Icetruck

At least 27 dead and more than two dozen injured in Texas church shooting

WATCH Mass shooting at church in Texas: Special report

At least 27 people were killed and around 27 injured in a Texas church shooting Sunday morning, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

The alleged shooter is dead, and it appears there is no longer an active threat at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 40 miles southeast of San Antonio, police told ABC News.

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A person who said she works at a gas station across the street from the church told ABC News she heard rapid gunfire at around 11:15 a.m., leading congregants from the church as well as customers at the station to run inside for cover.

“We heard several shots and we all started running inside the store,” she said.

“It lasted about 15 seconds. I yelled, ‘Get down! Get inside!’ and we all went into hiding,” said the woman, who said she is 49 but declined to give her name.

She said the gas station locked its doors. "We have not reopened,” she said.

She then that within minutes of the gunfire, emergency personnel had arrived at the scene.

“There were officers that were checking the wounded in here were asking them questions,” she said.

The FBI and ATF were at the scene by Sunday afternoon, and at least six people from the church were taken to Connally Memorial Center in nearby Floresville for treatment.

ABC News

Police formed a perimeter around the white clapboard church and flooded its grounds with emergency and police vehicles, according to KSAT.

Area of the church is now blocked off and taped off. Family and friends still waiting to hear if their loved ones are safe. pic.twitter.com/YsKz78i3Lg

— Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017

A small group of people were seen clustered together outside the church, an unassuming building with a red door. They were holding hands as tears overtook an attempt to pray, a KSAT reporter said.

Families in tears wait to see if their family and friends are safe. Praying for the safety of all those involved. pic.twitter.com/yjzK7lZJ1S

— Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017

Trump tweeted on the shooting from Japan where he is visiting on his Asia tour.

May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement, "The thoughts and prayers of all Texans are with the people of Sutherland Springs as tragic reports come out of First Baptist Church."

"Please join Angela and me as we pray for those impacted by this horrific shooting,” Paxton said.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back with ABC News for updates.

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Source – abcnews.go.com

Hezbollah: Lebanon PM forced to resign by Saudi Arabia

The head of Lebanon's powerful militant group Hezbollah accused Saudi Arabia Sunday of forcing the country's prime minister to resign after less than a year in his post, as Bahrain ordered its citizens in Lebanon to "leave immediately" and banned travel there.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri stunned Lebanon and its leaders Saturday when he announced his resignation in a televised statement recorded in Saudi Arabia, citing Iranian and Hezbollah meddling in Arab affairs.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, one of Lebanon's most powerful figures, said the statement was "dictated and forced upon" Hariri and called for calm as Lebanese leaders consult over next steps.

Hariri's abrupt resignation has set off anxious chatter about Lebanon's unstable political configuration and put it at the center of a spiraling regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

It has also raised worries that the Gulf kingdom, under the leadership of its increasingly bullish Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, will squeeze Lebanon as a way to get to Iran's proxy Hezbollah.

"We need to wait and see why Saudi Arabia obligated the head of the government to resign," said Nasrallah.

Bahrain's travel ban against Lebanon portends broader prohibitions by Gulf states against the tiny Mediterranean country, which depends on Gulf investment and tourism to keep its economy running.

A harsher package of sanctions would be in line with the Gulf Cooperation Council's abrupt trade boycott with Qatar over what Gulf states see as Doha's unfavorably warm ties with Tehran. The boycott has been in place since June. GCC member states warned against travel to Lebanon in 2012 and again in 2016.

Hariri, who read his statement haltingly and glanced frequently off camera, has not been seen in Lebanon since Saturday, prompting speculation he may be held in Saudi Arabia against his will.

He posted a photo on Twitter Sunday night from the Gulf kingdom with the newly sworn in Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Yacoub.

Still, Nasrallah said Hariri could return Thursday to meet with President Michel Aoun who by law must accept the Prime Minister's resignation in order for it to be valid. Aoun has not indicated how he will rule.

Hariri first ascended to the Lebanese premiership in 2009 with Saudi Arabia's backing, until Hezbollah and its allies withdrew from his Cabinet in 2011 and forced the government's collapse. The Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah is now the chief political rival of Hariri's Future Movement.

The 47-year old leader was appointed to the post again in 2016, ending a two-year power vacuum at the top of Lebanon's government and raising the possibility of parliamentary elections for the first time since 2009, four years behind schedule.

Lebanon has weathered waves of assassinations and terror blasts and numerous political crises since emerging from a 15-year civil war which ended in 1990. It also survived a war with Israel in 2006 and a protracted Israeli occupation of its southern territories until 2000.

Hariri's resignation came on the same day as a stunning lock up of over three dozen Saudi princes, ministers, and businessmen, in a move seen as squashing the internal rivalry to ascendant Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Hezbollah and its allies have been given veto power in Lebanese politics since Hezbollah forces seized the streets of Beirut in brief clashes in 2008. Their political bloc controls the largest shares of seats in Lebanon's parliament.

Hezbollah was founded with Iranian support in 1982 to resist the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and has since emerged as a regional power in its own right.

Lebanon, once one of the key flashpoints of the Saudi-Iran rivalry, officially declared itself neutral with respect to the civil war in neighboring Syria.

But Hezbollah fighters have poured into Syria, angering Saudi Arabia. They have been fighting alongside Iranian advisers and militias in the Syrian war, providing crucial support to President Bashar Assad's forces as a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations morphed into full-fledged war.

Dozens of rebel factions in Syria are or have been backed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia's Gulf allies.

Assad and his Iranian-supported allies are now firmly in command of the war in Syria, in a humiliation to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

—-

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell contributed to this report from Dubai, U.A.E.

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Source – abcnews.go.com

Watching your pet and your child grow together is a bliss. Having a fun, loving and a cuddly member in the family makes your days better and always teach you a lesson or two.

Here are 20 reasons why you should never deny your kid from buying a new pet.

1. They Are Snuggly:

Doesn't that just melt your heart ❤ #growingupwithpets

A post shared by Candice Horn (@candice.horn) on Mar 8, 2017 at 9:08am PST

2. They Understand Us:

BFF's. It's true unconditional love! Boy.vs his dog #doglove #family #growingupwithpets

A post shared by Vanessa Ventresca (@ventrescavanessa) on Sep 27, 2017 at 3:04pm PDT

3. They Guard Us:

????My little sister.♡♡ ???? ???? ???? #baby #babyanddog #dogandbaby #babygirl #6months #OLYMPUS #赤ちゃんと犬 #4月生まれ #6ヶ月 #おひるね #兄妹 #littlegirl #littlebaby #littlesister #pecoいぬ部 #like4like

A post shared by チッチ????ときどきシロクロ (@chichi_chichi.chi) on Oct 29, 2017 at 8:26pm PDT

4. The Are Our Best Friend:

昨日の写真。仲良くヘソ天 #柴犬ゆず #柴犬 #しばいぬ #shiba #shibainu #shibadog #japanesedog #babyanddog #赤ちゃんと犬

A post shared by A.Kojima (@yuzu_k.a) on Oct 29, 2017 at 3:40pm PDT

5. They Act As Our Pillow:

Afternoon nap with my little sister . Isn't she the cutest ❤️????#dogandbaby #babyanddog #babyanddoglove . . . #babyoftheday #cutebabies #cutebabygirl #roamohio #ohioexplored #goldenretrieversworld #goldensarethebest #dogsarelife #dogsarethebest #dogsarefamily #dogsofinsta #dogsoflondon #lovedogs #loveisbeautiful #bigbrotherlove #littlesisterlove #siblinggoals #ellentube #ellenshowpets #ellenshow #dogsofflorida #dogsofnyc #woofwoof #furfamily #blessedfamily #dogloversofinstagram #dogsofinsta #chewy

A post shared by "Happy" The Golden Retriever (@happy.golden.retriever) on Oct 28, 2017 at 12:04pm PDT

6. They Watch Us Sleep:

Don't touch my human. #blackandwhite #blackcat #siblings #love #babyboy #babyandcat #mylove #mylife #naptime #donttouchmyhuman #instalove #instaanimal #instacat #instaday

A post shared by Francesca Massimi (@massimfra) on Oct 22, 2017 at 5:52am PDT

7. They Make Us Laugh:

Hey brother, you smell..nice! #dogsofinstagram #sharpei #beagle #babyanddog #besties #brothergoals #link #jax #tgif #candidchildhood #upcloseandpersonal

A post shared by Jackson the Sharp Eagle (@followjackson) on Oct 27, 2017 at 5:17pm PDT

8. They Adore Us:

• Amor no correspondido • Por la gata Minnie y el gordo Clemente. . . . #baby #babyphoto #babyandcat #catandbaby #cat #catslove #catslover #bebe #gato #bebito #gatito #cariño #amor #love #animals #animalslove #clemente #nephews

A post shared by Amparo Zuelgaray (@amparozuelgaray.ph) on Oct 8, 2017 at 9:56am PDT

9. They Also Get Us In Trouble Sometimes:

BearBear said, Mommy, look what I’ve done ✅! #EDbyPetSmart #edbundlesofjoy #dogsofinstagram #babyanddog

A post shared by Li Yin (@liyinyinzx) on Oct 21, 2017 at 10:26pm PDT

10. They Love Taking Pictures With Us:

Amigos. Quien no haya sentido éste tipo de amistad, no muera sin vivirla. #friends #amigos #sincerosamigos #mejoramigo #mejoramigodelhombre #friendship #perros #mascota #dogs #pet #sincerity #sinceridad #amistad #niñosyperros #calma #baby #babyanddog #babyandpet #composiciontriangular #seguridad #sonya7ii #sonyseries #sonyalpha #sigmalens #sigmalenses #sigma105mm #sigma105macro #sigmaphotomexico

A post shared by Kakalotli (@kakalotli) on Sep 3, 2017 at 6:29pm PDT

11. They Are The Best Partners In Crime:

La storia si ripete ???? #amorimiei

A post shared by Federica (@federicamu) on Aug 28, 2017 at 2:17am PDT

12. They Love Cuddles:

Best start for weekend #weekendvibes #baby #puppy #onlylove #sleepyheads #brothers #weekend #dreaming #babyanddog #dog #miniaturepinscher #babyboy #minpin #pinscher #brotherlylove #brothergoals #babydog #love

A post shared by Baby Memory Book (@luckybabymoments) on Oct 21, 2017 at 1:39am PDT

13. They Watch Us Grow:

#아름이랑노을이랑 18 ㅡ 동생 침대 차지 ㅡ #아기랑고양이 #냥스타그램 #집사그램 #베이비스타그램 #맘스타그램 #육아소통 #아기스타그램 #고양이그램 #반려묘 #catstagram #babyandcat #momstagram #momlife #motherhood #cat #babystagram #딸스타그램 #ねこ

A post shared by @lana_park on Oct 2, 2017 at 2:37am PDT

14. They Make The Waiting Worth:

Selamat pagi mba kiran ???? mas shiro ???? #goodmorning #goodmorningworld #mybabyandcat #bestfriend #bestfriendgoals #catandbaby #babyandcat #family #sweet #happymorning #lovethem

A post shared by Eta Carter (@alletha_allecia) on Sep 26, 2017 at 6:15pm PDT

15. They Are Goofy:

forgot to post this lovely picture ????#babyanddog #babyfashion #happyfall #fall #seattle

A post shared by Mengsi Li (@ivy_threelittleones) on Oct 19, 2017 at 1:29pm PDT

16. They Are The Best Playmates:

. . Off We Go‼️٩(^‿^)۶ . . #standardpoodle #poodlesofinstagram #スタンダードプードル #whitepoodle #大型犬と子供 #poodle #dogstagram #east_dog_japan #いぬのいる生活 #もふもふ部 #わんこ部 #赤ちゃんと犬 #baby #babyanddog #adorablebaby #kawaii #1歳4ヶ月 #コドモノ #ママリ #ベビフル #キズナ #大好き #仲良し #笑顔 #camperscollection #出発進行

A post shared by たまねぎ (@tamanegi.qoo.riku) on Oct 19, 2017 at 8:36am PDT

17. They Are Protective:

Holding hands ???????? JJ 好錫Rosabelle & Carabelle，自己一早起身食飽飽去完洗手間，跟住就會自己開門入房搵Belles，拖住手仔陪佢地訓 ☺️ . #CarabelleMa #bellebellemama #baby #babygirl #instababy #babygram #sleeepingbaby #cat #instacat #catsagram #ragdoll #babyandcat #catandbaby #littlefriends #sweet #saturdaymorning #ragdollcat #ragdollandbaby #cute #adorable #hkbaby #hkcat #hkmama #hkmom #love

A post shared by 黃芷瑩 Candy Wong (@sweetzeying) on Sep 22, 2017 at 6:44pm PDT

18. They Love Us:

A is poorly and sore today so we are taking things easy #babyanddog ???? #babygirl #wanderpawsandtots #pupsandkiddos #ourcandidlife #thegallerycollective #our_everyday_moments #cameramama #mumswithcameras #pixel_kids #rescuedog #longcoatgermanshepherd #germanshepherd @coodo_for_kids #jestembojesteś #dzieckoipies #niekupujadoptuj

A post shared by @janielnie on Oct 17, 2017 at 11:01pm PDT

Feature image credits: @instagram/tamanegi.qoo.riku

Liked This? Here’s More For You To Read: Here Ar 17 Unexpected Things That All Women Find Attractive In Men Article By: Born Realist

The post Here Are 20 Pictures That Show Growing Up With A Pet Is Never A Bad Idea appeared first on Born Realist.

Source – bornrealist.com

Lebanon army says no assassination plot uncovered after PM Hariri resigns

The Lebanese army has said it has not discovered any assassination plots in the country, a day after Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri stepped down saying he feared for his life.

It said in a statement that it had not uncovered "the presence of any plan for assassinations".

However, a Saudi minister says Mr Hariri's bodyguards had confirmed there was a plot to kill him.

The Lebanese PM resigned in a televised broadcast from Saudi Arabia.

He blamed Iran for meddling in several countries, including Lebanon, and said he felt the climate was similar to that which "prevailed" before his father, former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, was killed by a bomb in 2005.

The attack was widely blamed on the Iran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah, which wields considerable power in Lebanon and denies it was involved.

Iran has denounced Mr Hariri's assertions, with an adviser to the Supreme Leader accusing the US and Saudi Arabia of being behind the move.

The ex-PM is close to Saudi Arabia, Iran's chief rival for regional influence.

• What is Hezbollah?
• Read more about Lebanon

In addition to the army, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanon's General Security intelligence agency, has also said he has no information about any plots to kill politicians in the country, Reuters news agency reports.

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces, meanwhile, have denied reports that they foiled a recent assassination attempt in Beirut, Lebanon's capital.

However Saudi Gulf Affairs Minister Thamer al-Sabhan has said Mr Hariri's bodyguards had confirmed that there was an assassination plot against him.

He denied in an interview with a Lebanese TV station that Saudi Arabia pushed Mr Hariri to resign.

Iran rejects Lebanon PM's claims

Correspondents say Mr Hariri's sudden departure has plunged Lebanon into a new political crisis and raised fears that it may be at the forefront of the regional rivalry between Shia power Iran and Sunni stronghold Saudi Arabia.

Mr Hariri, whose family is close to Saudi Arabia, became prime minister in December 2016, after previously holding the position between 2009 and 2011.

Mr Hariri has made several recent visits to Saudi Arabia. His announcement on Saturday came a day after a meeting in Beirut with Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

After taking office last year, Mr Hariri promised a "new era for Lebanon" after two years of political deadlock.

The coalition government he led brought together almost all of the main political parties in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

Source – bbc.com

Joint Chiefs say invasion 'only way' to totally disarm N Korea

A Pentagon assessment has declared the only way to completely destroy all parts of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme is through a ground invasion.

Rear Admiral Michael Dumont expressed the opinion on behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a letter to Congressman Ted Lieu.

Mr Dumont said calculating "even the roughest" potential casualty figures would be extremely difficult.

He also gave some detail on what the first hours of a war would involve.

"The only way to 'locate and destroy – with complete certainty – all components of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs' is through a ground invasion," he wrote in response to Congressman Lieu's questions about a potential conflict.

The risks involved included a potential nuclear counter-attack by North Korea while US forces attempted to disable its "deeply buried, underground facilities", he said.

"A classified briefing is the best venue for a detailed discussion," he added.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff directly advise the president of the United States on military matters.

Skip Twitter post by @tedlieu

Dear @realDonaldTrump: It is morning in Japan. This @washingtonpost article on grim N Korea war options is for you. https://t.co/PxPHxSgL0u

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 5, 2017

Report

End of Twitter post by @tedlieu

In a statement with more than a dozen other military veterans turned congressmen, Mr Lieu, a Democrat, said the assessment was "deeply disturbing" and warned that a conflict "could result in hundreds of thousands, or even millions of deaths in just the first few days of fighting."

"Their assessment underscores what we've known all along: there are no good military options for North Korea," the statement said.

The letter was published as Donald Trump begins his mammoth tour of Asia, during which the North Korean threat is expected to be a major topic of discussion.

• Trump vows US resolve to Asian allies
• A beginner's guide to Trump in Asia
• Trump vows to tackle N Korea on Asia trip

The president has previously said that if forced to defend the US or its allies, he "will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."

"The President needs to stop making provocative statements that hinder diplomatic options and put American troops further at risk," Mr Lieu's joint statement said.

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Rear Admiral Dumont opened his letter with a clear indication that his office supported economic and diplomatic solutions ahead of any military action.

Potential casualties from a conflict depended heavily on the intensity of any attack on South Korea's capital, Seoul, which lies just 35 miles (56 km) from the border, as well as how much advance warning the US and its allies had, he said.

He said a counter-offensive from artillery battery fire and air strikes might help limit casualties.

The Joint Chiefs also fear that Pyongyang would use biological weapons in a conflict, despite international conventions banning their use, as well as chemical weapons – which it has never agreed to abandon.

"It likely possesses a [chemical weapons] stockpile," the letter said.

The assessment by military chiefs follows the release of a report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, which warned that even a brief conflict without the use of banned weapons could cost tens of thousands of lives.

Source – bbc.com

Russia protests: At least 260 nationalist Putin opponents held

At least 260 people have been arrested while protesting against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, police say.

The protesters are believed to be linked to nationalist politician Vyacheslav Maltsev's Artillery Preparation movement.

It has been declared extremist and is banned in Russia.

Mr Maltsev says a revolution is imminent. Last year in a debate he called for Mr Putin to be impeached.

He is reported to be living abroad after a Moscow court issued an arrest warrant for him over his calls for extremist measures to overthrow the government.

Knuckledusters

The Tass news agency quoted police and independent monitors as saying supporters of the radical opposition group convened beside the Kremlin in central Moscow.

Most of the arrests were made in the Russian capital but people were also detained in five other cities.

Some of the protesters in Moscow were reported to be carrying knives, knuckledusters and rubber bullet-firing pistols.

An AFP photographer said police wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests at one point confronted the protesters in central Moscow.

Many of those arrested were reported to be men in their twenties and some are believed to have been released without charge soon afterwards.

Mr Maltsev ran for a parliament last year and runs a popular YouTube channel which is frequently critical of the government.

The protest by his supporters on Sunday follows on from another demonstration in Moscow on Saturday in which police detained scores of nationalist anti-Kremlin activists.

Source – bbc.com

The Latest: Saudi crown prince shocks kingdom with arrests

The Latest on Saudi Arabia, where dozens of princes and former ministers have been arrested as authorities announce an anti-corruption drive (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

Saudi Arabia's heir to the throne is overseeing an unprecedented wave of arrests of dozens of the country's most powerful princes, military officers, influential businessmen and government ministers. Some of them are potential rivals or critics of the crown prince, whose purported anti-corruption sweep sent shockwaves across the kingdom Sunday as he further consolidated power.

Among those taken into custody overnight Saturday were billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the world's richest men with extensive holdings in Western companies, as well as two of the late King Abdullah's sons.

The arrest of senior princes upends a longstanding tradition among the ruling Al Saud family to keep their disagreements private in an effort to show strength and unity in the face of Saudi Arabia's many tribes and factions. It also sends a message that the crown prince has the full backing of his father, King Salman, to carry out sweeping anti-corruption reforms targeting senior royals and their business associates, who have long been seen as operating above the law.

———

4:30 p.m.

Saudi Arabia's attorney general says an anti-corruption sweep is treating its suspects with "the same rights and treatment as any other Saudi citizen."

Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb did not acknowledge the arrests or name any suspects, but The Associated Press has reported that billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and other senior royals, military officers, businessmen and ex-ministers have been detained and are being held in five-star hotels across the capital, Riyadh.

Al-Mojeb stressed that all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty and "retain full legal privileges relating to their personal and private property, including funds." However, he says a suspect's position or status will "not influence the fair application of justice."

The attorney general said Sunday the newly-formed anti-corruption committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is conducting investigations to ensure transparency and good governance.

The statement did not specify further what alleged crimes had been committed.

———

1:40 p.m.

The Ritz Carlton hotel chain says it is "evaluating the situation" at its hotel in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, after reports it is being used to house some of those detained in a wave of arrests of princes and former government officials.

Ritz Carlton spokeswoman Sarah Walker-Kerr declined to discuss Sunday what was happening at the hotel.

Some of the 11 princes and 38 former government ministers, deputies and businessmen arrested in Saudi Arabia are reportedly being held at the hotel. Phone lines to the hotel have been cut off since Sunday morning.

A Saudi security official earlier told The Associated Press that the detainees are being held in five-star hotels across Riyadh as part of an anti-corruption sweep.

The arrests have cemented the hold on power for King Salman and his 32-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

———

12:30 p.m.

The White House has released more details about a phone call between President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman, but the statement did not make any reference to the overnight arrests of high-level princes and officials in the kingdom.

The White House statement said Sunday that Trump and Salman discussed counterterrorism efforts, "the continuing threat of Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen" and Saudi Arabia's interception of a missile fired from Yemen at its capital, Riyadh.

President Trump also thanked the monarch for Saudi Arabia's military purchases, including a $15 billion investment in the American-made THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system.

The president also asked the king to strongly consider listing state-oil firm Aramco on a stock exchange in the United States, which Trump had earlier mentioned in a tweet.

———

11:10 a.m.

Shares of an investment company owned by a Saudi billionaire detained in a massive sweep in Riyadh have dropped 10 percent in trading on the kingdom's stock market.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the head of Kingdom Holding Co., is among the 11 princes and 38 former government ministers, deputies and businessmen now detained in Riyadh.

Kingdom Holding's drop on the Tadawul stock exchange comes as it announced its third-quarter earnings Sunday morning. It said it had profits of 247.5 million riyals ($66 million), compared to a loss of 345.9 million riyals ($92 million) in the previous period last year.

The company said in a filing its earnings rose on an "increase in hotels and other operating revenues in addition to increase in dividends income."

———

10:15 a.m.

A Saudi government official with close ties to security says 11 princes and 38 former government ministers, deputies and businessmen are being held in five-star hotels across the capital, Riyadh, in an anti-corruption sweep.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The AP earlier reported that among those detained is Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Reports say some of the detainees are being held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh.

A royal court official, Badr al-Asaker, on Sunday appeared to confirm the arrests on Twitter, describing a "historic and black night against the corrupt."

— Aya Batrawy and Abdullah al-Shihri

9:15 a.m.

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been detained in a large anti-corruption sweep targeting dozens of senior princes and government ministers.

A high-level employee of the King Holding Company, which Prince Alwaleed chairs, told The Associated Press that the royal had been among those detained overnight Saturday. The employee spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of repercussions.

Prince Alwaleed is one of the Middle East's richest people, with investments in Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Citigroup, the Four Seasons hotel chains and most recently in ride sharing service Lyft.

He's also known for being among the most outspoken Saudi royals, long advocating for greater women's rights. He is also majority owner of the popular Rotana Group of Arabic channels.

The government has so far only announced that an anti-corruption probe was launched, with state-linked media reporting that dozens of princes and ministers were detained without releasing their names.

— Aya Batrawy and Abdullah al-Shihri

8 a.m.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly arrested 11 princes and dozens of former government ministers as it announces a new anti-corruption campaign, further cementing King Salman and his crown prince son's control of the kingdom.

The arrests late Saturday, as well as the king's removal of a prominent prince in charge of the National Guard, came as Lebanon's prime minister, a close Saudi ally, announced his own resignation from the Saudi capital only hours earlier.

The moves further shake up Saudi Arabia and the greater Middle East as regional conflicts still rage around the kingdom. Shiite rebels in Yemen, the target of a 2 ? year Saudi-led military campaign, fired a ballistic missile toward Riyadh's international airport on Saturday night.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya satellite news channel reported the arrests late Saturday of 11 princes and dozens of former ministers.

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Source – abcnews.go.com

Catalonia crackdown: Ex-leader Puigdemont hands himself in to police

Catalonia's deposed leader Carles Puigdemont and four former advisers have turned themselves in to Belgian police, says a Belgian prosecutor.

He said an investigating judge would decide by Monday morning whether to execute an EU arrest warrant issued by a Spanish judge on Friday.

Mr Puigdemont fled to Belgium after Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia following an independence referendum.

He has said he will not return to Spain unless he is guaranteed a fair trial.

He and his four associates are wanted on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust.

Source – bbc.com

Larry David criticized for concentration camp joke on 'Saturday Night Live'

Larry David is no stranger to being controversial with his comedy, but some people on social media are saying his jokes this weekend about Hitler and concentration camps went too far.

The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star and co-creator of "Seinfeld" used his opening monologue as host of "Saturday Night Live" to imagine what it would be like to try and flirt with women in concentration camps.

"I’ve always been obsessed with women, and I’ve often wondered: If I’d grown up in Poland when Hitler came to power and was sent to a concentration camp, would I still be checking out women in the camp?" he began. "The problem is, there are no good opening lines in a concentration camp."

Alec Baldwin, Larry David reprise Trump, Sanders 'SNL' roles, poke fun at Manafort and Weinstein woes Larry David on why 'Curb' is coming back after 6 years: 'I got tired of people asking me'

David, 70, then offered the audience some suggestions:

"'How’s it going? They treating you okay? You know, if we ever get out of here, I’d love to take you out for some latkes. You like latkes?'" he quipped.

David is known for making jokes about Jewish people and culture on his hit TV series. And in fact, on Saturday night, he said during his monologue, "I consistently strive to be a good Jewish representative."

SNL/NBC

Still, many fans on social media said they felt uncomfortable watching the comedian joke about the Holocaust and concentration camps.

"Just when you thought Larry David's #SNL monologue couldn't get worse, he joked about seducing women in concentration camps. Wow. #HeBombed," one person wrote.

ABC News reached out to reps for David, but didn't immediately hear back.

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Trump pledges US resolve on Japan leg of Asia tour

US President Donald Trump said no nation should underestimate American resolve, as he arrived in Japan at the start of a marathon Asian tour.

Addressing US troops at Yokota air base near Tokyo, he pledged to ensure the military had the resources needed to keep peace and defend freedom.

He later told the Japanese prime minister he thought the two countries had never been closer.

It will be the longest tour of Asia by a US president in 25 years.

It comes amid heightened tensions with North Korea over its nuclear programme and missile tests.

"No-one, no dictator, no regime… should underestimate American resolve," President Trump told cheering US and Japanese troops shortly after his arrival in Japan.

Before touching down, he told reporters on board Air Force One that he expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip.

"I think it's expected we'll meet with Putin," he said. "We want Putin's help on North Korea."

Speaking after talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Mr Trump said: "The relationship is really extraordinary.

"We like each other and our countries like each other, and I don't think we've ever been closer to Japan than we are right now."

Earlier the two leaders played golf, when they were joined by Hideki Matsuyama, one of the world's top players – as the president mentioned in a tweet.

Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

Playing golf with Prime Minister Abe and Hideki Matsuyama, two wonderful people! pic.twitter.com/vYLULe0o2K

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017

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End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

The US First Lady, Melania Trump, spent time with Akie Abe, the Japanese prime minister's wife, who showed her Japanese cultured pearls at shop in Tokyo's Ginza district.

Skip Twitter post by @FLOTUS

Wonderful visit w Mrs. Abe today! Enjoyed conversation over tea & the cultural presentation on the history of pearls. #FLOTUSinAsia pic.twitter.com/g7Oax90SbN

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 5, 2017

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End of Twitter post by @FLOTUS

Stops in South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines are also on the itinerary in the coming week.

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En route to Japan, the president stopped in Hawaii where he visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor – the scene of the 1941 Japanese attack that drew the US into World War Two.

He also took part in a briefing at the US Pacific Command.

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Mr Trump has previously exchanged some fiery rhetoric with North Korea over its ballistic missile tests but aides said earlier this week that he would not go to the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the border between the South and North.

He is, however, to visit Camp Humphreys, a US military complex south of the capital, Seoul.

In Vietnam, Mr Trump will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Da Nang and make a state visit to Hanoi.

His final engagement is scheduled to be a summit of South-East Asian nations in the Philippine capital, Manila, on 13 November but the trip has now been extended by an extra day so he can attend the East Asia Summit.

The last time a US president made such a marathon trip to Asia was when George HW Bush visited the region in late 1991 and early 1992.

President Trump's itinerary

• Sunday, 5 November: Arrives in Japan. Golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and professional player Hideki Matsuyama at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Bilateral meetings with Mr Abe
• Tuesday, 7 November: In South Korea for talks with President Moon Jae-in. Mr Trump will also address the National Assembly
• Wednesday, 8 November: Arrives in China for a series of events including meetings with President Xi Jinping
• Friday, 10 November: Travels to Da Nang, Vietnam, and will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit
• Saturday, 11 November: Travels to Hanoi, Vietnam, for talks with President Tran Dai Quang and other Vietnamese leaders
• Sunday, 12 November: Arrives in Manila, Philippines, to take part in a gala dinner for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
• Monday, 13 November: Will attend the Asean summit in Manila and hold talks with President Rodrigo Duterte
• Tuesday, 14 November: He will now stay for the East Asia Summit, a wider regional gathering that includes the US, India and Russia

Source – bbc.com