly personal lubricant in court Wednesday and saying, "You are going to need a lot of this," local reports said.
Kevin Rojas, then 19, shot the undercover police officer three times during a 2016 traffic stop, including once in the face, the Florida Times-Union reported.
The critically-wounded officer, who was taking his son to school during the incident, returned fire but did not hit Rojas. His son was not injured.
Local reports did not identify the undercover officer.
In October, Rojas was found guilty of numerous felonies, including attempted first-degree murder, grand theft auto, attempted manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday. The wounded officer, who formerly served in the Army, began by calling Rojas a coward at the sentencing hearing, the Florida Times-Union reported.
"I will take those bullets instead of a fellow officer and an innocent bystander," the officer said, according to the Times-Union. "When I brought the fight back to you, you ran like a coward."
The officer then produced a tube of K-Y Jelly and told Rojas he would "need a lot" of it in prison, according to local reports.
When questioned by a judge in a 30-minute hearing about the stunt, the officer refused to comment, the Times-Union reported.
The officer's supervisors were aware of the incident and will address it, according to local reports.
Sen. Marco Rubio: This World AIDS Day, we must recommit to make AIDS a disease of the past
As 2017 comes to a close, nearly 37 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Friday is World AIDS Day and we must recommit to eradicating AIDS, once and for all.
Today we are reminded of the great strides and progress that the United States and the international community have made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We have come so far in fighting this global crisis since the dark early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Now is not the time to retreat from the critical work ahead.
HIV/AIDS impacts people from every region, race, and economic background. From infants to adults, the disease does not discriminate.
While AIDS remains a leading cause of death for adolescents worldwide, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other related programs have been able to move the needle closer to an AIDS-free future.
Currently, PEPFAR is assisting nearly 11.5 million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment. As a direct result of PEPFAR's work, infections have been averted in 2 million babies born to HIV-positive mothers since 2003.
With a renewed commitment and focused resources, we have the opportunity in 2018 to move closer to finally eliminating the disease that has caused pain and suffering to so many.
Due to large investments by the United States, new infections of HIV have been dramatically reduced. Every American should be proud of this progress and the millions of lives that have been saved.
I was proud that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, fought to maintain funding for PEPFAR and other related programs despite the administration's proposal to reduce it – a proposal that would have negative impacts across the globe.
Much of the credit for these successful programs goes to former President George W. Bush for launching PEPFAR and to Congress for robustly funding it. In 2018 and onward, the president and Congress should continue to make PEPFAR a priority.
While PEPFAR has helped decrease the number of children born with HIV, children who are HIV-positive are unfortunately still not on track with recommended treatment goals.
The United States, global leaders, and those countries most impacted by AIDS should refocus their efforts on getting life-saving treatment to infected children. These children will grow up to be the next generation of leaders and deserve to have a fighting chance at a healthy and hopeful future.
The United States must continue to invest in these critical programs overseas, but we cannot neglect the fight here at home. Growing up in Miami in the 1980s, I saw the impact that the HIV/AIDS epidemic had in our communities.
In the U.S., HIV disproportionately affects minorities, who account for over two-thirds of the HIV diagnoses in 2015. Across the country, 1.1 million people are still living with HIV – and some of them don't even know they have it.
With the national opioid crisis, there is an even greater risk of HIV transmission. We must continue to support health and education programs, such as community health centers and the Ryan White program, to stop the spread of HIV.
With a renewed commitment and focused resources, we have the opportunity in 2018 to move closer to finally eliminating the disease that has caused pain and suffering to so many.
For this to become a reality, the United States must continue leading the world in generosity and compassion, and in supporting continued medical treatments and advancements.
Every victim of HIV/AIDS deserves to live a stigma-free life with dignity, respect, and a chance to fight the disease and fulfill their God-given potential. We have come a long way and I believe that in the 21st century, through a united effort, we can make AIDS a disease of the past.
Pope to greet Rohingya refugees at Bangladesh peace prayer
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Pope Francis is ordaining 16 priests during a Mass in Bangladesh, the start of a busy day that will also bring him face-to-face with Rohingya Muslims refugees from Myanmar.
An estimated 100,000 people gathered Friday in a Dhaka park for the service, which mirrors the ordination Mass St. John Paul II celebrated when he visited Bangladesh in 1986.
Later Friday, Francis hosts an interfaith peace prayer alongside Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders. The Vatican says 18 Rohingya refugees from camps in Cox's Bazar will be on hand to greet the pope.
Upon his arrival in Dhaka on Thursday, Francis demanded the international community intervene to resolve the Rohingya crisis, which has seen more than 620,000 refugees flee Myanmar in what the U.N. says is a textbook case of "ethnic cleansing."
Japan inflation ticks up, jobless rate at 2.8 pct in October
TOKYO – Japan reports its core inflation rate rose 0.8 percent in October, a slight increase from the month before, while the jobless rate remained steady at a very low 2.8 percent.
The data reported Friday add to indications of a stable recovery, although the rate of price increases is well below the 2 percent official target.
Inflation excluding volatile food prices and energy was only 0.2 percent, suggesting much of the increase in prices was related to energy costs. Electricity rates jumped 8 percent and the price of kerosene, used to heat many homes, climbed 21 percent.
Household incomes rose nearly 3 percent in October from a year earlier while spending was flat.
Japan's economy has picked up in recent months largely thanks to revived demand for exports across the region.
Trump calls Kate Steinle verdict 'disgraceful,' says 'no wonder' people are 'angry with illegal immigration'
President Trump late Thursday tweeted that the not guilty verdict in the Kate Steinle murder trial was "disgraceful," highlighting his apparent frustration at the resolution of a case he had cited during his presidential campaign as a justification for tougher immigration enforcement.
"A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case!" Trump tweeted after the jury rejected possible charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder. "No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration."
Jim Steinle, who was walking with his 32-year-old daughter when she was killed, echoed Trump's sentiments, telling the San Francisco Chronicle the family was saddened and shocked by the verdict.
"There's no other way you can coin it. Justice was rendered, but it was not served," he said in what he called the last interview he would do about the case.
A jury earlier Thursday found Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty in Steinle's killing on a San Francisco pier during the presidential primary campaign in 2015.
U.S. immigration officials said they will deport Garcia Zarate, who had been deported five times and was wanted for a sixth deportation when Steinle was fatally shot in the back while walking with her father.
The killing touched off a fierce national immigration debate, and was used by then-candidate Trump to push for a wall on the Mexican border.
"From Day 1 this case was used as a means to foment hate, to foment division and to foment a program of mass deportation. It was used to catapult a presidency along that philosophy of hate of others," defense attorney Francisco Ugarte said after the verdict. "I believe today is a day of vindication for the rest of immigrants."
The case spotlighted San Francisco's "sanctuary city" policy, which limits local officials from cooperating with U.S. immigration authorities.
Politics, however, did not come up in the month-long trial that featured extensive testimony from ballistics experts. Defense attorneys argued that Garcia Zarate was a hapless homeless man who killed Steinle in a freak accident. Prosecutors said he meant to shoot and kill her.
Garcia Zarate did not deny shooting Steinle and said it was an accident.
Jurors did find him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, meaning he knowingly had a firearm but there was no intent for him to hurt or shoot anyone. Public Defender Jeff Adachi said the count carries a potential sentence of 16 months to three years behind bars.
The family did not attend the reading of the verdict. Jurors left without comment and the judge sealed their names.
Before the shooting, Garcia Zarate finished a federal prison sentence for illegal re-entry into the United States and had been transferred to San Francisco's jail in March 2015 to face a 20-year-old charge for selling marijuana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Night views of Harbin through the lens
Yang Xiangming, 22, has taken more than 6,000 photos of the night scenes in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province in the past two months.
Japan emperor to abdicate on April 30, 2019
Emperor Akihito has sat on the Japanese throne since 1989 (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
TOKYO – Japan's Emperor Akihito plans to abdicate on April 30, 2019, at age 85 in the first such abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne in about 200 years, the government said Friday.
Akihito's elder son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the throne a day later, on May 1, 2019, beginning a new era.
Akihito expressed his apparent wish to abdicate last summer, citing his age and health. His elder son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the throne a day after the abdication, on May 1, 2019, beginning a new, as yet unnamed era.
The decision was made Friday at a meeting of the Imperial House Council, which included politicians, judicial officials and imperial family members.
Formal Cabinet approval of the decision is due on Dec. 8.
Legislation allowing Akihito to abdicate within three years was enacted earlier this year.
His desire to leave the throne revived a debate about the country's 2,000-year-old monarchy, one of the world's oldest, as well as discussion about improving the status of female members of the shrinking royal population. The current male-only succession rules prohibit women from succeeding to the Chrysanthemum Throne and female members lose their royal status when they marry a commoner.
Akihito was 56 years old when he ascended the throne in January 1989 after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, beginning the Heisei Era.
The legislation for Akihito's case was needed because the 1947 Imperial House Law does not provide for abdication. The last emperor to abdicate was Kokaku in 1817.
Kate Steinle’s accused killer found not guilty of murder
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate was found not guilty Thursday of murdering Kate Steinle on Pier 14 in San Francisco in July 2015 in a case that sparked a heated national debate over illegal immigration and so-called sanctuary cities.
Zarate was acquitted of first and second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. He also was found not guilty of assault with a semi-automatic weapon. He was found guilty of possessing a firearm by a felon. The jury had deliberated for six days.
Steinle was walking with her father and a family friend in July 2015 when she was shot, collapsing into her father's arms. Zarate had been released from a San Francisco jail about three months before the shooting, despite a request by federal immigration authorities to detain him for deportation.
KATE STEINLE TRIAL FEATURES DEMONSTRATION OF HOW SUSPECT COULD'VE CONCEALED MURDER WEAPON
San Francisco is a sanctuary city, with local law enforcement officials barred from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. President Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding to cities with similar immigration policies, but a federal judge in California permanently blocked his executive order last week.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced late Thursday: "Following the conclusion of this case, ICE will work to take custody of Mr. Garcia Zarate and ultimately remove him from the country."
ICE Deputy Director Tom Homan added, "San Francisco's policy of refusing to honor ICE detainers is a blatant threat to public safety and undermines the rule of law. This tragedy could have been prevented if San Francisco had turned the alien over to ICE, as we requested, instead of releasing him back onto the streets."
In a response to the verdict, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement saying that despite California's attempt at a murder conviction, Zarate was able to walk away with only a firearm possession conviction because he was not turned over by San Francisco to ICE.
"When jurisdictions choose to return criminal aliens to the streets rather than turning them over to federal immigration authorities, they put the public's safety at risk," the statement said. "San Francisco's decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle."
Upon leaving the courtroom, representatives from both sides spoke to reporters. Defense Attorney Matt Gonzalez offered his condolences to the Steinle family and said the outcome of the case did not make what happened in 2015 any less terrible.
Public Defender Jeff Adachi also released a statement saying Zarate was "extremely relieved" by the outcome and that while Steinle's death "was a horrible tragedy," it was used as "political fodder for then candidate Donald Trump's anti-immigration agenda."
Adachi added, "Despite the unfairly politicized atmosphere surrounding this case, jurors focused on the evidence, which was clear and convincing, and rendered a just verdict."
A spokesperson for the district attorney's office said the verdict was not the one prosecutors were seeking but at the end of the day, the jury ultimately makes the decision. Prosecutors also said the Steinle family was "incredible" and that their hearts went out to them.
While Zarate's immigration status brought the case into the national spotlight, jurors did not hear evidence about that, and it was not a factor in the trial.
After 12 days of testimony, dozens of witnesses and two days of closing arguments, the jury had to decide whether Steinle's death was the result of an act of murder or a tragic accident.
Reporters in the room said the jurors looked very somber as they entered. When the judge was handed the verdict, the courtroom was completely silent. During the reading of the not guilty verdict of involuntary manslaughter, the defense team nodded in approval but didn't show any emotion. Zarate sat stoically in his seat.
Earlier in the day, the bailiff and court clerk were seen entering the jury room with a small yellow evidence bag before retreating with it a few minutes later.
KATE STEINLE TRIAL GIVEN TO JURY IN CASE THAT SPARKED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DEBATE
A source inside the courtroom confirmed that the jury asked to see the gun used to shoot Steinle. Zarate and his defense team maintained the argument that the suspect found the stolen weapon on the pier that day and it "just fired."
The gun belonged to a federal Bureau of Land Management ranger and was stolen from his parked car a week earlier.
The bullet ricocheted on the pier's concrete walkway before it struck Steinle, killing her. Zarate has admitted to shooting Steinle, but says it was an accident.
However, the prosecution painted a very different picture, telling jurors that Zarate deliberately shot the gun towards Steinle while "playing his own secret version of Russian roulette."
Following Steinle's death, Congress took action to pass new legislation called Kate's Law. The law -- passed by the House of Representatives in June -- increases the penalties for deported aliens who try to return to the United States and are caught.
Fox News' Claudia Cowan and Jennifer Girdon in San Francisco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New York City model found dead with throat slit in Jamaica, report says
Desiree Gibbon, of Queens, New York, reportedly was found dead on Sunday with her throat slashed. (Facebook)
A model from New York City was found dead earlier this week in a small town on the island of Jamaica, according to a report Friday.
Desiree Gibbon, 26, from Queens, was in the Caribbean country looking for work when she was found dead on a road Sunday morning, the New York Daily News reported. Her throat was allegedly slashed.
Gibbon, who grew up modeling and competing in beauty pageants, was looking for work in Jamaica's tourism industry, the Daily News reported. Gibbon's grandmother owns a hotel there, the newspaper added.
The woman, who arrived to the island on Oct. 20, was identified when investigators took a photo of her to resorts in the Montego Bay area to ask if they knew her, according to the Daily News.
"The brutality is what killed me. She was beaten and had her throat sliced open," Gibbon's mother, Andrea Cali-Gibbon, told the newspaper. She said her daughter once traveled to Brazil where she taught English.
Gibbon's family has created a GoFundMe page to help bring her body home from Jamaica. As of Tuesday night, the campaign has raised more than $17,000.
Top executives share experiences with future entrepreneurs
"Future entrepreneurs need to make sure what they want to do and who their target customers are so as to make their marketing efficient," said Yu Guangdong, the managing partner of Alphax Partners, at the Chinese Enterprise Service Session.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi visiting China amid crackdown criticism
BEIJING – Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting friendly neighbor China as international criticism over Myanmar's persecution of Rohingya Muslims grows.
China has studiously avoided criticizing the crisis and Suu Kyi can be expected to receive a warm welcome when she meets with President Xi Jinping. During the visit that begins Friday, China will also likely push for the restart of a controversial dam project in northern Myanmar that has caused conflicts.
More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar and poured into Bangladesh over the last few months amid a scorched earth campaign by Myanmar's military that the United Nations and United States describe as "ethnic cleansing."
China, a longstanding friend of Myanmar during the Southeast Asian country's isolation from the West, has been helping shield it from criticism.
Nov 30 2017
Our goal is lofty as well as simple, and ultimately, we want all the Chinese to live a better life."
Trump pressured Senate Intel, GOP to end Russia investigation, report says
Could special counsel's Russia probe be nearing conclusion?
President Trump's legal team expects that by the end of next week Mueller's interviews of White House aides will be completed; reaction from Robert Driscoll, former Justice Department official and deputy assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush.
President Trump exhorted Senate Republican leaders, including the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, to bring its investigation into Russian activities during last year's election to a swift conclusion, The New York Times reported late Thursday.
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., told the paper that Trump told him "something along the lines of, 'I hope you can conclude this as quickly as possible.'" Burr said he told the president that "when we have exhausted everybody we need to talk to, we will finish."
The Times report, which cited half a dozen lawmakers and aides, claimed that Trump had complained to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that he was not doing enough to bring the investigation to an end. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., another member of the intelligence committee, said Trump implored him to "wrap up this investigation" while the two were on board Air Force One over the summer.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a former chair of the intelligence committee, said Trump's requests were "inappropriate" and represented "pressure that should never be brought to bear by an official when the legislative branch is in the process of an investigation."
But Burr told the Times that Trump was not aware of any irregularity in his requests, due to his lack of experience in politics. He added that the president believes the Russia investigation "hampers his ability to project the strength he needs to convey on foreign policy."
The Senate Intelligence Committee is one of three congressional panels investigation Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. The others are the House intelligence committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed by the Justice Department in May to oversee an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Video of an engineer appearing to fix plane with duct tape goes viral
An engineer was caught on camera worrying passengers by repairing an EasyJet plane with adhesive tape. (iStock)
The engineer was captured mending the plane, bound for Berlin, at Amerstam's Schiphol Airport on Tuesday.
According to reports, the pilot had told passengers they would experience a slight delay to their flight as the engine was receiving a "quick fix".
The traveller was shocked to then see a technician climb onto the engine shell, remove tape which was already in place, and then lay a strip of fresh tape on top.
The tape had rolled backwards due to the speed on a previous flight, and had reportedly come loose.
Describing the video, the passenger said: "It really seems that the tape was there for mechanical reasons and not just for the looks."
But the engineer was actually using speed tape, used to carry out minor repairs on aircraft and racing cars.
It is often used as a temporary repair material until a more permanent repair can be carried out.
A spokesperson for the airline operator said: "EasyJet occasionally uses this high-speed metallic tape, which is always used in accordance with the approved aircraft manuals and repair processes, and in no way compromises the safety of the aircraft.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
NFL owners appear poised to pay nearly $100 million bribe for nothing
NFL owners seem poised to donate nearly $100 million (including some contributions from players) over seven years to support the favorite social justice causes of the players. But in a perfect show of how incompetent they are, the owners will get nothing from the players in return. No promise to stop disrespecting the national anthem or any other meaningful concessions.
Who taught these clowns to negotiate, Neville Chamberlain? Obviously, they are used to trying to buy their way out of problems. Can you even imagine the sum total spent bailing their pampered players out of legal beefs, domestic violence and sexual misconduct issues? It would likely dwarf even Congress and Hollywood. But do they really think this will solve their problem?
Now the owners have taught the players that disrupting the business that feeds them all will bring the players more satchels of cash to toss around to pet causes, in a frenzy of virtue signaling.
I will go out on a limb and bet this has the complete opposite effect and the players will go back to the well constantly for more Dane-geld. Dane-geld is the money that used to be paid to Viking marauders long ago to stop them from attacking your country. But as Rudyard Kipling pointed out in a poem:
So the NFL owners look like they will cave in and hope, hopelessly, that this will buy them some good will. Sadly, it will simply embolden the modern-day Vikings and Raiders and Buccaneers to continue their blackmail, lest the looting of TV ratings commence again.
"That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane."
So the NFL owners look like they will cave in and hope, hopelessly, that this will buy them some good will. Sadly, it will simply embolden the modern-day Vikings and Raiders and Buccaneers to continue their blackmail, lest the looting of TV ratings commence again.
What the owners should have done is said quite simply and emphatically: "Stand for the anthem or sit for the game – period."
There would almost certainly have been a revolt if players got an ultimatum like that, and some of these ill-mannered millionaires would have continued to kneel or sit as "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played.
So what? Let them sit out the game, and play their back ups. Most of these guys are too over-leveraged spending their newfound wealth to miss too many paychecks.
Even if you had to miss a week of football, you would not be giving away control of the league to a collection of grievance mongers. Better to have one fight on principle standing up for the national anthem and flag both literally and figuratively, then to set yourself up for a series of cringing capitulations week after week and year after year.
The victorious players will now see their ability to extract funds for any cause, even their own enrichment, to be greatly enhanced.
The league has plenty of problems, including the massive liability caused by years of ignoring the damage done to player's brains. Maybe they don't think they have the standing to stand on principle right now. But by kneeling themselves, the owners have simply ensured that they will feed a social justice crowd that knows no compromise.
They would have been much better off to read to the end of that Kipling poem on Dane-geld and do the hard thing now:
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that pays it is lost!"
There are only a few perks that go with being a Green Bay Packer stockholder, but one is voting each year for the board of directors of the team. If the owners pay this bribe without securing an enforceable agreement that the players will not disrespect the national anthem and flag, then I will lead a stockholders revolt and run for the Packers Board on a promise to do just that.
These wannabe social justice warriors have plenty of their own cash and plenty of time outside the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to pursue whatever causes they wish.
Americans should not stand for their disrespect, and I sure won't.
Six die, five hurt in Tianjin fire
Six people were killed and five injured after a fire broke out at a building in the Hexi district of North China's Tianjin around 4 am, according to the district's official weibo account on Friday.
Tibetans take train home after pilgrimage or travelling
Tibetans from Qinghai and Gansu provinces took train home after their journey of pilgrimage or travelling.
Shaanxi culture bridges China-Canada friendship
A Cultural Shaanxi Tourism Presentation was held in Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Nov 29 to promote Shaanxi's culture to a delegation from Canada.
Video of an engineer appearing to fix plane with duct tape goes viral
An engineer was caught on camera worrying passengers by repairing an EasyJet plane with adhesive tape. (iStock)
The engineer was captured mending the plane, bound for Berlin, at Amerstam's Schiphol Airport on Tuesday.
According to reports, the pilot had told passengers they would experience a slight delay to their flight as the engine was receiving a "quick fix".
The traveller was shocked to then see a technician climb onto the engine shell, remove tape which was already in place, and then lay a strip of fresh tape on top.
The tape had rolled backwards due to the speed on a previous flight, and had reportedly come loose.
Describing the video, the passenger said: "It really seems that the tape was there for mechanical reasons and not just for the looks."
But the engineer was actually using speed tape, used to carry out minor repairs on aircraft and racing cars.
It is often used as a temporary repair material until a more permanent repair can be carried out.
A spokesperson for the airline operator said: "EasyJet occasionally uses this high-speed metallic tape, which is always used in accordance with the approved aircraft manuals and repair processes, and in no way compromises the safety of the aircraft.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
Commentary: CPC willing to co-build a better world with foreign political parties
The dialogue between the CPC and other global political parties will be held in Beijing from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3. ...
Push for excellence inspires innovative female welder
This story is part of a series in which China Daily looks at how delegates to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are spreading the congress' message at work and in their daily lives.
Las Vegas police release Bellagio robbery surveillance video showing suspect
The LVMPD released surveillance video showing the suspect and robbery at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police released surveillance video Thursday showing the suspect and robbery that happened Tuesday at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas strip.
The incident occurred around 4 p.m. local time when an individual approached a poker cage and demanded an unspecified amount of money.
The video starts by showing the suspect's car, a silver Chevrolet Cruze with a Nevada license plate, pulling through the hotel drive way.
[embedded content]
It then cuts to the suspect walking through the casino door, donning a hooded jacket or sweatshirt, a winter hat over a wig and a mask covering half of his face. He's also holding a white bag, which will eventually be used to hold the money.
CAR FOUND IN HUNT FOR BELLAGIO HOTEL ROBBER AS MANHUNT CONTINUES, COPS SAY
He continues walking and can eventually be seen on the casino floor before making it to the poker cage.
The video shows him approach the area where the attendant is standing. He leans over the counter with the bag visible in his left hand while his right hand is unseen.
After pausing for a moment, a person standing to his left moves a tray of casino chips away from him. The video then cuts to an aerial shot showing the suspect engaging with someone behind the counter who appears to be handing him money, which he stuffs in the bag before leaving.
The suspect is then seen running through the building and escaping through the same doors he originally entered. He continues to run through the drive way before making it to his car and driving off the property.
BELLAGIO LAS VEGAS CASINO ROBBED AT GUNPOINT AS GAMBLER WATCH
Police investigating the incident told the Las Vegas Sun that they feel "comfortable and confident" that they'll find the suspect.
"Those who commit crimes like this on the Strip will be hunted down and whatever amount of cash he got is not enough to face a lifetime in prison," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Captain John Pelletier told the outlet.
Pelletier also said someone else may have been brought into the casino with the suspect, but didn't play a role in the robbery and is cooperating with authorities.
Farmer's accounts offer insight into social change
A farmer's daily handwritten account books, recording his family's earnings and expenditure on agricultural production and life during the past decade, have been added to the National Museum of China's collection.
Widow who saved epileptic boy fears for his future
Retiree helped 21 infants lost or abandoned at Harbin Railway Station
Kate Steinle not guilty verdict sparks shock from political, media figures
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, the illegal immigrant accused of murdering Kate Steinle in July 2015 on a pier in San Francisco, was found not guilty on Thursday night.
Steinle's death sparked a national debate regarding illegal immigration and sanctuary cities such as San Francisco.
Politicians have taken to Twitter to voice their shock and anger over the verdict.
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter tweeted, "Jury convinced that illegal alien killed Kate Steinle accidentally. She would still be alive if we had a wall."
Former congressman Joe Walsh, in response to the verdict, tweeted: "America, 2017: Illegals are protected and Americans are left to die. America is lost.
Walsh added that "The next time you hear a Democrat talk about protecting illegals or defending Sanctuary Cities, remind them that it's because of an illegal and Sanctuary Cities that Kate Steinle is no longer alive today."
Conservative radio host Mark Levin tweeted that the verdict was a "shocking disgrace."
"If this worthless Congress doesn't pass #KatesLaw now, there is no hope for this nation," actor James Woods tweeted following the not guilty verdict.
Matt Lauer deletes Facebook, Twitter and Instagram amid sexual harassment controversy
It appears now disgraced NBC anchor and host, Matt Lauer, has taken an extreme step to avoid public scrutiny. As of Thursday evening, the star appears to have deleted his social media.
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for Lauer appear to have been quietly deactivated as more and more women come forward with accusations of sexual harassment they experienced from him while they worked at NBC.
On Wednesday, it was announced on the "Today Show" that someone had come forward with allegations against the 59-year-old host. While no official word on what those allegations were has been confirmed by the network, it was egregious enough for him to be terminated immediately. Since that time, at least eight women total have come forward to NBC to share their story.
(www.INSTARimages.com)
"There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt I am truly sorry," he wrote in a statement that his former co-hosts read on Thursday. "As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC. Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly."
Since then, he was spotted near his home in East Hampton having a quick meeting with his lawyer. Later in the evening, Lauer appears to have made the decision to remove himself from social media amid the controversy. It's unclear if there was anyone inciting moment that led to the decision or if the general situation was enough.
Group looking for Christmas tree finds assaulted woman
REDDING, Calif. – Police in Northern California say people looking for a Christmas tree found a partially clothed woman who had been kidnapped and abandoned in a rural area.
Redding Police Capt. Eric Wallace says the group found the 25-year-old woman in a wooded area of Shasta County on Monday. He says the woman sought shelter in a burned-out tree, drank water from a mud puddle and was exposed to extremely cold temperatures, rain and snow.
The woman told police she was kidnapped a day earlier by two acquaintances who believed she had stolen drugs.
Wallace says the woman also told investigators she was beaten and the pair forced her to undress and left her with only a pair of shorts.
Police arrested 44-year-old Fred Sanderson and are searching for Johanna Knighten.
Newest submersible enters into service
China's newest manned submersible, Shenhai Yongshi, or Deep-Sea Warrior, will be formally put into service on Friday, according to China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, developer of the advanced craft.
Canadian lawmaker makes statement in parliament on Japanese atrocities during WWII
A video clip from the Canadian Parliament shows lawmaker Jenny Kwan speaks at the House of Commons o ...
China, Russia to join in military exercises
Chinese and Russian military units will participate in a series of joint activities before year's end, and will strengthen cooperation in anti-missile defense, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
Test kits on sale in campus vending machines
Health authorities are stocking food vending machines with HIV testing kits at universities in Beijing to help combat a rise of HIV/AIDS among young people, particularly college students.
Court rejects appeal of 'master' tomb raider
The Liaoning High People's Court has dismissed the appeal of a convicted tomb robber and confirmed his original sentence of death with a two-year reprieve, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.
New cloak of smog to descend on Hebei province
North China's Hebei province issued an orange alert for air quality on Thursday because of severe air pollution that will envelop the province and neighboring regions from Friday to Sunday, according to the Hebei Environmental Protection Bureau.
Wrongfully convicted man is acquitted
A man in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who was originally given a death sentence for intentional injury and committing indecent acts with women about 20 years ago, was pronounced not guilty because of insufficient evidence, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Donations of organs up nationally
China among leaders in transplant technology, senior health official says.
Dog shoots hunter after another hunter leaves shotgun on ground
A man was shot in the back when a dog accidentally stepped on an unattended shotgun trigger. (iStock)
A dog stepped on a 12-guage shotgun and shot a hunter in the back with bird-shot pellets in Wright County, Iowa.
On Wednesday, 36-year-old William Rancourt was shot when a hunting dog stepped on the trigger of a shotgun lying on the ground nearly 22 yards away from the man, causing the gun to fire, a news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports.
The man was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the report continues.
MAN TRIES TO BARBECUE RATTLESNAKE, GETS BIT ON FACE
"Shotguns are extremely dangerous at close range," Ken Lonneman, a DNR conversation officer, told the Des Moines Register. "In this case, there was a good distance between the muzzle and the wound, but if the victim had been closer, his injuries would have been more severe."
When Rancourt arrived at the hospital, he was alert and able to walk. X-rays were being performed Wednesday afternoon to ensure all pellets had been removed from Rancourts back, the Des Moines Register reported.
The New Hampshire resident had been hunting with his party in Wright County, Iowa. The group, which included two dogs, two Iowans and another man from New Hampshire, had been pheasant hunting around 1:20 p.m. when one of the men placed his loaded shotgun on the ground.
Rancourt's injuries were "fairly moderate," Lonneman said, but he hopes the incident serves as a reminder to all hunters to unload their guns and place the safety on before placing them down or leaving them unattended.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
He also encourages increased safety precautions as the hunting season picks up.
"I would like to remind all hunters that no matter what season it is, but especially during a busy season like the one we are going into, to please be sure to identify your target as well as what's beyond your target before firing," Lonneman told the Register.
Senate GOP rewrites tax bill in effort to win over deficit hawks
Senate Republicans were rewriting legislation to overhaul the nation's tax code Thursday evening in an effort to secure support from lawmakers who balked after a congressional analysis found the bill would add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, admitted to reporters that the bill would now have "alternative, frankly, tax increases we don't want to do" to deal with deficit concerns.
GOP leaders had been optimistic the tax bill would pass quickly earlier in the day after Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced their support. Republicans only have two votes to spare in the Senate, where they hold a 52-48 edge.
But their mood changed late in the day after the Senate's parliamentarian ruled that automatic "triggers" designed to guard against big deficits would violate Senate rules. GOP leaders' main concern was winning over lawmakers, including Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona, concerned about adding more red ink to the deficit.
In a dramatic turn late Thursday, Democrats forced a vote on whether to return the measure to the Senate Finance Committee so it could be rewritten to ensure smaller deficits. After holding out for nearly an hour during the vote, Corker, Flake and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin eventually joined fellow Republicans to scuttle the Democratic proposal.
Other Republican senators whose votes are being closely watched include Steve Daines of Montana; Susan Collins of Maine; Jerry Moran of Kansas and Marco Rubio of Florida.
SENATE TAKES UP TAX REFORM: HERE'S WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE
Corker has been pushing to add automatic tax increases in future years if the package doesn't raise as much revenue as projected.
With the provision dead, Corker said senators would change the bill to roll back some of the tax cuts in future years, regardless of whether tax revenues meet expectations. Flake said the tax increases would take affect after six years, though he didn't specify which taxes would go up.
The overall legislation would slash the corporate tax rate, offer more modest cuts for families and individuals and eliminate several popular deductions.
The new analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation shows the tax package would increase economic growth, generating an additional $458 billion in tax revenue. The committee previously estimated the package would add $1.4 trillion to the deficit.
The additional revenue is a boost to the bill but is still far short of the $2 trillion promised by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
The tax overhaul cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Wednesday on a 52-48 party-line vote, allowing senators to start debate on the legislation.
As it stands, the Senate's tax overhaul plan is different from the House's version. The two chambers would need to come together on a unified piece of legislation to advance to Trump's desk.
Under the Senate bill, the standard deduction – which reduces the amount of income that is taxed – would increase to $12,000 for individual filers and $24,000 for married couples.
When it comes to reducing the corporate tax rate, both chambers want to see the tax rate lowered to 20 percent from 35 percent. However, the Senate measure would delay the implementation for one year.
The Senate's tax plan would eliminate state and local tax deductions – meaning taxpayers in high-tax states would lose a write-off. This would affect mostly blue states, including California and New York.
The Senate's tax plan also includes a repeal of the individual mandate, the ObamaCare requirement for Americans to have health care.
The Senate tax reform measure would leave the mortgage deduction pretty much alone, capping it at $1 million. The House plan, on the other hand, would drastically reduce the cap on the popular deduction to mortgage interest to $500,000.
Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ancient Silk Road map comes home
A huge colored map of the Silk Road from a royal court of the mid-Ming Dynasty was officially welcomed home at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday. ...
A winter's tale of loss and learning
Party chief dubs Daxing fire a lesson 'paid in blood' as city is urged to rectify problems in its safety campaign.
New laws to improve preschool safety
China will push for legislation on preschool education to regulate teacher behavior and standardize the operation of such institutions, Vice-Minister of Education Tian Xuejun said on Thursday.
Special attention urged for the disabled
President emphasizes they are 'equal members of global family'
Veteran's son seeking to return father's portraits of other WWII soldiers
Navy veteran Ira Dube was able to reunite portraits his father drew of Joe "Solid Jackson" Orbe (left) and Joseph "Joner" Kratky (right), to family members. (Lois Dube Moore)
The son of a World War II veteran is on a mission to identify 15 soldiers who his father drew portraits of more than 70 years ago.
Ira Dube, a Navy veteran living in Colorado, told Fox News he's been searching for the families of veterans who served with his late father, Sgt. Stanley Dube, in what he said was the 27th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army National Guard, 108th Infantry Regiment, in the 1940s.
Dube believes the portraits are of men who served in the 105th Infantry Regiment.
His search began in January 2017, after he found the portraits — of 17 different servicemen — in his sister's attic.
The artwork, Dube said, is a way for the descendants of these American veterans to be able to "see how my dad saw their hero through his eyes."
Three of the 17 drawings had identifying information on them — signatures of the men drawn.
He took the minimal information that he had to the internet, and, "totally out of the blue," he discovered relatives of Joseph "Joner" Kratky — a soldier who was killed in action in June of 1944 in Saipan — who were "amazed" at the drawing.
Dube was also able to connect with the family of Joe "Solid Jackson" Orbe.
When he sent Orbe's family the artwork, he included a note to the late soldier's young granddaughter, saying: "Know your grandfather was a hero during a very difficult time in our country," according to WPIX.
This portrait of one serviceman was signed with the last name "Reid." The first name was unreadable. (Lois Dube Moore)
A third portrait, Dube said, had the last name "Reid" written on it. He was unable to read the first name.
"I keep going on to the sites, looking at pictures, trying to match sketches to those pictures," Dube told Fox 21.
Dube told Fox News he believes the men in the drawings "were closer" to his father "as friends than maybe as comrades," and thinks many of them are from New York or New Jersey.
He added that his father, while he didn't speak much about his time in the war — "I don't think anybody really did when they came back" — was always drawing or painting.
Throughout his many moves in life, whether it was to a new house or to a retirement community, Dube said it was "just amazing that my dad had kept them as many times as he moved during the decades."
The family of Kratky, who was killed in action in 1994, told Dube they were "amazed" at the artwork his father created of the corporal. (Ira Dube)
"They had to have a meaning in them," he added of the artwork. Dube said Stanley continued to work on his art — even after suffering strokes — until his 80s. He passed away at 90 years old in 2009.
Dube has sent the artwork to the New York State Military Museum, which is eager to help find the family members of those pictured, he said.
"I want to return these sketches to these families," Dube told PIX. "I'm sending the love he put into it."
Those with information on the artwork can contact Ira Dube on Facebook or contact Jim Gandy, of the New York State Military Museum's research center, at 518-581-5109.
Donald and Melania Trump light National Christmas tree
President Donald Trump lit the National Christmas Tree for the first time on Thursday, wishing the country "a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year" and "unbelievable holidays."
Trump counted down from 10 with his wife, Melania, who pushed a button to set the tree aglow with golden lights and silver stars.
The president and first lady attended the annual event with other Trump family members.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, cheer after lighting the 2017 National Christmas Tree during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
The program was hosted by television host Kathie Lee Gifford and actor Dean Cain — featuring performances by the Beach Boys, Jack Wagner, Wynonna Judd, Craig Campbell and others.
This year marks the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting. The tradition began in 1923 with President Calvin Coolidge and takes place in President's Park, just south of the White House.
Missouri couple accused of putting infant son in microwave
Derick Boyce-Slezak and Mikala Boyce-Slezak of Park Hills, Missouri, face child abuse charges for allegedly putting their infant son in a microwave. (St. Francois County Sheriff)
A man and woman in Missouri are facing child abuse charges after they allegedly put their infant son in a microwave and dropped him -- all while trying to imitate a TV commercial.
Derick Boyce-Slezak and Mikala Boyce-Slezak of Park Hills, Missouri were charged Tuesday with felony abuse or neglect of a child and are jailed on $500,000 bond.
The injuries were discovered when the baby, who was younger than 4 months at the time, was taken to a St. Louis hospital for a rash. Doctors at the Cardinal-Glennon Hospital Emergency Room found second-degree facial burns and head injuries.
The couple claimed a cleaning agent caused the burns, according to court documents obtained by the St. Louis-Dispatch.
During a Monday hearing, a state social worker claimed Mikala had blamed her infant son's head wounds on Derick who dropped the baby while trying to imitate a commercial he saw on television. It's not clear which commercial it was.
The state social worker also said Mikala believed Derick placed the infant in a microwave and briefly turned it on, court documents said.
Mikala pleaded the fifth at the hearing and Derick didn't testify.
The couple also has a daughter but waived custody shortly after she was born in 2016, the St. Louis-Dispatch added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rex Tillerson's career as secretary of state under Trump
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to step down from his position in January, sources told Fox News on Thursday.
Mike Pompeo, the current CIA director, could replace him -- leaving Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to possibly lead the CIA in Pompeo's place, sources also said.
The news comes amid Tillerson's contentious relationship with President Donald Trump. In October, NBC News reported that Tillerson considered resigning from his position last summer amid disputes with the White House. Additionally, Tillerson allegedly called the president a "moron" after a meeting with cabinet officials in October.
Tillerson's fate in the Trump administration appears to be shaky. Here's what you need to know about the former Exxon Mobil executive's career as Secretary of State ahead of his possible departure.
Dec. 6, 2016 -- Tillerson met the president-elect, before meeting him again Dec. 10, the Washington Post reported.
Dec. 13, 2016 -- Trump said he planned to nominate Tillerson for Secretary of State, calling him "one of the truly great business leaders of the world."
Jan. 11, 2017 -- During a Senate confirmation hearing, the former Exxon Mobil CEO was grilled mainly by Democrats on everything from climate change, to his business interests, to his stance on Russia and China.
Feb. 1, 2017 -- The Senate confirmed Tillerson's role in a 56-43 vote. A swearing-in ceremony was held in the Oval Office.
"This is where you were meant to be, right here, today, at this crossroads in history," Trump told Tillerson.
Rex Tillerson being sworn in as Secretary of State in front of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
REX TILLERSON EXPECTED TO STEP DOWN IN JANUARY
Feb. 15 - 17, 2017 -- Tillerson traveled to Bonn, Germany to attend the G-20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, markinghis first trip as secretary of state.
Feb. 22 - 23, 2017 -- Tillerson traveled to Mexico City to talk border security, law enforcement cooperation and trade with the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto and other Mexican officials, according to the U.S. Department of State. He was joined by John Kelly, who was then the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
March 15 - 19, 2017 -- The Secretary of State traveled to Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. In each country, he met with senior officials to discuss the nuclear and missile threat from the D.P.R.K. He also reaffirmed the United States' commitment to "further broaden and enhance" U.S. economic and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the U.S. Department of State.
March 30 - 31, 2017 -- Tillerson traveled to Belgium and Turkey. He visited NATO in Brussels after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials about how to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
April 9 - 12, 2017 -- Tillerson traveled to Italy and Russia. In Lucca, Italy, he attended the G-7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Later in Moscow, Tillerson met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other Russian officials to discuss Ukraine, counterterrorism efforts andbilateral relations, among other things.
April 28, 2017 -- Tillerson visited New York City to chair a special ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
May 10 - 11, 2017 -- Tillerson traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska where he attended the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting, an intergovernmental forum designed to address issues related to the Arctic region. Tillerson attended along with representatives from the eight Arctic States.
May 19 - 25, 2017 -- Tillerson accompanied Trump on his trip to Riyadh, Jerusalem, Rome and Brussels.
June 5 - 6, 2017 -- Tillerson visited Sydney, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand.
July 5 - 13, 2017 - Tillerson accompanied Trump to Hamburg, Germany, before going to Ukraine and meeting President Petro Porosheno, the State Department said. Tillerson later made stops in Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, meeting officials in those countries.
While in Germany, Tillerson was at Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G-20.
"The President opened the meeting with President Putin by raising the concerns of the American people regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election," Tillerson later told reporters. "They had a very robust and lengthy exchange on the subject. The President pressed President Putin on more than one occasion regarding Russian involvement. President Putin denied such involvement, as I think he has in the past."
Tillerson said that Trump and Putin "agreed, though, that this is a substantial hindrance in the ability of us to move the Russian-U.S. relationship forward."
Aug. 5 - 9, 2017 -- Tillerson went to several events including the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit Ministerial, in Manila, the State Department said. Tillerson later visited Thailand and Kuala Lumpur.
Sep. 13 - 14, 2017 -- Tillerson went to London for meetings on North Korea and Libya that were hosted by the United Kingdom, the State Department said.
Sep. 19 - 22, 2017 -- Tillerson had meetings and events in New York.
"On the margins of the UN General Assembly, Secretary Tillerson met with a number of his counterparts to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues," the State Department said.
Sep. 28 - Oct. 1, 2017 -- Tillerson visited China and spoke about topics like trade and "the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," according to the department.
Oct. 20 - 26, 2017 -- Tillerson took part in the first Coordination Council meeting with the Saudi and Iraqi governments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the State Department said. His trip also included stops in Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, India and Switzerland.
Oct. 2, 2017 -- Trump appearedto publicly chide Tillerson on his handling of North Korea. At the time, the president said Tillerson was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with the rogue country over its missile and nuclear programs.
Oct. 4, 2017 -- Tillerson allegedly called Trump a "moron" after a meeting with cabinet officials on July 20. The comments came after President Trump gave a controversial speech to the Boy Scouts of America in July. Tillerson, who served as the president of the organization from 2010-2012, was reportedly upset over the content of the speech and allegedly threatened to quit.
Trump later labeled the report "fake news."
TILLERSON BLASTS REPORT OF RIFT WITH TRUMP
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seated next to President Donald Trump on Nov. 20. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Oct. 4, 2017 -- Tillerson called a press conference to address the reports, but sidestepped questions about his "moron" comment.
"I'm not gonna deal with petty stuff like that," Tillerson said at the time. "The places I come from, we don't deal with that kind of petty nonsense. It is intended to do nothing but divide people and I'm not gonna be part of this effort to divide this administration."
He did reaffirm that he was not planning on resigning, however.
Nov. 4 - Nov. 16, 2017 -- Tillerson joined the president during his five-nation tour of Asia that included stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, the State Department said. Tillerson later visited Burma during his travels.
Nov. 30, 2017 -- Reports say that Tillerson is expected to step down in January.
North Korea and Kim Jong Un: Meet the known key players in the regime
North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into Japanese waters, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday. It was the first since Sept. 15 and one of many in 2017 alone.
As the country's missile and nuclear capabilities appear to advance, here's what you need to know about the known key players in the regime.
Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong Un is the current supreme leader of North Korea, rising to power after his father, Kim Jong Il, died in 2011. His mother, Ko Young-hee, was an opera singer who died in 2004.
Overall, little is known about the 33-year-old's early life. But he studied in Switzerland before returning to North Korea to attend the Kim il-Sung Military University in the mid-2000s, Michael Madden, the director of North Korea Leadership Watch and a visiting scholar at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS, told Fox News. The university, which is located in Pyongyang, the country's capital, is named after Kim Jong Un's grandfather.
"We don't know a tremendous amount about him [Kim Jong Un]," said Madden. "But we have a enough for a good picture."
Contrary to popular belief, Madden said the North Korean leader has a "relatively cool-headed personality" which serves as an asset. "He derives more power by being laid back and cool," as opposed to being reactive, Madden said.
From an early age, Kim's mother positioned her son to be her husband's potential successor. She pushed for him to attend military school, Madden said, where he was tutored by top North Korean officials in artillery. His schooling positioned him to be a top contender.
As for the leader's notorious missile program, Madden said the North Korean leader "views the missile program like a sports team." In other words, a sports team doesn't win every game, but learns from its losses -- and Kim Jong Un reportedly takes the same view point.
Kim Yo-jong
Kim Yo-jong is Kim Jong Un's sister. The 30-year-old has always been a "tomboy" with a "pleasant" personality, Madden said.
Like her brother, she also attended school in Switzerland at a young age, where she was once described as "sheltered" by the school's principal, according to Madden.
Despite North Korea's conservative and patriarchal society, Madden thinks that Yo-jong could easily succeed her brother one day.
"Kim Yo-jong has a bigger policy portfolio [than her brother], and is more powerful than we're giving her credit for," Madden said.
Indeed, in October, Kim Jong Un promoted his sister to a top decision making body, replacing her aunt as the Workers Party's Politburo. She also serves as one of Kim Jong Un's "closest aides," Madden said, and manages her brother's schedule, his bodyguards and meetings.
As the saying goes, she's an "iron hand in a velvet glove," Madden said.
Kim Sul-song
Kim Sul-song is Kim Jong Un's other sister and Kim Yo-jong's half sibling.
Sul-song is the only daughter from her father's "official marriage," according to Madden. Kim Jong Il was polygamous, but his official wife -- as result of a matchmaking by Kim Yong-il's father -- was Kim Yong-suk. Kim Yong-suk was Kim Sul-song's mother.
Sul-song, 43, is a "very powerful woman" who was a part of the regime's leadership cohort at one time. As of now, however, it's not clear if she's been "put on the side or is working behind the scenes," Madden said.
Sul-song once served as an interpreter and close aide to her father. She reportedly managed his travel logistics until about 2008, Madden said.
Kim Kyong-hui
Also known as Madam Kim, Kim Kyong-hui is Kim Jong Un's aunt, and the sister of his late father.
Madden described her as a "very powerful woman." Now in her early 70s with a shaky health record, Kyong-hui once was the director of the country's flight industry -- a title that "concealed her real power," Madden said.
Madam Kim served as her brother's closest aide, and was also in charge of the Worker Party's international affairs department, according to Madden. She once led talks with Israel in the 1990s when the country approached North Korea about buying its nuclear program to protect itself from Iran, Madden said.
Madam Kim, who was once married to Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong Un's uncle who was executed in 2013 for reportedly planning a military coup, also served as the executor of Kim Jong Il's will after he died.
Kim Yo-jong, who is reportedly very close to Madam Kim, often calls her now-retired aunt for advice, Madden said.
'"People close to her rose in status within the regime," he added.
Kim Jong-chol
Kim Jong-chol, 35, is Kim Jong Un's half brother. Unlike his relative, Jong-chol does not have an interest in the country's politics. Instead, according to Madden, he serves as a contributing writer to some of North Korea's state-run publications.
He's reportedly interested in music and films and has a well-documented affection for the singer Eric Clapton. He also has health issues, according to Madden, though it's unclear what exactly they are.
Ri Sol-ju
Ri Sol-ju is Kim Jong Un's wife and serves as the "first lady" of the rogue country.
Sol-ju is not "necessarily a powerful lady, but can influence his [Kim Jong Un's] opinion and actions," Madden said, adding that the country is "really positioning her as first lady" though what her role entails exactly is still evolving, he said.
"She softens his image," Madden said.
Sol-ju's father is a commander in North Korea's air force, Madden said, and her marriage to Kim Jong Un was the result of a matchmaking process commissioned by his aunt, Madam Kim.
Additionally, Sol-ju was once a cheerleader and singer.
Choe Ryong-hae
Though not related to the Kim family, Choe Ryong- hae, who's reportedly in his late 60s, was recently promoted to be the director of the country's organization and guidance department.
The department, according to Madden, is basically a "glorified human resources agency." It regulates party members and determines where North Korean citizens work.
Additionally, the department spies on the North Korean population, Madden said.
"His status has always been kind of questionable within the Kim family, and he's had multiple jobs. But he's mild mannered, and a 'yes man,'" Madden said.
Ryong-hae's father was a defense minister in the 70s and 80s, Madden said, and was also a member of the same military unit as Kim Jong Il. He reportedly has a good relationship with Madam Kim.
In the 1990s, according to Madden, Ryong-hae disappeared from public view and was accused of corruption for illegally exporting scrap metal to China -- a crime that would have led to his death. But according to Madden, Madam Kim made a "desperate appeal to not kill him." Ryong-hae was ultimately spared.
World Internet Conference to be held in Wuzhen
The fourth World Internet Conference will be held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, from Dec 3 to Dec 5.
White House releases 'explosive' tally of green cards issued in 'chain migration'
For the first time, the White House said, the federal government has counted the green cards issued between 2005 and 2015 to migrants admitted through family preference, or as immediate relatives of migrants already admitted into the country in perhaps the fullest portrait of "chain migration" ever developed.
"For years, we've known that large numbers of immigrants have been coming based on petitions from previous immigrants," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Cissna told Fox News. "But this is the first time we really kind of see the whole scope of the problem. And legislators or policymakers at DHS can do what they need to do address the problem."
During the ten-year time frame, officials said, the U.S. permanently resettled roughly 9.3 million new immigrants on the basis of family ties.
That's more than 70 percent of all new immigration in that period, the White house said, adding it is also the primary driver of low-skilled workers' entry into the U.S. A phenomenon analyst say most directly hurts American minority groups with comparable skills.
"These numbers are explosive. They show that American immigration skews almost entirely towards family-based admissions," said a White House official who briefed Fox News on the data.
Mexico is at the top of the list with 1.7 million admissions, India and the Philippines each have more than 600,000, and Iran has more than 80,000.
President Trump has urged congressional Democrats to address chain migration in any compromise on the so-called "Dreamers" immigrants brought here as children who will face deportation in March if a deal on their disposition is not reached.
Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia have proposed eliminating the preference afforded to extended and adult family members.
"We have current immigrants determining who future immigrants will do – will be, independent of their ability to be contributory to our economy," Perdue told Fox News.
The group "New American Economy," compromised of 500 mayors and business leaders committed to comprehensive immigration reform notes that 40 percent of America's Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children.
"Could we do it better? Should we have more focus on merit? Absolutely," said the group's Executive Director Jeremy Robbins. "But that doesn't mean in the least that we don't want to be reuniting families, strengthening communities and bringing more people here."
On Fox News Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed the President's call to end chain migration in exchange for any deal on DACA. McConnell explained that last year's Presidential election gave lawmakers a mandate to enact the pro-American immigration reforms that the President campaigned on. McConnell also warned that it would be "dumb" and political suicide for Democrats to shut down the government and endanger national security over unrelated legislative policy matters, such as granting work permits to illegal immigrants.
Fox News' James Rosen contributed to this report.
Trump weighs plan to oust Tillerson, put CIA's boss at State
WASHINGTON – After months of clashes on policy and personality, President Donald Trump is considering ousting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replacing him with hard-nosed CIA Director Mike Pompeo following less than a year on the job, senior U.S. officials said Thursday as turmoil within Trump's national security team burst into the open.
The White House plan, which Trump has not yet signed off on, would force a major realignment early in his term, also creating a vacancy atop the CIA that officials said could be filled by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas. The overhaul could produce a significant shift in both the tone and direction of the president's foreign policy, removing it from the understated former oil man whose style has never fit well with Trump's.
It is exceedingly rare for a secretary of state, America's face on the global stage, to be fired or to serve for a year or less. Nor is it common for presidents to have such a significant Cabinet revamp so soon after taking office. Too much churn could fuel the perception of chaos in the Trump White House — perhaps one reason he has yet to pull the trigger.
Tillerson's likely ouster, which was first reported by the New York Times, loomed awkwardly over an Oval Office meeting Thursday between Trump and the visiting Bahraini crown prince. Asked by a reporter whether he wanted Tillerson to stay on the job, Trump was coy, merely pointing out that Tillerson was in fact in the building.
"He's here. Rex is here," the president said.
Timing for any move was uncertain.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Tillerson's closest ally in the administration, simply brushed off the report. "There's nothing to it," he said when asked.
But White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn't deny it. She did suggest that no move was imminent, saying the president and Tillerson planned to "work together to close out what we've seen to be an incredible year."
Does the president still have confidence in Tillerson? "When the president loses confidence in someone, they will no longer serve in the capacity that they're in," she said.
Friction between the president and the nation's top diplomat has grown increasingly public through the year.
After a report last month that Tillerson had called the president a "moron," Tillerson was forced to appear before cameras at the State Department to pledge fealty his boss. Soon after, Trump publicly challenged his secretary to an IQ match.
For Tillerson, who left his job as Exxon Mobil's CEO, a premature departure from the Cabinet has seemed increasingly inevitable.
"There's been a Tillerson death watch since the spring," said Derek Chollet, a former State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council official in the Obama administration.
When Tillerson was tapped for the job late last year, many Trump critics expressed quiet relief that he'd picked a sober "adult" who could form a counterweight to the president's brasher, impulsive approach, especially on critical matters of war and peace.
Yet divisions on key foreign policy issues emerged quickly, and Trump has repeatedly undermined Tillerson by voicing positions at odds with those the State Department was pushing.
When Tillerson in June called on Arab nations to ease their blockade on Qatar, Trump emerged in the Rose Garden hours later to lambaste Qatar for funding terrorism. Trump also deemed diplomacy with North Korea a waste of time, when Tillerson was pursuing just that. Tillerson's advice to Trump to stay in the Paris climate deal and certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal was similarly overruled.
Pompeo, in contrast, has formed a tight relationship with Trump that's led to a role much broader than many past CIA chiefs. A former businessman and conservative Republican congressman from Kansas, Pompeo is at the White House nearly every day to deliver the daily intelligence briefing, a task often delegated to less senior officials. He sometimes stays longer to accompany Trump to other meetings. He shares the president's hardline stance against Iran.
Cotton, a top contender to take over at CIA, has been one of Trump's staunchest defenders on foreign policy in Congress. Yet moving him would create a Senate vacancy just as Republicans need every vote possible. Under Arkansas law, if Cotton steps down before next July, the state's Republican governor would appoint a replacement who would serve until the November 2018 election. If Cotton stays in the Senate, his current term doesn't end until 2020.
Cotton's office wouldn't comment other than to say: "Senator Cotton's focus is on serving Arkansans in the Senate."
Several administration officials said that Pompeo has said previously he's open to the job.
Tillerson's top priority as secretary has been his sweeping overhaul of the State Department, a "redesign" that has been lambasted by lawmakers from both parties and that the State Department concedes has hurt morale among diplomats. Still, Tillerson aides say he expects to remain in his role to see the overhaul through.
At the White House, meanwhile, frustration with Tillerson has mounted over what officials have described as Tillerson's aloofness and his slowness in filling key roles to carry out the president's agenda.
By September, the White House was telling some people that Tillerson would be replaced and some issues needing sign-off from the secretary of state were being put off until after he was gone, said a senior administration official, who like others wasn't authorized to comment publicly and demanded anonymity.
Tillerson's future came up in the Oval Office earlier this month at a meeting in which White House officials closest to the president agreed the Texan should go — and soon — said one individual who consults regularly with the administration. But Trump never signed off, and officials have struggled to focus his attention on the matter, the individual said.
No matter how long Tillerson is allowed to stay on, his stature and ability to speak on Trump's behalf has been impaired, it is widely agreed.
___
AP writers Zeke Miller, Catherine Lucey, Deb Riechmann, Stephen Braun, Bradley Klapper, Richard Lardner, Robert Burns and Darlene Superville contributed.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)