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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-09-06 18:01 1 Philippines' Duterte expresses regret over Obama 'whore' slur
(4.14/5) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed regret Tuesday that a tirade against Barack Obama, in which he called the US leader a 2016-09-06 18:01 3KB www.timeslive.co.za 2 British Airways apologises to delayed passengers (2.06/5) British Airways apologises to angry passengers facing delays after an IT glitch affects check-in desks. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 3 Warner Bros files copyright infringement claim against its own website (1.08/5) Entertainment giant Warner Bros has asked Google to remove its own website from search results in a bizarre piracy take down request. 2016-09-06 13:20 2KB www.thedrum.com 4 Publicis Sapient, what sticks?: Singapore’s most innovative agencies (1.04/5) Singapore has developed into the central hub for marketing in APAC, with many major brands now based in the city state. Add to this a government committed to a smart city mandate, and it is one of the most exciting places to be working in the industry... 2016-09-06 13:20 3KB www.thedrum.com 5 Black Lives Matter protesters close London City Airport runway (1.02/5) All flights at London City Airport are disrupted as protesters claiming to be from Black Lives Matter UK gain access to the runway. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 6 Phyllis Schlafly, leading US conservative, dies at 92 (1.02/5) Phyllis Schlafly, a leading US conservative and outspoken opponent of feminism and abortion, has died at the age of 92. 2016-09-06 12:59 1KB www.bbc.co.uk 7 2 wounded in Homan Square shooting A man and a woman were wounded in a shooting late Monday in (1.01/5) the Homan Square neighborhood on the West Side. 2016-09-06 12:59 918Bytes chicago.suntimes.com
8 Duterte: Watch me, Abu Sayyaf will pay President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday minced no words as he (0.01/5) reiterated his warning to destroy terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which had denied involvement in the deadly explosion that took 14 lives in 2016-09-06 17:55 3KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 9 Preeti Rathi acid attack case: Timeline of events
(0.01/5) The Mumbai sessions court, on Tuesday, convicted Ankur Panwar for murder of Delhi resident Preeti Rathi in May 2013. Here’s a look at the timeline of the case 2016-09-06 15:45 2KB www.mid- day.com 10 Shutdown in Karnataka town against Cauvery water release
(0.01/5) A day-long protest shutdown is being observed at Mandya town in Karnataka against releasing of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu on the Supreme Court's directive to the state government 2016-09-06 13:19 3KB www.mid-day.com 11 Wave of IS-claimed bombings in Syria kill at least 48
(0.01/5) Near-simultaneous bombings claimed by the Islamic State group struck in and around strongholds of the Syrian government and Kurdish troops today, killing at least 48 people in a wave of attacks that came a day after the militants lost a vital link to the outside world along the... 2016-09-06 11:34 3KB www.mid-day.com 12 France urges Gabon vote recount as top minister quits Pressure mounted on Gabon's President Ali Bongo over his disputed poll victory on Tuesday as his justice minister resigned over the results and former colonial ruler France suggested a recount. 2016-09-06 18:01 4KB www.timeslive.co.za 13 Springboks look to keep up pressure on Australia lineout South Africa are hoping to heap more pressure on Australia's malfunctioning lineout as they look to get back to winning ways in the Rugby Championship this weekend, lock Lood de Jager said on Tuesday. 2016-09-06 18:01 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 14 Bomb kills father and daughter, four, at Thai school A four-year-old girl and her father were killed when a bomb hidden in a motorcycle was detonated outside a school in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south, authorities said Tuesday. 2016-09-06 18:01 3KB www.timeslive.co.za
15 ANC lost at the polls because it didn’t listen to me‚ Zulu king tells maidens King Goodwill Zwelithini has told the African National Congress (ANC) to step aside and let him lead his people if it is unable to. 2016-09-06 18:01 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 16 Floods kill 60, displace 44,000 in North Korea: UN Flooding following heavy rain has killed 60 people and left over 44,000 homeless in North Korea, the United Nations said Tuesday, after the country reported that a northeastern river suffered its worst-ever flood. 2016-09-06 18:01 1KB www.timeslive.co.za 17 Comments flow about Joburg's #WaterRestrictions Joburg residents were twice as likely to have a five-minute shower than a half-bath to contain their usage and avoid penalties after a clampdown on water restrictions was announced on Monday. 2016-09-06 18:01 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 18 Iran calls Saudis ‘murderers,’ Riyadh accuses Tehran of ‘politicizing’ event — RT News Iran has slammed Saudi Arabia for poor management of the annual hajj pilgrimage, citing last year’s event that saw hundreds killed. Tehran suggested that Riyadh be replaced as curator, while the Saudis accuse Iran of “politicizing” the sacred tradition. 2016-09-06 18:01 4KB www.rt.com 19 Duterte administration stops DBP- Landmark merger MANILA -- The Duterte administration has stopped the planned merger of state-run lenders Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines given a go-ahead by former President 2016-09-06 17:51 5KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 20 Japan dominates Foton Pilipinas in AWCC BINAN CITY -- NEC RED Rockets of Japan schooled Foton Pilipinas in three sets, 25-13, 25-7, 25-15, Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women's Club Championships 2016-09-06 17:42 1KB sports.inquirer.net 21 PH Coast Guard to receive 2 planes from US in December The Philippine Coast Guard will receive the first two of the four Short C-23 Sherpa transport aircraft to be turned over by the United States in December. This was confirmed by PCG spokesperson 2016-09-06 17:38 1KB globalnation.inquirer.net
22 2 senators worry on state of nat’l emergency’s no-expiry date While they support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, two senators have expressed apprehensions over the absence of an 2016-09-06 17:34 3KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 23 De Lima’s ex-staff confirms BDO account not under his name Who owns the Banco De Oro account allegedly containing P24- million? Does it really contain such an amount? The Banco De Oro (BDO) account number earlier reported to be under the name of 2016-09-06 17:18 5KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 24 Senate approves on 2nd reading bill to defer barangay, SK polls The Senate on Tuesday approved on second reading a bill to postpone this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for another year. The election was originally scheduled for Oct. 2016-09-06 17:17 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 25 JRU stays hot, compounds San Beda’s woes Jose Rizal University continued its resurgence after hammering out a masterful 97-88 win over San Beda in the NCAA Season 92 men's basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in 2016-09-06 17:04 2KB sports.inquirer.net 26 Watch video: Locals fight for cots after Rahul Gandhi's Khat Sabha ends Chaos broke out on Tuesday as locals fought for Khatiyas (wooden cots) after Rahul Gandhi's Khat Sabha ended in Deoria 2016-09-06 16:37 1KB www.mid-day.com 27 Apple ups iPhone 7 production by 10 per cent: Reports Cupertino-based giant Apple seems confident that its next generation iPhone 7 -- which is just a day away from launch -- is going to be a huge success as the company has reportedly increased orders of the components needed to manufacture the handset by 10 per cent 2016-09-06 15:01 1KB www.mid-day.com
28 DSK Shivajians down Army Green to enter Durand Cup semis DSK Shivajians FC entered the semi-finals of the Durand Cup football tournament with a 2-1 win over Army Green at the Harbaksh Stadium here on Monday. 2016-09-06 14:56 1KB www.mid- day.com 29 No Ram temple agitation till UP assembly polls: Pravin Togadia The VHP will not launch any agitation for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya till assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year, leader of the right-wing organisation Pravin Togadia said in Patna on Tuesday 2016-09-06 14:54 1KB www.mid-day.com 30 Toll rises to 75, Kashmir closed for 59th consecutive day The authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in the old city areas of Srinagar and some other parts of the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday as the toll in ongoing unrest rose to 75, officials said 2016-09-06 14:20 2KB www.mid-day.com 31 Shocking Video: Man thrashed brutally in Bihar for carrying 'liquor bottles' In a new video that has emerged on social media, locals from Bihar's Chhapra region are seen manhandling a man. According to reports, the latter was beaten up for allegedly carrying liquor bottles 2016-09-06 14:19 1KB www.mid-day.com 32 Vehicle hits pedestrian in Alpharetta A vehicle hit a pedestrian Tuesday in Alpharetta. 2016-09-06 14:05 945Bytes www.ajc.com
33 How the wrong choice could ruin your spouse's retirement Three key decisions can help couples make their money last -- or dramatically increase the chances the survivor will end up broke 2016-09-06 14:01 6KB www.cbsnews.com 34 Swedish FM Wallstrom, a vocal Israel critic, rejects BDS Following Yesh Atid chairman's visit to Sweden to attend a pro- Israel rally, the Swedish Foreign Minister sent a message opposing the BDS movement. 2016-09-06 14:03 3KB www.jpost.com 35 Spain's 100 meter sprint record holder survives car crash with hand injury Spanish athlete Bruno Hortelano suffered a car accident on Monday and underwent a successful operation to reconstruct his right hand, his sports representative said 2016-09-06 14:01 1KB www.mid-day.com
36 Kolkata Derby fate hangs in balance as Mohun Bagan refuse to budge Uncertainty hangs over holding the season's first Kolkata derby as city giants Mohun Bagan have set the West Bengal's football governing body Indian Football Association (IFA) an array of conditions ahead of the marquee tie of the Calcutta Football League (CFL) 2016-09-06 13:52 3KB www.mid-day.com 37 Israel Railways can still perform work on Shabbat, state tells High Court According to the state, Israel Railways never lost the authority to have its workers perform repairs on Sabbath, a special authority delegated to it by the government. 2016-09-06 13:37 2KB www.jpost.com 38 India Blue pile up 707 against India Green in Duleep Trophy Cheteshwar Pujara (166) and Sheldon Jackson (105) helped India Blue register a huge 707 all out in their first innings against India Green on the second day of the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket contest on Monday 2016-09-06 13:27 2KB www.mid-day.com 39 Hairdresser denies salon entry to hijab- clad woman in Norway A 47-year-old Norwegian hairdresser who threw a hijab-clad woman out of her salon saying, she did not want 'evil' in her establishment could be sentenced to six months in jail after refusing to pay a fine of 800 pounds 2016-09-06 13:24 2KB www.mid- day.com 40 Cold Feet: Critics praise 'triumphant return' Cold Feet received a warm reception from critics as it returned to television screens after a 13-year hiatus. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 41 Sports Direct offers some staff guaranteed hours Sports Direct says it will offer staff an alternative to zero-hours contracts, but most workers at its troubled Shirebrook warehouse will not be eligible. 2016-09-06 13:01 5KB www.bbc.co.uk
42 UK 'hacker' Lauri Love fears death in US prison A British man wanted in the US for allegedly hacking into government computers says he fears dying in prison if he is extradited. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.bbc.co.uk 43 Cat survives 60-mile trip under van bonnet A cat uses up one of its nine lives after surviving a 60-mile journey under the bonnet of a van. 2016-09-06 13:01 1KB www.bbc.co.uk 44 Bridget Jones's Baby gets warm reception from critics after premiere The third Bridget Jones film receives a warm response from critics following its world premiere in London, with one calling it "the funniest of the series". 2016-09-06 13:01 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 45 Univision CEO Demands: Choose Debate Moderators by Race Wallace, infamously, vowed in his inaugural address as governor of Alabama: “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Now, appallingly... 2016-09-06 13:01 11KB spectator.org 46 Hillary’s Running Out Her Broken Clock The game plan was working, let’s “protect the lead,” and, yes, it’s football season, baby. So, are you ready... 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB spectator.org 47 Think Obamacare Is Broken Now? Wait Till Hillary ‘Fixes’ It. Hillary Clinton frequently says that, as president, she will “build on the successes of the Affordable Care Act.” If you are among... 2016-09-06 13:01 6KB spectator.org 48 Misleading Statistics on Income Inequality Mark Twain famously said that there were three kinds of lies — “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Since this is an election... 2016-09-06 13:01 4KB spectator.org 49 Melissa Click Bait at Gonzaga University of Missouri, with Yale, was one of the first politically driven campus explosions during the 2015-16 academic year. Last fall... 2016-09-06 13:01 4KB spectator.org 50 Ann Coulter's Set During Rob Lowe Comedy Central Roast Ann Coulter was derided by critics who said she bombed during her time at the microphone during Comedy Central’s roast of Rob Lowe Monday night. [caption id="attachment_5211626" align="alignno 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB dailycaller.com 51 Havas Media Group promotes Anwesh Bose to CEO in Indonesia Havas Media Group has promoted Anwesh Bose to chief executive of its Indonesian business. 2016-09-06 13:20 1KB www.thedrum.com 52 APAC work of the week: Singapore government turns billboards into games to encourage healthy habits The Health Promotion Board in Singapore has turned bus stops in Singapore into interactive gameshows, allowing people to seemingly phone a character called Winston Leow, or Win Leow, played by the actor Chua En Lai. 2016-09-06 13:20 1KB www.thedrum.com 53 Rand extends rally ahead of GDP data The rand extended gains against the dollar on Tuesday morning as dealers waited to see how the local economy fared in the second quarter. 2016-09-06 13:20 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 54 Georgia Nicols horoscopes for Sept. 6, 2016 We have the “all clear” today to shop and do business. The Moon is in Scorpio... 2016-09-06 13:19 4KB chicago.suntimes.com 55 Morning Bulletin: Formula 1 gears up for £6.5bn sale, Intel puts VR in its sights and BA suffers IT 'meltdown' Tuesday's dose of news you need to know includes Liberty Media taking pole position to buy F1 and British Airways' tech troubles plaguing passengers. 2016-09-06 13:19 3KB www.thedrum.com 56 Dear Abby: My listless wife sleeps too much Man gripes that while his wife takes good care of their kids and his mom, her dozing leaves little time for socializing or helping with his business 2016-09-06 13:18 2KB chicago.suntimes.com 57 In Holland, Netanyahu to stress Israel's role as key brake on Islamic terror Diplomatic officials say Dutch PM's government is overall friendly, but unable to ignore public criticism of Israel over the Palestinian issue that has grown in the Netherlands in recent years. 2016-09-06 13:17 2KB www.jpost.com
58 Bloomberg View Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news... 2016-09-06 13:01 1KB www.bloomberg.com 59 Over 11,000 asylum seekers listed as crime suspects in Austria — RT News While the number asylum seekers arriving in Austria has significantly dropped, the number having trouble with the law is on the rise. Some 11,158 were suspected of committing offences in the first half of 2016, compared to 15,236 in the whole of 2015. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.rt.com 60 Crew dodges ISIS suicide car bomb attack on Libyan battlefield (DRAMATIC VIDEO) — RT News New intense battle footage from Libya shows an RT crew caught in the midst of heavy fighting between government forces and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants as the journalists venture to report, risking their lives from the frontline in Sirte. 2016-09-06 13:01 3KB www.rt.com 61 Afghan blasts: Kabul charity hit by bomb and gun attack An attack on the offices of an international charity in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, has left at least one civilian dead, officials say. 2016-09-06 12:59 1KB www.bbc.co.uk 62 Prep Playbook Podcast: Coach JT Curtis talks about Willie Allen decision, Friday Night Football We also debut our Prep Playbook Playback, presenting audio highlights from three games last weekend 2016-09-06 12:59 2KB highschoolsports.nola.com 63 Gene-editing method shrinks cancer Scientists have successfully used a gene-editing tool called Crispr to stunt tumour growth in mice. 2016-09-06 12:59 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 64 Miss Japan won by half Indian Priyanka Yoshikawa Priyanka Yoshikawa, born in Tokyo to an Indian father and Japanese mother, is crowned Miss Japan 2016, becoming the second mixed-race winner in a row. 2016-09-06 12:59 2KB www.bbc.co.uk 65 Ultra-talented Kohli has attitude to be the best: Ricky Ponting Hailing Virat Kohli as 'ultra-talented', former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Monday said the Indian Test cricket captain has got the attitude to be the best for the country 2016-09-06 13:06 3KB www.mid- day.com 66 The high price to escape Gaza: Palestinians paying up to $10,000 in bribes Al Jazeera surmises that the desperation Gazans have to leave the peninsula is evidence of the dismal conditions in Gaza. 2016-09-06 13:04 2KB www.jpost.com 67 LA airport gunman to plead guilty to murderous shooting plot LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A shooter who gunned down airport screening officers three years ago at Los Angeles International Airport in a terrifying attack that s 2016-09-06 12:59 2KB mynorthwest.com 68 10 Indians to join Poetry Festival in Germany A group of 10 Indian poets will travel to Germany as part of an unique initiative 'Poets Translating Poets' as part of a two-year long literary project of Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai, an official said here on Tuesday 2016-09-06 12:52 3KB www.mid-day.com 69 Young whites divide on handling violence by, against police WASHINGTON (AP) -- Young people across racial and ethnic lines are more likely to say they trust Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump to handle instances of p 2016-09-06 12:52 6KB mynorthwest.com 70 Support for Black Lives Matter grows among white youth WASHINGTON (AP) -- Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has increased among young white adults, according to a poll that suggests a majority of whit 2016-09-06 12:51 6KB mynorthwest.com 71 Germany's Bayer raises offer for Monsanto again BERLIN (AP) -- German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG says it's increasing its bid for American seed company Monsanto Co. The Leverkusen-based drug and chemi 2016-09-06 12:51 1KB mynorthwest.com
72 Japanese prince turns 10 amid talk on Emperor's abdication TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's Prince Hisahito turned 10 on Tuesday amid national attention over the future of the Japanese monarchy after Emperor Akihito, his gran 2016-09-06 12:45 2KB mynorthwest.com 73 Australia: Man raises money to bring stray dog home An Australian man has raised $4,000 to bring a stray dog home from Greece. Jacob Welsh from Geelong, 75 km from Melbourne, raised the money on a popular crowd funding website, to bring the dog back to Australia 2016-09-06 12:33 2KB www.mid-day.com 74 Bye bye burka: ISIS bans burka in Iraqi city after killings by veiled women In light of security threats aimed at Islamic State commanders, the terror group has banned the full-face cover in sensitive areas of Mosul, Iraq. 2016-09-06 12:30 1KB www.jpost.com 75 Hurricane Newton Takes Aim at Mexico's Los Cabos Resorts Authorities in the southern portion of Mexico's Baja California peninsula ordered schools closed and set up emergency shelters as Hurricane Newton gained strength while bearing down on the twin resorts of Los Cabos for a predicted arrival Tuesday morning. Boat owners pulled fishing craft in... 2016-09-06 12:04 4KB abcnews.go.com 76 Paris to build two temporary camps housing 1,000 refugees City mayor Anne Hidalgo says camps will cost €6.5m to set up as France faces pressure over refugee camp in Calais 2016-09-06 11:58 1KB www.theguardian.com 77 G20 reaffirms climate commitments – but dodges deadlines Climate Home: Leaders back rapid implementation of the Paris agreement and ramping up of green finance, but fail to set timeline for phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies 2016-09-06 11:55 4KB www.theguardian.com 78 'You must come forward about revenge porn' Chrissy Chambers describes her revenge porn "nightmare" 2016-09-06 11:49 586Bytes www.bbc.co.uk 79 Mashaba sets 5% growth target for Joburg, declares corruption 'public enemy number one' Fourteen days into his new job, Herman Mashaba says he wants GDP growth in Johannesburg to reach 5% during his time as mayor. 2016-09-06 11:44 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 80 Ethiopian activists demand news of jailed leaders after fire guts prison Ethiopian opposition activists have demanded news on the fate of six of their leaders and other inmates held in a high-security prison that was wrecked by a massive fire over the weekend. 2016-09-06 11:42 2KB www.timeslive.co.za 81 Hundreds protest UK visit of rabbi who said Down Syndrome caused by past sins Rabbi Mizrahi, who in the past has reduced the number of Holocaust victims, has postponed his visit to the UK following a petition against his appearance in the nation. 2016-09-06 11:35 2KB www.jpost.com 82 Manhunt after banners against MQM leader outside Pak court The police have launched a manhunt for unidentified persons here, who allegedly put up banners outside the Sindh High Court building and Saddar area, proclaiming those who are traitors of Mutthaida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, deserve to die 2016-09-06 11:34 3KB www.mid-day.com 83 US Open: Sania Mirza wins, Rohan Bopanna out India's Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski went down fighting in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles but Sania Mirza maintained her march in the women's doubles at the US Open tennis tournament 2016-09-06 11:30 2KB www.mid-day.com 84 Kolkata boy goes missing from school, family alleges foul play A class 10 student of the city's Scottish Church Collegiate School allegedly went missing from the school prompting parents and guardians to stage demonstrations at the institution on Monday 2016-09-06 11:28 2KB www.mid-day.com
85 Heavy rains paralyse life in Kolkata Heavy rains lashed the city on Monday disrupting train services and creating traffic snarls on waterlogged major arterial roads 2016-09-06 11:27 1KB www.mid-day.com 86 Secret aid worker: some human rights lawyers are in it for vanity, not victims I feel like my colleagues are more concerned about our NGO’s reputation than speaking up for the victims of human rights violations 2016-09-06 11:26 4KB www.theguardian.com 87 Rajnath Singh says Geelani betrayed 'Kashmiriyat' as Mission Kashmir fails Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hit out at Kashmiri separatist leaders who refused to talk to some MPs from an all- party team, saying their conduct defied the spirit of 2016-09-06 11:26 4KB www.mid-day.com 88 Hong Kong elects youth protest leaders to 6th Legislative Council A new generation of pro-democracy activists has won seats on Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) 2016-09-06 11:23 3KB www.mid-day.com 89 Three arrested, 70 'gold' biscuits seized from Sealdah station Three persons were arrested and 70 alleged gold biscuits seized from them at the busy Sealdah station as they were about to board a Delh-bound train, an Eastern Railway media release said here on Monday 2016-09-06 11:16 1KB www.mid-day.com 90 Desmond Tutu going in for surgery Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is having a minor surgical procedure to find out what is causing the infection that has been dogging him, his family has said. 2016-09-06 11:16 1KB www.news24.com 91 Government orders probe into Zakir Naik's FCRA license issue The Union Home Ministry has ordered a departmental inquiry into the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence controversy vis-a-vis Islamic tele preacher Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an official source said 2016-09-06 11:14 2KB www.mid-day.com 92 The Paralympic shark attack survivor who is saving sharks After a devastating shark attack, Achmat Hassiem feared his budding career as a goalkeeper was over, but months later he was back in the water, training to be a world class swimmer, 2016-09-06 11:13 2KB rss.cnn.com
93 How Donald Trump could win Donald Trump is aiming to pull off one of the greatest political comebacks in history. 2016-09-06 11:13 11KB rss.cnn.com 94 Brexit negotiators urged to examine tougher rules on farming antibiotics Campaigners and politicians say discussion is a matter of urgency following fresh revelations of superbugs in UK supermarket meat products 2016-09-06 11:12 7KB www.theguardian.com 95 Obama vows to work to tighten sanction on North Korea VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — In the wake of another missile launch, President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to work with the United Nations to tighten sanctions again... 2016-09-06 11:11 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 96 'Hezbollah, Syrian army preparing large operation near Israel border' Iranian media reports that its proxy Hezbollah has already deployed a large contingency of fighters in the Quneitra area, located between Syria and Israel's Golan Heights. 2016-09-06 11:11 3KB www.jpost.com 97 Moldova: 2 men arrested, suspected of 'terrorism propaganda' CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovan prosecutors have arrested two foreign nationals on suspicion of spreading online propaganda for international terror organi... 2016-09-06 11:10 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 98 ITT Educational Services to discontinue some operations Sept 6 (Reuters) - ITT Educational Services Inc said it would discontinue operations at all of its ITT Technical Institutes, affecting more than 8,000 employ... 2016-09-06 11:10 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 99 Danaher to buy Cepheid for about $4 bln, including debt Sept 6 (Reuters) - Danaher Corp said on Tuesday it would buy molecular diagnostics company Cepheid in a deal valued at $4 billion, including debt, to strengt... 2016-09-06 11:10 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk
100 No more scrolling down your News Feed: Facebook tests Twitter-like feature to highlight posts from friends California-based Facebook appears to be testing the feature on some Android users, although it is not clear if this is just in certain areas. The feature collects and displays posts from your friends. 2016-09-06 11:10 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk Articles
Total 100 articles, created at 2016-09-06 18:01
1 Philippines' Duterte expresses regret over Obama 'whore' slur (4.14/5) Longtime allies the United States and the Philippines have seen relations plunge under a barrage of insults from Duterte since he came to office on June 30. The latest Duterte outburst came on Monday before a planned meeting between the leaders at a regional summit in Laos. Obama responded to the outburst by cancelling the talks, which prompted a Duterte to offer a qualified expression of regret. "While the immediate cause was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress we also regret it came across as a personal attack on the US president," a statement released by Duterte said. The 71-year-old former prosecutor was referring to his remarks on Monday, when he warned he would not be lectured by Obama over concerns about a brutal war on drug crime that has claimed more than 2,400 lives in the Philippines. "You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum," Duterte told reporters when asked about his message for Obama. Duterte, who has quickly earned a global reputation for his jibes, then used typically colourful language to describe their planned meeting if rights issues came up. "We will be wallowing in the mud like pigs if you do that to me," he said. Duterte's about-turn on Tuesday said both sides would hold face-to-face talks "at a later date". "Our primary intention is to chart an independent foreign policy while promoting closer ties with all nations especially the US with which we have a longstanding partnership," Duterte's statement said. The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs added Duterte had "a deep regard and affinity for President Obama and for the enduring partnership between our nations". Duterte has angrily rejected criticism from the Catholic Church, human rights groups, legislators and the United Nations over his drug purge. During his Monday outburst he said the bloodbath would continue. "More people will be killed, plenty will be killed until the last pusher is out of the streets. Until the (last) drug manufacturer is killed, we will continue and I will continue," he said. He also added he would not take orders from the United States, a former colonial ruler of the Philippines, and did not care about how he was perceived. "I don't give a shit about anybody observing my behaviour," he said.
Barack Obama cancels meet with Philippines President over abusive remark mid-day.com
Quotations in the News mynorthwest.com Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine president, regrets 'son of a bitch' remark washingtontimes.com Philippine President Duterte 'regrets' Obama 'whore' jibe bbc.co.uk 2016-09-06 18:01 AFP www.timeslive.co.za
2 British Airways apologises to delayed passengers (2.06/5) British Airways has apologised to passengers facing delays after an IT glitch affected check-in desks. Passengers complained of delays at check-in and at the baggage drop, and on the tarmac waiting for take-off. The airline said passengers were able to check in at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports "although it is taking longer than usual". It advised passengers to check in online. "We are sorry for the delay to their journeys," BA added. There was further disruption for passengers at London City Airport on Tuesday after, police said, protesters "locked themselves together" on the runway. BA encouraged customers affected by the IT problems to check in online before they reached the airport. It told customers that some flights had been cancelled on Monday "due to operational reasons" but that specialists were "working to resolve this issue". One passenger, Dana Al-Qatami, who was flying from Switzerland to London, was issued with a handwritten boarding pass on Tuesday morning. Dana, alongside another Twitter user, Susan Stewart, said the delays continued once on the plane. Ms Stewart, a director at the Open University in Scotland, tweeted: "Dear @British_Airways, could you turn the wifi BA 2953 please so we can work whilst stuck here on tarmac? (or let us off?)". Liv Boeree, a professional poker player from London, told the BBC she had queued for a flight in Las Vegas for two and a half hours. "It's now midnight and we are boarding. Check-in was long and slow. The staff handled it very well," she said. "My boarding pass was filled out by hand. Even had a hand-written hand baggage label. Staff were updating us well - The staff... were excellent. The pilot said the delays were due to a computer glitch and apologised profusely. " On Monday customers in the US and Canada reported delays at several airports due to IT problems. People flying from San Francisco, Washington DC and Atlanta reported long delays on social media. 'Meltdown' Twitter user John Bevir wrote: "Huge computer issue affecting British Airways across USA. Friend at #Dulles [Washington airport] tells me pilots by gate but passengers still trying to check in! ". Ewan Crawford, of Glasgow, said he was at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. He tweeted: "Never a good sign when they deliver water to the gate! Waiting at ORD for @British-Airways 296. Worldwide computer outage apparently! Hmm. " Matthew Walker, a financial analyst from London, waited for more than two hours to board his flight to Heathrow. Though he had already checked in online, he said that BA staff could not access their computers to see which passengers had gone through security. He said: "People were lining up, some had already checked in and got through security, but others, when this thing happened, whatever it is, were stuck in the check-in queue. "So they (the staff) have the problem that they didn't know who had already gone through the gate because all the systems literally just had a meltdown. " In July, British Airways apologised to passengers who faced long delays at check-in at Heathrow and Gatwick. The airline was upgrading its check-in system and problems led to lengthy queues on one of the busiest days of the year for the airports. Have you been affected by the check-in delays? You can share your experience by emailing [email protected] . Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: Or use the form below
Travelers delayed after British Airways computer glitch ajc.com British Airways suffers delays caused by computer glitches washingtontimes.com 2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
3 Warner Bros files copyright infringement claim against its own website (1.08/5) Entertainment giant Warner Bros has asked Google to remove its own website from search results in a bizarre piracy take down request. The film studio claimed the site violated copyright laws, and asked the search engine to also remove links to legitimate streaming websites, including Amazon and Sky Cinema. The requests were issued on behalf of Warner Bros by digital copyright company Vobile, which files hundreds of take down requests each month. Warner Bros hasn't yet commented on the peculiar accusation against itself, which was first clocked by an eagle eyed reporter at Torrent Freak. Another request from the firm saw Google asked to remove links to the official website for films like the Matrix and Batman: The Dark Knight. The erroneous, and seemingly automated, requests come as the movie industry continues the fight against pirated content online. However, as TorrentFreak's editor-in-chief, Ernesto Van der Sar, pointed out Warner is "inadvertently trying to make it harder for the public to find links to legitimate content," which runs counter to its intentions. "Luckily for the Hollywood studio, Google is there to save the day. The search engine spotted its mistakes and decided to take no action for the Amazon, Sky and IMDb links," he finished. On it's website, Vobile explains that its VDNA technology is able to "automatically detect, track and report on instances where brand integrations have occurred in programming airing on television channels. "
Warner Bros. files copyright claim against itself ajc.com 2016-09-06 13:20 www.thedrum.com
4 Publicis Sapient, what sticks?: Singapore’s most innovative agencies (1.04/5) Singapore has developed into the central hub for marketing in APAC, with many major brands now based in the city state. Add to this a government committed to a smart city mandate, and it is one of the most exciting places to be working in the industry today. The Drum takes a look at 20 of the most innovative agencies operating on the island, including Publicis Sapient. Sapient is a business that, globally, has long built its reputation on innovation and it’s no different in Singapore where the agency’s global chief executive officer recently complimented the work coming out of its regional presence. Kim Douglas, managing director and vice-president of SapientNitro Singapore and Hong Kong, talks with huge enthusiasm about the work taking place within the business at the moment, offering a frank view on his take on ‘innovation’ and what it means to him, stating that it’s not just about hardware. “We think of innovation as being about what you are thinking and doing rather than technology or tools. We have technology too but that’s just challenging the way in which brands connect with people and rethinking the solution in an effective way,” he explains. One such method of ensuring such success is an internal consultative approach offered called ‘What Sticks?’ This sees clients offered the opportunity to work with kit such as VR and AI enabled tech to give them a fresh insight into what is possible. “We work really hard to try and not define the scope of things because the closer you get to defining that the further you are away from solving the problem in an innovative way. If you take assumptions from people then you end up defining it by putting an advertising idea around it or applying a piece of technology to it, that means you’re not in the right space,” offers Douglas, who adds that Sapient aims to explore methods that brands are not yet engaging with consumers on and “broaden the landscape” it is working from. One recent project Douglas is excited by is its creation of a ‘really cool’ music interface for Telkomsel, an experience that will aim to excite users and help them interact with the brand. Another success was its online multiplayer game developed for Unilever’s Paddle Pop ice cream – ‘The World of Paddle Pop’ – which has picked up numerous industry awards within the region. Sapient also aims to iterate tech solutions for clients within a few days of brainstorming in order to allow it to start solving their problems in a hands- on manner, working with clickable, touchable prototypes that can help produce immediate feedback and change any incorrect perceptions of what a brand thinks it needs. “That’s how I define innovation – by putting people through a skeptical process to allow light to enter their thinking,” states Douglas. This article was originally published in the Singapore supplement of The Drum and is available for free on The Drum app which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Publicis Sapient, what sticks?: Singapore’s most innovative agencies thedrum.com
Zeno Group Singapore, social by design: Singapore’s most innovative agencies thedrum.com Wunderman, torch-bearers of change: Singapore’s most innovative agencies thedrum.com
TBWA, the disruption agency: Singapore’s most innovative agencies thedrum.com
R/GA, constant reinvention: Singapore’s most innovative agencies thedrum.com 2016-09-06 13:20 www.thedrum.com
5 Black Lives Matter protesters close London City Airport runway (1.02/5) All flights at London City Airport have been disrupted after protesters gained access to the runway. The Met Police said it was called to the site at about 05:40 BST after nine protesters "locked themselves together" on the runway. The Black Lives Matter UK movement confirmed it is responsible for the protest. Seven people have been arrested and two remain on the runway. The airport said inbound flights were being diverted. More on this and other London stories here Black Lives Matter UK said the action was taken in order to "highlight the UK's environmental impact on the lives of black people locally and globally". A statement said: "Whilst at London City Airport a small elite is able to fly, in 2016 alone 3,176 migrants are known to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean. "Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis. "We note, however, that the UK is willing to charter special flights to remove black people from the country based on their immigration status. " Speaking to BBC London, group member Joshua Virasami added: "The community where this airport is is a predominantly black community. "In Britain, 28% of black people are more likely to be exposed to air pollution...being in closest proximity to the industries causing climate change. " He added the disruption to flights was "a very small inconvenience when you think about the consequences for black communities daily" and the protesters would remain on site "as long as feasibly possible". Scotland Yard said it was investigating how the protesters got air-side - including the suggestion that they swam across the Thames or used a boat. When asked how the protesters gained access to the runway, Mr Virasami said "I'm not in a situation to say...but one can use their imagination". London City Airport passenger Hannah Moore, from Wandsworth, was due to fly to Amsterdam. She said: "It's chaos. There's a huge queue outside the airport. I managed to get in. We've been told to watch the boards. "I have an important business meeting to attend in Amsterdam. I've told them I might not make it. " Casey Collins, who was due to fly to Luxembourg, said customers had initially assumed the delays were related to IT glitches at Heathrow and Gatwick. He said: "The problem was that there were only two or three staff there. People were behaving themselves, they know it was not the airport's fault, but for a time it was a bit chaotic. " He said passengers were offered refunds for cancelled flights, while delayed passengers were given refreshment vouchers. The Met said the seven arrests were on suspicion of aggravated trespass, being unlawfully airside and breaching London City Airport bylaws. A London City Airport spokesperson added: "We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience to their journey. " The airport is popular with bankers and business professionals due to its proximity to Canary Wharf in London Docklands. Last year, a record 4.3 million passengers used the airport. Are you at London City Airport? Have you been disrupted by the protest? Let us know about your experiences. Email [email protected] with your stories. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: Or please use the form below: Nine Black Lives Matter protesters arrested amid City airport travel chaos theguardian.com 2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
6 Phyllis Schlafly, leading US conservative, dies at 92 (1.02/5) Phyllis Schlafly, a leading figure in the US conservative movement, has died at her home in Missouri, aged 92. Mrs Schlafly was an outspoken opponent of feminism and abortion and helped Republicans block the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. She campaigned against Communism and is credited with creating the political climate that helped Ronald Reagan become president. Mrs Schlafly publicly endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in March. Paying tribute to her on Monday, the Republican presidential candidate described Mrs Schlafly as "a patriot, a champion for women and a symbol of strength". Mrs Schlafly's death, in St Louis, was announced by the Eagle Forum , a conservative group she founded in 1972. It described her as an "iconic American leader whose love for America was surpassed only by her love of God and her family". Mrs Schlafly was a strong advocate of traditional family values and one of her crowning political victories was helping to stop the Equal Rights Amendment [ERA] from being added to the US Constitution. She once described feminists as "a bunch of bitter women seeking a constitutional cure for their personal problems". Donald T Critchlow, author of a biography of Phyllis Schlafly, said that defeating the ERA helped to usher in a new conservative era in US politics, paving the way for Ronald Reagan's election in 1980. The Eagle Forum said Mrs Schlafly was survived by her six children, 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Far-right activist, author Phyllis Schlafly dies at 92 washingtontimes.com 2016-09-06 12:59 www.bbc.co.uk
7 2 wounded in Homan Square shooting (1.01/5) A man and a woman were wounded in a shooting late Monday in the Homan Square neighborhood on the West Side. They were sitting in a parked car at 11:09 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Flournoy when they heard shots and realized they’d been hit, according to Chicago Police. The 36-year-old woman was shot in the right arm and back, while the 39- year-old man suffered a graze wound to the neck, police said. They were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where their conditions were stabilized.
2 teenagers shot in Rogers Park chicago.suntimes.com Police: 2 dead, 3 wounded in Lawndale shooting chicago.suntimes.com 2016-09-06 12:59 Luke Wilusz chicago.suntimes.com
8 Duterte: Watch me, Abu Sayyaf will pay (0.01/5) President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday minced no words as he reiterated his warning to destroy terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which had denied involvement in the deadly explosion that took 14 lives in his hometown of Davao City last week. In his speech before the Filipino community in Laos, where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit is being held, Duterte assured his countrymen that he just needed a little more time to make the bandits pay the price for their crimes. READ: Duterte warns Abu Sayyaf: I will eat you alive “Let me state my case. They will pay. Magbayad sila. Ilang buhay pinatay nila (How many did they kill), 15? Well, give me time. Pagdating ng panahon, talagang pulpugin ko kayong lahat (When the time comes, I will pulverize you). You watch me. Tutal nakita ninyo ako how I operate… Bigyan lang ninyo ako ng konting panahon (You’ve seen how I operate… Just give a little time),” Duterte said. Duterte said the Davao bombing was “in retaliation” on the government’s “all-out” war against terrorism and criminality. “Kung hindi ko gawin ‘yan, we are being slapped every day, almost. Mag- hostage sila ng mga turista or kidnap people, then asking for money at ‘pag hindi naibigay – o nakabigay na at ipasa nila doon sa ibang grupo, dadagdagan – pinapatay nila sa harap ng mundo,” Duterte said. (If I don’t do that, we are being slapped every day, almost. They take tourists as hostage or they kidnap people, then ask for money. When we don’t give it – or when we do and they pass it to another group, we add to the amount – they kill the hostage in front of the whole world.) “As a country, a sovereign state, I cannot simply allow that… Alam mo, I am asking you, I am very sad. I share the grief of those who died. But mga collateral na lang ‘yun, mga ganti (But it’s just collateral, retribution),” he added. The President said bombings that “have been going on ever since” were part of the “sacrifice that we have to bear,” but maintained that the government would not bend its knee in pursuing the terrorist group. “That will not stop us because I cannot go to them and say, ‘Please stop and I am on bended knee, nakaluhod ako.’ I carry the burden of a country, a sovereign state and at all costs, I must uphold the dignity and the integrity of our country,” Duterte added. JE RELATED STORIES Duterte mulls hiring hatchet men, mercenaries to destroy Abu Sayyaf Duterte says Abu Sayyaf lost his trust when killings began
Army strikes Abu Sayyaf in Sulu newsinfo.inquirer.net 2016-09-06 17:55 Yuji Vincent newsinfo.inquirer.net
9 9 Preeti Rathi acid attack case: Timeline of events (0.01/5) Preeti Rathi The Mumbai sessions court, on Tuesday, convicted Ankur Panwar for murder of Delhi resident Preeti Rathi in May 2013. Here’s a look at the timeline of the case. May 2, 2013: Attacked at Bandra Terminus, Preeti Rathi suffers 12-15 per cent burns on her face, neck, arms and deep internal injuries in her throat, as she had swallowed acid May 8, 2013: First suspect, Pawankumar Azadsingh Gahalon, is arrested by the GRP from Narela, New Delhi Read Story: Preeti Rathi acid attack case: Ankur Panwar convicted for murder May 19, 2013: Feeding tube attached to Preeti’s stomach. Her chest infection persists May 22, 2013: Her right lung collapses due to chemical pneumonitis May 31, 2013: Preeti’s kidney stops functioning June 1, 2013: She dies of multi-organ failure and cardio-respiratory arrest Preeti’s parents Roshini and Amar Singh Rathi June 3, 2013: Preeti is cremated around 5 pm, after a day-long protest by her kin. While extending a compensation of R2 lakh, the then Home Minister RR Patil assures them that CBI will probe the murder Aug 5, 2013: Preeti’s father approaches the Bombay High Court, seeking CBI inquiry into the case Aug 9, 2013: HC grants bail to Gahalon, observing that police had arrested him only on the basis of suspicion Nov 28, 2013: HC transfers the probe to Mumbai Police Jan 2014: 45 days after case is transferred to them, Mumbai Crime Branch arrests Ankur Panwar Sep 6, 2016: Mumbai sessions court, on Tuesday, convicted Ankur Panwar for Preeti’s murder
Preeti Rathi acid attack case: Ankur Panwar convicted for murder mid-day.com 2016-09-06 15:45 By mid www.mid-day.com
10 Shutdown in Karnataka town against Cauvery water release (0.01/5) Bengaluru: A day-long protest shutdown is being observed at Mandya town in Karnataka against releasing of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu on the Supreme Court's directive to the state government. The district authority was forced to declare holiday for schools and colleges in the town, about 100 km from here, due to protesters staging massive rallies and demonstrations, blocking vehicular traffic on the Bengaluru-Mysuru state highway. Though additional police personnel were deployed in the town and on the highway to maintain law and order and prevent untoward incidents, the state-run transport corporation (KSRTC) has suspended bus services in the district and across the old Mysuru region. "We will not allow the state government to release the river water to Tamil Nadu when it is not able to supply it to our fields to grow paddy, wheat, sugarcane and other crops and for drinking in the region," said Made Gowda, leader of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (state farmers' association) at Mandya. After Tamil Nadu's counsel pleaded for water to save the samba crop in about 40,000 acres of agricultural fields in the Cauvery delta region, the apex court on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water daily for 10 days to the lower-riparian on the policy of "live and let live". The beleaguered state government, however, expressed its inability to release more water as the four reservoirs across the river basin are half- empty due to a rainfall deficit during the southwest monsoon in August. "The state government should immediately file a review petition in the Supreme Court on Tuesday for withdrawal of its order as we don't have enough water for supplying to our farmers and drinking water to Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru," asserted Gowda. In a related development, police have tightened security and stepped up vigil in and around the four reservoirs -- Kabini, Krishna Rajendra Sagar (KRS), Hemavathi and Harangi -- in the river basin as hundreds of farmers threatened to lay siege if more water was released to the neighbouring state. "The state government has also banned visitors and tourists from entering the KRS dam and Brindavan Gardens near Mysuru till September 9 to prevent protestors and agitating farmers from staging demonstrations or laying siege at the sluice gates," a district official told IANS. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited floor leaders of all political parties in the state legislature, central ministers from the state and members of parliament to an all-party meeting to discuss the apex court order and decide on the next course of action.
Protests in Karnataka over SC order to release Cauvery water mid-day.com 2016-09-06 13:19 By IANS www.mid-day.com
11 Wave of IS-claimed bombings in Syria kill at least 48 (0.01/5) Beirut: Near-simultaneous bombings claimed by the Islamic State group struck in and around strongholds of the Syrian government and Kurdish troops today, killing at least 48 people in a wave of attacks that came a day after the militants lost a vital link to the outside world along the Syrian-Turkish border. The IS-run Aamaq news agency said the attacks included six suicide bombings and one remotely detonated blast. Most targeted security forces. The Britain-based Observatory, which maintains a network of contacts in Syria, put the overall death toll at 53, although Syrian state TV said 48 were killed. Conflicting casualty figures are common in the 5-year-old Syria civil war. Jennifer Cafarella, a Syria expert with the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said it was too soon to say if the attacks by the IS group were a reaction to its recent defeats along the border. But she cautioned that setbacks for IS can lead to "a dangerous new phase" by the group, which sometimes resorts to "infiltration and spectacular attacks that exploit and widen rifts" between populations, groups and security forces in both western and northern Syria. Turkey's recent intervention in the north has exposed major rifts and encouraged anti-Kurdish activity, Cafarella said in emails to The Associated Press. She said it was likely that as IS militants are pushed out of territory, they will increasingly target government and Kurdish areas. "So it's a dangerous possibility that we're witnessing ISIS gear up for a campaign to expand westward into either or both regime and opposition territory as it loses to the anti-ISIS coalition," she said, using an acronym for the militant group. The territorial losses at the border were the biggest blow to the militant group that also has suffered a series of recent battlefield setbacks in Syria and Iraq. Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish warplanes and tanks, continued to push IS fighters out of the border strip today, securing their hold on an area seized a day earlier. In Hangzhou, China, meanwhile, President Barack Obama said the US and Russia have not given up on negotiations to halt the bloodshed in Syria, but acknowledged that "gaps of trust" exist between the rival powers. Significant sticking points remain in negotiations over creating a US- Russian military partnership focusing firepower on "common enemies" in Syria, Obama said. He acknowledged that a meeting today with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not yield a breakthrough.
IS claims responsibility for Syria's serial bombings mid-day.com 2016-09-06 11:34 By PTI www.mid-day.com
12 France urges Gabon vote recount as top minister quits With Bongo claiming victory by a wafer-thin margin of some 6,000 votes, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls proposed recounting the ballots. "There needs to be a clear electoral process," he told French radio station RTL on Tuesday, saying there were "some doubts". "It would be wise to do a recount. " France has already joined the European Union and the United States in calling for the results to be published according to each polling station but until now, had stopped short of demanding a recount. The move came just hours after Justice Minister Seraphin Moundounga, who is also a deputy prime minister, resigned late Monday, demanding "a recount of the votes, polling station by polling station, and registry by registry". Bongo's defeated rival Jean Ping, a veteran diplomat who has held a top African Union job, on Monday called for a general strike to force "the tyrant" out. "We cannot accept that our people will be killed like animals without reacting," Ping wrote on Facebook. "I propose to cease all activity and begin a general strike," said Ping, who has denounced the vote as fraudulent. "We must use all means of resistance to topple this tyrant and believe me, he is on the verge of falling. " But his appeal appeared to go largely unheeded in the capital Libreville where banks and shops re-opened after being shuttered for days due to post-election violence, and taxis returned to the streets. According to an AFP count, post-election chaos has claimed at least seven lives in the oil-rich central African nation, ruled by the Bongo family since 1967. Gabonese authorities, however, said Monday the toll was three killed and 105 wounded, with the government saying some deaths had previously been incorrectly attributed to the clashes. Valls on Tuesday also called on the Gabonese authorities to establish the whereabouts of around 15 French nationals who have been missing since the violence began. "It's true that we have no news of around 15 French citizens, who are in many cases French-Gabonese bi-nationals. We ask the Gabonese authorities that everything be done to find them," he said Gabon's foreign ministry confirmed the authorities had arrested some Franco-Gabonese nationals, saying the justice ministry would answer any questions from concerned families. But it also said bi-nationals living in Gabon would be subject to Gabonese laws. Some 800 people have been arrested in recent days in the capital, with the authorities accusing them of looting, while lawyers say they are being held in "deplorable" conditions. Several prisoners told AFP they had been beaten, denied food and water or questioned harshly by authorities. "There were no toilets. We slept in our pee," said a man who asked that his name be given as Matthieu to protect his identity. Meanwhile, a high-level African Union delegation including heads of state is ready to be dispatched to Libreville to help calm the situation, AU chairman and Chad President Idriss Deby said. UN chief Ban Ki-moon spoke to both Bongo and Ping on Sunday and "deplored the loss of life", a UN statement said, adding that he "called for an immediate end to all acts of violence. " The country had previously enjoyed relative political stability, mainly because France helped Omar Bongo rule for 41 years. After he died in June 2009, his son Ali won an election but opposition media claimed he had essentially been installed by France.
2016-09-06 18:01 AFP www.timeslive.co.za
13 13 Springboks look to keep up pressure on Australia lineout The Springboks suffered only their second ever defeat to Argentina in their last match in the competition in Salta two weeks ago and will be desperate to make amends in Brisbane. Australia's campaign got off to an even worse start with back-to-back losses to New Zealand during which their lineout was taken apart by the world champions. De Jager and Eben Etzebeth famously clashed off the ball in a Super Rugby match earlier this season but they will be united in an imposing Springbok second row at Lang Park on Saturday. Even if the 23-year-old de Jager thought the All Blacks should take much of the credit for their superiority in that department, he said the Springboks would also have plans for a part of the game at which they have traditionally excelled. "The All Blacks are a very good man-watching side in lineouts. If you have an off day, they can punish you for it," he told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday. "In the series against England, Australia won lineout ball pretty easily. "It's not a big concern for them but we've done our homework as well and hopefully we can put them under pressure at lineout time. " Australia's lineout woes have come to encapsulate criticism of Michael Cheika's team selection in the local media after six straight defeats going back to last year's World Cup final. The coach's continued faith in David Pocock and Michael Hooper as a loose forward combination leaves the back row short not only of a traditional number eight but also an extra lineout jumper. De Jager thought the media onslaught would have a positive impact on the Wallabies set piece and was intrigued to see what Cheika's solution might be. "(I'm) looking forward to the game," he added. "They're under pressure and the media's made a big thing about it so in the week they would have probably rectified it and come up with new plans. "We'll see on Saturday what they come with. "
2016-09-06 18:01 REUTERS www.timeslive.co.za
14 Bomb kills father and daughter, four, at Thai school The device, packed in the fuel tank of the parked motorcycle, struck as pupils and teachers filed into the school in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province for the start of the day. "The two dead were father and daughter," Noppdol Kingthong, a Tak Bai police detective, told AFP. The bomb was set off by radio control as the pair were near the school gate on a motorbike, he added. A dozen other adults were wounded, according to a hospital worker who said the dead were Muslim. Ethnic Malay insurgents in the kingdom's so-called "Deep South" have for years targeted schools and teachers, who are viewed as symbols of Thai state power over the culturally distinct Muslim-majority region. More than 6,500 people -- the majority civilian -- have been killed by rebels and Thai security forces since 2004 in the southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia. Debris from the blast was strewn across the area while an abandoned child's school bag lay on the road, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. Police and soldiers routinely accompany teachers and children to and from schools in the most dangerous "red zones". Scores of teachers have been killed by rebels -- some killed in front of pupils. The rebels appear to have returned to attacking "soft" civilian targets in recent weeks, following several months where violence was aimed at security officials. The bomb "aimed to kill... indiscriminately as shown by the four-year-old victim," Colonel Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the Thai army in the south, said in social media statement. The under-reported conflict in Thailand's southernmost provinces hit the headlines last month after rare bomb attacks in tourist hotspots inside the kingdom killed four people and wounded dozens, including foreigners. Those blasts carried the hallmarks of the southern rebels, who never claim their attacks. But Thai authorities have downplayed any possible expansion of the southern conflict -- unrest that has so far remained highly localised for more than a decade. That is despite the identification of five suspects for those attacks -- all Muslim men from the deep south, several of whom have a record of involvement in the insurgency. On Friday, the Thai junta held talks with a group that claims to represent the political aims of the shadowy rebels. The aim is to set the ground for formal peace talks, which stalled following Thailand's 2014 coup. But it is unclear if the rebel representatives at the table have command-and- control over their foot soldiers. The military is also widely distrusted by Malay Muslims in the south. Rights groups says years of abuses by security forces including extra- judicial killings, have eroded faith in the Thai state, which is also accused of railroading the local culture.
2016-09-06 18:01 AFP www.timeslive.co.za
15 ANC lost at the polls because it didn’t listen to me‚ Zulu king tells maidens The Zulu monarch‚ according to a report on IOL‚ said he would be able to take over the reins because: “God gave me powers to lead.” The king told thousands of maidens during a reed dance ceremony over the weekend that political murders in Inchanga‚ allegedly as a result of infighting between alliance partners the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) before and after the local government elections‚ were signs of a failed leadership. “It hurts me when I am seeing people holding two separate funerals on the same day in one area‚ while they belong to one party‚ one alliance‚” the king was quoted as saying. This was a reference to the murder of SACP activist Nonsikelelo Blose‚ who was gunned down near a tavern in the area after attending an SACP meeting‚ which was followed by the revenge killing of the ANC’s Xolani Ngcobo. “As I am talking‚ the capital city of South Africa is governed by whites‚ which is a sign that the country is gone. The economic base [Johannesburg] has been taken over by whites. If politicians had listened to me‚ the election results would not be like this‚” he said. The king had previously told government leaders that they should be honest with people and tell them if they would be able to deliver on their promises on time‚ instead of giving them false hope. He said the ANC and opposition parties were interested in power rather that service provision. ANC provincial spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli said his party “welcomes and respects” the opinions expressed by the king. “We are also working harder to ensure that the current stalemate is resolved in the best interests of the people of Jozini‚” he said.
2016-09-06 18:01 Julia Madibogo www.timeslive.co.za
16 Floods kill 60, displace 44,000 in North Korea: UN World number one Jason Day was relieved to hear that his wife Ellie and two children were "resting comfortably" after being involved in a traffic accident on Friday while he was competing at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
2016-09-06 18:01 AFP www.timeslive.co.za
17 Comments flow about Joburg's #WaterRestrictions That’s according to the response garnered on Twitter on Tuesday when Johannesburg Water @JHBWater asked followers to: The number of those who responded to the shower query was double that of the bathers. The utility had‚ on Monday‚ warned that residents who do not comply with water restrictions - which have been in place in the city since November 2015 - will be fined‚ with the penalties added to their bills. OktoberTwentySixth @therealemjay26‚ however‚ brought up his billing woes with the city‚ asking: This‚ however‚ gave way to glee‚ when he posted: Mangaliso Ngcobo @Manga_za saw this type of pairing up as opportunistic: “#WaterRestrictions those who want to bath with their neighbors sounds like they have alterior motives. @SakinaKamwendo @ShoeshoeQhu”. Politics inevitably seeped into the social media conversation‚ with Oliphant @oliphant11 questioning if the city’s new Democratic Alliance administration was responsible for the restrictions while Tshepo @tzhepom seemed concerned about the implications for President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead: Apparently I'm Cute. @Miss_chanelP‚ on the other hand‚ welcomed the tough stance: I didn't quite understand load shedding because it was a matter of poor management but #WaterRestrictions is understandable! #SavingWater — I Entrepreneurship (@BayekeniSA) September 6, 2016
2016-09-06 18:01 TMG Digital www.timeslive.co.za
18 Iran calls Saudis ‘murderers,’ Riyadh accuses Tehran of ‘politicizing’ event — RT News “ Because of Saudi rulers’ oppressive behavior towards God’s guests, the world of Islam must fundamentally reconsider the management of the two holy places and the issue of hajj, ” Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote in a statement on his official website. The hajj is a religious pilgrimage to Islam’s most holy sites that every Muslim is obligated to undertake at least once in their lives. In the deadliest incident of its kind on record, some 2,426 people were killed in a stampede in Mina, Mecca, as they were making their hajj in September of last year, but its cause still remains unclear. The tragedy further exacerbated long- standing animosity between Riyadh and Tehran. Tehran claimed that 464 of those killed were Iranian, while blaming the tragedy on Saudi mismanagement. Iran has repeatedly demanded that an independent body take over management of the five-day event, but the Saudi authorities have refused to consider the proposal. “ They murdered them, ” Khamenei wrote in an emotionally charged address. “ The heartless and murderous Saudis locked up the injured with the dead in containers – instead of providing medical treatment and helping them or at least quenching their thirst,” the leader stated, though he offered no evidence to support his allegations. He also accused the Saudis, who he called “ small and puny satans, ” of “ treason ” for failing to provide sufficient security for the hajj, saying they had been too busy catering to the United States to arrange it. “ Saudi rulers […] are disgraced and misguided people. [They] tremble for fear of jeopardizing the interests of the Great Satan, the US, ” Khamenei wrote. In responding to Khamenei’s accusations, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and interior minister, Mohammed bin Nayef, said that Iran was merely trying to “ politicize ” the hajj, while warning that the agitation could compromise the safety of pilgrims. “ The Iranian authorities don’t want the Iranian pilgrims to come here for reasons concerning the Iranians themselves, ” Saudi state news agency SPA quoted the crown prince as saying. “ Seeking to politicize hajj and turn it into rituals against Islam’s teachings [compromises] the safety of hajj, ” he stressed. The crown prince dismissed Khamenei as lacking credibility and objectivity, stressing that the Saudis have never treated Iranian pilgrims any differently than the other pilgrims, while Iranian pilgrims do not always respect the rules of hajj. “ [They use hajj] to violate the teachings of Islam, through shouting slogans and disturbing the security of pilgrims, ” he noted. Bin Nayef stressed that the Saudis consider it their sacred duty to provide all of the pilgrims “ with all safety and security .” After two failed attempts to resolve the safety issue, Iran banned its pilgrims from attending this year’s hajj for the first time in almost 30 years. Nonetheless, there are many Iranians among the over one million pilgrims that have already arrived in the Gulf state for the hajj starting Friday, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah said, according to Aawsat newspaper. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been gearing up for the event, fearing a repeat of last year’s tragedy. This year, Muslim pilgrims will all have to wear electronic bracelets containing personal and medical information, while additional security cameras have been installed along the hajj route. In addition, Crown Prince bin Nayef has warned that more severe punishments await those who disturb the proceedings.
2016-09-06 18:01 www.rt.com
19 Duterte administration stops DBP-Landmark merger MANILA — The Duterte administration has stopped the planned merger of state-run lenders Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines given a go- ahead by former President Benigno S. Aquino III early in 2016. In a statement Tuesday , Department of Finance (DOF) spokesperson Paola Alvarez said an en banc resolution of the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG) “resolved to cancel the implementation” of Executive Order (EO) No. 198 issued by Aquino in February. The resolution was signed by GCG Chairman Jaime Ma. Flores III as well as Commissioners Michael Cloribel and Samuel Dagpin Jr. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, both sitting as ex-officio members of the oversight body for GOCCs, also signed the GCG resolution. Alvarez said the GCG would send President Rodrigo R. Duterte a memorandum to inform him of the decision to scrap the merger. The DOF pointed out that Dominguez had early on thumbed down the planned merger of the two banks that would have resulted into a lender with combined assets of P1.71 trillion, based on end-2015 BSP data, which would make it the country’s second biggest bank in terms of assets and seen challenging local tycoons’ dominance in the banking sector. Dominguez had said a merger of DBP and Landbank “would not serve the public interest to transform the two institutions into one, given their different functions.” “Landbank serves the agriculture sector, while DBP takes care of the needs of industry. Both were created for different purposes. I don’t see any rational reason to put them together,” Dominguez had said, adding that their merger “cannot be done without a law passed by Congress.” “DBP is mandated to provide long-term financing, which requires bankers with markedly different sets of skills than those needed to extend short-term credit to farmers—Landbank’s primary job,” according to Dominguez. The DOF said that while former President Aquino “claimed that the GCG had the power to merge state firms, like DBP and Landbank, without seeking prior approval from the Congress,” Dominguez maintained that “the two banks were set up through legislation, and, thus, only a law could legalize their merger.” Landbank was formed under Republic Act (RA) No. 3844 in 1963, while DBP, originally the Rehabilitation Finance Corp., had been created under RA 85. EO 198 ordered the merger of DBP and Landbank within a one-year timeline, with the latter as surviving entity. The bigger lender to be established from the merger is being eyed to increase loans to infrastructure projects on top of initiatives under their developmental mandate. “The merger will result in a combined single borrower’s limit (SBL) of P26 billion compared with DBP’s SBL at P9 billion and Landbank’s at P17 billion. A higher SBL enables the surviving bank to fund big-ticket infrastructure projects,” the GCG had said in a briefing paper. Once merged with DBP, the surviving entity Landbank will not only be the second largest lender in terms of deposits with nearly P1.3 trillion. “In terms of loans and capitalization, it will be fourth [biggest] at P583 billion and P114 billion, respectively. Thus, it shall provide a more stable and stronger base for developmental financing,” the GCG had noted. According to the GCG, “more underserved and unbanked areas will be reached by the surviving bank through rationalization of the existing branch networks of DBP and Landbank.” “Planned branch openings and relocation of branches will expand the reach of the surviving bank to 298 cities and municipalities. With its wider presence, the surviving bank can offer more financial services to overseas Filipino workers, small and medium enterprises, and the agriculture- agrarian reform sector who are the natural customers of its branch network,” the GCG had said. Also, the surviving bank will have an automated teller machine or ATM network of 1,670 nationwide, which the GCG said “can also provide access for beneficiaries of the 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program].” The GCG earlier said the consolidated bank “will be more effective, efficient and sustainable in carrying out the mandates of both banks, particularly in anticipation of the wave of foreign banks that may enter the Philippine market upon the occurrence of Asean integration in 2015.” SFM
2016-09-06 17:51 Ben O newsinfo.inquirer.net
20 20 Japan dominates Foton Pilipinas in AWCC BINAN CITY — NEC RED Rockets of Japan schooled Foton Pilipinas in three sets, 25-13, 25-7, 25-15, Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championships at Alonte Coliseum here. It was over in less than an hour as the Japanese refused to hold punches against the fumbling hosts, firing at will and defending their turf well. The Tornadoes will face Altay VC of Kazakhstan Wednesday for placing in the quarterfinal hoping to evade title favorites China and Thailand.
2016-09-06 17:42 Marc Anthony sports.inquirer.net
21 PH Coast Guard to receive 2 planes from US in December The Philippine Coast Guard will receive the first two of the four Short C-23 Sherpa transport aircraft to be turned over by the United States in December. This was confirmed by PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. The planes will be transferred as part of the US Excess Defense Articles program. The four Sherpa planes are seen to boost the Coast Guard’s monitoring capabilities, and will augment the Islander planes used for maritime patrol missions. The expected medium lift transport planes from the United States Army can carry 30 crew members and passengers. The PCG is beefing up its capabilities amid the rising tensions in the South China Sea. Last month, it acquired the first of its 10 multi-role response vessel from Japan.
2016-09-06 17:38 Frances Mangosing globalnation.inquirer.net
22 2 senators worry on state of nat’l emergency’s no-expiry date While they support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, two senators have expressed apprehensions over the absence of an “expiry date” or deadline as to when such declaration would end. READ: Duterte signs state of national emergency proclamation “I support the declaration of a state of lawlessness. But I have my reservations on one that is indefinite,” Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said in a statement on Tuesday. “I am for a national emergency which has an expiry date for the simple reason that it injects a deadline to be met in quelling lawless violence,” Recto said. By stating when the emergency would end, the senator said the government would be pressured to restore normalcy as soon as possible. “In case, however, the objectives are not met, Malacanang can just extend the period of emergency. A renewable declaration is better than one that is open-ended,” Recto said. “If government claims that we are entering a dark period of history, then to buoy the people’s hopes up, the relief being offered must state when the light at the end of tunnel will be seen.” “This is another reason why the proclamation must have a sunset provision,” he further said. Neophyte Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said it was clear that the proclamation was made to combat terrorism and that no human rights should be violated. “Ang hindi clear sakin yung time frame. Hanggang kailan ito?” Gatchalian said in an interview. (What’s not clear with me is the time frame. Until when is this?) “Kaya humihingi ako ng isang executive session with the executive branch para malaman natin yun time frame at mapaliwanag mabuti sa mambabatas yung mga mangyayari at yung mga pinakaloob dito sa proclamation,” he said. (That’s why I am asking for an executive session with the executive branch to know the time frame and explain well to the lawmakers what’s going to happen and what’s inside the proclamation.) Before flying to Laos on Monday, Duterte signed a one-page proclamation of a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, which calls on the military and the police to suppress and prevent lawless violence. READ: So it’s now state of national emergency in effect Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the proclamation had no time limit since he said it was not martial law that has a 60-day limitation. TVJ/rga
2016-09-06 17:34 Maila Ager newsinfo.inquirer.net
23 De Lima’s ex-staff confirms BDO account not under his name Who owns the Banco De Oro account allegedly containing P24-million? Does it really contain such an amount? The Banco De Oro (BDO) account number earlier reported to be under the name of Jonathan Caranto, former staff of Senator Leila De Lima exists — only it is not under Caranto’s name. Caranto, who works as an Administrative Assistant III at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Prosecution Service. on Tuesday personally went to BDO at Grace Park-9th Avenue in Caloocan to verify the existence of the P24-million account under his name. In his affidavit, he denied having a BDO account. He said his accounts are at Landbank and Philippine National Bank (PNB). The bank informed him and his counsel Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila that the account number exists, only it was at a different branch and they have no access to it. Caranto said the bank also told them, after presenting his identification cards, that they have no account under the name of Jonathan Cardinoza Caranto. “Pumunta ako dito sa Caloocan branch sa BDO to check kung may account na nakapangalan sa akin at nakausap namin with my lawyer, so wala ngang account na nakapangalan sa akin,” he told INQUIRER.net . (I went to the Caloocan branch in BDO to check if there’s an account in my name and we talked with my lawyer, so there’s really no account named after me.) “Hindi nya pangalan [yung account number] at hindi sa branch na yan,” Aguila said adding that they went to BDO Grace Park-9th Avenue because that was what the deposit slip says. (It’s not his name on that account number and it’s not that branch.) Under BDO Account Number 004460088072, there were six transactions with P4-million deposit each from Nov. 20, 2015, Dec. 14, 2015, Jan. 22, 2016, Jan. 26, 2016, March 18, 2016 and the last transaction was April 29, 2016. Total deposit was P24-million. Aguila said the bank cannot give other details on the account number because of the Bank Secrecy Law. Caranto’s name was included in the drug matrix of President Rodrigo Duterte. Caranto said he was surprised that his name was included in the matrix. He said he only learned about it last August 25 over the radio. “Nabigla po ako na nakasama ako sa drug matrix. Wala naman po akong kinalaman sa ganyan. Office, bahay lang naman ako,” Caranto said. (I was surprised I was included in the drug matrix. I have no knowledge of that kind of thing. [Office-to-house] is my only routine.) In the matrix, he was described as someone who frequents cockpits. “Hindi po ako marunong magsabong,” he said, adding he does not smoke but he is an occasional drinker. (I don’t know anything about cockfighting.) His wife, Eileen, attested he could’nt eat after learning his name was dragged into the controversy surrounding his former boss. After learning that his name was in the matrix, he said he wanted to talk to Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. He said he consulted a lawyer and friends at the DOJ. During his talk with Aguirre, he said he was asked about the bank accounts and the deposit slip. The Justice Secretary also asked him if he was willing to go to the NBI to clear his name to which he readily agreed. Aside from executing an affidavit, he also underwent a polygraph or a lie detector test which, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), he passed. “Jonathan Caranto’s polygrams revealed that there were no specific reactions indicative of deception to pertinent questions relevant to instant investigation,” the NBI noted in its Polygraph Report. He said he is hoping that the truth will come out. “Sana lumabas na yung katotohanan kung sino nagdawit sa pangalan ko,” Caranto said. (I hope the truth will come out [on the culprit] who dragged my name into the issue.) He called on those who dragged his name into the matrix to come out. “Kung sino yung gumawa, lumabas na. Inosente ang mga tao, nadadamay. Kami, pamilya ko, walang kinalaman pero nasira na ang pangalan ko,” he said but added that he is not in hiding contrary to speculations at the DOJ. He said he only took a leave of absence after his name was included in the matrix to focus on clearing his name. (Whoever did that, please come out. Innocent people are being dragged [into the issue]. My family and I, we have no knowledge on that but my name is being used.) For now, he said he leaves it up to God. “I am afraid for the safety of my family but I leave it up to God. Pray lang po talaga,” he said. TVJ/rga RELATED VIDEO
2016-09-06 17:18 Tetch Torres newsinfo.inquirer.net
24 Senate approves on 2nd reading bill to defer barangay, SK polls The Senate on Tuesday approved on second reading a bill to postpone this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for another year. The election was originally scheduled for Oct. 31. A similar measure must also be passed by the House of Representatives before the two chambers convene a bicameral committee to reconcile their versions. Once ratified by both houses, the approved bill will then be transmitted to the President for signature. Twenty-two of 24 senators earlier affixed their signatures to a committee report recommending the postponement of the elections to October 2017. READ: Senate starts deliberations on postponement of barangay, SK polls Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said his amendment, allowing all public works projects to continue “before, during and after” the elections except for “barangay-funded work on roads and bridges,” was incorporated in the bill. “This means that work on nationally funded classrooms, hospitals, roads, irrigation will not cease during the barangay election period,” Recto said in a statement before the second reading approval on the floor. He said the implementation of barangay-funded projects, however, would be suspended 10 days before the elections. Another amendment that was accepted in the plenary, Recto said, was his proposal to lift the ban on the hiring or promotion of government employees. “This is one Jurassic provision in our barangay election laws which should go. Why, for example, would the hiring of policemen or teachers stop just because candidates for barangay kagawad have hit the campaign trail?” he said. “If the position to be filled, like the ambassadorship to a certain country, has nothing to do with barangay affairs, then why should this be covered by a hiring ban?” Recto pointed out that under the bill, the ban on “the appointment, or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, or giving salary increases or privileges” should only apply to barangay employees and should be in effect for a period of 10 days preceding the election. /rga
2016-09-06 17:17 Maila Ager newsinfo.inquirer.net
25 JRU stays hot, compounds San Beda’s woes Jose Rizal University continued its resurgence after hammering out a masterful 97-88 win over San Beda in the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Tey Teodoro and MJ Dela Virgen combined for 48 points as both took turns in fueling the Heavy Bombers’ offensive attack. Teodoro fired 13 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter while Dela Virgen added 15 of his 20 points in the second period as JRU won five of its last six games. The Bombers were deadly from the outside, going 11-of-19, but what impressed their head coach Vergel Meneses was their teamwork. “Ngayon ko lang nakita na nagpasahan ng ganyan. Lagi kong ine- emphasize sa kanila yan na you have to trust everybody on this team,” said Meneses, who also savored sweeping San Beda for the first time in the elimination round. “Overall, it’s more on our passing rather than our shooting kaya may mga open na tao. Wala akong nakitang forced shot.” It was a wire-to-wire victory for JRU, which opened the game on a 9-0 run and led by as much as 27. The Red Lions, who failed to clinch a Final Four spot for the second straight game, showed some fight in the fourth quarter, but never really threatened with Teodoro, Dela Virgen making timely plays. JRU hiked its record to 9-6 to breath down the neck of Mapua, which still holds the fourth slot at 8-5 due to better percentage. With the loss, San Beda (11-4) has now lost three of its last four games to relinquish the top spot to Arellano University (11-3), which earlier won over Lyceum. Javee Mocon led the Lions with a near double-double effort of 26 points and nine rebounds.
2016-09-06 17:04 Mark Giongco sports.inquirer.net
26 Watch video: Locals fight for cots after Rahul Gandhi's Khat Sabha ends Chaos broke out on Tuesday as locals fought for Khatiyas (wooden cots) after Rahul Gandhi's Khat Sabha ended in Deoria. Watch video here There was chaos as scores of villagers, youths, women and elderly men all alike pounced on the cots soon after Gandhi's speech ended and started taking them away to their houses. No one stopped them. The cots was bought by the Congress for Rahul Gandhi's 'khat chaupal' as he started a 2,500-km Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections will be held next year.
2016-09-06 16:37 By mid www.mid-day.com
27 Apple ups iPhone 7 production by 10 per cent: Reports I-Phone 6s+. Representational picture New York: Cupertino-based giant Apple seems confident that its next generation iPhone 7 -- which is just a day away from launch -- is going to be a huge success as the company has reportedly increased orders of the components needed to manufacture the handset by 10 per cent. "It is also well known that non 's' year variants of iPhone create more excitement and have performed well than 's' variants, which the company also experiences year-on-year," The Next Web reported on Tuesday. The timing of the move is interesting as Samsung had announced the global recall of its flagship premium device Galaxy Note 7 over battery faults and Apple is hoping to steal a number of its loyal customers. Although the exact reason for the increase in demand remains is still unclear. Also read: As iPhone 7 launch draws near, here are 6 features you can expect "On the other hand, it is safe to say that it has something to do with the average sales of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus that Apple faced when it launched the devices this time last year," the report added.
2016-09-06 15:01 By IANS www.mid-day.com
28 DSK Shivajians down Army Green to enter Durand Cup semis New Delhi: DSK Shivajians FC entered the semi-finals of the Durand Cup football tournament with a a 2-1 win over Army Green at the Harbaksh Stadium here on Monday. Two penalty kick conversions by Spanish winger and skipper Juan Quero (6th and 9th minutes) proved decisive. Army Green could only pull one back through Herojit Singh (36th minute). The result helped DSK Shivajians finish their five-match Group A engagements with 10 points and guaranteed them top spot in the group. The win was DSK Shivajians third in the tournament, which includes a draw and loss. Needing only a win to progress to the last-four, DSK Shivajians got off to a perfect start as they took the lead in the 6th minute and increased it three minutes later. After that, DSK Shivajians controlled the majority of the proceedings and created many chances. As DSK Shivajians were weaving attacks up front, Army Green capitalised on a small defensive error at the other end to pull one back in the 36th minute. DSK Shivajians led 2-1 going into the breather. DSK Shivajians will play the runners-up of a yet to be decided Group B in the semi-final on Friday.
2016-09-06 14:56 By IANS www.mid-day.com
29 No Ram temple agitation till UP assembly polls: Pravin Togadia The VHP will not launch any agitation for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya till assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year, leader of the right-wing organisation Pravin Togadia said in Patna on Tuesday. Pravin Togadia Tagodia said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is committed to construction of the Ram temple. "Ram temple in Ayodhya will be constructed, it is a certain fact," he said. He also supported the liquor ban and lauded the Bihar government's decision on prohibition.
2016-09-06 14:54 By IANS www.mid-day.com
30 Toll rises to 75, Kashmir closed for 59th consecutive day Srinagar: The authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in the old city areas of Srinagar and some other parts of the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday as the toll in ongoing unrest rose to 75, officials said. Musaib Majeed, 17, who was injured in clashes with the security forces in Wadoora area of Kashmir's Sopore town on September 4, succumbed in a Srinagar hospital during the night. The teenager belonged to Sonarwani village of Kashmir's Kupwara district. The authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in six police station areas of Srinagar city including Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal, M. R. Gunj, Rainawari and Maisuma on Tuesday. Although police said there was no curfew anywhere in the Valley on Tuesday, no pedestrian or traffic was allowed by the security forces in areas where restrictions were imposed. Following the death of another civilian during the night who belonged to Kupwara district, all mobile phone operations in the district have been suspended. The failure of the all-party delegation headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in cutting any ice with the separatists who are spearheading the nearly two-month long protest shutdown, has come as a big setback to peace efforts here. All educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other businesses remained closed for the 59th consecutive day on Tuesday. Banks, government offices and post offices have been functioning for the last 59 days with skeletal staff.
2016-09-06 14:20 By IANS www.mid-day.com
31 Shocking Video: Man thrashed brutally in Bihar for carrying 'liquor bottles' In a new video that has emerged on social media, locals from Bihar's Chhapra region are seen manhandling a man. According to reports, the latter was beaten up for allegedly carrying liquor bottles The video begins with the victim being slapped and punched repeatedly. His horror did not end there though. He was later tied to a tree and caned mercilessly. Watch the Video Shocking Video: Woman caught on CCTV mercilessly beating infant Shocking Video: Man stabbed inside an ATM in Rajasthan
2016-09-06 14:19 By mid www.mid-day.com
32 Vehicle hits pedestrian in Alpharetta Just One More Thing... We have sent you a verification email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your profile. If you do not receive the verification message within a few minutes of signing up, please check your Spam or Junk folder. Close
2016-09-06 14:05 Lauren Foreman www.ajc.com
33 How the wrong choice could ruin your spouse's retirement Three key decisions about retirement benefits can help couples make their money last -- or dramatically increase the chances the survivor will end up old and broke. Widowed women are twice as likely as their male counterparts to live in poverty during retirement, according to a March study by the National Institute on Retirement Security. But anyone who outlives a mate can be vulnerable to a big drop in income and lifestyle because of shortsighted decisions about claiming benefits. "Most people don't quite get the math," says Delia Fernandez, a certified financial planner in Los Alamitos, California, who primarily advises middle- class clients. "They're so focused on getting the highest payment now. " Fernandez remembers one husband who wanted to take early retirement and the maximum possible pension, not realizing that if he died first, his wife's income would fall by 75 percent. "It's all about, 'I'm getting out of this job and getting the most money because I've got things to do,'" Fernandez says. People don't realize their spouses may have to live for years, or even decades, on truncated incomes. Click ahead for a look at the decisions that couples approaching retirement need to get right. The article How the wrong choice could ruin your spouse's retirement originally appeared on NerdWallet . You may be offered a choice between taking a lump-sum distribution from your retirement plan or accepting a series of monthly checks. Theoretically it's possible to earn more over time by investing the lump sum, but a bad market or a too-rapid withdrawal rate can undermine your returns. By contrast, the monthly checks could be guaranteed income that can last for both your lifetimes. Couples should try to make sure that at least their basic expenses in retirement are covered by sources of income that are guaranteed, which can include Social Security, pension payouts and annuities, says Gary Koenig, vice president of financial security for AARP's Public Policy Institute. All 401(k) plans give savers a lump-sum payout option, and many offer the choice of taking a monthly check but the amount you get may vary depending on how your investments perform. If you want guaranteed income, you typically would have to roll your money into an IRA, then use some or all of the money to buy an immediate fixed annuity from an insurance company to create a steady income stream. Those with traditional pensions typically are offered guaranteed monthly checks as the default option, but some pension plans may offer a lump sum. If an adviser suggests you take the lump sum and then buy an annuity, ask how that's better than just getting the checks from the original retirement plan, says Jim Ludwick, a certified financial planner with MainStreet Financial Planning in Odenton, Maryland. "In 10 years of analyzing annuities, I've never seen one that was better" than what a pension plan offered its participants directly, he says. "The company payout is always more generous because it doesn't have to make a profit. " If you do opt for monthly checks from a pension fund, you need to decide how big your checks will be and how long they will last. Let's say your pension plan would give you $3,000 a month if you opted for the single-life payout -- but that payment ends when you die. A joint-and- survivor payout that drops by half after your death might start at $2,873, assuming you and your spouse are roughly the same age. If you want the checks to stay level after you die, your initial monthly payments might shrink to $2,754. Fernandez suggests clients choose this option unless there's a compelling reason to reduce it, such as a spouse who "has a whole bunch of money or a pension of her own and she doesn't need the survivor option, thank you very much. " Also, be wary of insurance schemes that suggest you opt for a single-life payout from a pension and use a part of that larger check to buy life insurance instead. This so-called pension maximization may be a plan only an insurance agent could love, so run it past a fee-only financial planner -- one who doesn't earn commissions on insurance sales -- for an objective second opinion before you proceed. The higher earner typically should delay starting Social Security as long as possible, because that's the benefit the survivor will get, Koenig says. (The survivor's benefit is the larger of the two the couple receives.) Delaying is particularly important if one spouse didn't work or didn't earn enough to get a significant benefit, since the spousal benefit is based on what the higher earner gets. Here's an example to illustrate the difference. Say the higher earner would get a $2,000 monthly check at 66, the current full-retirement age. That would entitle the lower earner to a spousal benefit of $1,000 at his or her full retirement age. If, instead, the couple applies when they first become eligible for benefits at 62, the higher earner's check falls to $1,500 and the lower earner's to $700. So instead of $3,000 they would get $2,200. When one dies, the other gets a survivor benefit of just $1,500, versus the $2,000 that spouse would have received had the couple waited until the higher earner turned 66. Those who wait beyond full retirement age can increase their benefits by an additional 8 percent a year until their checks max out at age 70. Conversely, an early start locks in a permanently reduced check. With all three decisions, couples should talk about the various "what if" scenarios, including what would happen to the household's income and savings if either partner lives longer or dies sooner than expected, says Mark Struthers, a certified financial planner and certified financial analyst with Sona Financial in Minneapolis. Struthers cautions against obsessing too much about which payout option would result in the most money, because those calculations assume we can predict what lies ahead. "The break-even point is not really relevant," Struthers says. "The question is, is your wife going to end up eating cat food because her income dropped 75 percent? " Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a personal finance website, and author of "Your Credit Score. " Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @lizweston.
2016-09-06 14:01 Liz Weston www.cbsnews.com
34 Swedish FM Wallstrom, a vocal Israel critic, rejects BDS Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, a vocal critic of Israel, opposes the anti-Israel boycott movement, Swedish opposition leader Anna Kinberg Batra told MKs Monday. Kinberg Batra said in a meeting with Israel-Sweden Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Eyal Ben- Reuven (Zionist Union) and MKs Stav Shaffir (Zionist Union) and Amir Ohana (Likud) that before she left for Israel, Wallstrom asked her to pass on a message that she opposes the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and boycotts of Israel in general. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. Earlier this year, Wallstrom sparked outrage in Israel by calling for an investigation to determine whether Israel is guilty of extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the recent wave of terrorism. She made no such call following terrorist attacks in Europe this year, in which local police killed the terrorists. Wallstrom also lamented the “disproportionate” number of deaths on the Palestinian side relative to Israelis. Ben-Reuven responded that “Israelis who see the BDS movement in Europe, and in Sweden in particular, recoil and shut themselves off; therefore, we need support, not pressure.” Ben-Reuven added that he would like to see future cooperation between the Knesset and the Swedish parliament. Shaffir said BDS hurts the promotion of a two-state solution. Ohana told Kinberg Batra that he does not believe that there is an immediate solution to the conflict, though he wants there to be peace. Instead, he said, the aim should be cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, like in industrial zones in the West Bank that employ both. Last week, Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid accused Wallstrom of anti- Semitism, during a speech at a pro-Israel rally in Stockholm. “If the Swedish foreign minister is concerned about human rights in the Middle East, she needs to talk about the Palestinians’ use of children as terrorists and human shields,” Lapid said. “She needs to talk about the discrimination against the gay community [by the Palestinians], about the Der Strumer- like incitement spread by the Palestinian Authority, about the abuse of women in Gaza.” “If your attack on Jews is detached from facts and based only on bias, there is a name for it: anti-Semitism,” Lapid said. Lapid said the Swedish government, especially Wallstrom, “is on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of morality.” Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 14:03 LAHAV HARKOV www.jpost.com
35 Spain's 100 meter sprint record holder survives car crash with hand injury Madrid: Spanish athlete Bruno Hortelano suffered a car accident on Monday and underwent a successful operation to reconstruct his right hand, his sports representative said. Hortelano, who holds Spain's record for 100 and 200 meters, had been a passenger in a car that had an accident and was taken to a Madrid hospital, EFE news quoted Alberto Armas as saying. Later, Armas tweeted on his official Twitter account that Hortelano had "left the operating theater" and his prognosis was good. Armas also said that Hortelano's hand was "the most affected part and has been reconstructed" during surgery. The son of scientist parents who emigrated from Spain, Hortelano was born in Australia. He trained in Canada and also in the United States, at Cornell University in New York. He had competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he fell just short of qualifying for the 200 meter final.
2016-09-06 14:01 By IANS www.mid-day.com
36 Kolkata Derby fate hangs in balance as Mohun Bagan refuse to budge Kolkata: Uncertainty hangs over holding the season's first Kolkata derby as city giants Mohun Bagan have set the West Bengal's football governing body Indian Football Association (IFA) an array of conditions ahead of the marquee tie of the Calcutta Football League (CFL). The match is slated to take place at the Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday. Following a series of letters exchanged between Bagan and IFA regarding the venue Kalyani Stadium, the club is learnt to be irked by the state's football governing body not meeting some of the pre-conditions. In a letter to IFA on Monday, Bagan said none of their two demands -- at least two days of practice at the venue before the match and a total of over 6,000 tickets for their members -- were met despite prior intimation. IFA had initially promised 4,000 tickets to both clubs. But after the state Public Works Department did not give the ano objection certificate' to a temporary stand constructed at the stadium. The total number of tickets have come down to 7,500, and each club can be given a maximum of 2,000 each. With just one day remaining before the tie, 48 hours of practice is not possible, but Bagan said it won't be possible for them to participate if the ticket demand is not met. "Our club will be under tremendous pressure if we are unable to keep our word as promised regarding the issuance of ticket to the bonafide members. We request you to kindly solve our problems and help us to play the match or else it will be impossible to participate in the ensuing derby match," read the letter. This was in reply to the governing body's letter that it was for Bagan that the match was pencilled in at the Kalyani Stadium at the first place. "As you are well aware as the second option, we wanted the match to be played in Kanchengunga Stadium but considering your objection to play the match over there, we decided to consider an alternative venue," the letter continued. "We also considered organising this match on your ground in the maidan but even after Kingfisher East Bengal Club accepted to play the match in the said venue, the police authorities did not approve the venue because of security reasons. " "In such circumstances, as an alternative and after discussing with both the clubs, we decided to organise the match in Kalyani Stadium. "
2016-09-06 13:52 By IANS www.mid-day.com
37 Israel Railways can still perform work on Shabbat, state tells High Court Israel Railways can still perform maintenance and repairs of its tracks and operation on the Sabbath, the state told the High Court of Justice in a written submission on Tuesday. The written submission was a response to a petition was filed by Meretz party leader Zehava Galon challenging the government on the constitutionality of removing Israel Railways' permission to perform work and repairs this past weekend leading to the train shutting down on Friday, Saturday night as well as mass delays on Sunday. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. The High Court had denied an emergency freeze of state policy at an unusual hearing on Saturday and asked the state to explain its position in writing. Much of the country, especially public offices, cannot make employees work on Sabbath, but Israel Railways has had a special waiver on the issue until now. According to the state, Israel Railways never lost the authority to have its workers perform repairs on Sabbath, a special authority delegated to it by the government. Rather, a unique and temporary situation arose this past weekend, but not one which in any way removed Israel Railways' special permission on the issue. The state argued that the entire petition refers to the situation as it was last weekend. It argues that this situation has changed and is no longer relevant, making the petition no longer relevant. Further, the state argued that if the authority to have employees working on Sabbath is removed, it will be removed legally by the Social Welfare Minister or someone he has delegated authority to, and only after weighing other relevant public administrative law concerns. Finally, the state noted that Israel Railways will be attending a meeting with all relevant government authorities in the near future to formulate a policy going forward, implying that it would be premature for the High Court to jump into the issue before they make a decision. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 13:37 YONAH JEREMY www.jpost.com
38 India Blue pile up 707 against India Green in Duleep Trophy Greater Noida: Cheteshwar Pujara (166) and Sheldon Jackson (105) helped India Blue register a huge 707 all out in their first innings against India Green on the second day of the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket contest in Greater Noida on Monday. Pujara, who was unbeaten overnight on 63, was involved in two crucial partnerships -- first a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket with Abhimanyu Mithun (32) and later 48-run partnership with Dinesh Karthik (48) as India Blue hammered the India Green bowlers. India Blue, who ended the first day's play at 336/3, thanks to Mayank Agarwal's 161 and captain Gautam Gambhir's 90, further bolstered their chances of reaching the final as Jackson and Karn Sharma (57) continued to punish the rival side -- in an 108-run stand for the eighth wicket. While right-hander Pujara took his time and stroked 24 boundaries to score 166 in 280 deliveries, Jackson's knock was pure entertainment, laced with seven fours and five sixes among the 114 deliveries he faced during his innings. Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool also contributed with a 25-run innings as India Blue decided to almost bat the opposition out of the match. Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was the most successful bowler for India Green as he picked five wickets for 173 runs, while Bengal medium pacer Ashok Dinda took one wicket. Brief scores: 707 all out (Cheteshwar Pujara 166, Sheldon Jackson 105, Karn Sharma 57; Shreyas Gopal 5/173, Ashok Dinda 2/114) vs India Green.
2016-09-06 13:27 By IANS www.mid-day.com
39 Hairdresser denies salon entry to hijab-clad woman in Norway London: A 47-year-old Norwegian hairdresser who threw a hijab-clad woman out of her salon saying, she did not want 'evil' in her establishment could be sentenced to six months in jail after refusing to pay a fine of 800 pounds. Merete Hodne is due to appear in court this week after the incident was reported to the police in October last year. "Islam is evil. It would have been discriminatory against her other customers if she had not thrown Malika Bayan out of the establishment," Hodne said. Malika Bayan, 23, reportedly went to Hodne's salon in the town of Bryne in October last year to enquire how much it would cost to colour her hair, but Hodne told her to leave, Daily Express reported today. "It is disturbing that she treats people this way in a free country. Norway is my country. She talks about that Islam is oppressive to women, but it is she who oppress me," Bayan said. "Evil is Islam's ideology, Mohammedanism and the hijab are symbols of this ideology. I'm not afraid to lose but I won't pay for something that is wrong. I'll appeal to the court of human rights," Hodne added. The hairdresser was initially fined 800 pounds by the police in April for discrimination over the incident, but after refusing to pay, Hodne now faces a court appearance Thursday in the first case of its kind in Norway. Hodne risks six months in jail if she is found to have discriminated against the Muslim woman.
2016-09-06 13:24 By PTI www.mid-day.com
40 Cold Feet: Critics praise 'triumphant return' Cold Feet received a warm reception from critics as it returned to television screens after a 13-year hiatus. The first episode of the new series saw the original cast back in Manchester. It was seen by an average of 5.8 million viewers, rising to 6.1 million when those watching on ITV+1 were included. The Sun 's Andy Halls described it as a "triumphant return" and commended the show for its "brilliant scriptwriting". He added that the show stayed true to its core formula: "Normal people - that the audience can relate to - being honest, touching and very funny. " Writing in The Daily Telegraph , Michael Hogan said: "Could the old magic be recaptured with this heavily hyped comeback? Largely, yes. "This was witty, well-made drama - no longer as fresh or original, perhaps, but still compelling and warm. " He added: "It worked because it wasn't purely wallowing in nostalgia or trading on past glories, offering something more sobering and poignant. " The Times 's James Jackson said fans who thought the show should have been left in the past would have been pleasantly surprised. "We didn't think we wanted Cold Feet back, but perhaps we needed it. It's a comfort blanket for the middle-aged," he said "Cold Feet 2.0 was warm, funny, confident, and, as always, cleverer than it looked. " The show's writer, Mike Bullen, was praised by The Guardian for treating the characters with care and attention in their older years. Sam Wollaston said: "Bullen - and the cast - tackle the challenge with the same wit and warmth and humanness that they did last time out. "It is a relief, then, that something that could have been a really bad idea isn't. " The Daily Mail said although the plot sometimes strayed "into sheer fantasy", the show was like becoming reacquainted with old friends. "Cold Feet is a show to be enjoyed for the emotions it evokes: the overriding one was a wave of warmth at meeting old friends, people we thought we'd never see again," Christopher Stevens wrote. But Digital Spy was less complimentary, with Jordan Paramor commenting: "Somehow the cast don't seem as great together as they were. " "As for the plot, some moments are touching, some are cliched, and it definitely feels like they've tried to cram far too much into the first one-hour show. " Cold Feet was not the most-watched programme on Monday evening - that accolade went to the first episode of Coronation Street, also on ITV, which was watched by a live audience of 6.5 million. But more viewers tuned in to Cold Feet than both BBC One's Poldark and ITV's Victoria, which each attracted about five million people on Sunday evening. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts , on Instagram , or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected] .
2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
41 Sports Direct offers some staff guaranteed hours Sports Direct has said it will offer directly employed casual retail staff at least 12 guaranteed hours a week, instead of zero-hour contracts. However almost all staff at the firm's troubled Shirebrook warehouse are agency workers and are not eligible. In a report commissioned by the firm, it apologised for conditions at Shirebrook, which have been likened to those of a Victorian workhouse. The company has been under mounting pressure to overhaul the way it is run. It commissioned its legal advisers Reynolds Porter Chamberlain to carry out the review after MPs accused the firm of not treating staff like humans with working practices closer to "that of a Victorian warehouse than that of a modern high street retailer". The report comes just ahead of Sports Direct's annual meeting for shareholders on Wednesday. The firm's offer of guaranteed hours will apply to the firm's 18,250 casual staff who work in its stores. The 4,059 warehouse workers supplied by agency staff, will not qualify for the offer. Just 40 of the firm's warehouse employees are on permanent contracts. In football, like most sports, timing is everything. Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Newcastle United and controlling shareholder of Sports Direct, knows this all too well. The release this morning of the independent review comes just a day before he faces irate shareholders at the annual general meeting. They, and trade unions, are baying for blood, and while the report may not mollify them, it changes the nature of the headlines the day before the showdown. The investigation is surprisingly hard on the company. Many had predicted a whitewash, as the law firm involved, Reynold Porter Chamberlain, does other work for Sports Direct. In a statement the company also promises a review of its corporate governance, and to engage with shareholders. That olive branch will probably come too late to the change the tally at tomorrow's meeting, where chairman Keith Hellawell will almost certainly face the ignominy of having a majority of independent shareholders vote against his appointment. More from Dominic: Sports Direct review Profile of Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley Sports Direct staff 'not treated as humans' Last year an investigation by the Guardian newspaper revealed that warehouse staff were subject to lengthy security searches which, in some cases, resulted in their pay falling below the legal minimum wage. And a BBC investigation found ambulances were called out to Sports Direct's complex at Shirebrook, in Derbyshire, 76 times in two years. In Tuesday's report the firm said its failure to pay some staff at its Shirebrook warehouse the minimum wage was "unacceptable but unintentional", but said it had a new pay policy in place. It also said it would ask agencies to suspend their "six strike system" for misdemeanours under which staff were given "a strike" for spending too long in the toilet, excessive chatting or taking a day off sick. Once an employee had six strikes they were automatically dismissed. The report found the system "contributed at times to a hierarchical and potentially oppressive model. " Additional changes the firm has promised include: The report said Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley "takes ultimate responsibility for any aspects of the working practices that were unsatisfactory". Shareholders have called on the firm's billionaire founder, who also owns Newcastle United FC, to improve both corporate governance and working practices at the company. However the firm warned that "only so much can be achieved" in the three months since it started to reform its business and it admitted it will take "far longer to improve the general culture". In June, in an appearance in front of the Business, Innovation and Skills select committee investigating working conditions at the firm, Mr Ashley admitted the firm had "probably" outgrown his ability to run it. He said at the time that much of what he'd found out, after starting an internal investigation into how staff were treated at its Shirebrook distribution centre six months ago, was an "unpleasant surprise". The firm said it had already commissioned a second review of working practices to monitor progress. Do you work at Sports Direct? Have you previously worked there? Do you shop at Sports Direct? You can share your experiences by emailing [email protected] . If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number. Email your pictures to [email protected] , upload them here , tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text +44 7624 800 100 . Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 . Read our terms and conditions . Or comment here:
2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
42 UK 'hacker' Lauri Love fears death in US prison A British man wanted in the US for allegedly hacking into government computers says he fears dying in jail if he is extradited. Lauri Love, who has Asperger's syndrome, worries he will be sentenced to up to 99 years. "If I went into a US prison, I don't think I'd leave again," he told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme . A judge will announce next week whether Mr Love, from Stradishall, Suffolk, should be extradited. Mr Love, who could face trials in three different US states, is accused of hacking into the FBI, the US central bank and the country's missile defence agency. He said the US prison system was "poor" at handling people with psychological conditions, who faced widespread bullying. "The way that mental health is dealt with in America is not in any way therapeutic," he said. "I have Asperger's and I have depression, so suicide is a real risk. "And if I get a 99-year sentence, it's an absurd length of time, meaning I would die in prison anyway. " Mr Love calculates this could be the total combined sentence length if he is found guilty of hacking offences in each of New Jersey, Virginia and New York. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says it works to provide education to staff and inmates on suicide prevention. Mr Love told Victoria Derbyshire he could be "bullied" into accepting a plea bargain in the US - receiving a shorter sentence in return for admitting one or more of the alleged offences. "The threat of what might happen to me is always in the background," he said. "I've been scratching my face as a nervous reaction, which has exacerbated my eczema. " Mr Love, 31, was first arrested at home in 2013 and had computer equipment seized by British police, who then released him on bail. He was not charged in the UK, where the investigation into him was dropped. In England and Wales, the maximum sentence for a computer crime such as those of which Mr Love is accused is two years and eight months. His defence team argues that his depression and Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism - mean he should not be sent abroad, but US prosecutors say he is using his mental health issues as an excuse to escape justice. "That's offensive to me, as someone who has had problems with mental health for all of my life," Mr Love said. "I really feel for my parents, who have the worry and the stress of this. It's been very difficult for them. " In 2012. the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, blocked the extradition to the US of Gary McKinnon, a UK hacker with mental health issue, saying he was a suicide risk. Since then, the law has changed, so judges rather than politicians decide on extraditions. Mr Love's case is regarded as the first real test of the new law. A judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court will announce her decision on whether to extradite Mr Love on 16 September. Mr Love said he was "guardedly optimistic" he would be allowed to remain in the UK. The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel.
2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
43 Cat survives 60-mile trip under van bonnet A cat has been rescued from under the bonnet of a van after travelling about 60 miles in a space behind the heater matrix. The unfortunate moggy was found by Darren Sumner when the vehicle broke down in Reading, Berkshire. Mr Sumner said: "He was warm and scared so I sat and stroked him for about 30 minutes until I coaxed him out. " The RSPCA wants to reunite the cat with his owner, thought to be in Tottenham where the van started its journey. The cat, nicknamed Sparky, was unscathed by his ordeal on 28 August. Mr Sumner, who took the cat home overnight, said: "He used a litter tray so I think he's probably someone's pet. "He woke me up at about 3am in the morning for a play. I hope his owners can be found. " Sparky, who is thought to be about a year old, was taken to the vet for a check up. He was also scanned to see if he was micro-chipped - which would have revealed details of his owner - but unfortunately no chip was found. Helena Peace, from the RSPCA in Reading, said: "He was traumatised but physically unhurt. He's certainly used up one of his nine lives. "
2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
44 Bridget Jones's Baby gets warm reception from critics after premiere The new Bridget Jones film has received a warm response from critics following its world premiere in London, with one naming it "the funniest of the series". Bridget Jones's Baby, says the Mirror's David Edwards , is "a laughathon" that fans should "watch at all costs". Renee Zellweger plays Helen Fielding's perennial singleton for the third time in the film, which this time sees its scatty heroine become pregnant. Zellweger joined co-stars Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey at Monday's launch. The pair play romantic partners of Zellweger's character, either of whom could be the father of her unborn child. Emma Thompson and pop star Ed Sheeran also appear in the film, which is out in the UK on 16 September. According to The Guardian , Bridget Jones's Baby is "a better Bridget than the last movie" - 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. It is, Peter Bradshaw's review continues, "something resembling a likeable, good-natured one-off TV holiday special". Jamie East in The Sun writes : "The third in the Bridget Jones series has everything we love about her films. "Nearly all the cast is back, jokes are razor-sharp and cultural references are on point. " One notable absentee is Hugh Grant, who chose not to reprise his role as the caddish Daniel Cleaver. His absence, says Variety's Catherine Bray , "is certainly felt" in "a mixed bag" that "doesn't quite hit the heights" of 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary. "Depending on which side of the age divide viewers fall, Bridget Jones's Baby will either be viewed as charmingly retro or irredeemably irrelevant," writes Screen Daily's Fionnuala Halligan . The film, she continues, "works best as a nostalgia piece, to help viewers recall where they were in the late 1990s when the world thought it was charming for a woman to be so prettily inept". Meanwhile, Leslie Felperin writes in The Hollywood Reporter : "There are crisply folded lines, and pleasingly peppery performances from the supporting cast. " But she goes on to suggest "there is a splinter of ice... where its beating heart should be" and that "no-one involved is really doing this for that much love". Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts , on Instagram , or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected] .
2016-09-06 13:01 www.bbc.co.uk
45 Univision CEO Demands: Choose Debate Moderators by Race Wallace, infamously, vowed in his inaugural address as governor of Alabama: “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Now, appallingly, comes Randy Falco, the president and CEO of Univision, to demand the presidential debate version of Wallace-style racism. In the case of Falco, it is his mind-blowing demand to the Presidential Debate Commission that the recent announcement of moderators for the forthcoming debates be amended — by race. Said Falco to commission chair Janet Brown: I am writing to express disappointment, and frankly disbelief, that the Commission on Presidential Debates has not chosen a Hispanic journalist to moderate the presidential debates. The inclusion of CBS’ Elaine Quijano as a moderator for the Vice Presidential debate is certainly a welcome addition but seems insufficient when taking into account past presidential cycles, future demographic trends and the important role Latinos play in the economic and social fabric of this great nation. Simply put: it’s an abdication of your responsibility to represent and reflect one of the largest and most influential communities in the U. S.” We understand the critical role the debate process plays in informing voters about each candidate’s position on the issues that impact them directly, such as jobs and the economy and health, among others. So it is essential that the community hears firsthand where the candidates stand, what their policy solutions are and how they plan to implement their vision through the prism of a trusted journalist who represents Hispanic America and appreciates the nuances of this diverse demographic. We ask again for you to reconsider leaving a Spanish-language moderator out of the presidential debate panels. As always, we stand ready to create additional venues where the Committee and the candidates can focus on Latinos. The Hispanic community will play a pivotal role in electing the next President and in all federal elections for the foreseeable future. We look forward to working with the Commission to address what we believe to be a troubling trend — the lack of the Hispanic perspective — and hope we can forge a new path forward. In other words? This isn’t about American journalists moderating a debate between American presidential candidates. No, no, no. This is the appallingly dark suggestion that journalists should be judged not by professional accomplishment but by their race and ethnicity. Fair enough. Got it. Let’s take a look and see just what has been included and excluded in this debate panel. The debate moderators are as follows: In the race and ethnic driven racist world that is inhabited by Mr. Falco, it is now apparently necessary to review the ethnicity of all the moderators for ethnic or racial correctness. Understood. In this world, journalistic qualifications have no relevance. Understood. So let’s take a look at the moderators through the Falco prism. * Lester Holt: Mr. Holt, according to his NBC bio, is of Jamaican West African and Scottish descent. The United Nations defines Holt’s native “West Africa” as now containing sixteen countries. They are: Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Niger, plus Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Mauritania. This impressive African heritage is added to his genealogical ties to Scotland and Jamaica. Not represented? Every other country in Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. * Elaine Quijano: Ms. Quijano, as her surname indicates and as Falco acknowledges, is part Spanish. But unfortunately for her, she is also of Philippine descent, which apparently disqualifies her to be considered legitimately Hispanic. To refresh historically, the Asian locale of what would become known as the Philippines was “discovered” by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. But Magellan was doing his exploring on behalf of King Charles I of Spain, the Spanish Crown funding his mission. Not only did the Spanish colonize the Philippines, they named the islands in their new colony after King Philip II of Spain. Yes, that’s right. Elaine Quijano’s ethnicity is directly descended from a modern-day Asian country that was colonized by Spain and which bears the name of a Spanish King. But in the words of Univision’s Falco? In other words? In other words, what Falco is saying here is that quite frankly in the world of racial purity, Quijano is not up to racial par. If this were the world of Harry Potter, she would be seen as a “muggle” — a person who has no magical blood. If this were 1930s Germany… oh, never mind. You get the drift. * Martha Raddatz: According to the Ancestry.com website, the surname “Raddatz” is described as follows by its origin and meaning: Elsewhere the name is described as Polish in origin. Apparently, in an insult to Romanians, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Italians, Greeks and more, Raddatz is distressingly not possessed of their bloodlines. * Anderson Cooper: The CNN anchor is, famously, a descendant through his mother of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the famous shipping magnate and philanthropist. Commodore Vanderbilt, as he was styled in the day, was of Dutch descent, his ancestor, according to Wikipedia, hailing from the town of De Bilt in the Netherlands. “Cooper” is, by all accounts, a name originating in England. Thus making Anderson Cooper part Dutch and part English. No Irish here, no Welsh, no French, nothing from Iceland. Doubtless Americans of Belgian descent are up in arms over his selection. * Chris Wallace: Mr. Wallace is famously the son of the late journalist Mike Wallace. Dad “Mike” had his own ancestry written up in the New York Times at his death. Said the Times: Making debate moderator Chris Wallace of Russian Jewish ancestry. No word on whether Arab Americans are furious at his selection. And as to the Falco demand for a “Spanish-language moderator” there is no word whether the moderators above are fluent in Dutch, Hebrew, Russian, German, or Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde/Pulaar, Akan, and Wolof, the latter six the major languages in Holt’s West Africa. So. Where does this leave us? Between the debate moderators we have representation for the sixteen nations of West Africa, Jamaica, Scotland, Asia, Spain, Germany and/or Poland, England and the Netherlands, plus Russia and the Jews. By Randy Falco’s standards one heck of a lot of the world is missing here in terms of racial or ethnic consideration. There is no representative of any Arab country, not to mention India and Pakistan, among the debate moderators. There is apparently no one of Irish descent. There are also apparently no Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Belgians, French, Portuguese, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, South Africans or Canadians. In truth, if looked at in this fashion the selection of these debate moderators, ethnically speaking, is one big middle finger to almost the entire world that has no representation on this debate panel of their individual or collective ethnicity. Unless, of course, we count Americans. The guiding principle of America is not racial or ethnic identity. America is founded on the principles of freedom and liberty — colorblind and ethnicity blind both. And Americans know instinctively how this works. An example? Take a look over here at the CBS website and the biography supplied for Elaine Quijano. She is described by her job for CBS, her past accomplishments and her education. There is not a single reference — not one — to her ethnic background. Ditto the CNN biography for Anderson Cooper, which focuses on his career as a journalist with a line about his education. Over at NBC, this bio of Lester Holt does the same, while the bio above makes a passing reference to his heritage. By far Holt’s bio, in typical American-style, is all about his professional accomplishments with a mention of his education. Holt is no more a West African or Jamaican journalist than Anderson Cooper is a Dutch journalist or Chris Wallace a Russian or Jewish journalist. They are, in the style of America, simply “journalists.” Period. Can you find information on the racial or ethnic backgrounds of these moderators somewhere? Obviously, yes. Holt even went back to Jamaica with his New York-born mother for a Today Show segment to explore their Jamaican heritage, a very American thing to do in a nation that is 100% composed of the descendants of immigrants. But neither Lester Holt nor any of his debate moderating colleagues is or should be on the panel because of their race, ethnicity or gender. They are there because they are journalists. Professionals. Good ones. They will conduct these debates and then be awash in the inevitable praise and criticisms this peculiarly American job always brings with it. What troubles about Falco’s astonishingly racist letter to the debate commission is its blatant, George Wallace-style admission that he is all about judging people — professional journalists in this case — by race and skin color. Worse still, it is abundantly clear that others — think Univision’s Jorge Ramos — have made this the foundation of their view of a re-made America, dragging the country backwards to a time when judging others by race — think slavery, segregation and lynching — was a horrific fact of life in America. A time when my own ancestors were greeted with “no Irish need apply” or when Harvard kept quotas for the number of Jews it would admit. Not to put too fine a point on it, the insulting reference to CBS’s Elaine Quijano essentially states up front that if your Spanish heritage comes from the Spanish colonization of Asian islands — Asian islands that now bear the name of a Spanish King — instead of the (brutal) Spanish colonization of the southern half of North America, then well, you really aren’t of Spanish descent at all. Hence life in a philosophy that has scales of what does and does not count as racial purity. This is disgraceful. And yes, it is thoroughly un-American. Mr. Falco and Univision should be ashamed, but like George Wallace, one suspects they are not only unashamed with demanding a panel based on race and ethnicity but that this really is their world view. Worse still, this is what they are loudly demanding of the rest of Americans who do not share their views of separating and judging our fellow countrymen by race and ethnicity. They are not about assimilation into the melting pot of American life, they — exactly like George Wallace — are about “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Beginning with this debate panel. The Presidential Debate Commission’s Janet Brown (ethnicity unknown) would be well advised to send a short, one sentence reply to Falco, borrowing a line from the man who won the first modern presidential debate back there in 1960. Said John F. Kennedy in his 1963 address to the nation: “Race has no place in American life or law.” Or on presidential debate panels either.
2016-09-06 13:01 Jeffrey Lord spectator.org
46 Hillary’s Running Out Her Broken Clock The game plan was working, let’s “protect the lead,” and, yes, it’s football season, baby. So, are you ready for some football analogies and metaphors? There is one thing all of us football fans hate, other than breast cancer awareness month and Mr. Pig Socks. We hate when our team is up, and the coach decides to go into a “prevent defense.” Analysts sometimes mockingly state this strategy prevents you from winning. As the viewer sits at home biting his nails, screaming at the TV “just play the way you got the lead,” and as we watch the lead dwindle point by point our spirits start to get broken. We conservatives also call the “prevent defense” the “Mitt Romney Campaign.” The campaign that sucked the soul out of us and truly divided and destroyed a party. All we wanted from you Mitt was a fight. But gratefully the only history Hillary Clinton follows is her own and her campaign has been nothing but a “prevent defense,” with the occasional blitz or pass or late hit. The strategy has been simple, just protect the lead. Let Donald do all the talking, let him fumble, let him make the mistake, or bait him into a mistake. And yes, it’s worked, how could it not work when your offense and defense are the one-party media. But a funny thing has happened. Donald has not been fumbling as much. As the game has progressed, so has he. All of a sudden his passes are crisper. There is more room to run. He’s starting to get a little more respect around the league, and people aren’t watching the games anymore only on network TV, but are starting to stream from many other sources. You know what, that cushy lead is all but gone, and Democrats and liberals are sitting at home screaming at their TVs: “Get out of the prevent, where are you?” Maybe the thoughts creeping into their minds are: “Maybe you really are sick, why did you have those servers at your house, did you really think a ‘C’ meant the paragraph you were on?” How did you go from being broke to being worth over 100 million (that we know of)? What exactly is the Clinton Foundation and the Global Initiative? That name sounds sort of scammy, doesn’t it? Screaming at the TV: “OK, time for some offense, Hillary,” still not realizing she has no ability to “audibilize.” What Democrats don’t realize and most probably never will, Hillary is all prevent defense. She has not an ounce of inventive offense in her. She has essentially been a Chameleon of her times. Whichever way the wind blows so goes her offense, her views of gay marriage, abortion, trade, and defense. Never a new thought, never a new game plan, she has always and will always just try and protect the lead. Run as much as possible, follow your media fullback, and pray the clock runs out. But the clock isn’t running out and there is still so much time left in the game. We Trumpicans are playing with house money. We are a new team in a new league scratching and clawing and doing anything to win this game. For you, dear Ms. Hillary, this is about your political life and legacy. For us, this is about our life and existence. You are the wishbone, and we are the West Coast offense mixed with the run and gun, mixed with every other new strategy that’s ever been deployed. We are the Fearsome Foursome, the Purple People Eaters. It’s got to scare you, it’s got to scare all of you, because honestly we aren’t just thinking about this season, and we aren’t about the prevent. We earned our spot in this league not because we felt it was owed to us but because we earned it. Yeah, the game is tied right now, and we have fresh legs. Do you?
2016-09-06 13:01 Judah Friedman spectator.org
47 Think Obamacare Is Broken Now? Wait Till Hillary ‘Fixes’ It. Hillary Clinton frequently says that, as president, she will “build on the successes of the Affordable Care Act.” If you are among the 54 percent of Obamacare enrollees who hate their coverage, or belong to the majority of Americans who want the law repealed, or are merely one of the millions whose out-of-pocket health care costs have skyrocketed, you might wonder, “What successes?” In the unlikely event that any voter or journalist gained access to Clinton and asked that question, she would merely recite the usual fictions about the uninsured rate and a few anecdotes about people with pre-existing conditions. But the reality is that Obamacare is broken beyond repair. Neither Hillary nor anyone else can make this unworkable admixture of mandates, taxes, and bureaucratic avarice into a success. It has cost twice the money its authors estimated and insured half the people to whom they promised coverage. It has reversed a decade-long downward trend in health care inflation while costing insurers so much money that they have been forced to abandon its exchanges. Even the law’s infamous individual mandate has failed. Millions would rather pay a fine than buy the lousy insurance offered through Obamacare’s “marketplaces.” So, why does Mrs. Clinton insist on “defending” Obamacare? Because, for her, the law has nothing to do with health care. She couldn’t care less if it is successful in accomplishing its ostensible goals. For Hillary, Obamacare is about the only two things she has ever cared about—money and power. She believes she can use promises to build on the law’s supposed successes as a way of garnering the votes of gullible voters. She hopes that, by promising to double down on Obamacare’s dumbest provisions and exhuming bad ideas that didn’t make the cut in 2010, she can buy enough votes to become president. It’s really that simple. That is why she has dusted off the public option. This is one of those bad ideas that the left refuses to abandon despite its essential unworkability. Here’s the magical thinking behind this hare-brained scheme, as explained by one of its longtime proponents: “The public option would be a large plan with the bargaining power to restrain prices… it would create more competition in the system… it would reassure consumers that they didn’t have to rely solely on private insurers.” Like so many policy proposals put forth by progressives, the public option sounds great. The problem is reality. It has been tried and it failed miserably. When was it tried? The latest attempt involved one of Obamacare’s most spectacular failures. When the Democrat-controlled Congress that concocted Obamacare rejected the public option, they added a fall back provision that would ostensibly accomplish the same goals—state-run, nonprofit insurance co-ops. And more than one member of the Obama administration assured the public that these entities would perform the same function as the public option, including the President. As Sally Pipes reports at Investor’s Business Daily, “President Obama said to Time magazine that the co-ops could serve the same purpose as a public option.” So, how did that turn out? All but seven of Obamacare’s 23 nonprofit co-ops have gone belly up. And the others will probably go before the end of the year. Has that served as a wake-up call for Hillary? Nope. She is, as Pipes puts it, “now calling for a new public option to replace the co-ops—which, of course, were supposed to work just like a public option.” If this sounds crazy, remember that the goal for Clinton has nothing to do with the potential success or failure of a program. It’s about buying votes. That the public option has no chance of succeeding, or getting through Congress for that matter, is a matter of indifference to Her Majesty. This same indifference to the actual results of her policies also underlies her “solution” to the high out-of-pocket costs that Obamacare has imposed on millions of Americans. Her health plan “would prevent insurance companies from imposing excessive, double-digit rate increases without a clear justification.” In other words, she would use the power of the federal government to impose price controls. The obvious effect of these price controls will be to drive out the few remaining insurers willing to sell policies though Obamacare’s “marketplaces.” This will further reduce consumer choice and accelerate the implosion of the exchanges. Clinton would further meddle in the free market by interfering with the consolidation plans of insurers and providers. Her website tells us that she wants Beltway bureaucrats to tighten their already vice-like grip on these entities: “Hillary Clinton will appoint regulators and ensure full funding so that America’s antitrust authorities have the resources and vigor to monitor the changing industry landscape and to move quickly to investigate mergers.” The excruciating irony here is that government regulation of the health care industry has increased the cost of doing business such that consolidation is the only way providers and insurers can survive. In the case of the hospital industry, the imposition of government price controls has made it impossible for small community facilities to keep their doors open without partnering with larger systems. If they are further molested by Hillary’s “antitrust authorities,” a lot of small communities will lose their hospitals. Rural facilities are already closing at a rate of one per month. And this has real consequences for real people. Small community hospitals have long provided life-saving access for patients who don’t live near large trauma centers. When they close, it means people die. But, of course, rural voters usually vote Republican. And, in the end, this is all Hillary cares about. Let’s face it, if Clinton’s backstage doctors can’t get her latest coughing fit under control, they’ll put her on a helicopter that will take her to the nearest Level I trauma center. If you start hacking, on the other hand, you had better hope it’s nothing more serious than a “Trump allergy.” Because, when she finishes fixing Obamacare, your access to coverage and care will make today’s mess look like the good old days.
2016-09-06 13:01 David Catron spectator.org
48 Misleading Statistics on Income Inequality Mark Twain famously said that there were three kinds of lies — “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Since this is an election year, we can expect to hear plenty of all three kinds. Even if the statistics themselves are absolutely accurate, the words that describe what they are measuring can be grossly misleading. Household income statistics are an obvious example. When we hear about how much more income the top 20 percent of households make, compared to the bottom 20 percent of households, one key fact is usually left out. There are millions more people in the top 20 percent of households than in the bottom 20 percent of households. The number of households is the same but the number of people in those households is very different. In 2002, there were 40 million people in the bottom 20 percent of households and 69 million people in the top 20 percent. A little over half of the households in the bottom 20 percent have nobody working. You don’t usually get a lot of income for doing nothing. In 2010, there were more people working full-time in the top 5 percent of households than in the bottom 20 percent. Household income statistics can be very misleading in other ways. The number of people per household is different among different racial or ethnic groups, as well as from one income level to another, and it is different from one time period to another. The number of people per American household has declined over the years. When you compare household incomes from a year when there were 6 people per household with a later year when there were 4 people per household, you are comparing apples and oranges. Even if income per person increased 25 percent between those two years, average household income statistics will nevertheless show a decline. When the income of 4 people rises 25 percent, this means that 4 people are now making the same income as 5 people made in an earlier time. But not as much as 6 people made before. So household income statistics can show an economic decline, even when per capita income has risen. Why do so many people in the media, in academia, and in politics use household income statistics, when the number of people per household can vary so much, while individual income statistics always mean the average income of one person? Although individual income statistics can give a truer picture, not everyone makes truth their highest priority. Alarming news that household incomes have failed to rise, or have actually fallen, is more exciting news for the media, or for alarmists in academia or in politics. Such alarming news can attract a larger audience for the media, and can justify an expansion of government programs dear to the heart of academics on the left, or to politicians who just want more power to hand out goodies and collect more votes from the beneficiaries. Even individual income statistics have pitfalls when they lump together very different kinds of income, as is usually the case. Incomes from salaries are very different from incomes from capital gains. A salary is usually earned and paid in the same year. Capital gains received in a given year can be paid for value accrued over a number of years. If you paid $100,000 for a home or a business in the past, and then sold it 20 years later for $300,000, have you made $200,000 per year when you sold it or $10,000 a year for 20 years? In the income statistics, your income will be recorded the same as that of someone on a salary of $200,000 a year. What difference does that make? It makes a big difference when most low and moderate incomes are from salaries, while incomes in the highest brackets are more likely to be primarily capital gains — whether from the sale of homes or businesses, or receiving an inheritance, cashing in stock options, or some other forms of capital gains. This means that statistics on income inequalities are often comparing high multi-year earnings with lower single-year earnings — that is, comparing apples and oranges. Such statistical distortions are discussed more fully in my book Wealth, Poverty and Politics. In an election year, it might be worth taking a look.
2016-09-06 13:01 Thomas Sowell spectator.org
49 Melissa Click Bait at Gonzaga University of Missouri, with Yale, was one of the first politically driven campus explosions during the 2015-16 academic year. Last fall, Black Lives Matter-fueled demonstrations triggered a threatened football team boycott and the president’s resignation. Missouri has since seen a steep drop in enrollments. During one demonstration communications professor Melissa Click called for “some muscle” to eject a videographer from protests, a display that circulated widely on the Internet. A misdemeanor assault charge was later dropped. Driven in part by an outraged state legislature, Missouri fired her earlier this year. You would think that Click — who came to symbolize leftist intolerance on campus nationwide — would look for another career. Not so, on the crazy train that runs through academia today. Click now has a new job as a lecturer at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Click comes close to a parody of today’s trendy academic. Her 2009 doctorate in Communication from the University of Massachusetts came with a dissertation entitled, “It’s ‘a good thing’: The commodification of femininity, affluence and whiteness in the Martha Stewart phenomenon.” What little writing she has done focuses on subjects like Lady Gaga, Twilight, the vampire movie, and the mega-best-seller, Fifty Shades of Grey. She terms her research area “popular culture texts and audiences disdained in mainstream culture, theories of gender and sexuality, and media literacy.” Gonzaga, a tuition-starved Jesuit school in eastern Washington known mainly for its basketball team, is a big step down, true. Missouri has one of the nation’s best journalism schools. Gonzaga is nowheresville. Moreover, Click was hired for a one-year, non-tenure track position, which means she was pretty desperate. Click appears to be a shameless egomaniac and possibly delusional. “I’m not a superhero,” she told the Chronicle of Higher Education, clearly loving her celebrity and notoriety. She thinks of herself as a victim. “This is all about racial politics,” she said. “I’m a white lady. I’m an easy target.” But the issue here isn’t Click, a real turkey. Godspeed to her and her students. The onus rests with the people who hired her. Said Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga: “Dr. Click was hired through an extensive national search process that revealed her to be the most qualified and experienced candidate for the position,” adding, “We are confident she has learned much from her experiences at the University of Missouri and believe she will uphold the rigorous standards of academic excellence demanded of Gonzaga faculty and students.” Mermann-Jozwiak, author of Postmodern Vernaculars: Chicana Literature and Postmodern Rhetoric (2005, Lang, 160 pp.), is a Professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies. Communication Studies department chair Jonathan Rossing, who was on the search committee, said: “After the national search and the screens took place, she emerged as the top candidate based on her record of teaching, scholarship.” Rossing studies “the rhetoric of social justice, particularly in relation to race and racism in the United States, and focuses on television comedy and improvisation as a subject,” so Click and Rossing seem to be intellectual soulmates. Mermann-Jozwiak and Rossing’s public statements are grossly dishonest about how Click’s appointment came about. No college conducts a genuine national search for a one-year, non-tenure track lecturer; the idea of a dean ordinarily being involved in such a hire is ridiculous. It looks like Gonzaga wanted some publicity, which it is getting. Perhaps some trustees at the provincial Jesuit institution want to shed troubling vestiges of Ignatian spirituality and are eager to hop on the crazy train. Maybe they’re clueless. But the Mermann-Jozwiaks and Rossings who are doing the hiring know what they want and what they are doing. Click might be in their minds a catch. Whatever the case, Click’s appointment is another example of the absolutely broken hiring and reward system in higher education today, and the audacity of those who control it.
2016-09-06 13:01 Gilbert T spectator.org
50 Ann Coulter's Set During Rob Lowe Comedy Central Roast Ann Coulter was derided by critics who said she bombed during her time at the microphone during Comedy Central’s roast of Rob Lowe Monday night. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) The night quickly turned into open season on the 54-year-old conservative pundit, but Coulter was mainly criticized for her jokes that fell flat. She was booed and heckled by her fellow roaster Pete Davidson and Lowe himself. (RELATED: Ann Coulter Left Speechless After Being Mercilessly Destroyed During Rob Lowe’s Roast) “After seeing your set tonight, we’ve seen the first bombing you can’t blame on a Muslim,” Rob Lowe said. #LoweRoast I think #anncoulter bombed worse than The Situation bombed. 2epic roast failures. Cringe cringe cringe. — Pink Daisy (@dontpickpedals) September 6, 2016 Ann Coulter absolutely BOMBED at #LoweRoast. The bored crowd shots during her set were hilarious. — Jason Rosko (@JasonRosko) September 6, 2016 Omg @AnnCoulter bombed sooooooooo bad. Way worse than I was thinking. I'm so embarrassed for her. @ComedyCentral #LoweRoast — ℛa©hëℓ★ (@ImRachelSchmidt) September 6, 2016 Lol Ann Coulter on #robloweroast bombed so hard. — Believe Me (@TopherSays) September 6, 2016 #LoweRoast Wow Ann Coulter bombed worse than the Jersey Shore dude did a few years ago. That was painful to watch. — Roger Rock Lockridge (@RockLockridge) September 6, 2016 Ann Coulter just absolutely bombed the Rob Lowe roast. Most uncomfortable situation I've witnessed on live TV. — TDB (@tdbryan1987) September 6, 2016 Not that @AnnCoulter just bombed tf out if her part on the roast just to promote her book. — E (@EthanYoungg) September 6, 2016 She bombed worse than Hiroshima. #AnnCoulter #LoweRoast — Jayson L. Mack (@JMack33) September 6, 2016 No clue why @AnnCoulter was at the @RobLowe roast. Did she think her jokes were gonna get over? She bombed! #WTF — Travis L. Hatfield (@t_hat1981) September 6, 2016 God damn it Ann coulter, no ones bombed on the roast since mike the situation #LoweRoast — Michael Datuin (@MichaelDatuin) September 6, 2016 Ann Coulter roast recap pic.twitter.com/20aNpBkxyd — Bones (@MJsm31) September 6, 2016 The best part of the Rob Lowe roast was Ann Coulter going up and the sullen silence surrounding her shitty roast jokes. — Sara Jetlag (@SaraJetlag) September 6, 2016 Who booked Ann Coulter for the Rob Lowe Roast?! #LoweRoast — Mike Mazur (@mmaze1) September 6, 2016
2016-09-06 13:01 Entertainment Editor dailycaller.com
51 Havas Media Group promotes Anwesh Bose to CEO in Indonesia Havas Media Group has promoted Anwesh Bose to chief executive of its Indonesian business. Bose, who is currently managing director in Indonesia, will take over in October from SK Biswas who is set to leave the group. Vishnu Mohan, CEO of Havas Media, Asia Pacific, said: "I would like to thank Biswas for his contribution to our regional and Indonesia operations and wish him the very best for his future endeavours. He has helped build a very strong platform for the group in Indonesia that forms a great foundation for fast tracking growth in the new economy. Anwesh's prior experience and success in both India and Indonesia makes him a natural choice for the leadership role and I am certain that under his watch we will further consolidate and strengthen our foothold in this very important market. "
2016-09-06 13:20 www.thedrum.com
52 APAC work of the week: Singapore government turns billboards into games to encourage healthy habits The Health Promotion Board in Singapore has turned bus stops in Singapore into interactive gameshows, allowing people to seemingly phone a character called Winston Leow, or Win Leow, played by the actor Chua En Lai. The campaign, created by Publicis Singapore, MEC Singapore and ClearChannel, is aimed at getting people to make healthier choices and uses the 'win big' concept to lure people in. After pressing an on-screen button people have a simulated call with Win Leow who offers them the chance to win up to $8,888 for making healthier choices. The campaign runs for 2 weeks from 25 August to 07 September 2016 at 10 bus shelters located near high traffic areas such as Suntec City, SMU, Middle Road, Holland Village, Tanjong Katong, Dhoby Ghaut MRT, Kranji MRT and Kovan MRT.
2016-09-06 13:20 www.thedrum.com
53 Rand extends rally ahead of GDP data Economists expect the economy to have avoided a technical recession‚ which is defined as the two consecutive quarters of contraction. The GDP is likely to have grown by a seasonally adjusted and annualised 2.7% in the second quarter of 2016‚ according to a Business Day median consensus forecast from a survey of seven economists. "The market is crying out for some good news or headlines to add a bit of momentum to this recent rand strength‚" Standard Bank trader Warrick Butler said. The rand has enjoyed a relief rally since Friday when US nonfarm payrolls disappointed‚ casting fresh doubts over whether the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its September meeting. The US economy added 151‚000 jobs in August‚ less than market consensus of 180 000 new jobs. "Overall it feels like the market is treading water globally. Stocks and commodities are in limbo again while the dollar strength of last week has died down a bit as the market mulls... (whether the Fed will hike rates in September)‚" Butler said. At 8.52am‚ the rand was at R14.2871 against the dollar from R14.3834 at the previous close. It was at R15.9353 against the euro from R16.0375 previously‚ and at R19.0649 against the pound from R19.1373 previously. The euro was at $1.1154‚ from $1.1143 at its last settlement. – TMG Digital/BDlive
2016-09-06 13:20 Andries Mahlangu www.timeslive.co.za
54 Georgia Nicols horoscopes for Sept. 6, 2016 We have the “all clear” today to shop and do business. The Moon is in Scorpio. Do what you can to improve your health today because you will be surprised at the results. The benefits you receive will be considerable. This is also an excellent day to make improvements to your job or where you work. You are focused on pursuing fun flirtations, checking out vacation plans or doing anything related to sports and children’s activities. These are all areas where you want to make a difference. And you will! This is also a good day to clean up garbage areas or anything to do with recycling. Get rid of what is no longer useful to you. Be ruthless. Think Macbeth: “Out damned spot!” Things will look better after you have finished. You are convincing today. For starters, you are quick to see the subtext of anything. You know what’s going on and others can’t fool you. In response to them, you will be direct and forthright. This is a powerful day for those who sell, market, teach, write or act. You will be resourceful with your money today. You might see new ways to earn money or make money on the side. But you will also see how to get better use out of what you own are ready. You might see a new use for something you own. Take a moment today and ask yourself what really motivates you. What is it that you seek in life? The Dalai Lama said the purpose of life is to be happy. Naturally, the question that follows this is: What makes you happy? (This is a good day to think about these ideas.) This is a fabulous day for research! You have the focus, the endurance and the uncanny knack of knowing how to go for the jugular. You will know exactly where to look to find answers and solutions that you seek. In fact, it’s a good day to study anything. Conversations with a friend will be powerful today because you will express yourself forcefully. It’s also possible that you will attract someone to who is forceful in their expression. Either way, conversations will be dynamic and lively! Basically, today people are looking for ways to improve things. You make a powerful impression on others today, especially bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs. Knowing this ahead of time, this is obviously a good day to ask for permission or for approval because you will likely get it! When you want to make things happen, timing is everything. You have strong opinions today, especially about politics, religion, race and anything with foreign countries. Your mind is focused and intense, which means you can study anything if you’re interested in it. Be careful not to proselytize or try to make others agree with your beliefs. Discussions about shared property, inheritances, debt and shared responsibilities will be intense and to the point today. There will be no wiggle room. Speak your peace and listen to what the other party has to say. People want results, including you. Your interaction with partners and close friends will be quite intense today, perhaps because either you are trying to improve someone or make them over, or perhaps someone is doing this to you? The urge to improve things is very strong today — for everyone. Famous royal relative Pippa Middleton (1983) shares your birthday today. You are strong, friendly and self-sufficient. Tact and diplomacy mark your dealings with others. You are creative and compassionate. In the next three years, you will experience a time of culmination, success and financial accumulation. That’s why it is wise to settle your debts this year. This is also a social year that also deals with the results of last year’s changes.
2016-09-06 13:19 Georgia Nicols chicago.suntimes.com
55 Morning Bulletin: Formula 1 gears up for £6.5bn sale, Intel puts VR in its sights and BA suffers IT 'meltdown' Tuesday's dose of news you need to know includes Liberty Media taking pole position to buy F1 and British Airways' tech troubles plaguing passengers. First on the grid this morning, Formula One looks set for new ownership under US- based Liberty Media. Its talks with CVC Partners, which owns a 35 per cent stake in F1, have reached an advanced stage, according to the BBC. The deal, which would finally see F1 change hands after years of rumours, could be confirmed by Wednesday and is reported to be worth £6.5bn. Sports Direct is to ditch zero-hours contracts, the Guardian reports. The controversial retailer has said it will instead offer staff guaranteed hours and ensure warehouse staff are paid above the national minimum wage. Sports Direct investigated its working practices following the Guardian’s undercover reports about the conditions inside. Business Insider brings the news that Mars Chocolate UK has won £1m worth of free advertising space from Channel 4 after a competition to find the strongest ads featuring disability and disabled talent. Selected from 90 entries, the winning ads for AMV BBDO for Maltesers feature real-life stories and will launch on 7 September, during the Paralympics opening ceremony. Movie marketing now and Daniel Craig has been offered £150m to star in two more James Bond films, according to Radar Online . “Everyone knows how much executives adore him, and the idea of losing him at such a crucial time in the franchise isn’t an option as far as all the studio honchos are concerned,” a source told the site. Craig had been expected to relinquish the role after 2015’s Spectre with Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender and Tom Hiddleston among the favourites to be the next 007. Computing giant Intel has announced that it is acquiring Movidius , a chip maker whose products include computer vision processors used in drones and virtual reality devices. Recode reports that Intel hopes to pair Movidius’s technology with its own RealSense depth-sensing camera technology, and will deploy the technology across augmented, virtual and merged reality, drones, robotics, digital security cameras and beyond. And on the topic of tech, the Telegraph explains that an IT ‘meltdown’ at British Airways brought misery to travellers who were left unable to check in for their flights. The paper quotes Matthew Walker, who was stranded at Seattle Airport, as saying the glitch left staff unable to check who had gone through security. The airline denied the technical issues were a worldwide problem but apologised to passengers on Twitter for the delay. Finally today, Telefonica is planning to float its British mobile phone business O2 in what could become one of the biggest IPOs in City history, reports the Times. Analysts told the broadsheet the move could value the mobile firm at more than £10bn and its Spanish owner has confirmed preparatory work to make it happen is underway. The Times heralds the move as a boost for London after some IPOs have been scuppered by uncertainty related to the Brexit vote.
2016-09-06 13:19 www.thedrum.com
56 Dear Abby: My listless wife sleeps too much The only problem is, she loves to sleep. She will do anything for us except wake up a few hours early without being mad at the world. She gets our kids off to school with no problem, but then returns to bed. I run a small construction company and need someone to answer the phones and do secretary stuff. Our books are a mess, the house is decent, but she won’t let me hire a part-time secretary. She gets up at noon and spends the rest of the day “catching up.” It’s driving a wedge in our marriage. My friends and their wives do things together on weekends, but not mine. She sleeps until 2 or 3 p.m. on the weekends. I work a lot of Saturdays, and when I go to customers’ homes and see the wife outside gardening, it breaks my heart. I have threatened to leave, and she works on it for a couple days and then falls back into the same old habits. Help! — HURTING HUSBAND IN CALIFORNIA In marriage there needs to be compromise. If you are experiencing stress because you don’t have enough help in your business, then you need to hire someone because your wife is already doing all she can taking care of three kids and your mother. And you shouldn’t need her permission. I felt coerced into apologizing to the second woman for not offering a compliment of some kind to everyone else at the party — which seems artificial and unnecessary (actually stupid) to me. The woman looking for the apology left me feeling steamed, and now I’m thinking that maybe I apologized for something I didn’t need to. I suspect the woman was less hurt than jealous, and I doubt the other women at the pool party were paying much attention to what you said. Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $14 (U. S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P. O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054- 0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)
2016-09-06 13:18 Abigail Van chicago.suntimes.com
57 In Holland, Netanyahu to stress Israel's role as key brake on Islamic terror Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in The Hague early Tuesday afternoon, saying before leaving Israel that he will speak with Dutch leaders about Israel's role in preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism. “Europe as a whole is undergoing changes,” he said. “It faces very great challenges over the spread of radical Islamic terrorism. I am going to speak with my interlocutors about the central role of Israel in the Middle East as the most stable element and one that contributes greatly to preventing the spread of radical Islamic terrorism.” Netanyahu characterized this as a “new insight” that is understood already in Israel and among other states in the region, but which is important for Europe to understand as well. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. “It is this understanding that we are working to instill gradually in all European countries," he said. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whom he termed “my personal friend,” with King Willem-Alexander, and with members of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Diplomatic officials said that Rutte's government is overall a friendly government, but unable to ignore public criticism of Israel over the Palestinian issue that has grown in the Netherlands in recent years. Building closer bilateral ties has been hobbled by the government's need to take into account public opinion, that has become significantly more critical of Israeli policies than the Dutch government's. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 13:17 HERB KEINON www.jpost.com
58 Bloomberg View Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Americas +1 212 318 2000 Europe, Middle East, & Africa +44 20 7330 7500 Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000 Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Americas +1 212 318 2000 Europe, Middle East, & Africa +44 20 7330 7500 Asia Pacific +65 6212 1000 2016-09-06 13:01 www.bloomberg.com
59 Over 11,000 asylum seekers listed as crime suspects in Austria — RT News The staggering figures were revealed by the Austrian newspaper, Krone, which referenced data received by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) from the Ministry of Interior as the result of an information request. The statistics are to be officially published on Tuesday. Drug-related offences are the most common violations of the law committed by prospective refugees, with 3,228 charged. Theft is the second most prevalent offence, with 2,481 suspects. In addition, 628 were accused of making dangerous threats, while 311 were charged with participating in a brawl. While the heated debate over migrants committing crimes of a sexual nature may grab all the headlines, in fact, only 66 asylum seekers were listed as suspects in rape cases in the first half of 2016, while another 105 were accused of sexual harassment or public sex acts. Just 13 were suspected of being members of terrorist cells and only two migrants were charged with inciting or approving of terrorist activity. About a fifth of all offenders, 2,318, come from Afghanistan. Algeria comes in second with 1,631 charged, followed by Morocco with 1,271 suspects, and Nigeria with 1,265. War-torn Syria, from which over one million refugees fled to Europe seeking asylum, is the country of origin of 675 suspects, while 560 offenders came from Iraq. Notably, the majority of suspects were minors, with teenagers aged 14 to 17 making up the largest group. Moreover, 24 nine-year-old children and 105 children aged 10 to 13 were accused of committing crimes. On Sunday, four teenage refugees from Afghanistan, aged 15 to 16, and a 22-year-old man were detained over accusations that they had sexually harassed at least three women in the northern Austrian city of Wels during a wine festival. Following the assault, Mayor Andreas Rabl demanded a “zero tolerance” response to such crimes. In May, the Austrian federal chamber passed a law allowing the government to declare a state of emergency lasting up to six months, and extendable for another three, if the number of refugees applying for asylum in Austria exceeds the cap of 37,500 for the year. By the end of July, Austria had already received a total of 24,260 applications, an average of 3,000 per month. Chancellor Christian Kern said in August that the government would review the pros and cons of declaring a state of emergency in September based on the outcome of negotiations with neighboring countries on readmission agreements. Some 90,000 asylum seekers arrived in Austria in 2015, overwhelming the country’s population of 8-million people and leading to a surge in popularity for the right-wing anti-immigrant party, FPÖ, whose candidate, Norbert Hofer, is currently leading in the polls to win a presidential election re-run to be held on October 2. READ MORE:Up to 40% of asylum seekers in Switzerland ‘disappear’– report
2016-09-06 13:01 www.rt.com
60 Crew dodges ISIS suicide car bomb attack on Libyan battlefield (DRAMATIC VIDEO) — RT News After a vehicle with RT’s William Whiteman drove past an intersection in one of Sirte’s contested neighborhoods where sounds of gunfire are heard erupting every few seconds, the journalists managed to cheat death in an attempted suicide attack. An armored car rigged with explosives rapidly approaching their positions was spotted by the government fighters. Before the terrorist was able to trigger a powerful blast, he was annihilated by a RPG fired by one of the government fighters. The remnants of the car engulfed by flames could be seen through a smashed shutter. READ MORE: US ‘not sufficiently attentive’ to Libya aftermath, Obama says amid new airstrike campaign “So here you can see the car bomb. This is the car bomb that went off outside. That’s what all the shooting was for. They were trying to stop it,” Whiteman said from a shelter, where he took cover when the shooting started. The fighting, however, resumed immediately, as a mortar round hit the spot where the journalists were standing earlier. With constant blasts continuing to shake the surroundings, a window frame fell to the ground, hitting several soldiers. “Here, we are Islam. These people [IS] are terrorists. They are killing people,” one of the fighters told Whiteman as the fierce fighting raged on. Libya’s UN-backed government in Tripoli aided by US airstrikes has been attempting to drive the jihadists out of their former stronghold in the country since May. The US launched its air campaign in and around Sirte at the request of the Libyan government on August 1 and have since made over 100 sorties. Initially, the operation was set to end on August 30, but it was subsequently prolonged further into September. Islamic State took control of Sirte in June 2015 amidst the instability that has plagued the country in the years following the brutal overthrow of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011. The government-backed brigades, who mostly hail from the city of Misrata, some 230 km from Sirte, where one of the command centers is located, are bracing themselves for the latest efforts to retake the coastal city. Last week, the Pentagon claimed that the jihadists retain control over only three neighborhoods in Sirte, with the number of militants now estimated to be no more than 200. “They’re literally with their backs against the ocean at this point,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said last Thursday.
2016-09-06 13:01 www.rt.com
61 Afghan blasts: Kabul charity hit by bomb and gun attack An attack on the offices of an international charity in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, has left at least one civilian dead, officials say. Gunfire erupted when four armed men stormed the building of the aid group Care in the Shar-e-Naw area following a car bomb explosion. All attackers were killed. No group has admitted carrying out the attack, the fifth to hit the city in 24 hours. Taliban militants have increased their attacks in Kabul recently. On Monday, a series of blasts claimed by the group hit a busy part of the city, close to the defence ministry building. Officials now say 35 people were killed, including an army general and four senior police officers. Some 103 others were wounded, they added. The latest incident struck a prosperous business and residential area of Kabul, home to several guest houses and where many foreigners and diplomats live. A government spokesman told the BBC that six other civilians were injured in the hours-long standoff. Some 42 people were rescued during the operation, including 10 foreigners, he added. Traffic was blocked in several parts of the city and schools were closed. The recent attacks highlight the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, which has left dozens of civilians dead.
2016-09-06 12:59 www.bbc.co.uk
62 Prep Playbook Podcast: Coach JT Curtis talks about Willie Allen decision, Friday Night Football Last week in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association re- affirmed a decision made by Commissioner Eddie Bonine that John Curtis must forfeit every game former offensive lineman Willie Allen played in from 2013 to 2015. The move came at the obvious protest from Curtis, which insists it did nothing wrong. In our second Prep Playbook Podcast series, we speak at length with Coach JT Curtis and his candid thoughts on the situation and what options the Patriots are looking into going forward. We also talk to him about the 25th anniversary of WGNO-TV’s Friday Night Football with he and the station’s sports director Ed Daniels about how the show began and the reason for its continued success. Also, we debut our Prep Playbook Playback segment, offering highlights of the three games we broadcast last weekend, including Jesuit’s win over Warren Easton, Mandeville’s blanking of Holy Cross and McDonogh 35’s thrilling victory over St. Augustine. Thursday’s Prep Playbook Podcast will look ahead to Week 2, and we’ll chat with my championship games broadcast partner, Hahnville coach Nick Saltaformaggio about his Tigers and his thoughts on the early surprises and disappointments. The podcast regularly will be broadcast twice weekly – every Monday and Thursday. We welcome your suggestions and comments, and feel free to leave them in the comments section below. ***************** Jim Derry can be reached at [email protected] or 504.232.9944. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JimDerryJr . See More Sports News »
2016-09-06 12:59 Jim Derry highschoolsports.nola.com
63 Gene-editing method shrinks cancer Scientists have used a gene- editing tool to stunt tumour growth in mice. Crispr-Cas9 replaces harmful DNA with new code that kills cancerous cells while leaving healthy ones unharmed. Mice with the reprogrammed code developed tumours that were much smaller than cancers in mice that did not get this treatment. Experts call the study, in Nature Methods , promising but add it would take many years to determine whether the technique could work in humans. Dr Weiren Huang, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, in China, and colleagues used Crispr-Cas9 to reprogram a cell-signalling pathway that would normally feed tumour growth in mice. How gene editing works Gene editing: A game-changer Crispr-Cas9 is a DNA cutting and pasting system scientists have borrowed from nature. Bacteria use it to protect themselves against foreign DNA from viruses. Scientists have already begun using it in the lab to target and cut out faulty DNA in human cells that cause illnesses. But it is not without risks. While effective, the editing process is less than perfect and can cut out too much DNA. These unwanted or "off-target" edits could alter other important genes, inadvertently triggering cancer, for example. Dr Chris Lord, a gene expert at the Institute of Cancer Research, said: "The key to translating this technique into the clinic will be to see how specific to the tumour cell the Crispr activation will be and how specific, in terms of genes, the Crispr-mediated gene cutting will be. "These are essentially the same two issues you have with all cancer treatments - how specific for the tumour cell and how specific for the target. "There is a lot more research needed before this technique can be tested on humans, so it will be a long time before patients see benefit from this advancing technology. "
2016-09-06 12:59 www.bbc.co.uk
64 Miss Japan won by half Indian Priyanka Yoshikawa A half-Indian woman was on Monday crowned Miss Japan, the second year in a row a biracial person has won the beauty pageant. Priyanka Yoshikawa, 22 and who also has an elephant training license, said she would use her win to "change perceptions". Last year's Miss Japan, Ariana Miyamoto was the first mixed-race person to win the pageant. Critics complained then that a "pure" Japanese should have won. Only about 2% of babies born every year are biracial, or "haafu", the Japanese word for half. "We are Japanese," Ms Yoshikawa told news outlet AFP. "Yes, my dad is Indian and I'm proud of it, I'm proud that I have Indian in me. But that doesn't mean I'm not Japanese. " She credited her win to Ms Miyamoto, saying she had helped show "mixed girls the way". "Before Ariana, haafu girls couldn't represent Japan," said Ms Yoshikawa. "That's what I thought too. Ariana encouraged me a lot by showing me and all mixed girls the way. " "I know a lot of people who are haafu and suffer," she said. "When I came back to Japan, everyone thought I was a germ. " "Like if they touched me they would be touching something bad. But I'm thankful because that made me really strong. " The pageant winner, also an avid kick-boxer and qualified elephant trainer, said that she hoped to change perceptions. "When I'm abroad, people never ask me what mix I am. As Miss Japan, hopefully I can help change perceptions so that it can be the same here too. " Ms Yoshikawa's win did not trigger the backlash that Ms Miyamoto received on social media. There were however, several on Twitter that expressed unhappiness. "It's like we're saying a pure Japanese face can't be a winner," said one user. "What's the point of holding a pageant like this now? Zero national characteristics," another complained. Ms Yoshikawa however, was not letting the doubters get to her. "There was a time as a kid when I was confused about my identity," she said. "But I've lived in Japan so long now I feel Japanese. "
2016-09-06 12:59 www.bbc.co.uk
65 Ultra-talented Kohli has attitude to be the best: Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting New Delhi: Hailing Virat Kohli as 'ultra-talented', former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Monday said the Indian Test cricket captain has got the attitude to be the best for the country. Ponting said both Kohli and Australia skipper Steve Smith are at the same stage of their careers along with England's Joe Root and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, but feels whoever plays mind games better will end up with a better career record. "Virat probably got an edge with his ODI career. We have all seen how he played in the last Indian Premier League (IPL). He is an ultra-skilled and talented player but more importantly he has got the attitude to be the best he can be for his country and Smith is also in the same boat," Ponting told reporters at an interaction in New Delhi. "I don't really care who is the better between Kohli and Smith as long as they are playing well. Williamson or Root, all these are players who are probably on their same career path. Whoever masters the mind games well, will end up with the best career record," he added. Kohli has struck 37 international hundreds while Root, Smith and Williamson have 18, 20 and 21 centuries to their names respectively. The 40-year-old Tasmanian, however refrained from making a comparison between Virat and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, calling the 26-year-old too young to make a comparison. "Look lets wait for Virat to finish his career. He's too young in his career to make any comparison with Sachin. If he gets a bad injury tomorrow, and not playing, so there is no comparison. Sachin played 200 Test matches while Virat has just played 60-70 matches," he said. He also said it is totally on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take a call on separate captains for the various formats. "My opinion does'nt matter, its all about what BCCI thinks or what Mahendra Singh Dhoni thinks about stepping aside. But right now it doesn't look like (Kohli captaining all the three sides) as Dhoni has got the desire to lead India in the ODIs and T20Is," he said. Dismissing allegations that the current Australian Test side is struggling, the two-time World Cup winning skipper however, acknowledged that the upcoming Test series against India in 2017 will be a challenge for Smith's men. "I don't think its (Australia's recent Test record) is so bad what people would like to think but they are playing against India very soon and that will be a challenge coming to the sub-continent and see how they handle these conditions in Test matches," he said. "If you look at one series (against Sri Lanka) in isolation, yeah that is bad. But the Australian team is one of the top three teams in the last 10 years," he added. He continued: "Coming to one day cricket, we bounced back after a disappointing Test series to win the ODI series quite comfortably. Trust me its not that gloomy and we have some very very talented players in the last two or three seasons. "It is not about how many superstars you have in your team. Its about how many Tests you have won for your country. That's the best reflection of how a team handles the transition phase. "
2016-09-06 13:06 By IANS www.mid-day.com
66 The high price to escape Gaza: Palestinians paying up to $10,000 in bribes Palestinians are paying up to $10,000 in bribes to Egyptian border officials to escape the Strip, Gazan bribe brokers told Al Jazeera on Monday. According to the report, the typical bribe for a Gazan adult is $3,000, with 20 percent going to the brokers and 80% to the Egyptian soldier coordinating the passage. In the case of individuals who've found their way onto Egypt's black list of "security threats" who are forbidden entry to the country, the illegal crossing pay-off rises to $10,000. Egyptian guards accept cash, "iPhones or even gold. " Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. Al Jazeera surmises that the desperation Gazans have to leave the coastal enclave is evidence of the dismal conditions in Gaza, and cites a 2015 United Nations report that predicted that at this rate, due to dysfunctional infrastructure, Gaza will be "uninhabitable" by 2020. According to a July 17 report by Gisha , an Israeli NGO and legal action center dedicated to freedom of movement, the last time the Rafah Crossing was opened was for five days in late June and early July. During that time, 4,581 people crossed the border with 2,961 exits from Gaza to Egypt and 1,620 entries from Egypt to Gaza. Exits were only permitted to medical patients, students registered for studies in third countries, foreign passport holders and individuals with residency status abroad, or “special coordination.” Gisha also reported that since the beginning of 2016, the Rafah Crossing has been open for a total of only 14 days. In 2016, the average number of crossings per month has been 1,896, compared to 40,816 per month in the first half of 2013 when the crossing was in more regular operation. This crackdown on crossings was due to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's rise to power, according to Al Jazeera. The Egyptian president severely restricted the crossing due to his suspicion that Hamas , the ruling body in Gaza, is an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt declared a terrorist organization in 2013. Erez Crossing into Israel, the only other way out of Gaza, is severely restricted by the Israeli government. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 13:04 Jpost Com www.jpost.com
67 LA airport gunman to plead guilty to murderous shooting plot LOS ANGELES (AP) — A shooter who gunned down airport screening officers three years ago at Los Angeles International Airport in a terrifying attack that sent frantic passengers running for their lives is scheduled to plead guilty Tuesday to murder and other counts. Paul Ciancia agreed last week to plead guilty to all 11 charges in the rampage that killed one officer and wounded two others and a teacher who was headed for a flight. Ciancia, 26, faces a mandatory life term in prison, but federal prosecutors have agreed not to seek a death sentence. The evidence against Ciancia was overwhelming. Security cameras tracked his movements through Terminal 3 during the 10 minutes of terror on Nov. 1, 2013. The unemployed motorcycle mechanic opened fire on officer Gerardo Hernandez at a document screening podium. As he headed up an escalator to the main screening area, he noticed Hernandez move and returned to fire several more shots at point-blank range, killing the married father of two. At the secondary screening, he reloaded and took aim at others, shooting officers Tony Grigsby in the ankle and James Speer in the shoulder as they tried to run away. He hit teacher Brian Ludmer in the calf. When police shot and wounded Ciancia, he was armed with the Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle he had bought seven months earlier. Officers found a handwritten note in a duffel bag that included additional ammo that he dropped along his path. In the note, the New Jersey native spelled out plans to target TSA officers, saying he wanted to kill at least one, but would be thrilled to take out more. “If you want to play that game where you pretend that every American is a terrorist, you’re going to learn what a self-fulfilling prophecy is,” he wrote, according to court documents. He signed the note and added the title, “Pissed-off Patriot” beneath his name. In the plea agreement filed Thursday, Ciancia simply signed his name. Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2016-09-06 12:59 By Associated mynorthwest.com
68 10 Indians to join Poetry Festival in Germany A group of 10 Indian poets will travel to Germany as part of an unique initiative 'Poets Translating Poets' as part of a two-year long literary project of Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai, an official said here on Tuesday. Thes ten Indians will be joined by poets from Pakistan and Sri Lanka who will travel over 12 cities in 45 days reciting their works for the German connoisseurs of Indian literature, starting September 15. They are: Harish Meenashru (Gujarati), Sumanta Mukhopadhyay and Yashodhara Ray Choudhari (both Bengali), Lalnunsanga Ralte (Mizo), Jameela Nishat (Urdu), Shafi Shauq and Naseem Shafaie (Kashmiri), Sukirtharani (Tamil), Aruna Dhere (Marathi) and Sridala Swami (English). They will be joined by a Tamil language poet from Sri Lanka, Somasundrampillai 'Soma' Pathmanathan, and Pakistan's Afzal Ahmed Syed (Urdu) and Amar Sindhu (Sindhi). "Contemporary poetry from India, Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has been translated into German, and German poetry was similarly translated into 20 languages across South Asia during the course of the two-year long project, aimed to stimulate new literary networks and open new avenues for trans-cultural understanding," said Martin Walde, Director of Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan here. The 'Poets Translating Poets' project was initiated in October 2014 by the Mumbai institute along with its counterparts in South Asia, in collaboration with Literaturwerkstaff, Berlin and Haus fur Poesie to create a platform for poets from South Asia and Germany to translate each other's works, he added. The German poets involved are: Andreas Altmann, Ulrike Almut Sandig, Christian Filips, Barbara Kohler, Jan Wagner, Thomas Kunst, Sylvia Geist, Nicolai Kobus, Tom Schultz, Gerhard Falkner, Ulrike Draesner and Anja Utler, for the various languages. These poets have held 'translation encounters' with their German counterparts between July 2015-April 2016, and started presenting their works across Germany at the Poetry Festival from June this year, followed by the upcoming six-week long interaction for German audiences. Besides Berlin, the literary events are planned at Munchen, Dresden, Leipzig, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Kassel, Bremen, Tubingen and Munchen-Pasing. 2016-09-06 12:52 By IANS www.mid-day.com
69 Young whites divide on handling violence by, against police WASHINGTON (AP) — Young people across racial and ethnic lines are more likely to say they trust Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump to handle instances of police violence against African-Americans. But young whites are more likely to say they trust Trump to handle violence committed against the police. That’s according to a new GenForward poll of young adults age 18 to 30. The poll is conducted by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The first-of-its-kind poll pays special attention to the voices of young adults of color, highlighting how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a new generation. The poll also suggests most young adults think requiring police to wear body cameras would help reduce violence by police. Things to know from the poll about young Americans’ views about police and the Black Lives Matter movement: ___ POLICE VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST THE POLICE About 6 in 10 young adults overall say violence by the police and violence against the police both are very or extremely serious problems in the United States. But views vary among those of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Ninety-one percent of young African-Americans, 71 percent of Hispanics, 63 percent of Asian-Americans and just 43 percent of whites call killings of black people by police a very or extremely serious problem. Among young whites, more call violence against the police a serious problem, 63 percent. In addition, 60 percent of young blacks, 65 percent of young Hispanics, and 54 percent of young Asian-Americans consider violence against police an extremely or very serious problem. Thinking specifically about recent killings of black people by the police, 72 percent of African-American young people, 61 percent of Asian-Americans, 51 percent of Latinos and 40 percent of whites say they consider them part of a larger pattern, rather than isolated. ___ WHAT WOULD HELP Seven in 10 young Americans say they think requiring on-duty police officers to wear body cameras would help reduce violence by police against civilians. But young African-Americans are somewhat less enthusiastic about the idea, with just over 6 in 10 saying that it would be effective. On the other hand, both African-Americans (68 percent) and Latinos (66 percent) are more likely than whites (51 percent) to say requiring a special prosecutor to investigate cases where police kill or seriously injure civilians would be effective at preventing such deaths. Overall, 57 percent of young people think so. Fifty-six percent of all young people say setting stricter criteria for police use of deadly force would be effective at reducing instances of violence by the police, including 68 percent of blacks and Hispanics, 61 percent of Asian- Americans and just 48 percent of whites. ___ WHO DO YOU TRUST? Young Americans across racial and ethnic groups are more likely to trust Clinton than Trump to handle police violence against African-Americans. That’s by a 61 percent-to-5 percent margin among young blacks, 58 percent to 6 percent among young Latinos, 56 percent to 8 percent among Asian-Americans, and 44 percent to 20 percent among young whites. About a quarter in each group don’t trust either candidate to handle the issue well. But among young whites, more trust Trump than Clinton to handle attacks against the police, 45 percent to 28 percent. Young African-Americans (54 percent to 12 percent), Latinos (45 percent to 15 percent) and Asian- Americans (45 percent to 20 percent) are more likely to trust Clinton than Trump on this. ___ BLACK LIVES MATTER Majorities of young people across racial and ethnic lines say they support the Black Lives Matter movement, including 85 percent of African- Americans, 67 percent of Asian-Americans, 62 percent of Latinos and 51 percent of whites. That’s an increase in support among young whites over the past few months, after 41 percent of them said they supported Black Lives Matter in June. But among young whites in particular, and among significant minorities of young Asian-Americans and Latinos, there are feelings that the rhetoric of the movement encourages violence against the police — more than 6 in 10 whites, more than 4 in 10 Asian-Americans and Latinos and just 2 in 10 African-Americans think the movement’s rhetoric encourages violence against the police. ___ The poll of 1,958 adults age 18-30 was conducted Aug. 1-14 using a sample drawn from the probability-based GenForward panel, which is designed to be representative of the U. S. young adult population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The survey was paid for by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago, using grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone. ___ Online: GenForward polls: http://www.genforwardsurvey.com/ Black Youth Project: http://blackyouthproject.com/ AP-NORC: http://www.apnorc.org/ Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2016-09-06 12:52 By Associated mynorthwest.com
70 Support for Black Lives Matter grows among white youth WASHINGTON (AP) — Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has increased among young white adults, according to a poll that suggests a majority of white, black, Asian and Hispanic young adults now support the movement calling for accountability for police in the deaths of African-Americans. Fifty-one percent of white adults between the ages of 18 and 30 say in a GenForward poll they now strongly or somewhat support Black Lives Matter, a 10-point increase since June, while 42 percent said they do not support the movement. But most young whites also think the movement’s rhetoric encourages violence against the police, while the vast majority of young blacks say it does not. And young whites are more likely to consider violence against police a serious problem than say the same about the killings of African- Americans by police. Black, Hispanic and Asian youth already had expressed strong majority support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the June poll. Eighty-five percent of African-American young adults now say they support the protesters. Sixty-seven percent of Asian and 62 percent of Hispanic young adults agreed with that sentiment. The GenForward survey of adults age 18 to 30 is conducted by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The first-of-its-kind poll pays special attention to the voices of young adults of color, highlighting how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a new generation. Sean Bradley, 26, of Clearwater, Florida, said watching several encounters between police and black suspects online helped cement his support for Black Lives Matter. As a white male, he said, he also has had run-ins with the police and witnessed officers trying to cover for what he considered illegal conduct by other officers. “The fact is that the police target blacks and they discriminate against blacks,” Bradley said. “Because of how they’ve treated blacks over the years, of course they (blacks) don’t trust them (police) and I know for a fact that some of the things the police do are illegal. I would be upset as well.” The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2012 after Florida neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin. It gathered strength in ensuing years following the deaths of other black men at the hands of police in New York, South Carolina, Baltimore and elsewhere. The August GenForward poll came after police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, fatally shot Alton Sterling after pinning him to the ground, and after Philando Castile was shot and killed by a white police officer during a traffic stop in a suburb of Minneapolis. Asked specifically about recent killings of black people by the police, 72 percent of African-American young people, 61 percent of Asian-Americans, 51 percent of Latinos and 40 percent of whites said they consider those killings part of a larger pattern, rather than isolated. But young blacks are much more likely than young whites to call killings of black people by the police a very or extremely serious problem, 91 percent to 43 percent. Sixty-three percent of young whites think that violence against police is a serious problem, similar to the 60 percent of young African- Americans who say so. Young whites also are more likely to say they trust Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump more than Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton to handle attacks against the police, 45 percent to 28 percent, though they prefer Clinton for handling police violence against African-Americans, 44 percent to 20 percent. Majorities of young African-Americans trust Clinton more to handle violence by and against police. Young Asian-Americans and Hispanics are also more likely to trust Clinton than Trump on both. And 66 percent of whites also said that they believe that Black Lives Matter’s rhetoric encourages violence against police, compared with 43 percent of Asian-Americans, 42 percent of Hispanics, and 19 percent of African-Americans who said so. Samuel Martin, 27, of Conway, South Carolina, is one of those white supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, and said he’s supported its goals from the beginning. He also vehemently disagreed with the idea that Black Lives Matter’s rhetoric encourages violence against police. “The only thing that would encourage violence against police would be thinking that black lives do not matter,” Martin said. ___ The poll of 1,958 adults age 18-30 was conducted Aug. 1-14 using a sample drawn from the probability-based GenForward panel, which is designed to be representative of the U. S. young adult population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The survey was paid for by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago, using grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone. ___ Online: GenForward polls: http://www.genforwardsurvey.com/ Black Youth Project: http://blackyouthproject.com/ AP-NORC: http://www.apnorc.org/ Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2016-09-06 12:51 By Associated mynorthwest.com
71 Germany's Bayer raises offer for Monsanto again BERLIN (AP) — German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG says it’s increasing its bid for American seed company Monsanto Co. The Leverkusen-based drug and chemicals company said in a statement early Tuesday it was offering $127.50 per Monsanto share, up from the previous $125 a share offer that had valued Monsanto at around $65 billion. It gave no further details on the takeover bid and said “there can be no assurance that the parties will enter into an agreement.” Monsanto has already rejected two offers from Bayer and described the previous offer in July inadequate. At the time, the St. Louis company said it remained open to talks with Bayer and others about a deal. Monsanto confirmed the new Bayer bid but would not comment further as it evaluates it. Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2016-09-06 12:51 By Associated mynorthwest.com
72 Japanese prince turns 10 amid talk on Emperor's abdication TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prince Hisahito turned 10 on Tuesday amid national attention over the future of the Japanese monarchy after Emperor Akihito, his grandfather, indicated a wish to abdicate. Akihito, 82, in a rare public address last month, expressed concern about fulfilling official duties as he ages, suggesting he would like to abdicate. Hisahito, a fourth-grader who enjoys playing with bugs and helping rice-growing at a palace farm, is third in line to the chrysanthemum throne. His father Prince Akishino, 50, is second after his brother Crown Prince Naruhito, 56. The government is reportedly considering enacting a special law allowing Akihito’s abdication that would not be applicable to his successors, although discussions over revising the Imperial House Law could reopen debate over the divisive issue of whether to allow female emperors. The abdication issue renewed concerns about aging and shortage of successors in the Imperial family — a 2000-year-old monarchy — which reflects the overall concern in Japan’s declining population and rapid aging. Akihito and his wife Michiko have four grandchildren but only Hisahito is eligible to the throne under Japan’s male-only succession system. The three granddaughters — Naruhito’s daughter Aiko and Hisahito’s two sisters — will lose royal status when they marry. Current law, set in 1947, is largely inherited from a 19th-century constitution that banned abdication as a potential risk to political stability. An earlier government panel discussion, launched out of concern about the lack of male offspring, endorsed allowing female emperors, but that thinking was shelved when Hisahito was born in 2006. Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2016-09-06 12:45 By Associated mynorthwest.com
73 Australia: Man raises money to bring stray dog home Melbourne: An Australian man has raised $4,000 to bring a stray dog home from Greece. Jacob Welsh from Geelong, 75 km from Melbourne, raised the money on a popular crowd funding website, to bring the dog, which he named "Chance," back to Australia, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. Welsh said the resounding success of the campaign guaranteed Chance would have a home for the rest of her life. "Thank you! She will not spend another night on the street thanks to all the help we've received," Welsh wrote on social media on Tuesday. Welsh said he and Chance became inseparable after he found her lying in a pile of broken glass on the side of a busy road in Greece. "I called her over to me and she hesitantly approached, I gave her a little pat and ever since then she has followed me wherever I go," he wrote on social media earlier. "I didn't have the heart to leave her on the street after that so since then I have been sneaking her into my apartment, which has a strict no-pets policy. "The sad reality of her going back on the streets is becoming more and more real as my time left in Greece comes to an end. "Australia's laws are very strict with this kind of thing but I have done the research and it is possible, just very expensive. If you can spare a few dollars Chance and I would really appreciate it. " Costs involved in bringing an animal into Australia include a rabies vaccine, pet passport, plane tickets, airport transfers, de-worming medication and a pet carrier box.
2016-09-06 12:33 By IANS www.mid-day.com
74 Bye bye burka: ISIS bans burka in Iraqi city after killings by veiled women The so-called Islamic State terror group has allegedly banned women from wearing the burka at security centers in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul despite harsh enforcement of a law requiring them to be worn, according to the UK's Daily Mail. Following the murders of several commanders of the terror group by veiled women, the group has purportedly banned females from entering buildings in the city while wearing the full-body covering. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. Women who have not worn conservative Islamic garments that cover their bodies or eyes have been beaten or killed in Syria and Iraq by ISIS's "morality police. " The Iran Front Page outlet was informed of the ban by a source in Iraq on Friday, according to the Daily Mail. It is understood that women in the rest of Mosul and all other areas controlled by ISIS will still have to abide by the veiled dress code. Last month, after the liberation of Manbij in Syria, women were seen burning burkas in celebration. Manjib was a strategic city that served as a transit for foreign jihadists and its liberation by Syrian and Kurdish forces came as a blow to the terror group. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 12:30 Jpost Com www.jpost.com
75 Hurricane Newton Takes Aim at Mexico's Los Cabos Resorts Authorities in the southern portion of Mexico's Baja California peninsula ordered schools closed and set up emergency shelters as Hurricane Newton gained strength while bearing down on the twin resorts of Los Cabos for a predicted arrival Tuesday morning. Boat owners pulled fishing craft in from the water and business owners nailed boards and sheets of plywood over windows in Cabo San Lucas, the resort that was hammered by Category 3 Hurricane Odile in 2014. Officials warned that Newton might cause torrential rainfalls. About 14,000 tourists remained in Los Cabos as of Monday night as airlines cancelled flights out as the storm approached, said Genaro Ruiz, the state tourism secretary. Ruiz said tourists had been advised to remain in their hotels. "The most important thing is to stay at home," said Carlos Godinez, a civil defense official for Baja California Sur state. "If there is nothing that requires you to be outside, take shelter with your family. " Newton's maximum sustained winds increased to 90 mph (150 kph) by Monday night, the U. S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The Category 1 storm was centered about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south- southeast of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and was moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph) on a forecast path that would bring it near or over the area Tuesday morning. Officials began evacuating residents from low-lying areas and opened 18 shelters at schools in the two resorts and 38 more in other parts of the state, while warning people against panic buying. "There is no need for mass buying," Los Cabos Mayor Arturo de la Rosa Escalante said. "There is enough food and fuel for the next 20 days. " Los Cabos police were stationed at shopping malls to guard against the kind of looting that occurred after Hurricane Odile. Foreign tourists were still strolling around in Cabo San Lucas on Monday as workers began boarding over windows of businesses. Some boat owners took their small fishing boats out of the water. Earlier Monday, as a tropical storm, Newton dumped torrential rains that prompted some 100 people to evacuate their homes and damaged residences in Uruapan in the Pacific coast state of Michoacan, the city government reported. Some roads were blocked by flooding and mudslides in the neighboring state of Guerrero, where some people were evacuated by helicopter. No deaths were reported in either state. A hurricane warning was in effect for Cabo San Lucas and the nearby coastline. Coastal portions of five Mexican states could see 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated maximums of 15 inches, the hurricane center said. Newton was expected to move up the peninsula and enter the Gulf of California by Tuesday night. The hurricane center said the storm was likely to continue north and cross into southern Arizona as a tropical depression Wednesday night.
2016-09-06 12:04 By abcnews.go.com
76 76 Paris to build two temporary camps housing 1,000 refugees Paris will build two camps to house almost 1,000 refugees in an attempt to tackle the growing number of men, women and children sleeping rough on the streets, the mayor has said. The building of the camps in the French capital comes as the government faces pressure to dismantle the main refugee camp near the port of Calais, the inhabitants of which are blamed by residents for an increase in crime and the struggles of the local economy. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, said one camp would be built for men, and the other for women and children, with the first opening in mid October. “We have to come up with new ways of overcoming the situation. Things are saturated,” she told a press conference. “These migrant camps reflect our values.” Hidalgo said the camps would be temporary and cost €6.5m (£5.5m) to set up. The Paris municipal authorities would cover 80% of this cost. Thousands of asylum seekers and refugees use France as a transit point in the hope of reaching the UK. On Monday, lorry drivers, farmers and Calais business owners blocked traffic on the motorway approach, demanding a deadline for the dismantling of the refugee camp.
2016-09-06 11:58 Reuters in www.theguardian.com
77 G20 reaffirms climate commitments – but dodges deadlines Leaders of the world’s biggest economies reaffirmed their commitment to tackling climate change as the G20 summit came to a close in Hangzhou on Monday night. What they did not agree on were hoped-for deadlines to ratify the Paris climate agreement and phase out fossil fuel subsidies. The G20 communique, released in French before it was released in English, committed the nations to ratifying the Paris climate agreement. Leaders “expect a rapid implementation of the agreement in all its dimensions,” it said. However, it stopped short of calling on the entire G20 to join the agreement by the end of 2016. Arvind Panagariya, India’s chief negotiator at the G20 summit, told The Indian Express that he had argued against the inclusion of such a timeline. “I felt we were not quite ready yet in terms of the domestic actions that are required for us to ratify or at least commit to ratify within 2016. So we plan to do it as soon as possible,” said Panagariya. The push to bring the agreement into force this year was supercharged last weekend when the world’s two biggest polluters, China and the US, formalised their acceptance together. That brought the number of countries joining the treaty to 26 accounting for 39.07% of global emissions. The triggers for the pact to become law are 55 countries and 55%. Oxfam’s advocacy and campaigns director Steve Price-Thomas said: “The urgency for action to curb emissions and help the poorest cope with climate change cannot be overstated. The fact that G20 nations are seeking the ratification of the Paris climate agreement should be a matter of course.” Further dismaying observers was the failure to commit to a timeline for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. The leader’s communique repeated the language in previous texts that commits to a “medium term” end to a practice estimated to funnel between $160bn and $5.3tn into the fossil fuel industry, depending on how you define a subsidy. Oil Change International senior campaigner Alex Doukas said: “As more governments take the important step of ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, they must stop giving handouts to big polluters, which undermine the spirit and the letter of the Paris deal.” Indeed, the communique included new language promising to “promote methods of extraction, transportation and processing of natural gas that minimise environmental impacts”. The insertion directly contradicted the ambition to phase out subsidies, said Doukas. One area that saw progress was a commitment to help shift trillions of dollars in private capital into the green economy. A passage affirmed that countries had taken on the recommendations of a study group convened hastily this year by the Chinese presidency, which made seven recommendations on the restructuring of the world economy. Ben Caldecott, director of the sustainable finance programme at the University of Oxford Smith School, said: “The shift to a more sustainable global economy will be the most capital intensive transition in human history. The G20 is right to focus on how to mobilise the finance required, and we warmly welcome the work produced jointly by the Bank of England and the People’s Bank of China on green finance. It is important that this work accelerates under the G20 in Germany.” The fact that the shift in rhetoric came under the leadership of the country with the largest carbon emissions on earth was noted by many. Li Shuo, senior global policy advisor to Greenpeace East Asia said the country’s climate leadership was strengthened by the outcome of the G20. “With a strong call for early ratification and a joint Sino-US announcement before the G20, China has properly done its homework as the G20 president. This makes the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement – an inconceivable task a short few months ago – close to reality. The rhythm and durability of the new climate regime will be enhanced as a result of it. Now China needs to match its political effort with further action,” he said.
2016-09-06 11:55 Karl Mathiesen www.theguardian.com
78 'You must come forward about revenge porn' What does it feel like to be a victim of revenge porn? Chrissy Chambers alleges that her former partner sexually assaulted her and then posted the video online. She tells Today programme presenter John Humphrys what she claims took place.
2016-09-06 11:49 www.bbc.co.uk
79 Mashaba sets 5% growth target for Joburg, declares corruption 'public enemy number one' Speaking on CapeTalk’s Breakfast with Kieno Kammies on Tuesday, Mashaba said he would announce a plan by April next year on how to make this a reality. "The only way we can arrest the spiral of high unemployment in our city is to come up with a plan that can deliver a minimum of 5% (growth)," Mashaba said. Mashaba said he had met various heads of department and together they unpacked continuing and upcoming projects in the city, and went through the plans. The millionaire businessman described the work as having been a "kind of learning experience" for him. "The key parts of it, which is very fundamental, [is] for the professional civil service to recognise this new dispensation is driven and run by a DA-lead administration," he said. On Friday, Mashaba along with his team decided on a 10-point plan for the city in the short to medium term. Among the points incorporated into the plan was declaring corruption in the city as "public enemy number one". Mashaba said his team had agreed on the need to reduce unemployment and to accelerate growth in Johannesburg. The only way to drive the city’s economy was to work with the private sector, in particular, small business, he emphasised. He referred to the importance of rejuvenating entrepreneurship in the city, with the government only acting as an enabler.
2016-09-06 11:44 Staff Reporter www.timeslive.co.za
80 Ethiopian activists demand news of jailed leaders after fire guts prison The government has said 21 inmates died in the blaze that ripped through the Qilinto complex on Saturday - but has not named any of the victims. Another two prisoners were shot dead as they tried to escape the compound on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, the government added in a brief statement two days after the fire, again stopping short of identifying them. The opposition Oromo Federalist Congress said on Tuesday it had received no news of six of its leaders, including Deputy Chairman Bekele Gerba and Assistant General Secretary Dejene Tafa, who were arrested in December on suspicion of inciting protests. "Our entire leadership is being held in that place and we have no idea what has happened to them," the OFC's Assistant Deputy Chairman, Mulatu Gemechu, told Reuters. "The government has a responsibility to explain to the public, no less their families. We have no idea why it is taking that long," he said. The government did not immediately respond to his statement. Dissidents say most recent inmates are ethnic Oromos held for taking part in demonstrations over land rights and alleged rights abuses that have rocked one of Africa's fastest growing economies since last year. The United States last week said it was gravely concerned about the use of excessive force against protesters. Human Rights Watch said in June at least 400 demonstrators had been killed by security forces. Ethiopia's government - a major ally of the United States in the fight against militants in neighbouring Somalia - disputes the death toll and says the protests are being staged illegally, stoked by rebel groups and dissidents based oveseas. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said last week his administration would carry out "deep-rooted" reforms and pledged to address grievances, though he warned of measures if protests escalated into violence.
2016-09-06 11:42 REUTERS www.timeslive.co.za
81 81 Hundreds protest UK visit of rabbi who said Down Syndrome caused by past sins A petition condemning the visit to Britain of a rabbi who has expressed controversial views has sparked sparked uproar in the UK that led to the launch of a petition against his arrive, according to The Jewish chronicle. Rabbi Yosef Mizrahi has roused controversy over his views including his proclamation that autism and Down Syndrome are consequences of sins in a previous life. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. As of Monday morning, more than 500 people had signed the petition titled "Protest the hateful views of Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi" on the website Change.org in protest of the rabbi's slated upcoming visit due to his "highly offensive, bigoted and hateful views," as was written on the website. Mizrahi was born in Israel and after his IDF service immigrated to the US. He has previously stated that Ashkenazi Jews were in part responsible for the Holocaust due to inter-marriage and their secular lifestyle, according to the Jewish Chronicle. He told the outlet that he was not sure if he would arrive to the UK as he does not yet have a date. However, following the launch of the petition, references on his website to the pending UK visit were removed. In 2015, the rabbi apologized for saying that only one million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and not six million. Another one of his claims is that breast cancer and cancers of male and female genitalia is caused due to "sinning" with those organs, comparing woman who have lost their virginity to an open bottle of cola, claiming they were were virtually nothing. Mizrahi previously visited the UK in 2014 where he reportedly spoke at multiple Sephardi synagogues and at Jewish secondary schools. Jeremy Sharon contributed to this article. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 11:35 Jpost Com www.jpost.com
82 Manhunt after banners against MQM leader outside Pak court Karachi: The police have launched a manhunt for unidentified persons here, who allegedly put up banners outside the Sindh High Court building and Saddar area, proclaiming those who are traitors of Mutthaida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, deserve to die. Banners were put up outside the high court building which falls in a high security zone, saying, "One who is traitor of the MQM leader deserves death". Hours later, banners proclaiming MQM leader Farooq Sattar and his colleagues as traitors were also shown in the regal chowk area of Saddar. The banners also threatened the party leaders who supported a resolution in the national assembly last week against Altaf Hussain for his anti- Pakistan comments at a hunger strike camp of the MQM outside the Karachi Press Club on August 22nd. "We are investigating the matter and hunting for those who put up these threatening banners," IG Sindh Police, A D Khawaja said while assuring strict action against those spreading ethnic hatred. He said the banners and wall chalkings had the name of an unknown group, "Jansheen Banae MQM" (followers of the MQM founder). The police quickly removed the banners outside the high court building as soon as the news flashed on television channels but later, they were also found in Saddar area and wall chalkings emerged at different places. Mazhar Abbas, a political analyst said, "a power struggle was on in the MQM with its chief, Altaf Hussain not willing to give up power to the leaders who have announced that they are now leading the MQM Pakistan and no orders would be taken from London. " Hussain has been self-exiled in London since 1992/93 and has run the party affairs from there with absolute power. But after the hunger strike camp incident, which led to a crackdown on the MQM in Karachi, with the paramilitary rangers and police demolishing dozens of the party sector and unit offices and sealing the headquarters, Dr Farooq Sattar has proclaimed that the MQM will now take all decisions in Pakistan and not from London. The MQM leaders have also criticised the anti-Pakistan speeches by Hussain. "I think Altaf Hussain despite the government declaring him persona non grata still has many followers in the MQM and we could see a bloody struggle for power in Karachi within the party," an MQM elected member said on condition of anonymity.
2016-09-06 11:34 By PTI www.mid-day.com
83 US Open: Sania Mirza wins, Rohan Bopanna out New York: India's Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski went down fighting in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles but Sania Mirza maintained her march in the women's doubles at the US Open tennis tournament. Sania Mirza Bopanna and Gabriela enjoyed a strong start before going down 6-1, 2-6, 8-10 to Robert Farah of Columbia and Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld in 58 minutes here on Monday. Farah and Groenefeld will now take on the winners of the last eight clash between the seventh seeded American duo of Coco Vandeweghe and Rajeev Ram and the Czech-Crotian combination of Barbora Krejcikova and Marin Draganja. Seventh seeds Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Krejcikova defeated unseeded American-Japanese pair of Nicole Gibbs and Nao Hibino 6-4,7-5 in a third round match. They won the match in an hour and 17 minutes, winning 31 winners, 12 more than their opponents and claiming 71 of the total 128 points played. In the opening set of Bopanna's match, the first three games went with the serve until Bopanna-Gabriela clinched a service break to take a 3-1 lead. They then held their serve before forcing consecutive service breaks to win the first set. Farah and Groenefeld staged a strong comeback in the second set, breaking their opponents in the fourth game to take the upper hand. They earned another service break in the eigth game to win the second set and draw level. In the tie-breaker, the Indo-Canadian combination started strongly, taking a 4-0 lead before Farah and Groenefeld won four consecutive points to draw level. Bopanna and Gabriela regained the lead at 7-5 but Farah and Groenefeld fought back, winning three points on the trot to take the lead. Although Bopanna and Gabriela levelled the score once again, Farah and Groenefeld won back-to-back points to wrap up the issue.
2016-09-06 11:30 By IANS www.mid-day.com
84 Kolkata boy goes missing from school, family alleges foul play Kolkata: A class 10 student of the city's Scottish Church Collegiate School allegedly went missing from the school prompting parents and guardians to stage demonstrations at the institution on Monday. While the family have lodged a police complaint alleging Biseswar Pal has been untraceable since Saturday when he went to the school, the institution has denied any responsibility claiming the student was suspended by the school in July on disciplinary grounds. "A case of kidnapping has been registered. The family has claimed the boy has been missing since Saturday from the school. However, according to the school, the boy was suspended in July and has not been allowed to attend the classes since then," said a police officer. According to the school principal Bivash Saniel, Pal was suspended on July 8 after he was caught tampering with his mark-sheet. Alleging foul play, the family members of Pal have claimed they were never informed about the suspension and he used to regularly attend the school. "We would regularly drop him to school and pick up after the school was over. On Saturday too we had dropped hi but he has been untraceable since then. If he was really suspended then why did not the school inform us," said Arun Pal, the uncle of the 15-year old boy. Alleging negligence and foul play, angry parents and guardians on the day staged protests at the school. They were later dispersed by police. The school authorities have rejected the charges asserting Pal's family was informed about the suspension.
2016-09-06 11:28 By IANS www.mid-day.com
85 85 Heavy rains paralyse life in Kolkata Kolkata: Heavy rains lashed the city on Monday disrupting train services and creating traffic snarls on waterlogged major arterial roads. The steady drizzle intensified in the evening as many of the areas in the south and central Kolkata went under ankle-deep to waist-high water. Trees were also uprooted in several areas giving commuters, including people returning from offices, a tough time. Train movement was hit over both Howrah and Sealdah divisions. "Train movement is slow, but there is no cancellation. Three platforms in Sealdah are waterlogged. Water has been drained out by deploying pumps," said an Eastern Railway spokesman. "In Howrah section, Tikiapara carshed was waterlogged So train movement was affected. No long distance train has been cancelled. But from safety point of view, we are bringing them slowly into the platform. " The situation is unlikely to improve as the met department has predicted heavy to moderate rains in several districts of south West Bengal as well as the city in the next two days.
2016-09-06 11:27 By IANS www.mid-day.com
86 Secret aid worker: some human rights lawyers are in it for vanity, not victims I was a human rights advocate for several years before becoming a lawyer. When I fell in love with human rights work, it wasn’t because of international law – it was because of on-the- ground civil society collaborations and fact- finding investigations early in my career. Working abroad, I became sensitised to the importance of listening to and managing expectations when speaking with victims of human rights violations. I gave back as much as I could by bringing my knowledge of international law and human rights practice to the table and helping colleagues grow as advocates. As a result, I fostered strong relationships with a vibrant community of human rights workers from all over the world. After several years of moving between multiple continents to finish law school and get practical experience, I decided to settle and landed a legal researcher job at an NGO. I wasn’t excited about doing desk research day in and day out, but the NGO’s mission seemed important and interesting. Unfortunately, nothing could prepare me for the ignorance I was about to experience. At this NGO, my colleagues were lawyers who wanted to speak for victims without understanding how to first listen and speak to victims. This was exacerbated both by their collective lack of experience working in situations rife with human rights violations and by the NGO’s institutional disinterest – even disdain – of people who focused on abuses outside its thematic and regional focus. All of this contributed to the office’s low levels of sophistication in understanding human rights. For example, upon learning that a foundation had programmes to rescue scholars (not genocide victims), a colleague ridiculed the concept, equating the persecution of academics to people getting their dissertations rejected. Additionally, they didn’t seem to understand that it could characterise the start of a genocide; that scholars can also be genocide victims. On a more personal level, I had shared with colleagues that my parents were persecuted out of a war-torn country. Yet I was shocked by senior colleagues’ lack of basic sympathy to the plight of my ethnic group. Where’s the compassion? The NGO doesn’t focus on that part of the world, which means it considers those victims less worthy of its time. I quickly realised that my boss, a strong supporter the death penalty and military intervention, is a human rights advocate only when it suits – and only regarding certain rights, sometimes on a whim. Under my boss’ direction, developing strategies to maximise practical impacts on the ground took a second seat to developing novel strategies just to say “we did it first”. The amount of time wasted as a result is staggering. How important are the victims for whom the NGO purports to speak? I don’t know. I’m sure, however, that even the organisation’s most meaningful work is at least partly driven by the self-promotional desires of a vanity NGO and its leadership. I’m embarrassed to have been part of this NGO to the point where my family still doesn’t know its name. I’m ashamed that there are human rights lawyers who think their law degrees alone qualify them to speak for victims, despite lacking the expertise in the issues affecting the victims for whom they are speaking. I hope the lawyers at this NGO are an exception to the rule, but I’m really afraid that this type of attitude could be alive and well in broader NGO culture. Do you have a secret aid worker story you’d like to tell? You can contact us confidentially at [email protected] – please put “Secret aid worker” in the subject line. If you’d like to encrypt your email to us, here are instructions on how to set up a PGP mail client and our public PGP key. Join our community of development professionals and humanitarians. Follow @GuardianGDP on Twitter.
2016-09-06 11:26 Secret aid www.theguardian.com
87 Rajnath Singh says Geelani betrayed 'Kashmiriyat' as Mission Kashmir fails Rajnath Singh Srinagar: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hit out at Kashmiri separatist leaders who refused to talk to some MPs from an all-party team, saying their conduct defied the spirit of "Kashmiriyat". The Home Minister, however, made it clear that MPs Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, D. Raja, Jay Prakash Narayan and Assaduddin Owaisi went to meet the separatist leaders in their individual capacity and not as part of the all-party delegation that was on a two-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir. "Some members of the delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders. We had neither said 'no' nor 'yes' to their meetings. You know what happened. They had gone there in their individual capacity," he told reporters here before flying to Jammu. He was referring to the attempt by the national opposition leaders from the delegation to hold talks with top Kashmiri separatists on Sunday. While other separatist leaders did meet them briefly but refused to hold talks, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani shut his door on the MPs even as they kept waiting outside his upscale Hyderpora residence for about 10 minutes. This, Rajnath Singh said, "was certainly neither 'Kashmiriyat' nor 'insaniyat' (humane). "If you do not want to talk is a different thing. But what they did proves they have no faith in democracy. " The all-party delegation arrived here on Sunday, nearly two months after a bloody unrest erupted in the aftermath of the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. At least 74 persons have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the weeks of the turmoil, the deadliest Kashmir has seen in six years. As the delegation left for Jammu, the Kashmir Valley continued to be tense amid curfew in some parts, shutdown and recurring anti-government and pro- freedom protests. Rajnath Singh said the government had left its options open for talks with anyone within the ambit of "Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat and insaniyat". But he made it clear that there were no two ways about the fact "that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India". Visibly disappointed, the minister hinted that any chance of talks with the separatists in the near future was impossible. He also dismissed any possibility of an India-Pakistan dialogue over Kashmir, rejecting a key demand of separatist leaders. "Everybody in Kashmir wants peace and normalcy to return. I am hopeful that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will improve," he said after meeting some "300 people including students, teachers, traders" during the delegation's nearly 30-hour stay in the valley. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also retained hopes for peace and a dialogue process to engage all stakeholders, including separatist leaders. "Dialogue and engagement is a continuous process. It can't be expected to happen (by rubbing) a magic lamp," senior PDP leader and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters. Yechury, who faced a snub from Geelani on Sunday, said he had not given up on the mission to bring peace in Kashmir. "Please understand it was not a snub. We understand the ground reality and realize that there is a need for state and central governments to take the political dialogue forward with all stakeholders, including separatists, for peace in Kashmir. "The killings in Kashmir have pained me. We want the government to resolve this issue. There will be no solution without a political dialogue. You have to start a political dialogue, an unconditional political with all," Yechury told the media here.
2016-09-06 11:26 By IANS www.mid-day.com
88 Hong Kong elects youth protest leaders to 6th Legislative Council Hong Kong: A new generation of pro-democracy activists has won seats on Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). The young leaders want greater autonomy and changes to the way Hong Kong is governed by China. Among those elected is Nathan Law, 23, who helped lead the "Umbrella Protests" in 2014 for self-determination, the BBC reported. Despite the gains, China's supporters will continue to hold the majority of seats on the 70-seat council as the pro-establishment camp won 41 seats, according to Hong Kong's Electoral Affairs Commission on Monday evening. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), won 12 seats in total, Xinhua news agency reported. The Sunday election is the first in the territory since the 2014 unrest, when central areas of Hong Kong were paralysed for weeks by mostly young protesters demanding greater democracy for the territory amid concerns that Beijing was increasingly interfering in the politics of the former British colony, breaking the "one country, two systems" agreement. More than 2.2 million eligible voters casted their ballots at hundreds of polling stations with a turnout rate of 58 per cent. Both the total amount of voters and the turnout rate are the highest in the LegCo election since 1997. Hong Kong's Legislative Council has 70 seats, with 35 returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and the other 35 by functional constituencies. The geographical constituencies include Hong Kong Island, Kowloon West, Kowloon East, New Territories West and New Territories East, where 213 candidates contested 35 seats. For the functional constituency election, there are 55 validly nominated candidates (excluding candidates of the District Council (second) functional constituency), and 43 of them ran for 18 seats in the functional constituencies. The remaining 12 candidates in 10 functional constituencies returned to the LegCo uncontested. In addition, 21 candidates contested five seats in the District Council (second) functional constituency, commonly known as the "super seats". There were nearly 3.78 million Hong Kong residents registered as eligible voters for the election of the sixth term LegCo, with an increase of about 310,000 voters from the last LegCo election in 2012. The LegCo is the legislative body of the Hong Kong SAR. Each term of office of a legislator is four years, except for the first term when it was set to be two years, Xinhua news agency added. The fifth term of LegCo began on Oct 1, 2012 and will end on Sep 30, 2016. The term of office of the newly-elected sixth LegCo members will begin on Oct 1. Before nomination for the election, Hong Kong's Electoral Affairs Commission demanded that all the candidates must endorse a statement promising to support the Hong Kong Basic Law and be loyal to the Hong Kong SAR.
2016-09-06 11:23 By IANS www.mid-day.com
89 Three arrested, 70 'gold' biscuits seized from Sealdah station Kolkata: Three persons were arrested and 70 alleged gold biscuits seized from them at the busy Sealdah station as they were about to board a Delh-bound train, an Eastern Railway media release said here on Monday. Acting on information regarding transshipment of gold biscuits from Sealdah to New Delhi Railway station, the special task force of Railway Protection Force, Sealdah detained three persons from platform number 9A/B before they could board the train on Sunday. When their belongings were searched, 70 yellow coloured metal biscuits were found from their possession. "Two of the biscuits were verified by the Bureau of Indian Standards authorised testing centre and declared as gold. The Customs department was informed simultaneously for further action," the release said. The three were taken into custody and produced at the Sealdah Court.
2016-09-06 11:16 By IANS www.mid-day.com
90 Desmond Tutu going in for surgery Cape Town – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be going in for a minor surgical procedure on Wednesday to find out what is causing the infection that has been dogging him. A statement from the Tutu family said that in the meantime "the Arch", as he is affectionately known, has continued to respond well to the treatment for the recurring infection. Tutu took himself to hospital for treatment in August. Last year, the prostate cancer and tuberculosis survivor also had a lengthy hospital stay for an infection. The family of the 84-year-old anti-apartheid stalwart said they were grateful to all those holding him in their prayers. His wife, Leah Tutu, said more information on his condition would be shared when appropriate.
2016-09-06 11:16 www.news24.com
91 Government orders probe into Zakir Naik's FCRA license issue Zakir Naik New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has ordered a departmental inquiry into the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence controversy vis-a-vis Islamic tele preacher Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an official source said. Senior official Susheel Kumar has been directed to conduct the probe over the episode as "flip flop" by officials had resulted in the IRF getting the FCRA license, the source told IANS here. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was displeased after the mandatory FCRA licence of NGO IRF was renewed by the Foreigners cell of the Home ministry. Sources said the online route for issuance of licences was utilised by the NGO on August 19 even as a probe was on against Naik. Four officials of the Home Ministry were suspended on September 1 for their "lapses" in renewing the FCRA licence of the NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) run by Zakir Naik. Naik's Peace TV and his speeches have come under the scanner of the central security agencies for allegedly propagating radical views, especially in the aftermath of the July 1 Dhaka terror siege that left 22 people dead. According to security agencies, Zakir Naik through Peace TV had reportedly promoted radical Islamist views. While the probe by the Home Ministry and security agencies was on, the Law Ministry has meanwhile favoured registering a case against Naik and IRF for pursuing divisive agenda and communalism. However, a group of Home Ministry officials have resented the suspension of a senior IAS officer G K Dwivedi, who was heading Foreigners Cell in the Home ministry. They said suspension of the joint secretary was uncalled and "demoralising" as the alleged lapses were committed by his juniors only.
2016-09-06 11:14 By IANS www.mid-day.com
92 The Paralympic shark attack survivor who is saving sharks "I just saw this fin moving on top of the water," Hassiem told CNN. "Next thing I know, the shark lunged forward... I turned around to see what had happened and that's when I saw half my leg was in the shark's mouth already. " Instead, just a few months later he was back in the water, training to become a world class swimmer. "In just a few months I was walking again," he said. "It's absolutely phenomenal with the technology today that you can actually just be walking again if you've lost your legs. " "I went back into the ocean, stood in front of the ocean, just looking out and thinking to myself, 'Achmat you know what, you just survived... you're alive.'" Hassiem, who trains at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, has made the 100 meter butterfly his event. A proud South African, he doesn't shy away from showing off his love for country when competing. "From a young age, all I wanted to do was don the green and gold of South Africa," he continued. "The most incredible moment going into the first Paralympics games, was when we stopped off in Johannesburg to get our gear kit. " "The moment I opened my box I couldn't help but burst into tears, just knowing that there in my box lies the green and gold tracksuit of South Africa. " After coming ninth in the 100 meter butterfly at the 2008 Beijing summer Paralympics, Hassiem won a bronze medal at the London 2012 games, where he got a very fitting nickname. "I remember walking out in London 2012 for the final of the men's hundred meter butterfly at the Paralympic games. And as I walked out there was just a crowd screaming "Shark boy, shark boy! " It was the most incredible feeling ever. I think since then the nickname has kind of just stuck. " In addition to training for Rio, Hassiem has become a conservationist, looking after the very creatures that nearly ended his sporting dreams. He has been active in the 'Save Our Seas' initiative, which funds and supports research and protection projects across the world. "During my whole career as a shark advocate and shark conservationist, I just grew being fascinated- I grew up being fascinated of these creatures. " "I just find them so fascinating and so amazing, to see something that weighs over a tonne, launching itself out of the water is absolutely incredible and it's such a very rare sight. "
2016-09-06 11:13 Hira Humayun rss.cnn.com
93 How Donald Trump could win The Republican nominee is rebounding from a summer of repeated stumbles that threatened to undermine his candidacy, underscoring his ability to claw his way back and stay competitive despite controversies that would sink any other politician. Poll: Nine weeks out, a near even race Trump and Hillary Clinton enter the critical post-Labor Day phase of the campaign in a dead heat. A CNN/ORC national poll released Tuesday finds Trump ahead of Clinton by two points -- 45% to 43% -- among likely voters. The race is also tight among registered voters, where Clinton has a three point advantage. Both findings are within the margin of error. The narrowing of the race is a remarkable feat for Trump, who was down 10 points a month ago in CNN's Poll of Polls . Trump still faces serious hurdles that strong poll numbers can't mask. He's alienated much of the electorate, especially minorities who showed up in droves over the past two cycles to support Barack Obama. He's doing poorly among college-educated women, who are typically a Republican stronghold, and his rudimentary organization is dwarfed by Clinton's political machine in swing states where he still lags in most polls. Narrow path to the White House But if Trump can spend the next 63 days shining a relentless and unforgiving spotlight on Clinton's vulnerabilities and avoid more self-inflicted wounds, there could be a path -- however narrow -- for him to reach the White House. "Can he fundamentally alter the focus of this election right now — which is on him? " asked Bill Lacy, a GOP veteran who ran presidential campaigns for Bob Dole and Fred Thompson. "He needs to make this election about Secretary Clinton. " Trump's best chance for altering the race lies in the presidential debates, which begin September 26 and will serve as critical tests of his temperament and knowledge. In front of a vast television audience, the GOP nominee could reshape perceptions of his character and readiness -- if he can avoid being drawn into gaffes and personality clashes by Clinton. He will benefit from rock-bottom expectations, given controversies whipped up by his tempestuous personality and the vast gulf in experience between Trump and Clinton. But the formal one-on-one presidential debates -- which personify the "commander-in-chief test" many Americans ponder as they select their next president -- are a far stiffer test for Trump than the crowded free-for-alls of the Republican primary race. Trump's minority outreach off to rough start There will be no space for the billionaire to relax and regenerate his energy while rivals spar or networks cut to commercial breaks. The intensity of the questioning and his confrontation with a prepared and experienced candidate like Clinton will leave no place to hide. Still, there is much for him to gain in the three scheduled televised showdowns and he will get an unfiltered chance to raise Clinton's political vulnerabilities before the American people. Clinton's liabilities Those liabilities, and the historic challenge Clinton faces in seeking a third consecutive White House term for her party and the nation's sour political mood, also help explain why Trump is still alive. In recent weeks, the Democratic nominee has yet again been hounded by the controversy over the private email server that has revived questions about her character and honesty. Her campaign has also been forced to deny claims of influence peddling between her family's philanthropic Clinton Foundation and the State Department while she ran US diplomacy. In an interview Monday with CNN's Jeff Zeleny, Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged Clinton's struggles with questions about honesty. "The truth is Hillary knows it's a problem and she's trying to figure out how to remedy it," Biden said. "My advice to her: The best way to remedy it is to talk about what you care about and talk about it with some passion and people will see through it. " For his part, Trump needs to do more than simply disqualify Clinton. He must show he's ready to lead the nation. Trump campaign uses Sanders' words to knock Clinton over foundation ties To mount an authentic comeback, Trump must finally forge an emotional connection with voters outside his natural base, who have yet to embrace his vision of a nation under siege from terror and crime. "His appeal to the base Republican vote that won him the nomination in effect has turned many swing voters and Democratic voters against him," said Lacy. "He has to address it by being presidential and doing so constantly. " The Clinton campaign doubts Trump has it in him. "He would have to do things in the last eight weeks that he appears to have been incapable of doing in the last 16 months," said Clinton's chief strategist Joel Benenson, citing Trump's need to build a ground game, court swing voters and improve his appeal to suburban women. Clinton is banking on a huge turnout from minority voters who helped Obama win the presidency in 2008 and 2012. So far, Trump's attempts to improve his paltry standing among voters who are suspicious of him has been halting and awkward. Last week, for instance, his trip to Mexico had clear presidential overtones. But hours later, he delivered an angry speech on immigration that further alienated Latino voters and prompted some Latino GOP leaders to take back their endorsement of Trump. And on Monday, he refused to rule out granting legal status to undocumented immigrants. And on Saturday, Trump met an African-American congregation in Detroit in a bid to counter claims he is a racist. He was politely received but didn't seem to change many minds, according to interviews by CNN afterward. Still, signs of life in Trump's polling and his energetic performance last week cheer some GOP operatives. 'The wind is at our back' "It's not just the crowd size, and the enthusiasm and the rallies, but it's (that) all of these polls are now closing in major ways," Republican National Committee Chief Strategist Sean Spicer told CNN. "Look at the wind right now... the wind is at our back. " Still, Trump has fewer routes than Clinton to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. He must start by taking solid red states such as Arizona and Georgia, where Clinton is unusually competitive, off the table. He must also lock down North Carolina, a swing state in recent elections without which he may lack a credible route to 270 electoral votes. House Republicans find success separating from Trump Then Trump must close in on Clinton in all the swing states, in Iowa and Virginia and New Hampshire, as well as Ohio and Florida. Then, to win a narrow victory in the electoral college, Trump must turn at least one state that went for President Barack Obama in 2012. Possible candidates include Pennsylvania, where he currently trails Clinton by between three and nine points in polls released over the past month. Another possible target is Michigan, where recent polls have Clinton up by 11 points. Pennsylvania is a must-win for Trump. If Clinton adds just the Keystone state and Virginia -- home to her running mate, Tim Kaine -- to states considered solidly Democratic, she will be only 10 electoral votes short of the presidency. That will happen even if Trump wins perennial bellwethers Ohio and Florida. A recent Pennsylvania poll by Monmouth University shows Trump is dangerously weak in the populous Philadelphia suburbs that are often decisive -- a position he must address if he is to compete in the state. Clinton leads 62% to 29% in seven congressional districts around Philadelphia, an area that typically accounts for 40% of statewide turnout. Obama won the region 62% to 37% over Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. Trump does better than Romney in less populous and diverse western and central Pennsylvania -- but not by enough to make up for his deficit around Philadelphia. He also trails Clinton among white voters with a college degree by 10 points. Romney won that subset by 15 points in 2012. Unless Trump can turn those voters around, his hopes in Pennsylvania, and in key suburban districts in other swing states such as Columbus, Ohio, look remote. Alienating moderate Republicans That's why it surprised many analysts when Trump ditched a plan to soften the hardline on immigration that alienated many moderate white Republicans. According to CNN exit polls of the Republican primary in Pennsylvania, only 12% of voters said immigration was the most important issue to them. But 60% of Trump voters said it was -- suggesting that the billionaire's position on the issue locks in his base but hurts him among less ideological Republican voters. Trump's fiery immigration speech last week suggested he has given up on broadening his coalition and instead is betting that the pool of voters marginalized by globalization and the loss of blue-collar jobs is much larger than pollsters believe. "This speech is directed at those people living in Ohio, who have thought for whatever reason that their country is not what it was when they grew up," Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told CNN after his immigration speech last week. Trump supporters are also predicting that Democrats have underestimated the size of the GOP nominee's support. Race and racism in the 2016 campaign "There's a factor in this election that the media is just ignoring and that is that Hillary Clinton is the most unlikeable person who has ever run for office. Her support is ten miles wide and a half of an inch thick," said Wayne Allyn Root, a conservative commentator from Nevada and author of the recently published "Angry White Male. " "I think Hillary Clinton's number of voters will be down 30% versus Obama's four years ago, and I think Trump's share of the white electorate will be up dramatically. He'll gain 4 million extra votes, most of them (from) the white community. " Trump's best bet may be to target the Rust Belt where his anti-trade rhetoric resonates. Kathleen Hartnett White, a member of Trump's economic advisory council, says the billionaire should relentlessly stress growth, expanding energy production and the slashing of regulations. "I hope after Labor Day, and I think that is a good day to pivot, that these should be issues in those Rust Belt states," she said. "I would reiterate them over and over again. " October surprise If all else fails, Trump could benefit from an October surprise. A stunning news event, such as a terror attack at home or abroad, could prompt some fearful voters to fully embrace Trump's call for curbs on Muslim immigration and warnings that Clinton just does not understand the scale of the threats facing Americans. Why I'm voting for Trump Or a sudden global crisis, economic shock -- or even a smoking gun suggesting a hidden Clinton scandal -- could also shake up the race. Unless he starts making headway soon, with early voting only weeks away, it may take something that jarring for Trump to win. And it's always possible that Trump has already sown the seeds of his own defeat simply by alienating so many voters on the way to the Republican nomination. "Even if they ran a miracle comeback campaign," Lacy said, "at this point I honestly don't know if it is starting soon enough. "
2016-09-06 11:13 Stephen Collinson rss.cnn.com
94 Brexit negotiators urged to examine tougher rules on farming antibiotics Tougher regulations on the use of antibiotics on farm animals are needed as a matter of urgency as part of Brexit negotiations, campaigners and politicians have urged, after fresh revelations of superbugs found in UK supermarket meat products. E coli germs resistant to all of the currently used antibiotics have been found in UK supermarket meat, with a quarter of chickens found to contain the deadly superbugs , in research from Cambridge University. The discovery has been strongly linked to the overuse of antibiotic medicines among farm animals, including chickens and pigs. Overuse of antibiotics among farm animals fosters the development of resistant germs, which can then infect people and cause serious illness. The Guardian has previously revealed strong evidence of another “superbug” resistant to antibiotics - MRSA - found in nearly one in 10 samples of UK supermarket pork. Current curbs on antibiotic use on UK livestock are among the regulations under discussion as the government prepares for Brexit. Campaigners fear that these rules will be watered down under pressure from trading partners, with potentially catastrophic results for UK consumers. Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association, told the Guardian: “We want the government to ban all routine use of antibiotics on groups of entirely healthy animals, to phase out the use of critically important antibiotics [on animals] and ensure that last-resort antibiotics are only used to treat individual farm animals, and only if no other antibiotics are found to be working. We want to see this enacted whether we are in the EU or out of it.” Philip Lymbery, chief executive of Compassion in World Farming , said: “This new research makes it clear that the UK government must take urgent steps to save our antibiotics and avert a post-antibiotic era. The government must put in place policies to ban the routine preventative use of antibiotics in groups of entirely healthy animals.” He also called for the use of certain critical antibiotics, regarded as the last line of defence against devastating human illnesses, to be kept from routine use in animals in order to retain their efficacy. “If we continue to sacrifice animal welfare in the name of cheap meat, future generations will pay the price for a long time to come,” he said. Important trading partners such as the US and China have much lower animal welfare standards, and more lax controls on the use of antibiotics on their farms, than the UK and the EU. UK trade negotiators are likely to be under pressure to accept lower standards as a result, and more than 80 civil society organisations have called for the government to resist such attempts. E coli can kill or cause serious illness, and the potency of the antibiotics used to counter it is being eroded, which scientists have linked to the over- use of antibiotics in treating farm animals. The discovery of food products on general sale in the UK harbouring resistant bugs has raised concern that current regulations on the use of antibiotics are insufficient to protect consumers. Under current rules, little oversight is kept of the use of antibiotics on individual farms. The UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs keeps track of the volume of such drugs used overall in farming each year, but without keeping records of individual use and the reasons for it, leaving this to vets. Vets can find themselves under pressure, from farmers anxious to ensure they can continue to sell their livestock, and because they make money from prescriptions as well as advice. Even the current regulations - regarded as too weak by campaigners - are now under threat, as the government prepares for the “bonfire of red tape” on farming, that was called for by Brexiteers. Antibiotics have been at the forefront of the war against disease since the middle of the last century, but scientific developments have failed to keep up with the progress of the bugs. When antibiotics are used, most of the germs they target are killed, but a few can remain that evolve to develop and propagate resistance. When antibiotic medicines are over-used, for instance in healthy people or farmyard animals not at risk of disease, a higher proportion of the bugs develop this resistance, leading to larger populations of lethal superbugs. The discovery of germs resistant to E coli in many supermarket foods follows on revelations by the Guardian that MRSA-resistant bacteria was present in about a tenth of UK supermarket pork products. MRSA is another antibiotic-resistant “superbug” that can be fatal to vulnerable people, such as the very old and young, and can cause severe illness even in healthy people. The government could help to reward farmers with high animal welfare standards by blocking cheap foreign imports from countries with lower standards under future post-Brexit trade deals, added Tracy Worcester, director of Farms Not Factories, a pressure group. She said: “Livestock from high animal welfare farms very rarely need to be given antibiotics. Farmers and the government could agree the farm gate price that reflects production costs. Cheap foreign imports could be blocked and all public services could procure meat produced with high animal welfare labels.” She called on people to write to supermarkets to urge them to crack down on antibiotic use among their suppliers, and to take to social media on the issue. Molly Scott Cato, an MEP for the Green arty, said the party was strongly in favour of curbing routine antibiotic use in farming and monitoring the use of powerful drugs as a last resort. She said: “We need to ensure that human and animal health is put before the interests and profits of industrial-scale farming. The emerging EU legislation on the use of antibiotics in farming is setting a global standard for the sensible use of these drugs that are so essential for human health. It is vital that the UK adopt the highest standards that emerge from this legislative process.” She added that farming subsidies to be paid for by UK taxpayers, after Brexit, must also only be handed out on the basis of strong health and environmental standards. “We need to ensure any new subsidies for agriculture should prioritise a transition away from intensive farming and towards an environmentally and ecologically sustainable agricultural industry,” she said.
2016-09-06 11:12 Fiona Harvey www.theguardian.com
95 Obama vows to work to tighten sanction on North Korea VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — In the wake of another missile launch, President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to work with the United Nations to tighten sanctions against North Korea, but added that the U. S. was still open to dialogue if the government changes its course. Obama said the latest round of ballistic missile launches were "provocations" that flouted international law and would only lead to further isolation. "We are going to work diligently together with the most recent U. N. sanctions," Obama told reporters after meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. "We are going to work together to make sure we're closing loopholes and make them even more effective. " North Korea fired three ballistic missiles off its east coast Monday. The launch was widely viewed as a show of force timed to get the attention of world leaders visiting the region for a series of summits. Obama and other heads of state gathered in China over the weekend for the Group of 20 economic summit. Obama went on to Laos for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The U. N. Security Council in late August strongly condemned four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August. It called them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. Despite the heavy sanctions, North Korea says the programs are justified because of the threat posed by the U. S. and South Korea. Park told reporters North Korea's move was "fundamentally threatening the security" of the Korean Peninsula. Both leaders suggested they would continue to push China, North Korea's only ally in the region, to use its influence to intervene. "President Park and I agreed that the entire international community needs to implement these sanctions fully and hold North Korea accountable," Obama said. Obama added that the U. S. had not closed off the possibility for dialogue with North Korea, if it were to change course. "If it is willing to recognize its international obligations and enforce the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the opportunities for us to dialogue with them are there," Obama said. "We do not have any interest in an offensive approach to North Korea. "
2016-09-06 11:11 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
96 'Hezbollah, Syrian army preparing large operation near Israel border' Troops loyal to the Syrian regime along with Hezbollah fighters have allegedly been finalizing plans to launch a large-scale operation against Syrian opposition forces near the border with Israel, according to Iranian media. "The Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters have been working on a joint plan to end militancy in Southern Syria, particularly near the Golan Heights," Iran's Fars news agency quoted unnamed military sources as saying Monday. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. The sources added that the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah has already deployed a large contingency of fighters near the Quneitra area, located between Syria and the Israeli Golan Heights. The Fars report did not provide further details on what such a possible attack would involve or when it would take place. On Monday, the former head of the Israeli domestic security agency said the Syrian conflict is entering a highly unpredictable phase, adding that the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah posed a growing threat to Israel despite losing many fighters. As Syria has descended into seemingly intractable fighting over the past five years, Israel has largely stayed on the sidelines, keeping watch over the Golan Heights frontier that divides them and occasionally carrying out airstrikes or returning mortar fire if there is a specific threat. Israel, with historical enemies on its borders, maintains close intelligence on its neighbors and a special channel of communication with Russia to remain informed on Syria. Avi Dichter , the former director of the Shin Bet and now chair of parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee, said Israel, like all Western and Arab intelligence agencies, had failed to predict most of what had unfolded, including thinking Syrian President Bashar Assad would be toppled quickly. With Russia carrying out airstrikes from Iranian bases, and Turkish forces engaged in a ground assault against Islamic State in the north, Israeli officials see the conflict moving into an even more chaotic, unpredictable phase. In late July, Syrian rebels and a monitoring group said two explosions that struck a Syrian town near the Golan Heights were caused by an Israeli air strike but Hezbollah blamed rocket fire by al-Qaida-linked militants. Pro-Syrian government forces, including the army and Hezbollah fighters have strongholds in the Quneitra province. Meanwhile, the Nusra Front, Western-backed rebels, and groups which have pledged allegiance to Islamic State also operate in the region. Though formally neutral on the civil war, Israel has reportedly targeted Hezbollah officials and arms convoys inside Syria several times during the conflict. Think others should know about this? Please share | |
2016-09-06 11:11 Jpost Com www.jpost.com
97 Moldova: 2 men arrested, suspected of 'terrorism propaganda' CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovan prosecutors have arrested two foreign nationals on suspicion of spreading online propaganda for international terror organizations. The Moldovan Intelligence Service said in a statement Tuesday that organized crime prosecutors had identified and detained the men, aged 18 and 46, as part of Moldova's anti-terrorism measures. Prosecutors found propaganda material and other documents in the place they were living in Chisinau. The men, who were not identified, had been under surveillance for some time. The statement said they admitted wrongdoing. It did not say when they were arrested. Officials said they had posted messages on social networks and other online platforms that constituted "public justification for terrorism," a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
2016-09-06 11:10 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
98 ITT Educational Services to discontinue some operations Sept 6 (Reuters) - ITT Educational Services Inc said it would discontinue operations at all of its ITT Technical Institutes, affecting more than 8,000 employees. The for- profit education provider said on Tuesday that the move would also affect hundreds of thousands of students and alumni. In August, the U. S. Department of Education (DoE) banned the company from enrolling students who get federal aid. (Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey)
2016-09-06 11:10 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
99 Danaher to buy Cepheid for about $4 bln, including debt Sept 6 (Reuters) - Danaher Corp said on Tuesday it would buy molecular diagnostics company Cepheid in a deal valued at $4 billion, including debt, to strengthen its diagnostics unit. Danaher will pay Cepheid $53 per share in cash, a premium of 54 percent to its Friday close of $34.42, and the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The company, which develops healthcare and environmental technology, said the addition of Cepheid would improve operational efficiencies and expand margins in its $5 billion diagnostics segment. Sunnyvale, California-based Cepheid's GeneXpert systems enable genetic testing and provide test results for infectious diseases, among other clinical applications. Danaher expects the acquisition to add about 30 cents to adjusted earnings in the fifth full year after the deal closes. The equity value of the deal was $3.86 billion based on 72.9 million outstanding Cepheid shares as of June 30. Fenwick & West is acting as Cepheid's legal adviser for the transaction, and Goldman Sachs is acting as Cepheid's financial adviser. Cepheid's stock was up about 52.5 percent at $52.50, just shy of the $53 offer price in light premarket trading. (Reporting by Natalie Grover and Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
2016-09-06 11:10 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
100 No more scrolling down your News Feed: Facebook tests Twitter-like feature to highlight posts from friends Some people use Facebook to talk to their friends, while many users simple use the site to browse what is going on without interacting with others. Now it seems the site is hoping to encourage friends to talk to one another, with a new feature being tested by a select few users. 'What friends are talking about' is a feature in some News Feeds which lists a few of your friends' posts in a single box at the top of the feed. It's similar to Twitter’s timeline where tweets from the people you speak with most are featured prominently. The social media site appears to be testing the feature on some Android users, although it is not clear if this is just in certain areas. The feature collects posts from your friends and displays them under the 'What friends are talking about' section of the News Feed. It shows friends' updates in smaller chunks so users can see more on their screen. This means there are more opportunities for users to comment on something without scrolling. This is not the first time Facebook has tested new features on small sample groups. In June, the site rolled out a new version of the 'Trending' feature - which shows a list of topics and hashtags that have recently spiked in popularity on Facebook – to some users. The new version, which relies more heavily on an algorithm than human input, was then rolled out publicly last week. In June, Facebook employees annoucned in a blog post the company planned to make a series of changes to its news feed algorithm. The idea was that it would promote content posted by the friends and family of users. 'The goal of News Feed is to show people the stories that are most relevant to them,' Adam Mosseri, VP, Product Management at Facebook wrote in the post. 'We are updating News Feed over the coming weeks so that the things posted by the friends you care about are higher up in your News Feed,' Lars Backstrom, Engineering Director said at the time. It is unclear if the 'What friends are talking about' feature is related to these changes. MailOnline has contacted Facebook about the new feature, but the company is yet to comment.
2016-09-06 11:10 Shivali Best www.dailymail.co.uk
Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-09-06 18:01