London fifth-graders sang All I Want for Christmas is You after Melania Trump added to their merriment by joining them to make wreaths and ornaments at a Salvation Army centre.
At the facility in the Clapton neighborhood of east London, Mrs Trump helped attach pine cones to a wreath covered in yellow tinsel.
She also helped US Marines put gifts into holiday-themed bags.
The first lady nodded in apparent enjoyment as the pupils serenaded her, then clapped and appeared to say "bravo" when they finished the song.
Mrs Trump also donated presents for the charity's holiday drive, including white baseball caps, white Frisbees and soccer balls all stamped with the logo of her "Be Best" youth initiative.
She gave the kids "Be Best" ornaments as gifts before she departed.

London children sing holiday tune to Melania Trump

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Pakistan has submitted a report to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on the steps it has taken to check activities of banned outfits and the seizing of their assets as it hoped that the international terror financing watchdog would extend the deadline of complying to its 27 action plans from February to June.
Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the Paris-based watchdog in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019, or face the risk of being placed on the Black List with Iran and North Korea.
The watchdog in October retained Pakistan on its 'Grey List' till February next year for its failure to take adequate action against money laundering and terror financing.
Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar on Tuesday said that Pakistan has submitted the compliance report before the joint group of the FATF.
"There will be a response from them and then (there will be) face-to-face meeting," Azhar, who is also Pakistan's team leader on FATF, was quoted .

Pak hopes FATF will extend Feb deadline

A Sikh man has been awarded over 7,000 pounds in compensation for being denied the chance to work at the luxury Claridge's Hotel in London over a "no-beards" policy.
A UK employment tribunal heard that Raman Sethi, a turbaned Sikh from New Zealand, was refused work by recruitment agency Elements Personnel Services Ltd a few years ago over a general "no pony tails or facial hair" policy of many of its high-end hotel clients.
However, Judge Holly Stout found that the hotels themselves had not been consulted to determine if an exception was made on religious grounds for Sikhs.
"The agency has not produced any evidence of their clients being asked about whether they would accept a Sikh working for them who could not shave for religious reasons," said Judge Stout.
"The possibility of clients making an exception to their policy for Sikhs for religious reasons had not, on the evidence before us, been explored," she concluded as she awarded the 7,102.17-pound compensation, 5,000-pound of ...

Sikh man wins compensation for being denied UK hotel job over beard

US President Donald Trump cancelled on Wednesday a planned final news conference scheduled for after the NATO summit, following two days of sharp disputes with allies.
"When today's meetings are over, I will be heading back to Washington," Trump tweeted.
"We won't be doing a press conference at the close of NATO because we did so many over the past two days. Safe travels to all!"
During his two days at the NATO summit near London, Trump has repeatedly engaged in lengthy question and answer sessions with reporters -- taking up so much time that his fellow leaders were caught on video mocking him.
But as the event drew to a close, he expressed anger at Canada's "two-faced" prime minister Justin Trudeau for the joking remarks and cancelled a previously arranged press briefing.

Trump cancels final NATO news conference

An outspoken former Chinese rights attorney has been arrested on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power", as the Chinese government continues to crack down on the country's rights activists and political dissidents.
Tan Yongpei, 50, who often criticised Beijing on social media including Twitter, was arrested on Tuesday in southern China, according to an arrest notice seen by AFP.
"He dares to say anything online," explained Tan's wife, Deng Xiaoyun.
That is why her husband was accused of inciting state subversion, she told AFP over the phone -- "it would be the easiest charge to give".
Tan "drew a lot of attention, and possibly retaliation, from the authorities for openly criticising and reporting high-level public officials", added Doriane Lau, a researcher at Amnesty International.
Tan, who was detained last month in Nanning, southern Guangxi region, often took to social media to comment on topics deemed sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party, including pro-democracy ...

Former Chinese rights lawyer arrested for 'inciting subversion'

The administrative body for the greater Paris region voted on Wednesday to reject the bids to build the aquatic centre for the 2024 Olympics because they are too expensive.
"The offers are of undeniable architectural quality, but they are all far from the financial objectives we have set for ourselves," said Patrick Ollier, the president of the Metropole du Grand Paris (MGP), which includes Paris and 130 surrounding municipalities, told a council meeting.
Three French companies, Bouygues, Vinci and Opalia have made proposals for a facility that will host water polo and diving competitions. Swimming events will be held in a temporary pool next door.
"We have until March, April at the latest to take a final decision," he said adding that they remained "strictly on schedule", even if the initial timetable called for the contract to be awarded in mid-November 2019.
The decision to extend the negotiating deadline was in line with the recommendations of a steering committee which also ...

Parisian authorities says bid for Olympic facility are too high

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan has been voted the Sexiest Asian Male of 2019 as well as the last decade in an online poll released in London on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old actor who has box-office hits such as 'War' and 'Super 30' topped the annual 'Sexiest Asian Male' ranking compiled by British news weekly 'Eastern Eye', based on votes from film fans around the world, heat generated on social networking sites as well as wider impact over the year. Roshan scored a double win as he topped the overall ranking for the last 10 years as well.
"I would like to thank everyone who feels so and has voted for me; I am flattered," said Roshan, as he stressed that he did not view it as an "achievement".
He said: "Just a person's looks are not relevant in the larger scheme of things. I don't judge people by the way they look. Similarly, I don't judge myself either by the way I look.
"What is attractive in a person is his/her story, journey and the way that person has dealt with situations in ...

Hrithik Roshan voted sexiest Asian male of the decade in UK poll

At least 18 Indians were among 23 people killed and over 130 injured in a horrific LPG tanker blast that destroyed a ceramic factory in Sudan, the Indian mission said here on Wednesday.
Sixteen Indians were missing after the incident that happened at Seela Ceramic Factory in Bahri area in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday.
The blaze sent large plumes of black smoke into the sky of the northern part of the in northeastern African country's capital.
"As per latest reports, but so far not confirmed officially, 18 are dead," the Indian Embassy said in a release.
"Some of the missing may be in the list of dead which we are still to receive as identification is not possible because of the bodies being burnt," it added.
Official Sources in New Delhi said 68 Indians were working in the factory.
"Deeply grieved to learn that some Indian workers have lost their lives while some others have been seriously injured," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.
"The Embassy representative ..

18 Indians among 23 killed in huge factory fire in Sudan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied on Wednesday he was avoiding being pictured with Donald Trump ahead of a UK election next week, as footage emerged of other leaders mocking the US president.
Johnson met Trump away from the cameras on Tuesday before a two-day NATO summit, avoiding the media fanfare that normally accompanies such talks.
He also failed to publicly greet Trump and his wife Melania on the doorstep of Downing Street before a reception with other NATO leaders.
Johnson's team are wary of what Trump might say during his two-day visit, with Britain set to go to the polls on December 12.
Johnson's Conservatives are leading opinion polls but the rival Labour party has sought to whip up public opinion against Trump, who is deeply unpopular in Britain.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the president promised to "stay out" of the election campaign and most of his remarks were about divisions within NATO.
But he still managed to endorse Johnson as "very capable" and ...

UK PM denies dodging Trump in pre-election NATO trip

The Dubai Economy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Visa to promote cashless payments and business growth through leveraging the global digital payment leader's loyalty and merchant support assets.
The two entities will co-operate to facilitate card payments and drive a cashless economy in partnership with merchants. The initiative seeks to bring on board businesses to offer incentives on card payments for in-store as well as online purchases while consumers will be encouraged to opt for cashless payments in Dubai.
Merchants can enroll in the programme free of charge.
The MoU was signed by Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of the Dubai Economy, and Shahebaz Khan, UAE General Manager of Visa.
"This MoU is part of our efforts to support consumers and merchants alike and help them build strong and mutually beneficial relations," Ibrahim said.
Under the agreement, the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector in Dubai Economy will provide Visa with the data of .

Dubai Economy partners with Visa to promote cashless transactions

Poland's agriculture minister says 21 wild boars have died as a result of an outbreak of African swine fever close to the German border.
The minister said Wednesday that the area is being sealed off with a 56-kilometer (34 mile) fence and local hunters have been instructed to eliminate all wild boar in the marked area, near the town of Zielona Gora.
Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski said the disease has not been found in livestock, but that the fence is to protect swine farms in the populous neighbouring province around the city of Poznan.
Earlier this year hunters eliminated some 270,000 wild boars in eastern Poland in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading from Ukraine.

Deadly swine flu outbreak breaks out in Poland near Germany

US President Donald Trump described Justin Trudeau as "two-faced" on Wednesday after the Canadian prime minister was caught on camera apparently mocking him.
"He's two-faced," Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit, saying he had called out Trudeau on defence spending "and he's not very happy about it".
Trump was speaking before holding talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after the 29 leaders of NATO countries met in Watford, north of London.
"With Trudeau, he's a nice guy. I find him to be a nice guy, but the truth is, I called him out on the fact that he's not paying two percent and I guess he's not very happy about it," he said, referring to an alliance commitment to spend two percent of GDP on defence.
Trudeau was picked up by microphones at a Buckingham Palace reception for NATO leaders on Tuesday evening apparently laughing about an impromptu press conference Trump did earlier.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson can be heard asking France's President ..

Trump says Trudeau 'two-faced' after microphone gaffe

Sri Lanka's foreign minister says the government has rejected a request from the Swiss Embassy to allow one of its employees to be flown out for medical treatment after a group allegedly abducted and threatened her to disclose embassy information.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said Wednesday that the woman has not made a statement to police about the incident despite repeated requests. Instead, he said, the government has received a request from the Swiss Embassy for permission to fly the woman out in an ambulance aircraft.
Switzerland says the woman is not able to give a statement because of ill health.
A court on Tuesday blocked the staffer from travelling abroad without making a statement to police.

Sri Lanka rejects Swiss request to fly staffer for treatment

While NATO leaders are professing unity as they gather for a summit near London, several seem to have been caught in an unguarded exchange on camera apparently gossiping about US President Donald Trump's behaviour.
In footage recorded during a reception in London at Buckingham Palace Tuesday evening, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen standing in a huddle with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Britain's Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
After Johnson asked Macron, "is that why you were late?" Trudeau could be heard saying "he was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top".
That appeared to be a reference to Trump's long and unscheduled question-and-answer session with journalists earlier Tuesday.
Trudeau also said: "You just watched his team's jaws drop to the floor."
Trump wasn't mentioned by name during the exchange.
Footage of the palace reception was recorded by 

NATO leaders appear to gossip about Trump in unguarded chat

Shubhankar Sharma, who has rediscovered his touch after a prolonged lean phase, will be among the many Indians looking to impress at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, starting here on Thursday.
A bogey-free 64 for a seventh-place finish at the Turkish Airlines Open last month bolstered his confidence, and the 23-year-old would look to continue in the same vein at the picturesque Heritage Golf Club here.
Turkey was the year's first top-10 result for Shubhankar, winner of two European Tour titles in the space of three months and one of the four Indians to have participated in The Masters.
"I am in decent form and hope to do well over the next few days," Shubhankar said on his way to practice.
Big names such as the seasoned Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapoor, SSP Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Rahil Gangjee, Khalin Joshi and Chiragh Kumar are among the other Indians competing in the tri-sanctioned European Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour event, which carries a prize purse of 

Shubhankar creates buzz ahead of Mauritius Open

Gabriel Jesus ended his eight match goal drought with a brace in Manchester City's 4-1 victory over Burnley on Tuesday and hopes this can spark him into emulating team-mate Sergio Aguero's scoring rate.
The 22-year-old Brazilian has got his chance to lead the City line, and will do so again in the Manchester derby on Saturday, because record goalscorer Aguero is injured.
Jesus -- bought for a reported ?27 million ($35 million) from Palmeiras in the January transfer window in 2017 -- said he is confident in his abilities as a goal scorer but just needs to follow 31-year-old Aguero's example.
Aguero, who is out with a thigh injury, has scored nine goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season and 173 in 251 league games overall for City at a rate of 0.69 per match.
"I know my qualities -- I know I can score," Jesus said after the match.
"I have to score when I play.
"Sergio scores every time. That is my ambition.
"I want to play and score every time."
Jesus said the victory was ...

Jesus aspires to rival City team-mate Aguero in scoring stakes

India dominated the taekwondo events of the 13th South Asian Games by clinching six medals, including three golds here on Wednesday.
Laitika Bhandari (under 53kg), Jarnel Singh (under 74kg) and Rudali Barua (over 73kg) won a gold each on day three of competitions.
Saurav and Gangjot clinched a silver medal each in the men's under 63kg and women's 62kg events respectively, while Chaitnya Inamdar bagged a bronze in the men's over 86kg category.
On Tuesday, the taekwondo players had won one gold and three bronze medals.

SAG: India wins 6 medals in taekwondo

The Indian men and women's kho kho teams claimed gold medals after defeating Bangladesh and Nepal respectively at the 13th South Asian Games here on Wednesday.
The 2016 gold medallists crushed the men's team of Bangladesh with an innings and seven points win and a scoreline of 16-9.
Deepak Madhav was the top-scorer for India with five crucial wickets for the team and stayed on the mat for more than two minutes.
"This is a very special win for the team. We entered the tournament with confidence and have followed the game plan to the toe. I am really happy that I could personally contribute in the medal win for the team," said Madhav.
In the women's final, captain Nasreen led from the front as she chased down five points while her teammate Kajal Bhor also made a vital contribution by claiming five more points.
The Indian team wrapped up the match 17-5 to finish on top of the podium with a innings and 12 points win.
While India won gold in both the categories, Bangladesh had to be ...

Indian men, women's kho kho teams win gold medals in South Asian Games

Pakistan's Law Ministry on Wednesday issued a notification appointing senior-most judge of the Supreme Court Justice Gulzar Ahmed as the new Chief Justice of the country.
He will take charge as the chief justice on December 21, a day after the retirement of incumbent Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. His tenure will end on February 1, 2022. The appointment was approved by President Arif Alvi.
Justice Ahmed was part of the bench which disqualified the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama papers case.
Born in 1957 in Karachi, Justice Ahmed enrolled as an advocate in 1986, and joined the High Court on in 1988.
He sworn in as the Sindh High Court judge in 1992. He has been serving as the Supreme Court judge since November 16, 2011.

Pak govt appoints Justice Gulzar Ahmed as new Chief Justice

France is to open a national bureau to lead the fight against hate crimes after 107 graves were desecrated at a Jewish cemetery in the northeast of the country, the interior minister said on Wednesday.
The daubing of swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti on the graves at the cemetery in Westhoffen around 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Strasbourg in the Alsace region was the latest racist attack to shock the country.
The office, which would be part of France's gendarmerie, will be charged with investigating this crime but also all anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-Christian acts, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said at the scene.
"The Republic itself has been desecrated," Castaner said after visiting the cemetery, which dates from the 16th century.
The Alsace region has suffered a rash of racist vandalism over the past year, most notably the desecration of 96 tombs at a cemetery in Quatzenheim in February, which sparked nationwide outrage.
The rising number of anti-Jewish .

France to open anti-hate crime bureau after Jewish cemetery desecrated

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday slammed plans by member states to impose drastic cuts on the EU budget, which could undermine defence and climate change ambitions.
"I am concerned about the severe cuts that are in this proposal," she said, referring to demands for austerity in a long-term budget plan from Finland, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency.
Von der Leyen's warning came a week before she unveils her Green New Deal, which would require a major spending boost in order to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050.
She said defence, protecting Europe's borders and "efforts to green the economy" would also be affected by the plans.
The EU is currently negotiating the bloc's 2021-2027 long-term budget plan, a process that has been made even more difficult by the exit of Britain, the EU's second-biggest economy and a major net contributor.
Member states have been intensely negotiating since mid-2018 on the basis of a Commission proposal calling for a ...

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