Trump threatens stop to Palestinian aid over Jerusalem row

*Trump threatens stop to Palestinian aid over Jerusalem row*

The US may stop aid payments to Palestinians who are "no longer willing to talk peace", President Trump said. On Twitter, Mr Trump said the United States received "no appreciation or respect" in return for its aid. He also said his controversial recognition of the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital took the hugely divisive issue "off the table" for new peace talks.

Palestinians had said the move showed the US could not be a neutral broker. The decision in December was also overwhelmingly condemned at the United Nations, where 128 countries voted against Mr Trump's fulfilment of a campaign promise.

After the announcement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would no longer accept any proposals from Mr Trump's government. "The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process," he said. He also called Jerusalem the "eternal capital of the state of Palestine".

New Jersey boy 👦 'murdered family and friend on New Year's Eve' 😱*

New Jersey boy 👦 'murdered family and friend on New Year's Eve' 😱*

A 16-year-old is accused of shooting his parents, sister and a family friend at home on New Year's Eve. Police received a call about the shooting from inside the home in the beachfront city of Long Branch on Sunday night at 23:43 local time.

Officials say the rifle used in the attack was legally owned by a resident.

Authorities have not divulged a motive for the suspect, who they say will be prosecuted as an adult and was taken into custody without incident.

He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to face four counts of murder and one weapons charge.

Steven Kologi, 44, Linda Kologi, 42, Brittany Kologi, 18, and Mary Schultz, 70, were found dead in the home about 30 miles (48km) from New York City, said officials.

The boy's grandfather and older brother were not targeted and escaped unharmed

India 🇮🇳 : Muslim man beaten to death 😱 'over New Year music' 🎵*

*India 🇮🇳 : Muslim man beaten to death 😱 'over New Year music' 🎵*

A Muslim has been beaten to death in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand after reportedly asking a group to stop playing loud music on New Year's Day.

The incident happened in Mandar, a town close to the state capital, Ranchi.

People blocked the national motorway on Tuesday to demand the arrest of suspects but the blockade was eventually cleared by police.

Extra security personnel have been deployed in the area to keep the peace between Muslim and Hindu communities. Waseem Ansari, 19, worked as a daily wage labourer in Pune and had returned to his village a couple of days ago.

"Waseem Ansari and two of his friends approached the group and told them to stop playing loud music. This led to an argument and Waseem was attacked by the group. It seems he was hit by one of the sharp instruments used in cooking.

"We have requested the two communities maintain peace. The suspects will be arrested soon."

Hasibul Ansari, who lives in the same village as the victim, told BBC Hindi: "These people were partying near a Muslim graveyard. When Waseem told them to stop, they killed him.

"His friends were lucky that they managed to escape in time. I am very sure they would have been killed too if they had not escaped."

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Mudslide danger ⚠ replaces fire threat 🔥 in Southern California❗*

*Mudslide danger ⚠ replaces fire threat 🔥 in Southern California❗*

The frightening hiss and crackle of the massive Thomas Fire in Southern California has been replaced by the loud droning of heavy equipment below the burn area.

Public work crews in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are frantically clearing out every debris basin and storm drain possible, because the fire has left behind another threat -- mudslides.

If it does rain hard, authorities would use K-rail barriers, sandbags or wooden plank fencing to keep water and debris away, and to divert the flow, said Jim O'Toussa, a geologist with the Ventura County Public Works Agency.

"We can also, depending on site characteristics, use large rocks in a series of check dams -- low mounds of large rock in channels -- to reduce (floodwater) velocity, thereby reducing erosion and storing some eroded material," O'Toussa said.

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*Israel 🇮🇱: African migrants told to leave 😱 or face imprisonment*

: *Israel 🇮🇱: African migrants told to leave 😱 or face imprisonment*

The Israeli government has issued a notice for thousands of African migrants to leave the country or face imprisonment. The migrants will be given up to $3,500 (£2,600) for leaving within the next 90 days.

A spokesperson for Israel's Population and Immigration Authority told the BBC there were currently 38,000 "infiltrators" in Israel, of whom just 1,420 were being held in detention facilities.

Many of the migrants - who are mostly from Eritrea and Sudan - say they came to Israel to seek asylum after fleeing persecution and conflict, but the authorities regard them as economic migrants.

This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.

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*🇺🇬Uganda's 👔President Museveni Signs Age Limit 📜Bill into ⚖Law*

 *🇺🇬Uganda's 👔President Museveni Signs Age Limit 📜Bill into ⚖Law*

President Museveni has signed into law the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2 of 2017, popularly known as the age limit bill, recently passed by Parliament. Linda Nabusayi, the President's press secretary confirmed this with the reporter saying Museveni signed the bill into an Act of Parliament on December 27 before sending the communication on December 29.

This means that Museveni, 73, can run for another term of office come 2021 presidential elections, should he choose to. The signing comes amid calls from religious leaders and political activists urging the president to return the bill to Parliament. On December 10, Parliament voted by a majority of 317 MPs against 97 to change the Constitution and remove the 75-year age limit on the presidency and to extend the term of MPs from five to seven years.

The Archbishop of Gulu, who doubles as the chairman of Episcopal conference John Baptist Odama, had, like other religious leaders, cautioned Museveni against appending his signature on the bill. Archbishop Odama had said if Museveni signed the Bill, knowing it was passed without the views of majority Ugandans, he [Museveni] would be tormented by his conscience.