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Sat, 17 December 2016
Egypt to hand over MS804 air crash victims' remains
Timeline Refresh
22:31 Egypt to hand over MS804 air crash victims' remains
Egypt's state prosecutor has ordered that the remains of those killed in the crash of EgyptAir flight 804 be handed over to relatives, his office said in a statement.
The Airbus A320 had been en route from Paris to Cairo in May when it crashed into the Mediterranean, killing all 66 on board, including 40 Egyptians and 15 French nationals.
On Thursday, the aviation ministry in Cairo had announced that traces of explosives had been found on the victims' remains.
But France's air safety agency said it was not possible to determine what caused the crash, saying it did not have information on how the samples were collected.
22:07 Vijender Singh knocks out Cheka in 3 rounds
Vijender Singh defended his WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title, defeating Tanzanian Francis Cheka inside 3 rounds via a technical knock out on Saturday. This is the Indian boxers 8th win in a row.
21:34 Trump misspells 'unprecedented' in a tweet on China, Twitter roars
US President-elect Donald Trump today took to Twitter to slam China after it reportedly seized an unmanned US Navy drone, calling it an unprecedented act.
His tweet is getting a lot of attention on social media, but that has got more to do with the way in which the future 'leader of the free world' spelled the word 'unprecedented.'
"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented (sic) act," the real estate magnate wrote on his favourite platform.
"Unpresidented" quickly became a top trending topic on Twitter in the United States, as online wags savaged the incoming president for the unfortunate misspelling.
"TrumpSpellCheck -- Unpresidentedly effective," tweeted "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling.
"Dear world, most Americans really wish we could be #unpresidented," another Twitter user wrote.
21:12
"For first time in India, two generals superseded, as the Govt names Lt
Gen Bipin Rawat the next army chief. Generals Bakshi and Hariz left out."
-- @ajaishukla tweets on the new appointment
20:59
Air Marshal BS Dhanoa to be the new chief of Air Staff.
20:58 Lt General Bipin Rawat named as new army chief
Lt Gen Bipin Rawat has been named as the new army chief, succeeding General Dalbir Singh Suhag.
Rawat was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978, from IMA, Dehradun, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour.
Rawat has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter insurgency operations.
He commanded an Infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern sector, a Rashtriya Rifles sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley.
20:42 Screening of Indian movies in Pakistan to resume
Pakistani film exhibitors and cinema owners are likely to end a self-imposed ban on screening of Indian films on Monday that was put in place amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Uri terror attack.
Zoraish Lashari, Chairman of the Film Exhibitors Association, told reporters that after thorough discussions with parties concerned, it has been decided screening of Indian films would resume from December 19.
Lashari said the cinema owners and exhibitors had only taken a self-imposed suspension of screening of Indian films and that it was not a ban.
20:27 Nadal adds former world No1 Carlos Moya to his coaching team
Rafael Nadal has added former player and fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya to his coaching team ahead of the 2017 season.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement Saturday that Moya will work together with Toni Nadal and Francis Roig.
"To have someone like Carlos, who is not only a friend but also a very important person in my career, is something special,"Nadal said. "He will be next to me on my practice and competition."
Moya, who won the 1998 French Open as a player, parted ways earlier this month with Milos Raonic after leading the Canadian to his most successful year on the tour.
"To be able to help Rafa is something special for me and I am sure that together with Toni, Francis and the rest of the team we have a great common project," Moya said. "Rafa is a special player and above all a great person and friend on which I have a lot of trust and confidence that will be able to continue winning important titles."
20:05 Auction offering coffee with Ivanka Trump for money cancelled
A planned auction offering a 45-minute coffee meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka in exchange for a donation was cancelled after it raised ethical questions as it appeared to offer bidders special access to the incoming first family.
The auction, offering coffee with the next first daughter during a 45-minute private meeting, had been running for 10 days and had drawn 28 bids, the highest of which had reached $72,888 (Rs 49 lakh).
19:43 Aleppo is now a synonym for hell: Ban Ki-moon
Describing the war-ravaged Syrian town of Aleppo as a "synonym for hell", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the international community has collectively failed the people of Syria and the carnage there remains a "gaping hole" in the global conscience.
In his last press conference as the UN Secretary-General, Ban delivered stark warnings on two issues at the forefront of international concern--- Syria and South Sudan.
He stated that "the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience and South Sudan faces a risk of genocide as the country leaders have squandered a peace agreement."
"Aleppo is now a synonym for hell," Ban said, bidding farewell to the UN press corps.
"We have collectively failed the people of Syria. Peace will only prevail when it is accompanied by compassion, justice and accountability for the abominable crimes we have seen," Ban said.
19:22 Tibet's PM in-exile slams China for opposing Dalai-Prez meet
Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in-exile Lobsang Sangay today criticised China for objecting to Dalai Lama's meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee asserting India did the "right thing" which Beijing "should not" oppose.
Sangay made the remarks on the sidelines of an event where a report on the 'Middle Way Approach' to the Tibet issue was released by the 'Central Tibetan Administration' here.
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama attending Nobel laureate event at Rashtrapati Bhavan and him meeting the President is India's business and I think the Indian government did the right thing. He is India's honourable guest and the Chinese should not comment on or criticise what he or India does," Sangay said.
India has dismissed Chinese objection to the Dalai Lama's meeting with Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan during a children's summit few days back.
18:48 A K Dhasmana to be new R&AW chief; Rajiv Jain appointed IB chief
A K Dhasmana, a 1981-batch Madhya Pradesh IPS officer will be the next chief of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing, reports News18.
The new R&AW chief will be taking over in January 2017. Dhasmana is currently the number 2 in the organisation and is the head of the Aviation Research Centre.
Besides his rank in the organisation, a crucial factor contributes to his elevation to the top post in R&AW -- his knowledge of Balochistan.
According to reports, he is an expert on Balochistan affairs and issues related to counter terrorism. His experience of Pakistan and Afghanistan contribute to his wealth of knowledge of the internal machinations in the countries.
Dhasmana has handled Europe desk, which means that he was in-charge of R&AW operations in European countries.
Rajiv Jain, a 1980 batch Jharkhand cadre officer, will be the next Intelligence Bureau chief succeeding Dineshwar Sharma.
18:47 Unable to withdraw money, farmer tries to end life at bank
A 45-year-old farmer tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide at a bank in Narayanpur in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday after failing to withdraw money, as a cheque deposited by him had not been credited to his account.
A bank official said the number of cheques being received for clearance has increased four-fold of late.
Radhashyam Prajapat, who tried to commit suicide, has been admitted to the district hospital. He is out of danger, District Superintendent of Police O P Tripathi said.
Prajapat had deposited a cheque of Rs 24,000 with the banks Narayanpur branch on November 24. He became extremely upset on finding out that the cheque had not been credited. He opened a bottle of pesticide which he was carrying and drank
it, the police officer said.
Other customers in the bank quickly snatched the bottle from his hand. We rushed him to the district hospital. He is out of danger, Tripathi said, adding investigation into the incident is on.
Informing that Prajapats cheque had been sent for clearance. But in the last few days number of cheques received by the branch had increased four-fold, branch manager Sunil Dohre claimed the moment the branch gets a cheque it is sent for clearance.
Earlier, around 25 cheques would be received by our branch every day. Now the number has swelled to 100-odd. Right now we have around 50 cheques worth Rs 2-3 lakh pending with us for want of clearance, Dohre said, adding sometimes clearance of cheque is delayed.
17:59 CBI arrests 2 RBI staff in Bengaluru for Rs 1.99 cr note exchange
The CBI on Saturday arrested two RBI officials from Bengauluru in a matter related to unauthorised exchange of demonetised notes.
Senior Special Assistant Sadananda Naika and Special Assistant A K Kavin of cash department have been taken into custody in connection with the case.
The two have been arrested for alleged currency conversion of Rs 1.99 crore illegally post demonetisation.
This is the second arrest of RBI employees in the city.
Earlier on December 13, CBI had arrested an RBI official while he was allegedly trying to convert Rs 1.51 crore of old currency notes.
17:49
JUST IN: Sharad Pawar steps down from the Post of Mumbai Cricket Association's President
17:24 What happens when you meet US President Obama
The White Houses official Instagram account posted this photo yesterday:
The caption states:
"That face when the President drops by for a visit.
Today, the cast of Hidden Figures visited the White House to highlight the stories of Americans who defied stereotypes and broke glass ceilings to advance human space flight, science, and innovation."
Actress Octavia Spencer and the woman in the photo perfectly captures the expression we'd all have meeting Obama, seems to be quite a fan of the Obamas.
17:00 3 soldiers killed in convoy attack in Kashmir
3 soldiers have lost their lives after terrorists attacked an army convoy by opening fire on it at Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
The ultras opened fire on the army convoy at Kadlabal in Pampore town of Pulwama district this afternoon, a police official said.
Security forces have cordoned off the adjoining residential area and launched search operation to track down the militants, he added.
16:45 3 more charged over Nice truck attack
A French anti-terrorist judge has charged three more men suspected of helping to arm the Islamist radical who crushed 86 people to death with a truck in Nice, a judicial source said today.
The three, who were among 11 arrested on Monday in Nice and the western city of Nantes, were remanded into custody yesterday, said the source. The other eight have been released.
The three, aged 24, 31 and 36, were charged in relation to a terrorist plot.
The arrests come five months after Tunisian extremist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a 19-tonne truck into a crowd on the Nice seafront, further traumatising a country reeling from a series of jihadist attacks.
16:26 Rs 30 lakh, 2.5 kg gold seized from tailor in Chandigarh
The Enforcement Directorate has recovered about Rs 30 lakh cash and 2.5 kg gold from the premises of a prominent tailor in Chandigarh as part of its operation to unearth illegal cash.
The seizure comes three days after ED officials recovered Rs 2.19 crore cash from a cloth merchant. Acting on tip off, the sleuths of ED swooped down on the premises of Maharaja Tailor in Mohali (Punjab) and at sector 22 in Chandigarh. The seizure included Rs 18 lakh in Rs 2,000 denomination and while the rest was in Rs 100 and 50 denominations, ED official said here today.
The ED sleuths said that they were verifying how the notes were exchanged and from whom, the owners of the shop bought the gold.
Officials were examining the bill books of the shop. The owners of the tailoring shop had allegedly bought 2.5 kg gold at a rate of Rs 44,000 per 10 gram after demonetisation, they said. Investigations were underway, ED officials said.
15:38
JUST IN: Militants open fire on army convoy in Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway
15:28 NSCN-IM terrorists attack 7 IRB posts, seize guns
A gunfight has broken out in Nungkao village of Imphal after members of the NSCN-IM attacked seven Indian Reserve Battalion posts and snatched away four guns. Reinforcement teams have been rushed to the spot after the initial gun battle.
15:01 80-yr-old patient dies in bank after argument over withdrawal limit
An 80-year-old farmer died inside a bank in Uttar Pradesh after an argument with authorities who gave him less than half the money he needed to withdraw for his medical treatment, his family said.
Baladeen and his son, Rajesh Kumar, travelled to the Allahabad Bank in Mahoba district for four consecutive days and queued up for hours before reaching the money counter on Thursday.
They lived in Saragpura village, about seven kilometers from the bank.
My father wasnt keeping well, we needed the money badly for his heart treatment, said Rajesh.
But the authorities gave him only Rs 6,000 and not the Rs 14,000 he needed.
I filled the withdrawal slip for Rs 14,000 but the clerk gave us Rs 6,000. I told him about my fathers condition and my father pleaded with him but he was unrelenting, said Rajesh.
Baladeen then had an argument with bank employees, who expressed their helplessness and asked him to come back and withdraw the rest of the amount the following week.
But during the tiff, Baladeen suddenly complained of severe chest pain and slumped on the floor, his son said. He then died inside the bank.
14:51
JUST IN: Delhi court sends ex-IAF chief S P Tyagi, two others to judicial custody till Dec 30 in AgustaWestland chopper case.
14:39 Take note of Advani's concern over Parliament washout: Sena to BJP
Needling BJP over the washed out winter session of Parliament, ally Shiv Sena asked the ruling partner to take cognisance of its party patriarch L K Advani's "tears" and called for a special session to discuss the demonetisation issue.
Terming Advani as the 'Bhishma Pitamah' of Indian politics, the Sena said he has raised a question mark over parliamentary democracy in the country.
"It should be noted that Advani is not a Congress leader. One must bear in mind that he has been at the forefront of the anti-Congress politics," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.
The Sena remarks come after Advani, for the second time during the Winter Session of Parliament, expressed anguish and concern over the way the session was a washout with daily adjournments.
He reportedly even told a few MPs that he felt like resigning from Lok Sabha owing to his distress at the proceedings, adding that "Atalji (former PM Vajpayee) would have been very upset seeing this".
14:29 IAF regulations not only restrict sporting beard but also tilak on forehead, thread on wrist
The Supreme Court judgment dismissing the appeal of a Muslim IAF Corporal who wanted to keep a beard has brought into focus the regulations of the defence services which are aimed at maintaining a non-religious appearance while in uniform and also prohibit wearing of tilak or Vibhuti on the forehead, thread on the wrist or arm and any trinket in the ear.
The SC judgement also quotes the regulations of the Indian Air Force which specify the regulations regarding the outward appearance of the personnel and which are also mirrored in the regulations of the army and the navy.
14:03 Now, even a Rs 2 lakh deposit can land you in trouble
Anyone who's never had more than Rs 2 lakh in his or her bank account but does so now should be worried.
Such accounts will be red-flagged and invite scrutiny by RBI, which may report them to the income-tax department to be investigated for possibly suspicious transactions as the government gears up for the next phase of its anti-black money campaign.
The central bank has ordered banks to provide data on such accounts as it steps up efforts to ensure that the banking system is not misused to launder black money after the demonetisation+ drive that was announced on November 8, said people familiar with the matter.
This appears to be a lowering of the threshold for inquiry banks are currently providing information to the Financial Intelligence Unit on accounts where customers have deposited Rs 2.5 lakh or more in cash. This comes as raids have uncovered bundles of currency stashed away in bank lockers or being transported across the country.
Several bank employees, including one RBI official, have been suspended or sacked for unauthorised exchange of notes amid a currency shortage that has hit regular customers and hurt the economy.
13:41 Controversial diplomat Devyani Khobragade writes first book The White Sari
Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat who sparked controversy in 2013 in the US for alleged visa fraud, has entered the world of fiction with her first book, The White Sari.
The book is centered around Ratna, a modern Dalit girl, who meets the love of her life but falls under the trap of caste divisions. It depicts the anger, anxieties and agony of a Dalit woman who is bound by social consciousness and tries to break free out of the mould. The book is available on Juggernaut.
Khobragade, who was a deputy consul general in New York in 2013, was charged by the US authorities with committing visa fraud and providing false statements in her visa application. She was accused of paying her maid, a woman of Indian nationality, less than the minimum legal wage. She was arrested after she dropped off her daughters at their school and subjected to a body-cavity search. The episode led to a full-blown standoff between the US and Indian governments.
13:08 Kejriwal seeks setting up of commission to probe political parties' funding
A day after the government announced that deposits in bank accounts held by political parties would attract no tax, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday sought setting up of a commission to investigate the sources of funding received by political parties.
Addressing media-persons on Friday, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia had announced, If it is a deposit in the account of political parties, they are exempt. But if it is deposited in any individual account, in anyones account, that information will definitely come on our radar.
12:38 Turkish blast: Several dead as Kayseri bus hit
Several people have been killed and more wounded by an explosion near a bus in the central Turkish city of Kayseri, security services say.
The bus was carrying off-duty soldiers, according to reports, and was opposite a university campus when the explosion occurred.
Turkey's Dogan news agency said that the blast was caused by a car bomb.
The explosion comes a week after 44 people were killed by a bomb attack in Istanbul claimed by Kurdish militants.
12:22 Chopper scam: Italian court orders retrial of ex-Finmeccanica CEO
Italy's highest court on Friday ordered a re-trial of former top executives at defence group Leonardo Finmeccanica over allegations of bribery in a 2010 contract to provide a dozen helicopters to the Indian government.
In April, a Milan appeals court sentenced former Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi to four and a half years in prison for corruption and falsifying invoices, overturning a previous lower court ruling.
The case went to the highest court after the two executives launched an appeal.
Both executives will now have to be tried again in front of Milan's appeals court.
Last week India's federal police arrested the former head of the air force SP Tyagi, 71, who was at the centre of allegations of impropriety in the order of 12 helicopters meant to fly senior Indian politicians.
The deal was cancelled in 2014 after Orsi was arrested on suspicion of paying bribes to secure the deal.
11:50 Rahul to visit DMK's Karunanidhi in hospital
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi reaches Kauvery hospital in Chennai to meet ailing DMK Chief Karunanidhi.
Karunanidhi on Friday underwent tracheostomy at the hospital to ease his breathing. The 92-year-old leader is now stable, said the doctor, adding that the former chief minister is being treated with antibiotics and monitored by a team of doctors.
11:03 Note ban is new normal. Last 70 years of normal wasn't right: FM
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday once again defended the government's demonetisation policy at FICCI's 89th Annual General Meeting.
Highlights from his address:
* "Digital currency has supplemented cash transactions remarkably in past 5 weeks."
* "The whole process of remonetisation is not going to take a long time."
* Note ban is new normal. Last 70 years of normal wasn't right."
* "India is now widely recognized as one of the fastest growing economies globally."
* This year is unusual for the world due to slowing growth, growing protectionism."
* "On 16 September 2017, as far as current mode of taxation is concerned, the curtains will be down."
* "Having passed the constitutional amendment, there are several decisions which the GST Council has to take. I don't see any major difficulty in those legislations being finally approved"
* "Long-term benefits very clear even if we have to bear short-term inconveniences."
* "Remonetisation will not take very long time, RBI will be able to complete it very soon."
* "Ideally, GST should start from Apr 1, 2017; constitutional necessity for new regime to come into force between Apr 1 and
Sept 16."
* "India has capacity to take decision on demonetisation; it's no longer a fragile economy."
* "Government took a courageous step on demonetisation."
10:58 The Winter Jinx
Columnist Rajeev Sharma tells us: The winter session of Parliament was washed out over the demonetisation issue.
Interestingly, ever since 1977 whenever the winter session of Parliament has been washed out, the ruling party has been thrown out of power in the next general election.
Strange, but true.
10:26 Will not accept any changes to Indus Water Treaty: Pak
Pakistan has firmly stated that it will not accept any alterations or changes to the Indus Waters Treaty after India had said that it is ready to engage in further consultations with Islamabad on the matter of resolving current differences over the Kishenganga and Ralte projects under the Indus Water Treaty.
"Pakistan will not accept any modifications or changes to the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty. Our position is based on the principles enshrined in the treaty. And the treaty must be honoured in...letter and spirit," the Dawn quoted Special Assistant to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Tariq Fatemi, as saying.
Islamabad has argued that India was buying time to complete its two disputed water projects and then insisting that since the project was already complete, it could not be modified.
Pakistan is raising its objection to building of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants by India saying that it violates the provisions of the treaty.
Tensions increased over the water dispute when Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.
10:23 Coast Guard 20 per cent short of its force strength
Twenty percent of the sanctioned posts in the Indian Coast Guard are vacant, Parliament was informed on Friday.
"At present the borne strength of Indian Coast Guard is 12,585, against the sanctioned strength of 15,714. The remaining 3,129 posts, which is 20% of the sanctioned strength, are vacant," Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
"Post 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, Indian Coast Guard has witnessed rapid expansion and the induction/recruitment of manpower.A The recruitment process has been fast tracked and approximately 130 officers and 720 EPs (enrolled personnel) are being recruited every year," he added.
10:09
Police recovers new currency worth Rs 10 lakh in Kurukshetra, 1 detained.
10:06 Trump taps conservative SC Rep Mulvaney as budget chief
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped South Carolina Republican Representative Mick Mulvaney as his budget director, naming a tough-on-spending conservative and an advocate of balancing the federal budget to the important post.
An official on Trump's transition team, who was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter before it is officially announced, confirmed Trump's pick last evening.
Mulvaney, 49, was elected in the 2010 tea party wave and is a founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, whose members pushed former Speaker John Boehner from power and have caused heartburn for current Speaker Paul Ryan. He is one of the more hard-charging members among House conservatives.
As director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mulvaney would be responsible for crafting Trump's budget and overseeing the final issuance of major regulations. Mulvaney has taken a hard line on budget matters, routinely voting against increasing the government's borrowing cap and pressing for major cuts to benefit programs as the path to balancing the budget.
10:02 Court suspends Finmeccanica ex-boss's corruption sentence
Italy's highest court has suspended a sentence handed earlier this year to the former boss of aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, for false accounting and corruption in connection with the sale of 12 luxury helicopters to India, Italian media reported.
The decision yesterday came after both the defence and the prosecution had requested a suspension, on grounds that the Milan appeals court's sentence in April differed too greatly from an earlier ruling.
In April, Orsi was sentenced to four-a-half-years years in jail for false accounting and corruption. Also handed a four-year jail term on the same charges was Bruno Spagnolini, former head of AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.
The pair had been sentenced to two years in prison in October 2014 for false accounting.
The court of cassation has referred the case back to the appeals tribunal. Italian media believe that the case will be closed when the statute of limitation expires in March 2017.
10:01 All must support PM on demonetisation: Aamir
Superstar Aamir Khan says demonetisation is a good move by the government to curb black money and hence all citizens should support the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He however was sad for the common man who has felt the pinch of the cash crunch the most.
"I haven't faced any problems due to demonetisation as I don't have back money at all. I pay taxes. Those who have black money will face problems. I make use of card be it debit or credit card whenever we buy something," Aamir told reporters in Mumbai at an event last evening.
"I know common people are facing problem and I feel sad about it. Our Prime Minister has taken a good initiative and we must support him," he said.
09:30
INS Sutlej, a survey ship, rescues fishing vessel Judan with 7 crew in distress.
Tows back to Kanyakumari safely
09:09 What's making news now
* 52 trains delayed, 12 rescheduled due to prevailing fog conditions in Delhi.
* Rahul Gandhi to visit Chennai today to meet DMK's M Karunanidhi who was readmitted with breathing difficulty due to throat, lung infection
* India's pro boxer Vijender Singh puts his WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight belt on the line today against Tanzania's Francis Cheka
* Two dead, more than 12 shanties gutted in fire that broke out in Kolkata's Patipukur after a cylinder blast today morning.
* Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will hold delegation level talks today.
* China seizes US naval underwater probe in South China Sea
* Kerala Court to pronounce quantum of punishment for 13 RSS activists convicted on Friday in connection with the murder of DYFI leader Vishnu in 2008
08:31 First lady: White House needs a 'grown-up' to calm in crisis
Michelle Obama says the White House needs a "grown-up," and that the nation will come to appreciate President Barack Obama.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey set to air Monday on CBS, the first lady says the US is feeling what it's like to not have hope. She says "hope" was more than a slogan for her husband's campaigns and asks: "What else do you have if you don't have hope?"
Obama also says the president served in ways the people will eventually appreciate. She says the White House needs a "grown-up" who can reassure the public during a crisis.
The Obamas campaigned against Donald Trump, arguing that he's unfit to be president. Michelle does not mention Trump by name.
00:34 Aleppo evacuation suspended, leaving thousands trapped
The Syrian government suspended the evacuation of civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo on Friday, leaving thousands of people trapped and uncertain of their fate.
Russia, which helped to broker the deal with Turkey, said its operation was now 'complete' with all women and children moved from the city, AFP reported.
Ankara and a Syrian military source said the evacuation had been suspended but was not yet over.
"The evacuations are not over and many people still want to leave the area," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The delicate operation to bring the last civilians and rebels out of east Aleppo began on Thursday and had continued overnight, with thousands of people leaving in buses and ambulances.
But on Friday it was abruptly suspended, with the government accusing rebels of violating the terms of the accord.
"The evacuation operation has been suspended because the militants failed to respect the conditions of the agreement," a security source told AFP.
State television said: "The terrorist groups violated the agreement and tried to smuggle heavy weapons and hostages from east Aleppo."
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has supervised the evacuation, confirmed it was on hold.
The opposition accused the government of suspending the operation in a bid to secure the evacuation of residents from two villages under rebel siege. -- AFP
Russia, which helped to broker the deal with Turkey, said its operation was now 'complete' with all women and children moved from the city, AFP reported.
Ankara and a Syrian military source said the evacuation had been suspended but was not yet over.
"The evacuations are not over and many people still want to leave the area," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The delicate operation to bring the last civilians and rebels out of east Aleppo began on Thursday and had continued overnight, with thousands of people leaving in buses and ambulances.
But on Friday it was abruptly suspended, with the government accusing rebels of violating the terms of the accord.
"The evacuation operation has been suspended because the militants failed to respect the conditions of the agreement," a security source told AFP.
State television said: "The terrorist groups violated the agreement and tried to smuggle heavy weapons and hostages from east Aleppo."
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has supervised the evacuation, confirmed it was on hold.
The opposition accused the government of suspending the operation in a bid to secure the evacuation of residents from two villages under rebel siege. -- AFP
00:24 Top headlines at this hour
Political parties won't be taxed on old notes deposits, conditions apply
Sasikala Pushpa files plea in HC against Chinnamma's elevation as AIADMK chief
Brahmos set to get deadlier; could aim beyond 300-km limit
Demonetisation no surgical strike, but 'firebombing' of nation: Rahul
Parliament sees least productive session in 15 years, courtesy note ban
Read yesterday's live commentary HERE
Sasikala Pushpa files plea in HC against Chinnamma's elevation as AIADMK chief
Brahmos set to get deadlier; could aim beyond 300-km limit
Demonetisation no surgical strike, but 'firebombing' of nation: Rahul
Parliament sees least productive session in 15 years, courtesy note ban
Read yesterday's live commentary HERE
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