Pupil who hit her teacher with a book facing disciplinary action

The Gauteng education department said on Friday it was investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident of learner misconduct in the wake of a viral video showing a learner throwing something at her teacher.

The video footage shows the learner throwing what appears to be an exercise book at a teacher in the classroom. The teacher walks out of the class while appearing to make a phone call after being hit by the book.

“Our preliminary investigation revealed that the said incident occurred at Three Rivers Secondary School in Sedibeng. We immediately dispatched officials to investigate this incident accordingly‚” department spokesman Steve Mabona said.

He said officials from the psychosocial support initiative had already started with the counselling process of all pupils and teachers on Friday morning.

He said the process to take the learner through a disciplinary hearing has started.

Mabona said the department had also offered counselling to the affected teacher through the employee wellness programme.

“We urge all our learners to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools; and implore parents to assist the department in instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment‚” Gauteng education MEC Panayaza Lesufi said.
The video can be viewed here: Facebook

Captain Morris 'KGB' Tshabalala poisons himself after parole bid fails

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesman Moses Dlamini told the publication that they had received reports that Tshabalala had poisoned himself.

“We have sent investigators to Kgosi Mampuru prison to establish the facts."

The publication has learnt from sources that the parole committee for Tshabalala was sitting on Friday.

"His parole was revoked and he is now a sentenced prisoner. After learning the news he has now gone and poisoned himself‚” said a source. "He is in a critical condition in the prison hospital. It is suspected that this may be part of his plan to escape from custody."

Tshabalala‚ who was stationed with the covert crime intelligence unit‚ was arrested in January by IPID officials as he reported to his parole officers in Pretoria.

His January arrest was connection with allegedly defrauding a South African Police Service slush fund out of R563‚ 000. The fund is meant for operational purposes. He was accused of using fraudulent invoices to claim money to install blinds in safe houses in two plush Pretoria suburbs‚ Waterkloof Heights and Brooklyn.

Tshabalala was on parole after being released in 2015 from the Groenpunt Maximum Security Prison‚ where he was serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery which he committed in Pretoria's Mamelodi township in 1994.

But‚ after losing his appeal in 1996‚ did not surrender himself to prison officials‚ avoided prison and somehow managed to join the police crime intelligence unit.

He was eventually imprisoned after his arrest for a cash-in-transit heist in 2013‚ a crime he was later acquitted of‚ and rejoined the police covert crime intelligence unit.

'Captain KGB' fights for bail as witnesses lie low

KZN ANC shocked after 3 members ‘assassinated’ ahead of voter registration

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed shock and outrage after its elections coordinator and two community members were shot dead by unknown assailants in Mfume in the south coast on Saturday.

The deadly attack comes as the Independent Electoral Commission opened its doors for voter registration on Saturday and Sunday to allow the electorate to confirm their details.

Sihle Zikalala‚ ANC KZN provincial interim committee coordinator‚ said Nqobizwe Mkhize‚ 42‚ was “assassinated” in the early hours of the morning at his residence in Imfume‚ Ward 105 of eThekwini Municipality. Mkhize was responsible for election mobilisation in the district.

“While escaping the scene‚ the assassins fired shots at two other community members who sadly also lost their lives. It’s sad that yet another dark cloud of brutal killings has engulfed our province‚” Zikalala said.

The deadly attack comes as the Independent Electoral Commission opened its doors for voter registration on Saturday and Sunday to allow the electorate to confirm their details.

Sihle Zikalala‚ ANC KZN provincial interim committee coordinator‚ said Nqobizwe Mkhize‚ 42‚ was “assassinated” in the early hours of the morning at his residence in Imfume‚ Ward 105 of eThekwini Municipality. Mkhize was responsible for election mobilisation in the district.

“While escaping the scene‚ the assassins fired shots at two other community members who sadly also lost their lives. It’s sad that yet another dark cloud of brutal killings has engulfed our province‚” Zikalala said.
He said while the full details regarding Mkhize’s murder remained sketchy‚ it appeared that he was attacked while sleeping. He was shot in the presence of his wife.

“The attackers instructed his wife to cover herself while they opened fire on Cde Mkhize and left him dead on the scene. This dastardly assassination of Cde Mkhize leaves a huge void in the ranks of the ANC‚ the alliance and the mass democratic movement in general. He was a true revolutionary who served our community with dedication.”

SAPS spokesman Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed the deaths and said investigations were ongoing.

She said there were no other reports of violence related to the voter registration.

Bagxeka ukwesabisa ngempi kweSilo

Isilo sisikhahlele ngazo zombili isiphakamiso sokuthi siphucwe umhlaba esiwengamele owu-3 million hectares ufakwe ngaphansi kukahulumeni. Isithombe: SIGCINIWE

IPHALAMENDE likugxekile ukwesabisa ngempi okwenziwa yisizwe samaZulu neSilo saso Inkosi uGoodwill Zwelithini mayelana nezincomo ezithi kumele kuthathwe umhlaba weNgonyama Trust ufakwe ngaphansi kukahulumeni.

Isilo sisikhahlele ngazo zombili isiphakamiso sokuthi siphucwe umhlaba esiwengamele owu-3 million hectares ufakwe ngaphansi kukahulumeni.

NgoLwesibili Isilo sithe impi sesiyiphakile ukuvikela umhlaba.

Sithe labo abazama ukusiphuca umhlaba bazohlangana nemamba iphuza umhluzi.

Imbube ithe amabutho asemi ngomumo aselindele ukuba iphakwe.
Udaba lokuthathwa komhlaba weSilo lushubile kulezi zinsuku ngemuva kokuvela kombiko weKhomishini kalowo owake waba nguMengameli, uMnuz Kgalema Motlanthe, ophakamise ukuthi kumele Ingonyama Trust iqedwe kuthi umhlaba ongaphansi kwayo uthathwe nguhulumeni.

IPhalamende izolo lithe izitatimende ezenziwa emphakathini ezinezinsongo zempi zibonakala ziyimizamo yokuphazamisa iPhalamende ekwenzeni imisebenzi yalo.

“Ukuphawula okwenziwayo mayelana nombiko weKhomishini ngaphambi kokuthi iPhalamende lithathe isinqumo nokuthi udaba luxoxwe kahle yizona zonke izinhlaka ezithintekayo kukhombisa ukuthi kunemizamo yokwesabisa iPhalamende ekwenzeni umsebenzi walo okumthethosisekelo,” kusho isitatimende esithunyelwe yiPhalamende.

IPhalamende lithe kuyishwa ukuthi abeNgonyama Trust basebenzise izindlela zokwesabisa ngalolu daba.

Linxuse abeTrust ukuba bahlanganyele ezingxoxweni zodaba.

Umholi we-EFF, uMnuz Julius Malema, uthe uma umhlaba weNgonyama Trust ungasetshenziswa ngendlela kuzomele ihlakazwe, umhlaba unikezwe abantu

Nigeria plane makes emergency landing in Ghana: airline

Lagos - Nigerian plane made an emergency landing in Ghana after smoke was detected in the cabin, officials said Friday, in the latest incident to hit domestic and foreign airline operators.

The aircraft, owned by Arik Air, was travelling from Lagos to Accra on Tuesday when the fault was detected but no-one was hurt, a company statement said.

"Arik Air flight W3 304 from Lagos to Accra on March 6, 2018 declared an emergency in line with standard operating procedures, when (an) unknown source of smoke was detected in the cabin", it said.

The incident occurred 130km from the Ghanaian capital but the plane "landed safely in Accra without further incident", it said.

It was the latest in a string of incidents involving the aviation sector over the past month.

On February 7, an emergency exit door fell off a Dana Air jet as it landed in Abuja after flying in from Lagos.
Six days later, an Atlanta-bound Delta airlines jet was forced to return to Lagos after a fire was detected in one of its engines with passengers using emergency slides to evacuate the plane, officials said.

On February 17, an Air Peace plane had to delay landing in the southwestern city of Akure because cows had strayed onto the runway. Another Dana Air plane overshot the runway at Port Harcourt on February 20 due to heavy rain and flooding.

And on Wednesday, the Nigerian government ordered a complete audit of Dana Air's operations to determine the technical fitness of its fleet.

The airline was grounded after a 2012 crash outside Lagos that killed all 153 on board and six on the ground. Mechanical failure and pilot error were blamed.

Zimbabwe army detains Mugabe staff without food, water ... interrogates them for hours - reports

Harare - Staff at Robert Mugabe's Harare mansion were detained without food or water and questioned for hours this week by military officers who pressed them for information on recent meetings held by the former president, reports from Zimbabwe said on Friday.

Four security staff, including chief security officer Funny Mpofu were taken for questioning at an army barracks in Harare on Wednesday morning and only released at the end of the day, reports the Zimbabwe Independent.

Grace Mugabe 'anxious'

The paper said the staff were questioned about "the visitors Mugabe has been receiving and the agenda of their meetings".

Mugabe was not at the house at the time, having gone to South Africa to visit his sons. Former first lady Grace Mugabe, who stayed behind, was said to be "very anxious and not sure whether to remain there", an unnamed security officer told the Independent.

Mugabe caused a stir in the ranks of the ruling Zanu-PF after he held a meeting on Sunday with former cabinet minister Ambrose Mutinhiri, who quit the ruling party to head a new party with links to Mugabe and his allies.

Mutinhiri said he resigned from Zanu-PF in protest against last year's "military coup" that led to Mugabe's resignation.

The meeting has fuelled speculation that Mugabe could be planning a political comeback, which would spoil President Emmerson Mnangagwa's chances of unifying Zanu-PF supporters in Mugabe's former rural strongholds ahead of polls later this year.

The private Daily News said that a total of four of Mugabe's staffers were detained on Wednesday.

No food or water

"The workers were denied access to food or water and they were being asked names of the people who have been visiting the former president," an unnamed source told the paper.

In another report, a source told the private NewsDay: "The interrogations were centred on who visits the former president, how (the workers) spend the day and if the ex-president discusses politics. Basically, they wanted to know the thinking of the old man and his plans."

There's been no word from the government on the alleged detention of Mugabe's staff. Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told NewsDay that he had "no information" on the episode.

How Ngcobo cult kept its sex slaves

"He was my king, whatever he said I did. I would not question that. I worshipped him."

These were the words of 23-year-old Siphosomzi Tshefu, one of the men accused of the murder of five police officers and a soldier in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, two weeks ago.

Tshefu was referring to Thandazile Mancoba, one of the leaders of the Seven Angels Ministry, which has been implicated in the murders.

Tshefu was applying for bail in the Ngcobo Magistrate's Court on Thursday along with five co-accused Andani Monco, Kwanele Ndlawana, Siphesihle Tatsi, Phumzile Mhlatywa and Phuthumile Mancoba.

Tshefu, the son of a soldier, testified about the weapon used in the attack which started at the police station on February 21.

He said he had used a gun stolen from a police officer in an unrelated incident. He disposed of the weapon allegedly on the instructions of Thandazile.

"No one gave us orders except Thandazile. [I] had no decision of not listening to him because he was my king, whatever he said I did. I would not question that. I worshipped him."

Magistrate Nozuko Mviko asked whether he would obey if Thandazile told him to take a gun and shoot himself. He answered "yes".

He said he could not afford bail. The only person at the Mancoba home who would have paid his bail was Thandazile, but he was dead.

He said he joined the church around 2002.

He said he would plead guilty to the charges against him.

All the accused face charges of five counts of murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and attempted murder.

I have no privacy in cells

Tshefu's co-accused Ndlwana, also testified on Thursday.

He told the court that his sister was married to Thandazile and that his father was a police officer based in East London.

The 22-year-old said one of the reasons he wanted to be released on bail was so that he could tell his sister what had happened the night Thandazile was killed.

In the cells where he was held, there was no privacy and he couldn't say certain things to his sister, the court heard.

Thandazile was one of seven Mancoba brothers who led the controversial Seven Angels Ministry, which has been likened to a cult, in the small rural town of Ngcobo.

Thandazile was killed during a shootout in which the accused were arrested.

The Grade Nine drop out, who stared at his feet as he spoke, said he had left school because his belief did not allow him to study and work.

He said his mom from the church and Thandazile took care of him, fed him and he was given money for clothes. He did not know where the money came from.

The lord would show us what to do

State advocate Nomapha Mvandaba asked where church members would get money, if they were not allowed to work.

He responded: “Bekuzobonisa ubawo uba senze njani (The Lord would show us what to do to survive)."

Mvandaba further asked whether he would comply if he was told to commit crime in order to survive.

He answered: "If his will says so, I do what he asks me to do. I don't question him. He did not say I must apply for bail but I used my mind to think which he gave me. (sic)"

Turning to the weapons used in the shootout at Seven Angels Ministry, Ndlwana said four rifles were taken, one at Nyanga and three at the police station.

When asked whether he considered that the deceased cops would never see their families or that they were the breadwinners in their homes, he chose not to answer those questions.

Magistrate Mviko asked him what guarantee there was that he would not kill other police officers if he was released.

He answered: "I have no object to do that and I have no intention of killing cops."

Stolen weapons

Ndlwana also told the court that the weapons used to kill the police officers were stolen from two police officers in Butterworth and Cala.

He refused to answer when he was asked what was used to bomb a Capitec ATM, the night the police officers and soldier were massacred.

The Ngcobo Magistrate's Court was packed to capacity as people gathered to listen to the evidence.

Co-accused Phuthumile Mancoba, who is also a church leader, Tatsi and Mhlatywa will apply for bail on March 19.

A sixth accused Andani Monco, chose not to apply for bail.

Gigaba 'erroneously' said Atul Gupta is not a SA citizen - Home Affairs DG

Cape Town - The Department of Home Affairs has attempted to clear the confusion surrounding the naturalisation of the Guptas by clarifying that Atul and Rajesh Gupta are indeed South African citizens, but that fugitive Ajay Gupta is not.

Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni said on Wednesday that Atul had been naturalised in November 2002 and Rajesh in July 2006. Both of them appear on the IEC voters' roll.

Apleni said that Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba had "erroneously" told the a media briefing on Tuesday that Atul Gupta was not a South African citizen.

Atul was apparently naturalised before Gigaba became minister of home affairs, the department said.

Axed Prasa workers say Montana told them to burn trains

A group of 700 former workers dismissed by passenger rail agency Prasa five years ago have accused the agency’s former CEO, Lucky Montana, of being the brains behind the burning of train coaches.

Last month, members of the National Transport Movement (NTM) won a landmark Constitutional Court bid to be reinstated.

They claimed Montana and those sympathetic to him orchestrated and covered up the arson. This was allegedly done in a bid to divert attention from alleged corruption at the parastatal.

NTM deputy general secretary Craig Nte and deputy Gauteng secretary Robert Sebati claimed on Thursday that two people were responsible for torching the trains and were “rewarded for their deeds”.

Montana dismissed the claims as unfounded.

“I will not entertain such allegations by NTM, in particular from Nte. They made these same allegations to the Public Protector and the report from the Public Protector’s office, titled Derailed, vindicated me. They cannot accuse me of directly firing workers in an attempt to cover up any corruption.

“I was a group chief executive officer and did not have direct access to employees,” Montana said.

The report by then public protector Thuli Madonsela was released in August 2015. It relates to alleged financial mismanagement and tender and appointment irregularities at Prasa.

In it Madonsela establishes that Montana was “not statutorily Prasa’s accounting officer or an accounting authority for the purposes of section 86, which identifies persons who may be criminally sanctioned in terms of the Public Finance Management Act”.

According to the remedial action contained in the report, it would not be appropriate for Prasa to pursue a prosecution against Montana.

Prasa dismissed the group of workers after a staff protest in January 2013, during which coaches were set on fire. The damage caused was estimated at R42m.

The workers were on a protected strike. After the burning of the trains, Prasa sent notices to the workers asking them to motivate why they should not be fired. NTM submitted reasons, but Prasa did not agree and fired them.

Prasa said this week that it sacked them after its preliminary investigation found they knew who was responsible for the arson, but refused to disclose their identities.

Two weeks ago‚ the Constitutional Court dismissed Prasa’s appeal against a Labour Appeal Court judgment handed down last year. The appeal court ordered Prasa to reinstate the workers. It was estimated that doing so would cost the parastatal over R1bn.

The workers, including Nte, marched to Prasa’s Johannesburg office on Thursday demanding their immediate reinstatement, in line with the court’s order.

Nte was a security manager at Prasa at the time of the dismissals. He claimed he was fired for lifting the lid on Montana’s allegedly questionable activities at the parastatal.

“My job description included investigating and reporting any alleged misconduct. When I raised concerns about some of Montana’s dealings, I was targeted and dismissed.”

He said Prasa explained to him that he was fired for bringing Montana’s name into disrepute.

Montana said he agreed with recommendations by the workers’ supervisors and managers that they be fired.

He said he was well aware of the fact that not all protesters could have been involved in the destruction of property and that some lost their jobs because of the actions of an unruly few.

Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani said: “I don’t know any management that would burn its own assets.”

She did not want to comment on the arson, as this was a thing of the past.

“I would like to assure you that the company is fully compliant with the Constitutional Court judgment.”

She said general workers would return to work on Monday because they did not need any training. However, critical grade workers such as train drivers would need training, while some might need to have their licences renewed.

NTM said it was not convinced that Prasa was not complying with the Constitutional Court’s order as none of them was back at work yet.

Nte said the workers were fired in a “wholesale manner” and that Prasa should do the same when rehiring them.

Josina Matona was a trade hand at the time. She said the dismissals resulted in her losing her husband and home.

“I was admitted to hospital soon after I was dismissed from work. I also lost my husband, who did not understand why I took part in the protests that led to me losing my job.

“I lost my home because I had bought it via a bond. All I want is my job back and the back pay to assist with all the debt I have incurred over the five years I have been unemployed,” she said.

Another federal judge rejects Trump's travel ban

People protest against President Donald Trump's new travel ban March 7 in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked much of the third version of Trump's ban. File Photo by Erin Schaff


Another federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's third attempted travel ban.

The halt to Trump's latest order on foreign travel to the United States, a preliminary injunction from Maryland District Judge Theodore Chuang, was less restrictive than one issued by a Hawaii judge Tuesday -- but it blocks the administration from enforcing the order on travelers without a "bona fide" familial or professional relationship with someone in the United States. The limitations are spelled out in Section 2 of Trump's proclamation.
"This preliminary Injunction is granted on a nationwide basis and prohibits the enforcement of Section 2 of Presidential Proclamation 9645 in all places, including the United States, at all United States borders and ports of entry, and in the issuance of visas," Chuang wrote.

The president's ban was set to take effect Wednesday. Hours earlier, it was partially blocked by the Hawaii ruling and applied to travelers from Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Chad, Somalia, North Korea and Venezuela.

Watson's ruling did not address accusations that Trump's proclamation was motivated by discrimination against Muslim travelers, but Chuang's 91-page ruling did -- suggesting that Trump intended to bar U.S. entry to Muslims, a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.

The Maryland judge noted that as a presidential candidate, Trump promised a "complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" and that all of the president's comments suggest his order is directed toward that goal.

Chuang also noted that in August, while courts were weighing an updated travel ban, Trump "endorsed what appears to be an apocryphal story involving General John J. Pershing and a purported massacre of Muslims with bullets dipped in a pig's blood, advising people to 'study what General Pershing . . . did to terrorists when caught.'"

The National Iranian American Council said Wednesday that it, with 15 other activist groups, obtained 42,000 signatures on a Change.org petition calling for Congress to rescind the latest travel ban. The petitions, the NIAC said, will be sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.


The coalition said it called on Congress to "make absolutely clear that such attempts to target Muslims, or anyone on the basis of national origin, are unlawful." Protesters gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to deliver the message.

Trump and administration officials have repeatedly said the temporary ban is motivated by national security interests.

The White House did not immediately respond to the judge's order Wednesday.

North Korea congratulates China ahead of Communist Party congress

      North Korea sent a message of congratulations to China on Tuesday. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI 

North Korea congratulated China on the occasion of the 19th congress of the Communist Party, a rare move for Pyongyang.

Pyongyang's state-controlled new agency KCNA reported Wednesday, local time, the central committee of the Korean Workers' Party sends "warm greetings to the party, party members and the people of China on the occasion of the 19th congress of the Chinese Communist Party."

"The people of China have made great strides in carrying out socialist construction under the correct leadership of the Chinese Communist Party," the North Korean central committee said. "We consider this an extremely joyous event."

North Korea used its state media to send a similar message to China on June 30, when Beijing celebrated the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

That message was addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Pyongyang also sent a message of congratulations in 2012, during the 18th party congress, according to Yonhap.

Park Byung-kwang, the director of Northeast Asia research at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul, said North Korea must send these signals to China because the world's second-largest economy plays an important role.

"No matter how frosty relations become between China and North Korea, North Korea has no intention to cut off relations," Park said.

North Korea is playing its cards carefully at a time when the U.S. State Department is not ruling out diplomacy.

Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday "diplomacy is our preferred approach."

"We're not give up on that," Nauert said.

"We want North Korea to understand that it can choose a different path. It can choose a different path. It's up to North Korea to change its course of action if they want to return to credible negotiations," Nauert said.

China's Xi Jinping opens 19th Communist Party Congress with 'new era' speech

Communist Party delegates listen to China's President Xi Jinping giving a nearly four-hour long speech on the country's future during the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China Wednesday. Photo by Stephen Shaver

Chinese President Xi Jinping gave an opening speech on Wednesday at the country's 19th National Congress announcing a new chapter for the country.

Xi, in a speech that lasted for nearly four hours, noted a two-stage development plan that would help propel China into becoming a "great modern socialist country."
He said the two-part plan has a first stage projected to occur from 2020 to 2035, where the Communist Party of China will ensure that socialist modernization is realized. The second stage, from 2035 to the middle of the 21st century, builds on modernization and develops China into a "great modern socialist country".

Beijing's leader also spoke at the Congress about a "new era" for China where the country should take "center stage in the world."

Xi spoke about issues such as the economy, which he noted is transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development. His take on foreign policy mentioned China not closing its doors to the world while not seeking "hegemony."

The Chinese president cemented himself as the most powerful man to rule the country in a generation, as he is expecting to remain party chief for a second five-year term.

Under Xi's leadership, China's economy has grown and standards of living are improved. He also built up the nation's military and influence in national affairs -- including transforming Beijing's relationship with the United States by both vowing to restrain North Korea and by flexing military might in Asia.

Xi, however, has also cracked down on certain democratic measures like freedom of expression and imposed greater censorship in the media and the internet, making it difficult to say if he has vast popular support of the Chinese people.

Although Xi mapped out a plan for China's future development, he made sure to note that the country was still the world's largest developing country and would long remain in the primary stage of socialism.


"Achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park," Xi said. "It will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there."

California fires: 88 still missing as lighter winds help crews control flames

The death toll from the Northern California wildfires climbed to 41 after a firefighter died in a car accident while delivering water, authorities said.

The firefighter was delivering water to help battle the Nuns Fire, which is 53 percent contained, when officials said the truck rolled over.
"He was helping to fight the fires and do the right thing," California Highway Patrol Cpt. Mike Palacio said. "We don't know what happened."

Fire officials said they are optimistic about their progress after a week-long battle with California's deadliest wildfires. Officials said lighter winds have helped, and rain expected this week will help even more.

"The conditions have been pretty favorable, the winds have been less than expected," Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Jones said. "Sunday night was the 'second night in the row where we had some reasonably decent production.'"

Fire officials said the Atlas and Tubbs fires, two of the main blazes, are more than 70 percent contained.


Firefighters have begun to use proactive strategies, like using bulldozers to dig trenches, to keep the blazes from spreading.

Authorities said 88 people remain missing and roughly 40,000 haven't yet returned to their homes.

Though some evacuations have been lifted -- like in Mendocino County where 8,000 people were allowed to return home Monday -- authorities warn there's still some danger.

Authorities said all told, the wildfires have scorched more than 200,000 acres -- including parts of the region's lucrative wine country.

Trump to address South Korean National Assembly on trip to Asia

Donald Trump will become the first U.S. president to make a state visit to South Korea in 25 years, as part of his 12-day trip to Asia next month.

High on his agenda will be building pressure for North Korea to curb plans to develop nuclear missiles and addressing South Korea's parliament.
After a stop in Hawaii, Trump will travel to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from Nov. 3-14, the White House announced Monday.

"The president's travel will underscore his commitment to longstanding United States alliances and partnerships and reaffirm United States leadership in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the White House said in a statement.

Trump first will visit Honolulu, including Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.

He will travel to Tokyo, Japan, for meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Nov. 5. He also is scheduled to meet with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by the North Korean regime.

Then he will fly to Seoul, South Korea, to will meet with President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 7.

"At their upcoming summit, the two leaders are scheduled to discuss ways to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance, enhance their cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, establish peace and stability in Northeast Asia and enhance their countries' practical cooperation," South Korea's Cheong Wa of the South Korean presidential office said.

The Moon-Trump meeting is the second since Pyongyang staged its latest and sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3. They met last month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two leaders also met in Washington in June.

The White House said Trump will also speak at the South Korean national parliament.

"The president will speak at the National Assembly, where he will celebrate the enduring alliance and friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea and call on the international community to join together in maximizing pressure on North Korea," the White House said.

On Nov. 8, Trump will leave Seoul for Beijing for a "series of bilateral, commercial and cultural events," including meetings with President Xi Jinping, the White House said.

Trump next will travel to Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10, where he will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting and speak at the APEC CEO Summit.

The next day, the president will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, for an official visit and events that include meetings with President Tran Dai Quang.

On Nov. 12, Trump will arrive in Manila, Philippines, to participate in the Special Gala Celebration Dinner for the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

On Nov.13, the president also will celebrate the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN relations at the U.S.-ASEAN Summit and participate in bilateral meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines and other leaders.

In April, Trump praised Duterte's crackdown on drug trafficking in which thousands of people have been killed.

Islamic State defeated in Raqqa after four-month siege

The Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the United States and an international coalition providing airstrikes, said it completed the takeover of Raqqa, Syria, from the Islamic State on Tuesday. File Photo by Youssef Rabie Youssef/EPA

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Tuesday it has cleared Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital, of all militant fighters -- ending a fight that began early this summer.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, the U.S.-backed rebel force, said the four-month fight in the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital ended Tuesday -- with about 300 remaining militant holdouts confined to a narrow section of the city.
The SDF said its fighters gradually removed the last remaining militant holdouts early Tuesday. Liberating troops said they had 95 percent of the city under its control on Monday.

IS had held the city for three years and some could still be holed up in the city's buildings and tunnels, officials said. The SDF said it will likely take months to clear explosives from the city -- which at one time had a population of more than 300,000 -- and that more than 900 civilians died in the weeks-long siege.

Raqqa National Hospital was captured on Tuesday, as well as al-Naim Circle, a public square infamous for IS executions and beheadings. A convoy of IS troops and their families left the city on Saturday, SDF added.

The mission to force the Islamic State from Raqqa, called "Euphrates Wrath," involved fierce battles between jihadists and SDF forces. Airstrikes by a U.S.-led international coalition has destroyed about 80 percent of the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Raqqa now faces an arduous cleanup effort, as well as political uncertainty.

The U.S.-led coalition and SDF have pledged to return Raqqa to civilian rule, but experts say ethnic, tribal and political factors could undermine a simple handover. Two civilian councils, one backed by the SDF and the other supported by the Turkey-based main Syrian opposition group, are mounting plans to administer the city.

The Islamic State lost Mosul, its largest city in Iraq, three months ago -- and now controls only a small strip of Syrian territory in the Euphrates Valley, south of the city of Deir Ezzor.

North Korea defector: Hundreds of 'reformers' killed after Jang Song Thaek purge

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un applaudssr the launch of the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 16. File Photo by Yonhap

North Korea's Kim Jong Un ordered the massacre of hundreds of officers and their families following the purge and execution of his uncle Jang Song Thaek in 2013, a former senior North Korean economic official said.

Speaking at the Asia Society in New York on Monday, Ri Jong Ho, the previous head of the Korea Daehung Trading Corp., managed by Room or Office 39, said he left the reclusive state when he became "disappointed" with the young leader's brutal methods of punishing reform-minded North Koreans.
Room or Office 39 is the secret North Korean Workers' Party organization in charge of maintaining the regime's foreign currency slush fund.

Ri has previously said Room 39 responsibilities may have been transferred to other departments since he sought asylum in the United States.

"The year I left, the Kim Jong Un regime, following the purge and execution of Jang Song Thaek, executed hundreds of officers affiliated with Jang, as well as their families," Ri said. "Thousands were dragged to political prison camps."

There was also an ordinance to "dry the seeds" of the accused, and children of suspects were routinely slaughtered as Kim consolidated his power in 2014, Ri said.

The North Korean leader's actions triggered doubts among the country's elite, many of them loyalists of Kim Jong Il, the leader's father.

"How can we follow the party, the leader, we faithfully followed all this time?" Ri said. "There was no future, so I defected with my family."

North Korea's nuclear weapons

Ri said Pyongyang's development of weapons of mass destruction is less of a threat than a sign the regime feels threatened by South Korea and the United States.

North Koreans "have always seen South Korea as the enemy," the defector said. "Because of the U.S.-South Korea military alliance, they believe they can always come under attack."

North Korea may bluster its way into the public eye, but the tactic may be a distraction hiding a regime with a weak economy --- and a justifiable fear of the outside world.

"South Korea can always swallow North Korea. There's a sense of threat there," Ri said. "That's why they develop nuclear weapons."

A sense of the South's economic superiority triggered suspicion of Seoul's Sunshine Policy in 2000, when former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung traveled to Pyongyang to hold a historical summit with leader Kim Jong Il.

The policy, which has been criticized by conservatives in the United States and South Korea, was in fact seen as a South Korean plan to absorb the North, Ri said.

Kim Jong Il had his own version of the South Korean leader's visit to his country, one that is not shared in Seoul.

Kim Dae-jung is "kneeling, begging for forgiveness with gifts of funds," Ri said, quoting a lecture given by the North Korean leader at the time.

"They are giving the gifts to us because we won the [Korean] war," the North Korean leader reportedly said, according to Ri.

Kim also told his senior officers to "never harbor illusions about the South."

Kim Jong Un lacks confidence

North Korea is raising anxieties in the United States following a war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim.

Some observers had warned of a possible conflict due to worsening relations between the two countries.

North Korean officials' warnings to test a hydrogen bomb above ground have spiked fears of conflict, but strong rhetoric is a North Korea tactic that has been in use for years, Ri said, and does not guarantee escalation.

"They're doing to the United States what they did to South Korea for decades," Ri said. "To be honest, Kim Jong Un does not have confidence."

North Korea defied expectations last week when the country stayed away from provocations on its Workers' Party anniversary.

Ri also said the regime's isolation from neighbors, including China, is a sign of vulnerability.

"That Kim Jong Un cannot reach out to China is a sign doing so will break down the hereditary regime," Ri said, pointing out the leaders of China and North Korea have yet to meet. "There was always a basic assumption that China could not be trusted."

Ri was referring to Kim's disregard for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who he has called a "dog."

Xi told North Korea to stay away from nuclear tests, advice Kim has not heeded since 2013, Ri said.

Macon Co. Man to Sentenced to Seven Years for Child Pornography

Keith Channing Reddick, 42, of Notasulga, was sentenced on Friday, October 13, to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for receipt of child pornography, announced Louis V. Franklin, Sr., United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Reddick pled guilty to the charges in May.

The charges stemmed from Reddick’s collection of child pornography that contained images and videos of child sexual abuse. Evidence showed that Reddick collected child pornography from July 9, 2008, until April 26, 2011 and that he searched for images on the Internet using terms commonly associated with child pornography. The images found in his possession included several of prepubescent children. When interviewed by law enforcement, Reddick admitted to receiving child pornography and saving the files to his computer.

During sentencing, the Court heard testimony regarding Reddick’s criminal history. In 1997, Reddick was charged with trespassing into an adjoining townhouse. The victims of the trespassing testified in court that Reddick entered their townhouse through a hole cut in the firewall. They became suspicious when they noticed that doors that had been previously locked were mysteriously unlocked and items in the home were missing or disturbed. Law enforcement later discovered a hole in the ceiling above their shower, along with soiled towels and a video camera in the attic space. Reddick later pled guilty to two counts of trespassing.

In 2009, Reddick was charged with unlawful criminal surveillance. The victim of the incident testified that Reddick attempted to photograph her in a dressing room using his cell phone.

In addition to 7 years in prison, Chief United States District Judge W. Keith Watkins sentenced Reddick to supervised release for life. Reddick remains in federal custody.

“Victimizing children will not be tolerated,” stated U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr.. “This child predator is now off the streets, making our community safer and our children protected. I want to especially thank the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Agents for their excellent work on this case.”

Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Hal Taylor said, “The outcome of this investigation clearly demonstrates Alabama will not tolerate such heinous behavior. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency values our partnership with the U.S. Attorney Franklin’s Office to ensure the safety of citizens of all ages.”

This case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Hollie Worley Reed prosecuted the case.

Two Men Arrested After Shooting Following University of Alabama Homecoming Game

Kenneth Ray Ikner Jr.

A man was injured in a shooting after the University of Alabama homecoming football game.

News outlets report Tuscaloosa police say the victim was shot in the lower back after midnight Sunday outside the Rounders Bar on the University Boulevard strip near Bryant-Denny Stadium.

                                Tamarcus James Ikner

Capt. Kip Hart said investigators learned Kenneth Ray Ikner Jr. and the victim were involved in an ongoing fight over a woman. Witnesses told police that Tamarcus James Ikner came up to the victim outside Rounders, leading to an altercation, and then retrieved a gun from Kenneth Ikner in a car.

Tamarcus Ikner is charged with attempted murder and Kenneth Ikner is charged with first-degree assault. It’s unclear if they have lawyers.

The victim, whose name hasn’t been released, was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

NATO conducts annual nuclear defense drill in Western Europe

NATO countries on Monday kicked off its annual nuclear drill at two bases in Western Europe -- part of a three-week event to test defenses.

Military leaders conducted the nuclear defense drill, called "Steadfast Noon," at Kleine Brogel in Belgium and Buchel in Germany -- two bases where the U.S. military stores nuclear weapons.
Details of the exercise were not made public but NATO officials privately said it was the military alliance's primary nuclear deterrent drill.

The three week NATO event, "Formidable Shield 17," started last month and will conclude Wednesday.

The U.S. Navy said that NATO's involvement in the annual exercise included the successful interception of medium-range ballistic missiles -- fired from Spanish and Dutch ships -- by the USS Donald Cook. It marked the first time that NATO's smart defense concept was demonstrated, with ships used as air defense units to protect naval ballistic missile units.

While NATO did not identify participating countries, the U.S. Navy said ships from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Britain were involved in the drills. More than 14 ships, 10 aircraft and about 3,000 personnel were involved on Scotland's Western Isles.

Russia conducted similar military exercises last month on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, which included a nuclear deterrent drill and the firing of a ballistic missile.

"This exercise is planned to be a recurring, biennial event, and is designed to assure allies, deter adversaries, and demonstrate our commitment to collective defense of the NATO alliance," a statement from U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa said.

This year's drill took on an added significance with the new administration of President Donald Trump, who has expressed disappointment this year with member states not contributing sufficient funds toward their own defenses.

"This is why it is so important that NATO continues with its classic nuclear planning structure, including these exercises," Jan Techau, director of the Holbrooke Forum for the Study of Diplomacy in Berlin, told The Wall Street Journal. "It is important to send out the message of continuity and reliability, because that is what deterrence is based on."

Alabama girl dies after falling into grease pit at ice cream shop

A 3-year-old Alabama girl is dead after she fell into a grease pit at an ice cream shop and drowned, officials said.

The girl was playing with her siblings at the shop when she fell through a covering on a six-foot deep grease trap, according to Lee County Coroner Bill Harris.
The girl was missing for several minutes before she was found unresponsive in the pit.

Relatives and employees at the ice cream shop tried to revive the child and she was rushed to the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Ala., where she was pronounced dead.


The girl's death has been ruled an accident.

"Please keep this family in your prayers as they suffer through this tragedy," Harris said.