Jerusalem: Christian leaders close Church at Jesus’s burial site in tax dispute

Christian leaders Sunday took the rare step of closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built at the site of Jesus’s burial in Jerusalem, in protest at Israeli tax measures and a proposed property law. It was not immediately clear how long the closure of the church, announced by Christian officials at a news conference and which began at around noon (1000 GMT), would last. The church is considered the holiest site in Christianity, built where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, and is a major pilgrimage site.

7.5-magnitude earthquake hits Papua, New Guinea

A large earthquake has struck the middle of Papua New Guinea.  The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-7.5 quake hit about 89 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Porgera early Monday in the Pacific island nation. Geological Survey geophysicist Paul Caruso says the quake, which had a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles), occurred in a rural, jungle area near a mountain range. 

Gucci puts up $500k for gun-control march

In response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that struck the United States last week, Gucci is set to donate $500,000 USD to a gun-control march in Washington. Set to take place March 24, the march is expected to draw around 500,000 attendees taking a stand against the current gun laws in America. In a press release, the Italian fashion house stated, “we stand with March for Our Lives and the fearless students across the country who demand that their lives and safety become a priority, we have all been directly or indirectly impacted by these senseless tragedies.”

This is just the latest in Gucci’s continuing social activist movement under creative director Alessandro Michele. Most recently Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2018 campaign commented on the current socio-political climate by referencing the student protests of 1968 France.

Bollywood superstar Sridevi dies at 54 of heart attack

Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor has died of a heart attack, her family says. She was 54. The actress known simply as Sridevi had been with her family in Dubai for her nephew's wedding. She featured over five decades in almost 300 films, in classics like Mr India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma. She was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box office success without the support of a male hero.

Man City wins Carabao Cup 2018

Pep Guardiola's Man City won the Carabao Cup on Sunday evening following a marvelous 3-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley stadium. This is Guardiola's first trophy at the club since joining last season. 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes a lack of "concentration at key periods" could continue to cost his side after their Carabao Cup final defeat.

‘Human elf’ spends £45,000 to complete transformation and breaks jaw five times

A ‘human elf’ who has spent over £45,000 turning himself into his elf-like alter ego has revealed some of the more painful aspects of his transformation – including having his jaw broken five times. Luis Padron, who appeared on Wednesday’s edition of This Morning, shocked Phillip and Holly as he spoke about his recent trip to South Korea, where he underwent surgery to have his chin reshaped. ‘Three months ago I went to South Korea, they broke my jaw in five parts and put it back together with titanium,’ he explained via live link from his native Argentina.

Groom & his grandma killed, bride injured after wedding gift exploded at their home 5 day afters wedding in India

A newly-married man was killed and his wife critically injured when a gift that was presented to them at their wedding reception exploded later at their home in India. The tragic incident took place in Odisha’s Bolangir district on Friday, just five days after their wedding. According to Police, the man’s grandmother also died in the blast. The elderly woman died on the spot while her grandson died at a hospital in Rourkela where he was rushed to after being injured.

Kenya considers legalizing homosexuality

Kenya's High Court began hearing a case that may decriminalize homosexuality. It's a significant step in East Africa, where homosexuality is illegal in almost every country in the region and in 38 countries in total across the continent, according to Amnesty International.

Winter Olympics: IOC votes to lift Russia ban if no further doping violations

Russia's Olympic ban will be lifted if there are no more doping violations from their athletes at Pyeongchang 2018, the International Olympic Committee has ruled. However, the IOC did not allow Russian athletes to parade under their own flag at the closing ceremony. Russia was banned because of state-sponsored doping at Sochi 2014. A team of 168 competed in South Korea as neutral Olympic athletes from Russia (OAR) but two failed drugs tests.
Alexander Krushelnitsky won bronze in the mixed curling but was stripped of his medal after being found guilty of doping while Nadezhda Sergeeva, who competed in bobsleigh, was banned on Saturday.

I don’t feel safe and my wife cries daily over her bogus doctorate degree harassment’ – Robert Mugabe

Former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has revealed that his wife, Grace cries daily, over the harassment she receives, especially over her bogus doctorate degree. It was the first time that the former Zimbabwe leader would speak on the emotional torment of his wife, three months after he was forced to step down by the military, according to a report by South Africa’s News 24. Mugabe reportedly gave this insight into the former first family at a meeting with African Union chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat during a courtesy call he made to the Mugabes at their Blue Roof Harare mansion. The former leader also told Mahamat that he doesn’t feel safe.

Emma Chambers, 'Notting Hill' actress, dies at 53

British actress Emma Chambers, who starred alongside Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the 1999 movie "Notting Hill," has died, according to her agent. She was 53 years old.
"Over the years, Emma, created a wealth of characters and an immense body of work. She brought laughter and joy to many, and will be greatly missed," said her agent, John Grant. Grant said the actress died of natural causes on Wednesday. She is survived by her husband, fellow actor Ian Dunn.
In Notting Hill, Chambers played the younger sister of Hugh Grant's character. Following the news of Chambers' passing, the actor said on Twitter that she was "a hilarious and very warm person and of course a brilliant actress."

Vehicle rams into school in India, killing nine children

A speeding van rammed into a middle school in eastern India on Saturday, killing nine children, authorities said. In addition to the fatalities, 10 others were critically injured in the incident at the school in Muzzafarpur, in Bihar state, said Vivek Kumar, a local police superintendent. The students were in school Saturday, the police official said.
"The incident happened when the school had just finished and the students had gathered outside the school building," Kumar said.
Police arrested the driver and an investigation is ongoing.

Canadian skier arrested, accused of stealing car at Winter Olympics

Canadian skier David Duncan, his wife, Maja Margrethe Duncan, and trainer William Ryan Raine spent Friday night behind bars, accused of stealing a car during the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The frigid Pyeongchang weather proved too much for the three, who said they took a vehicle they found unattended with the engine running because it was too cold outside, according to the South Korean police source, who was not authorized to speak to the media.
The three were pulled over while driving the stolen vehicle, a pink Hummer, from downtown Pyeongchang to the Olympic Village, a distance of less than 2 miles.

Suspect who swallowed drugs while police chased him refuse to poo for 37 days

An alleged drug dealer who has refused to have a poo for 37 days is at “risk of death”, his lawyer has warned. Lamarr Chambers, 24, is accused of gulping down a batch of narcotics as police chased him through Harlow, Essex, on 17 January. The suspect has been closely watched by two officers in custody since his arrest that day, but he is yet to evacuate his bowels, magistrates were told.

Jamie Oliver shuts more restaurants as sector is hit by fall in bookings

Jamie Oliver is one of the most famous – and wealthy – celebrity chefs in the country. But now problems in his sprawling business empire have been laid bare. Two of Oliver’s high-profile dining businesses – Jamie’s Italian and upmarket steak chain Barbecoa – have run into trouble, leaving a trail of restaurant closures and hundreds of job losses. They are not alone. Burger joint Byron and Italian chain Strada are among the other businesses that have already triggered closures so far this year. The sector is facing a long and unpalatable menu of challenges: the weakness of the pound since the Brexit vote means restaurants are paying higher prices for food when consumers are balking at price hikes. Meanwhile, wage costs and business taxes have soared.

China's ruling party proposes to abolish presidential term limits

China's ruling party is considering scrapping term limits for the president and vice president, it announced on Sunday. The Communist party of China has proposed to change the country's constitution so that the president and vice president can serve more than two consecutive terms.
Currently, there is a limit of two five-year terms for both presidents and vice presidents. The amendment would allow current President Xi Jinping, 64, to be elected again during the next elections in 2023.

Former NFL Player detained by police after posting a pic of a gun and bullets on IG, with the names of his former teammates linked in the post⠀⠀

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Former NFL player, Jonathan Martin was arrested and has been detained by polive after he made a disturbing post on IG. Many of his fans called the attention of the police to the post after he posted a photo of a gun and bullets, with the names of his former teammates linked in the post.
The post read, “When you’re a bully victim & a coward your options are suicide or revenge.”
 Not only did Martin tag three of his former team mates in the post, he also tagged his former high school, Harvard Westlake, (written on the gun) and this forced the school to close down after they were alerted to the post yesterday

Indian state offers free breast implants to poor women

Poor women in a southern Indian state have been offered free breast surgeries, including implants, for both aesthetic or medical reasons.  The Tamil Nadu state government launched the new scheme last week at a state-run clinic in its capital Chennai, with priority given to the poorest women there.  Authorities have promised to soon expand the free service to other districts of the state.

Church tells couples to bring guns in for wedding

The World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, U.S. has invited couples to bring their assault rifles in to be blessed. Members of the church have been asked to attend the service with AR-15 semi-automatic rifle or equivalents such as an AK semi-automatic rifle. An AR-15 was the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz when he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland north of Miami on Valentine’s Day, killing 17 people.

Man tries to smuggle $23,000 in cash from the U.S. to Nigeria disguised as birthday cake

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A man was arrested when he tried to smuggle a large amount of cash from the United States to Nigeria. According to police, Dim Chukwuneye Williams wanted to bring $23,000 into Nigeria. He hid the cash in a nicely decorated birthday cake. However, he was busted and the money was found. Williams was arrested and the money was confiscated. Williams was brought before Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Ajibade, at the Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. He pleaded not guilty to 2 counts of attempting to procure the commission of acts and unlawful smuggle.
He was freed after posting $5,500 bail.