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'World will end in 12 years if we don't address climate change,' Ocasio-Cortez says

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress said climate change is her generation's World War II.

Model who alleged Russian meddling in US election tells Moscow court she will not publish Deripaska recordings

Anastasia Vashukevich, the model who recorded a former employer of Paul Manafort allegedly discussing US relations with a Russian deputy prime minister during the 2016 election, has promised in a Moscow court not to release any further recordings.  Ms Vashukevich previously claimed to have evidence of Russian interference in the US election from a fling with Oleg Deripaska, the metals magnate to whom Donald Trump's campaign manager Manafort reportedly promised private briefings, something Deripaska always denied. Video she uploaded to Instagram showed Mr Deripaska speaking on a yacht in 2016 with Sergei Prikhodko, a deputy prime minister and long-time aide to Vladimir Putin. In a separate audio recording, Mr Deripaska is heard discussing Russia's “bad relations with America”. The pair talked about the “issue with America,” Ms Vashukevich had claimed. After her Instagram posts were discovered in February 2018, Ms Vashukevich was arrested while leading a sex training seminar in Thailand, and Mr Deripaska successfully sued Ms Vashukevich for violating his right to privacy with her photographs and recordings. A Russian court ordered her to delete the posts and pay him £5,800 in emotional damages. She and her partner from the sex training received a suspended sentence for soliciting and conspiracy last week and deported to Belarus, their native country. On her way there, they were arrested in a Moscow airport on Thursday. They face prostitution charges carrying up to six years in prison. After being led by bailiffs into a glass defendant's cage on Saturday, Ms Vashukevich asked Mr Deripaska's forgiveness and promised no more revelations. Ms Vashukevich was deported by Thailand and arrested at Moscow airport Credit: Vasily Maximov/AFP “There won't be any more audio recordings about Oleg Deripaska,” she told journalists from a glass defendant's cage. “I won't compromise him anymore, so he can relax, really, I've had enough." She claimed that she was now subject to "fabricated" criminal cases in Thailand, Russia and Belarus. Ms Vashukevich declined to comment when asked by The Telegraph if the prostitution charges against her were related to claims of Russian election interference. The court delayed a hearing on her confinement until Tuesday after investigators said they didn't have enough evidence to make their arguments. Mr Deripaska has denied interference and said he never received an offer of private briefings. He is under US sanctions, but sanctions against some of his companies are set to be lifted this week despite controversy in congress. Mr Deripaska is seen speaking to Mr Prikhodko in footage posted by Ms Vashukevich Credit: Instagram The meeting on the yacht took place in August 2016 off the coast of Norway, according to an investigation by opposition activist Alexei Navalny. A private jet linked to Mr Deripaska had flown between New York and Moscow and then to Norway in the previous days, Mr Navalny found. Manafort, who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate with Robert Mueller's investigation into election interference, told a Russian acquaintance he could offer private briefings to Mr Deripaska the month before, according to emails seen by The Atlantic and other publications. Russia ordered YouTube to take down Mr Navalny's video investigation, but it is still available and has more than 8 million views. While in jail in Thailand, Ms Vashukevich claimed to have more than 16 hours of audio recordings and photographs providing evidence of Russian interference in the US election. She promised to provide the evidence if the United States gave her asylum. Miss Vashukevich in detention in Thailand  Credit:  JORGE SILVA/REUTERS Ms Vashukevich told CNN she witnessed Mr Deripaska meeting three Americans in 2016 and 2017 and said “they had a plan for the election”. She said she had photographs of one of the Americans with Mr Deripaska, but refused to name any of the men. CNN also reported FBI agents had unsuccessfully tried to see her in Thailand.

Fuller video casts new light on Covington Catholic students' encounter with Native American elder

The video presents a fuller picture of what happened between students from the all-male Catholic high school and Native American Nathan Phillips.

Russia opens civil cases against Facebook, Twitter - report

Russia's communication watchdog said on Monday it was opening administrative proceedings against Twitter and Facebook for failing to explain how they plan to comply with local data laws, the Interfax news agency reported. Roskomnadzor, the watchdog, was quoted as saying that Twitter and Facebook had not explained how and when they would comply with legislation that requires all servers used to store Russians' personal data to be located in Russia.

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:

Israel to open new international airport near Red Sea

Israel was to inaugurate a new international airport Monday in its desert south meant to boost tourism to the nearby Red Sea and serve as an emergency alternative to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport. The official ceremony was scheduled to begin at 11:30 am (0930 GMT) with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance. Initially Ramon Airport will handle only domestic flights, operated by Israeli carriers Arkia and Israir.

Meet the Women Who Protested the Women’s March

Women from various political and ideological backgrounds challenged the 2019 Women’s March by marching in protest and organizing alternative rallies near the Washington, D.C. event on Saturday. The third annual Women’s March took place in Freedom Plaza, a more confined space than in years past, suggesting that organizers anticipated smaller crowds after facing allegations of anti-Semitism and defending Nation of Islam’s anti-Semitic leader Louis Farrakhan. Following the development of those controversies, conservative group Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) organized a rally across the street in the name of “all women” at the same time as the Women’s March.

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.

4 Arizona Women Convicted for Leaving Water for Migrants

"If giving water to someone dying of thirst is illegal, what humanity is left in the law of this country?”

State of the Union 2019: When will Trump make the annual address to Congress and what is its history?

Donald Trump is currently pondering how to deliver his second State of the Union address to Congress with the US government mired in its longest shutdown in history. House speaker Nancy Pelosi asked the president to postpone his speech on 16 January and suggested he submit it by letter, a manoeuvre Republicans were quick to brand “political” and which appeared to provoke Mr Trump into denying Ms Pelosi’s congressional delegation the use of a military plane to visit troops in Afghanistan. The address is still scheduled for 9pm EST on 29 January at the time of writing, with the president tweeting: “Nancy, I am still thinking about the State of the Union speech, there are so many options – including doing it as per your written offer (made during the Shutdown, security is no problem), and my written acceptance.

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.

4 things to know about Senator Kamala Harris

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced she will run for president in 2020. Here are 4 things to know about the California senator.

Elon Musk gets green light to deliver Tesla Model 3 cars in Europe

Tesla has secured approval from regulators to sell its Model 3 cars in Europe, in a move that will bring it in direct competition with the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Peugeot in their home market. Dutch vehicle authority RDW approved Tesla's request to sell the most affordable of its electric cars on Monday, meaning that British customers can order the car from next month. Production of right hand driving vehicles, the standard in the UK, is not due to start until mid 2019. The announcement comes days after chief executive Elon Musk issued a letter to all of his employees, describing 2018 as "the most challenging in Tesla's history". In the same letter, Musk said he had "no choice" but to reduce full time employee headcount by 7pc and retain only the most critical temps and contractors.  "There isn't any other way," he said. Workers will now focus on producing a cheaper version of the Model 3 in an attempt to boost sales.  Shipments of Model 3 vehicles to Europe and Asia are expected to generate a profit for the company in future, Musk said.  Tesla's Model 3 is currently priced at over $35,000 (£27,200), has a range of 220 miles and a top speed of 130 mph. The model first went on sale at the end of 2018.  Tesla was forced to push back its production targets last year when it failed to hit the 5,000 vehicle a week target by the end of 2017.

At least 65 killed in Taliban attack on Afghan intel base: sources

At least 65 people were killed in a Taliban-claimed attack on an Afghan intelligence base, security sources said Tuesday, raising the toll substantially from 12 announced previously. Militants detonated a vehicle packed with explosives at the training facility before gunmen arrived in a car and opened fire. "We took about 65 bodies out of the rubble yesterday," Mohammad Sardar Bakhyari, deputy head of the provincial council in Wardak province, where the attack occurred on Monday in the latest blow to beleaguered security forces.

China population growth slows despite abolition of the one-child policy

China's population grew at a slower rate last year despite the abolition of the one-child policy, official data showed Monday, raising fears an ageing society will pile further pressure on an already slowing economy. There were 15.23 million live births in 2018, a drop of two million from the year before, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. With 9.93 million deaths, this led to a growth rate of 3.81 per thousand in 2018, a dip from 5.32 per thousand the previous year. NBS commissioner Ning Jize said population growth had peaked, but said the country still had huge potential. "China's labour participation rate is not considered low worldwide, more than 700 million of our 900 million people (of working age) are employed, and there is still room (for growth)," he said. Signs of China's falling population growth had emerged when data released by some local authorities indicated a significant drop in births last year. In Qingdao, a city in eastern Shandong province - one of China's most populous regions - births between January and November decreased by 21 percent to just over 81,000 compared to the previous year. Top 10 | Largest countries by population Still, China's total population rose by 5.3 million in 2018 to 1.395 billion people, retaining its title as the world's most populous nation. China for decades limited most families to one child - often enforcing this policy through hefty financial penalties - in a bid to control population growth. This was relaxed in 2016 when couples were allowed two children in response to concerns about an ageing society and shrinking workforce. China's workforce - those aged between 16 and 59 - was 897.3 million last year, a 4.7 million drop from 2017, NBS data showed. The workforce is on track to decline by as much as 23 percent by 2050.

Missteps in Mexican pipeline blast trigger new scrutiny of fuel plan

State oil firm Pemex did not close the gasoline pipe when first notified by the military, about four hours before Friday's blast, because it considered the leak "minimal," Security Minister Alfonso Durazo told a news conference. In the hours that followed, the leak grew and as many as 800 people brought plastic containers to the gushing duct, filling up with free fuel in what witnesses described as an almost festive atmosphere. Relatives of some of the victims said fuel shortages stemming from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's plan attracted people to the leak at the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline, a few miles from a major refinery.

Video shows Florida toddler walking towards police with hands up during her father's arrest

TPD said the toddler unexpectedly got out the pickup truck and imitated her parents, who were suspects, walking toward officers with her hands raised.

'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.

America's F-35 Stealth Fighter: The Ultimate Missile Killer?

The Pentagon wants to add F-35 stealth fighters to America's missile shield. But to have any chance at shooting down ballistic missiles, the F-35 might need a new weapon.

‘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.

The Entry-Level 2019 Porsche Cayenne Deserves Your Attention

Porsche’s base Cayenne will have you seeking out the roads usually reserved for sports cars.

The Latest: Bitter cold freezes US regions hit by storm

BOSTON (AP) — The Latest on the winter storm moving across the country (all times local):

House Democrats turbocharge committee probes of Trump

The little-noticed change, made since the Democrats took over majority control of the House earlier this month, will let staffers of House investigative committees take testimony from subpoenaed witnesses without a lawmaker being present. By eliminating complications with lawmakers' schedules, the change will let staffers work faster and range more widely, said former staffers and sources inside the committees that are launching several inquiries into Trump and his presidency. The importance of this was underscored, legal experts said, when attorney general nominee William Barr indicated last week that he was unlikely to release the final report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lawmakers in its original format.

AFP to cut 95 jobs, CEO says, scaling back initial 125 target

Agence France-Presse will cut 95 jobs over the next five years, 30 fewer than announced in October, without affecting targeted savings, CEO Fabrice Fries said Monday. Presenting a revised version of his "transformation plan" to employee representatives, Fries said the company would still save 14 million euros ($15.9 million) on wage costs and five million euros on other expenses by 2023. To achieve this, management will convert 15 of the current 175 expatriate postings into local jobs and realise savings through replacing senior employees with younger ones.

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.

Covington Catholic could expel students who taunted Native American man in viral video

Covington Catholic said it would take appropriate action against its students seen in a video taunting a Native American man.

Suspect arrested in beating of 88-year-old woman in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley

San Francisco police have arrested an 18-year-old suspect in the brutal beating of an 88-year-old great-grandmother in the city's Visitacion Valley neighborhood.

End the government shutdown. Let's make a deal on immigration.

Though Donald Trump wants permanent barriers but only temporary protection for 'Dreamers,' some difference-splitting could bridge the divide: Our view

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”.

United Airlines passengers stranded over 15 hours at frigid Canadian military base

United Flight 179 passengers leaving New Jersey were stranded for nearly a day in Canada and then sent back to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Flash freeze of melting snowstorm seen icing over U.S. Northeast

Plunging temperatures after a wet winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of the U.S. Northeast were expected to flash freeze much of the region on Sunday and make travel dicey during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. "Any water that remains on the road will freeze into a sheet of ice and make conditions quite hazardous," said Rich Otto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS). Sub-zero temperatures tied to gusting winds prompted the NWS to issue wind chill advisories and warnings for more than 10 states, from North Dakota and other parts of the central United States to East Coast metropolitan centers including Washington, New York and Boston.

'We Are All Stakeholders of Our Global Future': Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, Talks Change and Progress

"Big issues in the world cannot be solved by governments alone"

China promises Cambodia $600m aid at PM visit

China has promised four billion yuan ($588 million) in aid to Cambodia, the Southeast Asian country's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday on a visit to Beijing. The largest investor in Cambodia, China has pumped billions of yuan into the economy and has written off debt while sweeping aside questions over Phnom Penh's abysmal rights record. The four billion yuan grant will run from 2019 to 2021, Hun Sen said in a post on his official Facebook page, accompanied by pictures of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the day before.

The Latest: Death toll for Mexico pipeline blast rises to 85

TLAHUELILPAN, Mexico (AP) — The latest on the deadly fire at a Mexican fuel pipeline (all times local):

How to Use a Smart Speaker as Your Smart Home Hub

It used to be that controlling smart home devices such as smart thermostats, home security cameras, or smart locks involved pulling out your smartphone, opening up the app for each device, and ta...

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.

Prince Philip 'could be sent on driving awareness course' as police investigate crash

The Duke of Edinburgh could be sent on a drivers’ awareness course, it has emerged, as police continue to investigate a crash which left two women hospitalised. The Duke, 97, is understood to have no intention of giving up driving, having been photographed on public roads driving a new car less than 48 hours after the accident. He is understood to be complying with a Norfolk Police investigation, which will see him interviewed about what happened. Two women, aged 45 and 28, will also be asked for their recollections of the accident, after their Kia Carens collided with the Duke’s Land Rover Freelander on the A149 on Thursday. Both police and palace have emphasised that the investigation will be conducted in the same way as any other traffic accident, despite one of the involved parties being married to the Queen. That process would see him interviewed in the coming days, before police officers recommend whether to proceed with charging anyone involved. The scene of the crash, on the A149 at Sandringham The Duke has already passed an eye test as part of the investigation, celebrating by defiantly driving himself around the public roads near to Sandringham alone less than 48 hours after the accident. He was caught on camera driving in dark glasses without wearing a seatbelt, in a gesture that has been criticised by onlookers. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of the photograph. “Suitable words of advice have been given to the driver and this is in line with our standard response when being made aware of or receiving such images showing this type of offence.” The law states that drivers can be fined up to £500 if caught without a seatbelt. The Duke of Edinburgh drives the Queen and Barack and Michelle Obama during their visit to Windsor Credit: Geoff Pugh If the Duke was found to be at fault for the Sandringham accident, he could be charged with driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum penalty of nine points on a driving record and a £5,000 fine. It is thought unlikely that a prosecution would come to court. A police source said yesterday that non-royal drivers involved in a similar collision would more likely be offered a drivers’ awareness course, with improving their motoring skills considered more in the public interest than a court case. The Duke reportedly said "I'm such a fool" after being pulled from his wrecked Land Rover Freelander on Thursday after it flipped on its side following the collision with a Kia close to Sandringham. Witnesses claim he had told police at the scene he had been “dazzled” by the low sun at 2.45pm. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “As is standard procedure with injury collisions, the incident will be investigated and any appropriate action taken.”

Trump may have spoken to Michael Cohen about testimony to congress, says Rudy Giuliani: 'So what?'

Donald Trump may indeed have spoken to his then lawyer Michael Cohen about false testimony he delivered to Congress, and which is now at the centre of a seething political controversy, Rudy Giuliani has said. Last week, BuzzFeed reported that Mr Trump’s personal lawyer delivered the false information to politicians about the then candidate’s business interests in Moscow on the orders of the man who is now president. Democrats and opponents of Mr Trump leapt on the story, saying it showed the president had committed perjury.

Snow fallout: Airlines canceled more than 4,800 flights since Friday

Flight schedules appeared to be on the rebound Monday after a rough weekend. But only after 4,600 mostly storm-related cancellations since Friday.

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.

Staff fraud may cost China's DJI drone maker $150 million

Chinese drone maker DJI has placed 45 employees under investigation for alleged fraud that could cost the company more than one billion yuan ($150 million) in losses, the firm said Monday. The world's top civilian drone maker said in an internal memo that most of the employees involved in the fraud worked in the supply chain, and 29 were fired while 16 were reported to the police. The case is expected to involve more than 100 people and many people will be facing a sentence in jail, according to Friday's memo, whose authenticity was confirmed by a company spokeswoman on Monday.

Stolen Wedding Ring Found in Pawn Shop, But Its Dying Owner Still May Never See It Again

A 62-year-old stolen wedding ring has been found, but the ring`s dying owner still can`t get it back, and her daughter fears she may never see it again before she passes.

China's 2018 economic growth sinks to 3-decade low

BEIJING (AP) — China's economic growth hit a three-decade low in 2018, adding to pressure on Beijing to beef up stimulus measures and settle a tariff war with Washington.

Dodge Challenger to join electrification revolution

At the Detroit Auto Show this past weekend, Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley announced that the tides are turning towards hybrid electrification for the brand's iconic muscle car's powertrain. As emission standards continue to be tightened, automobile manufacturers find themselves needing  to develop alternatives to conventional powertrains, and muscle cars are not safe from the transition. According to The Detroit News, upcoming generations of Dodge Challengers are expected to go without their classic V-8, supercharged, 700 horsepower engines.

Researchers 'discover secret missile base in North Korea' ahead of Trump-Kim summit

Researchers claim to have discovered a secret missile base in North Korea that could distort negotiations during an upcoming summit between that country and the United States next month. The Sino-ri Missile Operating Base is among 20 undisclosed missile sites in North Korea, according to the new report from Beyond Parallel, a group sponsored by the defense think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The new report’s release comes just after a Friday announcement that Donald Trump “looks forward” to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February “at a place to be announced at a later date”.

Two feet of snow, -40 degrees possible as storm roars East

A blast of winter that dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Midwest grew more angry as it roared east on Sunday.