The US is implementing an orderly withdrawal of its troops from Syria based on operational conditions on the ground, including talks with its allies, and with no arbitrary timeline, the Pentagon has said.
It asserted that it is implementing the withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US government.
"Operation Inherent Resolve is implementing the orderly withdrawal of forces from northeast Syria within a framework coordinated across the US Government. The withdrawal is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline," Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson said Friday.
The US will continue to provide support to the coalition's operation in Syria while withdrawing troops in a deliberate and coordinated manner in order to ensure the safety and protection of US forces. The United States currently has some 2,000 troops in Syria.
Last month, ...

Implementing orderly withdrawal of US troops from Syria with no arbitrary timeline: Pentagon

PTI Automatic

Actors Jamie Bell and Kate Mara are expecting their first child together.
According to Page Six, Mara, 35, told "Mary Poppins Returns" star Emily Blunt about her pregnancy at the recently concluded Golden Globes.
According to the outlet, Mara is five months along.
The "House of Cards" star and Bell, 32, started dating after they met on the sets of 2015 superhero drama "Fantastic Four".
The couple confirmed their engagement in January 2017 and later that year, they tied the knot in a Los Angeles ceremony.
Bell was previously married to "Westworld" star Evan Rachel Wood from 2012 to 2014 and the two share a son, who was born in 2013.

Kate Mara expecting first child with husband Jamie Bell

Children who experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are significantly more likely to attempt suicide in later life, a study has found.
The analysis of 68 studies by psychologists at the University of Manchester and University of South Wales in the UK showed that suicide attempts were three times more likely for people who experienced sexual abuse as a child.
People who experienced physical abuse as a child were two and a half times more likely to attempt suicide.
The research, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, also showed that children who experienced multiple abuse are as much as five times higher to attempt suicide.
As the people who experienced abuse as children get older, the risk of suicide attempts increases, researchers said.
People not in contact with mental health clinicians were found to be at the highest level of risk.
The sixty-eight studies were carried out across the world, producing about 262 thousand adults aged 18 years or older, who were ...

Child abuse ups suicide risk in later life

Oscar winner Brie Larson has reportedly called off her engagement to musician fiance Alex Greenwald.
The 29-year-old actor and the 39-year-old singer dated for several years, before they got engaged in May 2016.
A source close to the couple told People Magazine that they have decided to take a "step back" from their relationship but they "remain close".
Larson first publicly confirmed her relationship with the musician at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in 2013.
Greenwald was said to have proposed to Larson in Japan in 2016 and the actor had herself showed off her ring when she hosted the Saturday Night Live.
Larson is currently gearing up for the release of her Disney superhero feature "Captain Marvel". The film hits the theatres worldwide on March 8.

Brie Larson, Alex Greenwald calls off their engagement

Turkish media says two people were injured after a train hit a construction vehicle on an Istanbul suburban route.
The official Anadolu news agency said the crash on Saturday happened on a test run on the route near Istanbul's international airport.
The train crashed into a vehicle laying out the power line.
Photographs from the scene showed the front of the electricity construction car destroyed.
The agency said that two people stuck on the train were rescued. There was no information on their conditions.
In December, a high-speed train hit a railway engine and crashed into a pedestrian overpass at a station in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday, killing nine people and injuring dozens of others.

Train crash on test run on Istanbul suburban route injures 2

Anirban Lahiri played extremely well in the second round and yet came back only with a two-under 68 for the second successive day to be placed Tied 35th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Lahiri, who is playing his first event of 2019, is now four-under 136.
Lahiri could not complain about the quality of his hitting as hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation, but also missed a lot of putts. Lahiri had five birdies and three bogeys.
Matt Kuchar, who loves to spend in Hawaii whenever his schedule allows, shot a second successive 63 to move to 14-under 126 and leads by two over Andrew Putnam.
Kuchar ran off four birdies in five holes to start his second round Friday, handled the par 5s at Waialae again and finished with another round 63.
"To shoot 7 under back-to-back is unexpected, but awfully excited," said Kuchar. Kuchar was at 14-under 126, matching the lowest 36-hole score of his PGA TOUR career.
Putnam, playing in the afternoon, had a bogey-free 65 and was one shot behind. 

Lahiri shoots second straight 68, makes cut, as Kuchar leads in Hawaii

Actor Katherine Waterston says she has no idea whether she will be back for the sequel of Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant".
In an interview with The Playlist, the "Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them" star said she had no talks with Scott regarding the follow-up to the 2017 feature.
"I don't live in Hollywood, and I'm always usually the last person to know even what's going on in my own career. So, (I'm) probably not the best person to ask," Waterston said.
"But I did get some sense of where they thought they might like to take it when we were shooting Covenant,' and it sounded really interesting," she added.
The 38-year-old actor, however, made it clear that she would be "absolutely game" for more "Alien" films.
"But that's all I know. I'm sure they've changed their minds anyway. And there's been probably loads of different ideas going around and everything. But just in case I spoil something by talking about it, I wouldn't dare," she added.
"Alien: Covenant" and its predecessor ..

Katherine Waterston is clueless about 'Alien: Covenant' sequel

"Titanic" star Billy Zane has landed the role of veteran actor Marlon Brando in the new drama, "Waltzing With Brando".
The 52-year-old actor will play Brando in the film, which is based on 2011 memoir "Waltzing With Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti" by Los Angeles-based architect Bernard Judge.
According to Variety, the story follows how Brando plucked Judge, an obscure but idealistic Los Angeles architect from his stable existence and convinced him that he should build the world's first ecologically perfect retreat on a tiny and uninhabitable Tahitian island.
The project will also mark a reunion between Zane and director Bill Fishman, who last worked together on 1993 film "Posse".
Fishman will also pen the film's script. The shooting is expected to start later this year.
Zane also has two other films -- "Ghosts of War" and Van Ling's "Cliffs of Freedom".

Billy Zane to play Marlon Brando in 'Waltzing With Brando'

Actor Keanu Reeves says getting a part to play in Disney-Pixar's upcoming animated feature "Toy Story 4" was a "really cool" moment for him.
In an interview with Collider, the 54-year-old actor said he had "fun" while working on the Disney project.
"I have no idea but I got a call which was really cool, out of the blue from the lovely people at Pixar and the creators of this continuation of the story," Reeves said.
"They pitched the character to me and we spoke and they allowed me to, kind of, riff on it and I've done four recording sessions with them so far and it's been a lot of fun," he added.
Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear in the franchise, had revealed last year that Reeves has an "edgy" mystery role in the fourth installment, which is scheduled to release on June 21 this year.
Reeves, meanwhile, will be next seen alongside Alice Eve in sci-fi thriller "Replicas". The actor also has "John Wick 3: Parabellum", the third chapter of the highly successful "John Wick" series.

Really cool: Keanu Reeves on getting cast in 'Toy Story 4'

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here Saturday that India has witnessed a great deal of intolerance and anger in the last four and a half years which stemmed from the "mentality of the people in power".
Gandhi, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the second day of his maiden visit to the country, said India did not force one idea on the people and can absorb multiple ideas.
"India has shaped ideas and ideas have shaped India. Listening to other people is also an idea of India," he said while interacting with the students at the IMT Dubai University as part of his global outreach programme ahead of the general elections.
He said it was harder to make sports number one priority in India as the country faces bigger challenges like hunger.
"Tolerance is embedded in our culture. But we have seen a lot of anger, division among communities for the last four and a half years. It stems from the mentality of the people in power," he said.
"We don't like an India where journalists ...

Intolerance, anger reign supreme in India: Rahul

Actor Dwayne Johnson has disputed the claims that he called the millennials as the "snowflake generation" in a new interview.
The actor's comments were quoted in an interview with The Daily Star where he was also alleged to have said that the millennials were "putting us backwards".
Johnson took to Instagram to "set the record straight" and clarified that the interview was "100 per cent fabricated".
"Earlier today, online, an interview dropped with me, apparently it was with me, where I was insulting and criticizing millennials. The interview never took place. Never happened. Never said any of those words. Completely untrue. 100 per cent fabricated," Johnson said in a video posted to his social media page.
"I've gained such a great trust and equity with all you guys, all around the world over the years, and you know it's not a real 'DJ' (Dwayne Johnson) interview if I'm ever insulting a group, a generation or anyone because that's not me. That's not who I am and that's not what we ...

Dwayne Johnson says his 'snowflake generation' interview 'never happened'

UN President Maria Fernanda Espinosa will travel to Pakistan next week with an aim to strengthen the world body's ties with the country to promote multilateralism.
Espinosa will travel to Pakistan from January 18-22 at the invitation of the Pakistan Government, the United Nations General Assembly spokesperson said in a statement.
This will be her first official visit to the Asia-Pacific region since she took office in September.
Espinosa, Ecuador's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in June elected president of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, becoming only the fourth female president of the organisation in its 73-year history.
The General Assembly President is "looking forward to strengthening the ties between Pakistan and the UN, promoting multilateralism and continuing my work with Pakistan on the priorities for the 73rd Session of the GA."
During the visit, Espinosa will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as 

UN President Maria Espinosa to visit Pakistan next week

Peter Handscomb switched gears in time to score a fighting 73 as a collective batting effort from the middle-order steered Australia to a competitive 288 for five against India in the first One-day International, here Saturday.
Usman Khawaja (59) and Shaun Marsh (54) scored half-centuries for Australia who lost skipper Aaron Finch (6) in a slow start after electing to bat.
A late charge from Handscomb and Stoinis meant that the hosts scored 93 runs in the last 10 overs, 59 of them coming in the last five.
They added 68 runs off 59 balls for in their fifth-wicket partnership as Handscomb delighted the home fans with eight boundaries including two sixes while Stoinis hit two fours and as many shots over the ropes.
Spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/54) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/48) shared three wickets
between them while pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/66) accounted for two batsmen.
Sloppy fielding from India towards the end also helped Australia as Ambati Rayudu dropped Handscomb (on 67 off ...

Handscomb, Stoinis lift Australia to competitive 288 for 5

When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, no US ambassador was there to welcome him.
The post has been empty for nine months. The Republican donor President Donald Trump chose for the job, John Rakolta Jr., hasn't been approved by the Senate.
Trump has accused Senate Democrats of using the chamber's web of rules to sabotage his nominees. But Rakolta's selection illustrates the challenges of filling a high-level government position with a candidate from the corporate world who has no prior diplomatic experience.
The ambassador's office in the UAE has been vacant since March when Barbara Leaf retired from the State Department after a long diplomatic career. By comparison, Leaf was confirmed as ambassador in November 2014, four months after she was nominated.

With Trump's nominee in limbo, envoy post in UAE stays empty

Two insurgents believed to be tied to a motorcycle drive-by shooting at a school in Thailand's south were shot dead Saturday, police said, as UNICEF warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence.
Since 2004 clashes between Malay-Muslim rebels and the Buddhist-majority Thai state that annexed the area over 100 years ago have killed nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians of both faiths.
The conflict rarely makes global headlines but is a reality for residents of border provinces where security forces maintain a large footprint, aided by poorly paid defence "volunteers" drawn from local communities.
The four men killed in Thursday's shooting were all Muslims and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before lunchtime with students mere metres away.
Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP Saturday that two people with alleged ties to the school violence were killed in a shootout Saturday morning.
Though he .

Thai security forces kill two linked to deadly shooting at school

In a landmark decision, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Saturday imposed a levy of Re 1 for every litre of surface water extracted by companies selling mineral water and beverages, according to a media report.
The judgement was issued on a suo motu case pertaining to selling by the companies of water extracted from underground sources without any charge as well as the quality and fitness of the same for human consumption, Dawn newspaper reported.
The revenue so collected will used for construction of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
Authored by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, the judgement also required the provincial governments as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory administration to set up separate and distinct accounts to receive the amounts collected under the water charges, the report said.
The amounts will then be deposited in the dams fund already created by the apex court.
The apex court made it clear that the funds so collected would not be diverted in any circumstances to any 

Pak SC imposes Re1 per litre charge on mineral water, beverage firms

Scoreboard from the first One-day International between India and Australia at the SCG, here Saturday.
Australia Innings:
Alex Carey
c R Sharma b K Yadav
24
Aaron Finch
b B Kumar
6
Usman Khawaja
lbw
b R Jadeja
59
Shaun Marsh
c M Shami
b K Yadav
54
Peter Handscomb
c Dhawan
b B Kumar
73
Marcus Stoinis
not out
47
Glenn Maxwell
not out
11
Extras (B-4, LB-2, NB-2, WD-6)
14
Total (For 5 wickets in 50 overs)
288
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-41, 3-133, 4-186, 5-254.
Bowling: B Kumar 10-0-66-2, K Ahmed 8-0-55-0, M Shami 10-0-46-0, K Yadav
10-0-54-2, R Jadeja 10-0-48-1, A Rayudu 2-0-13-0.

SCOREBOARD 1ST ODI, IND VS AUS

Electing to bat, Australia posted a challenging 288 for five against India in the first One-day International at the SCG, here Saturday.
Peter Handscomb top-scored for the hosts with his 73-run knock while Usman Khwaja (59) and Shaun Marsh (54) also scored half-centuries. Marcus Stoinis remained unbeaten on 47.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Bhuvneshar Kumar took wickets apiece for India.
Brief Scores:
Australia : 288 for 5 in 50 overs. (P Handscomb 73, U Khawaja 59, S Marsh 54; K Yadav 2/54, B Kumar 2/66, R Jadeja 1/48).

Australia set India 289-run target to win first ODI

The human rights situation in North Korea remains "extremely serious", and along with international demands for denuclearisation, this constitutes a "a critical test" for the year ahead, a senior UN-appointed expert said.
Tomas Quintana was speaking Friday in his capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea during a press conference in the South Korean capital, Seoul, as he continued to be denied access to its northern neighbour.
"Of those who left the North recently that I interviewed during this mission, every person gave accounts of ordinary people being subjected to exploitative labour and serious human rights violations such as forced evictions in the name of development," he said.
"Stories were told to me of people, including children, being subjected to long hours of labour where they were forced to work without remuneration. One person concluded: "the whole country is a prison."
Quintana urged the North Korean authorities to engage with his mandate and ...

'Critical test' for North Korea as civilian suffering remains rife, warns UN rights expert

Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber Saturday said her confidence and motivation were sky high and her form good, but she is thinking no further than round one of the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Despite her reticence to look too far forward, the world number two is seen as one of the favourites for the Australian Open crown, carrying good momentum into the tournament after a stellar 2018.
The 30-year-old has the experience to make another deep run at Melbourne Park, having won in 2016.
"Now we have a new season coming, and the motivation is really high again," she said ahead of her first round clash with Poland's Polona Hercog.
"You know, for me it's important to be going on court and trying to make the transit from my practice sessions to the match ones.
"I was really working hard in the pre-season, and now I'm really looking forward to having the competition and playing matches again," added the German star.
Kerber fell to world number one Simona Halep 9-7 in the third set of an .

Kerber keeping Open expectations in check

The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump's row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.
The Democrats' refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.
As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks Friday.
The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.
Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.
"I'm not going to do it so fast," he said at a White ...

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