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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-13 18:01 1 Former IS stronghold controlled by US- backed forces, says Kurdish official (2.06/3) US-backed fighters now control a northern Syrian town that until recently was a stronghold of the Islamic State group, according to a Syrian Kurdish official. 2016-08-13 12:21 3KB www.independent.ie 2 Cuba celebrates Fidel Castro's 90th birthday with music and fireworks (2.06/3) Havana’s annual carnival is combined with concert for ailing former president, who is not expected to make public appearance 2016-08-13 10:27 3KB www.theguardian.com 3 Sweden Digs in on Proposal to Ban Lobsters From Europe
(1.18/3) Sweden is digging in on a proposal to ban imports of live lobsters into the European Union after a rebuke from American scientists, and the issue could go all the way to the World Trade Organization. Sweden asked the European Union to bar imports of live American lobsters... 2016-08-13 09:18 4KB abcnews.go.com 4 French Minister Inspects Stepped-up Security at Lourdes
(1.16/3) France's interior minister has inspected the more than 500 security forces deployed at the pilgrimage site of Lourdes to guard some 20,000 faithful expected for next week's Feast of the Assumption. France is under an "exceptionally high" terrorist threat. Monday is the biggest day of... 2016-08-13 09:16 1KB abcnews.go.com 5 Trump says he'll lose Pa. only "if cheating goes on" (1.02/3) Donald Trump's numbers are dwindling in swing states, but he says he'll only lose one state if cheating is involved. In Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton is leading by an average of nine points over the Republican candidate, but that's not stopping him from claiming... 2016-08-13 17:04 1KB www.cbsnews.com 6 Hull upset odds to defeat champions Leicester (1.02/3) Managerless Hull handed champions Leicester a taste of their own medicine on the opening afternoon of the Premier League season, emerging from their chaotic summer to take all three poi 2016-08-13 14:51 3KB www.independent.ie
7 Rajoy: 3rd vote would make Spain "laughingstock of Europe"
(1.02/3) MADRID (AP) — Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warns that a third round of elections in one year would make Spain "the laughingstock of Europe" as... 2016-08-13 14:02 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 8 Zambia's president Edgar Lungu leads early election results (1.02/3) Zambia's president is leading in early results from an election whose campaign was marred by violence between rival factions. 2016-08-13 13:16 1KB www.independent.ie 9 Man dies after being struck by cars on M66 motorway near Bury (1.02/3) Man is believed to have been walking along lanes of M66 when he was struck by northbound and then three southbound vehicles 2016-08-13 13:08 2KB www.theguardian.com 10 New York boy who HANGED himself after being bullied writes final letter
(1.02/3) Daniel Fitzpatrick, a 13-year-old from Staten Island who took his own life after being mercilessly bullied by former friends, has blamed his school for not helping him in a heartbreaking final note. 2016-08-13 12:37 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 11 Father and ex-husband of a British woman 'strangled in an honour killing' appear in court in
(1.02/3) Pakistan Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, died last month during a visit to her family village in Punjab. She was allegedly hunted by her family after she ran away from the cousin she had been forced to marry. 2016-08-13 12:24 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 12 Making a Murderer: Brendan Dassey could be freed as conviction overturned (1.02/3) Judge overturns conviction of man at the center of the Netflix series, who was convicted of murder as a teenager 2016-08-13 10:19 3KB www.theguardian.com 13 South Sudan softens rejection of regional protection force
(1.02/3) South Sudan is softening its rejection of a regional protection force a day after the U. N. Security Council voted to deploy the 4,000 additional peacekeepers to help restore calm. But a government spokesman said Saturday it will accept the force only if it can negotiate... 2016-08-13 10:01 2KB www.charlotteobserver.com
14 At least two dead, one missing in Louisiana flooding, more rain expected
(1.02/3) At least two people are dead and one person is missing after heavy rains in Louisiana and Mississippi caused flash flooding. 2016-08-13 09:42 2KB www.upi.com 15 Ceremonies mark 55th anniversary of Berlin Wall construction (1.02/3) The mayor of Germany's capital has placed a wreath at the main Berlin Wall memorial, marking the 55th anniversary of the start of construction of the Cold War structure that divided the city for nearly three decades. 2016-08-13 09:40 1KB www.heraldonline.com 16 Opposition activist jailed in Azerbaijan for alleged deals
(1.02/3) A court in the Caspian Sea nation of Azerbaijan has arrested an opposition activist on charges of conducting illegal deals. 2016-08-13 09:10 1KB www.heraldonline.com 17 Olympics-Athletics-Women's triple jump qualification results
(1.00/3) Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Olympic athletics women's triple jump qualification results in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. Group B 1. Caterine Ibargueen (Colombia) 14.5... 2016-08-13 13:54 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 18 Test Series England v Pakistan scoreboard Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Scoreboard at lunch on the third day in the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan on Saturday (0.01/3) in London, England 1s... 2016-08-13 12:13 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 19 'My life's biggest mistake' - Swedish minister resigns after being caught drink-driving Sweden's minister for higher education has resigned after being (0.01/3) caught drink-driving. 2016-08-13 11:31 1KB www.independent.ie 20 Maraño stills believes unsuccessful challenge touched the defense F2 Logistics had the chance to claim the Philippine Super Liga All- Filipino Conference title on Saturday, but an unsuccessful challenge swept the rug from under the Cargo Movers’ feet and 2016-08-13 18:00 2KB sports.inquirer.net 21 Austria expects war as San Miguel faces Ginebra They maybe “sisters” but come game time, San Miguel and Ginebra will leave no stone unturned. Come Sunday, the two will set to face off for the umpteenth time and Beermen head coach Leo 2016-08-13 18:00 2KB sports.inquirer.net 22 PBA: Rain or Shine bucks Guiao ejection to trip Alaska Paul Lee and JR Quiñahan took charge down the stretch as Rain or Shine rallied to beat Alaska, 117-114, in the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum. The two 2016-08-13 18:00 2KB sports.inquirer.net 23 Domestic flight cancelled due to mishap at Naia A domestic flight was cancelled on Saturday after a metal sheet from the roof of a terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which was undergoing repair, flew and hit the windshield 2016-08-13 18:00 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 24 DFA to US: PH committed to rule of law, doesn’t condone killings The Philippine government on Saturday assured the United States of its adherence to the rule of law and protection of rights amid the administration's relentless war against drugs and 2016-08-13 18:00 2KB globalnation.inquirer.net 25 Hampshire College Has Racially Segregated Dorm Ghettos Fancypants Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts is fighting racism by allowing students to segregate themselves by race -- and sexuality -- in neo-Jim Crow dorms. [feature] Hampshire ref 2016-08-13 17:06 3KB dailycaller.com 26 Asteroid Mining CEO Says Cities In Space Are 30 Years Away Private companies could begin mining asteroids next year and building cities in space in the next 30 years, according to the CEO of a space mining company. "Its our goal in 30 years to provide all 2016-08-13 17:06 5KB dailycaller.com 27 PAIN: High Couple In Pink Chevy Geo Tracker Hits Beehive If The Daily Caller has said it once, we've said it 1,000 times: Don't get all high on a trio of drugs and then ride around country roads - - in a bikini -- and then run your pink Chevrolet Geo Tracker 2016-08-13 17:06 4KB dailycaller.com 28 The Media Are Lying To Hide Clinton’s Animosity To The Second Amendment This is the state of “journalism” today. Members of the media who desperately want Hillary Clinton to be elected president are stooping to unprecedented lows, abandoning all pretenses of impartial 2016-08-13 17:06 6KB dailycaller.com 29 CCW Weekend: The American Response To Terrorism By Beth Baumann, Alien Gear Holsters The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) recently conducted a study that examines the behavior of those applying for concealed carry permits and the rapid i 2016-08-13 17:06 4KB dailycaller.com 30 First Gold Of Summer Olympics Goes To America, Inspires Derision From Miserable Gun- Hating Jerks Signs of the cultural schisms and declining love of country that are the chief legacy of the Obama presidency are all around us. And while not the most serious, one of the most unfortunate and patheti 2016-08-13 17:06 6KB dailycaller.com 31 Bad weather prompts diversion of flights to Clark airport (Updated) CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga has been put on alert for local and international flights diverting from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2016-08-13 17:17 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 32 Man claiming to be pastor charged with fraud A Florida man claiming to be a pastor has been arrested and charged with fraud. 2016-08-13 17:16 865Bytes www.ajc.com 33 Why, despite everything, I won't be trying dating apps Whatever happened to Labour winning back Scotland? Yes, my love life may be in need of a spark, but I won’t use Tinder to get the flames going. 2016-08-13 17:04 18KB www.newstatesman.com 34 Eye Opener: Deadly flash floods in the Deep South Deadly floods take out homes and roads down South, with the forecast calling for more trouble. Also, Donald's Trump makes new claims about election fraud in a key swing state. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener. Your world in... 2016-08-13 17:04 1KB www.cbsnews.com 35 Can Donald Trump recover from rough week? Donald Trump has had a rough week, sinking in polls and facing backlash for his controversial remarks. Hillary Clinton has also had a bumpy road, with continued questions about the Clinton Foundation's conflict of interest and favorable treatment of donors. Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell... 2016-08-13 17:04 1KB www.cbsnews.com 36 Rio Olympics: Older athletes still at the top Across the Olympics, competitors are proving that age need not be an obstacle to competing at the top. 2016-08-13 17:05 4KB www.bbc.co.uk 37 Marikina River reaches critical level; forced evacuation in effect The Marikina government on Saturday afternoon raised alert level four or critical level over the Marikina River amid heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon. As of 4:17 p.m., the Marikina 2016-08-13 16:53 1KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 38 SRK detention: Azam Khan 'sings' Bollywood song to express his 'pain' Latching on to the detention of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at a US airport, UP Minister Azam Khan has attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama over the condition of Muslims 2016-08-13 16:14 2KB www.mid-day.com 39 Syrian civilians rejoice as US frees them from IS control US forces have seized full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border after the last remaining Islamic State fighters, who had been using civilians as human s 2016-08-13 14:50 3KB www.independent.ie 40 How Iowa's state fair became a key pilgrimage for presidential politics Although Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump haven’t confirmed if they will show up this year, fairgoers get ready for deep fried everything and partisan games 2016-08-13 14:47 8KB www.theguardian.com 41 Mumbai: Dreaded gangster's brother dies after accidentally shooting himself Mangal Singh Thakur, the brother of dreaded gangster Bachhu Singh, died on Saturday in Mumbai after accidentally shooting himself in the chest 2016-08-13 14:30 1KB www.mid-day.com 42 Jonathan Papelbon requests release from Washington Nationals The Nationals are having internal discussions to find the best way to grant Jonathan Papelbon's wish to be released, a source told ESPN. 2016-08-13 14:02 1KB www.espn.com 43 Iannone has pole in Austrian MotoGP; Marquez 5th after crash SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Andrea Iannone earned his second career MotoGP pole position as Italian riders locked the front grid of the Austrian Grand Prix. Th... 2016-08-13 13:53 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 44 Britain to plug 4.5 bln pound EU funding gap for farms, colleges LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Britain will fill a gap of as much as 4.5 billion pounds ($5.8 billion) in funding for agriculture, universities and its regions t... 2016-08-13 13:52 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 45 Making a Murderer: Steven Avery’s ex- fiancee fears he too may be released Jodi Stachowski ‘firmly believes’ Avery is guilty of notorious 2005 murder, while welcoming the reversal of co-defendant Brendan Dassey’s conviction 2016-08-13 13:48 5KB www.theguardian.com 46 James Martin: I'm not in the running for Top Gear job Chef James Martin denied that he was in the running to take over from Chris Evans as Top Gear host, saying that he had not received any call from producers. ... 2016-08-13 13:48 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 47 Jessica Hart shows off her taut tummy and slender thighs Jessica Hart flaunted her taut tummy as she lazed in the sunshine clad in a navy blue and white gingham bikini on Friday. 2016-08-13 13:42 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 48 Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his shirt brought Paul Pogba back to Manchester United as pair stand-off in photo on Instagram Zlatan Ibrahimovic posted a picture with teammate Paul Pogba on Instagram. The image shows the Manchester United duo facing off. They will have to wait to play together as Pogba is suspended. 2016-08-13 13:40 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 49 Tyson Fury thrown birthday party before Wladimir Klitschko rematch Tyson Fury took one last opportunity to indulge himself before he turns his attention to Wladimir Klitschko when he was thrown a surprise birthday party in Manchester on Friday night. 2016-08-13 13:29 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 50 English premier league results and standings Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Results and standings from the English premier league matches on Saturday Saturday, August 13 Hull City 2 Leicester City 1 Standings P W... 2016-08-13 13:25 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 51 Isis 'jihadi brides' trying to radicalise girls and encourage terror attacks online Lured by the false promise of an Islamic utopia and an adoring husband, scores of British women and girls fled to join Isis, but as military operations against the group intensify they 2016-08-13 13:20 7KB www.independent.ie 52 Per Mertesacker is named as Arsenal's new captain despite long-term injury Per Mertesacker has been named as Arsenal's new captain even though the injured Germany defender may not play again this year. 2016-08-13 13:16 2KB www.independent.ie 53 Last year's top flight experience makes Bournemouth stronger, says Eddie Howe Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes their first season in the Premier League will help them when they face Manchester United in the opening game of the season on Sunday. 2016-08-13 13:16 3KB www.independent.ie 54 Jurgen Klopp wary of direct approach from Arsenal Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is paying little attention to Arsenal's defensive crisis and is more concerned his side might be undone by a direct approach from Arsene Wenger's men. 2016-08-13 13:11 3KB www.independent.ie 55 Precarious no more, PGA to build clubhouse in Connecticut CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — The PGA Tour, which almost pulled out of Connecticut a decade ago, is making another major investment in its TPC River Highland's golf... 2016-08-13 13:02 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 56 Canada's counter-terror efforts face scrutiny after US helps stop suspect Authorities point to challenges in balancing resources, civil liberties and safety as former intelligence official wonders: ‘How come the FBI had to tell us?’ 2016-08-13 13:00 6KB www.theguardian.com 57 Ban on criminal history question for job applicants reveals deeper issue: racism ‘Ban the box’ policies in numerous cities and states have failed to reduce racial disparities because of employer bias against African Americans, studies find 2016-08-13 13:00 5KB www.theguardian.com 58 Frustration abundant, GOP could be near breaking point Trump ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — The Republican Party could be nearing a breaking point with Donald Trump. As he skips from one gaffe to the next, GOP leaders in Washingt... 2016-08-13 12:56 9KB www.dailymail.co.uk 59 Man dumped into rubbish truck survives being compacted ‘several times’ A man who fell asleep in a large recycling bin full of cardboard was ‘compacted several times’ after being tipped into a rubbish truck, in Albany, Oregon. 2016-08-13 12:52 2KB www.independent.ie 60 What's the mood at Crimea checkpoint? Recent events in Crimea lead to further difficulties in the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. 2016-08-13 12:49 599Bytes www.bbc.co.uk 61 Yemen rebels convene parliament in defiance of government Iran-backed rebels convened Yemen's parliament on Saturday in defiance of the internationally recognised government, prompting condemnation from President Ab... 2016-08-13 12:44 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 62 Brendan Fevola enjoys a drink with a man bearing a striking resemblace to the former Prime Minister Former AFL star Brendam Fevola took to Instagram on Saturday to post a snap as he enjoyed a beer with a Tony Abbott lookalike in a sporting club clubhouse. 2016-08-13 12:41 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk
63 Istanbul prosecutor sent letter to U. S. asking for Gulen's arrest - CNN Turk ISTANBUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Istanbul chief prosecutor's office sent a letter to the U. S. authorities asking for the detention of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gu... 2016-08-13 12:28 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 64 Leicester players had a WhatsApp group to convince N'Golo Kante not to leave champions for Chelsea Speaking ahead of the Foxes' opening game, Leicester players Danny Simpson, Mark Albrighton and Christian Fuchs explained the lengths they went to in an attempt to keep the squad together. 2016-08-13 12:21 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 65 Meet busty Bachelor gatecrasher Sarah Harding Get ready to rumble, Bachelor fans, because the competition is set to become a little fiercer when promotional model Sarah Harding enters the fray. 2016-08-13 12:18 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 66 Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta reveals he could've left this summer: 'I did receive a few offers' Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta received offers to leave the club this summer. He decided to stay after a conversation with Pep Guardiola convinced him that he was still needed. 2016-08-13 12:18 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 67 Wildlife park celebrates the birth of its first ever TRIPLET Asiatic lion cubs Kali, Sita and Sonika made their first public appearance at Cotswold Wildlife Park, near Burford, Oxfordshire, on Saturday. It was also the first time they met their father. 2016-08-13 11:59 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 68 Thousands gather for the funeral of Anne of Romania Thousands of Romanians lined the streets to say farewell to Anne of Romania, the wife of Michael, the last king of Romania. 2016-08-13 11:56 2KB www.independent.ie
69 Indian-controlled Kashmir undergoes strict curfew to prevent protests A strict curfew has been extended to most parts of Indian- controlled Kashmir by authorities as separatists leaders called for weekend protests against Indian rule. 2016-08-13 11:56 2KB www.independent.ie 70 Motorcycling-Motorcycling Grand Prix Austria moto3 qualification results Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Results from the Motorcycling Grand Prix Austria Moto3 Qualification on Saturday 1. Joan Mir (Spain) KTM 1:36.228 2. Brad Binder (South... 2016-08-13 11:54 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 71 Boy (3) in critical condition after falling from wooden roller coaster A three-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he fell from a wooden roller coaster at a theme park in the US. 2016-08-13 11:34 1KB www.independent.ie 72 Turkish PM says Ankara sees no compromise with the U. S. over Gulen extradition ISTANBUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Turkey's prime minister said on Saturday that Ankara could not compromise with the United States over its request for the extrad... 2016-08-13 11:34 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 73 Daredevil performs a double back-flip from 60ft SCAFFOLDING in West Sussex Rory McGuinness, who studied at Chichester College in West Sussex, was filmed by his friend climbing up the scaffolding before leaping into the river and performing back-flips on the way down. 2016-08-13 11:22 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 74 The Nauru files: Labor pushes for parliamentary inquiry into abuse allegations Exclusive: Shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann calls government response ‘disgraceful’ and says Labor will move to set up senate inquiry 2016-08-13 11:15 4KB www.theguardian.com 75 'Bit daunting, really': the Edinburgh standups reading Chilcot in full – video At 2.6m words it’s something of a mouthful, but John Chilcot’s Iraq war report is being tackled by comics at the 2016 fringe in a performance expected to take two weeks. Here, they explain why holding the powerful to account is ‘exactly what Edinburgh is for’ 2016-08-13 11:00 1KB www.theguardian.com
76 Teenage British singer Imani eyeing album, tour next LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Sixteen-year-old singer Imani, who gained fame when she featured on British DJ Sigala's dance hit "Say You Do" earlier this year,... 2016-08-13 11:00 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 77 Seven candidates for new African places on FIFA council By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Seven candidates, including two Confederation of African Football (CAF) vice presidents, are standing for elect... 2016-08-13 10:50 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 78 Leicester captain Wes Morgan urges his team-mates to prove last season's title triumph 'was no fluke' Title-winning captain Wes Morgan has sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League by insisting his Leicester side are 'here to stay at the top'. 2016-08-13 10:21 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 79 Kylie Jenner gives her Kim Kardashian a run for her money in the Bahamas Kylie Jenner proved she was Kim Kardashian's mini-me, as she reenacted her older sister's famous bum pose on the beach during her birthday holiday in the Bahamas with Tyga on Friday. 2016-08-13 10:07 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 80 Princess Diana insisted on taking her 'secret mascot' sex toy with her The shock revelation about the sex toy - which was purchased during a 'wild' staff night out in Paris - was made by her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe in his book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret. 2016-08-13 10:03 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk 81 Croatia’s summer-long Obonjan festival finally gets going Despite a disastrous start, Obonjan, a relaxed grown-up festival which takes place on its own Adriatic island, promises to be a special summer event 2016-08-13 10:00 6KB www.theguardian.com 82 New director of Md. Democrats: A political novice with grass-roots appeal Chuck Conner, 33, is reaching out to traditional Democratic groups to help party rebuild after 2014 losses. 2016-08-13 09:39 7KB www.washingtonpost.com 83 Hit-and-run Brooklyn bus madman flattens two pedestrians, killing one A man struck by a livery bus shuttling through Brooklyn died of his wounds early Saturday as cops continued a manhunt for the driver. 2016-08-13 09:37 1KB feeds.nydailynews.com 84 #NPRreads: Shake Things Up This Weekend With These Three Stories : The Two- Way : NPR Correspondents, editors and producers from our newsroom share the pieces that have kept them reading, using the #NPRreads hashtag. Each weekend, we highlight some of the best stories. 2016-08-13 09:32 5KB www.npr.org 85 Tiny terrace houses in Sydney smashes reserve by $110,000 in astonishing sale A small 38sqm terrace in Darlinghurst, in Sydney's inner-city, purchased in 2009 for $525,000 has smashed its reserve price on Saturday by $110,000 after it went under the hammer. 2016-08-13 09:30 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 86 Seized parrots need volunteers, caretakers Volunteering is not for the birds. 2016-08-13 09:29 1KB rssfeeds.11alive.com 87 Police identify owner of dog in 'vicious' attack that severely injured man The attack happened about 11:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12 2016-08-13 09:25 1KB www.mlive.com 88 Gang members, high on pot, fall asleep at crime scene Deputies say two teenage gang members smoked enough marijuana to pass out in their getaway vehicle while it was still parked in the same neighborhood they’d just finished burglarizing. The two boys also were found with a stolen handgun, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office reported. 2016-08-13 09:24 2KB www.heraldonline.com 89 One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson, 80, is 'fighting for his life' in hospital after suffering a 'severe head injury' during a heart attack The veteran actor, who was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, was put in intensive care and is in a stable but 'serious' condition, sources say. Wilson suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday. 2016-08-13 09:13 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 90 Afghan Taliban free six crew of Pakistani helicopter captured after crash By Mehreen Zahra-Malik and Amjad Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Five Pakistanis and a Russian who were captured by the Afghan Taliban after their governme... 2016-08-13 09:10 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 91 Leigh-Anne Pinnock stuns in a VERY daring sheer skirt as she attends birthday bash without her bandmates She was without her band-mates on Friday evening, but Leigh- Anne didn't need company to command attention as she stepped out in London. 2016-08-13 09:10 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 92 AmeriCorps members to help connect students with healthy food during school year The Farm to School movement is in full swing. 2016-08-13 09:09 2KB www.mlive.com 93 Philippines, Muslim rebels relaunch peace talks The Philippines on Saturday restarted peace talks with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, the first under President Rodrigo Duterte aimed at ending de... 2016-08-13 09:09 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 94 Lufthansa and pilots union break off pay talks BERLIN, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Germany's Lufthansa and pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) have broken off talks over pay and early retirement terms after mon... 2016-08-13 09:05 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk 95 Registration opens for soccer, tutoring The Friends of the Conley is currently accepting registration for its soccer and tutoring programs. 2016-08-13 09:04 1KB rssfeeds.thestarpress.com 96 Felon accused of stealing purse, ramming pursuer's car Authorities say a Muncie felon stole a woman’s purse, then rammed his truck into the vehicle of a man who pursued him. 2016-08-13 09:04 2KB rssfeeds.thestarpress.com 97 Stabbed California teen screams ex- boyfriend’s name before dying in front of mother The teen’s chilling finals words prompted investigators to name Rory Murga a top-suspect in the case. 2016-08-13 09:04 2KB feeds.nydailynews.com 98 Champions go for gold in Super Saturday title defence Britain is hoping for a repeat of Super Saturday from the London 2012 Olympics as track and field champions Greg Rutherford, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill... 2016-08-13 09:03 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk 99 Queens hookah bar shooting leaves four wounded as suspected shooters plow car into building Four men were shot outside a lounge in Queens early Saturday, police said. 2016-08-13 08:57 2KB feeds.nydailynews.com 100 Thousands without power after overnight storms About 5,600 customers are without power in Barry County 2016-08-13 08:57 907Bytes www.mlive.com Articles
Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-13 18:01
1 Former IS stronghold controlled by US-backed forces, says Kurdish official (2.06/3) US-backed fighters now control a northern Syrian town that until recently was a stronghold of the Islamic State group, according to a Syrian Kurdish official. Manbij "is under full control," said Nasser Haj Mansour of the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces. He added that searches are still being carried out for any extremists who might be hiding in the town. The SDF launched its offensive in late May to capture Manbij under the cover of air strikes of the US-led coalition. Manbij was an IS hub and a main point linking the self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq with the rest of the world. It lies on a key supply route to the IS de facto capital of Raqqa. AP Amateur videos online showed scores of residents going down to celebrate in the streets shortly after SDF fighters captured the town late on Friday. Some men were seen clipping their beards with scissors while women were able to uncover their faces. IS imposes a harsh and extreme version of Islam on the territory under its control, including a mandatory dress code. "May God destroy them. They slaughtered us," a young man shouted in a Manbij square. "May they not live for a minute. " A young woman defiantly uncovered her face while smoking a cigarette and flashing a victory sign in a photo which Kurdish activists posted online. Under the extremists' reign, women had to wear long black cloaks that covered everything except their eyes, while all adult men were forced to grow beards. Smoking was banned. Some IS fighters were captured in the town while others fled to nearby villages, said Haj Mansour. "Military operations will continue until these villages are clean," he said. Sherfan Darwish, another SDF official in Manbij, also confirmed that the town is under the full control of his fighters. The capture of Manbij is the biggest defeat for the extremist group in Syria since July 2015, when they lost the town of Tal Abyad on the border with Turkey. Hundreds of civilians that IS used as human shields are now free with the capture of Manbij, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. SDF fighters have been slowly advancing in the town and nearby villages over the past weeks. The fighting and the air strikes have killed some 450 people, according to the Observatory. IS suffered major defeats over the past months in Syria and Iraq, where the military recaptured the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah in the western Anbar province. However, IS still controls large parts of Syria as well as Iraq's second largest city, Mosul. AP US-backed Syrian force captures key IS stronghold heraldonline.com US-Backed Syrian Force Captures Key IS Stronghold abcnews.go.com 2016-08-13 12:21 www.independent.ie
2 Cuba celebrates Fidel Castro's 90th birthday with music and fireworks (2.06/3) Cubans celebrated former president Fidel Castro’s 90th birthday by partying on the Malecón seafront in Havana as an electrical storm lit up the night sky. On the stroke of midnight a band played Happy Birthday on a plaza outside the new US embassy while fireworks exploded on the other side of the bay. Colourful floats carrying dancers and salsa bands stretched for miles down the Malecón as Havana’s annual carnival was combined this year with Castro’s birthday concert. “This is the best gift we can give him, this party,” said Leydis Campos, 25, a dancer in a lime green outfit, her eyelids caked in glitter. “To 90 years past, and to 90 more!” Cuba has gone into overdrive this month honouring Castro, who led its 1959 revolution and built a Communist-run state on the doorstep of the United States, surviving what it claims were hundreds of assassination attempts along the way. Tributes have ranged from the conventional, such as photo exhibits about his life, to the outlandish, such as the longest cigar in the world, measuring 90 metres, rolled in Castro’s honour. While many Cubans criticise Castro for having restricted personal freedoms and imposed a Soviet-style command economy, others revere him for having freed Cuba from US domination and provided universal access to healthcare and education. “Fidel is the best thing that happened to our country,” said Aldo Zamora, 40, selling balloon animals. Castro handed over power in 2008 to his younger brother Raúl after an intestinal ailment nearly killed him, although he retained the title “Historic Leader”. Since then he has ventured into public rarely, looking increasingly frail and sporting comfortable tracksuits and trainers instead of his trademark olive green military uniform. He is not scheduled to appear in public for his festivities, although he could meet Cuba’s ally Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, who arrived in Havana early on Saturday. Some Cubans say they miss the charismatic leader who accompanied them for decades, holding forth on topics from nuclear energy to farming in famously long speeches. “His words gave us a sense of confidence,” said Yadira Escudero, 25. But even those partygoers said they welcomed the changes that had taken place since the more pragmatic Raúl took power, such as market-style reforms, detente with the United States and greater personal freedoms such as the right to travel.
On 90th Birthday, Fidel Castro Thanks Cuba, Critiques Obama abcnews.go.com
On 90th birthday, Fidel Castro thanks Cuba, critiques Obama heraldonline.com 2016-08-13 10:27 Reuters in www.theguardian.com
3 Sweden Digs in on Proposal to Ban Lobsters From Europe (1.18/3) Sweden is digging in on a proposal to ban imports of live lobsters into the European Union after a rebuke from American scientists, and the issue could go all the way to the World Trade Organization. Sweden asked the European Union to bar imports of live American lobsters into the bloc earlier this year after 32 American lobsters were found in Swedish waters. The U. S. government then told the European Commission that the proposal isn't supported by science, and American and Canadian scientists issued reports calling the Swedish claim into question. Now, Sweden's Agency for Marine and Water Management is issuing a response to criticism, and says the country is right to be cautious about the appearance of a foreign species in its waters. The response came out at the end of July and defends the prevention of the spread of American lobsters as "environmentally desirable and cost-effective. " The Congressional delegation of Maine, the country's largest lobster producing state, issued a statement that said it will appeal to the WTO if the European Union ultimately sides with the Swedes. Lobstermen in America and Canada, which together export $200 million worth of lobster to European markets each year, are hopeful that Sweden's call for a ban eventually amounts to nothing. "I haven't taken my Swedish engine out of my boat yet," said Gerry Cushman, a Port Clyde lobsterman. "I'd like to see lobsters stay open throughout the world everywhere. " European Union's Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species is expected to express an opinion about Sweden's call for a ban on Aug. 31. The country has said American lobsters, which are fished off the coasts of the U. S. and Canada, could spread disease and overtake the smaller European variety of lobster. Robert S. Steneck, a University of Maine scientist, wrote a paper that said the American lobsters that turned up in Europe were most likely released illegally, as opposed to migrating across the ocean. He also wrote that American lobsters don't pose a threat to European lobsters, in part because winter ocean temperatures along the coasts of European countries are too warm for the American lobsters to reproduce. But Sweden's marine agency said it is "vital" to take a precautionary approach to the issue, because American lobsters' failure to gain a foothold in Europe thus far is "no guarantee that the same species will not be successfully invasive in another place or time. " The agency also says more research is needed into the impact of cross-breeding of American and European lobsters. Maine's congressional delegation said the European import market is critical to the lobster industry, and the state's leaders remain committed to supporting it. Maine's lobster industry was worth about a half billion dollars last year and catches have soared to record highs in recent years. State leaders hope the EU "will strongly consider the evidence offered by North American experts and decide not to pursue a ban on imports of live American lobster to Europe," the delegation said in a statement.
Sweden digs in on proposal to ban lobsters from Europe washingtontimes.com 2016-08-13 09:18 By abcnews.go.com
4 French Minister Inspects Stepped-up Security at Lourdes (1.16/3) France's interior minister has inspected the more than 500 security forces deployed at the pilgrimage site of Lourdes to guard some 20,000 faithful expected for next week's Feast of the Assumption. France is under an "exceptionally high" terrorist threat. Monday is the biggest day of the year for the Catholic shrine reputed to heal the sick, drawing pilgrims from around the world to the town in southwest France. The outdoor Mass presents a special security challenge since some pilgrims are in wheelchairs and on stretchers, hoping for a miracle cure. Interior Minister Bernard Cazenueve says Saturday that nearly 300 extra forces were brought in. Pilgrims will be patted down by security at entry points. State officials say bomb squads and canine units will be in place. French minister inspects stepped-up security at Lourdes cbs46.com 2016-08-13 09:16 By abcnews.go.com
5 Trump says he'll lose Pa. only "if cheating goes on" (1.02/3) |Donald Trump's numbers are dwindling in swing states, but he says he'll only lose one state if cheating is involved. In Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton is leading by an average of nine points over the Republican candidate, but that's not stopping him from claiming that a loss there would be suspicious. Errol Barnett reports.
Trump: Clinton can't win pennsylvania unless there's cheating – video theguardian.com 2016-08-13 17:04 Trump says www.cbsnews.com
6 Hull upset odds to defeat champions Leicester (1.02/3) Managerless Hull handed champions Leicester a taste of their own medicine on the opening afternoon of the Premier League season, emerging from their chaotic summer to take all three points at the KCOM Stadium. Leicester became masters of upsetting the odds en route to the title last term but became the first defending champions to lose their opening game as this time it was Hull who sprang the surprise. Adama Diomande's overhead kick and Robert Snodgrass' clinical finish sealed a 2-1 win either side of Riyad Mahrez's penalty. Hull's preparations for their top-flight return have been nightmarish, with Steve Bruce walking out and his assistant Mike Phelan left in caretaker charge of a squad consisting just 13 fit first-teamers, supplemented here by five academy prospects on the bench. Revolt was in the air before kick-off too, with fans protesting outside the ground against the Allam regime and calling for Bruce's return as manager. Songs were sung, signs distributed and many seats left unclaimed but those who did attend did get behind their side, who rallied manfully to the cause. Leicester, heavy favourites here, handed debuts to Ahmed Musa and Luis Hernandez. The game began sloppily, with the Foxes handing over possession on several occasions as Hull pressed high. There were half-chances at either end, Demarai Gray's deflected effort looping over and Curtis Davies heading Snodgrass' corner wide, before Leicester eventually found some rhythm. Jamie Vardy, so lethal last season, had three wonderful chances to open his 2016-17 account but erred on each occasion. First he produced an air shot when teed up by Musa and later he skied a side-footer over after another cross from the same source. In between he was denied by a superb sliding challenge from makeshift centre-half Jake Livermore with the goal at his mercy. The latter effort came after a flowing move from Leicester, during which Christian Fuchs and Mahrez might easily have scored too. But it was Hull who took the half-time lead, Davies beating Wes Morgan to a Snodgrass corner and forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a parry which bounced invitingly at the far post. Abel Hernandez and Diomande both had the same idea, producing synchronised bicycle kicks which each connected to produce a breathtakingly unlikely goal. Diomande's touch came fractionally later but Hernandez was well within his rights to celebrate his part. It took Leicester less than two minutes of the second half to draw level, Tom Huddlestone raking Gray marginally outside the area but conceding a penalty anyway. Mahrez made no mistake from the spot and it once again looked a long road for the Tigers to travel. But instead they came again, Ahmed Elmohamady's cross only half-cleared by Danny Simpson and landing nicely for Snodgrass. The winger did not need asking twice as he buried a first-time effort from the edge of the area. Claudio Ranieri raided his bench for Daniel Amartey, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa but Danny Drinkwater's snatched drive in injury time, well covered by Eldin Jakupovic, was as close as they came.
Newly-promoted Hull stuns EPL champion Leicester 2-1 cbs46.com 2016-08-13 14:51 www.independent.ie
7 7 Rajoy: 3rd vote would make Spain "laughingstock of Europe" (1.02/3) MADRID (AP) — Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warns that a third round of elections in one year would make Spain "the laughingstock of Europe" as he tries to cobble together support to form a government and end eight months of political deadlock. Rajoy's conservative Popular Party will decide Wednesday if it accepts the conditions that the smaller Ciudadanos party has made in return for its support. But even with Ciudadanos' backing, Rajoy needs support from other parties and is trying to convince the Socialists — who so far have refused to support him — to come on board. "If the Socialists stick to their position, there won't be a government," Rajoy said on Saturday. The Popular Party, which has been in power since 2011, won the June 26 elections with 137 seats, 39 short of a majority in the 350-seat parliament. Ciudadanos would provide just 32 more "Yes" votes. "We hope this is resolved soon and, above all, we hope that we don't have new elections, because we would be the laughingstock of Europe," Rajoy said. "It would be absolutely insane to have three elections in a year and a caretaker government for so long. " A recent poll suggests that a third round of elections wouldn't solve the impasse that has left Rajoy in charge of a caretaker government with limited powers since the first indecisive election in December.
Rajoy: 3rd Vote Would Make Spain "Laughingstock of Europe" abcnews.go.com 2016-08-13 14:02 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
8 Zambia's president Edgar Lungu leads early election results (1.02/3) Zambia's president is leading in early results from an election whose campaign was marred by violence between rival factions. President Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front party had 207,547 votes while Hakainde Hichilema of the opposition United Party for National Development had 153,630. The winner of Thursday's election, for which 22 out of 156 constituencies have been counted, must get more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off. Mr Lungu won the last election with 48% of votes, taking office in early 2015 after the death of president Michael Sata. Mr Hichilema, a close second, alleged there were voting irregularities. Zambia has had peaceful transitions of power in the past, but tension during this year's election campaign set off street clashes at times. AP
Zambia's Lungu ahead in early vote results, opposition cries foul dailymail.co.uk 2016-08-13 13:16 www.independent.ie
9 Man dies after being struck by cars on M66 motorway near Bury (1.02/3) A man has died after being struck by several cars on the M66 motorway near Bury. Greater Manchester police said they were called to reports of a collision between junctions 2 and 3 just before 2am on Saturday. Officers found a man with fatal injuries as well as four damaged vehicles. The force said it appeared the man had been walking along the lanes of the motorway and was struck by an Audi A5 heading northbound. He was then struck by three vehicles travelling on the southbound carriageway. He was declared dead at the scene. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and is in police custody. Sgt Helen Hallworth, of the serious collision investigation unit, said: “We believe we have identified this man and we have now spoken to his next of kin. However, we still need witnesses who may have seen this man walking up the motorway to contact us as a matter of urgency. “As ever, any dashcam footage would be gratefully received, but at this stage any information from eyewitnesses would greatly help us with our investigation into this man’s tragic death.” Police are asking anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Separately, two people died in a hit-and-run crash in Eastbourne on Friday night. Sussex police said four vehicles were involved in a collision at the junction of South Cliff and King Edward’s Parade at 9.30pm on Friday night. One of the drivers fled the scene. A suspect was later arrested. Police appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to call 101 quoting Operation Harfield. Man dies after being struck by cars on motorway dailymail.co.uk 2016-08-13 13:08 Press Association www.theguardian.com
10 New York boy who HANGED himself after being bullied writes final letter (1.02/3) A New York teenager who took his own life after being mercilessly bullied by former friends has blamed his school for not helping him in a heartbreaking final note. Daniel Fitzpatrick, 13, hanged himself in his family's attic in Staten Island, where he was found by one of his older sisters about 5:30pm on Thursday. In a note, which was shared by a family friend on Facebook , the 13-year-old detailed how his treatment at Holy Angels Catholic Academy left him feeling utterly helpless. 'At first it was good. Lots of friends, good grades and a great life, but I moved and went back and it was different,' Daniel wrote. 'My old friends changed, they didn't talk to me, they didn't even like me.' The 13- year-old then wrote about a fight he had with a student and former friend, which led to the other pupil being punished. His former friend blamed him for getting in trouble, something that only worsened the bullying. 'They continued, I gave up, the teachers either they didn't do anything! Not get them in trouble even though they did trouble, I got in trouble instead because [the student] was mad at me because he believed I failed him. 'I told all the teachers nothing except one… she was the nicest teacher ever she understood and did something but it didn't last long. 'I wanted to get out, I begged and I pleaded. Eventually I did, I failed but I didn't care. I was out that's all I wanted.' Daniel wrote his letter on June 30, as he desperately wanted to make sure he would be able to start new at another school, Brooklyn's Xaverian High School, in the fall, the New York Daily News reports. His shattered mother, Maureen Fitzpatrick, said his son was let down by the school. 'Danny said that he was afraid of his teachers. He felt like the whole school knew what was going on and was laughing behind his back. They humiliated him,' she told the NYDN. 'My son shouldn't have to die to be heard. There's something wrong with the adults in authority positions when kids can't go to them for help. 'No parent is supposed to bury their child.' His parents also told the newspaper one of the teachers at the school called Daniel 'lazy' in front of other students. His sister, Kristen, said the teacher in question often made a deliberate effort to embarrass pupils - and would even publicly display low test scores to shame those who did not perform as well as others. Holy Angels Catholic Academy's principal, Rosemary McGoldrick, could not be reached for comment. The Brooklyn/Queens Diocese said it is 'reexamining' its policies around bullying in the wake of Daniel's death. 'The principal, teachers, and staff of Holy Angels Catholic Academy are heartbroken over the loss of Danny Fitzpatrick,' a spokeswoman told the newspaper. 'We take the issue of bullying very seriously and address every incident that is brought to our attention.' For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255
Bullied 13-year-old left heartbreaking suicide note before killing himself nypost.com 2016-08-13 12:37 Liam Quinn www.dailymail.co.uk
11 11 Father and ex-husband of a British woman 'strangled in an honour killing' appear in court in Pakistan (1.02/3) The ex-husband and father of a British woman suspected to be the victim of an 'honour killing' appeared in a Pakistani court today after being arrested by police. Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, died last month during a visit to her family village in Punjab. Shahid's ex-husband, Muhammad Shakeel, and father, Muhammad Shahid, have been arrested and will remain in custody. The second husband of the beauty therapist, Mukhtar Kazam, claimed she was murdered for bringing 'dishonour' on her family. She was allegedly hunted by her family in 2014 after she ran away from the cousin she had been forced to marry. 'Shahid's ex-husband, Muhammad Shakeel, who was on pre-arrest bail, was arrested along with Shahid's father, Muhammad Shahid, after a local court did not extend Shakeel's bail,' Aqeel Abbas, a local police official said. Abbas said both men would remain in custody for four days in Jhelum, 78 miles east of the capital Islamabad. Police have not charged the men. Kazam and Shahid, a dual British-Pakistani citizen, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai, police said. Kazam, who is Pakistani, said his wife had angered her parents by converting to Shia Islam, his sect, before their wedding. Earlier this month at an emotional news conference he had presented a copy of the post-mortem report into his wife's death that said the 28-year-old had a 7.5ins gash on her neck, suggesting she had been strangled. Shahid's father has denied the charges and said he did not want an investigation, claiming his daughter died of natural causes. Islamic scholar Syed Sibtain Kazmi says he recorded threats from Samia's family as he refused to say where they were - and then gave them to the police. He first met the murder victim when she came to the Anjuman-e-Haideria Shia mosque in Bradford for advice about to how to divorce Mohammed Shakeel. He told the BBC: 'She told me under oath that her first marriage was a forced marriage, which happened without her free will as she was pressurised into the marriage by her family'. West Yorkshire Police have declined to respond to whether they had offered to protect Samia at the time described by Mr Kazmi. A spokesman said: 'West Yorkshire police is currently reviewing all previous contact with Samia Shahid, including any alleged criminal offences and the action taken as a result. 'Her death remains a matter for the Pakistani authorities and we are continuing to liaise with them.' Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan by relatives who feel their family has been shamed by a daughter or sister fraternising with men, eloping or otherwise infringing conservative demands on women's modesty.
Samia Shahid's ex-husband appears in court over alleged 'honour' killing theguardian.com 2016-08-13 12:24 Harvey Day www.dailymail.co.uk
12 Making a Murderer: Brendan Dassey could be freed as conviction overturned (1.02/3) A judge overturned the murder conviction of Brendan Dassey, the subject of the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer , on Friday. Federal magistrate William Duffin handed down the ruling in the murder of Teresa Halbach of Wisconsin. Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery were found guilty in Halbach’s 2005 death in separate trials. Duffin called the conduct of Dassey’s attorney “indefensible” in his ruling. He faulted Len Kachinsky, the public defender who initially represented Dassey, for spending more time talking to the press about the high-profile case than actually communicating with his client. In his first three weeks as Dassey’s attorney, Kachinsky spent 10 hours speaking to reporters and one hour with Dassey, according to Duffin. Kachinsky was the subject of an outpouring of criticism after the series was released and viewers questioned his conduct. Kachinsky, who was removed from Dassey’s case and later decertified from the public defender’s office, reported having received hate mail from Dassey’s supporters after the documentary aired. Duffin also cited the actions of investigators who elicited an “involuntary” confession from the then 16-year-old. Investigators who interviewed Dassey during his confession told the teenager that they already “knew everything that happened” and that they would “stand behind you no matter what you did”. “These repeated false promises, when considered in conjunction with all relevant factors, most especially Dassey’s age, intellectual deficits, and the absence of a supportive adult, rendered Dassey’s confession involuntary under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments,” Duffin wrote in his 91-page ruling. The trials were chronicled by the hugely popular series that was released in 2015. The show brought national attention to the case from a small town in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Film-makers followed the case for 10 years before the series aired. Dassey, who was 16 at the time of the killing, confessed to having helped his uncle Steven Avery carry out the rape and murder of Halbach, but attorneys argued that the confession was coerced. If prosecutors don’t refile charges within 90 days, Dassey will walk free.
Judge Overturns Conviction Of 'Making A Murderer' Subject Brendan Dassey : The Two-Way : NPR npr.org 2016-08-13 10:19 Ciara McCarthy www.theguardian.com
13 13 South Sudan softens rejection of regional protection force (1.02/3) South Sudan is softening its rejection of a regional protection force a day after the U. N. Security Council voted to deploy the 4,000 additional peacekeepers to help restore calm. But a government spokesman said Saturday it will accept the force only if it can negotiate the size, mandate, weapons and contributing countries. Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said "the door is open" but would not say whether South Sudan has dropped its objection to the force answering to the existing U. N. peacekeeping mission. The spokesman also said neighboring Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya cannot take part. An outbreak of deadly fighting in the capital, Juba, last month raised fears of a renewed civil war and saw attacks on civilians, aid workers and U. N. staffers. South Sudan government officials have been vague about how they will respond if the new protection force enters uninvited. The government has expressed concern that giving the U. N. more control in the capital is the first step to losing the country's sovereignty, and it has compared the deployment of a force without its approval to a return to colonialism. In response, the U. S. deputy ambassador to the U. N. on Friday accused South Sudan's government of blocking the work of the U. N. mission. The Security Council on Friday also granted the more than 12,000 U. N. peacekeepers already in South Sudan expanded powers to use "all necessary means" to protect U. N. assets and to take "proactive" measures to protect civilians from threats. The U. N. mission has been accused multiple times in South Sudan of failing to protect civilians, including in cases where government forces allegedly committed rapes outside U. N. camps. South Sudan's civil war began in December 2013, and a peace deal reached in August 2015 has been threatened by continued outbursts of fighting. South Sudan Softens Rejection of Regional Protection Force abcnews.go.com 2016-08-13 10:01 By JUSTIN www.charlotteobserver.com
14 At least two dead, one missing in Louisiana flooding, more rain expected (1.02/3) BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- At least two people are dead and one person remains missing as heavy rains in Louisiana and Mississippi continue to cause flash flooding. According to CNN , the body of an elderly man was recovered in Baton Rouge after he slipped into a ditch while being helped through floodwaters. A 68-year-old man in the town of Zachary also drowned while attempting to escape floodwaters in his home on Friday. A father and son in Tangipahoa were also swept away by rushing water Police Chief Darrell Martin. The son was found, but his father remains missing. Michael Martin , St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office director of operations, said all seven roads into the small town of Greensburg were underwater, leaving it largely cut off from all transportation except large National Guard vehicles. The National Weather Service told the New Orleans Times-Picayune another four to eight inches were expected. The flash flood watch for southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi was extended until 7 a.m. Sunday. "Our message remains there is still a long way to go," meteorologist Alek Krautmann said. "We're concerned about the rain continuing in the greater Baton Rouge area this evening [Friday], another round of overnight heavy rain possible later tonight, especially in south central Louisiana, and of course, the rapidly rising rivers. " Livingston Parish President Layton Rick urged residents of the Amite River corridor to evacuate immediately as the river continued to rise at a rapid rate. According to the National Weather Service, the Tickfaw and Tangipahoa each continued to rise to record levels -- more than 20 inches. Heavy rains are expected to continue through the weekend before approaching normal summer conditions by Monday.
The Latest: More rain expected for Louisiana, Mississippi heraldonline.com 2016-08-13 09:42 www.upi.com
15 Ceremonies mark 55th anniversary of Berlin Wall construction (1.02/3) The mayor of Germany's capital has placed a wreath at the main Berlin Wall memorial, marking the 55th anniversary of the start of construction of the Cold War structure that divided the city for nearly three decades. Ahead of the ceremony at the Bernauer Strasse memorial, Mayor Michael Mueller also took part Saturday in a service at a chapel on the former "death strip" that divided the city. The country was divided into capitalist West Germany and communist East Germany after World War II. At the height of Cold War tensions, the East German regime started building the wall through Berlin on Aug. 13, 1961 and soon fortified its entire border. The wall stood until Nov. 9, 1989, and at least 138 people were killed along it during its 28 years.
Ceremonies Mark 55th Anniversary of Berlin Wall Construction abcnews.go.com 2016-08-13 09:40 The Associated www.heraldonline.com
16 Opposition activist jailed in Azerbaijan for alleged deals (1.02/3) A court in the Caspian Sea nation of Azerbaijan has arrested an opposition activist on charges of conducting illegal deals. Natiq Cafarli's lawyer, Cavad Cavadov, said Saturday his client was arrested after he was taken in for interrogation by the country's top investigative body late Friday. Cavadov said his client has been charged with conducting "illegal business activities" and "abuse of power" but he could not immediately explain what these charges relate to. Azerbaijani prosecutors were not available for comment on Saturday. Cafarli is the executive secretary of the Republican Alternative opposition movement, whose leader, Ilgar Mammadov, is serving a seven-year prison term for plotting riots in 2013. International right groups, however, describe Mammadov as a prisoner of conscience.
Opposition Activist Jailed in Azerbaijan for Alleged Deals abcnews.go.com 2016-08-13 09:10 The Associated www.heraldonline.com
17 Olympics-Athletics-Women's triple jump qualification results (1.00/3) Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Olympic athletics women's triple jump qualification results in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. Group B 1. Caterine Ibargueen (Colombia) 14.52 Q metres 2. Olga Rypakova (Kazakhstan) 14.39 Q 3. Kristin Gierisch (Germany) 14.26 4. Kimberly Williams (Jamaica) 14.22 5. Patricia Mamona (Portugal) 14.18 6. Anna Jagaciak (Poland) 14.13 7. Keturah Orji (U. S.) 14.08 8. Christina Epps (U. S.) 14.01 9. Dana Veldakova (Slovakia) 13.98 10. Olha Saladuha (Ukraine) 13.97 11. Gabriela Petrova (Bulgaria) 13.92 12. Nubia Soares (Brazil) 13.85 13. Ana Jose Tima (Dominican Republic) 13.61 14. Dariya Derkach (Italy) 13.56 15. Yekaterina Ektova (Kazakhstan) 13.51 16. Cristina Bujin (Romania) 13.38 17. Iryna Vaskouskaya (Belarus) 13.35 18. Li Xiaohong (China) 13.30 19. Joelle Mbumi Nkouindjin (Cameroon) 13.11 Group A 1. Paraskevi Papahristou (Greece) 14.43 Q 2. Kristiina Maekelae (Finland) 14.24 3. Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) 14.21 4. Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko (Israel) 14.20 5. Susana Costa (Portugal) 14.12 6. Jenny Elbe (Germany) 14.02 7. Shanieka Thomas (Jamaica) 14.02 8. Elena Panturoiu (Romania) 14.00 9. Jeanine Assani Issouf (France) 13.97 10. Yorsiris Urrutia (Colombia) 13.95 11. Andrea Geubelle (U. S.) 13.93 12. Keila Costa (Brazil) 13.78 13. Liadagmis Povea (Cuba) 13.63 14. Ruslana Tsykhotska (Ukraine) 13.63 15. Patricia Sarrapio (Spain) 13.35 16. Irina Ektova (Kazakhstan) 13.33 17. Natallia Viatkina (Belarus) 13.25 18. Thea Lafond (Dominica) 12.82 Qualified for Next Round 1. Caterine Ibargueen (Colombia) 14.52 metres 2. Paraskevi Papahristou (Greece) 14.43 3. Olga Rypakova (Kazakhstan) 14.39 4. Kristin Gierisch (Germany) 14.26 5. Kristiina Maekelae (Finland) 14.24 6. Kimberly Williams (Jamaica) 14.22 7. Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) 14.21 8. Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko (Israel) 14.20 9. Patricia Mamona (Portugal) 14.18 10. Anna Jagaciak (Poland) 14.13 11. Susana Costa (Portugal) 14.12 12. Keturah Orji (U. S.) 14.08 Olympics-Cycling-Track-Women's keirin 1st round results dailymail.co.uk 2016-08-13 13:54 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
18 Test Series England v Pakistan scoreboard (0.01/3) Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Scoreboard at lunch on the third day in the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan on Saturday in London, England England 1st innings 328 (M. Ali 108, J. Bairstow 55; S. Khan 5-68) Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 340-6) S. Aslam lbw b Broad 3 Az. Ali c Bairstow b Ali 49 Y. Shah c Root b Finn 26 A. Shafiq c Broad b Finn 109 Y. Khan not out 147 Misbah-ul-Haq c Hales b Woakes 15 I. Ahmed c Ali b Woakes 4 S. Ahmed c Bairstow b Woakes 44 W. Riaz not out 1 Extras (b- 10 lb-5 nb-2 w-2) 19 Total (for 7 wickets, 117 overs) 417 Fall of wickets: 1-3 S. Aslam,2-52 Y. Shah,3-127 Az. Ali,4-277 A. Shafiq,5-316 Misbah-ul- Haq,6-320 I. Ahmed,7-397 S. Ahmed To bat: M. Amir, S. Khan Bowling J. Anderson 25 - 9 - 68 - 0 S. Broad 24 - 5 - 78 - 1(nb-1 w-1) S. Finn 25 - 1 - 95 - 2(w-1) C. Woakes 25 - 8 - 64 - 3 M. Ali 17 - 0 - 92 - 1(nb-1) J. Root 1 - 0 - 5 - 0 Referees Umpire: Marais Erasmus Umpire: Bruce Oxenford TV umpire: Joel Wilson Match referee: Richie Richardson Sri Lanka-Australia 3rd Test Scoreboard dailymail.co.uk 2016-08-13 12:13 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
19 'My life's biggest mistake' - Swedish minister resigns after being caught drink-driving (0.01/3) Sweden's minister for higher education has resigned after being caught drink-driving. Aida Hadzialic told a news conference on Saturday that she was stopped on Thursday evening by police in the southern Swedish city of Malmo with a blood-alcohol level of .02 after having two glasses of wine. She faces a sentence of up to six months in prison. The 29-year-old told Prime Minister Stefan Lofven about "my life's biggest mistake" and decided to step down. Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ms Hadzialic became Sweden's first Muslim minister when she joined Lofven's government in 2014. She came to Sweden at the age of five. Sweden's education minister quits over drink-driving charge independent.ie 2016-08-13 11:31 www.independent.ie
20 Maraño stills believes unsuccessful challenge touched the defense F2 Logistics had the chance to claim the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference title on Saturday, but an unsuccessful challenge swept the rug from under the Cargo Movers’ feet and extended the life of Foton to a third game. Aby Maraño’s supposed down-the-line attack went long with the Cargo Movers trailing the Tornadoes 24-18 in the fourth set when the challenge was raised. F2 Logistics’ plea, however, went for naught as officials declared her attempt out and Foton took Game 2 18-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-18. Maraño, though, felt the ball touched the defenders’ fingers. “Oo tumama yun, nakita ko din basta nakita ko na umamin siya sa teammates niya,” said Maraño of her defender. “Sa tingin ko ah, kasi narinig ko rin eh. Feel ko talaga touch yun.” F2 Logistics went into Saturday’s game at San Juan Arena with a 1-0 match lead and a win would have given them the championship but the Tornadoes managed to get the equalizer. Game 3 is on Wednesday. Maraño added, that had their challenge been successful it might have changed the momentum of the game. “Malay mo makayanan namin na five consecutive [points],” said Maraño. “Baka yun din ang fire namin para ma change ang momentum.” “Walang imposible hangga’t di natatapos sa 25.”
2016-08-13 18:00 Bong Lozada sports.inquirer.net
21 Austria expects war as San Miguel faces Ginebra They maybe “sisters” but come game time, San Miguel and Ginebra will leave no stone unturned. Come Sunday, the two will set to face off for the umpteenth time and Beermen head coach Leo Austria knows that there is too much pride on the line it’s enough to give an ordinary exhibition game the aura of a championship clincher. “Alam mo naman pagka nakalaro tong mga players walang bigayan, talagang parang giyera ito sa both teams, and then nandiyan pa yung pride,” said Austria in the broadcast of Sports IQ on Thursday. “Anytime namang maglalaro ang Ginebra, kahit hindi kami ang kalaban, kahit sinong team, talagang pinaghahandaan sila dahil alam nilang nanonood ang buong bansa.” “For a player, talagang kahit nung time na naglalaro pa ako basta ang kalaban mo Ginebra pumped up ka dahil alam mong maraming manonood.” Both Ginebra and San Miguel boast of storied franchises that have 30 championships between each other, though the Beermen have the record 22 while Ginebra has eight. Ginebra has been the perennial darling of the crowd when the legendary Robert Jaworski introduced the PBA to his indomitable spirit and never- say-die attitude. That spirit, however, remained a specter as Ginebra has failed to win a championship since 2008 while San Miguel has won three of the last five PBA titles and became, arguably, the most dominant team right now in the league.
2016-08-13 18:00 Bong Lozada sports.inquirer.net
22 PBA: Rain or Shine bucks Guiao ejection to trip Alaska Paul Lee and JR Quiñahan took charge down the stretch as Rain or Shine rallied to beat Alaska, 117-114, in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum. The two veterans combined for 17 points in the final six minutes to anchor the Elasto Painters’ comeback from 11 points down, 98-87, with under seven minutes to go. A 3-pointer by Quiñahan tied the game at 104 while another triple by Lee at the 1:20 mark put the Painters on top, 108-106. Jeff Chan also had his moments in the endgame. He scored on a jumper to give ROS a 110-106 cushion before hitting two free throws for a 113-108 edge with 27.4 ticks remaining. Lee unleashed 10 of his 18 points in the last five minutes and 58 seconds of the game. Import Dior Lowhorn had team-highs 24 points and 10 rebounds while Quiñahan added 16 points and five rebounds for Rain or Shine, which improved to 3-2 after losing to Meralco last Wednesday. The Painters withstood LaDontae Henton’s 41 points and the ejection of their head coach Yeng Guiao late in the third quarter. Guiao spent most of the second half in the locker room after picking up two technical fouls. Henton was outstanding for the Aces until the last minute where he committed a costly turnover after dribbling the ball off his leg and misfiring on a contested jumper from the top of the key. Alaska reeled to its third straight loss and joined Star and Blackwater near the bottom of the standings at 1-4.
2016-08-13 18:00 Mark Giongco sports.inquirer.net
23 Domestic flight cancelled due to mishap at Naia A domestic flight was cancelled on Saturday after a metal sheet from the roof of a terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which was undergoing repair, flew and hit the windshield of the parked aircraft. According to the Manila International Airport (Miaa), Cebu Pacific-Tiger Airways (Cebgo) Manila to Caticlan flight DG 6235 was parked at the Naia Terminal 4 when a metal sheet from the terminal, undergoing roof repairs, flew into the aircraft’s windshield. The flight of the Cebgo aircraft, scheduled at 9 a.m., was cancelled and some 150 of its passengers were rebooked to other flights. Its return flight, DG 6326 Caticlan to Manila, was likewise cancelled. MIAA said in a statement that at the time of the incident, the contractors for the roof replacement project at the Naia 4 were bringing down the metal sheets. “Aside from a small scratch, no serious visible damage was done to the plane,” the Miaa pointed out. The airport authority further said, “Cebgo may file a claim with Miaa. Miaa will endorse it to GSIS (Government Service Insurance System), our insurer, for evaluation and assessment.” It added, “If Miaa will be found liable, Miaa will pay through GSIS. Then Miaa may run after the contractor to determine their culpability.”
2016-08-13 18:00 Jeannette I newsinfo.inquirer.net
24 DFA to US: PH committed to rule of law, doesn’t condone killings The Philippine government on Saturday assured the United States of its adherence to the rule of law and protection of rights amid the administration’s relentless war against drugs and criminality. Reacting to a statement by the US Embassy in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines does not condone the spate of vigilante killings of drug suspects in the country. “The Philippine government is focused on its peace and order efforts, including the eradication of illicit drugs and its manufacture, distribution and use from our society. Nevertheless, while pursuing this objective, the Philippine government is committed to the rule of law, and the protection of human rights of all,” the DFA said in a statement. “Law enforcement officials are expected to abide by legal procedures and strict operational protocols. Alleged violations of these protocols will be investigated by the authorities and those who have broken the law will be prosecuted,” it added. The US Embassy in Manila on Friday expressed alarm over the rising death toll in the administration’s antidrug campaign. “We are concerned by reports regarding extrajudicial killings of individuals suspected to have been involved in drug activity in the Philippines,” it said. “We strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts are consistent with its human rights obligations.” The DFA said Philippine authorities have already been instructed to look into the unlawful killings and bring perpetrators to justice. As of Aug. 12, the Inquirer’s “Kill List” notes 601 drug-related deaths since June 30 or after President Rodrigo Duterte took office. The DFA also welcomed the US Embassy’s reaffirmation of the broad- ranging relationship between the Philippines and the United States, “and the importance of the strategic alliance vis-à-vis our shared values and shared goals.” “We look to the substantial and meaningful assistance of the United States in pursuit of our own national objectives, especially in addressing the issues of counterterrorism, maritime security and economic cooperation,” the department added.
2016-08-13 18:00 Yuji Vincent globalnation.inquirer.net
25 Hampshire College Has Racially Segregated Dorm Ghettos Fancypants Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts is fighting racism by allowing students to segregate themselves by race — and sexuality — in neo-Jim Crow dorms. Hampshire refers to the literally segregated dorms as “identity-based housing communities,” reports Campus Reform . The racial ghettos at the expensive private school — where a single year of tuition, fees and room and board costs $63,512 — “strive to counter systemic oppression” by fencing off minorities in special housing units, according to school administrators. “These residential spaces give support to members of our community with social identities that have been historically marginalized in this country,” the Hampshire website says. The website notes that the idea behind the system of rank segregation is to be “socially just” and “inclusive.” “Identity-based housing is an institutional structure designed to assist members of historically oppressed groups in supporting each other,” an informational booklet about the segregated housing explains . “Creating these safe spaces, in collaboration with centers on campus, will benefit the entire community,” the booklet explains. Hampshire has chosen to herd self-selecting members of minority groups into segregated dorms because “institutional structures” — residence hall arrangements apparently notwithstanding — have “privileged some social groups while systematically disadvantaging and disenfranchising others.” “Even as we struggle to end these practices, we recognize that day-to-day life for members of these disadvantaged groups can be hurtful and exhausting.” Hampshire’s segregated dorms — called “mods” — include segregated sections for “students of color,” “women of color,” Asian students and students who believe they are involved in something called the “Pan-Afrikan Diaspora.” There’s also special segregated housing called “LGBTQQIAAP.” That’s one big segregated dorm for lesbians, gay people, bisexual people, transgender people, pansexual people, etc. — and, of course, their self-declared allies. Hampshire’s “identity-based housing communities” are part of a broader movement at the school to separate people. It’s called “intentional housing communities.” There’s “Greenhouse Mod,” for example, which is for learning about environmental sustainability. There’s also “Spiritual Womyn’s Mod,” “Women’s Empowerment Mod,” “Kosher Mod” and “Middle Eastern Immersion Mod.” Hampshire College is an atrociously ugly, radical left-wing dump. Academically, there are no majors and no grades. The campus is basically an ode to prison-esque architectural style — filled with loathsome, inhuman edifices. The expensive private bastion is most famous, of course, as the academic home of Trigglypuff, the legendary and girthy student who was captured on mobile phone video stridently protesting at a University of Massachusetts Amherst event about — ironically enough — the lunacy of political correctness and social justice warriors. The event, called “The Triggering,” featured feminist Christina Hoff Sommers and Milo Yiannopoulos. (RELATED: The 13 Most Rabidly Leftist, Politically Correct Colleges For Dirty, Tree-Hugging Hippies) Follow Eric on Twitter. Like Eric on Facebook. Send education-related story tips to [email protected].
2016-08-13 17:06 Education Editor dailycaller.com
26 Asteroid Mining CEO Says Cities In Space Are 30 Years Away Private companies could begin mining asteroids next year and building cities in space in the next 30 years, according to the CEO of a space mining company. “Its our goal in 30 years to provide all the material and equipment needed to build cities in space,” Daniel Faber, the CEO of the asteroid mining company Deep Space Industries (DSI), told The Daily Caller News Foundation. DSI announced plans Tuesday to launch a surveying probe that will arrive at an asteroid by 2020 “Our material could be used to build very large solar concentrators and arrays, large radio dishes, fuel tanks, structural members and maybe one day a habitat,” Faber said. “Asteroids are made of basically the same stuff that planets are made of, everything we need is in there. We can even make oxygen out of mined water.” Faber believes his company can sell air, building material, water and propellant to other companies in space cheaper than launching them from Earth. DSI plans to launch a probe called Prospector-1 to an asteroid next year to rendezvous with a near-Earth asteroid by 2020 to assess its value for mineral mining. DSI could end up following its survey with the first commercial space mining mission. “We need to verify the mineralogy or the rock mechanics, Prospector-1 is part of that,” Faber said. “The second step is to check all our technology. After that, we can scale up to a fully operational mining mission by the mid- 2020s.” The Prospector probe will weigh only 110 pounds when fueled, and will use a new water propulsion system that will eject super-heated water vapor to generate thrust. DSI intends to mine water from asteroids to provide future spacecraft with the ability to refuel in space. “The first thing we’re looking for is asteroids with a lot of volatiles, mostly water that we can use as propellant. That’ll let us make our own fuel in space and bring it back,” Faber continued. “We just built our first water based thrust which can be launched as a secondary payload on other rockets. Our thruster has a specific impulse comparable to most solid rocket motors. Ultimately, we’re looking to build a water based thruster big enough to move asteroids of a hundreds meters in diameter and up.” The company plans to use its water-based thrusters to rendezvous with asteroids, refuel, then return to Earth’s orbit with additional water and other materials for sale. “We’ve gotten letters of interest from several organizations already about being supplied with fuel and materials in orbit,” Faber said. “The cost of lifting raw material into Earth orbit is extremely high. If we can deliver that material into orbit there’s a huge market for that. Just to get out of Earth’s gravity well you end up using an enormous amount of rocket fuel. It uses orders of magnitude less fuel to move material from an asteroid to Earth orbit than it does to lift stuff from Earth into orbit.” The U. S. Senate unanimously passed a bill in November , later signed by President Barack Obama , legalizing asteroid mining. Under the new law, companies have property rights to the resources they extract from asteroids , such as platinum and water. Experts at think tanks routinely noted the lack of legal recognition of property rights in space as one of the major road blocks to the development of space-based industries. “Congress passed legislation that allowed asteroid miners to specifically own the material they extract was a huge risk reduction for us,” Faber concluded. “Other nations like Luxembourg are already following along.” Previously, the Outer Space Treaty declared that no nation could own property in space. The wording of the treaty is vague enough that companies want to ensure they’ll own the resources they mine from asteroids before investing. The bill Congress passed would make those property rights official, at least under U. S. law. The recent successes of private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Bigelow Aerospace have encouraged a wave of investment in space. Another private space company called Planetary Resources intends to mine asteroids. Planetary resources has already launched a simple test vehicle into low Earth orbit. Follow Andrew on Twitter Send tips to andrew@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
2016-08-13 17:06 Energy Environmental dailycaller.com
27 PAIN: High Couple In Pink Chevy Geo Tracker Hits Beehive If The Daily Caller has said it once, we’ve said it 1,000 times: Don’t get all high on a trio of drugs and then ride around country roads — in a bikini — and then run your pink Chevrolet Geo Tracker headlong into a hive of yellow jackets. A couple in rural Kentucky failed to heed this sage advice. Consequently, the pair got stung — a lot — and now face a raft of charges. The couple, Noah Elkins and Priscilla Simpson, had the nasty, painful accident on an otherwise uneventful evening in late July, reports Lexington CBS affiliate WKYT-TV . Elkins, 36, and Simpson, 35, told police they were looking for a good swimming spot on Patton Spur Road — the very backest of back roads — in Laurel County, Kentucky. Elkins, who was driving, smashed the pink Geo Tracker into a pole. The next thing that happened was that the vehicle ended up in the midst of a busy beehive. An on-the-scene witness, Gary Lee Anderson, described the scene. “I just had got done feeding my chickens — watering them and stuff — and I walked back to my house there to get my phone so I could play a video game on it,” Anderson — a man with a very impressive Southern accent — told WKYT-TV . “And all of a sudden I heard a big boom, and I looked back out my door and the electric pole fell and the lines were falling. And the Geo Tracker was sideways into the fence.” Neighbors along Patton Spur Road in Laurel County are still, well, buzzing about a crash that led to a bee attack. pic.twitter.com/aXuEI3xR9F — Garrett Wymer (@GarrettWKYT) July 28, 2016 @GarrettWKYT. Lol. This is hilarious. Everyone thinks it’s a spoof!!! — Dana Chasteen (@Danachas59) July 30, 2016 Elkins and Simpson exited their pink Geo Tracker with great haste. They ran toward the nearest water hose — which belonged to Anderson. An angry swarm of bees followed. “And the guy came out, screaming and squalling, and running around about like a chicken with its head cut off,” Anderson told the station . Anderson initially told the couple he didn’t want them using his hose. “I didn’t know he was getting ate up by bees,” he told WKYT . “I thought he was just high.” Eventually, Anderson realized it was a hose emergency. “That girl in that little bikini, she had little red dots all over her,” Anderson added. “There was a hive of bees that was located there,” Laurel County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gilbert Acciardo told the CBS affiliate , and the couple “had disturbed them.” Simpson — the woman in the bikini — admitted to sheriff’s deputies that she and Elkins had consumed a bevy of drugs including Suboxone, Neurontin, and Klonopin, according to local ABC affiliate WTVQ . Suboxone is a prescription drug used to treat people who are addicted to opiates. It is an opiate itself. People use it to achieve euphoric effects. Neurontin and Klonopin are prescription medications used to prevent seizures. Recreational users take Neurontin to achieve euphoric effects and take Klonopin to obtain a relaxed feeling. Sheriff’s deputies took Elkins and Simpson to a local hospital to treat “numerous” bee stings and injuries related to the car accident. The deputies charged Elkins, the driver, with driving under the influence as well as various traffic violations. Simpson was charged with public intoxication. Anderson said he got stung during the incident, and he imagines Elkins and Simpson suffered substantial itching after the incident. “Because my ankle’s itching,” he told WKYT . “I think it’s that poison from them bees.” Follow Eric on Twitter. Like Eric on Facebook. Send story tips to [email protected].
2016-08-13 17:06 Education Editor dailycaller.com
28 The Media Are Lying To Hide Clinton’s Animosity To The Second Amendment This is the state of “journalism” today. Members of the media who desperately want Hillary Clinton to be elected president are stooping to unprecedented lows, abandoning all pretenses of impartiality, forfeiting whatever remnant of credibility they might otherwise have, trying to prevent voters from realizing that Hillary Clinton fundamentally opposes the individual right to keep and bear arms. The Washington Post, to single out one of the worst in this regard, is worried that voters agree with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that if Clinton were elected, she would “essentially abolish the Second Amendment.” In the Post’s latest editorial attacking Trump, the newspaper says that Clinton doesn’t want to “essentially abolish the Second Amendment,” but merely supports “rudimentary safety measures,” such as banning “assault weapons and large-capacity magazines” and requiring a background check on every transfer of a firearm between two people who are not firearm dealers. Knowing that Clinton has also supported licensing gun owners, registering guns, and prohibiting the sale of firearms other than so-called “smart” guns, the newspaper says that Clinton’s presidential anti-gun agenda should also include “requiring all gun owners to be licensed” and requiring “fingerprint readers and other safety devices on guns sold in the United States.” The reason the Post offers for claiming that Clinton doesn’t want to “essentially abolish the Second Amendment” is that Clinton, while expressing support for a variety of gun control restrictions, including gun bans, hasn’t called for the amendment to be repealed. However, as Charles C. W. Cooke writes , “As anybody with an elementary understanding of American law comprehends, one does not need to call [a constitutional] convention in order to effectively remove a provision from the Constitution.” Cooke explains what it would mean, if Clinton were elected and appointed even one anti-gun judge to the Supreme Court, and thereafter the Court overturned the Heller decision and declared that the amendment doesn’t protect an individual right to keep and bear arms. “Should Hillary get her way, that right would disappear (at least legally), and the government would be freed up to make any policy choice it wished — up to and including a total ban. Who can say with a straight face that this wouldn’t be ‘essentially abolish the Second Amendment’? Who can claim without laughing that a reversal of Heller wouldn’t render the right a dead letter? On this one, Trump is absolutely correct.” As we noted in October, Clinton has said that the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) was “wrong,” and as we noted in June, Clinton has also said that it was “a terrible ruling.” When asked on national television “do you believe that . . . an individual’s right to bear arms is a constitutional right,” Clinton refused to answer. She said only that the right “is subject to reasonable regulations,” and implied that “reasonable” would allow for every onerous gun law that came down the pike before Heller , including the handgun bans of the District of Columbia and Chicago, “assault weapon” and magazine bans in several states, and prohibitions on the carrying of firearms for protection, just to name a few. Politfact North Carolina goes one step further than the Post to protect Clinton. In response to an NRA ad , which says that Clinton “doesn’t believe in your right to keep a gun at home for self-defense,” Politifact says that while “Clinton criticized the [Supreme Court’s] Heller decision,” she “never mentions anything about self-defense or individual rights. Instead, she is criticizing another aspect of the ruling, regarding the government’s ability to regulate guns.” To justify this false and peculiar contention, Politifact—we are not kidding—points out that Clinton opposes the open carrying of rifles in public without a permit. Maybe Politifact never read the Heller decision. The only other possibility is that it is deliberately lying to its readers. That is because Heller wasn’t concerned with the open carrying of a rifle with a permit or, for that matter, the open or concealed carrying of any firearm with or without a permit in public. Heller was concerned with one thing and one thing alone, stated in the very first sentence of the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion in the case: “We consider whether a District of Columbia prohibition on the possession of usable handguns in the home violates the Second Amendment to the Constitution.” In other words, an outright gun ban. The Court found that, indeed, the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear loaded handguns in the home for self-defense and struck down D. C.’s handgun ban on that basis. That and nothing less, nothing more, is what the Heller decision is about, and what Hillary Clinton characterizes “wrong” and “terrible.” And just as Donald Trump says, if Clinton were elected president, she would try to shift the balance of the Supreme Court so that it would overturn Heller , declare that the Second Amendment doesn’t protect an individual right, and thus prevent anyone from challenging a gun ban or any other gun control law on Second Amendment grounds. Voters already know that Hillary Clinton lies. Morally corrupt members of the so-called Fourth Estate who shill for Clinton are doing everything they can to make sure that the voters know Clinton is not alone in that regard. America can and should do better. Know your gun laws. Click here to see them. 2016-08-13 17:06 dailycaller.com
29 CCW Weekend: The American Response To Terrorism By Beth Baumann, Alien Gear Holsters The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) recently conducted a study that examines the behavior of those applying for concealed carry permits and the rapid increase of CCW applications. According to the study’s findings, between 2009 and 2015 the number of concealed carry permits has increased to over 14.5 million, a 215% increase since 2007. When looking at Google Trends, people’s interests in concealed carry spikes whenever a mass shooting takes place. It occurred after the Umpqua Community College attack in Oregon, the Paris terrorist attack and even more significantly after the San Bernardino terrorist attack. What does this say about people who are wanting to concealed carry? Americans are afraid and they are wanting to protect themselves. They do not want to be like victims of mass shootings who have to hide and hope they survive. They want to have the option of fighting back, of giving them, their coworkers and their families a fighting chance. I know what it is like to be around a mass shooting. Last December, I was in Redlands, a couple freeway exits up from the San Bernardino terrorist attack. I remember listening to the police scanner with my coworkers, wondering if it was safe to go outside. When we looked out of our office window, we could see police cars racing down the street as they exited the freeway. It was clear that they were in pursuit of the suspects. We spent the majority of that day reading news reports and watching aerial shots on TV. I remember looking at Facebook and seeing “San Bernardino, California” as a trending topic. It gave me the chills knowing that something so tragic and horrific was taking place in my own backyard. In the weeks after the attack, San Bernardino saw a nine-fold in the number of concealed carry applications. During the weekend following the attack, the Sheriff’s department received 75 applications, an increase from the average 10. By the end of December, around 750 applications were received. On average, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department receives 80. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office was backlogged with applications. Residents were having to wait eight months to be scheduled for an application appointment. Residents in neighboring Riverside County were also applying for CCW permits. Application appointments for Riverside County were being scheduled 10 months in advance. “‘Eight months out is a long way for us,’” Sheriff McMahon told ABC 10. “‘I just can’t put enough staff down there. I don’t even have enough staff, or workspace, to be honest with you.’” It seemed like every law-abiding resident in the county felt the instant desire to be armed. People were flocking to gun stores and ranges to learn how to properly shoot and defend themselves. Suddenly, an anti-gun area was looking more and more pro-gun. We are continually seeing tragedies like this happen in designated “gun- free” zones, even though they are designed – in theory – to keep criminals away. The reality? We cannot predict what every single person in our community is going to do. All we can do is prepare ourselves for the worst. Instead of taking a lax approach to terrorist attacks and mass shootings, the average American can – and should – learn how to defend themselves. After all, a good guy with a gun is the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun. Beth Baumann is outreach specialist for Alien Gear Holsters , a concealed carry holsters company. She is also a contributor to PolitiChicks and TheBlaze. Click here to visit AlienGearHolsters.com .
2016-08-13 17:06 dailycaller.com
30 First Gold Of Summer Olympics Goes To America, Inspires Derision From Miserable Gun-Hating Jerks Signs of the cultural schisms and declining love of country that are the chief legacy of the Obama presidency are all around us. And while not the most serious, one of the most unfortunate and pathetic is that Americans can no longer agree that a fellow patriot’s gold medal at the Olympics is something to be celebrated. At least not when the gold involves pulling a trigger. Nineteen-year-old Virginian Ginny Thrasher became the first gold medalist of the 2016 Summer Olympiad last Saturday, winning the women’s 10- meter air rifle competition in an upset over heavily-favored China, whose competitors in the event have six prior Olympic medals between them. Ginny’s is a classic Cinderella story of a young athlete ascending to the top of her sport in her very first Olympic appearance. And while her stiffest competition have long been dominating international matches, Ginny’s first exposure to the shooting sports occurred only few years ago, on a hunting trip with her grandfather. Taking her first whitetail proved to be a formative experience for Ginny, as the then-figure skater began devoting her full competitive energies to marksmanship. Fortunately, in addition to her grandfather, she had support and training from her father, who is retired from the U. S. Air Force. She also had ready access to firearm safety training and scholastic shooting programs at two public institutions, West Springfield High School and perennial NCAA shooting standout West Virginia University. During her freshman year last season at WVU, Ginny won the individual small-bore and air rifle titles, paving her way to national prominence and a place on the U. S. shooting team. Ginny’s story could only be written in America, where firearms are woven into the fabric of ordinary life and where even a suburban teenage girl can find top notch marksmanship training and support right in her own neighborhood. “I am so proud of being American,” she told ABC News . “I am so proud to stand on that podium, to listen to my nation’s anthem and to just be able to represent, and start off this Rio 2016 games on such a positive note.” Now it’s no surprise that the chattering classes from abroad haven’t been as enthusiastic in embracing Ginny as the vast majority of Americans. Gun- hating Piers Morgan, a sterling example of why the British Empire has declined so precipitously, weighed in early with his mockery. “LEAST SURPRISING BREAKING NEWS EVER,” he tweeted, “America’s 1st Olympic Gold Medal is for Shooting. #Thrasher.” But it’s disappointing that antigun politics prevent even some Americans from celebrating their countrywoman’s outstanding accomplishment. Wil Wheaton (yes, we checked, and apparently he’s a celebrity of sorts ), reacted to Ginny’s win with this tweet: “America’s first gold medal in the 2016 Olympics was won by a teenager for shooting. Because we now live inside @TheOnion.” The Twittersphere featured a number of similar comments , albeit many by people who have no public persona or whose public persona is even more obscure than Wil Wheaton’s. And the Washington Post, in an otherwise relatively straightforward profile of the golden girl, nevertheless could not help commenting on her “menacing name” and “high-powered, German-made weapon.” In that regard, the Post was wrong on everything except the origin of Ginny’s Feinwerkbau 700. While it was made in Germany, it’s basically a more sophisticated version of the pellet guns many American children grow up with and use to learn the fundamentals of safe shooting and gun handling. It is designed specifically for marksmanship competitions, not as a weapon. And propelling a.177 caliber pellet at a maximum velocity of 570 feet per second, it’s not even especially powerful by air gun standards. What distinguishes it most is its pinpoint accuracy at competition range, something that only really matters in the hands of an expert user like Ginny Thrasher. Simply put, any suggestion that Ginny’s participation in elite shooting competition on behalf of her university and country somehow promotes a “culture of violence” or firearm-related crime is like suggesting that the Olympic torch should be faulted for contributing to global warming. Indeed, a variety of shooting sports have a long-established history in the Olympic Games. And for good reason. Many traditional Olympic events are rooted in disciplines that have a martial pedigree, including biathlon, wrestling, boxing, archery, javelin, and equestrian events. Yet according to the International Olympic Committee’s charter : “The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” In other words, the Olympics provide a forum for countries to contend with one another in contests of strength, courage, precision, speed, and skill, but without bloodshed and with the goal of mutual elevation, not conquest or subjugation. That’s a pretty intuitive concept for most people to grasp. As for Ginny, she’s not letting ginned up “controversies” interfere with the achievement of her Olympic dreams. You don’t become Olympic shooting champion, after all, if you are easily distracted. Rather than focus on polemics, Ginny said, “I just tried to focus on the competition.” That’s what makes Ginny an international winner and an American success story. And while most Americans will continue to embrace her as a hero, her detractors on Twitter will no doubt keep making fools of themselves, 140 characters at a time. Know your gun laws. Click here to see them.
2016-08-13 17:06 dailycaller.com
31 Bad weather prompts diversion of flights to Clark airport (Updated) CITY OF SAN FERNANDO —The Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga has been put on alert for local and international flights diverting from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City due to monsoon rains in northern and Central Luzon. On Saturday, three more airplanes were diverted to CRK from Naia. Cebu Pacific Air flights to Hong Kong, Davao and Tagbilaran City in Bohol province were sent to CRK due to poor visibility, according to the state- owned Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) Nineteen airplanes took refuge at CRK on Friday night, although only four remained parked at the airport by Saturday noon, said lawyer Emigdio Tanjuatco III, CIAC president and chief executive officer. The four aircraft are owned by Cebu Pacific Air and Etihad, he said. The planes’ passengers disembarked on Friday, and were provided bus rides to Metro Manila. All planes landed safely at CRK, and were able to refuel, Tanjuatco said. The CIAC air command center said those diverted to Clark were: Cebu Pacific flights from Tagbilaran, Vigan, Cebu, El Nido, Dipolog, Caticlan, Mactan, and Bacolod; a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong; a Zest Air flight from Tagbilaran; an Airphil flight from Iloilo; a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait; an Emirates Airline flight from Dubai; a Philippine Airlines flight from Honolulu; an ITI Air flight from Taiwan; a China Southern flight from Gungzhou; and a Singapore Airline flight from Singapore. Ten airlines serving Asian routes through Clark were not disrupted by the diverted planes, Tanjuatco said. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte had tasked the Department of Transportation to transfer several domestic and international flights to CRK in order to ease air traffic congestion at Naia. RELATED STORIES 15 Manila-bound flights diverted due to bad weather Naia repairs force 8 planes to divert to Clark (This article was originally published on Aug. 13 at 1:21 p.m.)
2016-08-13 17:17 Tonette Orejas newsinfo.inquirer.net
32 Man claiming to be pastor charged with fraud 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
2016-08-13 17:16 Danielle Avitable www.ajc.com
33 Why, despite everything, I won't be trying dating apps Whatever happened to Labour winning back Scotland? A friend recently suggested that I go on Tinder. For those who do not know, this is apparently an “app”, or, as I prefer to call it, an “application”, which one downloads on to one’s mobile telephone. One posts a flattering photograph of oneself and waits for bored and frustrated people to say, in effect, that they’d like to meet you. This is generally understood, sometimes a little too swiftly, to mean: “I would like to have sex with you.” There are several reasons why I have not taken up my friend’s suggestion. For a start, I did not have a mobile phone sophisticated enough to download any kind of app at all. It was a spare, replacement phone for the one I got about five years ago, the shuttle craft to its Enterprise, as it were. But then that was five years ago and the big phone, cutting- edge when I got it (Ah! 2011! Who could forget those heady days? Summer riots! The royal wedding! The Alternative Vote referendum! Having a girlfriend!), became obsolete shortly afterwards, and non-operational last year, and at first I didn’t bother to replace it. However, lately it decided that texts were beyond its capabilities and the battery also seemed to have given up. (Whatever its shortcomings, the baby phone could last for four days without needing to be recharged, so maybe you can see why I hung on to it for so long.) Well, I now have a replacement, bang up-to-date, but this is not a technology column (I also wonder if there’s anything more boring than a phone story), and so we now get to the real reason I am not going to go on Tinder, and that is because it is, I strongly suspect, a young person’s game, and there is no way even I can kid myself that I am young any more. It’s not so bad if the lighting is right and I keep my mouth shut. Because if I keep my mouth shut then no one can see my teeth. My teeth . .. Someone sent me a photo of me he’d taken some time around 1985 and recently rediscovered. In it, I am looking sidelong at the camera and baring my teeth in a mock grimace. I am mesmerised by those teeth. They have not been wrecked by decades of red wine and tobacco. They are white. White! (For what it’s worth, my old hair is dark and thick, as opposed to pale and thin, but at least I still have some.) Also, there is no gap between the front two teeth in the top row and the front two teeth in the bottom row. How did that gap happen? Have I been gnawing on cables, like a rodent? At least when one grinds one’s teeth in the still watches of the night it’s only the molars that suffer. As it is, a long-running dispute between my molars and something going on underneath them has obliged me not to eat anything on the left side of my mouth for a year or two, so I can’t even grind my teeth in rage or despair any longer. But I also look at the general state of my body. Considering what I do to myself, I suppose I’m lucky I still have one at all, and that the one I have is not confined to a wheelchair or the vicinity of a dialysis machine. But as I shave I contemplate the skin just above the armpit. It is beginning to look like old man’s skin. For some reason it’s worse on the right side. It is not the kind of skin, I suspect, that one looks forward to encountering in hook-up culture. Anyway, it’s not about the sex, I realise. Sex is just the validation of a relationship, and from what I have learned about Tinder from clickbaity articles with headlines like “23 Stories About Tinder Dates That Will Make You Throw Your Phone Away”, it would appear that I am far from the mindset of the typical Tinder user. It must be age. This time of year makes me think about the passage of time more than usual: we are running out of summer, and this September I will have racked up nine years in the Hovel, always intended as a temporary solution. If I stay here another nine years I will be 62. Sixty-two. My eldest child will be 30. Thirty. People say that with age comes wisdom but actually it’s simply exhaustion. One no longer has the energy to make a fool of oneself (or so one feels until one makes a fool of oneself again, which I did, rather badly, a couple of months ago). There is, of course, another reason I’m not going on Tinder. There is a chance – admittedly a small one, but a chance nevertheless – that whoever I meet will be a reader of this magazine. And somehow, I feel that Sidney and Beatrice Webb would Not Approve. On 11 August, Jeremy Corbyn’s new shadow Scottish secretary, a man from the North East of England called Dave Anderson, went to visit Aberdeen. And there, he dropped a bombshell. In a speech, he said a deal with the SNP was something the party should “at least think about”. STV reported it under the headline: “Labour: Deal with SNP 'a price worth paying' to stop Tories.” The Scottish Labour activists who read it were incandescent with rage. “I’m absolutely furious about it,” said Duncan Hothersall, who runs Labour discussion blog Labour Hame . “Judging by the messages I've received and seen elsewhere, I'm far from alone.” Indeed, the comment has sparked widespread agreement amongst Labour’s fractious Scottish players. James Kelly, the Labour and Co- operative MSP for the Glasgow Region tweeted: “Scottish Labour will have no truck with general election deals with the SNP. We won't give power to a party that wants to split the country.” The MSP for the Lothians, pro-Corbyn Neil Findlay, declared he agreed with Kelly: “100 per cent”. Despite the anger, it is hard to avoid the fact that Labour in Scotland is fighting for survival. It has been crushed by the Scottish National Party in both the Scottish and Westminster parliaments. Its only representative in Westminster, Ian Murray, quit the shadow cabinet in June (hence the appointment of a Sunderland man as his replacement). But just ten years ago, Scotland was Fortress Labour. How did the party’s fortunes crumble so fast – and can it ever win Scotland back? Labour's fortress When I was growing up around the turn of the millennium, Edinburgh was about as Labour as it was possible to be. There, in the stately north west of the city, was Fettes, alma mater of Tony Blair. There, in the centre, was Edinburgh University, where Gordon Brown first cut his teeth. (There, also, were two of the devils New Labour made its economic pact with – the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland, the local face of HBOS.) At election time, the city’s windows were plastered with red. In 2001, five out of six Edinburgh constituencies were Labour (one was Lib Dem). In 2005, four out of five were. But ten years later, the political landscape changed utterly. Gone was the Lib Dem seat. Gone were all but one of the Labour MPs. The map of Edinburgh was now a bright, Scottish National Party-tinged yellow. The same pattern was repeated elsewhere. In 2005, Labour held 41 of the 59 Scottish constituencies – nearly 70 per cent. The Lib Dems were the second biggest party, with 11. Trailing third was the SNP. There was just one Tory MP, David Mundell. After two pandas arrived at Edinburgh Zoo, he became the butt of a joke: “There are more pandas than Tory MPs in Scotland.” But then came the Scottish referendum. Alistair Darling, the former Chancellor, led the Scottish Labour MPs in a campaign for a No vote, but Labour's rest-of-UK MPs largely ignored the threat until polls veering towards independence sent them tripping over themselves to catch a train north. More damningly, perhaps, they did so to join an alliance of pro- unionist parties that was perceived by many voters to be following the path set by the Tories. Voters chose to stay in the UK, but withdrew their support from Labour all the same. In 2015, the SNP grabbed 56 seats – nearly 95 per cent of Scottish representation. Suddenly, Labour and the Lib Dem MPs too found themselves rarer than the pandas. It is a remarkable victory for the SNP, and a disaster for Labour. The day after the election, the now constituency-less Jim Murphy declared he would stay on as Labour leader. In a short speech , Murphy acknowledged: “We have been overwhelmed by history and by circumstance.” He added: "Labour has been the biggest and most progressive force for change in Scottish history. "We will be again. " It was a typically tenacious speech from Murphy, who had braved insults and even an egg during a hundred-stop tour of Scotland during the referendum. But in the end, it was one of his last. He survived a vote of no confidence, but stood down as leader within a month. And then, slowly, the Labour movement began to forget about Scotland altogether. A predatory alliance Scottish Labour chose a new leader, Kezia Dugdale (pictured centre, between the Tory leader Ruth Davidson and the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon), and started afresh. But any hopes were dashed in May 2016, when Scottish Labour came third in the Scottish parliamentary elections. It was beaten, humiliatingly by a resurgent Tory party. In England, Labour MPs from all wings of the party seem to have moved on, even before Anderson’s remarks. “Labour has lost Scotland”, the former Southampton MP John Denham declared that May. The rising star Keir Starmer told me in July that “it will be increasingly difficult to keep Scotland as part of the UK”. Corbyn allies are similarly complacent about the future of Scotland. Writing in The New Statesman , the Hackney MP Diane Abbott praised Corbyn’s success in by-elections, without any mention of the dismal defeat north of the border. In the wake of Brexit, the Norwich South MP Clive Lewis breezily imagined a “progressive alliance” including Labour, the Greens and the SNP. “I think what people are missing is that the SNP are not left-wing,” said Hothersall from Labour Hame. “They are not potential allies in a ‘progressive alliance’. “The idea that we could ally with them is just ludicrous.” He believes that something more fundamental is changing in English attitudes within the party: “There has been quite an ‘othering’ of Scotland, [an attitude] that there is nothing we can do here.” There are, of course, Labour supporters in Scotland who think differently. Groups such as Labour for Scottish Independence have thousands of followers. Henry McLeish, a former Labour first minister, has described Brexit as a “game changer” in terms of his support for independence. In June, Scottish Labour consulted members on its future, which included the prospect of quitting the UK parliament altogether. But if you’re a progressive unionist in any part of the UK, Scotland matters. In the 2015 election, Labour ended the night with 232 seats. If it could capture the 56 SNP seats, it would need another 42 just to level with the Conservatives. As it stands, it needs 98 more. And thanks to first past the post, Scotland matters disproportionately. The SNP won a third less votes than Ukip, yet it captured 56 times the seats. This is simply because SNP voters are grouped together geographically, so their vote combines to make a majority, whereas Ukip voters are scattered throughout the country. Put this altogether, and it is difficult to imagine the Labour party ever winning again across the UK without reconnecting with its Scottish base. The axis of Scottish politics On my visits to Edinburgh in recent years, I have been struck by change – first, the demise of the banks, then the Yes posters, and finally the unfamiliar names of the city’s new political masters. But when I met Daniel Johnson (pictured above) in his Scottish parliamentary constituency, Edinburgh Southern, I felt that the political landscape of my childhood might not be so far away after all. Johnson won his seat in 2016, from the SNP, and he is the kind of politician of whom New Labour might approve. His background is in business, and he talks of “transforming people’s life chances” and “investing in local schools” rather than scolding the city’s bankers. More pertinently, though, Johnson is clearly opposed to a second referendum on Scottish independence. This went down well in his affluent constituency, where two-thirds of voters opted to remain in the UK. (After Anderson’s comments about an SNP deal, he tweeted: “You cannot form a UK government with a party that wants to break up the UK.”) Johnson is clear-eyed about the reasons for his victory. He described independence as “the axis” of the Scottish political divide. “We have to move it on from there,” he told me. “But by default, that is what it will be.” Understanding this axis helps to explain the resurgence of the Scottish Tories. Outside of Scotland, Tory leader Ruth Davidson is best known for her photo stunts (she was pictured riding astride a tank). But Davidson has skilfully combined a Tory message soft enough to be digested by Scottish voters with a promise to be the party of unionists, and a counterweight to the SNP’s dominance. In her foreword to the 2016 manifesto, she declared she needed “people who don’t usually vote Conservative” to help her create “that strong opposition they know our country needs”. And she continued not with any big vision, but with a promise: If you vote for me and my team, then I will do a specific job for you. - I will hold the SNP to account. - I will fight against any attempts to drag our country back to a second independence referendum. - And I will make the Scottish Government focus on the issues that matter to you. Voters listened. May 2016 saw a spectacular Tory surge, with the party nearly doubling its seats in the Scottish parliament. The difficulty for Labour is that many of its voters are already on the other side of the axis. According to a February 2015 Ashcroft poll, 95 per cent of Tory voters were staunchly unionist. But more than a third of those who voted Labour in 2010 said they would support the SNP. As a result, it might not be surprising that come the 2016 Scottish elections, Labour’s pledge to oppose a second referendum was buried on page 60 of its manifesto. The new leader, Kezia Dugdale instead used her opening address to promise to use devolutionary powers to “stop the cuts”. When it comes to Corbynmania, Scottish Labour, like the rest of the party, remains conflicted. He is popular with the grassroots members - in recent days, Scottish constituency Labour parties have generally plumped for Corbyn (at time of writing, these included one Aberdeen CLP, two in Edinburgh four in Glasgow, and Gordon Brown’s local branch, Kirkcaldy). But the political establishment is sceptical. Dugdale has so far refrained from backing Corbyn. Labour’s one Scottish MP, Ian Murray, who also represents Edinburgh South, resigned from the shadow cabinet in June. It leaves Scottish Labour looking like a party defined by what it is against: not independence, not the Tories, and not really Corbyn either. So what could it be for, instead? Hard yards Labour’s Scotland of the nineties and noughties may be remembered with nostalgia now, but it was far from the progressive ideal. In fact, it was closer to a benign dictatorship. Murray’s predecessor as Edinburgh South MP was Nigel Griffiths, who was dogged by expenses claims. But his case was mild compared to the actions of the devolved Labour first ministers. The aforementioned first minister McLeish was forced to resign in 2001 after it emerged he had been claiming expenses for a constituency office while sub-letting it at the same time. In 2003, his successor as first minister, Jack McConnell, was embroiled in a scandal after it emerged his CLP had paid for a £168 meal for a party worker. As the Scotsman reported : Here was the first damaging snapshot of Scottish Labour’s modus operandi. The bill was paid from a fund started by a trade union - which collects its cash from the working men and women Labour purports to represent. Here, such funds were being creamed off so the party elite - and their acolytes - can upgrade to a five-star hotel rather than endure the hardship of a Travelodge. Hardly the socialist ideal. The SNP cut its teeth in a devolved Scotland as the opposition to this kind of behaviour. When, in 2007, it first won enough seats to form a government in the Scottish Parliament, I remember many non-Nationalists commenting: “Well, Labour has been the party in power for 50 years.” Indeed, independence aside, there seems to have been little change to ideology in Scotland. The SNP has continued to promote centre-left policies, to the point it is often accused of being New Labour in different clothes. The independent Scotland promised in the Scottish Government’s 2013 white paper proposes cutting corporation tax and Air Passenger Duty. Indeed, campaigning on transparency and accountability might bring Labour in Scotland more rewards than a grand vision. The SNP is yet to reach Labour levels of entitlement, but already the grumble is circulating: “Scotland is a one-party state.” In January 2016, Helena Kennedy chaired a discussion on the future of Labour in Scotland. Writing about it for Labour List , she said the group had considered adopting other forms of devolution, which were neither full independence nor the status quo. The group also decided Labour needed to do more to show it was standing up for the national interest. But she concluded: There is also the fact – acknowledged by all – that the SNP has been preparing the ground for this breakthrough for decades. One panellist pointed out that Nicola Sturgeon was using the language of ‘Red Tories’ on the doorsteps against Neil Kinnock! More than anything, she suggested, winning back Scotland simply meant putting in more work: “Hard yards. Sometimes in politics there is no substitute. "
2016-08-13 17:04 Laurie Penny www.newstatesman.com
34 Eye Opener: Deadly flash floods in the Deep South |Deadly floods take out homes and roads down South, with the forecast calling for more trouble. Also, Donald's Trump makes new claims about election fraud in a key swing state. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds. Get the Eye Opener delivered straight to your inbox.
2016-08-13 17:04 Eye Opener www.cbsnews.com
35 Can Donald Trump recover from rough week? |Donald Trump has had a rough week, sinking in polls and facing backlash for his controversial remarks. Hillary Clinton has also had a bumpy road, with continued questions about the Clinton Foundation's conflict of interest and favorable treatment of donors. Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell joins "CBS This Morning" to weigh in on Trump's tensions with the Republican Party and Clinton's tax returns. 2016-08-13 17:04 Can Donald www.cbsnews.com
36 Rio Olympics: Older athletes still at the top The lifespan for many sporting stars can be cruelly short - in few professional fields do people hitting 30 get described as "veteran". But across the Olympics, there is proof that age need not be a barrier to competing at the highest level. Sixteen years on from winning gold in the 50m freestyle at Sydney 2000, Anthony Ervin has reclaimed his title, becoming the Olympics' oldest swimming champion at 35. His "swimmer's burnout" period in between saw him pursue a love of rock music, battle personal demons and even sell his first gold medal to charity. But he started to train again in 2011, making the London Olympics in 2012, and already had a gold medal from the 4x100m freestyle event at Rio by the time he lined up on Friday night. On his latest gold, he said: "I'm keeping it for now. Who knows what the future holds?'' Swimming's comeback king With a silver alongside partner Victoria Thornley, Grainger has become Team GB's most decorated female Olympian. After finally winning gold at the London games, after three attempts, Grainger took two years off to study for a PhD. She endured a difficult build-up to Rio, with reports she and Thornley had fallen out and suggestions it might be a games too far. All this is why she described the silver as her "greatest achievement". There are no plans, though, for a shot at Tokyo 2020, with Grainger telling her parents, "I won't put you through it again. " From 'dark days' to GB's most decorated female Olympian Gymnastics is a sport that traditionally favours youth - Aly Raisman, captain of the all-conquering US team, has the nickname "Grandma" at the grand old age of 22. But one woman bucking that trend is Oksana Chusovitina, who first competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and has been at every Summer Games since. She remains a top-level competitor too, making the vault finals in fifth place against rivals some of who weren't even born when she made her debut. "When I was younger, I was quicker and I ran and never got tired," she told the BBC before the games. "Today, of course, things are different. Now I train with my head. " The gymnast at her seventh Olympics While gymnasts tend to be young, shooting and equestrian have broader age ranges, with competitors having the highest median age of participants. Proving this point, Vinh gained Vietnam's first-ever Olympic gold in the men's 10m air pistol event at the start of the games. He also won silver in the men's 50m pistol event. It delighted his home nation, with Vietnam's sports minister saying he had "gone down in history". At the time trial last Wednesday, Armstrong became the first cyclist to win three consecutive golds in the same event. Her experience proved crucial on a difficult course. She was the oldest competitor in the event, and has been in the sport long enough to retire - twice. Her victory came a day before her 43rd birthday. At home in Boise, Idaho, she works as a community health advocate, finding time to train alongside raising a family. Asked why she still wants to compete, she said: "Because I can. " When Thompson-Willie took her seat as coxswain with Canada's women's eight rowing team, she tied the record for most appearances by a woman at a games, at eight. The role involves tactics, motivation and navigation. Coxswains have to be strong enough to sit still in choppy waters and keep their weights to strict limits. "I think it's redefining to our society that we can keep going, as long as we're active," she told the Globe and Mail . "Hopefully it's a sign of the importance of being fit and being able to keep participating in things. " There are several equestrian competitors in their sixties at Rio, but the oldest, both in the sport and across the whole games, is Julie Brougham. It is her first Olympics and she is only the third rider to represent New Zealand at that level. She missed out on qualification in the dressage, finishing 44th. But with Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu competing at the London games aged 71, she could still have another shot at glory next time.
2016-08-13 17:05 www.bbc.co.uk
37 Marikina River reaches critical level; forced evacuation in effect The Marikina government on Saturday afternoon raised alert level four or critical level over the Marikina River amid heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon. As of 4:17 p.m., the Marikina Public Information Office said the water level at Marikina River went up to 18 meters with all eight floodgates open. Alert level four or the critical level or at least 18 meters above sea level calls for “forced evacuation.” Alert level one means at least 15 meters above sea level; two, there is at least 16 meters above sea level which calls for “preparedness;” three is 17 meters above sea level and calls for “evacuation.” The water level reached alert level 1 at 11:37 a.m., alert level 2 at 1:38 p.m., and alert level three at 2:40 p.m. The La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was also placed in red alert on Saturday noon due to continuous rains, as the local government advised residents to evacuate the Tullahan River area.
2016-08-13 16:53 Yuji Vincent newsinfo.inquirer.net
38 SRK detention: Azam Khan 'sings' Bollywood song to express his 'pain' Rampur (UP): Latching on to the detention of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at a US airport, UP Minister Azam Khan has attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama over the condition of Muslims. "Modiji is not permitting us to lead a peaceful life here and in America, PM's friend Barack Obama would not allow us to live," Khan told reporters here yesterday evening. "We (Muslims) are a disturbed lot and don't know where to go," he added. The SP leader used the lyrics of a popular Hindi movie song 'samjhega kaun yaha, dard bhare dil ki zuban/Jaye toh jaye kahan' to stress his point. Azam Khan On the attack on BJP leader Brijpal Teotia in Ghaziabad, the Samajwadi Party leader said the use of bullet cannot be justified even if it is used for a right cause. He said the law and order in the state was on the right track and the police administration was taking prompt action against criminals. "If crimes are committed, prompt action is taken and criminals are put behind the bars. The law and order condition in the state was on the right track," the Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister said. Asked about the BSP legislators joining BJP, he said, "Many politicians see more opportunities to mint money in the ruling BJP. "
2016-08-13 16:14 By Agencies www.mid-day.com
39 Syrian civilians rejoice as US frees them from IS control US forces have seized full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border after the last remaining Islamic State fighters, who had been using civilians as human shields, were ousted from the city. Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are sweeping the city after the departure of a last remaining group of militants.. They had freed over 2,000 civilian hostages who had been held by the militants. "The city is now fully under our control but we are undertaking sweeping operations," Darwish said, adding militant sleeper cells in the city were still a threat. The SDF, with heavy air support from a US led coalition, said last week they had taken almost complete control of Manbij, where a small number of IS fighters had been holed up. The SDF's offensive, which began at the end of May, aims to remove Islamic State from areas it controls along the Turkish border. The Manbij operation in which U. S. special forces have played a significant role on the ground marks the most ambitious advance by a group allied to Washington in Syria since the United States launched its military campaign against Islamic State two years ago. Manbij's loss to the militants is a big blow as it is of strategic importance, serving as a conduit for transit of foreign jihadists and provisions coming from the Turkish border. Earlier the alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters grouped in the SDF said Friday's operation was "the last operation and the last assault. " Darwish said earlier roughly 100 Islamic State fighters were left in the city centre using civilians as human shields, some of whom were killed trying to flee. Reuters pictures showed residents being released from an Islamic State- held neighbourhood on Friday and being welcomed by SDF forces. Kurdish sources and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors Syria's five-year-old conflict, later said around 500 cars had left Manbij carrying Islamic State members and civilians. They were heading northeast towards Jarablus, a town under Islamic State control on the Turkish border, the Observatory said. The convoy carried the final Islamic State members leaving the city, under an agreement between the fighting parties that would not be announced officially, Kurdish sources and the monitor said, marking the end of the operation. The SDF's campaign quickly captured the countryside surrounding Manbij, but slowed once fighting entered the city. The SDF said it had been avoiding a large-scale assault inside Manbij out of concern for civilians. Dozens of civilians, including children and women from Manbij who had fled the city at the height of the aerial strikes, were killed in suspected U. S. coalition air strikes last month, residents and monitors said. U. S. officials have said once the Manbij operation is completed, it would create the conditions to move on the militant group's de facto capital of Raqqa. U. S. officials anticipate a tough battle.
2016-08-13 14:50 www.independent.ie
40 How Iowa's state fair became a key pilgrimage for presidential politics I t’s opening day at the Iowa State Fair. The summer heat sticks like wet cotton candy. The rain spreads the smell of fried dough and penned livestock throughout the fairgrounds. A throng of popped umbrellas makes its way toward the ticketing booth while volunteers theatrically wave cars into parking spots. A teenager with no hint of midwestern congeniality scans tickets. Somewhere nearby, a troupe of young children sing “Our State Fair”. “Our State Fair is a great State Fair / Don’t miss it, don’t even be late. “It’s dollars to doughnuts that our State Fair / Is the best State Fair in our state!” What started more than 150 years ago as an agricultural expo has spun into one of the great American traditions, the state fair. Along the way a quirk of the political process gave Iowa first draw in the presidential primaries, and brought the fair international recognition. It’s been one year since the most recent crop of presidential aspirants made the pilgrimage to Des Moines. The fields have been whittled. The parties have accepted their nominees, though not without dissent: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Despite a close race in Iowa, neither candidate has indicated they will attend the fair this year. Some Iowans don’t mind. “Oh, I hate it!” said Mitchell Collins, who said he’s worked at the grandstand for “too many years to count”. “The politicians come with their security details and all the press. The concourse is a mess. You just have to wait until they leave.” But presidential prospectives playing Little House on the Prairieis so good for business: the fair attracts more than one million visitors a year, and in 2014 the state fair pulled in more than $20m in revenue over its 11-day run. For most of the world, the fair is a stage for America’s political debutantes. For locals it’s about everything else. The fairgrounds, like a boardgame or the state itself, is mostly flat and rectangular. A concourse divides the 445-acre grounds. There’re the Grandstand shows (Kiss, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Dierks Bently, Lady Antebellum), candy-colored midway rides livestock competitions, livestock venues, obscure contests for cash prizes (eg the “cow chip throwing contest” or twins and triplets lookalike contest), agricultural lessons (how to milk a cow) and vendors who hawk everything from John Deere tractors to cowhide lampshades. But perhaps the fair’s biggest draw is the local fare, mostly deep fried. On the menu: bacon-wrapped chicken wings, deep-fried nacho balls, Totchos (loaded tater tots), smoked chicken drummies wrapped in bacon, maple bacon funnel cake and, new this year, fruit kebobs fried in funnel cake batter. At lunchtime, the fairground burns like a kiln. Fairgoers move down the concourse in a sluggish mass. Nearly every other person has their neck craned, teeth sunk deep into a pork chop. Not far enough away inside the Swine barn, pigs with names such as Buzzard Billy and Cotton Ball lay on wood chips in their pens. Further down the fairway, visitors rotate through the agriculture building to take photos of the Butter Cow congealing behind a glass display. This year, the 600-lb bovine is accompanied by a butter replica of USS Enterprise from Star Trek. Along the bottom of the display, a timeline traces the cow’s history: “1971: The cow is accompanied by a calf. [Sculptor Norma “Duffy”] Lyon loved sculpting cows but disliked sculpting calves.” The Iowa caucuses mark the official start of the presidential primary season, giving residents of this largely white state an outsized role in selecting America’s next leader. The price is that their beloved state fair turns into a political circus every four years. The trick for out-of-town politicos is to blend in while standing out. Dress the part. Radiate down-home charm. And above all, indulge in the local cuisine, preferably something on a stick and ideally in view of the cameras. Clinton’s discomfort with “retail politics” – a meet and greet style of that Iowans demand – hurt her in the 2008 caucuses, when she finished third behind Barack Obama and John Edwards. But in 2015, Clinton returned, with staff, a security detail and a crush of reporters in tow, eager to prove she’d learned her lesson. She wore a festive gingham blouse, chatted with fairgoers and gesticulated with full hands – in one she held a pork chop on a stick and in the other a plastic bottle of fresh-squeezed lemonade. Suddenly, the crowd’s gaze shifted upward. It was Trump zipping by in a helicopter, his name on its side. He wore a dark blazer – a bold choice in 90-degree heat – and his trademark Make America Great Again cap. From entrance to his appearance, Trump upended, or perhaps ended altogether, a tradition of modern presidential politics. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Mike Nuttal, recalling the crowd’s manic response to Trump’s arrival. Nuttal and his wife, Theresa, had hoped to glimpse the businessman, their choice for president, but they never got close enough. The scene foretold multitudes. A humbled Clinton, in the midst of a meticulously laid plan that was torpedoed by Trump, making a flamboyant landing from thin air to Earth. Yet on that summer’s day in 2015 when given the chance, Clinton went after Jeb Bush. Trump was a celebrity sideshow. Trump would lose Iowa , an embarrassing defeat for a man who despises losers. Clinton would declare herself the winner of the caucuses well before it was clear she’d won. (The Associated Press called it the next morning: She won by a fraction of a point .) Now the candidates are back in Iowa, steadying for a bruising battle for the state’s six electoral votes. “Iowa is the center of the political universe during the caucus period and then the morning after we fall off the face of the Earth,” said Dennis Goldford, a political science professor at Drake University. “Normally our electoral votes don’t matter.” But this year is different, as Trump’s path to the White House may depend on winning the state. And with less than 90 days before the election, opinion polls show voters here are evenly divided between and almost equally displeased with both candidates. “Iowa is the swingiest swing state,” said Tim Albrecht, GOP strategist for Iowa’s Republican party. “But ultimately I think it’s Trump’s to lose.” Trump and his vice-presidential candidate, Indiana governor Mike Pence, have visited the state a number of times in past weeks. Clinton returned to Iowa for the first time on Wednesday. The Torres family, sitting on a bench along the fair’s concourse, said they would vote for Clinton and wondered how it was possible so many people in their state could support Trump. “I want a president that supports equality,” Jessica Torres said. She added that her family feels discriminated against by some of Trump’s remarks about Mexicans and immigrants. And a vital minority, still pursued by these un-Iowan politicians a year later, could again sway an election: the men and women who are undecided between the Washington fixture and the tabloid star of reality TV. “I don’t know who I’m going to vote for yet,” Collins, the grandstand worker said. “I may go third party. I may just write in Donald Duck. But – hey – piece of advice. Don’t leave without trying the red velvet funnel cake. You won’t regret it.”
2016-08-13 14:47 Lauren Gambino www.theguardian.com
41 Mumbai: Dreaded gangster's brother dies after accidentally shooting himself Mangal Singh Thakur, the brother of dreaded gangster Bachhu Singh, died on Saturday in Mumbai after accidentally shooting himself in the chest. The tragedy occurred while he was showing a weapon to his friend at Wadala Truck Terminal . The 25-year-old younger brother of the dreaded gangster accidentally misfired the gun once. Police investigate the crime scene. Mangal was admitted to the Sion Hospital in Mumbai in critical condition. One witness has claimed that the weapon was illegal. The police have recovered a foreign-made pistol from the body. Police have said that an investigation is going on into the incident. He was declared dead by the doctors at the hospital. The body has been sent to JJ Hospital's post-mortem center for an autopsy.
2016-08-13 14:30 By Vinod www.mid-day.com
42 Jonathan Papelbon requests release from Washington Nationals Struggling reliever Jonathan Papelbon has requested his release from the Washington Nationals , a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick on Saturday. The Nationals are now having internal discussions about the best way to grant Papelbon's wish, the source said. Washington could release Papelbon as early as Saturday because the team will need to make a corresponding roster move when it recalls Reynaldo Lopez , who is scheduled to start Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Braves . Papelbon was replaced as the Nationals' closer by All-Star Mark Melancon after the team acquired the former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher at the trade deadline. The 35-year-old Papelbon has 19 saves and a career-worst 4.37 ERA this season. He hasn't pitched since Aug. 6, when he allowed one run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. He was moved to the Nationals at the 2015 trade deadline after three-plus seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Papelbon pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 2005 to 2011. Papelbon is set to become a free agent this offseason.
2016-08-13 14:02 Eddie Matz www.espn.com
43 Iannone has pole in Austrian MotoGP; Marquez 5th after crash SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Andrea Iannone earned his second career MotoGP pole position as Italian riders locked the front grid of the Austrian Grand Prix. The Ducati rider timed 1 minute, 23.142 seconds in Saturday's qualifying to lead seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha by 0.147 and Ducati teammate Andrea Dovizioso by 0.156. "We worked very hard. We improved a lot on the setting of the bike. It's very good for us," said Iannone, who also took pole position at last year's Italian GP but has yet to win a race. Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo came fourth and championship leader Marc Marquez posted the fifth time, just hours after being airlifted to hospital following a crash in practice. Trying to avoid bumping into Honda teammate Dani Pedroso in turn three, Marquez lost balance and slid off the track. The fall dislocated his left shoulder but he escaped serious injuries. "Medical examinations made at Leoben Hospital excluded further problems," Honda said. Marquez tweeted a picture of him making the V-sign with his right hand, and wrote: "It has only been the fright! All is ok! " The 2013 and 2014 champion Marquez leads two Yamaha riders in the world championship standings. He's 48 points clear of Lorenzo and 59 ahead of Rossi. It's the first time in 19 years the marquee event in motorcycle racing is taking place in Austria. The circuit has been slightly adapted since hosting the annual Formula One race six weeks ago.
2016-08-13 13:53 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
44 Britain to plug 4.5 bln pound EU funding gap for farms, colleges LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Britain will fill a gap of as much as 4.5 billion pounds ($5.8 billion) in funding for agriculture, universities and its regions that will open up when Britain leaves the European Union, finance minister Philip Hammond said. Scientists, farmers and others who got EU funding were facing uncertainty after Britain voted on June 23 to quit the EU. Hammond reassured them on Saturday that the British government would pick up the tab. The new guarantee over funding comes as Britain faces the looming prospect of a recession following the Brexit vote. Companies are expected to put off investment and consumers to cut their spending as Britain and the EU work out their new relationship. Hammond told reporters that Britain needs about 4.5 billion pounds a year to fill the gap left by the end of EU funding, although Britain's actual exit date may be some way off. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will not start the two-year process of leaving this year. "We recognise that many organisations across the UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about the flow of funding they will receive," Hammond said in a statement. According to Full Fact, an independent fact-checking agency, the British government paid about 13 billion pounds to the EU last year, after its automatic rebate, and got back 4.5 billion pounds in funding. "Clearly if we stopped making contributions to the European Union there will be money available to be invested in our own economy," Hammond said when reporters asked about Britain's funding arrangements after Britain's departure from the EU. Britain's opposition Labour Party said Hammond had made the right move in giving the guarantees but added that it was important for the government to also ensure that Britain remained a member of the European Investment Bank. The EIB, a provider of long-term financing on favourable terms to projects that support growth in the bloc, in 2015 invested 7.8 billion euros ($8.7 billion) in Britain in transport, water and other projects. Hammond's funding guarantee, which covered structural and investment funds and Horizon research funding, was also welcomed by organisations representing recipients of EU funding and by the employer organisation, the British Chambers of Commerce. "I hope that this short-term certainty will help to deliver longer-term confidence and this is exactly what farm businesses need now," said Meurig Raymond, the president of the National Farmers' Union. The Royal Society, a London-based group of scientists, said the reassurance on EU grants would help Britain-based research continue to attract the best talent. "Today's announcement sends a strong message that Britain remains open and collaborative," Royal Society president Venki Ramakrishnan said. Hammond said projects signed before Britain's Autumn Statement financial update will continue to be funded by Britain after it formally leaves the EU and the UK would match the current level of agricultural funding until 2020. ($1 = 0.7736 pounds) ($1 = 0.8956 euros) (Reporting by Sarah Young, editing by Larry King; Editing by Alexander Smith)
2016-08-13 13:52 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
45 Making a Murderer: Steven Avery’s ex-fiancee fears he too may be released The ex-fiancee of Steven Avery, the subject of the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer , has reportedly expressed fears that her former partner could be released from prison after a judge overturned the murder conviction of his nephew, Brendan Dassey. Avery and Dassey were both found guilty of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach of Wisconsin in separate trials, chronicled in the hugely popular documentary series released last year. On Friday, US federal magistrate William Duffin handed down the ruling in Dassey’s case on the grounds that he was coerced into making his original confession. In so doing, the judge called into question the conduct of Dassey’s attorney, Len Kachinsky, as well as those of investigators who he said had elicited an “involuntary” confession from the then 16-year-old, who has learning difficulties. According to the entertainment news site TMZ , Avery’s former partner Jodi Stachowski said after the judgment that, while she had great sympathy for Dassey and believed the state of Wisconsin had a duty of care towards him “because they wilfully destroyed his life”, she feared his potential freedom might put pressure on the courts to release Avery, “who she firmly believes is guilty of raping and killing” Halbach. TMZ added that, in contrast, Avery’s brother Chuck said that he would not celebrate “until the other person wrongly convicted is also freed: his brother”. The reports come amid mounting questions over the impact Dassey’s case will have on that of his uncle, who is also serving life in prison. Avery’s legal team said in a statement that they were “thrilled” for Dassey that his conviction had been overturned. “We fully expected this outcome from an unbiased court that carefully examined his confession,” they said. Avery’s attorney, Kathleen Zellner, who took up the appeal case in January, added: “Steven Avery is so happy for Brendan. We know when an unbiased court reviews all of the new evidence we have, Steven will have his conviction overturned as well.” Jerry Buting, Avery’s former lawyer, who featured prominently in Making a Murderer , also tweeted that “justice finally strikes”, adding: “State of Wisconsin should accept federal court decision and drop case against Brendan Dassey. Avery is next. Time to go after real killer.” Steven Drizin, a professor of law at Northwestern University, who pushed to have Dassey’s conviction overturned, told the BBC’s Today programme yesterday: “I thought that this was a confession that was the result of police coercion. These detectives had taken advantage of a young man who had severe learning difficulties. The only facts in the confession had been fed to him by the investigators.” Halbach, a photographer for Auto Trader magazine, went missing on Halloween in 2005 after photographing a vehicle at Avery’s salvage yard. Her charred remains were discovered in a burn pit on the yard 10 days later, along with her Toyota RAV4, mobile phone and car keys. The Netflix documentary brought international attention to the subsequent murder case by exploring issues and procedures in the Manitowoc County sheriff’s department investigation of Avery and Dassey. It also cast doubt on the legal process to convict both men, which led to a significant public backlash against the state of Wisconsin. Following the show’s airing, a petition to investigate and pardon the Averys “and punish the corrupt officials who railroaded these innocent men” was submitted to the White House with more than 120,000 signatures. (A White House spokesperson later said that, since Avery and Dassey were both state prisoners, the president could not pardon them.) Meanwhile, Kachinsky, who was removed from Dassey’s case and later de- certified from the public defender’s office, reported receiving hate mail from Dassey’s supporters. On Friday, Duffin accused the attorney of spending more time talking to the press about the high-profile case than actually communicating with his own client. In his first three weeks as Dassey’s attorney, Kachinsky spent 10 hours speaking to reporters and one hour with Dassey, according to Duffin. If prosecutors do not refile charges within 90 days, Dassey will walk free. While a second series of Making a Murderer is currently in the making, the new ruling is understood not to have been captured on camera.
2016-08-13 13:48 Nadia Khomami www.theguardian.com
46 James Martin: I'm not in the running for Top Gear job Chef James Martin denied that he was in the running to take over from Chris Evans as Top Gear host, saying that he had not received any call from producers. The former Saturday Kitchen presenter is a confirmed petrol- head and has recently begun diversifying his CV by guest presenting ITV's This Morning on Friday with Countryfile's Anita Rani. The 44-year-old told The Sun: "Apparently I'm the bookies' favourite... But the phone hasn't rung yet. " He joked that he would have considered putting a bet on himself being next in line for the BBC Two motoring show's hot seat if rumours hadn't made his odds so short. He continued: "I know that's the rumour, but I don't know where I'm going to fit it in. "I can't even put a bet on myself now because you lot (the press) have made the odds even! "I enjoy my cars and I like the collecting of them, but Top Gear is a really tough show - it's a different ball game. " He has received criticism for his presenting skills on This Morning and said insults like "wooden" and "boring" were a "rude awakening". Martin added: "But I've had enough shit thrown at me in my life - in all manner of different things - to worry about it, so it doesn't bother me. "All I can do with any programme is be honest, stay true to myself and work my arse off. "And when you consider that I'm severely dyslexic... I've never read a book in my life - so reading a script is hard. "
2016-08-13 13:48 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
47 Jessica Hart shows off her taut tummy and slender thighs She's no stranger to slipping into a bikini to show off her incredible figure. And model Jessica Hart flaunted her taut tummy as she soaked up the sunshine while clad in a blue and white gingham bikini. The 30-year-old blonde beauty posted a snap to Instagram on Friday throwing her hands behind her head to soak up the sunshine and wrote: 'Summer vibes.' Jessica showed off her slender frame in the bright two-piece and flashed her toned mid section as she splayed herself out in the sun. She crossed her long legs as she lazed on a lime green and white striped towel showcasing her sun-kissed skin. The former Victoria's Secret model appeared to be makeup-free and sported a naturally glowing complexion as she smiled into the sunshine. The Australian model has been exploring Italy and posted a snap earlier this week as she climbed the mountain of Stromboli, an island off the north coast of Sicily. Dressed in denim cut off shorts and a sheer white T-shirt layered over a sports bra she clutched on tight to a water bottle. She stood with the picturesque view behind her and captioned the shot posted to social media: 'Attempting to climb Stromboli' and added the hashtag 'halfwayup.' Jess, who has fronted campaigns for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Sass & Bide and Vionnet shared a racy post with her fans earlier this month sunbaking topless. Lounging in the sunshine her bare breasts obscured from view by a friendly pooch hiding her modesty. Taking to Instagram to immortalise the cheeky moment, Jessica shared a snap of herself lying on her stomach wearing just a pair of skimpy black bikini bottoms, captioned with: '@theadventuresoffloyd and me.'
2016-08-13 13:42 Amy Lyall www.dailymail.co.uk
48 Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his shirt brought Paul Pogba back to Manchester United as pair stand-off in photo on Instagram Zlatan Ibrahimovic offered a welcome to new teammate Paul Pogba in his own unique style, posting a picture of the pair in a stand- off on Instagram. The striker added a caption which read: 'Finally my shirt brought him back.' Pogba replied with an Instagram video of his own where he jokingly accuses the Swedish striker of wanting to be famous. In the video the Frenchman says: 'This guy wants to get famous.' Ibrahimovic replies: 'No I make you famous now.' Jose Mourinho's new signings will be denied the opportunity to play together on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Whilst Ibrahimovic is primed to make his debut in English football, Pogba is suspended for the match against Bournemouth. The Frenchman will miss Manchester United's first game due to the yellow cards he accumulated last season. Two cautions Pogba received in the Coppa Italia for Juventus mean the 23-year-old will not travel to Vitality Stadium with the rest of his team. Ibrahimovic on the other hand looks set to start up front for Mourinho as the Portuguese looks to take three points away from the south coast. The first possible opportunity for United fans to see their new duo in action together will come against Southampton next Friday. 2016-08-13 13:40 Will Griffee www.dailymail.co.uk
49 Tyson Fury thrown birthday party before Wladimir Klitschko rematch Tyson Fury took one last opportunity to indulge himself before he turns his attention to Wladimir Klitschko when he was thrown a surprise birthday party on Friday night. The heavyweight world champion will immerse himself in training from next week ahead of his rematch with the Ukrainian on October 29. Fury was also presented with an impressive cake which featured one of his championship belts as the 28-year-old joined family and friends at the popular San Carlo restaurant in Manchester. Fury outpointed Klitschko in Germany last November but the previously long-reigning champion has had to wait for his chance to exact revenge. The pair were scheduled to clash last month but Fury pulled out with a foot injury. The rescheduled date was also thrown into doubt when the new champion was handed a provisional suspension after failing a drug test. But he has been cleared to fight while an investigation is carried out and tweeted recently that he would start full-time training next week. When his second clash with Klitschko was announced in April, Fury made a point of removing his top to show how out of shape he was. But he locked himself away and endured a spartan existence during his training camp in Holland, only to suffer an injury just over two weeks before the first bell. Fury took full advantage of the unexpected down time as he headed to France to enjoy Euro 2016 with England supporters. He bought a round of 200 Jagerbombs and promised to spend £10,000 on drinks for his fans should he repeat his win over Klitschko.
2016-08-13 13:29 Martin Domin www.dailymail.co.uk
50 English premier league results and standings Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Results and standings from the English premier league matches on Saturday Saturday, August 13 Hull City 2 Leicester City 1 Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Hull City 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 ------Arsenal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bournemouth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Burnley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chelsea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Crystal Palace 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Everton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Liverpool 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manchester City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manchester United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Middlesbrough 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Southampton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stoke City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sunderland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Swansea City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Watford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Bromwich Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Ham United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------20 Leicester City 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 1: Champions League / EC I 20: Relegation Next Fixtures (GMT): Saturday, August 13 Burnley v Swansea City (1400) Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion (1400) Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (1400) Middlesbrough v Stoke City (1400) Southampton v Watford (1400) Manchester City v Sunderland (1630) Sunday, August 14 Bournemouth v Manchester United (1230) Arsenal v Liverpool (1500) Monday, August 15 Chelsea v West Ham United (1900)
2016-08-13 13:25 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
51 Isis 'jihadi brides' trying to radicalise girls and encourage terror attacks online Lured by the false promise of an Islamic utopia and an adoring husband, scores of British women and girls fled to join Isis, but as military operations against the group intensify they are now trapped with “zero chance” of escaping alive. At least one British recruit, 17-year-old Kadiza Sultana, is understood to have been killed in air strikes and the outlook for her two friends is bleak as Isis’ enemies advance on its ever-diminishing territories in Syria. Her family said she quickly became disillusioned with life under the so- called Islamic State after arriving with Amira Abase and Shamima Begum early last year. The three friends fled from their homes in east London in the Easter holidays, sparking an international police search and emotional appeals from their families for them to return home. But the trio swiftly reached Isis’ de-facto capital of Raqqa and were married to militants to take the role of dutiful wives and mothers proscribed by the group’s ideology. They were just three among at least 56 young women and girls known to have travelled from the UK to join Isis in Syria in 2015 alone. Tasnime Akunjee, a solicitor for all three families, told The Independent Shamima and Amira were still alive. He told how Kadiza had become desperate to escape the group by late last year, discussing plans with her family but giving up hope when an Austrian jihadi bride was publicly beaten to death after being caught trying to flee. “I don’t have a good feeling, I feel scared,” she told her sister in a phone call in November. “How am I going to get out?” Less than five months later she was reportedly killed in a Russian air strike. “For me personally the hope is that if there is anything that can be salvaged from this tragic situation it is that people will take it as a warning,” Mr Akunjee said. “Unfortunately we are in this Playstation generation where people play war games and don’t take it seriously. But Syria is a war zone and people do get killed – my advice to anyone still out there would be to get out as fast as you can.” But experts warn that it is almost impossible for women to leave Isis, with its interpretation of Sharia law meaning they cannot leave the house without a male guardian. While Turkey has closed its border along Isis territory, the terrorist group itself has launched a brutal crackdown on defectors, publicly executing anyone accused of trying to flee or attempting to smuggle people away. Sara Khan, the co-founder of the counter-extremism Inspire group, told The Independent the chance of jihadi brides returning to the UK was “zero” once they are inside the group’s territory. “They quickly become disillusioned and realise that it’s not the utopia that it’s made out to be,” she added. “The reality is that for women and girls it’s incredibly difficult to leave Isis because of the control the group exerts on their movements.” The role of women is strictly limited to that of mother and wife, with occasional exceptions for designated tasks as Sharia police and nurses. They are immediately married off to Isis fighters, being handed to a new husband upon the first’s death if they are lucky, or passed around as a “sexual present” if not. Clothing infractions are met with flogging, a lack of “meekness” with beating, alleged adultery or blasphemy with death. Nikita Malik, a senior researcher from the Quilliam Foundation, told The Independent the violent reality is far from the rosy depiction given by Isis propaganda. Dabiq, Isis’ English language propaganda magazine, has contained several articles addressed to “our sisters” presenting life in its territories as a warped feminist ideal for Muslim woman free of the pressures of Western conformity. “It’s more based in philosophy, about what it is to be a good person, a good wife, a good mother,” Ms Malik explained. “There is a sense of female empowerment, building the caliphate and being part of a sisterhood.” She said that many of the girls joining Isis may come from conservative Muslim communities where they expect an arranged marriage and feel they are asserting themselves by fleeing to Syria. There are even rumours of a specialist dating website where budding jihadi brides can select a husband, Ms Malik said: “They view it as a romantic adventure, a journey where they have more of a choice and they are making an active decision to leave.” Researchers for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue said that like their male counterparts, female Isis recruits often share feelings of isolation and conflicting identity, a sense of Muslim persecution and idealistic goals of a utopian “caliphate” where they can belong. Isis' targeting of women is rare among terror groups, who normally aim to radicalise male fighters, but is crucial to its project to build a functioning "Islamic State" with successive generations moulded to its ideology. In its annual report on terrorism in the European Union, Europol said that while the number of foreign citizens joining Isis was decreasing, women made up an increasingly “significant percentage”. “An increasing proportion of women have travelled from some EU member states – for example from the UK, Belgium and, more markedly, the Netherlands,” the security agency said. “Women may also seek to radicalise others, take part in on and offline recruitment, and actively finance and facilitate terrorist groups and departure to them.” That role is fostered by Isis, which allows foreign women internet access on the understanding they will use it contact “sisters” at home. “They only escape they get is online and they are given that access to have the opportunity to go and chat with other British women and radicalise them,” Ms Khan said. Aqsa Mahmood, a former Scottish university student, has been put under international sanctions for her role as an online recruiter, with other female jihadists including Khadijah Dare and Sally-Anne Jones have called for terror attacks on social media and called on other women to follow them to Syria. But increase in surveillance and counter-terror initiatives since the group’s lightning advance in 2014 has made it far more difficult for European recruits to swell Isis' ranks in Syria and Iraq. With waning success on the battlefield and the loss of key strongholds, Isis has turned its attention from domestic operations to international terrorism – a change reflected in its messages to vulnerable young targets. “If you look at what Daesh propaganda is saying they are not encouraging people to travel anymore – instead they are encouraging attacks in the UK,” Ms Khan said. “We have seen communications where that is very much a concern… they need to be prevented from believing the propaganda, from believing the UK is their enemy.”
2016-08-13 13:20 Lizzie Deardon www.independent.ie
52 Per Mertesacker is named as Arsenal's new captain despite long-term injury Per Mertesacker has been named as Arsenal's new captain even though the injured Germany defender may not play again this year. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will choose from a pool of experienced players to lead the side during Mertesacker's absence. "Per is a very respected figure in the dressing room, is loved as well and is also a very demanding figure," Wenger told Arsenal Player. "I think it is absolutely natural to be (him). "(In his absence) that's where it will be taken by the assistants. "One of them will be (Laurent) Koscielny, also (Santi) Cazorla - the experienced players - (Petr) Cech maybe. "We will have a group of people that will take care of the energy levels and the problems of the team. "That will be down a lot to the experienced players. " Arsenal needed to appoint a new captain following Mikel Arteta's departure this summer. The Spaniard's injury problems over the last two seasons have seen several players fill in as temporary captain. Mertesacker, who joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen in 2011, captained the side on occasions last season before he was dropped as Wenger preferred to partner Gabriel and Koscielny at the heart of his defence. The permanent appointment of the World Cup winner is also something of a surprise after Wenger said last month that he does not expect to have Mertesacker available again until the turn of the new year. The 31-year-old suffered a knee injury in a pre-season friendly with Lens and could be sidelined for up to five months.
2016-08-13 13:16 www.independent.ie
53 Last year's top flight experience makes Bournemouth stronger, says Eddie Howe Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes their first season in the Premier League will help them when they face Manchester United in the opening game of the season on Sunday. United have made several big signings over the summer, with Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly all arriving at Old Trafford. The Cherries lost 3-1 to United at Old Trafford on the last day of the 2015- 16 season - but Howe believes his side are up to the challenge. He said: "I think it is really important we are not in awe (of big name players), we are not too stand-offish. "We have to respect our opponent but once we go into the match, they are any other player and you treat them as such. "We have to make sure that we try and keep (Ibrahimovic) or any number of their players quiet. "I think you could pick any of the United team as a threat, even their full- backs, so we are well aware of the test we have and hopefully we will give as good as we get. "I think that experience of playing the superstar names and the big clubs...you naturally become a bit harder and you know what is coming and I think that will stand us in good stead - but we have to take it up a level. "I think (Ibrahimovic) will probably play. He is a great talent, it is great to see him here - but from our perspective we don't want to be in awe of him, we want to keep him quiet. " Bournemouth beat the Red Devils 2-1 at home last season, which the Cherries boss has previously described as "one of the highlights of the season". The result came just seven days after the Cherries beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and Howe believes those results were key in their survival. He said: "(That result) did everything for the players. The Chelsea result was huge, we defended really well, it was a solid performance for us and then to follow that up and beat United, it lifted everybody. "The belief was there that we could achieve our goal and stay in the league. "I think sometimes it does take a result like that to stimulate the players, hopefully we won't have to wait too long for that feeling this season. "I don't take these games for granted. It is our second season in the Premier League, we are privileged to host everyone - but it is going to be a special one. " Howe believes the Cherries respond well to the tag of underdogs, adding: " It is always nice to prove people wrong. I think it suits us for where we are, I have no problem with it. "I think this whole club has had to prove people wrong for a long, long time. "Everybody individually has been written off at one moment or another. I have been written off, in football you always are but you have to keep coming back and you have to have the mental strength to keep coming back and having another go. "I think with the size of the stadium and the name that we have, I think we will be classed as underdogs for a long period of time until maybe something changes with the ground and we become a little bit bigger in scale. "
2016-08-13 13:16 www.independent.ie
54 Jurgen Klopp wary of direct approach from Arsenal Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is paying little attention to Arsenal's defensive crisis and is more concerned his side might be undone by a direct approach from Arsene Wenger's men. The Gunners begin the new season at home to Klopp's men with limited options in the centre of defence due to injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel as well as concerns over Laurent Koscielny's fitness. However, Klopp does not subscribe to the theory that it is a perfect time to face a team lacking any senior central defenders and has warned his players they must prepare for a repeat of the longer passes which caused them issues in a 3-3 draw at Anfield back in January. While Wenger's teams have always been associated with a possession- based style, Klopp concedes the 'route one' attacks to striker Olivier Giroud provided plenty of headaches. "Defensive problems only play a role in a game when the other team is really strong and offensive," the German said. "If you want to make a mistake then you think about if there are defensive problems. We haven't thought a second about this. We think about our play and our game and what we saw from them in the pre-season, their style of play, how they defend, how they attack. "We know Arsenal usually are a football-playing team but when they played last time against us (they played) a lot of long balls. "Always (to) Giroud, second ball (to Mesut) Ozil. That caused us a lot of problems in this game. It was 3-3 in the last second. That's what we think about and not what kind of problems they could have. " This pre-season has been the first Klopp has experienced on Merseyside having been parachuted in in October last term during a hectic fixture schedule. Opportunities to implement his ideas were therefore limited and this summer has presented him with an extended period to improve the fitness of a group required to carry out his ' gegenpressing' tactics. Ronald Koeman, who is managing across the city at Everton, said earlier this week his team were only at 70 per cent fitness and Klopp admits his players' involvement in Euro 2016 robbed him of a "perfect pre-season". "It's much better than it was in October, of course," the Liverpool boss added. "The first three weeks we had a big number of players then all the players who were part of the Euros joined us, we had to bring them all together and they had different fitness levels, that's a real challenge. "Sometimes we were training in three groups. Nearly all the other clubs had it, so it's not an excuse, it's only a fact. "Having them all together for six weeks, that would have been a perfect pre- season. With 12, 13, 14 players we could do a lot. We expect we can see this in the first game and that's a big difference. " James Milner (bruised heel) and Daniel Sturridge (hip) are both doubts for the trip to north London, though Dejan Lovren and Marko Grujic have overcome knocks.
2016-08-13 13:11 www.independent.ie
55 Precarious no more, PGA to build clubhouse in Connecticut CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — The PGA Tour, which almost pulled out of Connecticut a decade ago, is making another major investment in its TPC River Highland's golf course, which last week was the site of the best score in tour history. The announcement was made in Hartford during the Travelers Championship tournament by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who said the PGA would build a 32,000-square foot facility at the Cromwell course that will open before the pros tee off at the course in 2019. It's the latest in a series of boosts to the course, which golfers say have been turning the Travelers from an afterthought into a tournament that can attract the sport's biggest names. The course made international headlines Sunday when Jim Furyk shot a 58 during final round of the Travelers, the lowest score in tour history. The clubhouse project follows the construction of a state-of-the art practice facility and driving range at the course in 2008 and $3.5 million in course renovations and aesthetic changes over the past year, which included changing bunkers and greens and viewing areas for the fans. Andy Bessette, Travelers chief administrative officer and executive vice president, called the announcement "the last cog in the wheel to have a phenomenal facility here for the Tour. " The tournament was in jeopardy before Travelers signed on in 2007 as a title sponsor, with the PGA considering relegating the course to hosting an event on its Champions Tour, for older golfers. Instead, Travelers committed to making it a showcase event, increasing the purse and putting money into the practice facility, a "fan zone" that includes games and a rock-climbing wall, corporate tents and programming such as big-name concerts during the tournament and outings for the golfers' families. It now has a sponsorship deal that runs through 2024. "They've elevated it one of the best we have all year," said golfer Bubba Watson, who won the tournament in 2010 and 2015. "They're one of the best, if not the best sponsor we have. " But the current two-story clubhouse is among the smallest on tour. Preliminary plans call for a ballroom large enough to host major fundraisers, a dining area for the golfers and their families and a store that would be open to the public. A new facility would eliminate the costs now associated with building temporary structures yearly to handle those types of functions, said Nathan Grube, tournament director. The tournament is one of the state's biggest fundraisers, donating all of its net proceeds — $2.8 million this year — to more than 100 non-profits. No price tag has been set for the new facility. Grube said the PGA will be picking up the bulk of the cost of the clubhouse, but Travelers and the tournament have agreed to chip in. "It really was not that long ago that we were talking about what is the future of this event? " Grube said. "This is a very clear sign that the Tour likes being here. "
2016-08-13 13:02 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
56 Canada's counter-terror efforts face scrutiny after US helps stop suspect Troubled by his posts online that praised Isis and his correspondence with militants plotting attacks around the world, Canadian officials began watching Aaron Driver in 2014. They soon went one step further, imposing a strict set of restrictions including reporting regularly to police and staying off social media. But when Aaron Driver, 24, released a video in which he pledged allegiance to Isis and warned of an imminent attack on a Canadian city, it was US officials who alerted Canada . “That would be one of the questions, if I was the minister,” said Ray Boisvert, a former assistant director of intelligence at the Canadian security and intelligence service. “How come the FBI had to tell us? How much investigative activity was the FBI doing against a Canadian and what can we do, moving forward, to prevent these things from happening?” Within hours of being tipped off by the FBI, the Royal Canadian mounted police (RCMP) had surrounded the home where Driver was living in Strathroy, a small Ontario town some 140 miles south-west of Toronto. Police watched as a taxi pulled up to the home and Driver got in carrying a backpack and asked to be taken to a shopping mall in the city of London, a 40-minute drive away. As police closed in, Driver detonated an explosive device, leaving the taxi driver with minor injuries and shredding the back seat of the car. One shot was fired by an officer, and an autopsy will be carried out to determine whether Driver died by police gunfire or shrapnel from the explosion. The events have sparked questions over Canada’s capabilities to address homegrown terrorism. One possible explanation is that US law enforcement officials simply have more resources than Canadian agencies, said Boisvert. “They have a larger span of control over those types of resources, they have more money, they have greater authority to do those things because the level of tolerance in the United States is different from the level of tolerance in Canada.” Police said that while Driver was under supervision, there was no indication in the days leading up the attack that he was planning anything. “Mr Driver was one individual among others that had potentially criminal intentions. And our ability to monitor people 24 hours a day and seven days a week simply does not exist – we can’t do that,” Mike Cabana of the RCMP told reporters. “When individuals have intentions such as Mr Driver had, there are no conditions that can be put in place that will prevent them from taking action.” Driver was likely classified as a B-lister, known to authorities but considered a lower risk than others, said Boisvert, illustrating the tough choices facing authorities as they seek to strike a balance between personal liberties, limited resources and public safety. “We always struggled over: is that person a couch jihadist or are they really going to get off that couch and go do something? At what point do we take this person from tier 2 and move them into tier 1 and start spending hundreds of thousands of resources on them?” Many of those who had met Driver were shocked to find out he was behind this week’s events. “He was definitely very strong in his views and definitely radicalised. He was a very strong supporter of Isis,” said Lorne Dawson, a University of Waterloo professor who spent two hours speaking to Driver last year. “But he was adamant when we interacted with him that he wouldn’t take action against civilians in Canada and he was adamant that he didn’t believe in what he called vigilante Muslim justice. Something had changed, obviously, in the last few months.” Dawson pointed to the conditions imposed on Driver. A high school dropout who had dabbled in drugs and was estranged from his parents, Driver had forged an identity centred on jihadism. But court-imposed conditions left him in a small town, cut off from the only community he felt he belonged to. “And so we think it’s just that he felt he had no other logical alternative. The only thing that meant anything to him was being taken away.” Driver had been using the computers at the public library, said Dawson. “So he’s isolated, sees what’s happening with Isis, sees what’s happening in Europe, feels like he’s missing out on it, so then started to get frustrated, angry and wanted to reignite this sort of quest.” The case underscores the need for counter-radicalisation efforts in Canada , akin to what exists in the UK and Denmark, said Dawson, who is also a codirector of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society. Those kinds of programs are practically non-existent in Canada, he said. During last year’s election campaign, the Liberals promised to open an office that could roll out counter-radicalisation programs across the country. Dawson’s organisation is currently working with federal officials to lay the groundwork for the initiative. Until then, efforts to defuse extremism are left to those who surround the suspected extremists. The mosque attended by Driver in London, Ontario, said its members made efforts to engage Driver with the aim of changing his perspective. “The Mosque knew of his views, and chose not to turn a blind eye to the problem of violent extremism,” officials at the mosque said in a statement. “We engaged him with the hope of changing his views on Islam and to show him the true, peaceful nature of our religion.” The mosque was constantly in contact with police regarding Driver. “While he had wrong views about the world, at no time did any officials with the Mosque know or suspect that Aaron was translating those views into any kind of attack,” the statement said. “He did not display any outward signs of aggression.”
2016-08-13 13:00 Ashifa Kassam www.theguardian.com
57 Ban on criminal history question for job applicants reveals deeper issue: racism Several new studies on so-called “ban the box” policies that block employers from discounting job applicants with criminal records have revealed another, even more extensive problem: deep- seated employer discrimination against African Americans. Ban-the-box laws, which prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications, have passed in scores of cities, 24 states and the District of Columbia. The laws were intended to reduce the impact of US mass incarceration on hiring as individuals with a criminal record attempt to return to the workplace. Because African Americans are five times more likely than whites to be incarcerated, a major secondary goal of ban-the-box advocates is to reduce the effect of racial disparities in employment. Black unemployment has hovered at almost twice that for white Americans in the US. But researchers who have scrutinized the policies have found that, regardless of whether employers ask about criminal history, African Americans face discrimination from employers with ingrained racial biases. “The core problem raised by the studies is not ban-the-box but entrenched racism in the hiring process, which manifests as racial profiling of African Americans as ‘criminals’,” said researchers Beth Avery and Maurice Ensellem with the National Employment Law Project, in a new study released on Thursday. Other studies released over the past few months have reached the similar conclusion that black Americans may be profiled as criminals. Another released in June sent out 15,000 fake job applications in states with ban- the-box laws – New York and New Jersey – before and after their respective laws took effect. Amanda Agan of Princeton University and Sonja Starr of the University of Michigan found that there was a 3.4% decrease in callbacks for low-skilled black and Hispanic men in places where the reforms had been enacted. The authors also found that while the number of people with criminal backgrounds received more employer callbacks overall, the disparity between those given to whites and blacks had increased, with a 7% difference before, versus 45% after. But the findings have split researchers on what exactly to do about it, with some saying that the new policies are exacerbating disparities in hiring, while others say it is underlying prejudice and not these laws that are to blame. Professors Jennifer Doleac of the University of Virginia and Benjamin Hansen of the University of Oregon, suggested in a paper earlier this month that by removing data about the criminal histories of job applicants, employers were more likely to make assumptions about these people’s backgrounds. That in turn, the authors suggested, could lead to a reduction in the hiring of young black and Hispanic men because of racial bias by prospective employers. Doleac, who is also a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington DC-based thinktank, said in a separate piece that ban-the-box had “done more harm than good” , and should be abandoned as a result. But the NELP researchers, who support “fair-chance employment policies” such as ban-the-box, argue that the reform is a necessary but not sufficient policy response to structural causes of discrimination in the US. The researchers questioned the methodology of the Doleac/Hanson study, but said that even if one were to accept those criticisms of “ban-the-box” provisions, it would “merely reinforce the need for stronger anti- discrimination law enforcement and further policy reforms to help eradicate the underlying discrimination, not a rejection of ban-the-box protections”. The NELP researchers said the two studies underscored the need to push “for a more robust policy response to both boost job opportunities for people with records and tackle race discrimination in the hiring process”. But, they added, it would be a mistake to lay shortcomings at the foot of “ban-the-box” policies. “Ban-the-box is working, both by increasing employment opportunities for people with records and by changing employer attitudes toward hiring people with records,” they said. Asked about the criticism, Doleac agreed that “it’s possible that ‘ban the box’ would be a more effective policy in a world with less racial discrimination”. But, she added: “Our research considers its effects on employment in the world we actually live in. “Laws can hide information, but they don’t prevent employers from caring about the information that’s hidden.” She added that this “typically hurts already-disadvantaged groups” because of how employers guess.
2016-08-13 13:00 Tom Kutsch www.theguardian.com
58 58 Frustration abundant, GOP could be near breaking point Trump ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — The Republican Party could be nearing a breaking point with Donald Trump. As he skips from one gaffe to the next, GOP leaders in Washington and in the most competitive states have begun openly contemplating turning their backs on their party's presidential nominee to prevent what they fear will be wide-scale Republican losses on Election Day. Back in 1996, the party largely gave up on nominee Bob Dole once it became clear he had little chance of winning, so it's not without precedent. Nevertheless, it's a jolting prospect now, with roughly three months still left before the Nov. 8 vote and weeks before the three presidential debates. Republicans who have devoted their professional lives to electing GOP candidates say they believe the White House already may be lost. They're exasperated by Trump's divisive politics and his insistence on running a general election campaign that mirrors his approach to the primaries. "Based on his campaign record, there's no chance he's going to win," said Sara Fagen, the political director for former President George W. Bush. "He's losing groups of people he can't get back. " Trump's campaign says things are moving in the right direction, a position that itself feeds the discontent among his GOP detractors. The billionaire businessman's loyalists say enough time remains to change the dynamic against Democrat Hillary Clinton who, like Trump, is deeply unpopular with voters. And his backers are blaming the media for the perception that all is not well. "Frankly, a lot of stuff over the last week... it's him being distorted," said Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. "For the last week or so, he's been very focused and very much on his game. " Trump did show some modest improvement as a candidate in the past week. He has stopped criticizing a Muslim family of a fallen U. S. soldier. Gone are the fights with some of his party's most respected members of Congress. But also in the past seven days, Trump has questioned the advice of senior aides, threatened to stop raising money for the party, dismissed the usefulness of get-out-the-vote efforts and defended his decision not to run any television ads even as his opponents fill the airwaves with spots backing Clinton in several contested states. It all largely overshadowed the content of 44 previously-unreleased email exchanges Clinton had while at the State Department. They became public on Tuesday and showed her interacting with lobbyists, political and Clinton Foundation donors and business interests while serving as secretary of state. "He can't simply continue to preach to the choir and think he's going to put together a coalition that will win the White House," said Ryan Williams, a party strategist and former aide to 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney. "He's essentially guaranteeing that he will lose by refusing to clean up his mistakes and stop committing future ones. " The mistakes do keep coming. Trump this past week stuck by a patently false claim that President Barack Obama founded the Islamic State group. The candidate made an off-handed remark about Clinton that was widely condemned by critics as an invitation to violence. He even acknowledged that losing might not be so bad. "I'll just keep doing the same thing I'm doing right now," he told CNBC on Thursday. "And at the end it's either going to work or I'm going to you know, I'm going to have a very, very nice, long vacation. " All of it, to some Republicans, should lead the party to give up on its nominee. More than 100 GOP officials, including at least six former members of Congress and more than 20 former staffers at the Republican National Committee, have signed a letter asking the party chairman, Reince Priebus, to stop helping Trump's campaign. They call the New York real estate mogul a threat to the party and to the nation. They want the RNC to take resources now helping Trump and shift them to vulnerable GOP candidates for House and Senate. The letter follows a steady stream of recent defections from Republican elected officials and longtime strategists who vow never to support Trump. They want party leaders to acknowledge that backing his White House bid is a waste of time and money. "They're going to do it sooner or later. They might as well do it sooner to have more impact," said former Minnesota Rep. Vin Weber, one of the Republicans to sign the letter to Priebus. Senior Republicans in Washington and in some of the most contested states have discussed a scenario in which the party scales back its presidential focus in states that don't feature top races for Senate. They could abandon a state such as Virginia, for example, and focus more on a state such as Indiana, where Democrat Evan Bayh is trying to make a Senate comeback. That's according to several Republican officials in Washington and states that would be affected, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. They spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to outline private discussions. There is no evidence that a formal plan to break with Trump exists at either the state party or RNC level, but Priebus has informally discussed the possibility with party leaders in battleground states in recent days, three of the officials said. Should that occur, it's not likely to happen until after Labor Day, as the party is still relying on Trump to help raise money to fund its expansive political operation. But the amount of money needed decreases as each day passes, giving the RNC greater financial freedom to potentially change course as the election nears. For now, Priebus is vocally supportive of Trump. The party chairman joined the nominee on Friday, part of a larger effort to ensure an experienced political hand is almost always at the candidate's side when he travels. Others keeping Trump company this past week include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "We've always found it's wise to have people traveling with him, because it's an opportunity to have him engaged and not just sitting there," Manafort said. Some credit that strategy for Trump's avoiding devastating unforced errors, such as his tussle with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Muslim-Americans parents whose son, U. S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004. Manafort also has privately assured swing state Republicans that Trump no longer will attack party rivals — House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Ohio Gov. John Kasich among them. But it's hardly foolproof. After several error-free days, Trump caused a major stir Tuesday when his comments about supporters of the Second Amendment's right to bear arms were viewed by some as advocating violence against Clinton. He came in for criticism again after saying on Wednesday that Obama was the "founder" of IS, a false claim he repeated several times on Thursday — even when given the chance to tone down his attack on the president's foreign policies. On Friday, Trump started the day saying he was only being sarcastic, before telling a Pennsylvania rally, "but not that sarcastic, to be honest with you. " It's those kinds of moments that lead experienced Republicans to think Trump cannot be saved from himself. "He's almost like someone with an addiction who can't stop," Fagen said. "Until he gets help and admits it, he won't be able to change. " The dissension in the Republican ranks hasn't affected Trump's ability to draw supporters to his rallies. Lisa Thompson, a firefighter from St. Cloud, Florida, is among the many who continue to stand in long lines for hours to see Trump at his events. She said those balking at his missteps were being "too sensitive" — a luxury the nation can't afford with growing security threats. She urged Trump to stick with his playbook. "Why be fake? " she asked. Others aren't so sure. Mike Dedrel, a UPS driver and Trump supporter who's also from St. Cloud, said he hoped in the coming months that Trump wouldn't speak off the cuff as often and stick to pre-planned answers. If he doesn't, Dedrel said, he's concerned that Trump is on the way to an Election Day defeat. "I was worried about that from Day One, when he was going against 16 other guys," he said. "But at the end of the day, I know he'll be a great president — if he can win. " ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report from New York. ___ What political news is the world searching for on Google and talking about on Twitter? Find out via AP's Election Buzz interactive. http://elections.ap.org/buzz
2016-08-13 12:56 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk
59 Man dumped into rubbish truck survives being compacted ‘several times’ A man who fell asleep in a large recycling bin full of cardboard was ‘compacted several times’ after being tipped into a rubbish truck, in Albany, Oregon. Ivan Rosalio Mendez Perez, 23, survived the ordeal after he managed to get the driver’s attention by shouting and throwing cardboard out of the back of the lorry. He suffered a broken leg but was otherwise described as being in “good condition.” Captain Eric Carter of the Albany Police Department told the Albany Democrat-Herald: “The driver became aware of it at Big 5 Sporting Goods because the subject was throwing cardboard out of the truck. He got out to look and heard Mr. Perez yelling, so he contacted us. Albany Fire also responded to remove Mr. Perez from the truck.” Mr Perez was taken to the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis where he received medical treatment for his injured leg. The driver of the rubbish truck was employed by Republic Services, which cleans out approximately 100 dumpsters each day. Company spokeswoman Julie Jackson told the Democrat-Herald that they regularly engaged in public outreach to deter children and transients from climbing into large rubbish bins. "This a front load truck. The driver doesn’t even get out,” she said. “They'll pull up, connect the bars on the front of truck to the grooves on the side of the dumpster, and it goes straight up. It doesn’t tip until it's above their heads at the back of truck. " "The fix is, stay out of dumpsters. Pretty simple,” she added.
2016-08-13 12:52 Adam Boult www.independent.ie
60 What's the mood at Crimea checkpoint? Recent events in Crimea have led to further difficulties in the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. Tom Burridge reports from southern Ukraine, in the region adjacent to Russian-annexed Crimea.
2016-08-13 12:49 www.bbc.co.uk
61 Yemen rebels convene parliament in defiance of government Iran-backed rebels convened Yemen's parliament on Saturday in defiance of the internationally recognised government, prompting condemnation from President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The session in rebel-held Sanaa was the first time parliament has convened in almost two years, and comes after the Huthis rejected a UN peace plan and appointed a council to run the country. Parliamentary sources said that 91 lawmakers in the 301- member national assembly attended the session. All voted in favour of the council which was created last week. The Huthi rebels overran Sanaa in September 2014 and then fought their way into other parts of Yemen, forcing Hadi and his government to seek exile in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Huthis and their allies -- supporters of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh -- since March last year to shore up the Hadi government. Since Sanaa's capture, many parliamentarians have also fled the capital, seeking refuge in other towns or overseas. On Saturday political and security sources in Sanaa told AFP that some lawmakers were forced to attend following threats from the rebels, without elaborating. Hadi denounced the parliamentary session as a "violation" of the constitution and a "crime punishable by law", in remarks carried by the official sabanew.net website. "Whatever takes place at this meeting has no legal effects and cannot be implemented," he said. According to the constitution, more than 150 lawmakers must be present for voting to take place. Armed rebels were inside parliament for Saturday's session, which was held as Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded military targets around the capital, parliamentary sources said. UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has described the rebel governing council as a violation of commitments to the peace process. Last week, he suspended UN-brokered talks between rebels and the government. The UN says that more than 6,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the coalition air campaign began in March last year.
2016-08-13 12:44 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
62 Brendan Fevola enjoys a drink with a man bearing a striking resemblace to the former Prime Minister He regularly shares snaps from his private life on social media. And former AFL star Brendan Fevola took to Instagram on Saturday to post a snap as he enjoyed a beer with a Tony Abbott lookalike. The 35-year-old I'm a Celebrity winner flashed a huge grin and pointed to the man who bears a strong resemblance to the former Prime Minister and wrote: 'Having a beer with Tony Abbot #footy'. Brendan was dressed in a blue sweater with the logo of the Deer Park AFL club on the chest. The pair appeared to be in a sporting club enjoying a beverage after a match and the former professional sportsman gladly pulled his new mate in for a picture. His friend, who resembles Tony, was caught in the middle of speaking as the pair posed for a snap. Brendan, who is now a co-host on Fox 101.9's Fifi, Dave and Fev with Fifi Box and Dave Thornton, is father to three daughters - Leni, Mia and Lulu. And he recently rekindled his relationship with ex-wife Alex, proposing to her again earlier this year. During his time on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this year, he opened up about his dark days and 'hitting rock bottom.' And earlier this month, the media personality continued to discuss his demons while appearing on Family Feud All Stars. The ex-AFL star said: 'Anyone out there with any issues, make sure you speak up about it because there's a lot of people who are willing to help.' He continued: 'To people out there that are struggling with mental health or going through some bad times, you can turn it around. 'Sometimes when you're in that position, you don't necessarily think that much is going wrong until you seek help and the hardest thing when you're in that position is to actually speak about it, and confront someone about it.' Brendan's comments came after he opened up to the show's host Grant Denyer about the reason he opted to go on the reality challenge show, which was filmed in South Africa. The former AFL legend took out the title of King Of The Jungle as he was named the winner of the series and appears to be enjoying life with his family again.
2016-08-13 12:41 Amy Lyall www.dailymail.co.uk
63 Istanbul prosecutor sent letter to U. S. asking for Gulen's arrest - CNN Turk ISTANBUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Istanbul chief prosecutor's office sent a letter to the U. S. authorities asking for the detention of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by the Turkish government for orchestrating last month's failed coup, CNN Turk television reported. Turkey's Justice Ministry passed on the letter, which cited Gulen as the mastermind of the July 15 abortive putsch and accused him of ten different charges including attempting to overthrow the government, to the United States, CNN Turk said. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
2016-08-13 12:28 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
64 Leicester players had a WhatsApp group to convince N'Golo Kante not to leave champions for Chelsea Leicester players have revealed that they started an ultimately unsuccessful WhatsApp group to try to convince N'Golo Kante to stay at the club this summer. Kante was the only high- profile departure - signing for Chelsea for £32million - from the champions who defied odds of 5,000/1 to complete the most unexpected title win in Premier League history last season. Speaking to Sky ahead of the Foxes' opening game, Leicester players Danny Simpson, Marc Albrighton and Christian Fuchs explained the lengths they went to in an attempt to keep the squad together. 'Obviously you want to keep the same squad and same group of players, but it's up to the individual,' conceded Simpson. 'There was a WhatsApp group, but if the player wants to leave then you can't stand in his way,' revealed Albrighton. 'He got a lot of messages, everyone wished him well... before we deleted him out of it,' added Simpson. Despite losing arguably their most influential player, defender Fuchs insists there is still much to be positive about ahead of their curtain raiser against a Hull side in turmoil. 'No one was very worried that the team would fall apart. We have an atmosphere here, which is something special, and now we are playing in the Champions League and that's something special too,' said Fuchs. 'You're better off having players who want to play for the club than those who want to leave or who are unhappy. We have new players that fit in very well and will be able to replace the others,' he added.
2016-08-13 12:21 Richard Arrowsmith www.dailymail.co.uk
65 Meet busty Bachelor gatecrasher Sarah Harding Get ready to rumble, Bachelor fans, because the competition is set to become a little fiercer when promotional model Sarah Harding enters the fray. The 26-year-old blonde beauty will no doubt catch the eye of Richie, whose penchant for blondes has become increasingly evident throughout the show's current season. Sarah hails from Queensland, having worked as a glamour model as well as a promotional model in the sports and automotive industry. According to her StarNow account, Sarah has performed modelling jobs for the likes of Sydney's NRL and Injetkd automotive. She describes herself as 'very bubbly, happy and confident' and boasts of having a 'great creative mind' in her StarNow bio. Her social media accounts feature an array of sultry snaps, often depicting Sarah in scant bikinis and one-piece swimsuits. Like Richie, Sarah enjoys the sun and surf, often taking to Instagram to share selfies of her lounging by the sea. Sarah is one of three 'gatecrashers' who were seen entering the Bachelor mansion's grounds from a helicopter at the end of Thursday night's episode this week. Also entering the competition as an intruder is model Stephanie Dixon, who is signed with Brazen Models. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about what it was like coming into the show half-way through filming, Stephanie said: 'I was petrified. The girls were OK, but nothing prepared me for it. I realised within the first hour these girls are very, very opinionated and very territorial.' 'Not everything is going to be positive here,' she said, foreshadowing the conflict that will no doubt ensue when they enter this week. A third gatecrasher has also been identified as a 29-year-old West Australian law student named Kahlia. 2016-08-13 12:18 Monique Friedlander www.dailymail.co.uk
66 Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta reveals he could've left this summer: 'I did receive a few offers' Pablo Zabaleta turned down the opportunity to leave Manchester City this summer after talks with new boss Pep Guardiola. With the Argentinian in the last year of his contract, he received offers to move elsewhere but expressed his delight at being valued at City. Zabaleta told the club's official website: 'I did receive a few offers from some clubs, but I didn't decide anything until coming back to pre-season, meeting the new manager and having a conversation.' The 31-year-old added: 'I have only one year left on my contract and so some teams were aware of my situation and probably were looking to make an offer' 'There was a new manager coming in and everyone has to have that conversation to see what your situation is for the future. 'I've never been told anything but 'stay here for the next season' and I'm more than pleased with this. 'I've been at this club for so long and Manchester has been a fantastic place for me to be, especially playing for this great football club.' Zabaleta faces competition for a spot in Guardiola's side from Bacary Sagna who moved ahead of him in the pecking order last term. The right back will hope to make an impression on his new manager in City's Premier League opener against Sunderland.
2016-08-13 12:18 Will Griffee www.dailymail.co.uk
67 Wildlife park celebrates the birth of its first ever TRIPLET Asiatic lion cubs A wildlife park is celebrating the arrival of the first ever lion triplets to be born since it opened 46 years ago. The proud parents, rare Asiatic lions Rana and Kanha, have made history with their very first litter at Cotswold Wildlife Park, near Burford, Oxfordshire. On Saturday, the adorable trio of cubs are pictured making their public debut and meeting their father for the first time. Kali, Sita and Sonika, the three female cubs, are shown playfully running down a grassy slope as they explored their new surroundings. The boisterous youngsters can also be seen nuzzling and playing with their affectionate mum. One little lioness appears to be practising her roar and looks ready to pounce as she stretches out on top of a log. The new parents came to Cotswold Wildlife Park in 2013 and 2014 as part of the European Breeding Programme and keepers hoped that they would one day produce a litter of their own. Rana and Kanha formed an instant bond and two years later, after a gestation period of four months, Kanha gave birth to her three cubs. Lionesses rear their cubs in seclusion and often reject them if they are disturbed so keepers watched the births remotely on CCTV monitors. For nearly two months, the triplets lived solely with their mother in the birthing pen. Rana remained in the neighbouring enclosure but was never too far from the cubs. He was often seen by keepers taking a great interest in his new family. This week, the cubs were successfully introduced to their father in the main outdoor enclosure for the big cats. The three adorable cubs are the first ever triplets to be born at the park since it opened in 1970, and the first cubs to be born in 14 years. Curator of Cotswold Wildlife Park, Jamie Craig, said: 'We have not bred lions for many years at Cotswold Wildlife Park so it is an exciting time for the mammal keepers. 'Our young pair are proving to be exemplary parents and, although there was some trepidation when we reintroduced the lioness and her cubs to the male, all went without a hitch and they can now be seen playing happily families in their enclosure.' Asiatic lions, which are found in the wild in India, are one of the world's rarest big cats, with wild population numbers having declined drastically over the last century, almost to the point of extinction.
2016-08-13 11:59 Qin Xie www.dailymail.co.uk
68 Thousands gather for the funeral of Anne of Romania Thousands of Romanians lined the streets to say farewell to Anne of Romania, the wife of Michael, the last king of Romania. Romania and neighbouring Moldovan both observed a national day of mourning on Saturday for Anne ahead of her funeral. A male Orthodox choir sang in a park outside the unfinished cathedral in Curtea de Arges to the hundreds who gathered before the funeral, which will be a private service. Anne died on August 1 in Switzerland at the age of 92. She only first visited the country when she was nearly 70 and did not speak the language. Yet many respected her for her 68-year marriage to Michael, whom she wed months after the communists forced him to abdicate in 1947. "She was a symbol of our country," said 79-year-old Eugenia Cristescu. "The royal family brought about great change in Romania. It raised us from being simple people and brought respect to the country. " Earlier church bells rang around Bucharest, the Romanian capital, and hundreds turned out as Orthodox and Catholic priests held services at the city's Royal Palace before Anne's body began its journey to Curtea de Arges, where members of the royal family are buried. Her body has lain in state this week in Romania. Four of the couple's five daughters were present for the funeral. Princess Irina, who was stripped of her royal title in 2013 after she was arrested with her husband for running an illegal cockfighting ring in the US, will not attend her mother's funeral. Michael, 94, has cancer and is living in Switzerland. He will also not attend the funeral on the advice of doctors.
2016-08-13 11:56 www.independent.ie
69 Indian-controlled Kashmir undergoes strict curfew to prevent protests A strict curfew has been extended to most parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir by authorities as separatists leaders called for weekend protests against Indian rule. Government troops in armoured vehicles patrolled the streets to thwart any attempt by protesters in Srinagar to march to the city's commercial centre. But protests erupted at about eight places in the city on Saturday, despite the stringent curfew. Police and paramilitary soldiers fired tear gas and shotgun pellets at two places to stop rock-throwing protesters. At least 10 people, including six policemen, were injured in clashes across the region, said a police officer. Separatist leaders, who challenge India's sovereignty over Kashmir, urged Kashmiris to march to a historic square over the weekend to demand a referendum to decide the future of the region. Shops, businesses and schools were shut for the 36th day running, and authorities blocked most mobile phone services and internet in an attempt to prevent demonstrators from mobilising. Kashmir has been under a security clampdown and curfew since the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8 sparked some of the largest protests against Indian rule in recent years. At least 56 civilians and two policemen have been killed and more than 1,400 protesters have been arrested. Kashmir is divided between arch-rivals India and Pakistan who both claim the region entirely. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmiri rebels who have been fighting for independence or for a merger with Pakistan since 1989. Pakistan denies the charge, saying it only provides moral and political support. More than 68,000 people have been killed since rebel groups began fighting Indian forces in 1989 and in a subsequent Indian military crackdown. AP
2016-08-13 11:56 www.independent.ie
70 Motorcycling-Motorcycling Grand Prix Austria moto3 qualification results Aug 13 (Gracenote) - Results from the Motorcycling Grand Prix Austria Moto3 Qualification on Saturday 1. Joan Mir (Spain) KTM 1:36.228 2. Brad Binder (South Africa) KTM 1:36.335 3. Enea Bastianini (Italy) Honda 1:36.600 4. Aron Canet (Spain) Honda 1:36.661 5. Fabio Quartararo (France) KTM 1:36.693 6. Francesco Bagnaia (Italy) Mahindra 1:36.843 7. Nicolo Bulega (Italy) KTM 1:36.919 8. Philipp OEttl (Germany) KTM 1:36.929 9. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Italy) Honda 1:36.950 10. Bo Bendsneyder (Netherlands) KTM 1:36.965
2016-08-13 11:54 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
71 Boy (3) in critical condition after falling from wooden roller coaster A three-year-old boy is in a critical condition after he fell from a wooden roller coaster at a theme park in the US. Declan McClain (3) was reportedly on the ride – which did not require seatbelts – with his brother (7) when he fell according to a spokesman for Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park. The boy fell out of the car as it was rounding a turn, tumbled about 10 feet and struck his head, according to Triblive. “It was during the middle part of the roller coaster ride track,” spokesman Jeff Croushore said. “He was talking. He was alert, but he was airlifted.” He was conscious and was flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, an emergency dispatcher said. The theme park's spokesperson Jeff Croushore could not confirm whether the wooden roller coaster had malfunctioned. It is now closed until an investigation has taken place. The ride recently passed an inspection on August 6 by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for the state's rides. The tragedy comes less than a week after a 10-year-old boy was 'decapitated' on a water slide in Kansas. Read More: Politician's son was 'decapitated' on world's largest water slide Caleb Schwab was killed on the Verruckt raft ride at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
2016-08-13 11:34 Catherine Devine www.independent.ie
72 Turkish PM says Ankara sees no compromise with the U. S. over Gulen extradition ISTANBUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Turkey's prime minister said on Saturday that Ankara could not compromise with the United States over its request for the extradition of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen which it blames for orchestrating last month's attempted coup. Gulen denies any involvement in the attempted putsch in which 240 people were killed. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made his comments to a group of Turkish journalists after announcing that U. S. Vice President Joe Biden would visit Turkey on August 24. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
2016-08-13 11:34 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
73 Daredevil performs a double back-flip from 60ft SCAFFOLDING in West Sussex This is the moment a young daredevil back-flips from more than 60ft and plummets into a river. Rory McGuinness, who studied at Chichester College in West Sussex, was filmed by his friend climbing up scaffolding before leaping into the water below. The video, captured by his friend Karl Matthews, shows the reckless youngster reaching a platform at the very top of the structure. A woman voices her concern as Rory climbs up the barriers on the side of the platform so that he is now in line with the roof of a three-storey building. He waves to the camera as Karl, who lives in Brighton, is heard saying 'oh no' in anticipation of the impending jump. Meanwhile Rory makes his final checks and after deciding he is ready to go, bravely throws himself backwards off the side of the 60ft scaffold. He then performs two spectacular back-flips before landing in the grimy river feet-first - sending a huge splash of water into the air. The short clip concludes with Karl saluting his friend as he surfaces and swims to the side of the river. The video was posted to Facebook, alongside the caption: 'The cannon that is... Rory McGuinness easily 60ft double back.' It has since been viewed more than 250,000 times and has picked up a number of comments from impressed and concerned viewers. One friend wrote: 'Jesus that was hectic,' while another said: 'You crazy person you're a loony but I love you heaps just be careful please.' Rory also comment, saying: 'Actually so high! Can't believe I went for the double back! Well happy.'
2016-08-13 11:22 Jake Polden www.dailymail.co.uk
74 The Nauru files: Labor pushes for parliamentary inquiry into abuse allegations Labor will move to establish a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and child abuse at Australia’s detention centre on Nauru following the Guardian’s publication of more than 2,000 leaked incident report from inside the immigration regime. On Wednesday the Guardian published the Nauru files, a cache of leaked reports which set out as never before the assaults, sexual abuse, self-harm attempts, child abuse and living conditions endured by asylum seekers held by the Australian government. The revelations have thrust into the spotlight the response of the Australian government and the private companies that manage the centres to reports of abuse and assaults, and has drawn strong international and domestic condemnation of the state of the Nauru detention centre. But Australia’s immigration minister Peter Dutton has sought to dismiss the dossier of files , claiming that they contain false reports and have mostly been reported before. Shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann told the Guardian on Saturday that Dutton’s response to the revelations was “dismissive and disgraceful”. He said Labor would move swiftly to establish a senate inquiry in the new parliament to independently investigate the reports, as well as the response from the government and the private companies that manage the detention centre. Neumann said: “The veil of secrecy around what’s happening must be pulled away and that’s why we need a senate inquiry.” “In broad terms what I would envisage is looking at the allegations contained in the reports, looking at the responses and looking at what could have been done better,” he said. “As a former police officer the minister should be ashamed of his responses. You don’t blame the victim and that’s exactly what the minister has tried to do... the government can’t be trusted to investigate this themselves, so we need a senate inquiry to examine what’s occurred.” He said Labor would approach crossbench senators as soon as possible to discuss the terms of reference for the inquiry. He stressed that Labor’s policies towards offshore detention hadn’t changed, but said that the asylum seekers on Nauru could not continue to languish on the island without any clear resettlement plan. Labor’s move to establish the parliamentary inquiry is likely to succeed. Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young earlier on Saturday flagged she would move to re-establish an inquiry examining Australia’s offshore detention regime. Some cross-bench senators have already raised their concerns about the slew of allegations contained in the Nauru files , and have indicated they would support Labor’s other plans to re-introduce mandatory child abuse reporting and an independent children’s advocate for the detention regime. The files have also drawn a response from some members of the government. Liberal MP Russell Broadbent said the government needed to consider whether there were adequate checks and balances to ensure the safety of asylum seekers in immigration detention. Hanson-Young said once the new parliament was resumed at the end of this month, she would move to re-establish a previous Senate committee investigating Australia’s offshore detention regime. “As members of parliament we each have responsibly to ensure that the government is kept to account and when we know children are being abused there is no excuse for turning a blind eye,” she said. She also said she would seek to recall Wilson Security and Broadspectrum, the companies that manage and provide security at the centre. The Guardian’s analysis of the Nauru files revealed that Wilson Security did not disclose up to 16 allegations of sexual assault and child abuse in an earlier inquiry into Nauru in the senate. The company said it had fully cooperated with the inquiry based on the information it had at hand at the time.
2016-08-13 11:15 Paul Farrell www.theguardian.com
75 'Bit daunting, really': the Edinburgh standups reading Chilcot in full – video At 2.6m words it’s something of a mouthful, but John Chilcot’s Iraq war report is being tackled by comics at the 2016 fringe in a performance expected to take two weeks. Here, they explain why holding the powerful to account is ‘exactly what Edinburgh is for’ Chilcot’s 6,000-page report becomes Edinburgh festival fringe event ‘If I get laughs, I will have failed’: Chilcot report recital begins in Edinburgh Iraq Out & Loud is at Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus , Edinburgh, until 22 August
2016-08-13 11:00 Amir Amirani www.theguardian.com
76 Teenage British singer Imani eyeing album, tour next LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Sixteen-year-old singer Imani, who gained fame when she featured on British DJ Sigala's dance hit "Say You Do" earlier this year, says she is eyeing an album and tour next after releasing her debut single last month. The teenager, who cites music stars Justin Bieber, Beyonce and rapper Tinie Tempah as her inspirations, wrote her first song at the age of 10. "(In) five years' time... I'd like to have an album out or two," she said. "I'd like to release some more music, go on tour and I'd like to keep putting music out that people can relate to. " (Reporting by Sarah Mills; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
2016-08-13 11:00 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
77 Seven candidates for new African places on FIFA council By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Seven candidates, including two Confederation of African Football (CAF) vice presidents, are standing for election to be the continent's two new representatives on the reformed FIFA Council next month, CAF said on Saturday. Africa is to get two additional seats on FIFA's cabinet, which has been significantly expanded as part of reforms introduced by the new president of world soccer's governing body, Gianni Infantino. The pair will be decided in a vote in Cairo on Sept. 29. CAF's first vice president Suketu Patel from the Seychelles and second vice president Almamy Kabele Camara of Guinea have been nominated as well as two other members of CAF's executive committee -- the Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi and his counterpart from Madagascar, Ahmad. The three other candidates are the heads of the football associations in Niger, Senegal and South Sudan -- Hamidou Djibrilla, Augustin Senghor and Chabur Goc Alei. All seven face integrity checks, conducted by FIFA, before their names will be confirmed for the ballot at CAF's extraordinary general meeting. The meeting was called to vote for the two new members and also to pass a new set of statutes as part of the FIFA reform process. The 36-member FIFA Council will hold its first meeting in Zurich on Oct. 13- 14 as it replaces the tarnished 24-member executive committee and takes responsibility for setting the overall strategic direction of world football's governing body. FIFA has been in turmoil after a wave of indictments of football officials in the United States last year, including former members of its executive committee, on corruption-related charges. Such an expansive field of candidates for just two seats is a departure from previous contests to decide Africa's representation on the all-powerful FIFA executive. In the past, the contests have been painstakingly choreographed by long-standing CAF president Issa Hayatou. This time, however, with Hayatou's own future uncertain after almost three decades at the helm of African football, he appears to have allowed his lieutenants to battle it out among themselves for the posts. The newly-elected members will only sit on the council until March next year when another round of elections will be held at the 2017 CAF Congress in Addis Ababa on March 17. (Editing by Toby Davis)
2016-08-13 10:50 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
78 78 Leicester captain Wes Morgan urges his team- mates to prove last season's title triumph 'was no fluke' Wes Morgan has sent a warning to the rest of the Premier League by insisting his Leicester side are 'here to stay at the top'. Few are backing the Foxes to retain the title after they defied the odds by winning the league title despite being priced at 5,000/1 to win England's top flight. However, Morgan is confident his team-mates can once again prove they are capable of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Manchester City, United and Chelsea. Morgan, speaking to Four Four Two , said of his side's title hopes: 'We have to show what we can do and prove to everyone it was no fluke last season. 'We're here to stay at the top. It's going to be exciting for the neutrals and I can't wait for it to begin. 'Everyone saw what we could do last season. Teams will be better prepared for us and be aware of our strengths and try to nullify that as much as possible. We will try to find different solutions to the problems. 'We definitely want to emulate what we did last season. To taste that success, get that glory, we want it again and I would say we're even more eager to get it again.' Leicester kick-start the campaign with an away game at Hull City. Hull have a depleted side going into their opener as they have four senior players sidelined through injury.
2016-08-13 10:21 Anthony Hay www.dailymail.co.uk
79 Kylie Jenner gives her Kim Kardashian a run for her money in the Bahamas She's the protege and little sister of one of the world's most well-known reality stars, whose frequent racy pictures have earned her world-wide fame. And Kylie Jenner proved she was Kim Kardashian's mini-me, as she reenacted her older sister's famous bum pose on the beach during her birthday holiday in the Bahamas with Tyga on Friday. Dressed in a pale peach bikini, the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan celebrated her 19th birthday in style- giving the cameras a sizzling show. Scroll down for video The brunette beauty, whose complete overhaul has turned heads and earned her a huge Instagram following, sizzled as she splashed around in the waves. Showing off her toned curves, she poked out her posterior as she rocked wet hair and minimal make- up. And changing into a smoking hot red one-piece with thong-style bottoms, Kylie did her best Pamela Anderson impression as she frolicked on the beach. Cut high on the hips, the swimsuit showed off her long sensational figure. Though previously admitting to having lip fillers, the star has remained quiet on her newly curvaceous hip and rear area. But like sisters Kim and Khoe, whose impressive waists keep shrinking whilst their hips become more bootylicious, Kyle has learned from the best and posed up a storm in the beautiful blue ocean. And the teen appeared to be having a whale of a time, as she wrapped her legs around beau Tyga in the sea, beaming widely. Donning metallic aviators, the lip kit queen looked every inch the stylish star. And her model sister Kendall Jenner was also present to celebrate her little sister's birthday. Along with Jordyn Woods, Anastasia Karanikolaou and Hailey Baldwin, the girls looked like they were having a great time as they enjoyed the ocean views in Turks and Caicos. Tyga was due in court on Tuesday after a lawsuit was brought against him over unpaid rent charges, however his failure to attend- instead opting to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday abroad, has led to a warrant being issued for his arrest. Tyga's legal issues stem from his failure to pay a $480,000 judgement against him for back rent and damage at a Malibu home he rented in 2011. The rapper's landlord, Gholamreza Rezai, went to court in 2012 claiming that Tyga missed a $16,000 monthly rent payment, skipped out on his lease and left the home in need of major repairs. The Grammy-nominated California rapper also allegedly installed a dance pole in the middle of the master bedroom without permission. Tyga claimed poverty, refusing to pay the settlement ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Nancy Newman. He was scheduled to be questioned under oath about his finances. Newman signed a bench warrant, which is typically issued in the case of a failure to appear for trial and could lead to Tyga being jailed, with bail set at $10,000. However the Kardashian-Jenner clanned left his woes behind them as they enjoyed an exotic getaway.
2016-08-13 10:07 Jessica Rach www.dailymail.co.uk
80 80 Princess Diana insisted on taking her 'secret mascot' sex toy with her Princess Diana had a 'secret mascot' in the form of a sex toy which she took with her on all overseas trips as a good luck charm, her former bodyguard has revealed. Royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the marital aid - which was referred to as 'Le Gaget', or 'the gadget' - was purchased on a 'wild staff night out' in Paris in 1992. Mr Wharfe claims he then persuaded Diana's sister Sarah McCorquodale to hide the sex toy in the Princess of Wales' bag the next day. The shock revelation was made by Mr Wharfe in the new edition of his book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret. Mr Wharfe, who gave a detailed insight into the Royal Family, also described how Prince William and Harry would joke around and ask if he wanted to 'fight'. And during the new version of his book, he added that the Princess 'loved pranks and practical jokes' and thought the toy was 'hilarious' before she quickly made it her 'secret mascot for foreign trips'. The former bodyguard even claims she once forgot to bring it along to a trip to Nepal after leaving it in a drawer at Kensington Palace. But she was so adamant that it was her lucky charm, Mr Wharfe claims she had it flown over from London in a diplomatic bag to the British Embassy in the South Asian country. Scroll down for video He wrote that she attached 'almost superstitious importance' to the object and that Diana told him 'You know everything will go wrong without it'. It was then delivered to the King of Nepal on a silver tray by a gurkha aide and the Princess reportedly said 'Oh, that must be for me' during a press conference and started to laugh. In an extract from his book, he wrote: 'Diana loved pranks and practical jokes, and one of the most uproarious involved an item purchased on a wild staff night out in Paris, during her official visit to France in November 1992. 'We all referred to it as 'Le Gaget', or the gadget — in fact, it was a sex toy. 'I had persuaded Lady Sarah McCorquodale, her sister and acting lady-in-waiting during the trip, to secrete it in Diana's handbag the next morning. 'The Princess discovered it while going through her bag, between meetings with the French president Jacques Chirac and Paul McCartney. 'Far from being offended, she thought it very funny, and from that moment Le Gaget became her secret mascot on all royal visits abroard. 'She attached almost superstitious importance to it and, when we arrived in Nepal the following March, she turned to me and said: "I hope we've got Le Gaget, Ken. You know everything will go wrong without it". 'Much to her consternation, I had to admit it had been left in a drawer at Kensington Palace. 'A telephone call was made and a secretary instructed to dispatch the vibrator by diplomatic bag to the British Embassy in Nepal. His book continues: 'It arrived in a sealed packet, delivered on a silver tray by a gurkha aide to the King of Nepal, during a press reception at the ambassador's official residence. 'The Princess was preparing to meet the media in the gardens when the package was handed to Diana's equerry, Captain Ed Musto of the Royal Marines — who made the ill-advised decision to open the packet and remove the offending item, in front of all the guests (but, mercifully, not in view of the world's Press). 'There was a stunned silence. Then the Princess said: "Oh, that must be for me" and started to laugh. 'Captain Musto graciously slipped Le Gaget into his pocket, and the embassy dignitaries were far too diplomatic to make any comment. There were a few bemused glances, though.'
2016-08-13 10:03 Abe Hawken www.dailymail.co.uk
81 Croatia’s summer-long Obonjan festival finally gets going U nder a crescent moon and starry sky, a crowd dance to the ambient electro beats of Floating Points in a stone amphitheatre – it’s an idyllic setting for a gig. I’m on Obonjan, a previously uninhabited Croatian island that aims to be both a summer-long festival and a wellness retreat – and the atmosphere is upbeat yet relaxed. Things hadn’t started quite so well. Obonjan was slated on social media when it failed to open for its six-week season on 28 July, citing water and electricity supply issues. People had to abandon holiday plans at short notice. Refunds and rebookings were made, but the burning question when I join the island’s first guests is whether this ambitious project is now ready to party. “It was devastating to let people down and not open after working on this for four years, but we’d no choice,” says co-founder Dan Blackledge, the man behind Croatia’s Unknown and Hideout festivals, who blames contractors for last-minute failures. It is a shame, because a lot of passion, creativity and hard graft has obviously gone into this truly exciting idea. It’s a 40-minute boat trip (20 by speedboat) from Šibenik, 80km from Split, to Obonjan, past uninhabited isles and an abandoned island fort. A DJ is playing on the deck of Drift bar as we arrive and people are swimming in the translucent Adriatic and lounging on oversized beanbags sipping cocktails. So far, so cool. Accommodation for up to 445 guests is in bell tents or safari-tent style “lodges” sleeping from one to four, scattered among the pretty pine forests (you can’t bring your own tent). All have wooden decks, air-conditioning, electricity, proper beds, towels and sheets. I’m impressed with our lodge, which has a fridge and en suite too. It’s all very tasteful with thoughtful touches – deckchairs on the terrace, gorgeous rugs and bed covers, hampers with cutlery and crockery, even hanging baskets with plants. Finishing touches are still being added (the Zen Den’s healthfood cafe has opened since I left) and there’s landscaping to be done, but it already feels magical. There are hidden coves to discover, paths winding through the woods, chirping cicadas a constant soundtrack. The Eden Project advised on all development, keeping the environmental impact to a minimum – and the sense of untamed nature is tangible. We explore the 136-acre island, struck by how wild it all still feels, and then head to The Kitchen, the main restaurant and bar by the vast saltwater pool for dinner. The vibe is relaxed Ibiza, the view amazing. It’s here, though, that teething problems start to show, with long waits and chaotic service, despite the lovely staff. The food, however, is delicious and faultless: spicy tempura shrimp (£5), dorado with red pepper (£14). Wellbeing is central to Obonjan’s philosophy and I’m up early for a yoga class on a shaded platform. There are several classes a day, led by inspiring teachers, and an ever-changing programme of holistic workshops – from “manifesting magic” to group hypnosis (all activities are included in the price, except spa treatments and excursions). Besides satisfying dedicated yogis, the aim is to appeal to newbies who might want to dip in between gigs too. “My sister’s the festival lover, but I’m here for the yoga,” said Sabrina, a headteacher from Shrewsbury. “The combination works really well for us.” For party action, the Forest Bar is a fun spot, with DJs playing under illuminated trees in front of a giant mural. It seems less messy than many festivals (maybe due, in part, to the small scale) with a grown-up vibe, the international crowd mostly mid-twenties up (under-18s aren’t allowed). “I think we’ll attract people who’ve done their hardcore partying,” says Dan. “You can have fun but chill too, and you don’t need to cram it into three days.” Comedian Sara Pascoe and spoken-word artist Kate Tempest are on the bill later in the week, Gilles Peterson is among dozens of visiting DJs, and talks, film screenings, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and sailing trips start soon. Visiting artists will be leaving their mark on the island, too, with paintings, sculptures and installations popping up over the summer. Plans for the future are yet more ambitious: treehouses (capacity will grow to 800), family weeks, an eco research centre with Eden Labs, marine conservation projects, banquets – and opening will be extended, from June to October. “There are so many big ideas and great people involved. We want Obonjan to be a platform for connection and community,” says Dan. But the major problem during my trip is the food – not quality but quantity. Bok, the lovely waterfront restaurant serving delicious small plates, can’t cope with demand one lunchtime and closes the kitchen, and there’s confusion over what’s open when. The Pavilion pizza takeaway is a back- up, and the Corner Shop has basic supplies, but some guests take trips to the mainland to stock up, and others complain of high prices. True, an unexpected storm contributed to the chaos, and more staff start this week, but things need to improve rapidly. If you’re thinking of visiting, perhaps it’s safest to wait until late in the season or even next year. “Things did go wrong, particularly on the food side, but you forgave it because it was the first week and overall it’s amazing,” said Grant from Melbourne. “It’s sure to be a big hit – we loved the mix of yoga and partying. I’m hoping to come back for my 40th.” • The trip was provided by Obonjan ( obonjan-island.com ), which runs until 7 September. Bell tents from €72pppn and lodges from €97pp; transfers €14 each way
2016-08-13 10:00 Jane Dunford www.theguardian.com
82 New director of Md. Democrats: A political novice with grass-roots appeal Chuck Conner is a political novice in many respects, but officials with the Maryland Democratic Party saw two things in him that they wanted in their new executive director: A common touch and experience with community outreach. Party chairman Bruce Poole said those qualifications made Conner, a fourth-generation pastor with a law degree, an easy choice to lead day-to- day operations after Patrick Murray left the position to head the U. S. Senate campaign of Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) in May. Conner, 33, had been the state party’s outreach director since January. “We had plaudits from people who were never connected with the party before,” Poole said. “We sent him out to a lot of African American churches and tried to reach out to black and Hispanic communities. People came back and said, ‘we like this guy.’ ” Reconnecting with community leaders and grassroots organizations has been a primary focus for the state party since losing the governorship and nine seats in the General Assembly nearly two years ago. “Right now, the party is in trouble in terms of its bench,” said Donald Norris, director of the school of public policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. “What’s going to help the party is someone who can rebuild.” [ In August swelter, Democrats criticize Hogan’s new heated walkway ] According to Norris, that means strengthening ties with the party faithful, including labor unions, environmental groups and social-justice advocates. From there, he said, Democrats and their allies need to groom a candidate who can eventually take back the governorship, which Republican Larry Hogan won in 2014. “If they can’t knock him off in 2018, they need to find someone who can run against two or three really attractive Republicans in later elections,” Norris said. Possible Republican successors to Hogan include Anne Arundel County Executive Steven R. Schuh and Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. One sign Democrats are buckling down in Maryland is the party’s decision not to send volunteers and resources this summer to neighboring battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Virginia, as it has done for past presidential elections. Connor downplayed the move, saying volunteers “want to knock on doors in their own neighborhoods.” Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) expressed confidence in the party’s overall approach, adding that he was impressed with an event Conner helped organize for more than 700 supporters last month at the Democratic National Convention. “The energy in the room for our Maryland Day lunch in Philadelphia was outstanding,” Busch said. [ A long bus ride for a glimpse of the Democratic National Convention ] Conner, a native of South Carolina, has little political experience compared to Murray, his predecessor, who previously served as director of the Kansas Democratic Party, a lobbyist for Johns Hopkins University and deputy chief of staff for state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert). Conner’s resume includes seven months serving in a leadership position with a Baltimore nonprofit group that supports underperforming high schoolers and almost two years as an aide to Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore County). After graduating from the Charleston School of Law in 2013, Conner, who also has a divinity degree from Duke University, moved to Maryland to be closer to his now-fiancee. Soon after, he landed the job doing constituent services for Clippinger’s office. The interview for that position was supposed to last a few minutes, but the two chatted for more than an hour. “His previous experience as a divinity student brings an emotional intelligence, and he combines that with what they teach in law school -- being able to hear people and identify what is important, what the key issues are,” Clippinger said. As outreach director, Murray said, Conner’s job “was to go into the places where Democrats haven’t been showing up as much as they should have in the past few years. He really took the bull by the horns by picking up the phone, setting up meetings and building a network that, frankly, the party had allowed to atrophy.” Pamela Faulkner, secretary of the United Democrats of Washington County, said she first met Conner while sitting across from him at a lunch with her group. “I had no idea that he was an important member of the Maryland Democratic Party,” she said. “I’m new to the state and just learning about Maryland, so his kindness meant a great deal to me.” Van Hollen, who defeated fellow Rep. Donna Edwards in a bruising April primary and is heavily favored to win the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, recalls meeting Conner at a party unity event in Queen Anne’s County in June. “It was clear that we shared the view that Democrats need to talk to voters in every area of Maryland,” Van Hollen said. [ Mikulski: The senator who handed Hillary Clinton her sledgehammer ] Hogan and the state GOP raked in more than $2 million within a few months of the 2014 election, including money from Democrats enamored with the straight-talking governor or eager to maintain access and influence in the new administration. But filings with the Federal Election Commission show that the state Democratic party has regained its traditional fundraising lead, with $415,310 in cash on hand to support federal candidates as of June 30, compared to $69,811 for the Maryland GOP. After the April primary, the party was stung by criticism from Edwards, one of two African Americans in the state’s congressional delegation. She said the Democratic establishment had turned away from candidates who are women, minorities or outsiders. Conner said Edwards’ remarks will force the party to reflect and become stronger. “She brought up some hard truths, but I feel like this is a party where those hard truths could be spoken and well-received,” Conner said. “As a young black man, I feel invested in making sure the Maryland Democratic Party is one that is inclusive and brings out the best in anyone that wants to serve.” Conner said the party will focus on distinguishing its agenda from that of the governor, particularly on education, pocketbook issues and the environment. “Growing up in church, we used to sing a song, ‘Let My Work Speak for Me,’” he said. “I think that’s what we need to do.”
2016-08-13 09:39 Josh Hicks www.washingtonpost.com
83 Hit-and-run Brooklyn bus madman flattens two pedestrians, killing one A 47-year-old man struck by a livery bus shuttling through Brooklyn died of his wounds early Saturday as cops continued a manhunt for the hit-and-run driver, officials said Saturday. Police released a surveillance image of the bus involved in the Friday crash that left the man as well as a 50-year-old woman in crumpled heaps on the asphalt. The two were trying to cross Flatbush Ave. near Ave. U just before 5 p.m. when they were struck by the grey shuttle bus. Both were taken to Kings County Hospital where the man died of a severe head wound. His name was not immediately released. The hit-and-run driver remained on the loose Saturday morning, cops said. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
2016-08-13 09:37 Thomas Tracy feeds.nydailynews.com
84 #NPRreads: Shake Things Up This Weekend With These Three Stories : The Two-Way : NPR Nina Gregory Laurel Wamsley Barbara Campbell Sarah McCammon The Ursula float from the "Little Mermaid" entertains visitors to Disneyland in May 2005 in Anaheim, Calif. Ric Francis /AP hide caption The Ursula float from the "Little Mermaid" entertains visitors to Disneyland in May 2005 in Anaheim, Calif. #NPRreads is a weekly feature on Twitter and The Two-Way. The premise is simple: Correspondents, editors and producers from our newsroom share the pieces that have kept them reading, using the #NPRreads hashtag. Each weekend, we highlight some of the best stories. This is fabulous. #NPRreads : In Defense of Villainesses https://t.co/zYxMJZkmN6 via @tordotcom This essay by Sarah Gailey is a hoot. It also feels true, delving into cartoon characters to ask why the women have to be villains to be bold, to seek power, to act now. The princess model relies on being liked, Gailey says: "We look at thin-wristed shy-smiling nice-haired female protagonists and we see what's expected of us: wait. Be patient. Be nice. Be happy with your lot, enjoy what you're given, and don't look for more. ... everyone must love you. ... Don't get old or fat or tall. Don't make demands. Hope, maybe, but never expect. " As Gailey notes, the villainesses aren't role models. But maybe real women can model for the cartoons: standing up to powerful harassers, rejecting limits, running for president. Really interesting read on #whiteness , #class , and #academia . #nprreads https://t.co/J54FWtDcmc As I cover the Donald Trump campaign, I'm thinking a lot about the white working class voters who tend to overwhelmingly support Trump: the frustrations they feel with "the elites" and the sense that "the system" wasn't created for them. The author of this piece about "coding white trash" describes a similar sense about forging a career in academia, while also feeling out of place each time she returns to her blue-collar roots. This discussion also appealed to me personally as someone who grew up in the Midwest, married a Southerner, and did not attend an elite college. I have experienced the feeling of insecurity that perhaps power centers like DC are really not meant for me. In my own family, people on one side tend to be farmers and a truck drivers and factory workers, while the other side includes a judge, neurosurgeon, and cardiologist. I've seen up close the gaps between their opportunity sets and how differently my cousins/aunts/uncles on either side live and think. Take that disparity and disconnect and amplify it times millions of Americans, and it provides an insight into our current political upheaval. This piece is excellent context for understanding that. Folks in LA are so desperate for affordable housing that some 50,000 illegal granny flats already exist. https://t.co/xI6FWvdiPV #NPRreads I love granny flats, the small backyard dwellings also known as carriage houses, laneway houses , or garage apartments. I lived in one my senior year of college, and it was great: a tiny little house I shared with a roommate, tucked behind a larger single-family home on a residential street near campus in Chapel Hill. As cities grapple with how to create more affordable housing, granny flats add capacity without significantly changing the existing look and feel of a neighborhood. These backyard homes create useful new housing types in neighborhoods that otherwise might be out of reach for low- or middle- income folks, while providing a new income stream for homeowners and adding density that can make it easier for local businesses to sprout. But construction of granny flats is contentious in some cities, pitting neighbors who want to build them against others who say, in this case literally, "not in my backyard. " As the Washington Post 's Emily Badger points out in this report on the battle in Los Angeles, the shortage of affordable housing there is so acute (and the laws so contradictory) that as many as 50,000 such units already exist. Just look for curtains in the garage windows. An exceptionally poignant and beautiful story. #NPRReads https://t.co/ZFwOcL16tM This beautifully written story details the elegiac motions of some of those who lost family members five years ago in the tsunami in Japan. It has an otherworldly quality of sadness, devotion and loss while also being very well reported. The story takes us into the ocean with a father searching for his daughter in an act that is so poignant and meditative, as a reader, I, too, felt his grief. To commit such resources in order to tell the story of those who are still grieving five years later is a meaningful commitment from The New York Times and well worth the reader's time. Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use , and will be moderated prior to posting. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use , Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.
2016-08-13 09:32 Nina Gregory www.npr.org
85 Tiny terrace houses in Sydney smashes reserve by $110,000 in astonishing sale A very small terrace home has added a hefty sum to its owner's pockets after it smashed its reserve price by $110,000 at auction selling for $1.01 million. The 38sqm property block in Darlinghurst, an inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney, was purchased in 2009 for $525,000, The Daily Telegraph reported. On Saturday morning, the bidding started at $820,000 before an Asian couple who live in the nearby suburb of Newtown in Sydney's inner west won the final bid. The sale price works out to represent about $26,000 per square metre for the tiny property. The couple purchased the property as an investment with plans to renovate before renting it out. Auctioneer Peter Baldwin believes the property will always be a good investment due to its location in inner Sydney. 'It's the funky end of town, you're in the city and you walk down the end of the street and there's the harbour,' Mr Baldwin said. Despite being one of Sydney's small properties it features two upstairs bathrooms, with a balcony of the main bedroom, kitchen, and just a single bathroom. 'It's a smart buy, any place you are in the world you're always going to have a safety net in terms of values in the inner city.' The selling agent Greg McKinley says buyers are drawn to homes rather than apartments even the property might need a bit of work. 'It'll need a fair bit of renovation and it is very small even for an inner city place, but it shows the marketplace for people looking for something with a little bit of individuality outside of an apartment.'
2016-08-13 09:30 Martha Azzi www.dailymail.co.uk
86 Seized parrots need volunteers, caretakers DECATUR, Ga. -- If you consider yourself a "bird person" and find that volunteering is your thing, there's a special opportunity for your. DeKalb County is looking for volunteers to take help take care of more than 300 parrots. These colorful creatures were seized during an investigation of an animal cruelty hoarding case back on July 13 of this year. Volunteers will be expected to help feed, water, clean, vacuum and everything else that comes with getting these birds back on their feet. Potential and hopeful volunteers can contact Janelle Kover at [email protected] for more information. And remember: volunteering is not for the birds .
2016-08-13 09:29 Chad White rssfeeds.11alive.com
87 Police identify owner of dog in 'vicious' attack that severely injured man KALAMAZOO, MI -- Police say a tip helped them find the owner of a dog that severely injured a man in a 'vicious' attack Friday, Aug. 12. The person has been identified as a 62-year-old Kalamazoo man. Police say a report will be submitted to the Kalamazoo City Attorney's office for possible charges. Police shoot attacking pit bull to free 60-year-old man from its jaws The dog attack happened about 11:15 a.m. Friday in the 700 block of Egleston Avenue. The first officer to arrive at the scene found the dog attacking a 60-year-old Kalamazoo man and biting his arm. The man was trying to fend off the attack. Police reported that both the man and dog were covered in blood. The officer shot and killed the dog to stop the attack. Police said the victim had simply been riding a bicycle along Egleston Avenue when the dog lunged at him.
2016-08-13 09:25 John Tunison www.mlive.com
88 Gang members, high on pot, fall asleep at crime scene Deputies say two teenage gang members smoked enough marijuana Friday morning to pass out in their getaway vehicle while it was still parked in the same Winton neighborhood they’d just finished burglarizing. The two boys also were found with a stolen handgun, Undersheriff Jason Goins said. A Merced deputy spotted a blue SUV about 12:30 a.m. near Irvine Drive and Berkeley Avenue in Winton. Investigators said several houses are under construction in the area and the neighborhood has reported numerous thefts from those sites in recent weeks. Two 17-year-old boys were found “passed out” inside the SUV and “there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle,” Goins said. The deputy saw a large amount of copper wire, boxes of nails and other construction equipment in the SUV, authorities said. “It was determined these items were stolen from the construction sites,” Goins said. Deputies also found a loaded .22 Ruger semiautomatic handgun inside the SUV. The gun had been reported stolen in Tulare in March, according to investigators. Both boys were arrested on suspicion of participation in a criminal street gang, theft, possession of stolen property and having a loaded firearm in the vehicle, deputies said. The teens were released to the custody of their parents.
2016-08-13 09:24 By Rob www.heraldonline.com
89 One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson, 80, is 'fighting for his life' in hospital after suffering a 'severe head injury' during a heart attack One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson is said to be fighting for his life after suffering a 'severe head injury' while having a heart attack. The veteran actor, 80, was put in intensive care and is in a stable but 'serious' condition, sources say. Wilson was rushed to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday afternoon. A source told The Sun : 'Richard had a really nasty fall and hit his head. 'He was on life support in the hospital in the intensive care unit. He’s stable but very ill and in a serious condition. It’s been a very difficult time for his friends and family.' revealed he originally turned down his most famous role, playing Victor Meldrew in One Foot In The Grave. The Scottish actor made his name playing the cantankerous protagonist but said he had to be talked into it because he thought he was too young for the part. At one point, television bosses were even thinking about casting Les Dawson as the curmudgeon. Wilson told Radio Times: 'I was in my early 50s and Victor was 60. I turned it down. 'I think Les Dawson was being considered. A very funny man but I don't know if he could have played Victor.' Producer/director Susan Belbin continued to pursue Wilson and, after reading more scripts, he was convinced. He went on to play the pensioner at war with middle-class suburbia for five series from 1990 to 1995, before returning for a final run in 2000. Wilson had planned on resurrecting Victor for a performance at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, despite the fact he was killed off in the final episode of the BBC series. His 12-night run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was due to start on Tuesday. But concerns about his health were raised when it emerged he had pulled out of the run of shows, with his agent then confirming he had been taken ill. Wilson had planned to re-create writer David Renwick's script for a 1993 episode called The Trial, which sees Victor waiting in the house, on a rainy day, on call for jury duty. Half an hour with Victor would have been followed by half an hour with Wilson himself, answering questions from the audience. The actor promised fans that the OAP - known for the catchphrase 'I don't believe it!' - would not have mellowed with age. He said: 'I think Victor is around 80 now. But I am playing him roughly 74. 'He has not changed one bit. In fact, it's quite hard to get back to my normal, affable, loveable self after being him, even for half an hour.'
2016-08-13 09:13 Keiligh Baker www.dailymail.co.uk
90 Afghan Taliban free six crew of Pakistani helicopter captured after crash By Mehreen Zahra-Malik and Amjad Ali ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Five Pakistanis and a Russian who were captured by the Afghan Taliban after their government helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan have been released and returned to Pakistan, the foreign ministry said on Saturday. The Russian-made transport helicopter belonging to the Punjab provincial government was en route from Peshawar in northwest Pakistan to Uzbekistan for maintenance on Aug. 4, when it suffered a technical failure and crash-landed in the Taliban-held Logar province in eastern Afghanistan earlier this month. The crew's release was arranged through a handover between tribes in the border region, from where they were transferred to Islamabad by helicopter, the ministry said in a statement. "The six member crew of Punjab government helicopter that went missing in Afghanistan on 4th August 2016 has been recovered and arrived in Islamabad today," it said. Whereas Pakistan acknowledges that it wields some influence with the Afghan Taliban, it denies Afghan and U. S. accusations that it provides support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban and its leaders. Pakistan says it has been a victim of terrorism, much of it from groups based in Afghanistan, for years. Initial reports after the crash had indicated that there were seven passengers but Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on Saturday that it turned out there were only six on board. One of the seven people listed on the flight manifest had been unwell and decided not to fly, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity. (Additional reporting by Saud Mehsud. Writing by Kay Johnson and Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
2016-08-13 09:10 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
91 Leigh-Anne Pinnock stuns in a VERY daring sheer skirt as she attends birthday bash without her bandmates She was without her bandmates on Friday evening, but Leigh-Anne Pinnock didn't need company to command attention as she stepped out in London. The dusky singer caught the eye in a daring sheer skirt that exposed her toned legs during an appearance in trendy Shoreditch, where she attended a 30th birthday party at Alice in Wonderland themed cocktail lounge Looking Glass. With patterned flourishes and an elegant floor-length cut the skirt ensured Leigh-Anne was hard to miss as she made her way inside the East End venue with a female pal. Scroll down for video The 24- year old added to her look with an off-the-shoulder strapless top that drew attention to her slender physique, while her hair was centre parted and neatly tied away from her face. Wisely opting to select her make-up from a colour palette that accentuated her dark skin tone, Leigh-Anne proved to be something of a fashion highlight at an event also attended by style conscious Fleur East. The former X Factor contestant looked comparatively casual on the night, opting for an edgy cropped T-shirt and frayed jeans. A of black leather heels completed the look, while her trademark mop of tight corkscrew curls ensured she stood out as she made her way inside. Leigh- Anne's latest outing comes shortly after separating from long-term boyfriend Jordan Kiffin in June. The confirmation of Leigh-Anne's split came after The Mirror reported that the former lovebirds 'have been having problems for a while and decided to finally end their relationship'. Another source told the newspaper: 'Yes they have split. It happened a while ago. They grew apart. Leigh has been on the tour for months now, and before that was travelling worldwide with promo for the record. 'All the time apart as just taken its toll. They decided to split - there is no fall out and they are both still friends, and will remain so. They genuinely get on very well.' Their split comes a year after the pair were reported to have gone their separate ways, before quickly reconciling. Leigh-Anne now joins Perrie Edwards in the single ranks, after the blonde beauty's split from former One Direction heart-throb Zayn Mailk last year.
2016-08-13 09:10 Jason Chester www.dailymail.co.uk
92 AmeriCorps members to help connect students with healthy food during school year MUSKEGON, MI – The Farm to School movement is in full swing throughout Muskegon County. The initiative aims to strengthen the local economy by enriching the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers which in turn are served in schools. In an effort to further than mission, Muskegon Public Schools will partner with the national non-profit FoodCorps during the upcoming school year. FoodCorps is a national organization that connects kids to healthy food in school by using its team of AmeriCorps service members. Through their guidance, students learn what healthy food is and gain an appreciation for where it comes from. The service member will be working with students throughout the district in school-based gardens, in the classrooms and in the cafeterias. "We are looking forward to expanding our Farm to School activities to create stronger links between our students and eating healthy food in our cafeterias all year round," said Chartwells Food Service Director Colleen Johnson. "We have made great strides in offering healthy options but now we will have a service member in our cafeterias to support kids in choosing the healthy options. This is great news for our families. " According to the FoodCorps website, team members introduced 664 new foods, built 452 gardens and reached an estimated 177,459 students during the 2015 school year. For more information about Farm to School efforts throughout Muskegon County, contact project coordinator Debra Warren at [email protected] .
2016-08-13 09:09 Brandon Champion www.mlive.com
93 Philippines, Muslim rebels relaunch peace talks The Philippines on Saturday restarted peace talks with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, the first under President Rodrigo Duterte aimed at ending decades of violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Negotiators for the two sides said the weekend talks in Malaysia would discuss details of Duterte's peace road map. "They will discuss the road map to clarify certain issues. But let me warn everyone, it is not an easy task. It is very complicated," Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur without elaborating. The 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has waged a bloody insurgency in the mainly Muslim southern Philippines since the 1970s but an accord signed in 2014 had raised hopes of a lasting peace. Under the accord, the rebels would have only given up their arms after a law was passed creating an autonomous homeland in Mindanao and a regional government was elected. The vote was meant to take place alongside the May 2016 general election. However a bungled raid into MILF territory that killed 44 police commandos in 2015 helped derail the passage of the law and stalled the peace process with the rebels. Dureza described the relaunching of the talks in Malaysia, the first formal sit-down between the two sides since Duterte took office, as a "big milestone for peace in Mindanao". MILF chief Murad Ebrahim said he welcomed fellow Muslim rebel Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), to join the transition commission to establish the "Bangsamoro" autonomous region in the south. "For the inclusion of brother Nur Misuari, the MILF welcomes him joining because we believe there has to be inclusivity in finding a solution to the problem in the Bangsamoro homeland. We need all the players to be onboard," he said. While there were some people in the southern Philippines inspired by the Islamic State jihadists, Ebrahim said "if the peace process was successful, they (IS) will not garner the people's support. " The Philippine Muslim separatists comprise three main groups -- the MNLF and breakaway factions the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group. Armed Muslim groups have been fighting since the 1970s for an independent Islamic state or autonomous rule in the south, which they regard as their ancestral home, and the conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives. The conflict has condemned millions of people across Mindanao to brutal poverty and created fertile conditions for Islamic extremism, with the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and other hardline militants making remote areas their strongholds.
2016-08-13 09:09 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
94 Lufthansa and pilots union break off pay talks BERLIN, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Germany's Lufthansa and pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) have broken off talks over pay and early retirement terms after months of negotiations, they said on Saturday. While progress had been made on many points, both sides were unable to reach agreement on others, a Lufthansa spokesman said. Lufthansa has been in talks with the pilots union for four years in a long-running dispute that has seen more than a dozen strikes hit one of Europe's largest carriers. The airline is trying to cut costs at its main brand in Germany in order to better compete with low cost rivals in Europe and fast-growing long-haul carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines. It has already agreed wide-ranging pay and pension deals with cabin crew and ground staff. Union representatives said in a letter to members seen by Reuters that it was willing to do its bit to make Lufthansa more competitive, but there was no point continuing the talks. Lufthansa said it still believes that an agreement is possible and will do its utmost to resume talks with VC. (Reporting by Peter Maushagen; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Alexander Smith)
2016-08-13 09:05 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
95 Registration opens for soccer, tutoring MUNCIE — Local children will once again have the opportunity to play soccer this fall. The Friends of the Conley is currently accepting registration for its soccer program. Each year for the past four years, between 200 and 250 children in grades K-8 have enrolled in the soccer program run by Friends of the Conley in partnership with Muncie Community Schools and the City of Muncie. Parents can drop off registration forms 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Friends of the Conley office, 1304 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., or send them in by mail. The program costs $20, which includes a T- shirt and medals at the end of the season. The Friends of Conley also will offer tutoring, beginning Aug. 29, at two locations. Tutoring for elementary students will be available 3-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday at the Unity Center, 1600 S. Madison St. Tutoring for all students will be available 6-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday at the Friends of the Conley office. The tutoring program costs $50 a year, and payment arrangements are available. Registration is open for the next two weeks. For more information about soccer, contact Richard and Pam Ivy, 765-288- 0074. For more information about tutoring, contact Marlene Mitchell, 765-288- 0074.
2016-08-13 09:04 The Star rssfeeds.thestarpress.com
96 Felon accused of stealing purse, ramming pursuer's car MUNCIE – Authorities say a Muncie man with at least 20 criminal convictions stole a woman’s purse from a downtown bar, then rammed his truck into the vehicle of a man who pursued him. Robin Shane Stephenson, 41, of the 1400 block of East Main Street, was arrested early Friday on preliminary charges of theft, criminal recklessness and driving as a habitual traffic offender. Police were informed about 12:40 a.m. that a man later identified as Stephenson had stolen the purse from the Mark III Tap Room, 306 S. Walnut St., and that a witness was “chasing the suspect’s vehicle,” an affidavit said. A few minutes later, a city officer observed Stephenson’s work truck driving “through a grassy area” on the south side before coming to a stop. When the officer approached, Stephenson was in the truck’s passenger seat, and he at first claimed another man had been driving the vehicle and fled on foot. He then tried to persuade the officer that the purse in his truck stemmed from a “love triangle” involving its owner, Stephenson and the driver who pursued him. “Eventually it became clear that Stephenson had no idea who the purse belonged to,” the officer wrote. Authorities found the man who had chased Stephenson and determined damage to his vehicle was consistent with that on the suspect’s truck. Stephenson – being held in the Delaware County jail under a $12,500 bond – is set to stand trial Sept. 26 on charges – including sexual battery and criminal confinement – stemming from an alleged attack on a female acquaintance last November. Also that day, he is set to be tried on a battery-resulting-in-serious-bodily- injury charge filed last October. He also faces three charges – driving while suspended and two counts of criminal mischief – in pending Muncie City Court cases. The Muncie man’s criminal record dates back to the early 1990s. Since 2013, he has been convicted of battery, domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, driving while intoxicated and criminal mischief.
2016-08-13 09:04 Douglas Walker rssfeeds.thestarpress.com
97 Stabbed California teen screams ex- boyfriend’s name before dying in front of mother California police are hunting for the ex-boyfriend of a teenager who was stabbed to death in the middle of the night, deeming him a suspect after the dying 16- year-old girl used her last words to scream his name. Elena Moore staggered into her mother’s bedroom inside their Los Angeles-area home early Friday, bleeding from her chest and shouting “Rory” — the first name of a 17-year- old boy she broke up with just two weeks before — authorities said. “She was yelling and screaming his name. It's horrible,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eddie Hernandez said. "Can you imagine waking up to the screams of your daughter at 3:15 in the morning and this happens? It's unthinkable. " The teen’s chilling final words prompted investigators to name Rory Murga a top suspect in the case. Police are still looking for the teen. Two photographs of Murga were released following a 12-hour search. One photo showed him with short green hair, the other with longer black hair and light brown bangs. It’s unclear how Murga got into the home in the quiet neighborhood in Pico Rivera, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Investigators are still figuring out if Moore let her killer in, or if the attacker broke in. Officials said the stabbing happened downstairs in the home around 3:15 a.m. Friday. Moore was able to run upstairs to her mother before collapsing, Hernandez said. The stabber fled, leaving a kitchen knife at the scene, while Moore died in front of her mom. Moore — who was known as Lily to her friends and classmates — dated Murga for a year until she ended the relationship two weeks ago, Hernandez said. The slain teen’s home was encircled Friday afternoon with crime-scene tape, and sheriff's investigators were seen taking bloodhounds inside to help them search for the killer. The middle-class block is just down the street from a church and several schools. A neighbor, 60-year-old David Arias, said she saw Moore and Murga hanging out around the blook from time to time. "They seemed happy and lovey dovey," he said. "Always hugging and kissing. " With News Wire Services
2016-08-13 09:04 Meg Wagner feeds.nydailynews.com
98 98 Champions go for gold in Super Saturday title defence Britain is hoping for a repeat of Super Saturday from the London 2012 Olympics as track and field champions Greg Rutherford, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill try to defend their titles. Veteran rowers Pete Reed, 35, and Andrew Triggs Hodge, 37, are going after gold number three in the men's eight at 3:27pm following triumphs at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 in the coxless four. Laura Trott, 24, is looking for her third gold medal in cycling after a stunning debut Olympics in 2012 where she came first in the omnium and team pursuit events. Rutherford, 29, will be the first in action when the men's long jump takes place at Rio's Olympic stadium at 00:53am on Sunday. Rutherford, of Milton Keynes, the world, European and Commonwealth champion, said his personal inspiration would come from a video of his 21-month-old son Milo jumping up and down with a Union flag in his hand saying he is cheering for Daddy and Team GB. Rutherford tweeted: "One of the best videos ever!! I miss my boy like mad and I'll be watching this just before I set off into the stadium. " Farah, 33, who competes in the 10,000 metres, is beginning his campaign to seal his place as one of the greats of athletics by winning the double-double with victories in the 5,000m and 10,000m. Only one man, the Flying Finn, Lasse Viren, has successfully defended an Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m track double. With no heats, every runner has just one chance in the unforgiving final, which starts at 1:27am. Sheffield star athlete Ennis- Hill, 30, is going for gold in the heptathlon but her plans could be scuppered by British rival Katarina Mary Johnson-Thompson, 23, of Liverpool, Canada's Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam. Johnson-Thompson had a strong showing on the first day of the seven-event competition, even breaking the British record in the high jump. Four of the seven events were completed on Friday and Ennis-Hill is in first place 72 points clear of her nearest challenger, with compatriot Johnson-Thompson in fourth. Cyclist Laura Trott takes to the velodrome at 3:34pm in the women's team pursuit alongside Ciara Horne, Elinor Barker, Katie Archibald and Joanna Rowsell-Shand. The gold medal race is scheduled for 9:14pm. The team posted a world record time in qualification of 4:13.26 minutes on Thursday. In the rowing final Reed and Triggs Hodge are joined by Matthew Langridge, Matt Gotrel, Will Satch, Tom Ransley, Scott Durant, Paul Bennett and cox Phelan Hill. The team posted the fastest time in the heats of 5:34.23 minutes as they look for the first gold medal in the event since 2000. The women's eight also go for gold in their final, 20 minutes before the men at Lagoa Stadium at 3:07pm. Boxing super heavyweight Joe Joyce, 30, get his maiden Olympics under way at 11pm in the preliminaries. The 6ft 6ins, 17 stone boxer is the reigning Commonwealth champion and faces Davilson dos Santos Morais of Cape Verde. He will look to emulate London 2012 gold medallist Anthony Joshua.
2016-08-13 09:03 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
99 Queens hookah bar shooting leaves four wounded as suspected shooters plow car into building Four men were shot outside a lounge in Queens early Saturday, police said. The shooting happened in front of Remedy's Bar Grill & Hookah Lounge on Jamaica Ave. near 105th St. in Richmond Hill just after 2:30 a.m., police said. Three men were taken to Jamaica Hospital and one was taken to Elmhurst Hospital. All of the victims are expected to survive, police said. The victims include a 27-year-old shot in the neck, a 36-year-old shot in the arm, a 21-year-old shot in the chest and leg and a 30-year-old man shot in the leg. "The police held us in the lounge. I didn't know there was a shooting until I came out and saw blood on the ground," said a man who didn't give his name. Police sources said a “massive fight” prompted the shooting but could not immediately provide additional details. At least 11 shell casings were on the sidewalk near the lounge. Two men in a white Acura were later taken into custody in relation to the shooting after they crashed their car into the stairs of a home on 104th Ave. near 197th St. in St. Albans, a police source said. "We heard a big boom," said a resident, who didn't give her name. "All of the sudden, police cars arrived here. They took one guy in an ambulance and one guy in custody. " In an unrelated non-fatal shooting, an 18-year-old man was shot in the leg after a dispute in East Harlem, police said. The victim was shot on Second Ave. near E. 105th St. just after 3:30 a.m., cops said. He was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive. With THOMAS TRACY
2016-08-13 08:57 Keldy Ortiz feeds.nydailynews.com
100 Thousands without power after overnight storms WEST MICHIGAN -- Thousands of Consumers Energy customers are without electricity after overnight storms. Customers in Barry County were hardest hit, with an outage map showing about 5,600 customers without power. Electricity went out about 11:15 p.m. for most in that area. Consumers Energy listed lightning as the cause for most of the outages in Barry County. Power is expected to be restored by early afternoon on Saturday, Aug. 13
2016-08-13 08:57 John Tunison www.mlive.com
Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-08-13 18:01