Trump to attend Atlanta title game with Kendrick Lamar set for half-time show
“We encourage and ask that everyone be aware of their surroundings while they’re in the city, and immediately report any suspicious activity, no matter how trivial it may seem to be,” LeValley said.Monday evening’s hotly anticipated all-SEC title game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama was already being treated as a high-level security event, so the president’s visit won’t imply much additional security, LeValley said.College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said the stadium already requires fans to comply with stringent security. He said he hadn’t heard from the White House about any additional measures as of Thursday afternoon.Kendrick Lamar, an outspoken critic of Trump, is scheduled to perform at half-time of the game just outside the stadium, prompting speculation the Compton rapper could fold some sort of demonstration into his performance.The performer referenced the Trump campaign’s alleged ties with Russia in a track from his most recent release, the critically acclaimed Damn, which is nominated for Album of the Year at this month’s Grammys. In The Heart Part 4 he says: “Donald Trump is a chump, know how we feel, punk / Tell ‘em that God comin’ / And Russia need a replay button, y’all up to somethin’”.The contest will be held in downtown Atlanta, in the congressional district of US representative John Lewis, a Democrat and a civil rights icon.Trump tweeted last year that Lewis’ district was “in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested)” – a claim hard to match with the facts. Atlanta’s economy is growing rapidly, and while crime and poverty remain higher-than-average, the district is home to several Fortune 500 headquarters, prestigious universities and the nation’s busiest airport.Trump’s tweet came after Lewis announced he would skip Trump’s inauguration, saying he didn’t consider him to be a “legitimate president” due to Russian interference in the election.Trump’s visit comes almost a half-century after President Richard Nixon attended the 1969 showdown between No1 Texas and No2 Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. After Texas won 15-14, Nixon visited with players in the locker room and presented Texas coach Darrell Royal with a plaque declaring Texas the national champion. The president thrust sports onto the front line of the culture wars when he targeted NFL players who have kneeled during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice during a speech in Alabama in September, challenging the league’s owners to release anyone who engages in the movement started last year by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The episode kicked off an unprecedented wave of protest across sports. Donald Trump has just started on his aim to be the only game in town Kendrick Lamar Share via Email Read more Topics Atlanta Share on Twitter US sports Since you’re here… Share on LinkedIn Alabama and Georgia prevail to set up all-SEC national championship game Read more Support The Guardian Share on WhatsApp Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the secret service and other agencies have prepared for this for months, so the addition of a presidential visit to the mix won’t disrupt the fun.“Enjoy the game, enjoy the city, and let us handle the details,” the mayor said.Special agent David LeValley, who runs the FBI’s Atlanta office, said although “there aren’t any specific threats against this event, we are actively assessing intelligence that comes in.” Precautions include the Federal Aviation Administration prohibiting aircraft over Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including drones.Both LeValley and Shields urged people attending the game and surrounding events, including a free, non-ticked half-time performance by Kendrick Lamar in nearby Centennial Olympic Park, to call 911 if they see anything suspicious. Donald Trump will attend Monday’s college football national championship game between Georgia and Alabama at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the city’s mayor promising a “safe, smooth and secure” event despite traffic problems expected to be caused by the presidential motorcade.The stadium will be secured by legions of undercover and uniformed officers, overhead air traffic including drones will be prohibited and the police chief implored the more than 100,000 participants in events related to the big game to leave their guns at home.“Please please execute the highest regard and greatest level of common sense. We cannot have folks continuing to bring guns and leaving them in their cars,” chief Erika Shields said at a multi-agency news conference Thursday on preparations. Reuse this content Share on Facebook … we have a small favour to ask. More people, like you, are reading and supporting the Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we made the choice to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay.The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time – from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard, explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in power.We hope you will consider supporting us today. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. Donald Trump College sports Share on Pinterest College football Share on Messenger
Transfers Batshuayi may leave Chelsea in January, says Conte Nizaar Kinsella Click here to see more stories from this author Chelsea correspondent Last updated 1 year ago 06:30 1/22/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Transfers Sevilla Antonio Conte Michy Batshuayi David Luiz Chelsea Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League The Blues boss admits that some of his players may be feeling the spotlight with potential moves available in the transfer window Antonio Conte is happy with Michy Batshuayi’s contribution after his improved display against Brighton & Hove Albion but says that the striker could be distracted by transfer speculation.Batshuayi is attracting strong interest from Sevilla to come in on loan, while Borussia Dortmund and Roma are also thought to be monitoring the Belgium international.Charly Musonda and Kenedy could follow him on loan in January to earn more game time, and Conte says he is happy with Batshuayi but thinks that the transfer market has the potential to distract his young stars. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player “No.9’s an important player,” Conte said at the Amex Stadium in Brighton. “I want a player to be a point of reference for our team. Today I’m satisfied for the work, for Batshuayi’s job.”For sure in this period it is not simple, it’s not easy for the players — especially for the players who want to go on loan. It’s not simple but at the same time in my head there is the idea to work with these players and to continue to work with all these players.”As I said during the press conference, I’m very happy to work with this group of players because they show me in every moment a great commitment, they show me they want to do what they want in the game.”Batshuayi is a Chelsea player and we are working with him very hard in the same way that we are working with [Alvaro] Morata, we are working with [Eden] Hazard, Willian and Pedro and now with [Ross] Barkley.”For me, Michy is a Chelsea player and in my mind there is the will to continue to work with him and to try to improve. Then I don’t know if the player decides to take other solution or if he wants to play with regularity.”You don’t know, it can happen. But at the same time in my mind there is tomorrow to continue to work with all my players and try to improve everyone. I think if you are in a team like Chelsea, before you arrive in this type of team you know you have to challenge and this is a big challenge.”You find a lot of good players. Otherwise you decide to stay in a medium team or low team and probably you can play every game. But I think that every single player that decides to come to Chelsea, they must be prepared to have this type of challenge.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea have a young player who is breaking the mould and earning game time in Andreas Christensen.The 21-year-old suffered a collision of heads with Brighton defender Shane Duffy on Saturday. He was substituted off in the middle of the second half after initially coming back on, but it is understood to be just bruising and not a concussion.Conte confirmed that Christensen would return to training as normal on Sunday as Chelsea prepare to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday.He also thinks Christensen could look to the man who replaced him, David Luiz, to improve his passing range.”I think from the start that Christensen has improved in a fantastic way,” Conte said. “I think there is only one word, this is improvement. Work, work and work. This player — despite he is a young player, he’s only 21 years old — I think he could be come a really important defender, not just for Chelsea. “The important thing is to continue to be humble, to continue with the will to improve, with the will to work, but I’m pleased with the improvement. I think he has to improve a lot with the ball.
“He has a lot of space for improvement, to have more personality like David Luiz. Luiz with the ball is important because he has great personality and in this way [Christensen] can improve a lot.”He’s ready tomorrow for the training session. The referee saw the head against head, and then he saw the player touch his head, and for this reason he thought not to force but to suggest a substitution. The player didn’t agree, but I repeat when you have a player on the bench like David Luiz and you’re winning 2-0, I prefer to make the substitution.”I was a simple contusion [bruise], and the player is OK. If we had to play another game now, he would be ready.”
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says the renaming of Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay will inspire generations of singers, musicians and cultural practitioners. “As we in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport continue to strengthen our musical heritage through the re-telling of stories, the celebration of our pioneers and the establishments of circuits where our people and visitors to our shores may experience the power of the heritage, it is my pleasure to rename Gloucester Avenue in honour of this cultural icon,” she said.“Tonight we hail the man Jimmy Cliff in a special way. Because of Jimmy Cliff we can all see clearly now the road ahead for a successful and highly prized culture and tourism product that is paved with powerful sounds and images pulsating with the sweet Reggae beat,” the Minister added.Minister Grange was joined in the renaming ceremony by the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, the Mayor of Montego Bay, His Worship Councillor Homer Davis, Mr. Charles Sinclair who represented Minister of National Security and MP for North West St. James Dr. Horace Chang and the honouree, Dr. the Honourable James Chambers, “Jimmy Cliff”.The Voice winner Tessanne Chin serenades Jimmy Cliff with a classic rendition of “Many Rivers to Cross” during the Civic Ceremony held in his honour to mark the renaming of Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at the Old Hospital Site in St. James. Also enjoying the moment is Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange. The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says the renaming of Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay will inspire generations of singers, musicians and cultural practitioners.The Minister was speaking at the official renaming ceremony of the popular stretch commonly called the “Hip Strip” on Thursday, March 28.Minister Grange said: “Reggae music was able to propel Jimmy Cliff from Somerton District to fame and name recognition from Brazil, to other parts of South America to Europe, Asia and the Home Continent of Africa. I know that the significance of this renaming exercise will have great impact on many of our aspiring talents and they too, in time, will be propelled to greater heights.Karen Smith serenades Jimmy Cliff during the Civic Ceremony held in his honour to mark the renaming of Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at the Old Hospital Site in Montego Bay, St James. Also enjoying the moment is Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange. Story Highlights Minister Grange said: “Reggae music was able to propel Jimmy Cliff from Somerton District to fame and name recognition from Brazil, to other parts of South America to Europe, Asia and the Home Continent of Africa. I know that the significance of this renaming exercise will have great impact on many of our aspiring talents and they too, in time, will be propelled to greater heights. The Minister was speaking at the official renaming ceremony of the popular stretch commonly called the “Hip Strip” on Thursday, March 28. The renaming of the “Hip Strip” to Jimmy Cliff Boulevard signals the start of a greater thrust to improve the cultural landscape of western Jamaica through a partnership between the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Ministry of Tourism.The Government of Jamaica is at an advanced stage of planning to build or refurbish facilities in the western city to create more spaces for cultural expressions and leisure activities. The projects include a series of entertainment centres to be named in honour of the country’s cultural legends as well as a first world concert hall..Following the official unveiling of the sign that now stands at the entrance of the Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, there were performances by a number of acts including Karen Smith, Dean Fraser, Dwight Richards, Richie Spice and Tessanne Chin.
The Australian mining industry’s determination to reach its goal of zero harm is reflected in the latest safety performance statistics released by the Queensland Government and reported by the Queensland Resources Council. Lost time injury frequency rates for the State of Queensland fell again from 3.8 to 2.9 injuries per million hours worked in 2010-2011. Days lost to injuries were down from 14,325 days to 11,027 days while the lost time injury plus disabling injury duration rate fell from 34.4 days to 27.4 days per injury.Overall, the severity rate for lost time injury plus disabling injury also fell from 311 days in 2009-2010 to 230 days lost per million hours worked. However, Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche says that the three fatalities that occurred during the year were still three too many. “Two of the fatalities were vehicle-related accidents at surface coal mines while the third resulted from an earth collapse on a small opal claim. All were tragedies for their families, friends and work mates. However, I’m pleased to see the government’s assistance with the safety of people working in small operations such as opals and gems through its small mines initiative. And, QRC is actively involved in development of proximity detection systems to reduce the risk of vehicle-related accidents. The huge attendance at our Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conferences run annually in Townsville by the industry, government and unions is evidence of our joint commitment to the safety of our employees. Queensland’s mining industry continues to rank among the safest in the world, and this is in no small part to the work being undertaken to continuously improve health and safety regulation in Queensland.”
30% de naissances prématurées en plus dans les villes à cause de la pollution Selon une récente étude américaine, les femmes enceintes qui vivent dans de grandes villes ont trois fois plus de chance d’accoucher prématurément à cause de la pollution de l’air. A l’heure où les scientifiques tirent régulièrement la sonnette d’alarme au sujet de la pollution urbaine, c’est une découverte préoccupante qu’ont confirmée des chercheurs de l’université de Californie. Selon leurs travaux publiés dans la revue Environmental Health, le taux de naissance prématurée serait 30% plus important dans les villes, à cause de la pollution et des produits chimiques qui la constituent. À lire aussiToxoplasmose : symptômes, traitement, grossesse, quels sont les risques ?Pour arriver à une telle conclusion, les chercheurs ont observé 100.000 naissances situées dans un rayon de 8 kilomètres autour des stations de surveillance de qualité de l’air dans l’Etat de Californie. Etat qui comprend la ville de Los Angeles, célèbre pour sa pollution liée au trafic automobile. Ils ont ainsi constaté que la concentration des polluants était plus importante en hiver qu’en été et que les villes côtières présentaient un air plus sain que celles dans les terres. Mais concernant les naissances, ils ont établi, grâce à leurs données, que les futures mères qui habitaient dans les grandes villes avaient 3 fois plus de chances d’accoucher prématurément et ce, à cause de plusieurs substances chimiques.En effet, le Dr Beat Ritz et son équipe ont considéré plusieurs polluants : les hydrocarbures polycycliques aromatique (HPA) issus de différentes sources dont les émanations de la circulation, les nitrates d’ammonium dérivant de l’agriculture et de l’industrie, le benzène ou encore les particules des émanations de diesel. “Certains de ces polluants sont spécifiques à certaines régions, et liés à l’industrie et à l’urbanisation. Néanmoins, une exposition d’ensemble à ces polluants critiques, tels que les HPA, résulte en une augmentation de 30% du risque de naissance prématurée. D’autres substances toxiques, comme le benzène ou les particules fines issues des émanations de diesel sont associées à une hausse de 10% du risque, tandis que celle liée aux particules de nitrate d’ammonium est de 21%”, détaille le docteur Beat Ritz cité par le Daily mail. Mais outre le risque de prématurité, les résultats ont également montré que ces polluants avaient un impact sur le poids des bébés et sur leur santé en général alors qu’ils sont encore dans le ventre de leur mère. Le 7 octobre 2011 à 11:28 • Maxime Lambert
Now playing: Watch this: Roku Roku has added HBO, one of most popular streaming channels in the US, to its devices’ Roku Channel, the company said Thursday, The Roku Channel gathers your subscriptions in one app and personalizes recommendations across them and a library of free stuff, so you can stream programming from several different services without having to switch between apps. The Roku Channel is also what Roku users can expect their home screen to become one day. Roku, the most popular streaming-TV player in the US, has stuck with its distinctive grid of channel tiles since 2013. But the company is planning to replace its home screen with a different interface, and it’s using the Roku Channel as its sandbox to develop it. For now, the addition of HBO means people can sign up for HBO’s streaming service with their Roku account. And anybody who is a subscriber can search and watch HBO shows and movies from The Roku Channel app. You could switch from watching Game of Thrones to a program on Showtime or a free movie without having to flip to different app. (Note: Showtime is owned by CBS, the parent company of CNET.)In what’s probably not a coincidence, Roku’s announcement comes days before the start of season 8 of Game of Thrones, HBO’s runaway hit, for its last season. TV and Movies Media Streamers Digital Media Share your voice Roku 3:20
Comment Which Roku player should you buy? Tags 1
A North Pole senator has introduced a bill that would require Alaska’s doctors to determine whether a fetus could survive outside of the womb before performing abortions.The bill would add viable fetuses to the state’s Child in Need of Aid laws and allow for them to be surrendered to the doctor or hospital employee where the abortion is performed if the woman is unwilling or unable to care for it.Republican Sen. John Coghill says he introduced the bill because he believes abortion is both a moral and legal issue.
India adopted a stern inflation target on Friday to balance its problem of shooting prices within a thriving economy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monitored target figure was brought down to a tougher four percent from the existing six percent.The RBI will aim to keep consumer price inflation (CPI) at four percent through 2021, plus or minus two percent, minister of state for finance, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said in a statement to the Rajya Sabha.As the country clocks good GDP numbers also, thereby, pushing up its inflationary indicators, RBI’s tool on inflation target is back in focus. With both its wholesale (WPI) and retail inflation (CPI) hitting nearly two year high in recent months, to target them formally is becoming inevitable.RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan since occupying office has shifted the bank’s focus to address retail inflation from the earlier WPI. Just before his term ends in September, he has also mooted a six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) to propose such an inflation targeting number.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) defines inflation targeting as a medium term numerical target which the country’s central bank publicly commits to achieve through its monetary policies. However, each country seeks to adopt this number but with foresight not to affect employment and economic growth (like in the U.S.) or to maintain price stability (like the U.K.)Inflation target cumbersomeInflation targeting in India is mostly driven by the need to maintain price stability. Yet, India’s problem was unlike that of any other country to it to be adopted formally, Duvvuri Subbarao, former Governor of RBI, told PTI.He added that the country’s peculiarities were many like high fiscal deficits, administered interest rates on small savings, illiquid bond markets and poor monetary policy transmission and others.With inflation target number now subject to parliamentary control, he questioned the guarantee with which the government would support fiscal responsibility or inflation-targeting. “Won’t all of these become hostage to fiscal dominance?” Subbarao asks in his book ‘Who moved my interest rate’, reported the agency.Growth pangsAs a corollary, inflation targeting with price stability in mind has often raised concerns of holding back growth in the economy. Excessive focus on inflation in each of RBI’s bi-monthly monetary policies could straitjacket interest rates, thereby curbing credit growth and slowing industrial activity, say experts.Subbarao noted that India’s inflation was driven more by oil and food prices, which emerge mostly from supply side constraints, and a monetary policy tool with only relative control on demand side pressures may not be of help there.
Ebix, international supplier of software and e-commerce services, has bought online travel platform Yatra for Rs 2,323.6 crore. The transaction will close by the fourth quarter of this year. Yatra will continue to function independently after the completion of the deal.According to the filing with Nasdaq stock exchange, the deal is structured as a merger under a mutual agreement between the companies where Ebix will be acquiring all the ordinary shares of Yatra. The filing also stated that after the completion of the transactions; Yatra will be a part of the EbixCash travel group alongside Via and Mercury. It will also retain its working brand name after the acquisition. The online booking platformAs per the deal, each Yatra shareholder owning ordinary shares will receive 0.005 shares of preferred stocks in Ebix. On the other hand, the preferred stock received by Ebix from individual Yatra ordinary shares can be converted to 20 shares of common stock in the company.Robin Raina, Chairman, President and CEO of Ebix, said that the acquisition will help the online portal gain exposure to synergies and also will help EbixCash become one of the most profitable travel services company.Yatra co-founder and CEO, Dhruv Shringi, told Economic Times that he feels positive about the acquisition as the Ebix travel portfolio will diversify its work culture and provide them better resources to become the leader in the travel marketplace. He also added that the company will provide more options and enhance the experience for its customers by collaborating with airlines, hotel, car rental and other branches of their businesses. Yatra Online logo
Enroll Now for Free This story originally appeared on PCMag Boeing just took a major step toward making the dream of flying cars a reality.On Tuesday in Manassas, Virginia, the aerospace company completed the first test of a flying car prototype it hopes will one day soar across the sky over busy city streets, shuttling humans. Designed and developed by Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, the autonomous passenger air vehicle prototype can take off, hover, and land vertically, as it proved this week.BREAKING: It’s another first for us. Along with @AuroraFlightSci we’ve successfully tested our passenger air vehicle. We continue our progress towards a safe and sustainable urban mobility ecosystem. #TheFutureIsBuiltHere pic.twitter.com/hwuw4d5jmz— The Boeing Company (@Boeing) January 23, 2019″In one year, we have progressed from a conceptual design to a flying prototype,” Boeing Chief Technology Officer Greg Hyslop said in a statement.The 30-foot long, 28-foot-wide prototype is designed to fly completely autonomously from takeoff to landing. Powered by an electric propulsion system, it has a range of up to 50 miles.”This is what revolution looks like, and it’s because of autonomy,” Aurora Flight Sciences President and CEO John Langford said in a statement. “Certifiable autonomy is going to make quiet, clean, and safe urban air mobility possible.”During Tuesday’s test flight, Boeing verified the vehicle’s autonomous functions and ground control systems. Going forward, Boeing plans to test its ability to transition between vertical and forward-flight modes, which the company said is “typically the most significant engineering challenge for any high-speed VTOL [vertical takeoff and landing] aircraft.”The new milestone comes after Boeing last year completed the first indoor test flight of an unmanned, fully electric cargo air vehicle designed to transport up to 500 pounds. The company plans to test that vehicle outdoors this year.Meanwhile, Boeing isn’t the only company working on flying cars. Uber in 2017 showed off a personal flying pod, and Google’s Larry Page last year revealed Cora, his prototype air taxi. At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, three companies, including Audi and Porsche, unveiled flying car concepts. This hands-on workshop will give you the tools to authentically connect with an increasingly skeptical online audience. 2 min read Free Workshop | August 28: Get Better Engagement and Build Trust With Customers Now January 24, 2019
Top Stories New high school in Mesa lets students pick career paths More Valley freeways to be closed this weekend for improvements ____Associated Press writer Emrah Betos contributed to this report.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Associated PressISTANBUL (AP) – One Turkish journalist detained in Syria is a devout Muslim who was on a Gaza-bound aid ship targeted in an Israeli raid in 2010, and reported being wounded by American bombing on a trip to Afghanistan. His cameraman is a film school student who, ahead of his Syria trip, ducked his father’s disapproval by claiming he was headed to Italy.Adem Ozkose, 34, and Hamit Coskun, 21, are expected to be released after negotiations reflecting the opaque blend of regional rivalry and cooperation between Turkey, a foe of Syria’s regime, and Iran, a staunch supporter of Damascus. The Syrian government is struggling to crush an opposition movement that is increasingly retaliating with armed strikes. “God willing, we will be back home in the nearest time possible, thanks to everyone who prayed for us,” Ozkose, stocky and bearded, says in the video.“Today is the happiest day of my life,” says Coskun, who has shoulder-length hair. Both men look healthy.IHH operated the boat on which nine activists died in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Palestinian-held Gaza in 2010, triggering an international uproar. Ozkose photographed bloodied Israeli commandos who were briefly held by the passengers, and said he was hit and handcuffed by Israelis.In a speech posted on YouTube, Ozkose also discusses an earlier reporting trip to Afghanistan in which an insurgent leader near him is killed by American bombing, and he is injured in the arm. He recalled saying: `”God, please accept this. God willing, this blood is for you.”`According to Dunya Bizim, an Islamic website, Ozkose spoke in 2010 at an Istanbul memorial service for Rachel Corrie, an American protester run over by an Israeli army bulldozer in Gaza in 2003. “If I were not a journalist, I’d be a jihadist,” or holy warrior, Ozkose said.Turkish media reported that Ozkose and Coskun are expected to appear in a Syrian court on charges of illegal trespassing prior to their likely release. Editors at Milat newspaper were apprehensive that Syria might seek concessions, possibly by asking for the handover of wanted Syrians in Turkey in exchange for the journalists. Meghan McCain to release audiobook on conservatism, family The difference between men and women when it comes to pain Syria curbed outside media access except for a few official tours, and international journalists periodically slipped into the country, several dying in efforts to cover the uprising. Ozkose, a reporter for Milat, a startup Turkish newspaper with an Islamic background that prints 10,000 copies daily, crossed the border with Coskun, a freelancer, and a budget of $2,000.On March 10, Ozkose, who had previously lived in Syria, called his editors from Idlib, a northern province, at a time when Syrian forces with tanks and artillery were preparing to move against poorly armed rebels there.`”We’re going to follow the demonstration here, and we’ll report something soon,”` Turgut Alp Boyraz, foreign editor at Milat, cited Ozkose as saying. That was the last the paper heard from him until the two journalists made brief phone calls from Syrian detention to their families on May 5.However, Iran was acting as diplomatic go-between between Syria and Turkey, which has shut its embassy in Syria and wants President Bashar Assad to resign for attacking population centers. On Friday, a Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet Daily News, cited an unnamed Iranian diplomat as saying a deal had been struck for the release of the two men.
“We don’t want them to be used in any negotiations. This is against international law,” news coordinator Ibrahim Sarp said in an interview in his office. He said he believed the Syrian chaos masked a deeper conflict pitting Iran against Turkey and its Western allies.Milat, which roughly translates in Turkish as “birth” or “beginning,” started publishing in October and stands outside the mainstream of big media outlets owned by Turkey’s business conglomerates. Ozkose also worked for its sister magazine, Gercek Hayat, and he and Coskun planned to film a Syrian documentary for Hilal TV, an Islamic channel.Deniz Ergurel, secretary-general of the Media Association, a non-profit group that promotes media reform in Turkey, described Milat’s readership as particularly interested in political Islam and regional upheavals.In an interview last year with Kokludegisim, an Islamic magazine, Ozkose said people in the region wanted freedom and that “the future belongs to the Islamic movement” if it seizes the opportunity.“The Arabic youth don’t mean liberty as in Western-style liberty. They rise up against dictatorship, for a free place where intellectuals can speak the truth without fear. They want to observe their own faith without any difficulty,” he said. 5 things to look for when selecting an ophthalmologist Think Tank analyzes the second round of Democratic debates Sponsored Stories Comments Share As in Syria, Turkey and Iran back opposing factions in Iraq in what some analysts call a proxy conflict tinged with sectarian tension. Turkey’s role as a NATO member troubles Iran, whose nuclear program alarms the West. Yet the regional heavyweights have close business ties and keep their public diplomacy civil.Iran sought Turkish help this year in releasing Iranian pilgrims who were detained by the Syrian opposition, and Turkey “made efforts to contact some people on the ground” to secure their freedom, a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.After Ozkose and Coskun were seized by pro-government groups in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu raised the case in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi.According to the Turkish official, Davutoglu essentially said: `”If you have any influence on the Syrians, it’s time to show it … it’s better for you to take some steps.”`A recent video showing envoys from an Islamic aid group, known by its Turkish acronym IHH, with the journalists in Damascus offered the first public images of the pair since they disappeared two months ago. How do cataracts affect your vision?