Trump to Merkel: ‘Perhaps’ Obama wiretapped us both

WASHINGTON — Recycling an incendiary and unsubstantiated charge, President Trump on Friday joked that he and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel may have one thing in common: being spied on by Barack Obama’s administration.

“As far as wiretapping, I guess, by, you know, this past administration, at least we have something in common perhaps,” Trump said at a joint press conference with the German leader. His remark drew laughter from some in the audience, a mix of reporters and aides to the president and the chancellor.

Merkel gave her host a quizzical look.

He appeared to be referring to revelations in 2013 that the Obama administration had listened to Merkel’s cellphone conversations. The disclosure inflamed U.S-Germany relations, and angered Merkel, who was born in what was then East Germany and experienced life under its feared secret police, the Stasi.

Trump had been asked by a German reporter about his March 4 claim that Obama personally ordered spying on him and Trump Tower. The reporter also asked whether Trump thought it was a mistake for White House press secretary Sean Spicer to cite a Fox News analyst’s claim that Obama used British intelligence to do surveillance on the future president.

“We said nothing,” Trump said. “All we did was quote a certain very talented legal mind who was the one responsible for saying that on television. I didn’t make an opinion on it. That was a statement made by a very talented lawyer on Fox. And so you shouldn’t be talking to me, you should be talking to Fox.”

‘Well, history’: Fox’s Shep Smith says he tries to avoid quoting Kellyanne Conway

Fox News anchor Shep Smith dismissed White House counselor Kellyanne Conway’s credibility on air Thursday, saying, “We don’t really quote [her] anymore, because, well, history. …”

Later in the segment, he said Conway’s “previous words have been up for debate.”

The barbs were in response to Conway’s defense of President Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that President Obama ordered a wiretap of the phones in Trump Tower.

“There are many ways to surveil each other,” Conway said in a Sunday interview with the Record, a New Jersey newspaper. “There was an article this week that talked about how you can surveil someone through their phones, through certainly their television sets — any number of different ways. Microwaves that turn into cameras, et cetera. So we know that is just a fact of modern life.”

Airing a clip of that quote, Smith responded: “Fox News can now confirm microwaves heat food.”

Some news outlets have shown skepticism of Conway’s credibility, particularly after she coined the term “alternative facts” when the White House falsely claimed Trump’s inauguration drew the largest crowd in history. She also said Trump stood fully behind then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, shortly before the president fired him.

Trump has long had a cozy relationship with Fox’s opinion and morning shows, and he regularly appears on “Fox & Friends” (where Conway appeared Monday morning), “Hannity” and “The O’Reilly Factor.” He also will make his first appearance on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Wednesday.

But the news segments, like Smith’s, can be harder-hitting.

Last month, Smith scolded Trump following the president’s epic press conference in which he sparred with reporters and refused to answer questions about his campaign’s ties to Russia.

Gabby Kaufman

Staff Writer

Palmyra recaptured by Syrian Army from ISIS

After the Syrian military, backed by the Russian Air Force, completed its operation to liberate the city of Palmyra, RT has been given exclusive access to the ancient city recaptured from Islamic State terrorists.

RT’s correspondent, Lizzie Phelan, has captured exclusive images in Syria after 'The Pearl of the Desert' was retaken after an offensive by government troops.

Government troops entered the archaeological site around mid-day on Thursday as ISIS (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists fled the area, SANA reported.

“The flag of the Islamic State terrorist group has been removed from the city of Palmyra. It should be viewed as a joint success of the Russian Air Force and the Syrian military. Shortly, the whole territory of Syria will be liberated from the terrorists,” Andrey Krasov, deputy head of the Russia's parliamentary Committee for Defense, said.

OPEN HEAVENS BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE – SUNDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2017

TOPIC: GOD HAS SUBSTITUTES

MEMORISE:
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Acts 1:20

READ: 1 Samuel 15:16-16:1
15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
16:1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Genesis 1-2 and Isaiah 41:8-20

MESSAGE:
One truth that everyone born of God must have at the back of their minds is that God has substitutes. He can therefore never be held to ransom by anyone. Whenever God decides to use a person, if that fellow does not yield to God at the time of His requisition, God will move on to use another person to fulfil His purpose. More often than not, such substitutes are better than the original recipients of God’s mandate. Such was the case with King Saul.

"And Samuel said unto him, the LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou."
1 Samuel 15:28

When a man feels too big to obey God’s instruction, he is not fit for God’s use. In the family of the works of the flesh, pride, stubbornness and rebellion are kinsmen, with witchcraft as their first cousin (Galatians 5:19-21). The Lord through Samuel reminded King Saul that there was nothing special about him before He made him king over Israel. King Saul himself did not see himself as qualified, yet God’s grace preferred him, despite the fact that he came from the least of the tribes of Israel (1 Samuel 9:21). This is the reason why whosoever God decides to use should not allow himself or herself get carried away by the glamour of the office he or she is occupying. The fellow should always keep in mind where he or she is coming from and what he or she used to be. God does not use the qualified; rather, He qualifies the fellow He wants to use.
When King Saul began to feel too big to obey the Lord’s commandment, he was replaced with a ready-made substitute, whom the Lord declared to be better than King Saul. My prayer for you is that you will not be replaced in the scheme of things in God’s kingdom in Jesus’ Name. Beloved, we should know that God has substitutes that can readily replace us if we fail to yield to His instructions. Never see yourself as being indispensable before God. Take heed to what the Lord Jesus Christ said concerning this in

Matthew 3:9:
"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to overcome anything I am doing now that may eventually make You find a substitute for me in Your Kingdom. Please don’t replace me with anyone or anything.

HYMN 14: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!

2 At the sign of triumph
Satan's host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
[Refrain]

3 Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity. [Refrain]

4 Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
This thro' countless ages
men and angels sing. [Refrain]

Bar review: Frames, Nicosia Cyprus

Frames Nicosia Espresso and Cocktails, is yet another new, all day lounge bar that’s recently opened in the capital, a movement that seems to define Nicosia’s burgeoning nightlife scene.

Opened mid December, Frames is open nearly 24/7. It struck me as an odd place but it has been very popular since its launch, especially among university students. It’s a large space which seats approximately 100 indoors and 60 out. The physical space has an unusual layout, the ceilings are incredibly high and the bar, which takes up a huge amount of space, is an interesting boomerang shape. The bar is very pretty indeed, lined with stools and with large mirrors behind highlighting an impressive array of alcohol.

With 18 varieties of single malt whiskey, 20 types of beer, 43 labels of red, white and rosé international wines and Champagnes there’s absolutely no shortage of choice. The signature cocktails are designed by the specialist barman (a member of the International Bartender Association) and are both very reasonably priced and well designed.

Frames is an easy going space with a splendid supply of alcohol. The cocktail menu may not dazzle with crazy and original ingredients, still, the cocktails are well made and tasty. Their Grey Goose Vodka based Sweet Amelie, despite being very sweet (and not my typical choice of drink) is moorish; perfect for the hotter months. Full of fruity flavours, it’s light on alcohol, creamy and washes down well. For a more serious cocktail, then their Old Boys is the man for the job, served in whisky glass, the citrus smelling J&B Whiskey, Drambuie, orange and mint curacao packs a punch to both nostrils and taste buds.

In warmer days, the entire glass front wall will open up to create a huge outdoor seating area, where in typical Nicosia style, people can enjoy watching cars whizzing by. The rest of the inside bar area squeezes in several high tables and chairs. The atmosphere overall is chatty. Despite the music being predominantly Deep house, one can hear people nattering away above it; the music stays pleasantly in the background. At the end of the bar area, another huge glass division separates the drinking area (where you can eat too) from the main café style eatery.

Weekdays sees more of the neighbouring students pop in to chillax, however Wednesdays and weekends attract different clientele of varying ages dressed to impress. Reservations are a must on weekends and event nights.

Thursday nights play mainstream mixed Greek and English tunes. Their special events have an entrance fee after 10.30pm. They also offer 15% discount to students presenting a Frame’s card. The resident DJ plays all kinds of house on Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays and upcoming events can be found on their Facebook page.

 ALEXIA EVRIPIDOU

Trump dumped Flynn over ‘trust issue,’ spokesman says

WASHINGTON — President Trump requested Michael Flynn’s resignation after a weekslong review of his contacts with a Russian diplomat led Trump to conclude he could no longer trust his national security adviser, the White House said Tuesday. But the internal investigation, led by Trump’s government lawyer, found that Flynn hadn’t violated the law.

“The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for Gen. Flynn’s resignation,” press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.

Spicer did not detail the nature of the “other questionable instances,” but officials pointed to news accounts of Flynn’s temper and of National Security Council dysfunction. And one career national security official told Yahoo News that Flynn had clashed last week with Defense Secretary James Mattis, whose judgment is known to carry great weight with Trump.

Trump removed Flynn ostensibly over a controversy involving contacts between the retired Army lieutenant general and a Russian diplomat during the transition. Apparently on Flynn’s say-so, top officials including Vice President Mike Pence and Spicer denied that the conversations touched on the question of U.S. sanctions imposed under the Obama administration in response to allegations that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election. Flynn at first expressed confidence that the sanctions didn’t come up, then later allowed that they might have. A bombshell Washington Post report on Friday disclosed that U.S. intelligence officials possessed transcripts of the calls that contradicted Flynn. Pence press secretary Marc Lotter said Pence “became aware” that Flynn misled him “based on news reports” on Feb. 9.

Olivier Knox

Chief Washington Correspondent

Liang Barsky Line Clipping Algorithm in C and C++

On ciuconnect today programmers have the opportunity to learn about liang barsky line clipping algorithm in C and C++.

This Algorithm was developed by Liang and Barsky. It is used for line clipping as it is more efficient than Cyrus Beck algorithm and Cohen Sutherland algorithm because it uses more efficient parametric equations to clip the given line.

These parametric equations are given as:

x = x1 + tdx

y = y1 + tdy, 0 <= t <= 1

Where dx = x2 – x1 & dy = y2 – y1

Liang Barsky line clipping algorithm uses 4 inequalities with 2 parameters p & q which are defined in the algorithm below.

Algorithm

1. Read 2 endpoints of line as p1 (x1, y1) & p2 (x2, y2).

2. Read 2 corners (left-top & right-bottom) of the clipping window as (xwmin, ywmin, xwmax, ywmax).

3. Calculate values of parameters pi and qi for i = 1, 2, 3, 4 such that

p1 = -dx, q1 = x1 – xwmin

p2 = dx, q2 = xwmax – x1

p3 = -dy, q3 = y1 – ywmin

p4 = dy, q4 = ywmax – y1

4. if pi = 0 then line is parallel to ith boundary

if qi < 0 then line is completely outside boundary so discard line

else, check whether line is horizontal or vertical and then check the line endpoints with the corresponding boundaries.

5. Initialize t1 & t2 as

t1 = 0 & t2 = 1

6. Calculate values for qi/pi for i = 1, 2, 3, 4.

7. Select values of qi/pi where pi < 0 and assign maximum out of them as t1.

8. Select values of qi/pi where pi > 0 and assign minimum out of them as t2.

9. if (t1 < t2)
{
xx1 = x1 + t1dx

xx2 = x1 + t2dx

yy1 = y1 + t1dy

yy2 = y1 + t2dy

line (xx1, yy1, xx2, yy2)
}

10. Stop.

Advantages

1. More efficient than other algorithms as line intersection with boundaries calculations are reduced.

2. Intersections of line are computed only once.

OUTPUT: