Syria conflict: Russia's Putin orders 'main part' of forces out

Source: BBC

In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to start withdrawing the "main part" of its forces in Syria from Tuesday.

He said the Russian intervention had largely achieved its objectives.

The comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the five-year Syrian conflict.

Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose office said in a statement he had agreed to the move.

The pullout was "in accordance with the situation on the ground", the statement said.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35807689

Germany says stolen Islamic State files 'probably genuine'

Source: BBC

Germany's interior minister has said stolen files detailing hundreds of recruits to the Islamic State militant group can be assumed to be genuine.

Thomas de Maiziere said the information could help with prosecutions of IS fighters, and help prevent future recruitment to the militant group.

Files obtained by German, UK and Syrian opposition media are said to identify IS recruits from at least 40 countries.

Some 22,000 names appear to be listed but most may be duplicates.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35773649

Hypocrisy thy name is Boris.

After all the hoohah about the BCC head having to resign Boris has been exerting his Goebbels like control over his own staff. And no he didn't stop it because he only just found out about it, he stopped it because someone let the cat out of the bag.

Boris Johnson says a memo instructing his senior staff to back him over the EU referendum has been withdrawn.

The London mayor, who is campaigning to leave the EU, said the email to deputy mayors and senior advisers was "a cock-up, and not something I agree with".

It told them to "either advocate the mayor's position or otherwise not openly contradict it".

The email was sent 24 hours before Mr Johnson accused pro-EU campaigners of trying to gag opponents.

It was sent by his chief of staff, Edward Lister.

Zaman newspaper: Defiant last edition as Turkey police raid

Source: BBC

Turkey's biggest newspaper, Zaman, has condemned its takeover by the authorities in a defiant last edition published just before police raided it.

Saturday's edition said Turkey's press had experienced "one of the darkest days in its history".

Turkish police raided Zaman's offices hours after a court ruling placed it under state control, but managers were still able to get the edition to print.

Zaman readers are protesting against the takeover outside the offices.

Unconfirmed reports say police have now dispersed the protest, numbering about 500 people, with tear gas and water cannon.


The paper is closely linked to the Hizmet movement of influential US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey says is a "terrorist" group aiming to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.

Mr Gulen was once an ally of Mr Erdogan but the two fell out.

Many Hizmet supporters have been arrested.

The government in Ankara has come under increasing international criticism over its treatment of journalists.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35735793

Channel 4's The Last Leg announces new website, brickingitforcanada.com

Where you can pledge a brick to build a wall between Canada and America. Within three hours of going on air it's on 338,824 bricks and is the number 1 trending hashtag on twitter. As Adam Hills said, "Americans aren't like other refugees, they eat considerably more, refuse to assimilate and are heavily armed."

http://brickingitforcanada.com/

Footage of possible meteor in Scotland

Source: BBC

Footage has been recorded of what appears to be a meteor in the sky over Scotland.


Police received a large number of calls after a big, bright flash was seen.

People took to social media to report seeing a blue, white or green light, with some saying they also heard a rumbling sound.

Driving instructor Bill Addison, from Buckie in Moray, recorded what appeared to be a meteor shooting across the sky on his dashboard camera.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35694170

Catholic priest Fr Stephen Crossan 'caught snorting cocaine in Nazi room'

From the BBC.

A Catholic priest caught on video snorting what appeared to be cocaine has taken leave from the priesthood.

Fr Stephen Crossan is reported to have sniffed coke through a £10 note on a night of drinking in July 2015 in Banbridge, County Down.

He was in a room with Nazi memorabilia and seemed to say "I shouldn't" as he snorted, the Sun on Sunday
reported.

The bishop of Dromore said in a statement that he had no knowledge of the incident.

It allegedly occurred in the parochial house last July after a party.


The Sun on Sunday said it happened at what was then Fr Crossan's parish home in the grounds of St Patrick's Church, Banbridge, in July 2015.

Father Crossan told the newspaper that he took the drugs but said: "It was just the one night and that was it."

A source said that a group ended up back with Fr Crossan after a party and found Nazi memorabilia including flags, hats and an eagle with a swastika on a plinth on his mantelpiece.

In his defence, Fr Crossan told the paper that he was no Nazi and that he collected historical items from every country.
He said he had been on sick leave with depression at the time of the video and said he had since left the Church but was being backed by the parish.

In his statement, Bishop of Dromore John McAreavey said that Fr Crossan had asked for and been granted leave from his pastoral duties at Seapatrick parish in May 2015. He said he had been receiving counselling and was considering his future.

At the start of February 2016, the statement said that the priest had asked for an extended leave of absence from the priesthood.

Bishop McAreavey said he was concerned for the priest's health.

Fr Crossan is no longer living at the parochial house.

Donald Trump's face appears in pie.

Iran votes in first key elections since nuclear deal

From the BBC

Millions of Iranians are voting in two key elections - the first since a deal with world powers over Iran's nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions.

Voters are choosing a new parliament and Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that appoints the Supreme Leader.

Reformists are hoping to increase their influence in both institutions, which have been dominated by conservatives.

The outcome could affect reformist President Hassan Rouhani's chances of re-election in 2017.

'Holy Grail' Beatles record to be auctioned

From the BBC.

An extremely rare and valuable Beatles record that was found languishing in a loft is to be auctioned next month.

Described as "a Holy Grail item", the 10-inch pressing of Till There Was You and Hello Little Girl lay forgotten in the home of Les Maguire for decades.

Maguire, the keyboardist in fellow Liverpool act Gerry and the Pacemakers, said it could be seen as the record "that sparked The Beatles' success".

The acetate bears the handwriting of the Fab Four's manager Brian Epstein.


A conservative estimate is that the 78 RPM record - the first Beatles disc to be pressed before the band broke through into the national charts in late 1962 - will fetch upwards of £10,000 when it is auctioned, although it is such a rare item it is difficult to predict what the sale price will be.


The record - labelled as being the work of "Paul McCartney & The Beatles" - was pressed at the HMV store in Oxford Street, London, and presented to future Beatles producer George Martin at the EMI record label in a bid to secure the band a recording contract.

Maguire, 74, of Formby, Merseyside, was given the disc by Epstein in 1963 after it had been returned to him by Martin.