White House goes to war with the press over dubious claims about crowd

President Donald Trump's top officials stood defiant for a second day in the face of withering media criticism over dubious White House claims about the size of Trump's inauguration.

During a visit to CIA headquarters in Virginia on Saturday, Trump asserted that there were over a million people at Friday's inauguration, though independent estimates put the crowd at closer to 250,000 attendees.

There are no official government estimates of the crowd size, but photographic evidence comparing Trump's inauguration to past inaugurations and metro ridership statistics suggested that the number was far lower than the White House claimed.

But Trump officials refused to admit Trump made factual inaccuracies or exaggerations, instead taking aim at the media.

Samsung announces what caused the Galaxy Note 7 to overheat and explode

Samsung says bad battery design and a rush to release an updated version of the Galaxy Note 7 caused some of the devices to overheat and explode in a new report the company released Sunday night.

Samsung said in the report that two separate battery malfunctions caused some Note 7 phones to overheat and even catch fire in some cases.

The first problem affected the first batch of Note 7 phones that launched last fall. In those phones, the battery was too large for the casing of the phone, which caused some to overheat, according to Samsung's report.

After Samsung recalled the initial batch of Note 7 phones, it manufactured the phone with a battery from a different supplier. But Samsung was in a rush to get the new phones out, and the new battery produced by the supplier had a defect that also caused it to overheat, the report said.

In the end, Samsung ended up recalling all Note 7 phones and canceled the product altogether.

I know what it’s like to be told by your teacher that you’ll never amount to anything - T.I Writes new Open letter

Rapper T.I. recently issued an open letter to former President Obama and a second letter to Donald Trump.
Now he has released his third letter, and this time the letter has been issued to US. Each of the letters were inspired by his latest musical projects, “US or Else,” and “Us or Else: Letter to the System.”
Read after the cut....

MLB star, Yordano Ventura dies in car accident at 25

25 years old Royals pitcher and Major League Player, Yordano Ventura has died. According to Cristian Moreno of ESPN, he died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic early this morning Jan. 22nd. His team, The Royals have since confirmed Ventura’s death, according to MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan.

Ventura made his debut for the Royals in 2013 and was immediately known for his fastball. Sadly, he is the second major league player who has died over the past five months. Former Marlins ace Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident on September 25, 2016.

14 people killed as severe weather strikes Georgia

Catherine Howden, the spokeswoman for Georgia Emergency Management Agency confirms that 14 people were killed in a severe weather that struck southern Georgia in the overnight hours of Saturday into Sunday. She said the agency was working to assess the damage but she also confirms that at least two of the deaths occured in Brooks County.

Trump discusses Iran threats, White House visit with Israel's Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump Sunday discussed threats from Iran with Benjamin Netanyahu, inviting the Israeli prime minister to visit the White House early next month.

The two leaders spoke by telephone and "agreed to continue to closely consult on a range of regional issues, including addressing the threats posed by Iran," the White House said in a statement, signalling the new administration's tougher line on Tehran.

The statement also said that Trump invited Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House."

Israel approved hundreds of new settler homes in east Jerusalem Sunday hours before the telephone call, which an Israeli statement described as "very warm".

But a potentially explosive plan to annex a large West Bank Jewish settlement unilaterally was shelved until after Netanyahu and Trump meet.

Ex-President Yahya Jammeh leaves The Gambia after losing election

Gambia's former President Yahya Jammeh has left the country in the wake of elections that ousted him after 22 years in power.

He boarded a plane to Guinea and from there will travel on to exile in Equatorial Guinea, regional group Ecowas says.

Mr Jammeh was defeated in December's election by Adama Barrow but went on to challenge the results.

Mr Barrow has been in Senegal but says he will return to The Gambia soon.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Barrow said he wanted to create a truth and reconciliation committee to investigate allegations of human rights abuses during Mr Jammeh's time in office.

Marcel de Souza, president of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), said the military operation that had sent West African troops into The Gambia in support of Mr Barrow, was now ended, although some would remain to ensure security.

Students killed and scores injured in northern Italy bus crash

Italian police say 16 people died and some 40 injured when a bus carrying Hungarian school students returning home from France crashed into the side of a highway near Verona.

Police commander Geralomo Lacquanita said the bus crashed and burst into flames just before midnight.No other vehicles were involved in the crash and it was not clear why the bus went off the road.

The bus was returning to Budapest carrying students aged between 15 and 17 years. Police say 16 were severe burns were pulled from the wreckage.

In Budapest, the foreign ministry said there were 54 passengers, including adults accompanying the students, and two drivers aboard, but they believe the actual number was higher. 

Suicide bombers blow themselves up in Saudi Arabia

A security officer stands guard in front of the logo of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition [Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters]

Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up in a confrontation with security forces in Saudi Arabia's second city of Jeddah, local media reported.

Sabq, a news website affiliated with the kingdom's Interior Ministry, reported on Saturday that security officers surrounded a house in Jeddah and exchanged fire with two men, who then detonated explosives that images showed completely destroyed the home.

Anti-Trump protesters set to flood Washington

Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women’s rights groups are set to converge on Washington Saturday to send a defiant message to America’s new president, Donald Trump.

The flag-waving crowds who turned out to cheer Trump’s inauguration will make way for a coalition of protesters who fear an erosion of women’s rights under the new Republican administration.

Powered by social media, the “Women’s March on Washington” aims to draw 200,000 people, illustrating the divisions of a country whose incoming leader faces levels of public mistrust unseen in recent decades.

Trump’s inaugural speech on Friday set the tone for his presidency: proudly populist, fiercely nationalist and determined to break with the legacy of his Democratic predecessor.

His first act in office — signing an executive order aimed at freezing Barack Obama’s signature health care law, before it is eventually repealed — was a potent gesture in that direction, with more such actions expected to follow on Monday.

Director arrested for inserting electric heater into son’s anus for allegedly being gay

A Director of Planning in one of the juicy ministries in Borno State, (names withheld) has been arrested by the state Police Command for allegedly inserting electric heater into the anus of his 10-year old son over the allegation of engaging in homosexual activities.
The top civil servant was said to have perpetrated the act upon hearing that his son performed the act with some politicians. While the boy, names withheld, had claimed to have been raped at their 1000 Government Housing Estate residence, the father was said to have dismissed his story leading to the inflicting of the bodily injuries. Saturday Vanguard learnt that the victim was chained before his father, who was accused of denying his children western education carried out the act. The 10 year old victim whose father allegedly inserted hot electric heater into his anus for being gay It was further gathered that the civil servant recently chained one of his daughters named Mama for insulting her stepmother in the estate. A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, said the director had been arrested. Efforts to confirm the incident from the Police Public Relations Officer of Borno State Command, Mr. Victor Isuku proved abortive. However, some residents told Saturday Vanguard  that the estate was recording growing rate of homosexual activities.

EXCLUSIVE (Body language expert gives inauguration insights ) - Hillary is fearful, Trump is selfish, and Obamas are sympathetic to Melania because Donald does not attend to her needs

Hillary Clinton put on a brave face Friday afternoon as she accompanied her husband Bill to President Donald Trump's inaugural address, a little over two months after she was defeated by the billionaire businessman in the election.

And while Hillary may have looked calm and composed, and even plastered on a smile for her appearance at the Capital, she was actually quite 'fearful.' 

That is according to body language expert Patti Wood, who took a look at the key players during the inauguration on Friday and revealed to us how they were really feeling on the big day.Wood also noted that there was a real bond between Barack and Michelle Obama and Melania Trump, who the couple tried to put at ease ahead of her husband's inaugural address.By going out of the way .greeting her warmly and each putting an arm around her as went in the door. Meanwhile, President Trump himself is a bit selfish according to Wood, especially when it comes to how he treats his wife, but it is clear that he respects  

Barack.And, as has been said time and time again for the past eight years, appearances continue to suggest that Barack and Michelle really do have a remarkable relationship built on respect. See how Obama goes out of his way to help with the Tiffany gift box. 

Hillary Clinton appeared 'fearful' before making her entrance at inauguration on Friday says body language expert Patti Wood, pointing to how her body froze (above)

The Gambia crisis: Yahya Jammeh says he will step down

The Gambia's long-term leader Yahya Jammeh says he will step down, after refusing to accept defeat in elections.

In an announcement on state TV, he said it was "not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed".

The statement followed hours of talks between Mr Jammeh and West African mediators. He gave no details of what deal might have been struck.

Mr Jammeh has led the country for 22 years but was defeated in December's election by Adama Barrow.

• Adama Barrow: From estate agent to Gambian president
• Jammeh: The man in charge for 22 years
• Why is it The Gambia, not Gambia?

Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days and was inaugurated as president in the Gambian embassy there on Thursday.

Troops from several West African nations, including Senegal, have been deployed in The Gambia, threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office if he did not agree to go.

Young woman killed by boyfriend saves six lives with donated organs

She said: "Through her death, she has gone on to save the lives of six others."

Mrs Gillard said: "My last memory of my beautiful daughter was her in hospital fighting for her life.

"She didn’t stand a chance with James Tobin. I am no longer capable of smiling, let alone laughing - all my happiness is gone."

Her family said her decision to donate her organs "sums up Kellie's kind and giving nature".

They said: "We are proud that Kellie received the Order of St John award as a result of her organs being donated and saving the lives of others. "

Kellie's family described her a "a much loved daughter, sister and auntie."

In a statement, they said: "Kellie was a amazing, beautiful person, full of life and energy. She lit up our lives and we were blessed to have had her as part of our family."

They said they are devastated and will never get over her death and said they are "grateful" Tobin has finally been brought to justice and accepted responsibility for her death.

The 25-year-old died from a ruptured artery in hospital, Wales Online reported .

Tobin, 21, had denied being to blame for her fall at his home on Lower West End in Port Talbot on April 24, 2015.

But he was caught by police after detectives put a secret recording device in his home to hear him confess the killing to his father.

She said: "Through her death, she has gone on to save the lives of six others."

Trump signs his first executive order and it’s directed against Obamacare

President Donald Trump didn’t wait long to get into the Oval Office before signing his first executive order. And as promised, it was directed against the “Affordable Care Act,” the cornerstone legislation of his predecessor, also known as Obamacare.

According to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, the order asked the states to “ease the burden of ObamaCare,” but he offered few other details on the substance of the order, which was not immediately provided to media outlets.

The official text of the order makes it clear that it is the full intention of President Trump to seek full repeal of the legislation, but in the meantime he will take the steps “to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the Act, and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market.”