*TRUMP* PRESIDENT TRIUMPHS

The World Students Society wishes President Trump and the people of America very well,  as he calls for unity after contentious first year.

President Donald Trump made a pitch for national unity and strong borders in his maiden State of the Union  address Tuesday, calling for :

''One American family'' after a year plagued by terrible acrimony, division and scandal.

Delivering his biggest speech of the year, the most polarizing of presidents sought to put the spotlight on a robust Trump  economy, while pointedly calling on a a packed joint session of Congress to enact hardline curbs on immigration.

''TONIGHT, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,'' he said.

''TONIGHT, I want to talk about what kind of  future we are going to have, and what kind of  Nation   we are  going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.''

Trump's opening tone was uncharacteristically conciliatory, although it bridged no compromise on his drive to reduce immigration -which he painted as responsible for a plethora of social ills.

He touched on a range of  foreign policy issues  -including, an emotive moment, offering the spotlight to crippled North Korean amputee defector, Ji-Senong-ho,  who waved a crutch in the air as he received a prolonged standing ovation.

Trump warned that Pyangyang's ''reckless'' nuclear drive could ''very soon'' threaten the  US  homeland, while also eyeing the geopolitical challenge posed by the adversaries China and Russia.

But Trump's State of the Union, the third longest on record at one hour twenty minutes, was overwhelmingly focused on domestic concerns.

Among those looking on were dozens of cross-armed Democratic lawmakers, some decked in black to honor the victory of sexual harassment and still others wearing butterfly stickers in support of immigrants-

Two social issues that more than any others have roiled America in the age of Trump.

Trump also lifted his  economic gaze  beyond the  United States, calling  for ''fair''  trade and declaring that  ''the era of economic surrender is over.''

''America has also finally turned the page on decades unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our wealth-

Our nation has lost its wealth but we're getting it back so fast.''  [Agencies]

MYANMAR'S SECRECY LAWS

Detained Reuters journalist Wa Lone's is being escorted by police
after a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar February 1, 2018. 

YANGON: Myanmar court denies bail to journalists

A Myanmar court on Thursday denied bail to two Reuters journalists charged under a secrecy act    that could see them  face up to 14 years in jail-

*In a case that has sparked outcry over shrinking media freedom*.

Myanmar nationals  Wa Lone, 31 and  Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, are accused of possessing classified documents thought to relate to the violent military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The campaign in northern  Rakhine state  has forced nearly 700,000  Rohingya Muslims  over the border into Bangladesh since August, many carrying allegations of-

Rape,  mass murder and arson at the  hands of Myanmar's  Army.

''The Court has decided not to give them bail,'' Judge Ye Lwin told the Yangon court of charges under the   colonial-era  Official Secrets Act. [AFP].

The World Students Society is watching the development and appeals for a review.

ZIMBABWE'S WHITE FARMERS

HARARE: Zimbabwe's white farmers to get 99-year leases.

Zimbabwe's remaining white farmers will now get  99-year land leases according to a new government policy that marks-

A dramatic change from widespread evictions of whites from farms.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is breaking away from the seizure of thousands of  white-owned  farms carried out by his predecessor and mentor Robert Mugabe.

The new policy will give remaining white farmers new security from expropriations.

The lands ministry has instructed its provincial officers that the policy should be implemented  ''with immediate effect,'' according to a copy of the directive.

Mnangagwa's move has been welcomed by many   white farmers , who see it as a step toward restoring their involvement in Zimbabwe's agriculture.

''This is what we have been hoping for,'' said Peter Steyl,  president of the Commercial Farmers Union. [AP]

PM MAY AND PRESIDENT XI SET NEW LEVELS

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping told British Prime Minister Theresa May that their countries should take trade ties to ''a new level'' as London scouts the globe for fresh partnerships after its contentious EU exit

Hounded by Brexit rows at home, May is seeking to deepen trade relations with the world's second largest economy as Britain prepares to leave the European Union next year.

The embattled Prime Minister and senior Chinese leaders championed a ''golden era'' of relations between their two countries throughout her visit.

But criticism in London over her domestic agenda and her handling of  Britain's vexed divorce  with the  European Union loomed large, prompting her to declare she was  ''not a quitter''  before he arrival on Wednesday.

''As the  United Kingdom is leaving the European Union we're going to be more outward looking to enhance our relationships around the world, and this relationship with China is an important part of that,'' May told state broadcaster CCTV.

May held talks with Xi at  Diaoyutai  State Guest House tea after visiting an agricultural science academy, later taking part in a traditional tea ceremony with Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

The BBC reported that May, who was expected to raise  environmental concerns, would present Xi with a box set of the network's Blue Planet II series-

With a personal message from presenter David Attenborough.

''We must strengthen the pragmatism  of Sino-British relations in the golden era, and push economic and trade cooperation to a new level, ''Xi said during their meeting,'' according to CCTV.

SHAH RUKH KHAN'S SHINE

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at BBC show Hardtalk

LADIES MAN : 'Nobody dare misbehave with women on my set' : Actor Shah Rukh Khan opens up on gender equality in Bollywood.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, known for his chivalrous attitude, says nobody has dared to misbehave with a woman on his film sets.

The actor, who was presented the Crystal Award  at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos along with Hollywood celebrities Cate Blanchett and Elton John, spoke to BBC World News at length on-

Gender equality in Bollywood and cultural differences in India.

IN THE MIDST of raging debate over sexual misconduct allegations against powerful men in Hollywood,-

The Dilwale star was asked if he has witnessed sexual misconduct in the Indian film industry and done anything about it.

''At a level when I'm making films or working in films, we are very clear about the attitude to women.

Even the smallest aspects, of the names coming first in title, needs to be done just to bring about the equality,'' Shah Rukh said on HARDtalk on BBC World News show.

''Just see what we've reduced ourselves to..........

You know, to put a girl's name in front just to show what little guys we are, thinking of them as equals. And that is sad and that is strangely dichotomous when you're talking about creativity, and you have boys and girls working together.''

He continued, ''I have never personally, first hand and nobody if I may say, nobody dared misbehave with a women on my set, I'm very clear on that.''

On inter-communal tensions and divisions that the world has been observing in modern-day India, the Taees actor said,

''There will be dissent for everything and I think, like you would also believe and we all believe, there has to be discussion on it.''

[JANS]