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MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – In just the span of a few hours on Sunday, September 11, the government's Official Gazette posted a photo of Ferdinand Marcos on Facebook, edited the photo's caption, deleted the photo altogether, and then reposted the photo with a shorter caption. The changes were prompted by a barrage of comments from social media users, who accused the Philippine government of historical revisionism and downplaying the Martial Law era under Marcos, which saw rampant human rights abuses and corruption. The Official Gazette's photo was meant to be a tribute for the late dictator on his 99th birth anniversary. It featured a quote, taken from Marcos' inaugural address on December 30, 1965, that read: "There are many things we do not want about our world. Let us not just mourn them. Let us change them." It wasn't the quote, however, that angered social media users. It was the last part of the original caption, which read: "In 1972, he declared Martial Law to suppress a communist insurgency and secessionism in Mindanao. In 1986, Marcos stepped down from the presidency to avoid bloodshed during the uprising that came to be known as 'People Power.'" (READ: Martial Law 101: Things you should know) After receiving negative comments, the Official Gazette then removed 3 words – "to avoid bloodshed." Facebook's Edit History feature showed the difference between the first and the second captions: The post, however, continued to receive negative comments, with people pointing out that the government seemed to set aside the suffering of Filipinos under the Marcos regime. The Official Gazette then deleted the photo. It later reposted the same photo, but with a shorter caption. This shorter caption made no mention of Martial Law or of Marcos' ouster through the 1986 People Power Revolution. It merely said that the late strongman was "the longest-serving President of the country for almost 21 years." This triggered another flurry of comments from social media users. Very early on Monday, September 12, the caption was edited yet again. This time, the caption mentioned the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, and that Marcos "went to exile to the United States in 1986 at the height of the People Power Revolution." The latest caption ended by saying that Marcos was "succeeded by Corazon Cojuangco Aquino." Below is the latest Edit History comparing the most recent version of the caption with the one right before it. 'Not revising history' On Sunday, shortly before midnight, the Official Gazette issued a statement, denying it committed historical revisionism. "The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines is the repository of government documents as stated by law. We are not in the business of revising history. We only convey what is documented in the official records," said the statement, attributed to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III. Cualoping added: "We continually update materials to keep it as historically accurate as possible. The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines is devoid of any political color and affiliations." The statement was met with more negative reactions, with Facebook users saying that the Official Gazette's photo caption was clearly "pro-Marcos" and "conveniently left out key info" about the dictatorship. Abuses, corruption Marcos had cited the increasing threat of communism to justify the declaration of martial law. According to his diary entry for September 22, 1972, the alleged ambush of then defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile made the "martial law proclamation a necessity." In 1986, however, Enrile himself disclosed that the supposed ambush was staged to justify Martial Law. (READ: Enrile's tale: Hypocrisy and contradictions) According to Amnesty International, about 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed during Martial Law from 1972 to 1981. People deemed to be subversive were tortured by various means, including electrocution, water cure, and strangulation. (READ: Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law) Various estimates also put the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth at between $5 billion and $10 billion. The late dictator's son and namesake, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, has repeatedly said his family will not apologize for his father's rule. The Official Gazette's controversial Facebook post comes amid heated debate on whether or not Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) – a battle that has reached all the way to the Supreme Court. – Rappler.com[SEP]The Philippine government faced a backlash Monday over claims it was trying to whitewash the history of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Critics said a series of edits to the Facebook page of the country's official government record were an attempt to put a positive gloss on years of authoritarian rule. Among changes that sparked fury over the weekend was the claim that Marcos imposed martial law in 1972 to deal with Muslim secessionists and a communist insurgency. Opponents charge Marcos declared martial law to keep himself in power. They also say he threw opposition figures in jail and plundered state coffers. The gazette also said he gave up his role in 1986 to "avoid bloodshed"; historians agree he reluctantly fled in the face of massive popular opposition. "The caption should have been "Ferdinand Marcos stole $10 billion dollars worth from Filipinos, had 34,000 Filipinos tortured, had 3,240 Filipinos murdered, and was so hungry for power he tried to stay dictator for life," one angry commentator posted on Facebook. The furore is the latest chapter in a struggle over the national narrative in a fiercely partisan country, where power has traditionally been passed among a small number of elite families. Controversial President Rodrigo Duterte -- a Marcos ally -- has reignited squabbles over Marcos' legacy with a plan to bury his embalmed body in the "Cemetery of Heroes". Mainstream historians agree that Marcos's 21-year rule was a dark period for the Philippines; a time when extra-judicial killings, disappearances and corruption were the norm. Most Filipinos lived in grinding poverty, even as the president and his family grew wealthy -- a gulf symbolised by the discovery of thousands of pairs of luxury shoes in the first lady's living quarters. "We are not in the business of revising history," assistant press secretary Ramon Cualoping insisted Monday in response to the outcry. "The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines is devoid of any political colour and affiliations," he added. The government later revised the entry to say only that Marcos declared martial law in 1972 and went into exile in the United States in 1986. Marcos died in 1989 and his family was later allowed to return to the Philippines where they have made a remarkable political comeback, with several members getting elected to major positions. Duterte, who styles himself as an anti-corruption crusader, is a close ally of the Marcos family and credits them for his election as president in May.
The communication channel of the Philippine government is under scrutiny after an apparent whitewash and historical revisionism of the abuses of the Marcos dictatorship.
Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won the Miss America pageant Sunday night in Atlantic City. She topped a field of 52 contestants to win the crown and the title of Miss America 2017, succeeding the outgoing Miss America Betty Cantrell. Shields performed a jazz dance to a song from the TV show "Smash," for which she won a preliminary competition earlier in the week. During the onstage interview portion of the competition, she was asked what she thought of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, one of several political questions asked of the contestants. "If you're trying to be leader of the free world, everything you say and do matters and all of your actions are held to a higher standard," Shields said. "Both of the contestants have done a good job, but they also need to watch what they're doing." Shields is an art major at the University of Arkansas who wants to help people make better food choices. Her secret dream is to be a backup dancer for Beyoncé. The runners-up were as follows: Fourth runner-up, Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis; third runner-up, Miss Washington Alicia Cooper; second runner-up Miss New York Camille Sims; first runner up Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant was eliminated Sunday night when the top 15 finalists were chosen. Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to advance in the pageant during its nationally televised finale. She was the first openly gay contestant to win a state title. Djuan Trent competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Kentucky in 2011, when she finished in the top 10. She came out as a lesbian in 2014. The top 15 finalists were: Kentucky; Washington; Massachusetts; Arkansas; South Carolina; Idaho; Iowa; Texas; California; Oklahoma; Maryland; New York; Tennessee; Louisiana, and Mississippi. The pageant from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall included contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend. [SEP]The outgoing Miss America, Betty Cantrell,second left, reacts as she tries to put a Miss America sash on winner Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields during the Miss America 2017 pageant, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) Shields was crowned the new Miss America at the conclusion of the live finals Sunday night in Atlantic City. She became the new Miss America on a night where she referenced Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park in her introduction, performed a jazz dance routine and was cut off while responding to a question about her thoughts on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Shields, interviewed by host Sage Steele just before being announced as the winner, noted the "sisterhood" with other contestants and called the experience "so special." "Every single girl here would do an amazing job as Miss America," she said. Earlier in the night in the question-and-answer round, Shields was asked about her thoughts on Clinton. "If you're trying to be leader of the free world, everything you say and do matters and all of your actions are held to a higher standard," Shields said. "And unfortunately the media does love to sensationalize everything and it's hard to tell what is truth and what is truly scandal." She went on to say both of the "contestants" in the race had done a "great job" before correcting herself with a laugh and saying she actually meant the candidates. Then, as Shields started to say Clinton and Trump "need to watch what they're doing," she was cut off because of a 20-second limit on responses. Shields, who in a preliminary round of the competition last week won an earlier talent competition, was named Miss Arkansas in July. Shields is a Fayetteville native who attends the University of Arkansas.[SEP]ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won the Miss America pageant Sunday night in Atlantic City, becoming Arkansas' first Miss America in 35 years. Shields topped a field of 52 contestants to win the crown and the title of Miss America 2017, succeeding the outgoing Miss America Betty Cantrell. She became the new Miss America on a night where she referred to Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park in her introduction and was cut off while responding to a question about her thoughts on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Shields also performed a jazz dance to "They Just Keep Moving the Line" from the TV show Smash, for which she won a preliminary competition last week. Shields, interviewed by host Sage Steele just before being announced as the winner, noted the "sisterhood" with other contestants and called the experience "so special." "Every single girl here would do an amazing job as Miss America," she said. During the onstage interview portion of the competition, she was asked what she thought of Clinton, one of several political questions asked of the contestants. "If you're trying to be leader of the free world, everything you say and do matters and all of your actions are held to a higher standard," Shields said. "And unfortunately the media does love to sensationalize everything, and it's hard to tell what is truth and what is truly scandal." She went on to say both of the "contestants" in the race had done a "good job," before correcting herself with a laugh and saying she actually meant the candidates. Then, as Shields started to say Clinton and Trump "need to watch what they're doing," she was cut off because of a 20-second limit on responses. Shields, a Fayetteville native, who is an art major at the University of Arkansas who wants to help people make better food choices, and her secret dream is to be a backup dancer for Beyonce. She was named Miss Arkansas in July. She is only the third Arkansan to be crowned Miss America, following Donna Axum Whitworth in 1963 and Elizabeth Ward Gracen in 1981. The first runner-up Sunday night was Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt. The rest of the top five were Miss New York Camille Sims, Miss Washington Alicia Cooper and Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis. The rest of the top 15 finalists came from California, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, the first openly gay contestant in the history of the pageant, was not among the top 15 picked to advance during the pageant's nationally televised finale. Djuan Trent competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Kentucky in 2011, when she finished in the top 10. She came out as a lesbian in 2014. The pageant from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall included contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend. Information for this article was contributed by Wayne Parry of The Associated Press and by staff members of Arkansas Online.[SEP]HOT SPRINGS — The state has a new Miss Arkansas after Savvy Shields won the Miss America pageant Sunday. The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant said Monday that Savannah Skidmore is the new Miss Arkansas 2016. Skidmore will assume the duties of Miss Arkansas because Shields is now Miss America. Skidmore, who is 21, is from Calico Rock and is a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in broadcast journalism. She'd competed at the Miss Arkansas pageant as Miss University of Arkansas and was named first runner-up. During her year as Miss Arkansas, Skidmore will promote her personal platform of suicide prevention and awareness.[SEP]ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The Latest on the 2017 Miss America pageant (all times local): Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields is the new Miss America. Shields topped a field of 52 contestants to win the crown and the title of Miss America 2017 Sunday night in Atlantic City. Shields performed a jazz dance to a song from the TV show “Smash,” for which she won a preliminary competition earlier in the week. The pageant from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall included contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant has been eliminated from the competition. Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not chosen as one of the top 15 finalists in Sunday night’s nationally televised pageant. She is the first openly gay contestant to win a state title. The top 15 finalists in the Miss America pageant have been announced. They are: The new Miss America should be crowned around 11 p.m. The 2017 Miss America pageant is underway in Atlantic City. The competition features contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They’re vying to succeed Betty Cantrell as the new Miss America. The winner is expected to be crowned around 11 p.m. EST at Boardwalk Hall. The sashes have been steamed, the hair teased and the routines polished. Now, it’s up to the 52 contestants in the Miss America pageant to win the crown Sunday night in Atlantic City and become Miss America 2017. The nationally televised finale will be held in Boardwalk Hall. It includes contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. One of them will have their lives changed forever, and receive a $50,000 scholarship.[SEP]Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields danced into the hearts of the judges to take the Miss America crown in Atlantic City on Sunday night. The 21-year-old, an early front-runner this week after winning a preliminary talent competition, topped a field of 52 contestants to nab the title. Shields, who succeeds outgoing Miss America Betty Cantrell, won a $50,000 scholarship along with the sparkling crown. Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt was named the first runner-up and won a $25,00 scholarship. The second-runner up was Miss New York Camille Sims. A senior at the University of Arkansas, Shields grabbed attention earlier this week with her jazz dance to They Just Keep Moving The Line from the series Smash. Shields performed the dance once again on Sunday night after making the semifinals. Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, the first openly lesbian contestant in the pageant's history, did not crack the top 15. Neither did Miss Michigan Arianna Quan, who made headlines earlier this week when she spoke out against critics who said she was too 'ugly' to be in the competition. Along with Shields, Wyatt and Sims, the top 15 was rounded out by Miss Washington, Miss Massachusetts, Miss Idaho, Miss Iowa, Miss Texas, Miss California, Miss Oklahoma, Miss Maryland, Miss Tennessee, Miss Louisiana and Miss Mississippi. The competition kicked off with the swimsuit round before the women strutted their stuff in evening gowns. Then came the talent competition, which also featured a contemporary dance to a Carrie Underwood song by Miss South Carolina and baton twirling by Miss Texas. The contestants were then asked about their thoughts on Donald Trump, Colin Kaepernick and Gretchen Carlson during the interview round. Shields was asked what she thought of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. 'Both of the contestants have done a good job, but they also need to watch what they're doing,' she said, before correcting herself to say 'candidates'. Shields sported a black gown for her first walk as Miss America in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. After taking part in a ceremonial toe-dip in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday morning, Shields' year-long duties as the titleholder will begin. Shields will embark on a national speaking tour to serve her platform, Eat Better, Live Better, and will act as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Miss America was broadcast live on ABC and hosted by Chris Harrison, of The Bachelor, and ESPN personality Sage Steele. Olympian Gabby Douglas, singer Ciara, and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban were the celebrity judges. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend. It returned to New Jersey after being held in Las Vegas for 10 years in 2013, receiving $12.5million in subsidies from the state.[SEP]Savvy Shields, the 21-year-old Miss Arkansas, won the title of Miss America 2017 — as well as a $50,000 college scholarship — on Sunday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. The 2016 titleholder, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell, crowned Shields, who took the iconic first walk wearing a black gown while waving and crying like her many predecessors. Shields energized the at-time raucous crowd — which was studded with young women wearing gowns, crowns, and sashes from local pageants and from Miss America’s Outstanding Teen state levels — by performing a jazz dance to “They Just Keep Moving the Line.” During the question and answer period, Shields gave a safe response to a question about Hillary Clinton as posed to her by celebrity judge Gabby Douglas. “It is unreal and I am so grateful for this,” Shields told reporters of her win immediately following the broadcast. “I am so honored and very humbled to be standing in front of you today as your Miss America. And that feels so weird to say out loud!” The 1st runner-up was Miss South Carolina, Rachel Wyatt, who earned a $25,000 scholarship. Her talent was dance. The 2nd runner-up was Miss New York, Camille Sims, who sang the jazz standard “Sway” and won a $20,000 scholarship. But judges — which included Olympic gold-medal gymnast Douglas, singer Ciara, actress Laura Maurano, Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban, Miss America 1985 Sharlene Wells Hawkes, and actress Sara Foster — ultimately landed on Shields, whose total high scores (comprised of 25 percent for a composite rating from the preliminaries, 10 percent for swimsuit, 15 percent for evening wear, 30 percent for talent, and 20 percent for the final question) nabbed her the crown. After the broadcast, the judges spoke at a press conference about their decision, with Cuban telling Shields he was inspired to choose her because of his two daughters. “I think it’s important for them to have…women they can look up to. And you set the bar so high,” he said. Douglas added that she had a great time during the competition, noting, “It was kind of different because I’ve been judged all my life.” Wells Hawkes welcomed Shields to the “sorority,” praising her for her skills and grace. “She’s already got it that the role of Miss America is to shine the light on others,” the former titleholder said. “She understands the whole package.” During her 2017 reign, Shields, who is an art major at the University of Arkansas, will promote her platform of “Eat Better, Live Better.” The Miss America contest was started in 1921 as a bit of a marketing ploy — by a group of Atlantic City businessmen who created a week of festivities including the Atlantic City Bathing Beauty Contest as a way to extend the summer resort season past Labor Day. It was a success, and went through various permutations until evolving into a scholarship competition that now has a heavy focus on contestants’ social platforms, which ranged this year from childhood cancer awareness to anti-bullying. In 2004, the pageant left its seaside New Jersey home for Las Vegas, where it would remain until its return to Atlantic City in 2013, when the Miss American Organization then formed a partnership with Dick Clark Productions. A contract with the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority will now keep the iconic pageant in Atlantic City through the 2019 competition. During the preliminaries in the week leading up to Sunday’s final competition, 23-year-old Arianna Quan, Miss Michigan, won the talent portion; the Beijing native also spoke out about immigration as part of her platform, called “Being American: Immigration & Citizenship Education.” Miss Ohio, Alice Magoto, in the Lifestyle and Fitness (Swimsuit) category in her black bikini. At 18 years old, she was this year’s youngest contestant. And Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty also made history (and many headlines) by being the first openly lesbian Miss America contestant. She had hoped to use the title to spread a message of diversity and of suicide prevention. “There is a little girl out there who maybe is struggling with her identity and doesn’t know who she, is or where she fits in, and maybe she will see me and realize that she could also be Miss America, even though she might be gay,” O’Flaherty, who was eliminated from the start of Sunday’s final competition, told Yahoo Beauty days earlier. “I just want to reach people who are struggling… And my message will really be that there is a place for everyone.” Let’s keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.[SEP]Miss Arkansa Savvy Shields waves to the crowd after being named Miss America 2017, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The heels came off but the crown stayed on as Miss America began her reign with a romp in the Atlantic City surf, hours after winning the title. Savvy Shields, who represented Arkansas, won the crown Sunday night to become Miss America 2017. She drew wide attention by calling on Democrats and Republicans to learn to compromise with each other again. On Monday morning, she kicked off her sandals and walked across the seaside gambling resort's shell-strewn beach to the surf line, where she ran ankle-deep in the incoming waves and jumped into the air twice. She then posed next to a lifeboat in the traditional pose that Miss Americas strike the morning after winning the crown. [PHOTOS: Miss Arkansas crowned new Miss America + more photos of Savvy Shields] "This is such an iconic moment, the toe dip in Atlantic City that every Miss America does," she said. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian played on his name and that of the new Miss America in promoting his city. "Obviously you have to be pretty savvy to become Miss America," he said. "And with Shields and a Guardian, Atlantic City will be safe for another year!" Shields is an art major at the University of Arkansas who wants to help people make better food choices. Her response to her onstage interview question helped propel Shields to the title. She was asked what she thought of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton; she answered that while both Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have done a good job thus far, "They also need to watch what they're doing." "What I want both candidates to focus on is compromise," she said. "Our country was founded on compromise. We're in a state now where both parties just seem to be yelling at one another. I hope that at the end of my year, we're starting to reward politicians for compromise." She topped a field of 52 contestants to win the crown and the title of Miss America 2017, succeeding the outgoing Miss America Betty Cantrell. Shields performed a jazz dance to a song from the TV show Smash, for which she won a preliminary competition earlier in the week. She said she still has the soundtrack from the canceled TV show in her car, where she plays it often. The runners-up were as follows: Fourth runner-up, Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis; third runner-up, Miss Washington Alicia Cooper; second runner-up Miss New York Camille Sims; first runner-up Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant, Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty, was eliminated Sunday night when the top 15 finalists were chosen. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.[SEP]Nothing in life is certain except death, taxes … and the annual Miss America pageant! The Miss America 2017 ceremony on Sunday, September 11 — filled with the flashy, hyperfeminine glamour and old-fashioned beauty pageantry we’ve come to expect and enjoy — went off without a hitch. Well, almost! The night leading up to Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields‘ ceremonial crowning was filled with pearly white smiles, glittery gowns and an army of tiny waistlines. The competition, hosted by The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison(naturally), started off with the introduction of this year’s judges: Olympian Gabby Douglas, Ciara, Cole Swindell, Sara Foster, Laura Marano, Miss America 1985 Sharlene Wells Hawkes and the one and only Mark Cuban. When host Sage Steele asked Douglas what she thought the hardest part of tonight’s competition was, the gold-medalist responded, “Balancing in heels.” She would know! The evening started with 37 contestants getting cut, including internet favorite Miss Missouri, a.k.a. Erin O’Flaherty, the first openly gay contestant ever to grace the Miss America stage. A Swimsuit Competition by Any Other Name … Next came the swimsuit portion of the competition, cleverly rebranded as “Fitness and Swimsuit.” We’re still not sure what fitness has to do with wearing heels and bikinis, but the women rocked it nonetheless! When asked if she agreed with the swimsuit portion accounting for 10 percent of the overall score, Barely Famous star Foster awkwardly responded, “I think that that’s fair. I think that that’s the right amount.” Good to know that having your body fit into a specific beauty mold only counts for 10 percent — that’s progress, right? Next came the evening gown portion. Our newly crowned Miss America, Savvy Shields of Arkansas, said of her black dress, “My evening gown is my favorite dress I’ve ever worn in my life. It’s black, but I still want to wear it if I get married one day.” Do we have a goth Miss America in our midst? Then Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess managed to miss the mark on what makes Amal Clooney a remarkable female role model by only complimenting her superficial qualities, saying, “Amal Clooney is my idol. I love everything that she wears — especially her wedding wardrobe.” In a tribute to the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the reigning Miss America, Betty Cantrell, sang her rendition of Katy Perry’s “Rise” in front of a montage of flags and burning candles The talent portion came next and did not disappoint. The audience was treated to baton twirling, tap dancing and lots and lots of excellent singing voices — maybe they should change the name to “Miss American Idol.” Miss Maryland Hannah Brewer sang a stirring rendition of “God Bless America” but managed to bungle the lyrics, something that caught the attention of the Twitterverse right away. Our newly crowned Miss America, the blonde, blue-eyed Shields, treated viewers to a dance number and said, “I wanna be a backup dancer for Beyoncé!”[SEP]She topped a field of 52 contestants to win the crown and the title of Miss America 2017, succeeding the outgoing Miss America Betty Cantrell. Shields performed a jazz dance to a song from the TV show “Smash,” for which she won a preliminary competition earlier in the week. During the onstage interview portion of the competition, she was asked what she thought of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, one of several political questions asked of the contestants. “Both of the contestants have done a good job, but they also need to watch what they’re doing,” she said. The runners-up were as follows: Fourth runner-up, Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis; third runner-up, Miss Washington Alicia Cooper; second runner-up Miss New York Camille Sims; first runner up Miss South Carolina Rachel Wyatt. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant was eliminated Sunday night when the top 15 finalists were chosen. Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to advance in the pageant during its nationally televised finale. She was the first openly gay contestant to win a state title. Djuan Trent competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Kentucky in 2011, when she finished in the top 10. She came out as a lesbian in 2014. The top 15 finalists were: Kentucky; Washington; Massachusetts; Arkansas; South Carolina; Idaho; Iowa; Texas; California; Oklahoma; Maryland; New York; Tennessee; Louisiana, and Mississippi. The pageant from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall included contestants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The pageant began in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to extend the summer tourist season beyond Labor Day weekend.
The Miss America 2017 pageant is held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with Savvy Shields, currently Miss Arkansas, winning the event.
Story highlights Investigators: Driver planned to kill himself due to "family pressure" The driver set fire to the vehicle after dousing it in gasoline (CNN) The driver of a bus that crashed in Taiwan in July, killing 26 people, was suicidal and intentionally set the vehicle ablaze before ramming it into a guardrail, state media reported. The man was at fault for the deadly accident near Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, law enforcement investigators told Taiwan's Central News Agency. He planned to kill himself by self-immolation due to "family pressure and because he had been sentenced to prison in a sexual assault case," CNA reported Saturday. The driver set fire to the vehicle after dousing it in gasoline, killing himself and 25 other people on board. Of those killed, 24 were tourists from China, including three children. A Taiwanese tour guide also perished in the blaze.[SEP]Police in Denver, US said a bus driver was killed and several people were hospitalised with critical injuries on Sunday, after a school bus carrying a Colorado high school football team crashed into a wall at Denver International Airport. The bus was from Legacy High School in Colorado, KUSA-TV reported. The bus veered off a roadway and crashed into a concrete wall, killing the driver and injuring several passengers, The Denver Post reported. The bus, one of three carrying team members and coaches, had just picked up passengers when it "inexplicably" circled back to the airport and crashed into a concrete pillar, The Post reported. Airbags deployed but the female bus driver was killed, Denver police Sergeant Mike Farr said. "The bus driver circled back around to this level. We don't know why," he said. READ MORE: * Taiwan bus crashes on highway, killing all on board * Bus crash in southern Brazil leaves 16 dead, many injured * Japan tour bus crash: 14 dead, 27 injured Paramedics were working to remove the driver from the crumpled bus. KDVR-TV reported that 17 to 20 students and coaches from the school's junior varsity team were hospitalised. The crash happened at 4:08pm airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said. Police closed the east approach to the airport terminal.[SEP]The man was at fault for the deadly accident near Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, investigators said. He planned to kill himself by self-immolation due to "family pressure and because he had been sentenced to prison in a sexual assault case," Taiwan's CNA agency reported Saturday. The driver set fire to the vehicle after dousing it in gasoline, killing himself and 25 other people on board. Of those killed, 24 were tourists from China, including three children. A Taiwanese tour guide also perished in the blaze. on a highway that serves Taipei's airport, on a highway that serves Taipei's airport, The crash occurred on July 19 on a highway that serves Taipei's airport, CNA reported at the time. The bus was headed for the airport, where the tour group was due to fly back home after seven days in the country.[SEP]School bus driver killed, other injured in crash at airport DENVER (AP) — A school bus driver was killed Sunday and several others were seriously injured after the bus veered off a roadway Denver International Airport and crashed into a concrete wall, police said. The female driver died at the scene, police spokesman John White said. Her identity has not been released. The crash of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district bus took place at 4:08 p.m., airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said. An estimated 17 to 20 passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, authorities said. Officials at Denver Health tell the KUSA TV station that they have five patients: two are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. KUSA reports that the bus is from Legacy High School, which is in Broomfield and is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The Denver Post reports that the football team from Legacy played Chino High School on Friday night in California. An official with DIA tweets that all passenger pickups were taking place on Terminal West because of the crash on the east terminal. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster.[SEP]An Adams County school bus driver who had just picked up members of the Legacy High School football team at Denver International Airport inexplicably Sunday afternoon circled back to the airport and crashed into a concrete pillar. The female bus driver was killed in the crash, Denver police Sgt. Mike Farr said. Paramedics were working to remove the driver from the crumpled front end of the bus, where airbags had deployed. “The bus driver circled back around to this level. We don’t know why,” Farr said. “(Hers) was one of three buses that was traveling outbound.” Injured students were taken to a hospital. Denver firefighters, police officers and other first responders were at the scene assessing injuries. Five patients were transported to Denver Health: Two patients were in critical condition, two patients were in serious condition, and one patient was in fair condition, the hospital reported. The bus driver had picked up 28 students, and four adults were on the bus, including the bus driver, DIA spokeswoman Stacy Stegman said. The crash happened at 4:08 p.m., airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said. Legacy High School, in Broomfield, is part of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district. The Legacy football team lost to Chino High School on Friday night in California. Players on the bus were members of the varsity and junior varsity teams. Because of the investigation into the crash, police were asking that all airport passengers be picked up and dropped off on the west side of the DIA terminal. Uninjured students gathered with parents Sunday evening inside the airport as crash crews worked on the bus. Parents of students affected by the crash who are trying to reach their child may call 303-342-2300.[SEP]A school bus driver was killed and several others were seriously injured after the bus veered off a roadway at the Denver International Airport and crashed into a concrete pillar, police said. About 4.08pm Sunday, the driver circled back to the airport and crashed into the pillar after she picked up members of the Legacy High School football team, police said. The driver had picked up 28 students and four adults, airport spokeswoman Stacey Stegman told the Denver Post. About 4.08pm Sunday, the driver circled back to the airport and crashed into the pillar after she picked up members of the Legacy High School football team, police said. The driver, who died at the scene, had picked up 28 students and four adults, a spokeswoman said The female driver died at the scene, police spokesman John White said. Police do not know why she circled back to the airport, White said. Three school buses were leaving the airport, police said. The driver's name and age have not been released. At least 10 people are being treated for their injuries at nearby hospitals, authorities said. Officials at Denver Health tell the KUSA TV station that they have five patients: two are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. Five patients in fair condition were taken to Children's Hospital Colorado. Uninjured students gathered with parents Sunday evening inside the airport, the Post reported. Police are interviewing the football players about the crash. Legacy High School is in Broomfield, Colorado, and is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The football team from Legacy played Chino High School on Friday night in California, the Post reported. An official with DIA tweeted that all passenger pickups were taking place on Terminal West because of the crash on the east terminal. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster.[SEP]The Latest: School bus driver dies in crash at airport DENVER (AP) — The Latest on the crash of a school bus at Denver International Airport (all times local): Denver police say the driver of a school bus that crashed at Denver International Airport died at the scene. Police spokesman John White says the female bus driver died after the bus veered off a roadway Denver International Airport Sunday afternoon and crashed into a concrete wall. Authorities say that 17 to 20 passengers were taken to nearby hospitals. Officials at Denver Health tell the KUSA TV station that they have five patients: two are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. KUSA reports that the bus is from Legacy High School, which is in Broomfield and is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The Denver Post reports that the football team from Legacy played Chino High School on Friday night in California. An official with DIA tweets that all passenger pickups were taking place on Terminal West because of the crash on the east terminal. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster. Denver police say several people were taken to a hospital in critical condition after a school bus veered off a roadway Denver International Airport and crashed into a concrete wall, the Denver Post reported (http://dpo.st/2c2v5gl). Airport spokesman Heath Montgomery tells the Post that the crash of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district bus took place at 4:08 p.m. The KUSA TV station reports that the bus is from Legacy High School, which is in Broomfield and is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The Post reports that the football team from Legacy played Chino High School on Friday night in California. An official with DIA tweets that all passenger pickups were taking place on Terminal West because of the crash on the east terminal. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster. 5:47 p.m. Denver police say several people were taken to a hospital in critical condition after a school bus crashed at Denver International Airport. Airport officials reported the crash of an Adams 12 Five Star Schools bus at 3:18 p.m., the Denver Channel reports (http://bit.ly/2cBPSdC.) An official with DIA tweets that all passenger pickups were taking place on Terminal West because of the crash on the east terminal. Police have not provided an account yet of how the crash happened. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster.[SEP]In November 1941 the blackout restrictions were in full operation in Preston as the Second World War raged on. On the third Tuesday of the month, John Joseph Newton, aged 74, a retired fish and chip shop proprietor, was heading back on foot to his home on Tulketh Brow after conducted some business. Sadly as he entered the pedestrian crossing at the Garstang Road, North Road and Moor Lane roundabout, disaster struck. The driver of a single decker Ribble bus heading into town was approaching the crossing and distracted by the flashing beam of a torch. He swerved his vehicle, knocking down the pensioner. Having felt the bus bump into something, he stopped it immediately and was horrified to discover Mr Newton’s body crushed beneath the rear nearside wheel. Unfortunately, despite the swift arrival of the ambulance service, nothing could be done to save the victim’s life. An inquest was opened the following day before the deputy coroner Mr A L Ashton, with the bus driver Harold Holder, of Manchester, telling the hearing how he had been distracted by the flashing torch and in consequence had not seen Mr Newton on the pedestrian crossing. He stated that once he got out of his bus, the apparent torch man had continued on his way. This man was seen as a vital witness and the inquest was adjourned for a week, with the police appealing for the man to come forward. There was also some debate as to whether in fact the victim had been carrying a torch that was found at the scene, and that he could have flashed it in the direction of the bus as he stepped on the crossing. When the inquest was resumed, the torch man was still unidentified, but another witness of the accident, Edward Machin, aged 52, a joiner of Arkwright Road, gave evidence stating: “As I got near the roundabout on foot, I saw someone flash a torch, I then heard a crash. As we waited for medical assistance for Mr Newton, the bus driver approached me and asked if I had flashed a torch, which I had not.” After a brief consultation, the inquest jury brought in a verdict of ‘Death by Misadventure’, with the deputy coroner expressing sympathy for the family of the deceased. He then pointed out the danger of flashing torches at motorists, particularly during the blackout, stating that the beam should always be pointed at the ground. In July 1942, the widow of the victim, Alice Mary Ann Newton, aged 77, appeared at the Manchester Assizes to claim damages for the death of her husband by suing the Ribble Motor Services Ltd. The plaintiff’s case was that the accident was due to the negligence of the bus driver. For the defence it was claimed that the victim had stepped suddenly onto the level crossing and could possibly have been using a flash light. Mr Justice Stables, giving judgement for the plaintiff for £293 ( the equivalent of £10,300 these days) and costs, stated: “The fact that I am finding for the plaintiff does not mean there is any suggestion of criminal negligence on the part of the driver. “I am satisfied that the deceased was killed on a pedestrian crossing whilst possibly using a torch. I am satisfied that the bus was being driven too fast. I am not quite sure if it is the bus driver who is primarily responsible for that. Bus drivers have to keep up to a schedule.” Sadly, this was the maternal grandfather who I would never have the chance to meet, as for the £10,300 I never saw any of that either.[SEP]The Latest: Lanes open after bus crash at Denver airport DENVER (AP) — The Latest on the crash of a school bus at Denver International Airport (all times local): Traffic is flowing at Denver International Airport after a school bus crash that killed the driver and injured 18 students and staff members forced the closure of a major passenger pickup area. In this image made from video provided by KMGH/THEDENVERCHANNEL.COM, a school bus sits after crashing into a concrete pillar in Denver, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. The school bus driver was killed Sunday and several others were seriously injured after the bus veered off a roadway at Denver International Airport and crashed into a concrete pillar, police said. (KMGH/THEDENVERCHANNEL.COM via AP) Airport officials reopened lanes late Sunday, hours after the bus carrying high school football players veered off a roadway and slammed into a concrete pillar. Adams 12 Five Star Schools says 15 students suffered minor injuries, with three staffers suffering more serious injuries because they were sitting toward the front of the bus. Police haven't released information on the cause of the crash. The driver's identity hasn't been released. Officials say two people are still in critical condition after a school bus carrying high school football players veered off a roadway and slammed into a concrete pillar at Denver International Airport, killing the driver. A Denver Health spokeswoman said Monday that two others are hospitalized in serious condition and one in fair condition. The hospital wouldn't release more details. The airport has said at least five others went to other hospitals, but didn't say where or what their conditions were. A school bus picking up members of the Legacy High School football squad smashed into a pillar Sunday afternoon. Authorities say the bus carried 28 students and four adults. Police haven't released information on the cause of the crash. The driver's identity hasn't been released.[SEP]DENVER (AP) — A school bus carrying high school football players veered off a roadway and slammed into a concrete pillar at Denver International Airport, killing the driver and injuring 18 passengers, some seriously, officials said. The bus had just picked up arriving members of the Legacy High School football squad Sunday afternoon and was circling back to the airport when it crashed. Airport spokeswoman Stacey Stegman told the Denver Post that the bus carried 28 students and four adults. The female driver died at the scene, police spokesman John White said. Ten people were hospitalized and eight others treated and released, officials said. The Post reported that the injured were 15 students and three coaches from the suburban Denver school. In this image made from video provided by KMGH/THEDENVERCHANNEL.COM, emergency personnel stand near the scene of a school bus that crashed into a concrete pillar in Denver, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. The school bus driver was killed Sunday and several others were seriously injured after the bus veered off a roadway at Denver International Airport and crashed into a concrete pillar, police said. (KMGH/THEDENVERCHANNEL.COM via AP) Officials at Denver Health told KUSA TV station that they have five patients: two are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and one is in fair condition. The Post reported that five patients in fair condition were taken to Children's Hospital Colorado. Police have not released any information on the cause of the crash, which occurred at 4:08 p.m., and White said they don't know why the driver was returning to the airport after picking up the team. The driver's name and age have not been released. Uninjured students gathered with parents inside the airport, the Post reported. Police interviewed the football players about the crash. Legacy High School is in Broomfield, Colorado, and is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The Post reports that the football team from Legacy played Chino High School on Friday night in California. School officials told the newspaper that some of this week's homecoming events were being postponed, including a "Powderpuff" football game that was planned for Monday evening, while crisis team will be at the school Monday to help students. The Adams 12 Five Star schools is a public district that serves suburbs north of Denver, including Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster.
Authorities find that the July 19 bus crash in Taiwan that killed 26 people was an intentional suicide by the bus driver.
This article is more than 2 years old This article is more than 2 years old The mayor of the major northern port city of Tianjin is being investigated on suspicion of corruption, China’s ruling Communist party said on Saturday, the latest senior official to be caught up in a war on deep-seated graft. Huang Xingguo, 61, was suspected of “serious discipline breaches”, the party’s central commission for discipline inspection said, using the party’s normal euphemism for corruption. Huang, who is also Tianjin’s acting Communist party chief, became mayor in 2008. Tianjin is an important port city about an hour’s drive from Beijing that has ambitions to become a financial hub for northern China. It is one of four conurbations – along with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing – termed a municipality, giving it the same high status as a province. 'It's getting worse': China's liberal academics fear growing censorship Read more In August last year, a series of massive explosions at a chemicals warehouse in Tianjin killed about 170 people, sparking anger nationwide that it had been built so close to residential areas. Last month, the party announced it was investigating Yin Hailin, a long-time city planning official who became Tianjin’s deputy mayor in 2012, also on suspicion of corruption. Dozens of senior people have been investigated or jailed since President Xi Jinping assumed power almost four years ago, vowing to go after corruption and warning, like others before, that the problem threatens the party’s grip on power. Huang’s fall from grace appears to have come out of the blue. On Saturday, the official Tianjin Daily covered his visit to a middle school on its front page and praised teachers for their work. Critics have accused Xi of using the corruption campaign as a cover to root out political rivals, though he has denied this. Last year, a Chinese court jailed former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang for life for bribery, leaking state secrets and abuse of power. He was the most senior Chinese official to be ensnared in a graft probe since the party swept to power in 1949. It was not possible to reach Huang for comment and unclear if he had retained a lawyer.[SEP]BEIJING, Sept 13 (Reuters) - China has appointed former Communist Party secretary of Hubei province Li Hongzhong as the new party chief for the strategic port city of Tianjin, days after announcing a corruption investigation into the northeastern city's former mayor. Dozens of senior officials have been investigated or jailed since President Xi Jinping assumed power almost four years ago, vowing to go after corruption and warning, like others before, the problem threatens the party's grip on power. The party's graft-busting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on Saturday that the mayor and acting party chief of Tianjin, 61-year-old Huang Xingguo, was suspected of "serious discipline breaches", a euphemism for corruption. "Huang Xingguo will no longer act as Tianjin party secretary, has been excused from his positions as municipal deputy party secretary, standing committee member, and mayor, and will be handled according to relevant laws and regulations," Xinhua said. It gave no other details. Li, 60, has been appointed as Tianjin's party secretary, a post that outranks the mayor, and would no longer hold his positions in Hubei, the official Xinhua news agency said in a short article. Tianjin is an important port city about an hour from Beijing by car that has ambitions to become a financial hub for northern China. It is one of four conurbations - along with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing - termed a municipality, giving it the same high status as a province. In August last year, a series of massive explosions at a chemicals warehouse in Tianjin killed about 170 people, sparking anger nationwide that it had been built so close to residential areas. Last month, the party announced it was investigating Yin Hailin, a long-time city planning official who became Tianjin's deputy mayor in 2012, also on suspicion of corruption. Huang's fall from grace appears to have come out of the blue. On Saturday, the official Tianjin Daily covered his visit to a middle school on its front page and praised teachers for their work. Critics have accused Xi of using the corruption campaign as a cover to root out political rivals, though he has denied this. Last year, a Chinese court jailed former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang for life for bribery, leaking state secrets and abuse of power. He was the most senior Chinese official to be ensnared in a graft probe since the party swept to power in 1949.[SEP]BEIJING, Sept 13 (Reuters) - China has appointed former Communist Party secretary of Hubei province Li Hongzhong as the new party chief for the northeastern city of Tianjin, the official Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday. The move comes days after China's ruling Communist Party said that Huang Xingguo, the mayor and acting Communist Party chief in Tianjin was being investigated on suspicion of corruption. Huang was also removed from his post as mayor, Xinhua said in a brief article.
In China, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection places under investigation Tianjin mayor Huang Xingguo, who is also serving as acting Communist Party Secretary.
ZAGREB, Croatia — The conservative Croatian Democratic Union won the most seats in parliamentary elections held in Croatia on Sunday, but the country looked set for long negotiations among potential coalition partners after voters once again declined to return a clear governing majority. With all of the votes counted, the party, known as H.D.Z., had 61 seats, pushing the Social Democrats into second place with 54. But it was still short of a majority in the 151-seat Parliament, even with the support of the center-right Most party, or Bridge, whose 13 seats make it a likely kingmaker. In a sign of voter disillusionment, turnout plunged, and Zivi Zid, or Human Shield, a populist left alliance, surged from one seat to eight by promising to be tough on banks and demanding the prosecution of unnamed corrupt officials. The H.D.Z. seems best placed to form a government, but it could be difficult for any party to build a coalition with a clear mandate to carry out the painful public administration changes being urged on this country of 4.3 million.[SEP]ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Croatia's conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) were in the lead with 62 seats in the 151-seat parliament in Sunday's parliamentary election, preliminary results based on a partial vote count showed. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) came second with 52 seats, the state election commission said after counting 15 percent of the votes. The centre-right Most (the Bridge) party came third with 13 seats. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac and Igor Ilic, editing by Thomas Escritt)[SEP]ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — An initial exit poll in Croatia's early parliamentary election indicates there will be no clear winner, paving the way for more political uncertainty in the European Union's newest member state. The left-wing Peoples' Coalition won 58 seats in Croatia's 151-seat parliament, according to the poll Sunday conducted by Croatia's independent Ipsos Puls agency, carried by state TV. The conservative Croatian Democratic Union had 57 seats, while kingmakers Most, or Bridge, won 11 seats. The second vote in less than a year on Sunday was called when a previous, right-wing government collapsed in June after less than six months in power, paralyzed by bickering within the ruling coalition.[SEP]ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Croatia's Social Democrats were in the lead in Sunday's parliamentary elections according to an exit poll on state television that forecast the party would win 58 seats in the 151-seat parliament. The conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) came second with 57 seats, while the centre-right Most ("Bridge") party, widely seen as a potential kingmaker, came third with 11 seats. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac and Igor Ilic, editing by Thomas Escritt)[SEP]ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatian citizens have started casting ballots in an early parliamentary election that is unlikely to produce a clear winner and could pave the way for more political uncertainty in the European Union’s newest member state. The second vote in less than a year was called when a previous, right-wing government collapsed after just six months in power, paralyzed by bickering within the ruling coalition. Political deadlock has delayed reforms that are necessary for Croatia to catch up with the rest of the EU. It has also fueled nationalist rhetoric amid heightened tensions with Serbia — its former Balkan war foe. Opinion polls suggest that neither the conservative Croatian Democratic Union, known as HDZ, nor the left-leaning Social Democrats and their People’s Coalition, will win enough votes to rule alone. This means that that some of the smaller groups could play the role of kingmakers, as was the case with the Most group in the previous government. Some analysts have predicted that Croatia’s next government could be as unstable as the previous one. Although more advanced than other Balkan countries, Croatia has one of the weakest economies in the EU following years of crisis after the split from the former Yugoslavia and the 1991-95 war. After a six-year recession, Croatia has shown signs of recovery with reported growth of more than 2 percent. However, unemployment hovers around 14 percent — among the highest in the EU — and much of the fiscal growth is attributed to tourism along Croatia’s Adriatic coast.[SEP]Croatia holds snap vote with no clear winner in sight ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croats have begun casting ballots in an early parliamentary election that is unlikely to produce a clear winner and could pave the way for more political uncertainty in the European Union's newest member state. Sunday's vote is the second in less than a year. It was called after a previous, right-wing government collapsed after just six months in power, paralyzed by bickering within the ruling coalition. Opinion polls suggest that neither the conservative Croatian Democratic Union, known as HDZ, nor the left-leaning Social Democrats and their People's Coalition, will win enough votes to rule alone. This means that some of the smaller groups could play the role of kingmakers, as was the case with the Most group in the previous government. Croatia has among the weakest economies in the EU.[SEP]ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatian citizens were voting Sunday in an early parliamentary election that is unlikely to produce a clear winner and could pave the way for more political uncertainty in the European Union’s newest member state. The second vote in less than a year was called when a previous, right-wing government collapsed in June after less than six months in power, paralyzed by bickering within the ruling coalition. Political deadlock has delayed reforms that are necessary for Croatia to catch up with the rest of the EU. It has also fueled nationalist rhetoric amid heightened tensions with Serbia — its former Balkan war foe. Opinion polls suggest that neither the conservative Croatian Democratic Union, known as HDZ, nor the left-leaning Social Democrats and their People’s Coalition, will win enough votes to rule alone, though the leftist alliance has been projected taking a slight lead. This means that that some of the smaller groups could play the role of kingmakers, as was the case with the Most group in the previous government. Some analysts have predicted that Croatia’s next government could take months to form and end up as weak as the previous one. Croatia had tilted to the right under the HDZ-led government that took over following the inconclusive vote last November. However, in the past weeks it has sought to remake its image as a centrist party under new leader Andrej Plenkovic. The more moderate leader, who took over from right-leaning Tomislav Karamarko earlier this summer, said Sunday he expects high turnout among Croatia’s nearly 3.8 million voters. “We are happy,” Plenkovic said upon casting his ballot. “It’s a beautiful day, so I expect the turnout to be bigger than if it was rainy.” HDZ and the Social Democrats have been the two dominant parties in Croatia since the country split from former Yugoslavia in 1991. The Social Democrats, led by former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, were in power for four years until last November. Although more advanced than other Balkan countries, Croatia has one of the weakest economies in the EU following years of crisis after the split from former Yugoslavia and the 1991-95 war. After a six-year recession, Croatia has shown signs of recovery with reported growth of more than 2 percent. However, unemployment hovers around 14 percent — among the highest in the EU — and much of the fiscal growth is attributed to tourism along Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Kristijan Naher, a voter from Zagreb said he hopes Croatians “will be smarter now” and vote conclusively to “avoid the agony” that followed the last election. Zagreb resident Jelena Micic said she was hopeful things would improve. “I think we are moving toward a better future for Croatia,” Micic said.[SEP]ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Zoran Milanovic, leader of Croatia’s opposition Social Democrats and a former prime minister, said Monday he will step down after a poor result of his coalition in weekend’s snap national election. Milanovic, who led the government for four years from 2011, said he will not take part in the party’s upcoming internal elections. He became the left-leaning party’s leader in 2007 after the death of previous leader Ivica Racan. “I don’t plan to run for the president of SDP,” Milanovic told reporters. The ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, scored a victory in the early parliamentary vote on Sunday and now faces a tough task of forming a coalition government after disillusioned voters again failed to produce a clear winner. Complete results reported Monday by Croatia’s state electoral commission showed that HDZ won 61 seats in the 151-member parliament, while Milanovic’s left-leaning Peoples’ Coalition won 54. The third-placed Most, or Bridge, party is a likely kingmaker in the future coalition government with 13 seats. The biggest surprise was Zivi Zid, or Human Shield populist group, which has emerged from anti-government protests. It won eight seats but has ruled out joining a coalition government. The vote results represented a huge blow for Milanovic whose Social Democrats — the main party in the Peoples’ Coalition — had been considered clear favorites. There were signs of discontent within party ranks with Milanovic’s pre-election tactics. Milanovic, 49, campaigned on ultra-nationalist rhetoric, trying to lure conservative voters to his side. But, his populist tone has only scared away minorities and pro-left voters in Croatia and has brought the country’s relations with neighboring Serbia to the lowest point since they fought the war in the 1990s. Milanovic urged the party to hold the internal vote as soon as possible. “We have witnessed low turnout, that’s not the citizens’ fault, it’s ours,” he said, blaming the election loss on the poor turnout on Sunday. The snap vote was called after the previous conservative-led coalition government collapsed in June, triggering the biggest political turmoil in the nation of 4.2 million people since it joined the European Union in 2013. With no party winning a majority in the weekend vote, the deadlock that has stalled much-needed social and economic reforms in is likely to continue. Political analyst Zarko Puhovski said there was no doubt that HDZ will form the new government with Most — just as the two right-wing parties did after the previous election in November. “That government will be formed, but it is not clear for how long it will last,” Puhovski said. In a sign of voter disillusionment, turnout was 53 percent, down nearly 10 percentage points from the previous vote. Also, many voters apparently turned away from HDZ and Social Democrats who intermittently ruled the country since it split from former Yugoslavia in 1991, triggering a civil war that killed some 10,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Andrej Plenkovic, a European parliamentarian who has assumed HDZ leadership only months before the vote and shifted it toward the center, said Monday that talks with potential coalition partners will start in the coming days. “It is now up to us to bring stability into the Croatian state and institutions,” Plenkovic said. Like many other central European states, Croatia had tilted to the right under the previous HDZ-led government. “This is not a new trend, the right-wingers winning,” said Ljerka Kavoci, a Zagreb resident. “It is a trend that is hanging over Croatia since the war. It was calm for some years, but now it’s out there again.”[SEP]A surge in support for leftist populists saw the Social Democrats, who were widely expected to come out with the largest number of seats, lose ground in a poll where the turnout was a fifth lower than in the last one just 10 months ago. This reflected popular anger at politicians who are seen to have exploited nationalist rhetoric rather than tackle the country's economic woes, with the populist left Zivi Zid (Human Shield) alliance rising from one to eight seats on promises to be tough on banks and corrupt politicians. Most opinion polls had suggested the Social Democrats would win around 60 seats, and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) would be behind. This was actually the reverse in the election. Led by former diplomat Andrej Plenkovic, the HDZ won 61 seats in Zagreb's 151-seat parliament and will now need to move quickly to avoid further anger from a disillusioned public. Unemployment is at 13 percent and European Union authorities are urging Croatia to address public debts that eat up 3.5 percent of economic output in interest payments alone. Plenkovic helped the HDZ win back ground it lost to rivals after its previous government collapsed in June after only five months in power amid rows over political appointments with its coalition partner. The HDZ beat the Social Democrat-led alliance, which won 54 seats. "We are the party that will have the privilege of forming a stable government," Plenkovic said as he claimed victory early on Monday. SDP leader Zoran Milanovic, a former Prime Minister, said he would not stand as leader in the next party election which will take place in the coming months, but did not resign with immediate effect as some had expected after the result. Plenkovic's more moderate tone might make for a more stable coalition, although the Most ("Bridge") party, the likely kingmaker with 13 seats, showed little sign of compromising. Among Most's initial demands were changes to the financing of political parties, lower taxes for businesses and an Adriatic economic zone - a bold proposal that would likely require extensive consultation with Croatia's European Union partners. "The SDP is realistically too far behind to be in the race to form a future cabinet and if Plenkovic manages to establish a reasonably good cooperation with Most, the government could be stable," said political analyst Ivan Rimac. But any government will struggle to deliver reforms being urged by the EU, which is monitoring Croatia's debt-burdened economy and an investment environment it sees as business-unfriendly. "(HDZ) would need to strike an agreement with a diminished Most and at least one more small party," said Otilia Dhand, an analyst at risk consultancy Teneo, highlighting the risk that the new cabinet could be as fractious as the old one.[SEP]ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Complete results of Croatia's snap election have confirmed a clear victory for the ruling conservatives, who now face a tough task of forming a coalition government. The results reported Monday by Croatia's state electoral commission showed that the Croatian Democratic Union won 61 seats in the 151-member parliament, while the left-leaning People's Coalition won 54. The third-placed Most, or Bridge, party is a likely kingmaker in the future coalition government with 13 seats. The biggest surprise is Zivi Zid, or Human Shield group, which won eight seats. Andrej Plenkovic, center, leader of center-right HDZ party celebrates elections results at the party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Turnout was 53 percent, down 10 percentage points from the previous vote in November. The snap vote was called after the previous coalition government collapsed in June, triggering the biggest political turmoil in the country since it joined the EU in 2013. Andrej Plenkovic, center, leader of center-right HDZ party addresses the media and supporters at his party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Andrej Plenkovic, left, leader of center-right HDZ party addresses the media and supporters at his party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) A supporter of center-right HDZ party holds a banner reading "We, Croats" at the party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, late Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Andrej Plenkovic, front left, leader of center-right HDZ party celebrates elections results at the party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Andrej Plenkovic, leader of center-right HDZ party addresses the media and supporters at his party's headquarters in Zagreb, Croatia, early Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Initial results of Croatia's early elections have shown that the conservatives were leading the vote, but won't be able to rule on their own, paving the way for another coalition government in the European Union's newest member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Voters in Croatia go to the polls for a parliamentary election with the conservative Croatian Democratic Union taking an early lead.
Hillary Clinton is being treated for pneumonia and dehydration, her doctor said on Sunday, hours after she abruptly left a ceremony in New York honoring the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and had to be helped into a van by Secret Service agents. The incident, which occurred after months of questions about her health from her Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, and his campaign, is likely to increase pressure on Mrs. Clinton to address the issue and release detailed medical records, which she has so far declined to do. Mrs. Clinton was taken from the morning event at ground zero to the Manhattan apartment of her daughter, Chelsea. About 90 minutes after arriving there, Mrs. Clinton emerged from the apartment in New York’s Flatiron district. She waved to onlookers and posed for pictures with a little girl on the sidewalk. “I’m feeling great,” Mrs. Clinton said. “It’s a beautiful day in New York.” Mrs. Clinton left in her motorcade without the group of reporters that is designated to travel with her in public. A campaign spokesman, Nick Merrill, indicated that she had returned to her Chappaqua, N.Y., residence sometime after 1 p.m., and Mrs. Clinton was not seen publicly the rest of the day.[SEP]The sun rises over the Pentagon on Sunday prior to a morning ceremony to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon and onboard American Airlines Flight 77 that day. A firefighter rings a bell as family members, emergency workers and others attend a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on Sunday in New York City. An American flag stands among names on the 9/11 memorial before the start of the 15th anniversary memorial service to 9/11 victims in New York. A woman hugs a man during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York. A group of motorcycle riders look over the north memorial pool Sunday during services marking the 15th anniversary of September 11 at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York. A man honors a lost loved one at a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. A girl cries while reading the names of the victims during a ceremony Sunday marking the 15th anniversary of September 11 attacks at the National 9/11 Memorial in New York. An Army service member salutes during the a ceremony remembering the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Family members embrace Sunday during the 15th-anniversary service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. US military personnel attend a memorial ceremony on the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. Attendees hold photographs of loved ones lost in the September 11 terrorist attacks at a commemoration ceremony Sunday at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York. United Airlines flight attendants Clarice Rinker and Janeen Brown embrace by the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks. Their fellow flight attendants and pilots were killed when Flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville. Military personnel salute during a ceremony Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, DC.[SEP]Hillary Clinton, who had to leave a Sept. 11 ceremony early because she didn’t feel well Sunday, is being treated for pneumonia, her doctor said in a statement after examining the Democratic candidate at her house Sunday afternoon. “While at this morning's event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely," said Dr. Lisa R. Bardack in a written statement. Bardack said that Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday. “She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule,” the physician wrote. Clinton’s early departure from the ceremony and a video that showed her struggling to stand as she left stoked speculation about the state of her health. Her critics and GOP rival Donald Trump have been questioning her physical fitness for office, pointing to her periodic coughing fits. Bardack, Clinton’s physician for more than a decade, said in her statement that the Democratic nominee’s cough was related to allergies and the pneumonia was diagnosed during an evaluation of the cough.[SEP]Hillary Clinton's diagnosis of pneumonia is a serious concern, but something from which she soon should recover, several doctors and medical experts said Sunday. Clinton, 68, unexpectedly left a 9/11 anniversary ceremony in New York after she became 'overheated and dehydrated,' her doctor said. She went to her daughter's nearby apartment for a short stay, and emerged before noon to tell reporters, 'I'm feeling great'. Several hours later, Clinton's physician said the Democratic presidential nominee was diagnosed on Friday with pneumonia. 'She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule,' said Dr. Lisa R. Bardack, an internist who practices near Clinton's suburban New York home. Bardack added in a statement that Clinton, after an exam on Sunday afternoon at her home, 'is now rehydrated and recovering nicely'. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Often it's a bacterial infection that sweeps in after a cold or flu virus. Each year, about 1 million people in the United States seek hospital care because of pneumonia. It causes tens of thousands of deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A presidential candidate is at high risk for such an infection, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. 'Candidates are constantly out in enclosed spaces, face to face with myriads of people,' he said. 'It's an ideal opportunity for the transmission of a respiratory virus.' Dr Stephen Hargarten, head of emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, added: 'I'm not surprised to hear this happen to someone engaged in the kind of frenetic schedule she has.' WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? People with pneumonia usually feel ill, shivery, feverish and off their food. Sometimes they may also feel nauseous. Symptoms are similar to flu, but people with pneumonia nearly always have a cough (often with mucky sputum). Other symptoms are shortness of breath, with a feeling of tightness or pain in the chest when trying to breathe. Sufferers may even go bluish around the lips and nails due to lack of air. Sometimes a sharp pain in the side, worsened by breathing, can occur if the infection also involves the lining of the lung, a condition called pleurisy. Sufferers may also experience an outbreak of herpes (cold sores) around the mouth, which shows that the immune system is weak. HOW DO YOU CATCH IT? It can be caused by bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is treated with antibiotics. Most transmissions come when an infected person sneezes and another person inhales the bacteria from their saliva or nasal mucus. Viruses like the flu or a chest infection can also lead to pneumonia - but these can only be treated with rest and hydration. It is not clear which kind Clinton has. Her doctor said she had been put on antibiotics, which implies a bacterial infection. However, that is a first-step precaution most doctors take as they carry out further tests. It is common for doctors to diagnose patients with pneumonia as the most likely cause of their symptoms before they get the scans back. That said, it is also possible to get quick-fire results with rapid diagnostics or a chest X-ray. WHY DID IT MAKE HILLARY CLINTON WEAK? Like many bacterial and viral infections, pneumonia dehydrates the body and causes fatigue. In extreme cases, it drives down oxygen levels in the lungs. However, if this were the case in Clinton, she would have been hospitalized before the weekend, or straight after her tumble on Sunday. It is most likely that Clinton was dehydrated, overheated, and not rested enough. HOW IS IT TREATED? Pneumonia is commonly treated quickly and effectively with antibiotics. Speaking generally and not about Clinton's case, Schaffner said patients with a mild pneumonia can recover with antibiotics, a few days of rest and good hydration. That's especially true of someone who does strenuous work, such as a rigorous campaign schedule. Based on the available information, he said, 'this should not in any way impede her function going forward.' But Clinton does need to take it seriously, some experts said. People over age 65 have a harder time returning to normal than do younger patients. Many people her age need a week or more to recover from even a mild case of pneumonia, said Dr Sharon Bergquist, an Emory University assistant professor of medicine who specializes in internal medicine. 'The body needs rest. The more she pushes, the harder it is for her to recover,' she said. Clinton had a coughing fit while campaigning in Cleveland early last week. It was dismissed by her aides as allergies and by Clinton herself at that moment as stemming from 'talking so much.' It's possible Clinton may have assumed that symptoms from an earlier viral infection were due to allergies, Schaffner said. Clinton takes antihistamines, which can 'dry you out,' and dehydration leads to a person being susceptible to heat exhaustion, Bergquist said. Add in the possibility of fever, shortness of breath or other possible symptoms from pneumonia, and you have a constellation of factors that could have explained her feeling weak on Sunday, she said. Last year, Clinton's campaign released a letter from Bardack attesting to the former secretary of state's good health. The most notable events in Clinton's medical record included deep vein thrombosis - or a blood clot, usually in the leg - in 1998 and 2009, a broken elbow in 2009 and a concussion in 2012. Clinton got a stomach virus while traveling in 2012 that left her so dehyrdated that she fainted. She had a concussion that fall, and doctors treating her found a blood clot in a vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind her right ear. Clinton spent a few days in New York-Presbyterian Hospital for treatment and took a monthlong absence from her role as secretary of state. Bardack said testing the following year showed 'complete resolution' of the concussion's effects, including double vision, for which Clinton wore glasses with specialized lenses to address. - Her total cholesterol was 195; her LDL or 'bad' cholesterol was 118, and her HDL or 'good' cholesterol was 64 - all within healthy levels and not signaling the need for any medications - She had full cardiac testing, including an ultrasound exam of arteries in her neck, and all was well - Clinton has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a common condition in women older than 60, in which the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones[SEP]Hillary Clinton embraced a young child after leaving her daughter's apartment - despite suffering from pneumonia. The Democratic presidential candidate was diagnosed with the illness after she collapsed at an 'incredibly stifling' 9/11 ceremony in New York. Pneumonia is a contagious illness that is spread from person-to-person when small droplets of water that contain the bacteria get into the air and people breathe them in. Those infected usually spread the disease by sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, said: 'Candidates are constantly out in enclosed spaces, face to face with myriads of people. It's an ideal opportunity for the transmission of a respiratory virus.' Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday and given antibiotics but had become dehydrated at the event in New York. A dramatic video recorded by a bystander showed the Democratic candidate's knees buckling as she stepped off a kerb into a waiting van. She had to be helped up by two Secret Service guards as her team rushed to help her and stopped her hitting the ground. Clinton left after just 90 minutes of the ceremony at Ground Zero to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Her spokesman Nick Merrill said she felt 'overheated' and she was taken to her daughter Chelsea's apartment in the city in what was described as a 'medical episode'. Another picture taken moments earlier showed the 68-year-old holding her chest with her right hand and looking uncomfortable. Representative Joe Crowley, a New York Democrat, described the memorial as being 'incredibly stifling'. An hour after arriving at her daughter's apartment, she emerged looking relaxed. Asked if she was feeling better, Mrs Clinton said: 'Yes thank you, very much'. She smiled and posed for pictures with the young girl before leaving for her home in Chappaqua, just northeast of Manhattan. 'I'm feeling great, it's a beautiful day in New York,' Clinton said. Following her collapse she was forced to cancel a California fundraising trip on Monday and Tuesday. Her campaign team also faced questions as to why it took them two days to reveal the illness. The diagnosis puts the health of Clinton back into the spotlight with two months left in the US presidential election. She has suffered numerous coughing fits on live TV, joking how 'every time I think of Trump I get allergic'. Her critics have seized on photos of her which they claim show she has suffered seizures. Should Mrs Clinton win the presidency she will be 69 when she takes office, making her the second oldest person to assume the title after Ronald Reagan. Her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, 70, would be the oldest if he wins.[SEP]Hillary Clinton abruptly left a 9/11 anniversary ceremony Sunday after feeling "overheated," according to her campaign, and hours later her doctor disclosed that the Democratic presidential nominee had pneumonia. A video showed Clinton slumping and being held up by three people as she was helped into a van after the event, and her doctor said in a statement that Clinton had become overheated and dehydrated. "I have just examined her and she is now rehydrated and recovering nicely," Dr. Lisa R. Bardack said in a statement. The physician said Clinton has had an allergy-related cough, and that during a follow-up examination Friday, the candidate was diagnosed with pneumonia, put on antibiotics, advised to rest and modify her schedule. Less than two months from Election Day, it was an unwanted visual for Clinton as she tries to project the strength and vigor needed for one of the world's most demanding jobs. Republican rival Donald Trump has spent months questioning Clinton's health, saying she doesn't have the stamina to be president. Clinton's departure from the event was not witnessed by the reporters who travel with her campaign and aides provided no information about why she left or her whereabouts for nearly two hours. Spokesman Nick Merrill eventually said Clinton had gone to her daughter's nearby apartment, but refused to say whether the former secretary of state had required medical attention. Clinton exited the apartment on her own shortly before noon. She waved to reporters and said, "I'm feeling great. It's a beautiful day in New York." The video of Clinton posted to social media shows her being held up by aides as a black van pulls up. She stumbles and appears to fall off the curb as she is helped to the vehicle. After leaving her daughter's, Clinton was driven to her home in Chappaqua, New York, and made no public appearances. She was scheduled to fly to California Monday morning for fundraising and it was unclear whether her schedule would change. Trump, who attended the same event marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, was noticeably restrained. Asked by a reporter about Clinton's health incident, Trump said, "I don't know anything." The incident compounds an already difficult stretch for Clinton as the presidential race enters its final stretch. Despite Trump's numerous missteps, the race remains close and many Americans view Clinton as dishonest and untrustworthy. On Friday, Clinton told donors that "half" of rival Donald Trump's supporters are in a "basket of deplorables" — a comment that drew sharp criticism from Republicans. Clinton later said she regretted applying that description to "half" of Trump's backers, but stuck by her assertion that the GOP nominee has given a platform to "hateful views and voices." Now Clinton is sure to face new questions about whether she's physically fit for the presidency. Trump and his supporters have been hinting at potential health issues for months, questioning Clinton's stamina when she takes routine days off the campaign trail and reviving questions about a concussion she sustained in December 2012 after fainting. Her doctor attributed that episode to a stomach virus and dehydration. Clinton's doctor reported she is fully recovered from the concussion, which led to temporary double vision and discovery of a blood clot in a vein in the space between her brain and skull. Clinton also has experienced deep vein thrombosis, a clot usually in the leg, and takes the blood thinner Coumadin to prevent new clots. Clinton spent about 90 minutes at the 9/11 event Sunday, standing alongside numerous other dignitaries, including New York's Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand. The weather was warm and humid in New York on Sunday, and there was a breeze at the crowded memorial plaza during the ceremony. Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., said he spent time before the ceremony chatting with Clinton and watching her sign autographs and take pictures. He said he was standing behind her during the remembrance and "she did not seem out of the ordinary at all." "It was stiflingly hot. I was sweating through my shirt," Crowley said. "I had to leave myself. I drank about a gallon of water." Schumer said he also spoke with Clinton during the event and saw her leave "on her own accord." Trump's personal physician has said the Republican presidential nominee is in excellent health both physically and mentally. But the 70-year-old has refused to release his own health records. Dr. Harold Bornstein's report last December remains the only medical information released so far by the Trump campaign. Bornstein told NBC News he needed just five minutes to write a glowing public assessment of Trump's health as a limousine waited to carry the letter back to Trump.[SEP]Video emerged Sunday of Hillary Clinton struggling to stand and needing help to get into her vehicle as questions swirled about the Democratic presidential nominee’s health after she abruptly left a 9/11 ceremony in New York City. In the 19-second video, a woman is seen clutching Clinton’s left arm as her vehicle approaches, and then two men grab both of her arms and help her into the vehicle as her knees appear to buckle. Clinton was attending a 9/11 ceremony when she left around 9:30 a.m. because she felt “overheated,” according to campaign spokesman Nick Merrill. “Secretary Clinton attended the September 11th Commemoration Ceremony for just an hour and thirty minutes this morning to pay her respects and greet some of the families of the fallen,” Merrill said in a statement. “During the ceremony, she felt overheated so departed to go to her daughter's apartment, and is feeling much better.” Shortly before noon, Clinton left Chelsea Clinton’s apartment, wearing sunglasses and waving to diners at a nearby restaurant. "I'm feeling great, it's a beautiful day in New York," Clinton said, before heading to her home in Chappaqua. Republicans have focused on Clinton’s health on the campaign trail, with GOP nominee Donald Trump repeatedly questioning her strength and stamina. Sunday’s incident will only amplify these questions, in part because of the abrupt nature of her departure from the ceremony and the lack of details about what occurred from her campaign. The reporters who were traveling with Clinton were not told about her condition or her whereabouts for 90 minutes after she left the ceremony.[SEP]Hillary Clinton's doctor has revealed the 68-year-old has pneumonia - hours after video showed her collapsing into the arms of her Secret Service agents after being rushed from the 9/11 memorial service at the World Trade Center. Dr. Lisa R. Bardack released a statement through her campaign team after she performed a check-up on the presidential candidate at her home in Chappaqua, New York, on Sunday, after the 'medical episode'. She said: 'Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. 'While at this morning's event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely.' Clinton is now holed up in her upstate New York home after a bystander recorded her losing her balance, slumping at the knees and being held up by her aides while waiting to get in a minivan. Her campaign had earlier blamed 'overheating' for the episode - which saw her rushed away from the ceremony at Ground Zero and back to Chelsea's apartment. Her press pool was not informed for 90 minutes of her whereabouts or given an explanation for the abrupt departure. At the time the temperature was around 80 degrees and the humidity was low. Clinton's collapse adds to growing fears for the 68-year-old's health, which began mounting on Labor Day when she broke out in a coughing fit during a speech in Ohio. It now seems that cough has developed into pneumonia, according to Dr Bardack's statement. Katie Packer, a GOP strategist, told the Los Angeles Times that the incident will increase attention on the health of both Clinton and Trump, 70. 'This is the kind of thing that voters have a right to understand before they cast a vote,' she said. 'But Trump and Hillary are elderly. They are obligated to release full medical records and full tax returns to the American people. And the media, party leaders and American people should settle for nothing less.' Clinton is due to fly to the West Coast earlier Monday morning, but it is unclear if she will now do so. Several party leaders and Clinton backers told POLITICO that she needed to offer a fuller accounting of her health. 'There will have to be some kind of accounting for this,' said one former Clinton adviser. Clinton was already facing calls on Sunday afternoon to release her full medical records. In the footage, Clinton is seen standing on a curb near the site of the Twin Towers when she suddenly appears unable to stand. She seems to nearly fall to the ground before she is caught by her aides, who hold her up. Her security detail then had to help her into the van by grabbing each of her arms. The former Secretary of State then appears to fall forward towards the door of the van before being bundled inside. Law enforcement sources told the Daily Beast she was thrown into the back seat like a 'side of beef'. She appears to lose a shoe under the vehicle in the struggle before being driven to daughter Chelsea's apartment in Manhattan. Despite the concerning footage, she emerged from the home just over two hours later at 11:45am on Sunday saying she was fine. She told a waiting crowd and reporters: 'I'm feeling great, it's a beautiful day in New York.' A smiling Clinton was then greeted by a young girl on the street to pose for a picture. She waved at customers at a nearby restaurant before getting into a van. Clinton then traveled to her home in Chappaqua, New York, according to her campaign. It is not known whether she saw a doctor. Nick Merrill, her traveling press secretary, said Clinton 'overheated' during the ceremony, but quickly recovered when she returned to Chelsea's apartment. She recently said she had been suffering from allergy attacks since Labor Day and had upped her antihistamine dosage. Clinton suffered two coughing fits this week while on the campaign trail, one while she was speaking publicly in Ohio on Monday and another while she was taking questions from reporters. Dailymail.com had asked Clinton about her health Thursday pointing to notes released by the FBI as part of the bureau's email investigation that suggested Clinton may have suffered memory loss from the concussion she sustained in 2012. 'Can you clarify what you told the FBI about your concussion?' Dailymail.com had asked the candidate, to which Clinton replied curtly, 'read the reports,' offering no additional explanation. There are also questions over whether the Secret Service had to adapt to the situation and shied away from standard procedure when they whisked Hillary away from the scene. A source told the Washington Post that agents are supposed to wait for a car before they take a protected individual away. In the video, Hillary is seen leaning against a bollard before the motorcade draws up. They appeared to have rushed her departure, which meant lead agent Todd Madison had to leave her side to open the van door, which is also against protocol. The Secret Service later denied they had broken protocol. Today, shortly after 9:30am, the pool reporter covering Clinton at the World Trade Center notified the rest of the press that the Democrat had disappeared from the event with no notice from the campaign. She had spent about 90 minutes at the memorial. It wasn't until 11am that reporters were told where Clinton went and what had happened, though Fox News had already reported that Clinton had suffered from a 'medical episode.' Trump said he had 'no idea' what happened when asked about his rival's health after the ceremony. Trump's campaign did not respond to a request for additional comment from Dailymail.com. Merrill said in a statement: 'Secretary Clinton attended the September 11th Commemoration Ceremony for just an hour and thirty minutes this morning to pay her respects and greet some of the families of the fallen. 'During the ceremony, she felt overheated so departed to go to her daughter's apartment, and is feeling much better.' Clinton's press team later updated the statement to remove the word 'just,' stating it was a 'typo.' Eyewitnesses said that Clinton had to wait a couple of minutes for her motorcade as it wasn't waiting for her when she exited the event. Fox News reporter Rick Levanthal, who broke the initial story, quoted one person who was standing 15ft away from Clinton who saw her stumble off the curb. Her 'knees buckled,' Levanthal tweeted, as she lost a shoe during this 'unexpected early departure.' Her detail retrieved a shoe from underneath the van and helped the former secretary of state inside, according to reports. The temperature was around 80 degrees at Ground Zero during the service. There was a humidity of 41%. Clinton was standing in the middle of a crowd of politicians packed together in a small space. Clinton's pool reporter wrote that she could not see whether the Democratic hopeful was standing in direct sunlight, though noted that there wasn't a lot of shade in the area where the politicians were gathered. Clinton had already suspended campaigning on Sunday in a show of support for those who died on 9/11 and those who survived the terror attacks. Earlier on Sunday she tweeted: 'We'll never forget the horror of September 11, 2001. Today, let's honor the lives and tremendous spirit of the victims and responders.' Clinton was a senator from New York 15 years ago and did a sit-down interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo about her experience during and after the attacks. She recalled being evacuated from the Senate office buildings in Washington, D.C. on 9/11 and then heading to New York City alongside her peer, Sen. Chuck Schumer, on Sept. 12. She visited lower Manhattan on Sept. 12, alongside her Senate peer, Sen. Chuck Schumer, describing what she saw on the ground as 'hell.' 'We saw this curtain of black smoke that was stretched across the island. 'Occasionally it would be broken by a firefighter coming out. I remember one image so indelibly, dragging his ax, and it was as close to a depiction of hell that I have ever personally seen. 'There weren't that many survivors; the ones that did survive were grievously injured. The loss of life was overwhelming. 'But it was also my job and the job of other officials to get our city and state and country what we needed,' she said. She noted in the CNN interview that she visited New York City before then-President George W. Bush and played up her role in helping the city get federal funding to rebuild and aiding first responders in getting proper medical care after being exposed to the dirty air coming from the burning remains of the Twin Towers. Today's health scare, however, will likely bury the effect the CNN interview would have on her poll numbers, which have dipped into being within spitting distance of Trump's in recent days. Instead, the fainting spell could lend proof to conspiracy theories that Trump's allies have pushed, which suggest Clinton's health is failing. It was Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, that brought these theories into the mainstream by saying on Fox News Sunday last month that voters should 'go online and put down "Hillary Clinton's illness." Take a look at the videos for yourself,' the Republican instructed. This came a week after Trump himself had told a crowd that Clinton lacked the 'mental and physical stamina to take on ISIS.' Clinton's campaign interpreted Trump's words to mean that he was peddling some of the right-wing conspiracy theories going around the internet including that Clinton had suffered a seizure on camera and that she was showing signs of dementia. Trump's comment prompted the Clinton campaign to address her health and fitness for the first time since releasing a doctor's note a year before. 'While it is dismaying to see the Republican nominee for president push deranged conspiracy theories in a foreign policy speech, it's no longer surprising,' Clinton's communications director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement. 'Donald Trump is simply parroting lies based on fabricated documents promoted by Roger Stone and his right wing allies,' Palmieri continued. She then pivoted for a moment to blast Trump for not releasing any of his tax returns to the American public. 'Hillary Clinton has released a detailed medical record showing her to be in excellent health plus her personal tax returns since 1977, while Trump has failed to provide the public with the most basic financial information disclosed by every major candidate in the last 40 years,' she acknowledged. 'It's time for him to stop using shameful distractions to hide his own record,' Palmieri added. Clinton's people included a new statement from her physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, who had signed off on the Democrat's health in the beginning months of her campaign last year. 'As Secretary Clinton's long time physician, I released a medical statement during the campaign indicating that she is in excellent health,' Bardack wrote last month. 'I have recently been made aware of allegedly "leaked" medical documents regarding Secretary Clinton with my name on them. These documents are false, were not written by me and are not based on any medical facts,' she continued. 'To reiterate what I said in my previous statement, Secretary Clinton is in excellent health and fit to serve as President of the United States,' Bardack said. In December 2012, Clinton fainted and suffered a concussion after contracting a stomach virus. She later developed a blood clot. She’s been taking the anticoagulation drug, Coumadin, ever since. In 2005, she fainted before a scheduled speech in Buffalo, New York, after suffering a similar stomach virus. Beyond Giuliani and Trump, Clinton's health also became front-and-center when Dr Drew Pinsky said he was 'gravely concerned not just about her health, but her health care.' 'It just seems like she’s getting care from somebody that she met in Arkansas when she was a kid, and you’ve got to wonder. You’ve got to wonder,' Pinsky had said. Dr Drew's HLN show was canceled several days after he made the comments with no explanation from the network, leading to speculation that the negative remarks were the cause.[SEP]Footage of Hillary Clinton prematurely leaving a 9/11 memorial event on Sunday show someone who was feeling weak and unwell. There are many possible medical causes for a near faint, but the revelation that Mrs Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days previously could explain what her doctor subsequently described as an episode of “dehydration and overheating.” Dr Lisa Bardack said in a statement, that 68 year-old Mrs Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies and that an examination on Friday showed that she was suffering from pneumonia. Pneumonia is a type of chest infection that affects the lungs and lower airways. Bronchitis is an infection of the upper and middle airways in the lung. Most bronchitis cases are caused by viruses, whereas most pneumonia cases are due to bacteria. Despite the advent of powerful antibiotics, pneumonia remains a potentially fatal illness, especially in the under-5s and in older people. In the US, about 2 to 3 million people develop pneumonia each year, and 60,000 of them die. Pneumonia, along with influenza, is the eighth leading cause of death in America. Mrs Clinton’s illness is classified as community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The annual incidence of CAP in the western world is estimated at between 5 and 11 cases per 1,000 adults. More than 100 different microbes have been linked with pneumonia; however the most common culprits are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Mild cases of CAP are treated at home by taking oral antibiotics, drinking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest. The fact that Mrs Clinton was still following a busy schedule on Sunday, some 48 hours after being diagnosed, suggests a hard campaigning politician who was possibly reluctant to take medical advice to rest. The term “walking pneumonia” has been used in some media reports about Mrs Clinton. Apparently used to suggest a mild case of pneumonia that does not require rest, it is not a recognised medical term. Now that she is resting, the Democratic presidential candidate should respond well to treatment. Complications are possible, however, and the need for hospitalisation cannot be ruled out if the infection doesn’t settle. The main complication is pleurisy, where a thin lining between the lungs and the ribcage becomes inflamed. Fluid builds up in this space, causing severe pain and difficulty breathing. And like any other infection in the body, the bugs causing the pneumonia can invade the blood stream causing septicaemia. This serious illness warrants hospital admission for intravenous antibiotics and fluids, and oxygen. Even if she recovers rapidly, Mrs Clinton can expect to feel tired for a number of weeks. The cough which has been bothering her will persist for up to four weeks after the bacteria has been eliminated from her lungs. As to the future, Mrs Clinton will be advised to have up to date influenza and pneumococcal vaccine jabs. And a chest X-ray in a number of weeks time to confirm the pneumonia has completely gone would be a wise move.[SEP]Pneumonia: Five things to know US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has cancelled campaign engagements after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The 68-year-old fell ill at a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and appeared to lose her footing as she was helped into her vehicle. Here are five things to know about the disease. Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that target the lungs. When it strikes, the tiny air sacs inside the lungs fill up with pus and fluid, limiting oxygen intake and making it painful for the patient to breathe. All types of pneumonia share similar symptoms including cough and fever, with wheezing being more common in viral cases. Doctors usually diagnose pneumonia by conducting a physical exam, checking symptoms and carrying out a chest X-ray to ensure that the patient is not suffering from bronchitis or other respiratory infections. Fungal pneumonia tends to be relatively rare, affecting people with weakened immune systems, such as AIDS patients, who become sick either when they inhale wind-borne spores or when a fungus already present in their bodies triggers symptoms. Who is at risk? Pneumonia can affect people of all ages but it can be particularly serious, even life-threatening, for the very old or the very young. Smokers, as well as people with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, are particularly vulnerable, according to the US Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC). The infection is spread via air-borne droplets from coughs or sneezes. Doctors say hand-washing is an effective way to reduce the risk of picking up pneumonia. How dangerous is it? When an otherwise healthy adult under 65 years of age gets pneumonia, his or her body can usually fight off the infection. But patients with a weak immune system -- those who are very young or old, or those who have a pre-existing condition -- can struggle to cope and will sometimes develop complications. As the infection sets in, it can cause oxygen levels in the body to fall. In extreme cases, this can lead to organ failure and death. The World Health Organization calls pneumonia the single biggest killer of children under five worldwide, responsible for 15 percent of deaths in this age group every year. What is the recommended treatment? It depends on what kind of pneumonia it is. Doctors advise patients to take rest and consume plenty of fluids. The normal treatment includes antibiotics for bacterial cases, while viral pneumonia is treated with antiviral drugs and the occasional prescription of corticosteroid medicines. Fungal pneumonia is usually treated with antibiotics or antifungal medication. What is the usual recovery time? Recovery time depends on the severity of the symptoms before treatment but in most cases, patients feel better after a course of medicines and a week of rest.
Hillary Clinton's doctor says she is being treated for pneumonia and dehydration after the Democratic Party presidential candidate fell ill and abruptly left a ceremony in New York City honoring the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
HIGHLIGHTS-Tennis-Day 14 at the U.S. Open Sept 11 (Reuters) - Latest news from the 14th day of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Sunday (all times GMT): Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. and Czech Lucie Safarova, the 12th seeds, battled back from a set and break down to oust top-seeded French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 to clinch the women's doubles title. The final day of the 2016 U.S. Open began with the women's doubles final at Flushing Meadows. Aggressive style almost pays off for runner-up Pliskova Kerber begins reign as number one with U.S. Open win 1-Caroline Garcia (France) and Kristina Mladenovic (France) v 12-Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) and Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) Not before 2000GMT/4 PM ET 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 3-Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) (Compiled by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Both)[SEP]What term do you want to search? 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They had been playing for three hours and 23 minutes, by a distance Djokovic’s longest match of the tournament. “That was another example of a complete abuse of the rules,” said McEnroe. “It’s up to the officials to do something about it, and they just don’t have the guts to do it.” Otherwise, the final was a minor classic. Wawrinka won his third major 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in just under four hours, with several passages of glorious tennis from both players. “I don’t know what’s happening right now. Novak, you’re a great champion,” Wawrinka said after the match. “We know each other since many, many years. I had the chance to practise with him and play him in big matches. This is amazing. I came here not expecting to win it, but I was trying to win every match. I am completely empty. I had to bring everything today.” Djokovic paid tribute to his opponent after the match. “I cannot tell you that [about their exchange at the net]. It was a friendly chat. Congratulations Stan. You were the more courageous player in the decisive moment and you deserved to win this title. He was the better player, tougher mentally. It was a fantastic couple of weeks for me. I didn’t know if I should come a few weeks before because I suffered physically.” In the last 50 men’s slams, only the Argentinian Juan Martín del Potro here in the 2009 final, has broken the hegemony of the old world, as George Bush Jr used to call it – and, in another all-European final, Switzerland prevailed over Serbia. It was Wawrinka’s first US Open, to go with titles in Melbourne and Paris, and his fifth victory in 23 matches against the world No1. Under the circumstances, it might have been the most satisfying. When Wawrinka beat Djokovic to win the French Open last year, he trusted his strong right arm, the one tattooed with Beckett’s famous “fail better” quote. It did not click immediately there or here – but nor did it fail him when it mattered. After dropping the first set, he not only avoided embarrassment, he crushed the Serb to win. It was an extraordinary fightback. The heatwave finally broke, the lightest of zephyrs soothing the finalists’ brows in ideal conditions, with the roof open and the court playing a little more quickly than in the humid conditions that had prevailed for much of the tournament. As at Roland Garros, Wawrinka started nervously, spraying shots everywhere, and Djokovic hit an ominous rhythm to go 3-0 up in under 10 minutes. But Wawrinka kept faith in his ground strokes, almost disregarding the circumstances. Where Gaël Monfils had tried to rope-a-dope Djokovic in the semi-finals, Wawrinka was still going for the knockout. The champion inexplicably dropped his guard. A 134mph serve earned Wawrinka a tie-break after he had played much of the set on his heels, but Djokovic played some sublime shots to take the set in his ninth shootout win over Wawrinka in 10 such contests, this time giving up just a single point. He moved to the second set comfortable in the knowledge that he was 51-0 at this tournament after winning the first set. Yet there was something in the still, early evening air to suggest drama. As he did in Paris, Wawrinka drew that single-handed backhand from its scabbard and painted the deuce corner on his way to saving three break points for 3-1 up just under the hour. Djokovic prowled the baseline, breathing hard and looking as if he was enduring some sort of private hell. Perhaps he was. Tennis at this level is no picnic. The Swiss, whose serve has been such a weapon here, hit his fourth double fault, and was hanging on at 4-1. Djokovic broke back but gestured angrily towards Boris Becker and his team as Wawrinka held to love for 5-4. A blistering forehand down the line earned Wawrinka two set points in the 10th game. Djokovic saved one of them to win a tense rally with a deft volley, but he shoved a forehand wide and they were a set apiece. The world No1 smashed his racket to smithereens during the break. Who could blame him? Wawrinka saved three break points to hold at the start of the third after nearly two hours of tennis. At about this point in his semi-final against Monfils, Djokovic was almost out on his feet in the oppressive heat and humidity. Still, he had played only eight hours and 58 minutes getting to the final, through 13 completed sets, because three of his six matches were incomplete due to a walkover and two retirements; Wawrinka endured nearly twice that: 17 hours and 54 minutes through 23 sets. Yet there was little between them in stamina and strength as each sought to win another two sets, preferably in a row. When the world No3 broke in the second game of the third set, the odds swung sharply in his favour. Djokovic knew he was in trouble. Bundled out early at Wimbledon when ambitions of a calendar slam were still alive, and hobbled since with injuries to wrist, elbow and both shoulders, the proudest of champions would not lie down, though. He broke back and after two-and-a-half hours, they were level again, a set each and 3-3. A quarter of an hour later, Djokovic held to love for the sixth time, to stay in the set, but his level dropped at 6-5 and a loose backhand gave Wawrinka set point. Djokovic sliced a backhand wide – and the noise level in the arena went rock-concert crazy. All tournament, Djokovic has had to receive treatment for some complaint or other. At 30-30 on his serve in the second game of the fourth set, he doubled up in pain after belting a forehand from deep, clutching at his groin. Two points later, Wawrinka broke him for 2-0. Wawrinka broke to love, but Djokovic did not immediately seek medical assistance before the fourth game, perhaps suspecting it was cramp that had cut him down – and that is not treatable, as it is considered a failure in condition. He was desperate and somehow fought through three deuce points to hold. Then the trainer emerged, Djokovic took off his shoes and asked for a callous to be clipped from under the big toe of his left foot, as well as a quick manicure of the toes on his right foot. Refreshed, Djokovic returned to the court, and was not moving like someone with tender feet. He grabbed his 16th and 17th break points – but could not reap a dividend. And there weren’t too many people in the arena who had much sympathy with him. At the 2-5 changeover, the trainer re-emerged to treat Djokovic’s feet again. He held, somehow, again moving with freedom, and went up two points as Wawrinka served for the title and his girlfriend, Donna Vekić, could barely watch as he struggled to deuce. The Swiss won an epic rally to get to match point with a gentle dab, Djokovic sprawled on hands and knees at the back of the court – and Wawrinka raised his arms in triumph as his opponent’s final shot drifted long. What a fortnight it has been. It began with Phil Collins, of Chiswick and Miami, singing In the Air Tonight (rather well), an apt choice to mark the opening of the new roof, and culminated before play on Sunday with Norm Lewis’s rich baritone embracing the national anthem, after a moment of silence to mark the 15th anniversary of 9/11, as members of the US Marine 6th Communications Battalion, Brooklyn, drew the Stars and Stripes across the court. They do have a sense of occasion in this noisy old town, and they were rewarded with a final that had pretty much everything.[SEP]Stan Wawrinka’s tennis career has been a textbook study of persistence and patience, with his Grand Slam championship success delayed until age 28 and continuing into his 30s. That was once the tennis version of middle age. Those virtues served the Swiss veteran well Sunday in the U.S. Open men’s final, a taut and often fraught match against defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia. The 31-year-old Wawrinka, seeded third, lost the first set, rallied to take the next two and waited through two medical timeouts in the fourth set by the top-seeded Djokovic before finishing off a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory, in a match lasting nearly four hours. Maybe, just maybe, 31 is becoming the new 21. Wawrinka joined Hall of Famers Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors — legends all — in winning two or more Grand Slam singles titles after turning 30. Agassi notched two of his eight majors after turning 30, in 2001 and 2003 at the Australian Open. This was Wawrinka’s third Slam title; he won the 2014 Australian Open at 28 and the 2015 French Open at 30. He is one major — Wimbledon — from completing a career Grand Slam. Maybe winning three of the four majors can be dubbed a Stan Slam. “At the beginning, for me, I never dreamed to win a Grand Slam until I won the Australian Open,” Wawrinka said. “It was never a dream because for me it was way too far.” He said on the court during the trophy ceremony that he was “completely empty.” Wawrinka elaborated on that in his post-match news conference. “I put everything on the court. Not only today but the past two weeks,” he said. “I was trying to be tough with myself. Not to show anything. Not to show any pain. Not to show any cramp. I was suffering on the court.” He also revealed that he was a mess in the locker room when he was going over match details beforehand with his coach, former tour player Magnus Norman. “I was really nervous like never before,” Wawrinka said. “I was shaking. Five minutes before the match, talking, last few things with Magnus, I start to cry. I was completely shaking. But the only thing I was convinced with myself was my game was there.” Wawrinka is unbeaten in his last 11 finals, going back to 2014. He got better and stronger as the tournament went along. He saved match point in the third round against the largely unknown Dan Evans of Britain. He had won just four times in 23 matches against Djokovic before Sunday, but one of those wins happened to be the French Open final in 2015. A telling statistic: Djokovic was three for 17 on break-point chances against Wawrinka, including one for nine in the last two sets. Djokovic called it “a terrible conversion” of break-point opportunities. “In matches like this, if you don’t use the opportunities, the other guy comes and takes it,” said Djokovic, who won the Australian and French opens this year, his 11th and 12th major titles. “And that’s what he did. That’s why I said he was more courageous.” The match was not without an element of controversy. Wawrinka won the second and third sets and took a 3-0 lead in the fourth over a visibly ailing Djokovic. The Serb fought off a break point to hold serve and then took an injury timeout before Wawrinka served at 3-1. “The toenails were off and bleeding,” Djokovic said. “It was quite painful to move around.” The first medical timeout lasted about six minutes and he took one more, just before serving to stay in the match at 2-5. That one lasted about 4½ minutes. ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe said it was a “complete abuse of the rules.” Djokovic said he was allowed to take it, so he did. Wawrinka asked the chair umpire what was going on when the first injury timeout came right before his serve, which was not on a changeover. Despite the timing — coming at such a critical juncture — he managed to hold his serve and his nerve. His victory brought forth this question: Does tennis now have a big five? Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray … and now, possibly, Wawrinka, Swiss countryman of Federer, the all-time leader with 17 majors. “He deserves to be in the mix, no doubt about it,” Djokovic said. “Stan won three Grand Slams now and three different ones . . . and he plays the best in big matches.” Stan, the man in the bright fuchsia outfit, was hard to miss early in the tournament. In the end, it was his sublime play on the court that drew the most attention. “The Big Four, I’m really far from them,” Wawrinka said. “Just look at the tournaments they’ve won, how many years they’ve been there. . . . I’m proud of myself by winning three Grand Slams. This is something I never expect and dream about. But I have them and I’m happy to take the trophy back home.”[SEP]Stan Wawrinka clinched his third grand slam title by blasting out Novak Djokovic to win the US Open. Wawrinka had demolished Djokovic in the French Open final last year and he pulled off a similar display of destruction at Flushing Meadows to win 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 7-5 6-3. Djokovic struggled physically in the final set and took a controversial time-out before Wawrinka's serve, but the Swiss held firm in Arthur Ashe Stadium to seal a dramatic victory. When Djokovic's final backhand flew long, Wawrinka closed his eyes and looked up to the sky before holding his arms aloft in celebration. At 31 years old, he becomes only the fifth man in the Open era to win more than one major tournament after turning 30, following Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors in achieving the feat. Wawrinka ousted Djokovic en route to winning both the Australian Open in 2014 and French Open last year, and he proved his class again here to deny the Serb a 13th grand slam success of his own. The world number three had been match point down against Britain's Dan Evans in the third round but he grew into the tournament and now stands one Wimbledon title away from completing a career grand slam. "This is honestly amazing," Wawrinka said. "I came here without expecting to win it but every time I step on the court I tried to win. "I played a lot of tennis these two weeks. I am completely empty. I had to bring everything I had today against Novak. "There was so much emotion with the crowd and the atmosphere, this is something I never had before. It has been an amazing night again." Djokovic, a beneficiary of three retirements in New York, had spent almost nine hours fewer on court than Wawrinka, but injuries have also blighted his progress and they caught up with him at the very end. He took a medical time-out before Wawrinka's serve in the fourth, which angered his opponent, although there appeared no lingering bad feeling at the finish as the pair shared a warm embrace. "Congratulations to Stan and his team," Djokovic said. "This has been absolutely deserved. "Today you were the more courageous player in the decisive moments. You are a great champion and deserved to win this title." Despite Djokovic's physical issues, Wawrinka was a convincing champion. He hit 46 winners, broke Djokovic's serve six times and became the first ever player to beat the top seed at the US Open after losing the first set. He took time to get going as Djokovic broke first and raced 5-2 clear but the Serb spurned two set points and then the momentum shifted. Finding his rhythm, Wawrinka broke back via a Djokovic double fault and after trailing for most of the opening hour, the Swiss had himself a tie-break. He won what must have been the point of the tournament, a 19-shot rally that included two drop-volleys, one half-volley, one lob, one attempted pass and finally a Wawrinka volley-winner. The crowd leapt up for a standing ovation. Djokovic lost that exchange but won all the others as a long Wawrinka forehand secured him the opening set. Wawrinka, however, had found his groove and after breaking once with a trademark backhand, cannoned down the line, he did so again at 5-4 to snatch the second and level up. This was the first time since round one Djokovic had not been ahead in sets but more unnerving was that he had lost control, Wawrinka unleashing at will while his opponent was left protesting at his box and smiling in disbelief. Wawrinka broke for 3-0 in the third and while his golden spell dimmed enough for Djokovic to stay in touch, he broke again at 6-5, pointing his finger to his temple as he moved up two sets to one. While Wawrinka had signalled his mental toughness, Djokovic was now struggling physically as he pulled up with pain in his left leg at the start of the fourth. Wawrinka showed no mercy, breaking for 2-0 and holding for three, as a hobbling Djokovic walked his way through the game and barely put up a fight. He took ice on his legs at the changeover and then could hardly serve, producing two double faults in the next game, yet saving break point to hold. Umpire Ali Nili then granted Djokovic a six-minute medical time-out to take treatment on his feet and before the serve of Wawrinka, who made his irritation clear to both umpire and opponent. Djokovic even apologised to Wawrinka but the tension was palpable when play resumed, as a sprightly Djokovic earned three break points but failed to capitalise. Instead it was left to Wawrinka to serve out at 5-3. On his first match point, he dumped his forehand in the net but on the second, Djokovic fired long and after three hours and 55 minutes, his victory was complete.[SEP]Just like Karolina Pliskova, who lost in the women’s final, Stan Wawrinka was one point away from exiting the U.S. Open long before championship weekend. Again, like Pliskova, Wawrinka used his versatile survival skills to wiggle out of the predicament and fought off match point by forcing the issue. It was the middle weekend of the Open and Wawrinka faced match point in the fourth-set tiebreaker against the lightly regarded Dan Evans of Britain. Wawrinka got to the net and erased the match point with a forehand volley. That’s how fine a line it is in professional tennis. Wawrinka, 31, could have been on a beach somewhere this weekend, lamenting the third-round loss. Instead he will face No. 1-seeded and defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles final Sunday. Wawrinka, seeded third, is aiming for his third Grand Slam singles championship and Djokovic is attempting to win No. 13, which would break a tie with Roy Emerson for fourth all time. “The secret is simple,” Wawrinka said. “I have to play my best tennis, my best game. He’s the No. 1 player, amazing fighter. But I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best tennis I can beat him. “Hopefully I can bring that Sunday. But it’s the biggest challenge. When you play Novak, the No. 1 player in the final of a Grand Slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have.” Wawrinka is exceedingly dangerous when he reaches the final. He is 10-0 in tournament finals since 2014. Said Djokovic: “He is a big-match player. He loves to play in the big stage against big players because that’s when he elevates his level of performance in his game. Just gets much better.” This will be Djokovic’s seventh U.S. Open final — he’s won twice — and he holds a 19-4 career record against Wawrinka. Wawrinka beat him to win the French Open in 2015 and they had an epic battle at the Australian Open in 2013 with Djokovic winning, 12-10, in the fifth set. There have been occasional interlopers among the big four of men’s tennis: Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Since the 2005 French Open, they’ve been responsible for 42 of 46 Grand Slam tournament titles. By winning two Slams and a shot at a third major, Wawrinka is on the verge of transforming from a mere interloper to fifth member of the band. He was once firmly fixed in the shadow of his Swiss countryman, Federer. Of course, who hasn’t been in Federer’s shadow at one time? “He’s a very powerful, powerful player,” Djokovic said of Wawrinka. “Big serve. Probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. You know, he can play it all. He has that variety in his game. He can be very dangerous for everybody.”[SEP]Stan Wawrinka clinched his third grand slam title by blasting out Novak Djokovic to win the US Open. Wawrinka had demolished Djokovic in the French Open final last year and he pulled off a similar display of destruction at Flushing Meadows to win 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 7-5 6-3. Djokovic struggled physically in the final set and took a controversial time-out before Wawrinka's serve, but the Swiss held firm in Arthur Ashe Stadium to seal a dramatic victory. • Angelique Kerber wins US Open women's singles title with three-set victory over Karolina Pliskova • Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares win US Open men's doubles in straight sets We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news visit Mirror.co.uk/sport . Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. 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He was tougher mentally,” said Djokovic, offering two of the highest compliments a tennis player can receive from the talented and sturdy Serb ranked No. 1. “He knew what to do. And I was just unlucky in some moments. And that’s it.” The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest U.S. Open men’s champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970, and entered Sunday having spent almost exactly twice as much time on court as Djokovic during the course of the tournament: about 18 hours vs. about 9 hours. “I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks. I am completely empty,” said No. 3 Wawrinka, who noted during the trophy ceremony that Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. By breaking in the final game of the second and third sets, and by saving 14 of 17 break points he faced, Wawrinka already had gained the upper hand by the time Djokovic clutched at his left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth. Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time other than a changeover. He removed both shoes and socks so a trainer could help with toe blisters. Wawrinka complained about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized. Later, Djokovic started limping and received more treatment. “We played almost four hours,” said Djokovic, “and I think I can speak in the name of Stan, as well: We both felt it.” Wawrinka has won only five of his 24 career meetings against Djokovic, but has now beaten the 12-time major champion on the way to each of his own Grand Slam titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals and 2015 French Open final. Before this matchup, Djokovic praised Wawrinka as “a big-match player,” and, boy, is he ever. Wasn’t always, though: Playing in the shadow of his far-more-accomplished Swiss countryman and good pal, Roger Federer, Wawrinka needed until his 35th appearance at a major, at age 28, just to get to the semifinals for the first time. But look at Wawrinka now. He has now won 11 tournament finals in a row. He is 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, beating the No. 1-ranked player each time. Take that trio of highest-stakes matches out of the equation, and Wawrinka is 0-19 in all other matches against the top man. And he did it Sunday by coming back against Djokovic, whose French Open title in June completed a career Grand Slam and made him only the third man — and first in nearly a half-century — to win four consecutive major tournaments. Consider this: Djokovic had been 51-0 in U.S. Open matches, and 53-2 in all finals, when taking the first set. This time, though, while the thick-chested Wawrinka recovered from an edgy start to begin his typical bullying from the baseline — not only with his best-in-the-game one-handed backhand but off both wings — Djokovic seemed to lose his way. As Wawrinka placed one stinging shot after another right on a line, Djokovic looked up at coach Boris Becker and the rest of his entourage while gesticulating with his hands and muttering. He went from appearing locked-in at the outset to completely drained in every way. On one point, Wawrinka delivered a shot so hard it knocked the racket from Djokovic’s grasp and against a wall behind the baseline. Then, after smacking a forehand winner to end a 20-stroke exchange, Wawrinka pointed to his temple. Two points later, the second set was his. After a forehand passing shot drew an errant volley for a break early in the third set, Wawrinka pointed to his temple. And so on. Think about this: Wawrinka nearly was gone before the end of the U.S. Open’s first week. He was one point from losing in the third round against 64th-ranked Dan Evans, but eventually won in five sets. So Sunday’s victory made Wawrinka the first man to win the U.S. Open after saving a match point since — yes, that’s right — Djokovic in 2011. “You’re a great champion, a great person. Because of you, I am where I am today,” Wawrinka said. “We know each other (for) many, many years, and I had the chance to practice many times with him and to play him on a big stage.” With that Djokovic threw his left arm around Wawrinka’s shoulders, knowing which was more up to the task on this day.[SEP]US Open champion Stan Wawrinka says this year’s tournament at Flushing Meadows was the toughest Grand Slam of his career and that he accepted he would suffer in order to win in New York. Speaking at a news conference following his victory over world number Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka says he gave everything in the final. Djokovic meanwhile accepts that he lost his nerve after taking the opening set • Stan Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic in four sets to take first US Open title[SEP]Wawrinka beats Djokovic in four sets to win U.S. Open Sept 11 (Reuters) - Third seed Stan Wawrinka rose to the occasion once again to beat top-seeded defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-7(1) 6-4 7-5 6-3 and win the U.S. Open on Sunday for the third grand slam title of his career. The 31-year-old Swiss, who defeated Djokovic on his way to winning the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open, denied the world number one a third grand slam title this year following his wins in Australia and France.
In tennis, Swiss Stan Wawrinka defeats Serbian Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim the 2016 US Open men's singles title.
• Colombian adds crown to his victory in the 2014 Giro d’Italia • Tour de France winner came second with Esteban Chaves third This article is more than 2 years old This article is more than 2 years old Nairo Quintana won the Vuelta a España on Sunday, adding the title to the 2014 Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour list of honours. The Movistar climbing expert had cemented his commanding lead over Team Sky’s Chris Froome in Saturday’s decisive mountain stage. Following custom, Froome did not challenge Quintana on the traditional ride into the Spanish capital on the 21st and final stage. The Colombian finished 1min 23sec in front of the Tour de France winner. “It’s been tough, I won’t lie, especially on the back of the Tour de France and then going to Rio for the road race and time trial at the Olympics,” Froome told Eurosport. “Coming here, it means I haven’t had much time at home for the last three months. I’ve had a lot time away from the family.” Quintana completed the gruelling three-week race that covered 3,315.5km in 83hr 31min 28sec. Esteban Chaves finished in third place and more than four minutes off the pace. He was followed by the three-times Vuelta winner Alberto Contador in fourth. “I woke up this morning feeling like the winner but I couldn’t raise my arms in celebration until I crossed the finish line,” Quintana said. “This is probably the most important win for me, considering the scenario and who I was racing against. Froome is a great rival.” Vuelta a España: Chris Froome wins stage 19 to slash Quintana’s lead Read more Magnus Cort Nielsen of Denmark won the flat 105km ride starting in Las Rozas before making loops through Madrid’s centre. It was his second stage win of this race. At 26 Quintana has established himself as one of the top riders in the world and the main rival to the three-times Tour de France winner Froome. Quintana has twice finished runner-up to Froome at the Tour, most recently in July when he could not mount a serious challenge to the dominant Sky team. Froome finished second at the Vuelta for a third time, after also coming close in 2011 and 2014. “Nairo was great this Vuelta. Team Movistar was great this Vuelta ... they really rode well and deserve the victory,” Froome said. Quintana, who became the second Colombian to win this race after Luis Herrera in 1987, said winning the Tour remained his main goal. “It’s a dream that is still with me and I hope one day I can make it come true,” he said. “I will keep working toward it.”[SEP]Nairo Quintana is poised to win the Vuelta a España after protecting his lead over Chris Froome in a gruelling penultimate stage in the southern mountains on Saturday. Barring an accident or incident on the final stage’s traditional arrival in Madrid, the Colombian riding for Movistar will add the Vuelta to the 2014 Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour list of honors. Pierre-Roger Latour of France won the 193-kilometre (120-mile) stage traversing three category-two ascents from Benidorm to a special-category finish at the Alto de Aitana summit in over five hours. Froome had reduced Quintana’s lead by more than two minutes by winning Friday’s time trial to move to within 1m21sec. But Quintana kept Froome in check throughout Saturday’s ride, responding to his repeated attacks on the final 21-kilometre (13-mile) climb before passing him just before the finish. Froome clapped as Quintana pulled past him following the last of several one-on-one climbing duels the two stars had at the three-week Grand Tour. Quintana has twice finished runner-up to Froome at the Tour de France, the last time in July when Froome and his Sky team were dominant. Froome lies 1m23sec behind Quintana, while Esteban Chaves moved past Alberto Contador into a third-place finish after making up time with a long-distance attack. A three-time Tour winner, Froome is set to finish the Vuelta as runner-up for a third time. He finished second in 2011 and 2014. Latour, who rides for AG2R La Mondiale, edged Darwin Atapuma at the line for his first win at a major race. The 21st and final stage is a flat 105-kilometre (65-mile) ride from Las Rozas to the Spanish capital.[SEP]MADRID (AP) — Movistar rider Nairo Quintana won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, adding the title to the 2014 Giro d'Italia on his Grand Tour list of honors. The Colombian climbing expert had cemented his commanding lead over nearest rival Chris Froome on Saturday's decisive mountain stage. Following custom, Froome did not challenge Quintana on the traditional ride into the Spanish capital on the 21st and final stage. Quintana has twice finished runner-up to Froome at the Tour de France. Froome finished second at the Vuelta for a third time, after also coming close in 2011 and 2014.[SEP]Madrid (AP) — Movistar rider Nairo Quintana won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, adding the title to the 2014 Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour list of honors. The Colombian climbing expert had cemented his commanding lead over nearest rival Chris Froome in Saturday’s decisive mountain stage. Following custom, Froome did not challenge Quintana on the traditional ride into the Spanish capital on the 21st and final stage. Instead, the two top cyclists of the moment spent some time chatting as they pedaled along side by side. Quintana finished the 71st edition of the race 1 minute, 23 seconds in front of second-placed Froome. Quintana completed the grueling three-week course that covered 3,315.5 kilometers (2,060 miles) in 83 hours, 31 minutes, 28 seconds. Esteban Chaves finished in third place and more than four minutes off the pace. He was followed by three-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador in fourth. Quintana wore the red leader’s jersey for the 12th consecutive day as he rode into Madrid flanked by his triumphant Movistar teammates. Quintana raised both arms in victory as he breezed across the line in the pack behind the sprinters competing for the stage. He then exchanged embraces with his teammates before shaking hands with Froome. “I woke up this morning feeling like the winner, but I couldn’t raise my arms in celebration until I crossed the finish line,” Quintana said. “This is probably the most important (win) for me, considering the scenario and who I was racing against. Froome is a great rival.” Magnus Cort Nielsen of Denmark won the flat 105-kilometer (65-mile) ride starting in Las Rozas before making loops through Madrid’s center in 2 hours, 48 minutes, 52 seconds. It was his second stage win of this race. At age 26, Quintana has established himself as one of the premier cyclists in the world and the top rival to three-time Tour de France champion Froome. Quintana has twice finished runner-up to Froome at the Tour, most recently in July when he couldn’t mount a serious challenge to Froome and his dominant Sky team. Two months later, Quintana finally got the better of the British cyclist after pulling away to win the Vuelta’s mountainous 10th stage finishing at Lagos de Covadonga. He increased his lead to more than 3 ½ minutes by using an early breakaway on the 14th stage, finishing at the Aramon Formigal summit. That gave him the cushion he needed to survive a blistering time trial by Froome on the 19th stage. Froome finished second at the Vuelta for a third time, after also coming close in 2011 and 2014. “Nairo was great this Vuelta. Team Movistar was great this Vuelta … they really rode well and deserve the victory,” Froome said. “Of course I was here to fight for the victory, but after the season I have had, the Tour, the Olympic games, the Vuelta, this has been the best season for me.” Quintana was leading the 2014 Vuelta when he was forced to withdraw with a broken shoulder after falls on consecutive days. “I have tried to win the Vuelta so many times and I finally did so today,” he said. The large crowd that turned out to celebrate his victory waved Colombian flags. Quintana became the second Colombian to win this race after Luis Herrera in 1987. Quintana said that the elusive Tour remained his top goal. “It’s a dream that is still with me and I hope one day I can make it come true,” he said. “I will keep working toward it.”[SEP]Chris Froome's attacks come up short as Nairo Quintana all but seals Vuelta win Chris Froome failed in his bid to eat into Nairo Qiuintana's overall lead as the Colombian effectively claimed race victory on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday. Despite a number of challenges on the Aito de Aitana, Team Sky's Froome was not able to distance himself from his rival, leaving the Movistar man's one minute and 23 second lead intact with just Sunday's processional stage into Madrid to come. Frenchman Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) won the stage from a breakaway inspired by Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), who succeeded in wresting overall third place from home favourite Alberto Contador and denying the Tinkoff team a podium place in their final Grand Tour. Froome had started the day with high hopes of overhauling Quintana after pulling over two minutes back on his rival during the individual time trial stage on Friday. But Quintana matched the Briton's best efforts to all but end his quest to become the first man to win both the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same year since the great Bernard Hinault in 1978. The pair rode to the summit almost together and as Quintana sprinted clear at the last, Froome took his hands off the handlebars to applaud his rival. Chaves proved successful in his bid to overhaul Contador while ahead of him another Colombian, 22-year-old Darwin Atapuma (BMC Racing) duelled with Latour for the stage win. Ultimately it was the Frenchman who prevailed in an exciting sprint finish, with Italian Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) taking third on the day.[SEP]MADRID, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Colombian Nairo Quintana completed his maiden Vuelta victory on Sunday when he safely rolled in to Madrid at the end of a three-week battle with Chris Froome. After being outclassed by Briton Froome at the Tour de France, the 26-year-old struck back to become his country's first Vuelta winner since Lucho Herrera in 1987. Quintana, who led from stage 10 onwards, adds the victory to his win in the Giro two years ago, which was also the last time his team Movistar won a three-week tour. Magnus Cort Nielsen of Orica-BikeExchange won the final bunch sprint in Madrid ahead of Daniele Bennati and Gianni Meersman, but this was Quintana's day. Cheered on by many of his compatriots lining the Madrid streets, Quintana said it had been a "dream" victory. "It felt like half of Colombia were here," he said. "It was spectacular. I've been fighting so many times to win La Vuelta and now finally we've done it. "This morning in my head I was a winner but I knew I had to cross the line and until you cross it you can't say you are champion." Froome, 31, applauded Quintana over the line on Saturday after he had successfully fought off his attacks in the final and decisive day in the mountains around Benidorm. Sunday's stage was processional and even saw Froome and Quintana share a glass of champagne. Froome's chances of becoming the first rider to win the Tour de France and Vuelta back-to-back for the first time in 38 years took a hammer blow on stage 15 last Sunday when he missed a break and Quintana grabbed two minutes 43 seconds to add to the lead he had already established. It was a rare crack in the Team Sky machine as Froome's team mates, for once, failed to help him. Michal Kwiatkowski abandoned the race in the first week and Froome's seven remaining team mates were all among the riders permitted to continue after missing the time limit. Although he clawed back more than two minutes in Friday's individual time trial the damage had been done. Froome finished second for the third time, one minute 23 seconds behind Quintana. While victory tasted sweet for Quintana the goal, he said, was now beating Froome at next year's Tour de France. "Froome is strongly protected but we have to try to take advantage of all kinds of different situations," he said. "Above all, winning here has given us the confidence to try." "He is the greatest rival there is at the moment. He made me suffer at the Tour and here I have won." Having made the podium three times in the Tour de France, this victory will allow Quintana to believe he can finally oust Froome next year, although Team Sky will be much stronger after their disappointing showing here. (Editing by Martyn Herman)[SEP]Chris Froome failed in his bid to eat into Nairo Quintana’s overall lead as the Colombian effectively claimed race victory on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana. Despite a number of challenges on the Aito de Aitana, Team Sky’s Froome was not able to distance himself from his rival, leaving the Movistar man’s one minute and 23 second lead intact with just today’s processional stage into Madrid to come. Frenchman Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) won the stage from a breakaway inspired by Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), who succeeded in wresting overall third place from Spain’s Alberto Contador and denying the Tinkoff team a podium place in their final Grand Tour. Froome had started the day with high hopes of overhauling Quintana after pulling over two minutes back on his rival during the individual time trial stage on Friday. But Quintana matched the Briton’s best efforts to all but end his quest to become the first man to win both the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same year since the great Bernard Hinault in 1978. The pair rode to the summit almost together and as Quintana sprinted clear at the last, Froome took his hands off the handlebars to applaud his rival. Meanwhile, Steve Cummings will take a 26-second lead into the final stage of the Tour of Britain in London today after emerging unscathed from a difficult double stage in Bristol. A strong display from Rohan Dennis (BMC), who won the penultimate stage having placed second in the time trial earlier in the day, narrowed the gap to the overall leader, which had been 49 seconds at the start of the day. But Cummings (Dimension Data) did just enough to hold on to first place, finishing fourth in the time trial and safely within the main group at the finish of stage 7b. Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) had claimed victory in the time trial, pipping Dennis by three seconds. Then Dennis attacked shortly before the finish of 7b, but Cummings led the pursuers, keeping the Australian in his sights.[SEP]MADRID, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Nairo Quintana effectively clinched his first Tour of Spain title after holding off a series of Chris Froome attacks in Saturday's decisive mountain stage. The Colombian has not officially won the race yet but takes a one minute 23 second lead into Sunday's processional final stage to Madrid with only an accident or some other calamity standing in his way of victory. Tour de France champion Froome had taken a huge chunk out of Quintana's lead in Friday's time trial and knew his last chance was to launch a devastating attack in the final climbs. Froome duly obliged, repeatedly trying to surge away from Movistar's Quintana and reduce the one minute 21 seconds gap on the Alto Aitana climb, but he could not break his rival and ended up no closer. "I had no problem following Froome. He started to attack very early. That's expected, and we were very attentive," Quintana said. "The team was always very concentrated and we could keep everything under control all the time. Finally, on the climb I felt very good and I had no trouble countering Froome's surges." Quintana even had the strength to accelerate away from Froome at the finish to claim 10th spot -- his Team Sky rival sportingly applauding the Colombian. Froome, who was attempting to become the first man to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same season since Bernard Hinault in 1978, will have to settle for second spot. In a lively 193.2km trek from the beach resort of Benidorm Esteban Chaves (Orica - BikeExchange) slipped ahead of Alberto Contador to reclaim third place overall. France's Pierre-Roger Latour won the stage in a time of five hours 19 minutes 41 seconds. (Reporting by Rik Sharma and Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond/Alan Baldwin)[SEP]MADRID, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Nairo Quintana effectively clinched his first Tour of Spain title after holding off Chris Froome in Saturday's decisive mountain stage. The Colombian has not officially won the race yet but Sunday's sprint stage is virtually a formality and the Movistar rider's time of five hours 23 minutes 44 seconds, which enabled him to finish 10th in stage 20, kept him ahead of Team Sky's Froome. The Briton had cut his deficit on Colombian Quintana after a sensational display in Friday's individual time trial, but was unable to dethrone his rival on the 193.2km ride from Benidor to Alto de Aitana. France's Pierre-Roger Latour won the stage in a time of five hours 19 minutes 41 seconds. (Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond)[SEP]Sept 11 (Gracenote) - Final Classification from Vuelta a Espana on Sunday 1. Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) 83:31:28" 2. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) +1:23" 3. Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) +4:08" 4. Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff) +4:21" 5. Andrew Talansky (U.S. / Cannondale) +7:43" 6. Simon Yates (Britain / Orica) +8:33" 7. David De La Cruz (Spain / Etixx - Quick-Step) +11:18" 8. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Movistar) +13:04" 9. Davide Formolo (Italy / Cannondale) +13:17" 10. George Bennett (New Zealand / LottoNL) +14:07"
In bicycle racing, the 71st edition of the Vuelta a España concludes with Nairo Quintana of Colombia winning the general classification.
Image copyright AP Image caption Pakistan and India have overlapping territorial claims in Kashmir Seven suspected militants have been killed in two separate gun battles with security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities say. The Indian army said four militants were shot dead in a clash in the state's Kupwara district on Sunday. Another three rebels were killed after they tried to storm a government office in Poonch district. A curfew has been in effect for over two months across Kashmir following an upsurge of violence since 9 July. The protests were sparked by the killing of a popular militant leader. Burhan Wani, 22, died in a gunfight with the Indian army. More than 70 people, mostly young men, have since been killed in clashes between protestors and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence seen in the region for years. On Sunday Indian soldiers killed four militants as they tried to cross the de-facto border that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and Pakistan in Kupwara, an army official said. "They tried to infiltrate into Nowgam sector (an area northwest of the main city of Srinagar) and were intercepted. Four militants were killed and their AK rifles were recovered," army spokesman NN Joshi told the AFP news agency. Three other rebels were killed after they tried to enter a government office in Poonch. A policeman was also killed in the clash. The clashes with militants came as stone-pelting residents protesting against Indian rule of the region clashed with security forces in Pulwana and two other places in the southern Kashmir valley, leaving many injured, police said. Disputed Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between the countries. Within the disputed Muslim-majority territory, some militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or a merger with Pakistan.[SEP]A militant was killed in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday. A senior police official told IANS that a gunfight started again at the site of Sunday’s firing in Poonch town. “The building and adjacent areas were surrounded and exchange of fire was continuing between the security forces and some surviving militants still holed up in the building,” the official said. In Pir Panchal Valley, militants, believed to be Lashkar-e-Taiba’s fresh infiltrators, opened fire around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday when a policeman spotted their movement. The militants, were hiding in a school and an under construction government building near the Army's 93 Brigade headquarters. One policeman, identified as Raj Kumar, died in the attack in which three militants were killed. Three persons, including a soldier, sustained injuries.[SEP]SRINAGAR, India, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Indian security forces killed seven militants in two gunbattles that also left a police officer dead in Kashmir on Sunday, as tensions in the region ratcheted higher and street protests against Indian rule grew. Three of the militants were killed after they tried to storm the government secretariat in Poonch, near the de-facto border with Pakistan, which lays claims to the Himalayan region. "One policeman was killed, while another police officer and civilian were injured as militants tried to storm the building. The police repulsed the attack and the militants took refuge in nearby buildings," said a senior police official, adding that the three militants were killed after a day-long gunbattle. Separately, a senior army officer told Reuters that the army foiled two infiltration attempts by militants near the line of control with Pakistan. Four militants were killed in one of the gunbattles. Infiltrators attempting to cross the border were pushed back in the second clash in which no one was killed, authorities said. Large swathes of Kashmir remain shut down for a third month, as Indian authorities struggle to contain violent demonstrations triggered by the killing by security forces in July of a young militant commander who was revered by some Kashmir youth. On Saturday, two people were killed in new protests in Kashmir, taking the death toll to 75 since protesters took to the streets following the killing of Burhan Wani, the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen group. There was more trouble on Sunday when police fired tear gas to disperse a mob in Karimabad in southern Kashmir, and at least 50 people were injured in the clashes, the police control room said. The violence in Indian Kashmir has reignited tensions with Pakistan as New Delhi blamed its neighbour for stoking further trouble there by pushing militants across the heavily militarised border that divides the region. More troops have now been deployed on the Kashmir frontier to foil such infiltration attempts, officials said. Pakistan denies giving material support to the Kashmir guerrillas but says it provides moral and diplomatic support in Kashmir's struggle for self-determination. (Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani and Euan Rocha; Editing by Peter Cooney)[SEP]SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Police say fresh clashes have killed one protester and injured five in India's portion of Kashmir, as a security lockdown marred Eid festivities in the troubled region. A police officer says security forces fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to quell protesters Tuesday in the Bandipora area of northern Kashmir and Shopian in the south. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters. Shops and businesses were closed, with a curfew in effect in the entire Kashmir Valley. Most people remained indoors for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, which fell on Tuesday. The region has been wracked by protests for two months following the killing of a rebel leader. Over 70 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, mostly by government forces.[SEP]Militants open fire from an under-construction building near the Army’s 93 Brigade headquarters in Poonch town. A policeman was killed on Sunday in a gun fight between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said. Police said the militants started firing from an under-construction mini secretariat building near the Army’s 93 Brigade headquarters in Poonch town around 8 a.m. “The militants have been surrounded and all escape routes were sealed,” a senior police officer told IANS, adding the gun fight was continuing.[SEP]Nearly 150 people were injured on Sunday after security forces fired tear gas shells, pellets and bullets at protesters during clashes at Kareemabad in Pulwama. A senior police official said that the Army, alongside a special operation group of Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF personnel, rushed to the area after receiving credible information about the presence of militants. He said that the Army cordoned-off the area while police and paramilitary forces carried out raids. However, a large number of people blocked the road and threw stones at the policemen. Clashes also broke out in Budgam and Kulgam, following which Army vehicles were deployed to maintain calm. According to police sources, the government has given discretion to deputy commissioners and district police chiefs to seek assistance from the Army in case they apprehend large gatherings on Eid. A senior police official said that the government had information that Eid marches on Tuesday could pose serious security challenges. In a separate incident, one more youth succumbed to injury at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar on Sunday morning. The youth, identified as 16-year-old Javid Ahmad Dar, sustained injuries on August 05 during clashes. Dr. Farooq Jan, medical superintendent of SKIMS, said, “A bullet had torn apart his popliteal artery, which runs in close proximity to the joint capsule of the knee. "We tried to repair it, but he landed into acute renal failure.” With this, the death toll in the Valley since July 8 has touched 80. Expressing grief over the deaths, the National Conference said on Sunday that ‘brutality’ has become the official policy of the government. “It is evident that brutality has become the official policy to deal with a political sentiment that finds its roots in a history of broken promises,” NC MLA Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said.[SEP]4,000 additional troops pressed into service, but with clear instructions to use minimum force As turbulence continues unabated in the Valley, the army has quietly moved an entire brigade into South Kashmir as part of operation ‘Calm Down’ to clear it of militants and protesters. Amid intelligence reports of a virtual ‘Jungle Raj’ prevailing in the area, with militants and their sympathisers calling the shots, holding protests and blocking arterial roads, nearly 4,000 additional troops have been pressed into service to restore normalcy, but with clear instructions to use minimum force, official sources said. The troops, mobilised from reserves have fanned out in all the four districts of South Kashmir — Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. These districts have borne the brunt of the current spiral of violence in the Valley triggered by the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Wani hailed from this region. The army troops assisted by CRPF and the state police are combing the areas minutely and clearing the road blocks put by the protesters by felling trees, electric poles and placing huge boulders and burnt vehicles, to facilitate movement of people, they said. After “clearing” Karimabad area of Pulwama, the troops have moved into Shopian and Kulgam. The process, which was halted briefly for Bakrid, will resume after the festival, sources said, adding more troops were likely to be pressed into service. The decision was taken after intelligence reports claimed that Kashmiri youth, armed with batons, stones and petrol bombs, were patrolling the arterial roads leading to the National Highway and preventing people from venturing out of their homes or moving towards Srinagar. There were reports that around 100 militants had crossed into South Kashmir since the unrest broke out after Wani’s killing on July 8. Militant hideouts The areas where they were suspected to be hiding included Heff-Shrimal in Shopian district, Samboora, Lillahar, Pulwama town, Tral and Kakpora of Pulwama district, Qaimooh and Redhwani in Kulgam district and Redhwani in Anantnag district. Dotted with poplar and pine trees, the adjoining jungles provide the militants a perfect setting for training recruits, officials said. There was information that militants were being trained in Kamla forest of Shopian district but when raids were conducted, nobody could be found. According to reports, militants crossed over to Pulwama district of South Kashmir from Pakharpora of Budgam district in Central Kashmir and later fanned out to other areas facilitated by the absence of security personnel on ground, they said.[SEP]Indian Army personnel are moving en masse into trouble-torn J&K after another spate of violent protests. As part of efforts to restore normalcy in the Valley, the Army has moved an entire brigade into South Kashmir under operation 'Calm Down' to clear it of militants and demonstrators. Protesters have continued to clash with government forces since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who had a large social media following and was credited with reviving militancy in Kashmir. Burhan Muzaffar Wani, popularly known as Burhan Wani, was a commander of the Azad Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen. He was popular among the Kashmiris due to his activity on social media and posted many photos and videos against Indian rule in Kashmir. Born in Dadsara village, Burhan was the son of a Muzaffar Wani, a school principal and Maimoona Muzaffar, who gives Quran lessons in her village. Burhan fled from his home on 16 October 2010 and became a militant at the age of 15. He was killed in an encounter with the Indian security forces on 8 July 2016, which triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir valley. The protests following Burhan Wani death led to killing of more than 70 people while over 7,000 civilians and more than 4,000 security personnel were injured, which was believed to be the worst in the Valley. Burhan is considered a 'martyr' who laid his life for Kashmir's independence. Sources say the redeployment of troops began after Army chief General Dalbir Singh's visit to J&K last. The Centre has asked the Army to keep vigil at the border to prevent any further infiltration of militants. Personnel have been instructed to maintain “maximum restraint” in view of the volatile situation in the Valley. Army sources told Mail Today: “There is deployment of extra troops in South Kashmir border area and hinterland to mark presence. We have identified 10 major areas of concern specifically in South Kashmir and Kupwara in North Kashmir along with Uri”. However, the personnel have been told to stay away from mob-control operations as this may increase the number of fatalities of protesters. Two youths were reportedly killed in Kashmir on Tuesday while curfew was imposed in all the 10 districts of the Valley. Over 50 incidents of clashes were reported during the day between angry mobs and security forces in which several protesters and police personnel were injured. Sources say the Army troops assisted by CRPF and state police are combing areas and clearing roadblocks put by protesters by felling trees, electric poles and placing huge boulders as well as burnt vehicles, to facilitate movement of people. The move came on the back of intelligence reports saying Kashmiri youth, armed with batons, stones and petrol bombs, were patrolling arterial roads leading to the national highway and preventing people from venturing out of their homes or moving towards the capital, Srinagar. Authorities are hoping that the apple and walnut seasons will compel farmers and traders to force separatists to return the situation in the Valley to normal. The apple season starts by mid-September when cultivators start sending the fruit to markets outside while the walnut season will kick off by end of the month. Both products are credited with carrying the Valley’s economy. The Army has also been asked to carry out area-domination exercises. The counter-insurgency grid has also been reorganised, said sources. “Deployment of the Army has been done near the ‘reception area’ where the terrorists enter Indian territory and hinterland like Tral, Kokernag, Gurez, Machil and Keran sectors along with border and connecting areas,” they said.
Clashes in Kashmir kill eight militants and a policeman.
This article is more than 2 years old This article is more than 2 years old The long-lost ship of British polar explorer Sir John Franklin, HMS Terror, has been found in pristine condition at the bottom of an Arctic bay, researchers have said, in a discovery that challenges the accepted history behind one of polar exploration’s deepest mysteries. HMS Terror and Franklin’s flagship, HMS Erebus, were abandoned in heavy sea ice far to the north of the eventual wreck site in 1848, during the Royal Navy explorer’s doomed attempt to complete the Northwest Passage. British ship from 1845 Franklin expedition found by Canada Read more All 129 men on the Franklin expedition died, in the worst disaster to hit Britain’s Royal Navy in its long history of polar exploration. Search parties continued to look for the ships for 11 years after they disappeared, but found no trace, and the fate of the missing men remained an enigma that tantalised generations of historians, archaeologists and adventurers. Now that mystery seems to have been solved by a combination of intrepid exploration – and an improbable tip from an Inuk crewmember. On Sunday, a team from the charitable Arctic Research Foundation manoeuvred a small, remotely operated vehicle through an open hatch and into the ship to capture stunning images that give insight into life aboard the vessel close to 170 years ago. We found the food storage room with plates and one can on the shelves. Adrian Schimnowski, Arctic Research Foundation “We have successfully entered the mess hall, worked our way into a few cabins and found the food storage room with plates and one can on the shelves,” Adrian Schimnowski, the foundation’s operations director, told the Guardian by email from the research vessel Martin Bergmann. “We spotted two wine bottles, tables and empty shelving. Found a desk with open drawers with something in the back corner of the drawer.” The well-preserved wreck matches the Terror in several key aspects, but it lies 60 miles (96km) south of where experts have long believed the ship was crushed by ice, and the discovery may force historians to rewrite a chapter in the history of exploration. The 10-member Bergmann crew found the massive shipwreck, with her three masts broken but still standing, almost all hatches closed and everything stowed, in the middle of King William Island’s uncharted Terror Bay on 3 September. The bell of HMS Terror on the deck of the sunken vessel. Photograph: Arctic Research Foundation After finding nothing in an early morning search, the research vessel was leaving the bay when a grainy digital silhouette emerged from the depths on the sounder display on the bridge of the Bergmann. “Everyone was up in the wheelhouse by that point in awe, really,” said Daniel McIsaac, 23, who was at the helm when the research vessel steamed straight over the sunken wreck. Since, then, the discovery team has spent more than a week quietly gathering images of the vessel and comparing them with the Terror’s 19th century builders’ plans, which match key elements of the sunken vessel. At first, the Terror seemed to be listing at about 45 degrees to starboard on the seabed. But on the third dive with a remotely operated vehicle, “we noticed the wreck is sitting level on the sea bed floor not at a list - which means the boat sank gently to the bottom,” Schimnowski said Monday. About 24 metres (80ft) down, the wreck is in perfect condition, with metal sheeting that reinforced the hull against sea ice clearly visible amid swaying kelp. A long, heavy rope line running through a hole in the ship’s deck suggests an anchor line may have been deployed before the Terror went down. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Crew of the HMS Terror, stuck in the ice and commanded by the British admiral George Back (1796-1878), salvaging lifeboats and provisions east of the Frozen Strait, during the Frozen Strait Expedition, 1836-1837. Yellowknife, Prince Of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Photograph: De Agostini/Getty Images If true, that sets up the tantalising possibility that British sailors re-manned the vessel after she was abandoned at the top of Victoria Strait in a desperate attempt to escape south. One crucial detail in the identification of the ship is a wide exhaust pipe rising above the outer deck. It is in the precise location where a smokestack rose from the locomotive engine which was installed in the Terror’s belly to power the ship’s propeller through closing sea ice, said Schimnowski in a phone interview. The ship’s bell lies on its side on the deck, close to where the sailor on watch would have have swung the clapper to mark time. An image from the deck of the wreck of HMS Terror as it lies on the seabed. Photograph: Arctic Research Foundation And the majestic bowsprit, six metres (20ft) long, still points straight out from the bow as it did when the crew tried to navigate through treacherous ice that eventually trapped Erebus and Terror on 12 September 1846. The wreck is in such good condition that glass panes are still in three of four tall windows in the stern cabin where the ship’s commander, Captain Francis Crozier, slept and worked, Schimnowski added. “This vessel looks like it was buttoned down tight for winter and it sank,” he said. “Everything was shut. Even the windows are still intact. If you could lift this boat out of the water, and pump the water out, it would probably float.” If you could lift this boat and pump the water out, it would probably float. Adrian Schimnowski, Arctic Research Foundation The Arctic Research Foundation was set up by Jim Balsillie, a Canadian tech tycoon and philanthropist, who co-founded Research in Motion, creator of the Blackberry. Balsillie, who also played a key role in planning the expedition, proposed a theory to explain why it seems both Terror and Erebus sank far south of where they were first abandoned. “This discovery changes history,” he told the Guardian. “Given the location of the find [in Terror Bay] and the state of the wreck, it’s almost certain that HMS Terror was operationally closed down by the remaining crew who then re-boarded HMS Erebus and sailed south where they met their ultimate tragic fate.” The 21st-century search for Franklin’s expedition was launched by Canadian former prime minister Stephen Harper as part of a broader plan to assert Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and promote development of its resources – including vast reserves of oil and natural gas, which will be easier to exploit as the Arctic warms and sea ice disappears. Uncovering the secrets of John Franklin’s doomed voyage Read more Parks Canada underwater archeologists have led the mission since it began in 2008. Now they must confirm the wreck is Terror, either by examining the foundation’s images or visiting the site themselves. With the first winter snow already falling in the High Arctic, Terror Bay will soon be encased in thick sea ice. The latest discovery was made two years and a day after Canadian marine archeologists found the wreck of Erebus in the same area of eastern Queen Maud gulf where Inuit oral history had long said a large wooden ship sank. The same stories described startled Inuit stumbling upon a large dead man in a dark room on the vessel, with a big smile. Experts have suggested that may have been a rictus smile, or evidence that the man had suffered from scurvy. Parks Canada archeologists found Erebus standing in just 11 meters of ocean. Sea ice had taken a large bite out her stern, and more than a century of storm-driven waves had scattered a trove of artifacts around the site. So far, archaeologists have brought up the bell from Franklin’s flagship, a cannon, ceramic plate and other objects. Inuit knowledge was also central to finding the Terror Bay wreck, but in a more mysterious way. Crewman Sammy Kogvik, 49, of Gjoa Haven, had been on the Bergmann for only a day when, chatting with Schimnowski on the bridge, he told a bizarre story. The double-wheeled helm of HMS Terror. Photograph: Arctic Research Foundation About six years ago, Kogvik said, he and a hunting buddy were headed on snowmobiles to fish in a lake when they spotted a large piece of wood, which looked like a mast, sticking out of the sea ice covering Terror Bay. In a phone interview, Kogvik said he stopped that day to get a few snapshots of himself hugging the wooden object, only to discover when he got home that the camera had fallen out his pocket. Kogvik resolved to keep the encounter secret, fearing the missing camera was an omen of bad spirits, which generations of Inuit have believed began to wander King William Island after Franklin and his men perished. When Schimnowski heard Kogvik’s story, he didn’t dismiss it, as Inuit testimony has been so often during the long search for Franklin’s ships. Instead, the Bergmann’s crew agreed to make a detour for Terror Bay on their way to join the main search group aboard the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Shawinigan, at the north end of Victoria Strait. That is where the only known record of the Franklin expedition provided coordinates for what experts now call the point of abandonment. A scrawled note dated 25 April 1848, and concealed in a stone cairn at Victory Point on northern King William Island, said Erebus and Terror had been abandoned three days earlier, stuck in sea ice. Crozier was in command of “the officers and crews, consisting of 105 souls”, because Franklin had died on 11 June 1847, the note continued, “and the total loss by deaths in the expedition has been to this date 9 officers and 15 men”. Crozier and Captain James Fitzjames signed the note, which had what seemed a hurried postscript, scrawled upside down in the top right corner: “and start on to-morrow 26th for Back’s Fish River”. Survivors apparently hoped to follow the river – now known as Back river – south to safety at a Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading outpost. None made it, and for generations, the accepted historical narrative has described a brutal death march as the Royal Navy mariners tried to walk out of the Arctic, dying along the way. Now Franklin experts will have to debate whether at least some of the dying sailors instead mustered incredible strength, fighting off hunger, disease and frostbite, in a desperate attempt to sail home.[SEP](CNN) HMS Terror, a long-lost ship that vanished while searching for the Northwest Passage, sparking one of the world's great maritime mysteries, is believed to have been found, almost 170 years on. The Arctic Research Foundation said it spotted the vessel, part of Sir John Franklin's polar expedition , on the sea bed off King William Island in the Canadian Arctic. "If you could lift this boat out of the water, and pump the water out, it would probably float." foundation spokesman Adrian Schimnowski said. Schimnowski said the ship was found in nearly pristine condition in about 80 feet of water, with most windowpanes still intact. "Everything points to HMS Terror," he said. The discovery came with the help of an Inuit ranger who told Schimnowski about seeing a mast protruding through the ice one day while on a fishing trip seven years ago. "What's great about this discovery is that the search for this vessel was led by an Inuit story that had great validity and truth to it," Schimnowski said. Forensic archaeologists will study images and film of the wreckage to confirm it is the HMS Terror. "We do not take anything away from the site," Schimnowski said. "It is a sacred site. It has to be respected." HMS Terror and its sister ship, HMS Erebus, together with a total of 129 men, disappeared in the late 1840s while under the command of British explorer Sir John Franklin. The Franklin Expedition set sail from England on May 19, 1845, planning to search for, and sail through, the Northwest Passage, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, through the islands of the Arctic Archipelago. But the voyage was to end in tragedy. The vessels became stuck fast as the icy seas froze around them. With supplies running low, their crews abandoned ship in April 1848. Already thought to have been weakened by badly preserved tinned food, the men died one by one, on an ill-fated attempt to walk south to safety, across the vast and unforgiving Arctic wastelands. Search parties were sent out year after year, but found only the skeletons of some of the sailors, and diaries explaining what had happened to them. "The discovery of HMS Terror would be important for Inuit communities and Canada, reflecting the ongoing and valuable role of Inuit traditional knowledge in the search and making a significant contribution to completing the Franklin story." "Parks Canada is currently working with our partners to validate the details of the discovery," it added. John Geiger, CEO of Canadian Geographic and author of "Franklin's Lost Ship: The Historic Discovery of HMS Erebus" tweeted his congratulations to all of those involved in the latest find.[SEP]The second of two British explorer ships that vanished in the Arctic nearly 170 years ago during an expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage has been found. The crew of the Arctic Research Foundation’s Martin Bergmann research vessel found the shipwreck, with all three masts standing and almost all hatches closed, on September 3. “Resting proud on 24 metres of water, we found HMS Terror — 203 years old, it is perfectly preserved in the frigid waters of the Northwest Passage,” Arctic Research Foundation spokesman Adrian Schimnowski says in the video. John Geiger, the CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, congratulated the crew of the Martin Bergmann in a statement. “This is tremendously exciting news,” said Geiger. “After the discovery of HMS Erebus two years ago, the Terror remained the largest missing piece of the puzzle. Together, these discoveries have the potential to alter forever our understanding of the Franklin expedition’s disastrous end,” Arctic Research Foundation spokesman Adrian Schimnowski says in the video. Last seen in the 1840s while under the command of Sir John Franklin, HMS Erebus – which was found in 2014 and HMS Terror have inspired marine archaeologists and have been the subject of songs, poems and novels. In 1846 Sir John, born in Spilsby, hand-picked 128 officers and men and set out to find the Northwest Passage, the long-sought shortcut to Asia that supposedly ran from the Atlantic to the Pacific by way of the harsh, ice-choked Arctic. HMS Terror was found in Nunavut’s Terror Bay, north of where the wreck of HMS Erebus – the expedition’s flagship- was found.[SEP]Explorers in Canada have found the wreck of HMS Terror, the second of two British ships lost in the disastrous 1845 Franklin expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The Arctic Research Foundation, a private group that sent a vessel to help look for the ship, found it in pristine condition at the bottom of a bay earlier this month. Sir John Franklin and his 128-member crew in the Terror and HMS Erebus all died after the vessels became stuck in ice during a search for the fabled Arctic passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The fate of the ships remained one of the great mysteries in history for almost 170 years until a team found the wreck of the Erebus in September 2014. The expedition has become part of Canadian folklore, in part because of the crew's appalling fate. Tales handed down from the aboriginal Inuit people describe cannibalism among the desperate seamen. Adrian Schimnowski, the foundation's operations director, told The Guardian: 'We have successfully entered the mess hall, worked our way into a few cabins and found the food storage room with plates and one can on the shelves. 'We spotted two wine bottles, tables and empty shelving. Found a desk with open drawers with something in the back corner of the drawer.' He said: 'This vessel looks like it was buttoned down tight for winter and it sank. Everything was shut. Even the windows are still intact. If you could lift this boat out of the water, and pump the water out, it would probably float.' HMS Terror is believed to have been found about 50 miles north of where HMS Erebus was discovered. Both wrecks had been moved considerable distances by the ice over the years. Canada's federal parks ministry - which is coordinating the search for the Terror - said it had no details of the discovery. Ever since the discovery of the New World - North and South America - in 1492 explorers had been seeking ways to travel beyond the continent to reach Asia. In 1578 Sir Francis Drake sailed into the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn, but that route was a huge detour for ships seeking to reach the trade routes to China and what were known as the Spice Islands, in modern day Indonesia. The discovery of Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century and the conquest of India by the British-owned East India Company renewed the need for a quicker marine route to the Pacific. The Northwest Passage became a holy grail which numerous British and other explorers searched for in the mid 19th century. Sir John Franklin, an experienced explorer, volunteered to lead an expedition to find the Northwest Passage and he commanded two state-of-the-art ships which were even fitted with early steam engines. But the ship ventured two far south and became trapped near King William Island. Legend has it - backed up by folktales from the Inuit people who lived in nearby Nunavut - the stranded sailors tried to escape by crossing the ice and perished but only after some had resorted to cannibalism. With no news of the expedition, his wife Lady Franklin, urged the Royal Navy to send a rescue mission but they were confident he was still alive and even promoted him to Rear-Admiral five years after he had died. In 1850 a new expedition, under Robert McClure, was finally commissioned. It finally found the Northwest Passage and its crew shared a £10,000 reward given to them by Parliament. But pack ice made the passage not suitable for navigation and it never gained the status its proponents had hoped for. In recent years, with global warming, the passage has become more navigable. It was only later, in 1914, that the opening of the Panama Canal enabled ships to pass safely from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice versa without a huge diversion.[SEP]The second of two British explorer ships that vanished in the Arctic nearly 170 years ago during a storied expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage has been found. The Arctic Research Foundation said Monday that the HMS Terror has been located by a research ship. Last seen in the 1840s while under the command of Sir John Franklin, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror have long been among the most sought-after prizes in marine archaeology and the subject of songs, poems and novels. The wreck of the Erebus was found in 2014. "Terror was found on Sept 3. It is a perfect time capsule," said Adrian Schimnowski, the expedition leader of the research ship that located the HMS Terror. The Terror was discovered in 24 meters (26 yards) of water in Terror Bay, a small indentation on the coast of King William Island west of the community of Gjoa Haven. It was located right where an Inuit hunter said it would be. Canadian Rear-Admiral John Newton said the two Franklin ships were found about 50 kilometers (31 miles) apart from each other. Franklin and 128 hand-picked officers and men had set out in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage, the long-sought shortcut to Asia that supposedly ran from the Atlantic to the Pacific by way of the harsh, ice-choked Arctic. The death of all 129 men made the Franklin expedition the worst tragedy in the history of Arctic exploration. Schimnowski said that mystery might have remained if not for a late-night conversation on one of the search vessels between himself and Sammy Kogvik, an Inuk and Canadian Ranger from Gjoa Haven. The two were on the bridge of the Martin Bergmann, a research vessel, and Kogvik was telling Schimnowski about the history of the shorelines they were sailing past. He started talking about something he had seen seven years ago while snowmobiling across the sea ice of Terror Bay. Kogvik recalled how he had looked behind him to check on his hunting partner when he spotted a large pole sticking up out of the ice. The two Inuit stopped and took pictures of what looked like a ship's mast. But when Kogvik got home to Gjoa Haven, he found he had dropped his camera and lost the shots. "He kept the story secret because he didn't want people not to believe him," Schimnowski said. "We listened to Sammy's story on the bridge of the Bergmann and changed course to take a look," he said. In a news release, Kogvik said he was delighted to see the vessel again. In the days since the discovery, the crew has identified a number of the Terror's features. There is video of the ship's bell. A cannon similar to those on the Erebus has been spotted. The ship's helm is still there "in perfect condition," said Schimnowski. A windlass, used to haul up an anchor, still has heavy rope wrapped around it as if moored to the bottom of the sea. Newton called it an historic site for Canada and said there are no current plans to raise the two ships. John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, called the discovery of the HMS Terror the missing piece of the puzzle and historically significant for Americans given the role of the HMS Terror in the War of 1812. HMS Terror was one of the British naval bomb ships that took part in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814. The attack was the inspiration for the poem by Francis Scott Key that eventually became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner." "Those bombs could have very well been lobbed from the Terror," he said. "It's fundamental to the Star-Spangled Banner and the origins of the anthem of the United States. From a pure historical standpoint what an exciting find." The confirmation of the HMS Erebus find in 2014 was made by underwater archaeologists, following a meticulous review of data and artifacts observed from the Arctic Ocean's seabed and using high-resolution photography, high-definition video and multi-beam sonar measurements. Canada announced in 2008 that it would look for the ships, and the Canadian government has poured millions of dollars into the venture, with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper himself taking part in the search. It was all part of Harper's plan to boast Canadian nationalism and a sense of ownership of the north. Harper's government made the project a top priority as it looked to assert Canada's sovereignty over the Northwest Passage, where melting Arctic ice in recent years has unlocked the very shipping route Franklin was seeking. Canada says it owns the passage. The U.S. and others say it is international territory. The well-preserved wreck of HMS Erebus was found 11 meters (12 yards) below the surface, near King William Island, about 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) northwest of Toronto. Historians believe that the ships got trapped in thick ice in 1846 off Prince William Island, and Franklin and some other crew members died in the ensuing months. The survivors apparently abandoned the two ships in April 1848 in a hopeless bid to reach safety overland. Inuit lore tells of "white men who were starving" as late as the winter of 1850 on the Royal Geographical Society Island near Prince William Island. For many years afterward, Franklin was celebrated as a Victorian-era hero. Dozens of searches by the British and Americans in the 1800s failed to locate the wrecks, and some of those expeditions also ended in tragedy. But they opened up parts of the Canadian Arctic to discovery and ultimately found a Northwest Passage, though it proved inhospitable to shipping because of ice and treacherous weather. The search for an Arctic passage to Asia frustrated explorers for centuries, beginning with John Cabot's voyage in 1497. The shortcut eluded other famous explorers, including Henry Hudson and Francis Drake. No sea crossing was successful until Roald Amundsen of Norway completed his trip in 1903-06. The exact location of Erebus was not disclosed for fear of looters. The research ship was part of a small flotilla organized by the Canadian government and its partners that sailed for the Arctic at the end of August to search for the HMS Terror.[SEP]OTTAWA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Explorers have found the wreck of HMS Terror, the second of two British ships lost in the disastrous 1845 Franklin expedition to Canada's Arctic Northwest Passage, Britain's Guardian newspaper said on Monday. The Arctic Research Foundation, a private group that sent a vessel to help look for the ship, found it in pristine condition at the bottom of a bay earlier this month, a spokesman told the paper. Sir John Franklin and his 128-member crew in the Terror and HMS Erebus all died after the vessels became stuck in ice during a search for the fabled Arctic passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The fate of the ships remained one of the great mysteries in Canadian history for almost 170 years until a team found the wreck of the Erebus in September 2014. Canada's federal parks ministry - which is coordinating the search for the Terror - said it was working to verify the report. Reuters was not immediately able to contact the foundation. The expedition has become part of Canadian folklore, in part because of the crew's appalling fate. Tales handed down from the aboriginal Inuit people describe cannibalism among the desperate seamen. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Matthew Lewis)[SEP]Ryan Harris has spent six summers working in the Canadian Arctic hunting the two most sought-after wrecks in marine history: the lost ships of British explorer Sir John Franklin. In those years, on remote islets to the west and south of the frozen wastes of King William Island, Harris and his team have found tantalising items including pieces of iron embossed with Royal Navy markings, which clearly came from 19th-century sailing ships. Everything suggested these could be parts of Erebus or Terror, the ships in which Franklin sailed, in 1845, to find the fabled Northwest Passage between the North Atlantic and the Pacific before vanishing with all his crew. However, the precise location of the shipwrecks eluded Harris’s team, despite their trawling more than 1,600 sq km of seabed with sonar detectors between 2008 and 2013. Then, in early September this year, Harris and his colleagues, who were working with “a substantial array of craft” in the region, hit pay dirt. “I was working in our ship, which was towing a sonar detector in order to survey an area of relatively shallow seabed around Queen Maud Gulf, one of the southern areas we had marked as promising search zones,” says Harris. “I was worried we were getting too close to an undersea ridge and had turned away from our monitor. Then I looked back and there it was: a clear image of a shipwreck with exposed beams lying on the sea floor. I just stabbed my finger on the screen and started shouting, ‘That’s it, that’s it. We’ve found it!’” The sharply outlined image, which made headlines around the world when released a few days later, shows a relatively undamaged ship settled upright on the sea floor at a depth of about 11 metres. Subsequent dives by Harris and colleagues confirmed the wreck was in a good state of preservation. As to the ship’s identity, Harris, who is senior marine archaeologist for Parks Canada, which manages the nation’s wilderness areas, is emphatic. “Erebus and Terror were bomb ships built to fire mortars and are often described as sister vessels. In fact, they were of different classes. From plans provided by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, we can tell – from the wreck’s length and breadth, and [the] positions of its main hatch and masts – that it is Erebus.” Harris added that the reason Erebus, in which Franklin had sailed while his second-in-command, Francis Crozier, captained Terror, is well preserved has much to do with the cold and dark of the Arctic, which keeps biological and chemical processes in check on the sea floor. “We stand to find almost anything inside the wreck: leather, textiles – even paper and documents are a distinct possibility. And, of course, papers would be really useful. They might tell us exactly what happened to the expedition.” Other clues to be sought when the Parks Canada expedition returns to the Erebus next year will include analysis of the ship’s rigging and propeller, as well as levels of coal and food on board. These will provide clues for archaeologists who want to know if the crew was trying to get closer to land in a desperate bid to hunt – and thereby supplement their dwindling provisions – or if they still had some distant hope they might be able to complete their journey to the Western Pacific. “That’s just two scenarios,” said Harris. “There are many more to be tested.” Franklin had set off from Greenhithe in Kent with 129 men to find the Northwest Passage in well-provided sail ships that had been fitted with steam-driven propellers to help them manoeuvre in pack ice. The holds were filled with a three-year supply of tinned provisions. Franklin’s two ships were observed, by whalers, sailing into Lancaster Sound in late July 1845. They were never seen again. After several years of mounting concern for Franklin and his men, Britain became obsessed with his disappearance and more than 40 expeditions were launched to find him. For each mission, his widow, Jane, wrote a letter to be handed to her husband on his rescue. Each time, it was returned unopened. The truth was uncovered by the Scottish explorer John Rae in the 1850s. After interviewing Inuits, he learned that Franklin had died in 1847, two years after his ships became trapped in ice. Later, his men, by now starving, started to eat each other. Not surprisingly, Victorian society was appalled by the story and Rae was denounced in a campaign instigated by Lady Jane and waged by Charles Dickens as chief propagandist. Rae had no right to believe “a race of savages”, Dickens claimed. It was far more likely the Inuits had killed Franklin’s men themselves. The issue was not fully resolved until 1997, when blade marks on the bones of crew discovered on King William Island were found to have cut marks consistent with the men having been cut up and eaten. Trapped in ice for years, and afflicted by scurvy, starvation and possibly lead poisoning from their poorly preserved tins of food, the men had died the grimmest of deaths. The story is “a unique, unquiet compound of mystery, horror and magic”, as Franklin’s biographer Andrew Lambert puts it. The exact sequence of events remains a mystery. However, thanks to Harris and his team, it may soon be possible to outline the terrible chain of circumstances that eventually claimed the lives of Franklin and his men. “We always knew it would take years to find these ships,” said Harris. “However, this story is so embedded in Canadian culture, the task was irresistible. It wasn’t an obsession, however, just a matter of persevering.” The work ahead will be anything but easy. Accessing the tight spaces inside the Erebus will be arduous for divers, for example. So would it be possible to lift the ship from the seabed? Harris is cautious. “It is one thing to raise a ship like the Mary Rose in English waters. This is the Arctic and the site is covered in ice for most of the year. We have only a few weeks access a year. On the other hand, the idea should not be ruled out of hand.” One clear factor in the team’s favour is climate change, which has kept the Arctic clear of sea ice in summer for longer and longer periods as greenhouse gas emissions have inexorably warmed up the planet, though this year saw relatively high levels of sea ice return to the region. Nevertheless, most experts expect that ice cover to continue dwindling, easing search conditions. One intriguing aspect of the discovery of Erebus in Queen Maud Gulf is the fact that its location fits in neatly with Inuit testimony about Franklin’s expedition. “Their stories about the expedition were vivid and detailed but were dismissed in the 19th century because Inuits were considered to be savages,” said Harris. “In fact, they were providing extremely accurate information, we now realise. The discovery of Erebus in our southern search area completely vindicates what they had been saying. The ship is exactly where they said it had sunk. They also reported that Erebus’s masts were still visible after it had gone down, and again that fits in with the shallowness of the waters in which the ship settled. That means we can re-examine their testimony in greater detail and be more confident of getting more clues about the fate of the rest of expedition.” Then there is the issue of Franklin’s body. “It may well be on the Erebus,” said Harris. “He could be on board in a casket in the hold. That is certainly something we will be looking for when we carry out dives when we return to the site next September.” Ryan Harris will be discussing his role in the search for Franklin’s ships at the British Library at 6.30pm on 1 December as part of the library’s Lines of Ice exhibition (runs 14 Nov-29 Mar 2015). The Search for Franklin’s Lost Ships will be chaired by the Observer’s science editor, Robin McKie. Inquiries: +44 (0)1937 546546 boxoffice@bl.uk The deadly hunt for the Northwest Passage The search for the Northwest Passage retains a mystique possessed by no other quest in modern history. Apart from the loss of Franklin’s expedition, the hunt to find a passage through Canadian waters to the Pacific claimed countless other lives and defied the best efforts of 19th-century explorers. In the end, its conquest had to wait until 1906 when Roald Amundsen sailed its length in a fishing boat, Gjøa, a task that took him three years to complete. Only now, as global warming opens up Arctic waters, have archaeologists had a chance of uncovering this intriguing history, a story that will be outlined in Lines in the Ice: Seeking the Northwest Passage, at the British Library, which opens on 14 November . The story of the hunt to find the passage, as seen through maps, books and other artefacts, is still one driven by riches, says exhibition lead curator, Philip Hatfield. “In Elizabethan days, it held out the promise of gold. Today it is black gold, oil from the Arctic seabed that is turning people’s heads,” he said. An example, to be displayed at the exhibition, of how important the region was rated in the past is provided by a circumpolar map of the Arctic that was owned by Charles II. A 19th-century vision of the region’s worth is revealed in the words of Mary Shelley in Frankenstein, which begins with a ship’s captain dreaming of bringing “inestimable benefit to all mankind… by discovering a passage near the pole”. “The idea that open waters existed near the pole divided expert opinion in those days,” adds Tom Harper, the exhibition’s co-curator. Some, such as Sir John Barrow, held that sea water could not freeze and that open seas must therefore exist beyond north Canada. All sailors had to do was persevere. Others, such as William Scoresby, a whaling captain and a veteran of the Arctic, argued vehemently that open sea water could freeze. He had seen it do so many times, he pointed out. The fact that Scoresby was ignored while the wrong-headed views of Barrow, a promoter of Franklin’s expedition, gained acceptance was just one factor in the chain of events that would lead Sir John Franklin’s expedition to its icy doom.[SEP]The Arctic Research Foundation, a private group that sent a vessel to help look for the ship, found it in pristine condition at the bottom of a bay earlier this month, a spokesman told the paper. Sir John Franklin and his 128-member crew in the Terror and HMS Erebus all died after the vessels became stuck in ice during a search for the fabled Arctic passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The fate of the ships remained one of the great mysteries in Canadian history for almost 170 years until a team found the wreck of the Erebus in September 2014. Canada's federal parks ministry - which is coordinating the search for the Terror - said it was working to verify the report. Reuters was not immediately able to contact the foundation. The expedition has become part of Canadian folklore, in part because of the crew's appalling fate. Tales handed down from the aboriginal Inuit people describe cannibalism among the desperate seamen.
The Arctic Research Foundation discovers the wreck of the Royal Navy's HMS Terror almost completely intact off the southern coast of King William Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, 168 years after being abandoned during Franklin's lost expedition in 1848.
Asian shares tumbled on Monday after a sharply lower finish for major U.S. indexes on Friday amid concerns central banks, particularly the Fed, will become less accomodative. Down Under, the ASX 200 closed down 2.24 percent, or 119,582 points, at 5,219.1, weighed heavily by the energy sector, which was down 3 percent, the materials subindex, which shed 3.23 percent, and the financials sector, which was lower by 2.01 percent. The Japanese benchmark index ended lower by 1.73 percent, or 292.84 points, at 16,672.92; South Korea's Kospi finished down 2.28 percent, or 46.39 points, at 1,991.48 from levels above 2,040 just last week. In company news, Samsung weighed on the Kospi, with its shares dropping 6.98 percent, extending losses from the previous session after the South Korean firm and several airlines urged all customers to stop using the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones amid concerns over fire-prone batteries. Mainland China markets slumped: The composite closed down 1.88 percent, or 57.965 points, at 3,020.937 and the Shenzhen composite shed 2.659 percent, or 57.965 points, to 1,977.057. In Hong Kong, the index slid 2.85 percent as of 3:15 pm HK/SIN time. "Traders have been quick to price in worst case scenario as interest rate rise jitters start taking hold and have resulted in some fairly assertive moves in bond, equity, and forex asset classes," said Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA, in a Monday note. The rising risk sentiment was because "one, the ECB did not extend QE, provoking a sell-off in bond markets, which fed into the medium to long-end U.S. bond curve. Two, traders have convinced themselves the Fed are marching out Leal Brainard, a mega-dove, to bang the Fed's September rate hike drum," he added. Fed Governor Lael Brainard was scheduled for a surprise speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs later on Monday. Other recent Fed speakers have also sounded more hawkish notes. On Friday, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren had said that the U.S. economy has proven to be more resilient to exogenous risks and that "gradual tightening is likely to be appropriate." Rosengren's speech was cited by traders as a catalyst for the market volatility, said Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG, in his morning note..[SEP]Fifteen years ago this week, US stock markets were closed, with stunned investors bracing themselves for heavy losses following the September 11th attacks that resulted in the deaths of almost 3,000 people. Heavy losses did indeed follow, but the obvious lesson for investors from this sorry episode is simple: stock markets are resilient to terrorist attacks and it seldom pays to sell in times of panic. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was closed in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, not reopening for trading until the following week, on September 17th – its first prolonged closure since 1933. A mini-crash followed: the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7.1 per cent – 684 points, its biggest one-day point fall on record. Stocks continued to tumble for the rest of the week, the Dow enduring a 16 per cent peak-to-trough decline. Airline stocks were worst hit – a number of airlines saw their share prices more than halve while the Dow Jones Transportation Average quickly lost more than a quarter of its value. The market panic was a short-lived affair, however. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates and flooded the financial system with liquidity, reassuring investors. By the middle of October, stocks were back to pre-attack levels and indices continued to advance, with both the S&P 500 and the Dow gaining in the region of 25 per cent over a three-month period. The market reaction to 9/11 echoed that seen following another attack on American soil, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941. Stocks fell by 4.4 per cent on the Monday following the attacks and by another 3.3 per cent the following day before quickly stabilising. But, within weeks, the Dow had nearly erased its post-attack losses, with stocks going on to post stellar returns over the following years. In 1920, 38 people lost their lives following an anarchist bomb attack on Wall Street that resulted in the immediate shutdown of the NYSE. When the exchange reopened for trading the following day, stocks bounced by 1.5 per cent. This pattern – a short-lived market shock that is quickly followed by equity index rebounds – is typical. Examining 25 global terrorist attacks over the last five decades, Charles Schwab strategist Jeffrey Kleintop found that, on average, stocks returned to pre-attack levels in less than three weeks. On most occasions, markets had regained their composure within a week or less. A similar picture emerges from analysis conducted by Ned Davis Research: three-quarters of the time, indices have gained within a month of a terrorist event. If anything, markets appear to be increasingly blasé regarding the economic impact of terrorist events. Investors’ default reaction appears to be that terrorist-induced declines are a buying opportunity, resulting in increasingly brief declines. For example, Indonesian equities quickly plunged 10 per cent after the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people but these losses were erased within a month. Spain’s Ibex 35 index fell by 3.1 per cent in the hours following the Madrid bombings of March 2004 but major market indices were back to pre-attack levels within weeks. In 2005, British share prices quickly fell by 4 per cent following reports that 52 people had been killed in co-ordinated bomb blasts across London but, on this occasion, the bulk of those losses had been erased by the end of the trading day. In particular, the spate of Islamic terrorist attacks over the last 18 months has gone largely unnoticed by investors. France’s CAC-40 advanced on the day of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January 2015. The co-ordinated Islamic State attacks of November 2015 that resulted in the deaths of 130 people in Paris initially resulted in the French equity index sliding by 1.2 per cent, but the CAC 40 stocks ended the day flat while the pan-European Stoxx 600 index posted small gains. The “terrorism trade”, noted Bespoke Investment Group at the time, “lasted less than a session”. French stocks were largely unaffected by the Nice truck attack in July that left 84 people dead. In March, Belgium’s BEL 20 index fell by 1.3 per cent after Islamic State militants killed 32 people in co-ordinated bomb blasts in Brussels, but the index ended the day slightly higher, as did the Stoxx 600. It’s natural that the aforementioned terrorist incidents did not affect stock markets to the same degree as the 9/11 attacks; in terms of scale, September 11th dwarfs the jihadist attacks of the last 15 years. It’s reasonable to infer, however, that investors’ perception of terrorist events changed in the aftermath of September 11th. A 2013 study, The Impact of Terrorism on Stock Markets, noted that stock markets have learned not to overreact and to “more objectively” evaluate the “real economic consequences” of terrorist attacks. Markets tend to be agitated by shock events, but terrorist attacks are no longer unexpected; rather, they are increasingly priced into stocks, with market dislocations noticeably diminishing over time. Even retail investors, who have a reputation for skittish behaviour in times of uncertainty, appear nonchalant regarding the impact of terrorist atrocities on their portfolios. In April, a Bankrate Financial Security Index survey asked people if the terrorist attacks in France and Belgium had affected their willingness to invest in stocks. The vast majority said it made no difference either way; 11 per cent did say they were less inclined to invest but 5 per cent said they were more likely to invest in equities. Recessions tend to be the primary drivers of equity bear markets, but the economic impact of terrorist events tends to be limited. The US recession of 2001 is often associated with 9/11, but America had fallen into recession in March 2001; it officially ended in November 2001, with some estimates suggesting that the attacks reduced US GDP growth by half a percentage point. Attacks can hit confidence in the short term, but acts of terror “do not derail economic trends in mature western economies”, to quote a 2015 Berenberg Bank report. Tourism can be badly affected by terrorism – tourist numbers are down by 7 per cent in France this year – although again this effect appears to be waning, with Deloitte last year noting that hotel occupancy rates tend to recover due to the “emergence of a ‘carry on as normal’ culture in response to terrorism” over the last decade. There is of course a danger that investors could take this “carry on as normal” culture too far and become complacent about the indirect impact of terrorism. For example, while 9/11 did not derail the US economy, it led to the US invasion of Afghanistan and was also used to justify the 2003 Iraq war. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates and left them at lowly levels even as the economy began to boom in 2004, with many commentators complaining that the 9/11 effect resulted in them maintaining an excessively loose monetary policy that ultimately led to the housing bubble and subsequent financial crash. Similarly, while jihadist attacks may not hit European GDP, they have increased political risks across Europe. Still, it is nigh on impossible to quantify the impact of such political risks on stock markets. Even if one had a crystal ball in relation to political developments, divining the response of stock markets is another matter entirely, as shown by the post-Brexit rally of recent months. Fifteen years on from 9/11, investors have learned to accept that event risk in the form of terrorist attacks is not going to go away. They have learned to live with that risk, realising that it does not pay to panic at such times; whatever about the human cost of terrorism, the financial cost to investors tends to be an increasingly short-lived affair.[SEP]September is historically the worst (and most volatile) month of the year for the stocks. Will that be the case this year too? Hopefully not. Investors got some good news Monday. Even though stocks in Europe and Asia fell sharply Monday morning, Wall Street took those losses in stride. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were all up slightly in late morning trading -- and the market moved even higher after Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainard said in a speech Monday afternoon that the case to raise rates soon is "less compelling" than some thought and added that the Fed needed to show "prudence" before lifting rates. So was Friday's nearly 400-point loss at the Dow a one-time event? Stocks have been relatively quiet (some would argue too quiet) for most of the summer. Even with stocks down about 2% in September, they are not far from all-time highs. But some investors are worried that the Federal Reserve might finally be ready to start raising interest rates again. That was the big reason for the market slump on Friday. The Fed hiked rates once last December for the first time in nearly a decade. But the Fed hasn't touched rates again since then. So they are still pretty close to zero. Investors have arguably gotten too used to rates being this Uber-low. Rates may now need a Lyft. (Ha! Dorky ridesharing humor. Sorry. I'll Gett back to business as usual now.) A series of small and steady rate hikes is hardly a reason for the market to collapse. It's not exactly 2008 all over again. And many experts think that Fed chair Janet Yellen has no plans to raise rates drastically. "We have been through this a zillion times. The market is doing okay and then we start hearing about the Fed looking to raise rates and stocks fall," said John Norris, managing director for Oakworth Capital. Related: Summer's over? Dow plunged almost 400 points on Friday "But the concern would be the Fed being overly aggressive. I don't think the Fed wants to do that. They want to get rates to 1% to 1.5% and then be done with it." Norris added. Ted Parrish, founder of Parrish Capital, agrees. He thinks the market needs a healthy selloff to get some of the complacent momentum investors out of the market. But Parrish is optimistic that fears of another big market (and economic downturn) will prove to be for naught. "Nervous money can get out of the market and long-term investors will stay in." Parrish said. "Earnings should increase in 2017 and then the market can go back to moving on fundamentals. That would be nice." Still, a pessimist could argue that the lack of a big rally on Monday is a worrisome sign. Sure, stocks didn't tank again. But where were all the opportunistic buyers looking to rush back in and scoop up blue chips on the cheap? It may be unrealistic to expect stocks to surge dramatically higher. There may be the occasional big up (and down) day for stocks. But for the most part, the markets may remain relatively flat for the foreseeable future. Outside of taking bets on the Fed -- and the U.S. presidential election -- there won't be much to move the market until we get more earnings reports in October. "There's not much reason for the market to rally, but not much reason for it to sell off either," Norris said. "Stocks are not cheap, but they are not outrageously overvalued." In other words, investors might want to brush up on their Green Day. Wake me up when September ends.[SEP]By Marley Jay, The Associated Press U.S. stocks surged Monday after a Federal Reserve official said the central bank shouldn’t raise interest rates too soon, which came as a big relief to investors. After a market nosedive on Friday, investors bought safe investments like household goods makers and phone companies. Technology companies also jumped. Stocks started the day lower following Friday’s drop, but they soon rallied. Investors were pleased when Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve board, said the Fed shouldn’t raise interest rates quickly because that could hurt the economy. The biggest gains went to safe investments that pay big dividends, as they are more enticing to investors when interest rates and bond yields are low. Stocks had plunged Friday following remarks from another Fed official that suggested interest rates could go up next week. David Kelly, chief global strategist for JPMorgan Funds, said he thinks Federal Reserve policymakers seem “noncommittal” and aren’t sure if they should raise interest rates now or not. In his opinion, the Fed’s cautious attitude toward raising interest rates even a little is causing strong market reactions. “The more cautious they are, the more sensitive the market becomes,” he said. “What’s one quarter of one percent? It’s nothing.” The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 239.62 points, or 1.3 percent, to 18,325.07. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 31.23 points, or 1.5 percent, to 2,159.04. The Nasdaq composite surged 85.98 points, or 1.7 percent, to 5,211.89. The gains in the main three U.S. indexes made up for more than half of Friday’s losses. As investors sought safe-play picks, retail giant Wal-Mart rose $1.64, or 2.3 percent, to $71.94 and Procter & Gamble gained $2.01, or 2.3 percent, to $88.25. Phone companies also rose and AT&T gained $1, or 2.5 percent, to $40.71. Those stocks took some of the biggest losses Friday. HP agreed to buy Samsung’s printer business for $1.05 billion, and HP stock rose 54 cents, or 3.9 percent, to $14.49. That helped take technology stocks higher. Elsewhere, Apple rose $2.31, or 2.2 percent, to $105.44 and communications chip maker Broadcom picked up $3.70, or 2.3 percent, to $164.48. Canadian companies Agrium and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan agreed to combine into the world’s largest crop nutrient company. The companies value their combined business at $36 billion, and Potash shareholders will own a majority of stock in the new company. Potash stock lost 21 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $16.76 and Agrium dipped $2.57, or 2.7 percent, to $92.64. U.S. stocks had plunged late last week after Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said there’s a case to be made the U.S. central bank should raise rates sooner rather than later. Rosengren and Brainard have both been reluctant to raise rates too quickly. Investors are not sure if the central bank will raise interest rates, and they’re not sure the economy is healthy enough to handle that. Higher rates threaten stocks by making interest-paying savings accounts and bonds more attractive to investors. They could also ding corporate earnings by raising companies’ borrowing costs. U.S. crude rose 41 cents to $46.29 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil trading, climbed 31 cents to $48.32 a barrel in London. Gold fell $8.90 to $1,325.60 an ounce. Silver lost 37 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $19 an ounce. Copper gained 1 cent to $2.10 a pound. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.67 percent from 1.68 percent. The dollar fell to 101.84 yen from 102.69 yen late Friday. The euro rose to $1.1241 from $1.1228.[SEP]TOKYO/HONG KONG, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell to fresh six-week lows on Wednesday and the greenback stood strong against a broad swathe of currencies including the Japanese yen as concerns grew about the fading impact of the world's major central banks to stimulate growth. Losses in stock markets across Asia deepened as rising bond yields and soaring volatility forced investors to unwind positions. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slid 0.2 percent, extending its decline since late last week to 4.2 percent. Within the region, Japan's Nikkei led losers with a 0.3 percent decline as uncertainty grew ahead of a central bank policy meeting next week. The BOJ plans to make its controversial negative interest rate policy the centrepiece of future monetary easing, promising to weigh further rate cuts as expansions to asset buying near their limits, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Wednesday. "The moves in developed market fixed-income, which are largely behind the volatility, have stemmed from Japan and the potential changes in monetary policy," said Chris Weston, chief markets strategist at IG Markets. "Secondly, some of the biggest systematic funds have had to alter their portfolios. The rest of the market participants have had to simply react." Stock markets have come under pressure as investors cut positions after large inflows in recent weeks betting on a long period of low volatility and suppressed bond yields. Inflows into emerging market equity funds amounted to $24 billion dollars over the past 10 weeks, the highest on record according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch flow data. An index of market volatility soared to its highest level in three months. On Wall Street, S&P 500 Index lost 1.48 percent to 2,127.02, a two-month low. Although it has managed to hold above its 200-day moving average at 2,121, a break of that level could sap market confidence. Futures were flat. Bond yields extended their rise, suggesting more losses for equity markets with yields on 30-year Japanese debt hitting the highest levels in six months, unnerving investors. The 10-year U.S. Treasuries yield rose to a three-month high of 1.75 percent, having risen more than 20 basis points from a week ago. The rise in U.S. bond yields came even as expectations on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook hardly changed. U.S. interest rate futures are pricing in only about a 10 percent chance of a rate hike at next week's policy review. While the rise in U.S. bond yields was in part due to heavy Treasury and corporate debt supply, it also reflected concerns about the limits of global central bank policy in reviving growth. Bond markets have come under pressure in recent days from unease about a possible U.S. rate hike this month, news that the Bank of Japan is studying ways to steepen the bond yield curve and disappointment at the lack of clear forward-action plan by the European Central Bank at last week's meeting. Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive officer of DoubleLine Capital, said on Tuesday that long-term decline in global bond yields is over and investors are watching out for a likely fiscal expansion in the world's major economies where monetary stimulus has reached its limits. The prospects of a U.S. rate hike by the year-end helped to underpin the dollar against other currencies. The euro dipped to $1.12200, a slight decline on the day and the week while the dollar also gained to 102.99 yen from Tuesday's low of 101.42 yen. The yen was also dented by the Nikkei newspaper report on the BOJ and negative rates. Short-dated Japanese bond yields fell, with the five-year JGB yield slipping 2.5 basis points to minus 0.200 percent while the two-year yield fell 2.0 basis point to hit a six-week low of minus 0.265 percent. Crude oil prices edged up after a 3 percent tumble in the previous session. Brent futures rose 15 cents to $47.25 a barrel, while U.S. light crude rose 20 cents to $45.10 as data from an industry group showed a smaller-than-expected build in U.S. crude stocks. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Kim Coghill)[SEP]How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Monday U.S. stocks surged Monday after a Federal Reserve official said the central bank shouldn't raise interest rates too soon, which came as a big relief to investors. After a market nosedive on Friday, investors bought safe investments like household goods makers and phone companies. Technology companies also jumped. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 239.62 points, or 1.3 percent, to 18,325.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 31.23 points, or 1.5 percent, to 2,159.04. The Nasdaq composite leaped 85.98 points, or 1.7 percent, to 5,211.89. The Dow is up 900.04 points, or 5.2 percent. The S&P 500 is up 115.10 points, or 5.6 percent. The Nasdaq is up 204.48 points, or 4.1 percent.[SEP]U.S. stocks pare losses, oil up as markets reassess central banks NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S stock prices were slightly higher at midsession Monday after a Federal Reserve policymaker expressed caution about the need to raise U.S. interest rates, though European and Asian equities finished lower after the biggest fall on Wall Street since June on Friday. Federal Reserve officials have raised the chances of another interest rate rise this year in the past few weeks and the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan have also refrained from further monetary policy easing recently, culminating in Friday's revaluation of stocks after U.S corporate earnings fell for the fifth straight quarter. Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainerd is also due to make a speech in Chicago later Monday, the last policy maker to speak before next week's Fed policy meeting. At 11:45 a.m. ET (1545 GMT), the Dow Jones industrial average was up 72.38 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,157.83; the S&P 500 had gained 11.92 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,139.73 and the Nasdaq Composite had added 43.52 points, or 0.85 percent, to 5,169.43. A gauge of equities across major markets fell 0.3 percent after losing 1.0 percent earlier. European stocks were down 1.0 percent, cutting an earlier loss in half. U.S. stocks began to recover Monday morning after Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank president Dennis Lockhart said current economic conditions warrant a "serious discussion" of whether to raise interest rates at next week's Fed meeting, also telling reporters there was no "urgency" to act. "Lockhart helped assuage fears that a rate hike in September was imminent," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey. The U.S. dollar slipped against the Japanese yen on Monday as uncertainty surrounding the potential Federal Reserve rate hike this month fueled a selloff in riskier currencies, while speculation less monetary policy easing from the Bank of Japan also helped the yen. The greenback was last down 0.66 percent against the yen at 102 yen and was little changed against the euro at $1.123. The benchmark U.S. Treasury yield turned higher midsession Monday and hit a session high of 1.697 percent, the highest since late June. In commodities markets, crude oil prices turned positive with traders citing a weaker U.S. dollar. Brent crude futures were up 1.1 percent at $48.58 a barrel, having recovered from a session low of $46.90, while U.S. crude rose from an intraday low of $44.72 to trade at $46.47, up 1.2 percent. The biggest fall in U.S. crude oil inventories since 1999 last week, and hopes for a deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia on stabilizing crude output at this months OPEC meeting, have helped to support oil prices in the past week Adding to Monday's jittery markets mood, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton fell ill at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony and had been diagnosed with pneumonia. Markets have generally assumed Clinton would win the presidency and have not truly considered the implications, both economic and for national security, should her rival Donald Trump prevail.[SEP]Asian shares mostly down on worries about global growth, Fed TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly sagged Wednesday, although oil prices regained overnight drops, amid the possibility of a weaker global economy and guess work about the U.S. Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates. KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.7 percent to close at 16,614.24. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was little changed at 23,218.34. The Shanghai Composite fell 0.6 percent to 3,005.35. South Korean markets were closed for a national holiday. Shares were lower in Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan. FED FACTOR: Markets are on the lookout for what the Federal Reserve might do on interest rates, weighing in various signs of possible economic recovery. Economists say December is the most likely time for the Fed to hike rates for the first time this year. WALL STREET: The Dow Jones industrial average gave up 258.32 points, or 1.4 percent, to 18,066.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 32.02 points, or 1.5 percent, to 2,127.02. The Nasdaq composite lost 56.63 points, or 1.1 percent, to 5,155.26. THE QUOTE: "Another nail in the coffin overnight, as both OPEC and the International Energy Agency, revised their oil demand figures for 2017 down," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda. ENERGY: The price of oil recovered some of its 3 percent overnight drop which followed the International Energy Agency's remarks about oil demand because of a slowdown in the global economy. Benchmark crude rose 22 cents to $45.12 a barrel. It fell $1.39, or 3 percent, to $44.90 a barrel in New York Tuesday. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, rose 18 cents to $47.28 a barrel in London. CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 102.89 yen from 101.98 yen late Tuesday in Asia. The euro fell to $1.1226 from $1.1233.[SEP]The US and Russia have agreed to a cease-fire in Syria following extensive negotiations. The move may pave the way to ending the deep crisis that has seen hundreds displaced and driven them to seek asylum in Europe. As per the agreement the two sides will stop the fighting on September 12. While the peace agreement in Syria will hopefully lead to a constructive outcome over the coming days, the global markets may not witness the calm from the past weeks as the date for US policy meet inches close. Europe Mature markets are clearly prepared for the imminent monetary policy tightening in the US and have even been strongly betting on the possibility of it coming as early as the end of the month. However, the recent round of economic data from the US has put the optimism back in the cold. The disappointment from the weak figures has hit the market sentiment and will cloud the mood over the coming days, especially given the lack of direction in the near term. Further, the European Central Bank in its latest meet did nothing to cheer the mood as the policy makers maintained a cool stance on further stimulus for the region. The ECB’s Euro 1.7 trillion quantitative easing programme is set to end early next year. The central bank chief Mario Draghi has indicated the future course of action is not yet firm, triggering worries over the availability of cheap money going forward. Despite the markets witnessing a revival over the past months, the concerns over economic growth have continued to haunt investor mood. Given the lack of clarity, both in terms of triggers for economic growth and the ECB’s future course of action, indices may be set to reverse to the phase of volatility in the coming days. Euro Stoxx 50 closed down 0.98 per cent to 3,053.20. FTSE 100 closed down 1.19 per cent to 6,776.95. US The September 21-22 US Federal Reserve meet is a hotly anticipated event as the betting on the timing of an interest rate hike remains a key catalyst for market moves not only in the world’s largest economy but across the globe. A string of weak economic data for unemployment, manufacturing and services activity has dampened the prospects of a September hike and also impacted the market mood. Experts have been making a case for policy tightening saying delaying the process may threaten stability going forward. The markets have enjoyed a long spell of cheap money flows and interest rate action will work towards mopping up the excess liquidity, a scenario that does not please the indices. In addition, the ECB has underplayed the prospects of further stimulus expansion. Over the past years, the indices have gotten used to liquidity boosted by accommodative central bank policies. However, given the trend seems set to change, the market upside will likely be capped going ahead. Investors will be eyeing the reports for industrial production,consumer sentimentand retail sales for further cues. Nasdaq closed down 2.54 per cent, to 5,125.91. Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 2.13 per cent, to 18,085.45. S&P 500 closed down 2.45 per cent to 2,127.81. Asia The upcoming monetary policy meets in Japan and the US will be keenly watched over the coming days and any indications on the tone from the outcome of the meets will remain a key trigger for market movements. While the Bank of Japan will take a call on the stimulus package, the Federal Reserve has to decide on interest rates. Given that the European Central Bank held off from announcing any further stimulus in the latest meet, the move from the Japanese policymakers will be closely watched. Markets in the US and Europe dropped following a muted response from the ECB on further stimulus for the region as the markets grapple with the uncertainty following the UK referendum vote in June. The ECB’s current quantitative easing programme is set to run its course early next year. The investors can still hope for stimulus announcement by the end of the year given the mounting concerns on the impending impact from Brexit. The outcome of the US Central bank has been at the heart of frenzied speculation over the past weeks and will continue to sway market mood in the coming days. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 0.04 per cent at 16,965.76. Shanghai closed down 0.55 per cent to 3,078.85. Hang Seng closed up 0.75 per cent at 24,099.70. India The prospect of an interest rate hike in the US has had reactions in an entirely different direction for the Indian markets. Given the recent data from the world’s largest economy, the bets for any policy tightening as early as this month have cooled and helped drive investor optimism. The positive mood will likely persist in the coming days as foreign investors continue to pour funds into the markets. Despite the volatility at the start of the year the indices have yielded impressive gains for the investors versus those in the mature markets and in turn have continued to attract foreign inflows. However, the strong inflow also means the markets have turned increasingly susceptible to the geo-political and economic announcements on the western shores. This includes the impending US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy action, among others. The indices will likely witness an unstable patch of trading closer to the policy meetings in the US, as well as Japan, both scheduled over the next few days. Given the current economic scenario in the developed markets, the foreign inflows will likely continue and may even witness a spike in the near term. On the off-side, considering the market rally is driven by foreign investments, it will be hard to gauge how long it may last. The benchmark BSE Index closed down 0.85 per cent to 28,797.25. Nifty closed down 0.96 per cent at 8,866.70.[SEP]How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Tuesday U.S. stocks abruptly changed course again Tuesday and took large losses. Investors worried about the possibility of a weaker global economy and tried to anticipate the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates. Energy companies fell with the price of oil after a leading industry group said demand for oil is down more than it previously thought. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 258.32 points, or 1.4 percent, to 18,066.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 32.02 points, or 1.5 percent, to 2,127.02. The Nasdaq composite shed 56.63 points, or 1.1 percent, to 5,155.25. The Dow is down 18.70 points, or 0.1 percent. The S&P 500 is down 0.79 points, or 0.04 percent. The Nasdaq is up 29.35 points, or 0.6 percent. The Dow is up 641.72 points, or 3.7 percent. The S&P 500 is up 83.08 points, or 4.1 percent. The Nasdaq is up 147.84 points, or 3 percent.
Asian stock markets open lower following the fall in the Dow Jones amid speculations about the Federal Reserve's target interest rates.
Know Your Value[SEP](CNN) Scientists began to uncover a link between sugar and heart disease about 60 years ago, and now, the general consensus among experts is that sugar intake is associated with heart disease risk. But why did it take so long for researchers to inspect this link? A group then called the Sugar Research Foundation funded some of the early research on fat as the primary risk factor for heart disease, a "sophisticated" tactic to overshadow other research that placed blame on sweets as a risk factor, according to researchers. The foundation, now called the Sugar Association , questioned the new paper's findings in a response to CNN, saying it's "challenging for us to comment on events that allegedly occurred 60 years ago, and on documents we have never seen." The organization was founded in 1943 by members of the American sugar industry and was dedicated to the scientific study of sugar's role in food, as well as communicating that role to the public. Researchers said the early heart disease research has implications for Americans' health today. "If we could rewind the script back to 1965 and we had said, 'You know what, we're not just going to worry about fat and heart disease, we're also going to look at carbohydrates and in particular sugar, because that's a concentrated form of carbohydrate,' things might be really different," said Laura Schmidt, a professor of health policy in the University of California, San Francisco's School of Medicine and a co-author of the new analysis. "If we had not dismissed the idea that carbohydrates played a significant role in heart disease, we would be potentially in a different place today in terms of our obesity and heart disease rates." Whatever happened to Yudkin's theory? Researchers suggest that when the sugar industry "manipulated" the scientific debate on heart disease, his theory -- along with other sugar consumption research -- was swept under the rug. The new paper was led by Cristin Kearns, a postdoctoral researcher at the UCSF School of Dentistry, who collected letters dating from 1959 to 1971 between executives at the Sugar Research Foundation and various scientists. In one instance, according to the new analysis, foundation Vice President John Hickson received drafts of a review by Hegsted and replied, "Let me assure you this is quite what we had in mind and we look forward to its appearance in print." "It isn't unusual for faculty who die, for their documents and materials to be stored or given as a gift to the university where they worked," Schmidt said. "It just so happened that Roger Adams had a long history of working with the sugar organization, and his materials happened to contain documents by industry executives and are one window into how the industry manipulated science." Kearns, Schmidt and their colleague Stan Glantz, a professor of medicine at UCSF, analyzed the letters and other heart disease research-related public documents -- from symposium proceedings to annual reports -- from the 1950s and 60s. "It's all the same tricks. ... There was a pretty clear case emerging that eating sugar increased triglycerides, which increased heart disease risk. I think if the science had been left to its own devices, within a few years, there would have been a consensus that there was a causal link, which then should have influenced regulatory policy." Sugar warnings, then and now "Experts are still debating what the role of sugar and heart disease is, even though there was evidence going back to the '50s and '60s that a segment of the population with high triglyceride levels should potentially be concerned about their sugar consumption," Kearns said. "Had we come to this conclusion much earlier, people who had this triglyceride level would have been counseled much differently." The paper suggests that a diet high in added sugars can cause a three-fold increase in the risk of death due to heart disease. A representative for the Sugar Association emailed a statement from the association to CNN, questioning the new paper's findings about the history of heart disease research and the sugar industry. "We acknowledge that the Sugar Research Foundation should have exercised greater transparency in all of its research activities, however, when the studies in question were published funding disclosures and transparency standards were not the norm they are today. Beyond this, it is challenging for us to comment on events that allegedly occurred 60 years ago, and on documents we have never seen," the statement said. "Generally speaking, it is not only unfortunate but a disservice that industry-funded research is branded as tainted. What is often missing from the dialogue is that industry-funded research has been informative in addressing key issues," the Sugar Association statement said. "Most concerning is the growing use of headline-baiting articles to trump quality scientific research -- we're disappointed to see a journal of JAMA's stature being drawn into this trend." Additionally, rates of obesity -- which puts people at a higher risk of heart disease -- have skyrocketed among both children and adults since the 1970s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schmidt, Kearns and Glantz have done the science community "a great public service" by resurfacing the history of funded heart disease research, said Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, in an editorial accompanying the new paper in JAMA Internal Medicine. "As George Santayana famously said in 'Reason of Common Sense' (1905), 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,' " she wrote. "We have to ask ourselves how many lives and dollars could have been saved, and how different today's health picture would be, if the industry were not manipulating science in this way," he said in the statement. "Only 50 years later are we waking up to the true harm from sugar."[SEP]A 1967 literature review in The New England Journal of Medicine pointed to fat and cholesterol as the dietary culprits of heart disease, glossing over evidence from the 1950s that sugar was also linked to heart disease. According to the new report, the NEJM review was sponsored by the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF), which is today the Sugar Association, although its role was not disclosed at the time. In the report, Laura A. Schmidt of the University of California, San Francisco and colleagues point out that Harvard professor of nutrition Dr. Mark Hegsted co-directed the SRF’s first heart disease research project from 1965 to 1966. Schmidt and colleagues say communications between the SRF, Hegsted and another professor, Roger Adams, uncovered from the University of Illinois archives and the Harvard Medical Library reveal that the foundation set the objective for the literature review, funded it and reviewed drafts of the manuscript. “I thought I had seen everything but this one floored me,” said Marion Nestle of New York University, who wrote an editorial on the new findings. “It was so blatant. And the ‘bribe’ was so big.” “Funding research is ethical,” Nestle told Reuters Health by email. “Bribing researchers to produce the evidence you want is not.” The researchers also reviewed symposium proceedings and historical reports. In 1954, they say, foundation president Henry Haas gave a speech highlighting the potential of reducing American fat intake and recapturing those calories as carbohydrates that would increase the per capita consumption of sugar more than a third. In 1962, an American Medical Association nutrition report indicated that low-fat high-sugar diets may actually encourage the development of cholesterol. Two years later, according to the new report, SRF vice president John Hickson proposed that the SRF embark on a major program to counter “negative attitudes toward sugar.” Increasingly, epidemiological reports suggested that blood sugar, rather than blood cholesterol or high blood pressure, was a better predictor of atherosclerosis. Two days after The New York Herald Tribune ran a full page story on the link to sugar in July 1965, the SRF approved “Project 226,” a literature review on cholesterol metabolism to be led by Hegsted and, among others, Fredrick Stare, another Harvard nutritionist with industry financial ties. Nine months later, Schmidt and colleagues write, Hegsted explained that the project was delayed to continually rewrite rebuttals to new evidence linking sugar to heart disease that had been published in the interim. By September of 1966, according to the report, Hickson was requesting additional drafts of the literature review from the Harvard researchers, though there is no direct evidence that the Foundation commented on or edited the drafts. By November 2, Hickson had approved the latest draft as “quite what we had in mind.” The two-part review, concluding that the only change necessary to prevent heart disease was to reduce dietary fat intake, was published in the NEJM the following year, with no mention of the SRF’s participation. The journal did not require conflict of interest disclosure until 1984. “The sugar association paid very prestigious Harvard scientists to publish a review focusing on saturated fat and cholesterol as the main causes of heart disease at the time when studies were starting to accumulate indicating that sugar is a risk factor for heart disease,” Schmidt told Reuters Health by phone. “That has an impact on the whole research community and where it’s going to go.” “For example a lot of the messaging during this period around how to prevent heart disease focused on, why don’t you use margarine rather than butter, which has less saturated fat,” Schmidt said. Now we know that margarine is full of trans fat, which causes heart disease and has been nearly eradicated from the U.S. food supply. “When manufacturers took out fat they added sugar,” she said. “We’ve really lost a lot of time in evaluating how sugar impacts coronary heart disease,” but the actual impact on public health over the last five decades is impossible to measure. Large amounts of sugar and saturated fats are both detrimental to health and their effects are hard to separate, Nestle said, but it seems reasonable to keep sugar intake to about 10 percent of daily calories. Today, industry money still funds plenty of scientific research, but increasingly journals and scientists disclose these funding sources, Schmidt said. “We acknowledge that the Sugar Research Foundation should have exercised greater transparency in all of its research activities, however, when the studies in question were published funding disclosures and transparency standards were not the norm they are today,” the Sugar Association told Reuters Health in a statement. “Beyond this, it is challenging for us to comment on events that allegedly occurred 60 years ago, and on documents we have never seen.” “The Sugar Association is always seeking to further understand the role of sugar and health, but we rely on quality science and facts to drive our assertions,” the statement said.[SEP]Influential research that downplayed the role of sugar in heart disease in the 1960s was paid for by the sugar industry, according to a report released on Monday. With backing from a sugar lobby, scientists promoted dietary fat as the cause of coronary heart disease instead of sugar, according to a historical document review published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Though the review is nearly 50 years old, it also showcases a decades-long battle by the sugar industry to counter the product’s negative health effects. The findings come from documents recently found by a researcher at the University of San Francisco, which show that scientists at the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF), known today as the Sugar Association, paid scientists to do a 1967 literature review that overlooked the role of sugar in heart disease. SRF set an objective for the review, funded it and reviewed drafts before it was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which did not require conflict of interest disclosure until 1984. The three Harvard scientists who wrote the review made what would be $50,000 in today’s dollars from the review. Marion Nestle, a nutrition, food studies and public health professor at New York University, said the food industry continues to influence nutrition science, in an editorial published alongside the JAMA report. “Today, it is almost impossible to keep up with the range of food companies sponsoring research – from makers of the most highly processed foods, drinks, and supplements to producers of dairy foods, meats, fruits, and nuts – typically yielding results favorable to the sponsor’s interests,” Nestle said. “Food company sponsorship, whether or not intentionally manipulative, undermines public trust in nutrition science, contributes to public confusion about what to eat, and compromises Dietary Guidelines in ways that are not in the best interest of public health.” The cushy relationship between food companies and researcher has been captured in recent investigations by the Associated Press and New York Times. The AP revealed in June that candy trade groups were funding research into sweets. And in 2015, the New York Times showed how Coca-Cola has funded millions in research to downplay the link between sugary beverages and obesity. The Sugar Association said in a statement that SRF “should have exercised greater transparency” in its research, but also accused the study authors of having an “anti-sugar narrative”. “We question this author’s continued attempts to reframe historical occurrences to conveniently align with the currently trending anti-sugar narrative, particularly when the last several decades of research have concluded that sugar does not have a unique role in heart disease,” the Sugar Association said. “Most concerning is the growing use of headline-baiting articles to trump quality scientific research – we’re disappointed to see a journal of JAMA’s stature being drawn into this trend.” The findings were based on documents found by Cristin Kearns, a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF, in library archives. The scientists and executives involved are no longer alive. In recent years, the link between fat and heart disease has become a more contentious topic – a 2010 review of scientific studies of fat in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that “there is no convincing evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease”. The role of sugar in heart disease is still being debated.[SEP]The sugar industry began funding research that cast doubt on sugar's role in heart disease -- in part by pointing the finger at fat -- as early as the 1960s, according to an analysis of newly uncovered documents. In 1964, the group now known as the Sugar Association internally discussed a campaign to address "negative attitudes toward sugar" after studies began emerging linking sugar with heart disease, according to documents dug up from public archives. In an editorial published Monday that accompanied the sugar industry analysis, New York University professor of nutrition Marion Nestle noted that for decades following the study, scientists and health officials focused on reducing saturated fat, not sugar, to prevent heart disease. The American Heart Association cites a study published in 2014 in saying that too much added sugar can increase risk of heart disease, though the authors of that study says the biological reasons for the link are not completely understood. The findings published Monday are part of an ongoing project by a former dentist, Cristin Kearns, to reveal the sugar industry's decades-long efforts to counter science linking sugar with negative health effects, including diabetes.[SEP]NEW YORK (AP) — The sugar industry began funding research that cast doubt on sugar's role in heart disease — in part by pointing the finger at fat — as early as the 1960s, according to an analysis of newly uncovered documents. The analysis published Monday is based on correspondence between a sugar trade group and researchers at Harvard University, and is the latest example showing how food and beverage makers attempt to shape public understanding of nutrition. In 1964, the group now known as the Sugar Association internally discussed a campaign to address "negative attitudes toward sugar" after studies began emerging linking sugar with heart disease, according to documents dug up from public archives. The following year the group approved "Project 226," which entailed paying Harvard researchers today's equivalent of $48,900 for an article reviewing the scientific literature, supplying materials they wanted reviewed, and receiving drafts of the article. The resulting article published in 1967 concluded there was "no doubt" that reducing cholesterol and saturated fat was the only dietary intervention needed to prevent heart disease. The researchers overstated the consistency of the literature on fat and cholesterol, while downplaying studies on sugar, according to the analysis. "Let me assure you this is quite what we had in mind and we look forward to its appearance in print," wrote an employee of the sugar industry group to one of the authors. The sugar industry's funding and role were not disclosed when the article was published by the New England Journal of Medicine. The journal, which did not require such disclosures at the time, began requesting author disclosures in 1984. In an editorial published Monday that accompanied the sugar industry analysis, New York University professor of nutrition Marion Nestle noted that for decades following the study, scientists and health officials focused on reducing saturated fat, not sugar, to prevent heart disease. While scientists are still working to understand links between diet and heart disease, concern has shifted in recent years to sugar and carbohydrates, and away from fat, Nestle said. A committee advising the federal government on dietary guidelines says the available evidence shows "no appreciable relationship" between the dietary cholesterol and heart disease, although it still recommended limiting saturated fats. The American Heart Association cites a study published in 2014 in saying that too much added sugar can increase risk of heart disease, though the authors of that study says the biological reasons for the link are not completely understood. The findings published Monday are part of an ongoing project by a former dentist, Cristin Kearns, to reveal the sugar industry's decades-long efforts to counter science linking sugar with negative health effects, including diabetes. The latest work, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, is based primarily on 31 pages of correspondence between the sugar group and one of the Harvard researchers who authored the review. In a statement, the Sugar Association said it "should have exercised greater transparency in all of its research activities," but that funding disclosures were not the norm when the review was published. The group also questioned Kearns' "continued attempts to reframe historical occurrences" to play into the current public sentiment against sugar. The Sugar Association said it was a "disservice" that industry-funded research in general is considered "tainted." Companies including Coca-Cola Co. and Kellogg Co. as well as groups for agricultural products like beef and blueberries regularly fund studies that become a part of scientific literature, are cited by other researchers, and are touted in press releases. Companies say they adhere to scientific standards, and many researchers feel that industry funding is critical to advancing science given the growing competition for government funds. But critics say such studies are often thinly veiled marketing that undermine efforts to improve public health. "Food company sponsorship, whether or not intentionally manipulative, undermines public trust in nutrition science, contributes to public confusion about what to eat," wrote Nestle, a longtime critic of industry funding of science. The authors of the analysis note they were unable to interview key actors quoted in the documents because they are no longer alive. They also note there is no direct evidence the sugar industry wrote or changed the manuscript, that the documents provide a limited window into the activities of the sugar industry group and that the roles of other industries and nutrition leaders in shaping the discussion about heart disease were not studied. Nevertheless, they say the documents underscore why policy makers should consider giving less weight to industry-funded studies. Although funding disclosures are now common practice in the scientific community, the role sponsors play behind the scenes is still not always clear. In June, the Associated Press reported on a study funded by the candy industry's trade group that found children who eat candy tend to weigh less than those who don't. The National Confectioners Association, which touted the findings in a press release, provided feedback to the authors on a draft even though a disclosure said it had no role in the paper. The association said its suggestions didn't alter the findings. In November, the AP also reported on emails showing Coca-Cola was instrumental in creating a nonprofit that said its mission was to fight obesity, even though the group publicly said the soda maker had "no input" into its activities. A document circulated at Coke said the group would counter the "shrill rhetoric" of "public health extremists." Coca-Cola subsequently conceded that it had not been transparent, and the group later disbanded.[SEP]NEW YORK – The sugar industry began funding research that cast doubt on sugar’s role in heart disease – in part by pointing the finger at fat – as early as the 1960s, according to an analysis of newly uncovered documents. The analysis published Monday is based on correspondence between a sugar trade group and researchers at Harvard University, and is the latest example showing how food and beverage makers attempt to shape public understanding of nutrition. In 1964, the group now known as the Sugar Association internally discussed a campaign to address “negative attitudes toward sugar” after studies began emerging linking sugar with heart disease, according to documents dug up from public archives. The following year the group approved “Project 226,” which entailed paying Harvard researchers today’s equivalent of $48,900 for an article reviewing the scientific literature, supplying materials they wanted reviewed, and receiving drafts of the article. The resulting article that was published in 1967 concluded there was “no doubt” that reducing cholesterol and saturated fat was the only dietary intervention needed to prevent heart disease. The researchers overstated the consistency of the literature on fat and cholesterol, while downplaying studies on sugar, according to the analysis. “Let me assure you this is quite what we had in mind and we look forward to its appearance in print,” wrote an employee of the sugar industry group to one of the authors. The sugar industry’s funding and role were not disclosed when the article was published by the New England Journal of Medicine. The journal did not begin requesting author disclosures until 1984. In an editorial published Monday that accompanied the sugar industry analysis, New York University professor of nutrition Marion Nestle noted that for decades following the study, scientists and health officials focused on reducing saturated fat, not sugar, to prevent heart disease. While scientists are still working to understand links between diet and heart disease, concern has shifted in recent years to sugars, and away from fat, Nestle said. A committee that advised the federal government on dietary guidelines said the available evidence shows “no appreciable relationship” between the dietary cholesterol and heart disease, although it still recommended limiting saturated fats.
A researcher from the University of California, San Francisco discovers that the sugar industry may have manipulated studies about heart diseases.
North Korea is mobilizing to deal with a disastrous flood that killed more than 130 people, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and crippled infrastructure in its northern-most province. Brigades of soldiers from around the country have been enlisted to help victims of the flooding, which began Aug. 29 and was caused by Typhoon Lionrock. According to a United Nations report issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the floods displaced tens of thousands of people and destroyed homes, buildings and critical infrastructure. North Korean media said it was the worst single case of downpours and high winds since 1945, though that claim couldn't be verified. See the most-read stories in World News this hour » The report said the government has confirmed 133 people were killed and an additional 395 missing. It said more than 35,500 houses, schools and public buildings were damaged, with 69% completely destroyed. It reported widespread inundation of farmland and at least 140,000 people in urgent need of assistance. The hardest-hit areas, parts of which remain inaccessible, are Musan and Yonsa counties near the Chinese border in the northern tip of the country. North Korea's state media reported Sunday that high winds and heavy rainfall swept over several cities and counties, causing buildings to collapse and leaving railways, roads, parts of the electric power system, factories and farmlands destroyed or submerged. It said a mass recovery effort has been launched. On Monday, North Korea reported construction units were arriving in the flood-hit areas from all over the country, including the capital, Pyongyang. "The country's manpower and material and technical potentials are now concentrated on the flood damage rehabilitation," the Korean Central News Agency said. It said the ruling party has urged citizens to "achieve the miraculous victory of converting misfortune into favorable conditions ... with the tremendous might of single-minded unity!" The North Korean media also said the focus of a 200-day "loyalty campaign" already underway to mobilize the nation behind leader Kim Jong Un in a mandatory show of devotion has been switched to a call for all citizens to support the recovery effort. The U.N. agency said humanitarian agencies have released relief materials from their stockpiles inside North Korea, including food, shelter and kitchen kits, water purification and sanitation supplies and emergency health supplies. The U.N. report said the government is "urgently working" to reopen roads, distributing relief goods and preparing to rebuild 20,000 houses by early October, before the onset of North Korea's bitterly cold winter. It added that the government had allowed U.N. agencies, the North Korean Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Crescent, along with private international aid groups to conduct a joint assessment of needs in the affected areas last week, but they were unable to access Musan and Yonsa. NEWSLETTER: Get the day's top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj » The flooding occurred around the Tumen River, which runs between North Korea and China. North Korea experiences frequent natural disasters, which are more devastating because of its often problematic infrastructure and lack of civil engineering projects designed to mitigate damage. In August last year, major downpours followed by flash floods killed at least 40 people and devastated parts of the Rason area, near the Russian and Chinese borders where a key special economic zone is. A series of floods and droughts were a contributing factor in the disastrous famine years of the 1990s — called the "arduous march" in North Korea — that nearly brought the country to economic ruin. From a bridge in South Africa, sidewalk bookseller believes in the power to change lives U.S. slams Netanyahu after he equates opposition to Israeli settlements with 'ethnic cleansing'[SEP]Tens of thousands of homes damaged, infrastructure crippled in its northern-most province North Korea is mobilizing to deal with a disastrous flood that killed more than 130 people, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and crippled infrastructure in its northern-most province. Brigades of soldiers from around the country have been enlisted to help victims of the flooding, which began August 29 and was caused by Typhoon Lionrock. According to a United Nations report issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the floods displaced tens of thousands of people and destroyed homes, buildings and critical infrastructure. North Korean media said it was the worst single case of downpours and high winds since 1945, though that claim couldn’t be verified. The report said the government has confirmed 133 people were killed and another 395 missing. It said more than 35,500 houses, schools and public buildings were damaged, with 69 per cent completely destroyed. It reported widespread inundation of farmland and at least 140,000 people in urgent need of assistance. The hardest-hit areas, parts of which remain inaccessible, are Musan and Yonsa counties near the Chinese border in the northern tip of the country. North Korea’s state media reported Sunday that high winds and heavy rainfall swept over several cities and counties, causing buildings to collapse and leaving railways, roads, parts of the electric power system, factories and farmlands destroyed or submerged. It said a mass recovery effort has been launched. On Monday, North Korea reported construction units were arriving in the flood-hit areas from all over the country, including the capital, Pyongyang. “The country’s manpower and material and technical potentials are now concentrated on the flood damage rehabilitation,” the Korean Central News Agency said. It said the ruling party has urged citizens to “achieve the miraculous victory of converting misfortune into favorable conditions ... with the tremendous might of single-minded unity!” The North Korean media also said the focus of a 200-day “loyalty campaign” already underway to mobilize the nation behind leader Kim Jong Un in a mandatory show of devotion has been switched to a call for all citizens to support the recovery effort. The U.N. agency said humanitarian agencies have released relief materials from their stockpiles inside North Korea, including food, shelter and kitchen kits, water purification and sanitation supplies and emergency health supplies. The U.N. report said the government "is urgently working” to reopen roads, distributing relief goods and preparing to rebuild 20,000 houses by early October, before the onset of North Korea’s bitterly cold winter. It added that the government had allowed U.N. agencies, the North Korean Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Crescent, along with private international aid groups to conduct a joint assessment of needs in the affected areas last week, but they were unable to access Musan and Yonsa. The flooding occurred around the Tumen River, which runs between North Korea and China. North Korea experiences frequent natural disasters which are more devastating because of its often problematic infrastructure and lack of civil engineering projects designed to mitigate damage. In August last year, major downpours followed by flash floods killed at least 40 people and devastated parts of the Rason area, near the Russian and Chinese borders where a key special economic zone is located. A series of floods and droughts was a contributing factor in the disastrous famine years of the 1990s called the “arduous march” in North Korea that nearly brought the country to economic ruin.[SEP]SEOUL (AFP) - The death toll from severe flooding in the north-east of North Korea has risen to 133, with another 395 missing and tens of thousands left homeless, the United Nations said. Some 107,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the area along the Tumen River, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement received on Monday (Sept 12), citing Pyongyang government figures. People in the north-eastern region near the border with China and Russia are suffering "great hardship", according to North Korean state media. A nationwide mass-mobilisation 200-day labour campaign intended to bolster the economy has been redirected to assist the flood victims. More than 35,500 houses have been hit by floods, with 69 percent of them completely destroyed, and 8,700 public buildings have been damaged, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement dated Sunday. Around 16,000ha of farmland have been inundated and at least 140,000 people urgently need help, it said. OCHA said a group made up of UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations, the international Red Cross and the North's Red Cross had visited parts of the flood-stricken region last week to assess needs. It said aid agencies have released material from stockpiles in the North such as food, shelter and kitchen kits and water purification and health supplies. The North's government was working urgently to reopen roads and was distributing relief goods and building materials. The priority was to rebuild 20,000 homes by early October before the bitter Korean winter sets in. The North has trumpeted the role of its ruling Workers' Party in responding to the disaster in North Hamgyong province. The aim is "to turn the area into the fairyland in the era of the Workers' Party within this year by dint of army-people great unity, harmonious whole", said party newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Monday. "The party regards the work for taking care of the people's life in a responsible way as the most important affair and duty and has steadily created legendary stories about love for the people," it added. Impoverished North Korea is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods. At least 169 people were killed by a massive rainstorm in the summer of 2012. Its territory is largely composed of mountains and hills that have long been stripped bare for fuel or turned into terraced rice fields. This allows rainwater to flow downhill unchecked. A series of floods and droughts was partially responsible for a famine that killed hundreds of thousands between 1994 and 1998, with economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support exacerbating the situation. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said in April that North Korea's chronic food shortages were expected to worsen, given the tight food supplies last year and this year when "most households were already estimated to have poor or borderline food consumption levels". The United Nations Security Council is planning fresh sanctions on the nation after it staged its fifth nuclear weapons test on Friday.[SEP]SEOUL, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Flooding from heavy rain in North Korea has killed 133 people in its northeast while 395 are missing, with many homes and critical infrastructure destroyed, a U.N. agency said on Monday. News of the natural disaster came as North Korea looked even more isolated from its neighbours and the wider world after its fifth nuclear test last Friday. The U.N. Office for the Coordinate of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report more than 35,500 homes were damaged, two-thirds of them completely destroyed, and 107,000 people had been displaced by the floods. The agency said the death toll and the number of missing people were based on North Korean government data. North Korea's state media reported heavy rain in late August and early September caused extensive damage near the Tumen river. It did not give a death toll from the flooding in its latest report. The U.N. office said damage assessment was based on a visit to the region last week by representatives of U.N. agencies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the North's Red Cross chapter and non-governmental groups. The North's KCNA news agency said on Sunday the worst "climatic phenomenon" in more than 70 years hit the northern part of the country causing "huge losses," and recovery work was under way. Widespread deforestation for fuel and farming makes the impoverished state prone to natural disasters, especially floods.[SEP]SEOUL: Severe flooding in a North Korean border region has killed at least 133 people with another 395 missing and thousands of homes swept away, the UN says, after Pyongyang reported “great hardship” in the area. Some 107,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the area along the Tumen River, the world body said in a statement received Monday which cited Pyongyang government figures. The North’s official media has described the downpour which led to the floods near the northeastern border as the worst for decades, and said it brought severe hardship to residents. It says a nationwide mass-mobilisation 200-day labour campaign intended to bolster the economy has been redirected to assist the flood victims. The impoverished nation is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods, due partly to deforestation and poor infrastructure. At least 169 people were killed by a massive rainstorm in the summer of 2012.[SEP]SEOUL: Floods have damaged tens of thousands of buildings in northeastern North Korea after the worst downpour there for decades, state media said Sunday, urging all soldiers and civilians to join a drive to help victims. The report on the official KCNA news agency gave no death toll or exact figure for damage. A UN report last week, citing Pyongyang government data, said 60 people had been killed and over 44,000 were homeless along the Tumen River, which partially marks the border with China and Russia. Sunday’s report, citing the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party, said “tens of thousands” of homes and public buildings had collapsed and railways, roads, power supplies, factories and farmland had been destroyed or submerged. People in North Hamgyong province were suffering “great hardship”, it added. The main thrust of an ongoing nationwide 200-day mass mobilisation campaign aimed at boosting the economy would be redirected to helping flood victims, it quoted the central committee as saying. The objective was to “direct all efforts to the construction of dwelling houses to provide flood-hit people with warm cradles and turn the flood-battered region into a fairyland in the era of the Workers’ Party within this year.” Impoverished North Korea is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods. At least 169 were killed by a massive rainstorm in the summer of 2012. Its territory is largely composed of mountains and hills that have long been stripped bare for fuel or turned into terraced rice fields. This allows rainwater to flow downhill unchecked. A series of floods and droughts was partially responsible for a famine that killed hundreds of thousands between 1994-98, with economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support exacerbating the situation. The United Nations Security Council is planning fresh sanctions on the nation after it staged its fifth nuclear weapons test Friday.[SEP]Yet severe flooding in the country's northeast has resulted in a rare admission that all is not so well. According to a report published Sunday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) -- North Korea's official state media -- the country's northeast has been affected by the "heaviest downpour" since 1945, with "tens of thousands" of buildings destroyed and people left homeless and "suffering from great hardship." Citing North Korean government data, the report described how heavy rains resulting from Typhoon Lionrock had triggered flooding in areas such as Musan and Yonsa counties and Hoeryong City in North Hamgyong province. So far, 133 people have been killed, 395 people are missing and 140,000 people are in "urgent need of assistance."[SEP]Folks, happenings in the Korean Peninsula are frightening. No one who knows what is building up will underrate those happenings as potential sources of a catastrophe that will put the world on edge. Those familiar with the three-year fratricidal war between North Korea and South Korea and the influence of the international community, especially the United States in halting the hostilities in 1953 with an ARMISTICE and not a Peace Treaty with stated conditions to be complied with will not go fart in search for answers to questions arising from the bad-blood relationship between the two Koreas ever since. History tells us much about why North Korea has been what it chose for itself ever since its founder (Kim il-Sung (the Dear Leader), followed by his son, Kim Jong-il) took it along the path of communism, establishing a dynasty that now has Kim Jong-un in power. Traditionally, North Korea has enjoyed some kind of sympathy from China, even if latter-day happenings suggest that China is hesitant in fully backing it. Because of its intransigence, North Korea has been hit by sanctions imposed by its corps of haters, led by the United States. The United Nations has also imposed severe sanctions on it, especially following its pursuit of nuclear power. The politics surrounding the sanctions and all that has happened for the West to back down are known. So also is the pariah status of North Korea. Interestingly, North Korea has stood its grounds despite all the severe sanctions and isolation, doing what has shocked the world. It has tested missiles developed at home and done many more to threaten its neighbour. It has protested against the annual joint military exercises between its adversaries (South Korea and the US) and has even gone ahead to fire missiles at South Korean territories. Nothing has deterred it so far from asserting its influence. Just last Friday, it carried out a nuclear test that has now stoked the fire that threatens not only the Korean peninsula but the entire world as such. In fact, the test has registered a strong and scary impact. It said that Friday’s test had been of a “nuclear warhead that has been standardised to be able to be mounted on strategic ballistic rockets”. In reaction, South Korea says that it has “a plan to annihilate the North Korean capital if it shows any signs of mounting a nuclear attack”. As the BBC reported, “A military source told the Yonhap news agency that every part of Pyongyang “will be completely destroyed by ballistic missiles and high-explosives shells”. (See http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37331852). The stage seems to be set for the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula. Does that matter to other parts of the world? Yes, clearly because of the “nuclear” element. Those familiar with the devastating effect of anything “nuclear” know what is at stake. Long ago, I got to know that the release of one nuclear warhead into the atmosphere will reduce the world to a perpetual winter of darkness. Total annihilation of life!! Why is North Korea so adamant in having its way? And why is South Korea also gearing up to reduce Pyongyang to ashes as if the Korean crisis is limited to that peninsula alone? Intriguingly, South Korea has been heavily supported by the US and its allies. Why is it that the Korean crisis isn’t being solved with the seriousness that it deserves? What is the UN doing? I daresay that the escalation in the tests being conducted by North Korea and the rhetoric emanating from its opponents are scary, which suggests that Ban Ki-Moon (a South Korean) and his UN must sit up to prevent anything catastrophic). Can they? Those of us in Africa and other parts of the world not directly connected to the Korean crisis need the peace of mind to live our lives on earth. We already have a lot to worry about, especially when it comes to food, shelter, and clothing. We have no interest in the South-North Korea peril; but we can’t live in isolation from happenings in other parts of the world, especially when such happenings threaten human existence. Will Ban Ki-Moon and his UN act expeditiously to stem the tide or wait for the situation to get out of hand before taking desperate measures to douse the fire? Happenings in many parts of the world (Libya, Syria, etc.) tell us that there is too much already to worry about. Why should the Korean crisis be added to them? • Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor to continue the conversation.[SEP]North Korea has completed preparations for another nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday, citing South Korean government sources who said the North may use a previously unused tunnel at its mountainous test site. Pyongyang on Friday set off its most powerful nuclear blast to date, saying it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile and ratcheting up a threat that its rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain. "Indications have been gathered that the North has completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test at any time in the third tunnel that has not been used previously," Yonhap quoted one of the government sources as saying. It did not elaborate on what activities had been detected at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the North's northeastern shore, the location of its five nuclear explosions. North Korea said on Sunday a push for further sanctions following its latest nuclear test was "laughable", and vowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear power. A US special envoy for the isolated state, Sung Kim, will travel to Seoul on Monday after discussing with Japanese officials in Tokyo cooperation among neighbouring countries in the wake of the North's nuclear test. Kim met with Japanese officials on Sunday and said the United States may launch unilateral sanctions against North Korea, echoing comments by US President Barack Obama on Friday in the wake of the test. South Korea said on Saturday that the latest test showed North Korea's nuclear capability was expanding fast and that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was unwilling to alter course. South Korea's military put the force of Friday's blast at 10 kilotonnes, which would be the North's most powerful blast to date, but a US expert said the highest estimates of seismic magnitude suggested a yield of 20 to 30 kilotonnes. The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea's decision to carry out the test and said it would begin work immediately on a resolution. The United States, Britain and France pushed for the 15-member body to impose new sanctions.[SEP]North Korea said on Sunday a push for further sanctions following its fifth and biggest nuclear test was “laughable”, and vowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear power. The isolated state on Friday set off its most powerful nuclear explosion to date, saying it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile, ratcheting up a threat that its rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain. A U.S. special envoy met with Japanese officials on Sunday and said later the United States may launch unilateral sanctions against North Korea, echoing comments by U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday in the wake of the test. “The group of Obama’s running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable, when their ‘strategic patience’ policy is completely worn out and they are close to packing up to move out,” state-run KCNA news agency cited a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman as saying in a statement later on Sunday. “As we’ve made clear, measures to strengthen the national nuclear power in quality and quantity will continue to protect our dignity and right to live from augmented threats of nuclear war from the United States,” KCNA added. Earlier, the South’s Yonhap news agency reported South Korea’s military had a plan to use its missiles to “decimate” areas of Pyongyang if there were signs the North was about to launch a nuclear attack, quoting a source in the military. The South’s Defence Ministry could not immediately confirm the report, but the military has vowed to take strong actions to retaliate in the event of an attack by the North. The North has yet to demonstrate that it had deployed nuclear-capable missiles, despite claims to have mastered the technology to miniaturise a nuclear warhead to mount it on ballistic missiles. The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea’s decision to carry out the test and said it would begin work immediately on a resolution. The United States, Britain and France pushed for the 15-member body to impose new sanctions. Obama said after speaking by telephone with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday that they had agreed to work with the Security Council and other powers to vigorously enforce existing measures and to take “additional significant steps, including new sanctions”. “We will be working very closely in the Security Council and beyond to come up with the strongest possible measure against North Korea’s latest actions,” said U.S. envoy Sung Kim on Sunday. “In addition to action in the Security Council, both the U.S. and Japan, together with the Republic of Korea, will be looking at unilateral measures, as well as bilateral measures, as well as possible trilateral cooperation,” he said, referring to South Korea by its official name. South Korea’s top nuclear envoy also spoke to his Chinese counterpart late on Saturday by telephone and emphasized the need for fresh countermeasures including a new U.N. security council resolution during their call, the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement. South Korea said on Saturday that the latest test showed North Korea’s nuclear capability was expanding fast and that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was unwilling to alter course. Another KCNA report on Sunday said North Koreans were “delighted” by the nuclear test. “The enemies can no longer deny the strategic position of our country as a nuclear weapons state,” Jong Won Sop, a teacher at the University of National Economy, was quoted as saying.
The United Nations estimates that the death toll from severe flooding in North Korea reaches 133 with another 395 missing and tens of thousands homeless.
SAINT-DENIS, France, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- The Piton de la Fournaise, or Peak of the Furnace, volcano on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean erupted on Sunday -- the second time this year. The volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It has erupted more than 150 times since the 17th century. The latest eruption occurred in an uninhabited area of the island, which belongs to France, and does not yet threaten the local population. Hikers passing by the volcano took time to watch the eruption. Reunion Island has a population of nearly 900,000 people. It is located east of Madagascar.[SEP]Former Nigeria World Cup star Mutiu Adepoju has been appointed by the Spanish top-flight to promote La Liga in the football-mad African country where the English Premier League is the big draw. The 45-year-old, who spent more than a decade in Spain playing for the likes of Racing Santander, Real Sociedad and the Real Madrid reserve team, confirmed Tuesday he has been appointed La Liga manager for Nigeria. “The EPL has the edge right now, but we want La Liga to be much more visible because Africa is a big football market and I believe in the nearest future we will do so,” Adepoju said. “In two years, we hope to be the market leader with the biggest media visibility in Nigeria.” The Premier League is widely followed in Nigeria with top local stars such as Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City), Odion Ighalo, Isaac Success (Watford) and Alex Iwobi (Arsenal). But unlike the Adepoju generation — which boasted many big names in La Liga — Granada defender Uche Agbo is now the only Nigerian star playing regularly in Spain. The Nigeria Professional Football League has signed a five-year co-operation deal with La Liga and already this agreement has seen an All-Stars team from Nigeria feature on a playing tour of Spain last month. La Liga will soon donate 4,000 footballs to the country, while coaches from Spain are scheduled to visit schools and academies in Nigeria. An under-13 tournament, La Liga Promesa, will be staged in Nigeria and South Africa. La Liga Foundation has also made a cash donation to help Nigeria Premier League club El Kanemi Warriors and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) as a result of the havoc in northeast Nigeria caused by the Islamist group Boko Haram’s continuing security threat. Catalan giants Barcelona are also in the process of setting up a residential academy in Nigeria’s commercial capital city of Lagos. “La Liga is opening to the world,” said Adepoju, who wants to open the door of La Liga to Nigerian players. “Within a few months of the agreement (with the Nigeria league), La Liga has taken a team from here to Spain, where there was also a workshop for Nigerian club managers on organisation and marketing to make our clubs more viable.”[SEP]In the luminous 'La La Land,' a shot in the arm for movies TORONTO (AP) — Movies aren't what they were. I'll wait for it on Netflix. Television is so much better right now. Those kinds of sentiments can feel ubiquitous to anyone who cares deeply about movies, as well as for those whose love has waned. Writer-director Damien Chazelle has heard them all and he has one glorious, singing-and-dancing answer to them. Chazelle's luminous "La La Land," the sensation of the fall film festival circuit, has audiences swooning for his modern-day musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. The film, itself, is an unapologetically romantic argument for the movies, in all their splendor. "You're a part of so many of those conversations. Theaters are dying. Movies are dying, etcetera, etcetera," Chazelle, 31, said in an interview ahead of the film's Monday evening premiere in Toronto. "It's the kind of thing where I'm either hoping they're wrong or having to reflect: 'Man, I must have been born 30 years too late.' Because all I've only ever wanted to do is make movies for the big screen since I can remember." The film, which will hit theaters Dec. 2, stars Stone as an aspiring actress in Los Angeles who, in between soul-crushing auditions, meets a jazz pianist (Gosling) trying to stay true to the music he's devoted himself to. They are both strivers in an unforgiving Hollywood, their technicolor dreams a faraway fantasy compared to their daily reality. Since premiering at the Venice Film Festival, "La La Land" has taken on the aura of a revival movement, a shot in the arm for a sometimes beleaguered movie landscape. There, Stone won best actress (likely a sign of things to come in Hollywood's coming awards season) and Tom Hanks, who has nothing to do with the movie, gushed about it. "When you see something that is brand new, that you can't imagine, and you think, 'Well thank God this landed,' because I think a movie like 'La La Land' would be anathema to studios. Number one, it is a musical and no one knows the songs,'" Hanks said at a festival event. He concluded ominously: "If the audience doesn't go and embrace something as wonderful as this, then we are all doomed." Chazelle wrote the script to "La La Land" about six years ago, but his pleas to make the film went unanswered until his 2014 breakthrough, the Oscar-winning "Whiplash," about an aspiring jazz drummer. While the film is awash in nostalgia, it has connected not for the way it resurrects the past but for how it seeks to unite it with today, like an MGM musical let loose. "The movie is about reconciling that with the present and realizing you have to live now — and also that that's not necessarily a bad thing," said Chazelle. "I know I have it in me to be a nostalgist. Certainly the musical lover in me, specifically. For whatever reason, the musicals I love the most are the ones of the '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s. There are musicals since then that I love but not ones that speak to me directly. And I grew up playing jazz. So there's a lot of old-timey stuff in my tastes or background." While the film's song and dance routines resemble the breezy grace of "Singin' in the Rain" or "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," they aren't set on sound stages but in a modern Los Angeles. The barn-burning opening number takes place in a freeway traffic jam. A memorable tap-dancing scene hovers over golden-hour LA. All of it was filmed in Cinemascope. "Part of the whole idea of this movie from the beginning was to very resolutely set it in today's Los Angeles and even start off with the things we think of as the most annoying parts of existence in modern LA: the traffic jams, the shallow parties, the celebrity culture, the one-note industry talk of the city," said Chazelle. "But from that, build to a love letter that's hopefully, as a result, a more fully-fleshed love letter, not just a sugar-coated portrait of the city." By going back to the soul of Los Angeles, the Hollywood dream factory might just be churning again.[SEP]The film which stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as Sebastian and Mia, two artists who fall in love in a fantastical Los Angeles filled with singing and dancing, added to the list of accolades it has already gotten on Monday when it enchanted audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival. Those in attendance for the screening in Toronto even cheered following some of the film's multiple musical numbers, making the experience feel more like a Broadway show than a movie. The film, which was directed by Damien Chazelle and is being distributed by Lionsgate, was easily the most anticipated film of the festival. It came into Toronto having garnered acclaim from a number of movie critics and even Tom Hanks. Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and screenings at both Colorado's Telluride Film Festival and Toronto, "La La Land" is now on, if not at the top of, many critics lists of early Oscars favorites. Its position on these lists make sense for reasons even beyond the great early reviews. Chazelle's last film, "Whiplash," was the darling of the 2014 season. Plus, Hollywood loves to give awards to films about Hollywood ("Argo," "The Artist," etc.) and as much as this is a love story between the characters played by Gosling and Stone, it's also a love story about Hollywood itself. The Toronto Film Festival was packed with movies that are intensely powerful ("The Birth of a Nation"), emotional ("A Monster Calls") and thought provoking ("Arrival"). But "La La Land" is the one that feels most like Hollywood at its purest. Related: David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o talk Oscars diversity and 'Queen of Katwe' The film, down to its art deco title font, seems like something out of a time capsule from Hollywood's golden age. Chazelle structures it as a love letter to that era while not letting the story of Sebastian and Mia's modern romance get bogged down in nostalgia. Most interestingly, he crafts "La La Land" as a story in which reality and fantasy are in conflict with one another and leaves moviegoers to choose which is truer. "La La Land" doesn't hit theaters until December. When it does, though, it's bound to win awards. It could also find itself bringing in solid box office numbers from audiences who, after distressing news cycle after distressing news cycle, may be in need of a world where people sing in L.A. traffic.[SEP]Gosling, Stone spin modern twist on old Hollywood in 'La La Land' TORONTO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - While intense dramas and true life stories have dominated this year's Toronto International Film Festival, a vibrant love story inspired by the golden age of Hollywood musicals has found a warm welcome. "La La Land," a musical contemporary tale of star-crossed lovers chasing their dreams in Hollywood and starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, received a standing ovation at its premiere Tuesday night. "It's a great story and they're great engaging characters and the music kind of aids in that," Gosling, who plays a tortured jazz pianist, told Reuters on the red carpet. He added that he didn't think viewers had to like musicals to enjoy the film. Stone, who plays an aspiring actress, said "I learned to tap and ballroom dance and sing live on camera, which was pretty insane." "La La Land" is the second feature film from writer-director Damien Chazelle, 31. His first film "Whiplash," an intense study of a jazz drummer's quest to perfection, won three Oscars. "I love the old Hollywood musicals, as you can see, but I really have a fondness for the French answers to those musicals," Chazelle told the audience and a short question-and-answer session after the screening. "I wanted to do a musical, but really ground it in real life and invest it with stuff that felt messier and real," Chazelle said. "La La Land" has already been drumming up awards buzz. Critics have praised the performances and the intricate, colorful, love letter to a bygone era of movies. The film follows the two leads as their lives converge in poetic chaos while they try to make their respective dreams come true, even as they fall in love. "Every character has to negotiate the balance between dreams and reality," Chazelle said. "These two will always be the perfect lovers to me." (Editing by Alan Crosby)[SEP]NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) – A U.S. government weather forecaster said Thursday La Nina conditions were no longer likely to develop during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2016/17, saying neutral conditions were more likely. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, said in a monthly forecast there was a 55 to 60 percent chance of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions, meaning La Nina was no longer favored to occur. Last month, CPC said La Nina conditions were slightly favored to occur, with a 55 to 60 percent chance of developing during the fall and winter of 2016/17. La Nina, which tends to occur unpredictably every two to seven years, is characterized by unusually cold temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The CPC’s predictions follow a damaging El Nino weather period. While typically less harsh than El Nino, severe La Nina occurrences have been linked to floods and droughts that can roil commodity markets. The reduced chances of La Nina will be welcomed by producers of corn and soybeans in Brazil and Argentina, where La Nina conditions can cause dry weather that hurts harvests, said Donald Keeney, senior agricultural meteorologist with Maryland-based MDA Information Systems. “It would certainly benefit South America…they would see wetter conditions there,” Keeney said, adding that rubber producers in Indonesia could also benefit. But the return of neutral conditions could harm cotton growers in India, the world’s largest producer of the fiber. La Nina tends to boost monsoon rains, and fading La Nina forecasts have led to lower precipitation expectations. Keeney said the adjusted forecast could mean better chances of winter precipitation in drought-stricken California, but that it was too early to say for sure. The CPC first warned that La Nina could develop in February, and maintained that such conditions were likely in each monthly forecast since then. In June, the agency said there was a 75 percent chance La Nina would develop, though it lowered that outlook in subsequent months. It said Thursday the average of its models favored “borderline neutral-La Nina Conditions,” but added that its more recent models more strongly favored ENSO-neutral conditions.[SEP]He's one of the world's most handsome men, inspiring the Hey Girl memes with his charming boy next door persona. But it was Emma Stone and not her co-star Ryan Gosling who drew the eye as the pair promoted their comedic movie-musical, La La Land on Monday. Emma looked lovely and polished in a cream ensemble, which featured yellow and black ruffle detailing as the pair visited the Variety Studio at the Toronto International Film Festival. The twosome were there to promote their film, which hits theaters on December 16. Still, Ryan, 35, looked dashing in a striped dress shirt and blue blazer. In La La Land, Ryan plays jazz pianist Sebastian, the love interest of Mia, an aspiring actress. The film, directed by Damien Chazelle, has already taken home a major award. According to Variety, Emma has taken home the Venice Film Festival Award for best actress. In an interview with the trade site, the actress and singer recalled her early days, when she herself was trying to break into the business. 'I definitely understood the feeling of moving to Los Angeles and having a dream to be an actor in films and to get to be a part of things that I loved and inspire people in some way,' began the star. 'It's pretty insane that we're talking about this movie and it's something that I'm so proud and excited to be a part of, when that is the goal of the character, is to be a part of something like this.'[SEP]Emma Stone was a ray of sunshine in a yellow sequinned mini dress. But Ryan Gosling was the toast of Toronto at the premiere of their film, La La Land, in his native country of Canada. The 35-year-old actor smouldered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival in a dark blue suit, and was mobbed by fans while hitting the red carpet. The Oscar nominee made his way to the Princess of Wales Theatre on Monday as adoring admirers lined the streets waiting to catch a glimpse of the hunky A-lister. Ryan was polished to perfection in a midnight blue suit with buttoned-up crisp white dress shirt and black leather dress shoes. He looked dapper with his blonde mane combed to the side as he sported a bit of scruff. Emma, 27, oozed radiance in a bright canary yellow mini dress that showcased her slender stems. She cut a ladylike figure in the feminine frock which included detailed sequinned and lace embellishments. Her fiery red tresses were styled in an old Hollywood glam vibe and the Oscar nominee opted for a bit of black eyeliner for a dramatic effect. In their upcoming comedic movie-musical, Ryan plays a jazz pianist that falls in love with an aspiring actress in LA, played by Emma. La La Land features an all-star lineup including John Legend, J.K. Simmons and Tom Everett Scott, and is set for a U.S. release on December 2. Emma and Ryan posed together on the red carpet for what is their third film together. They previously co-starred in 2011's Crazy, Stupid, Love and 2013's Gangster Squad. 'I want to work with Ryan, a lot, if he'll have me,' the Superbad actress confessed in a 2013 interview with Collider. 'Well, Emma owes me money and the only way I can try to get that back is by doing movies with her,' joked The Nice Guy star. 'She still owes me that money. It was hard for us to be serious together,' Ryan said of filming Crazy, Stupid, Love with Emma. 'We were a couple of knuckleheads. And then, we thought, “Oh, this would be fun to work together again,” but we had to try to be serious.' The pair co-starred in the romantic comedy together for which Gosling received a Golden Globe nomination for his role.[SEP]Volkswagen Philippines and the Makati Shangri-La Hotel formalized a partnership last week after the latter received 31 units of the VW Passat luxury sedan for use as its official limousine. The formal turnover marks the beginning of a partnership between Makati Shangri-La and Volkswagen Philippines, both of which carry the world’s most prestigious hotel and automotive brands that espouse style and sophistication for their respective markets. It also completes the total 80 Volkswagen units purchased by the hotel, including 40 units of the compact sedan Jetta, among others. The Shangri-La brand name is renowned globally for its rich tradition of innovation and personalized service from the heart. These remarkable standards inspired Shangri-La to select Volkswagen, which delivers the same promise that embodies the perfect combination. The Makati Shangri-La Hotel was recently voted as the “Best Business Hotel in Manila” by Business Traveller (Asia Pacific), a distinction it has held for seven consecutive years since 2009. The Passat limousine was awarded the 2015 European Car of the Year and it was also recognized in the 2015 Geneva Motor Show for Best in Class Performance on interior and technology. The acquisition of the Passat and Jetta units was accomplished by Nissan Car Lease Philippines (NCLP) whose motto, “Premium service for premium people,” aligns well with Shangri-La’s luxury hospitality, and highlights the mission and expertise of the leasing firm as a premium transport provider. NCLP is one of the best-known car rental brands in the Philippines with over 24 years of unequalled premium service to its distinguished clientele. For NCLP, this symbolic fleet of Volkswagen cars for Makati Shangri-La’s guests enhances its services portfolio, while at the same time highlights the hotel and automaker’s credo of putting “people first.” The Passat, which bears a rich 42-year lineage, comes straight from Germany, with German-tuned driving dynamics and a responsive and efficient BlueMotion 2.0-liter TSI engine generating 220 ps (216 horsepower), managed by the 6-speed dual-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission. The combination of power, fuel efficiency, and world-class German automotive engineering, design, and craftsmanship characteristic of every Volkswagen model make the Passat the ideal vehicle for business travelers who choose the Makati Shangri-La as their hotel, assuring them of premium comfort and convenience even during airport transfers.[SEP]In their new musical “La La Land,” Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling perform a six-minute, single-take, tap-dance number while their characters search for a parked Toyota Prius atop a hill in Griffith Park, the sun setting behind them, the Prius key fob occasionally beeping in time with the music. It’s a moment infused with nostalgia for classic musicals like “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” but informed by the youthful spirit of its stars and 31-year-old writer-director, Damien Chazelle. “They figured something out in the older musicals in terms of how to shoot dance and we’ve unlearned it,” Chazelle said in an interview with Stone as “La La Land” screened for enthusiastic Telluride Film Festival audiences over Labor Day weekend after receiving an equally warm reception in Venice. “People talk about shorter attention spans these days and maybe that’s why dance isn’t filmed the same way. I find it a lot more involving when I can see something that’s real and not tinkered with… That is how the sky looks. That is Ryan and Emma dancing. Those are their voices, their feet.” “La La Land,” Chazelle’s follow-up to his 2014 jazz drama “Whiplash,” will premiere Monday for a wider audience at the Toronto International Film Festival before distributor Lionsgate opens it in theaters starting Dec. 2. The melancholic romance stars Stone as Mia, an aspiring actress serving coffee on a studio lot, and Gosling as Sebastian, a stubborn jazz pianist who dreams of opening his own club. Both are making their way as members of Los Angeles’ artistic underclass, a life of temp jobs, auditions and freeway traffic jams, when they meet and serve as each other’s creative catalysts. John Legend plays a supporting role, as a more successful, mainstream jazz performer. With a score by Justin Hurwitz, Chazelle’s Harvard University classmate and “Whiplash” collaborator, and choreography by Mandy Moore (“So You Think You Can Dance” Mandy Moore, not singer/actress Mandy Moore), “La La Land” is a modern rarity: an original musical, with no pre-existing intellectual property or marquee name songwriters. The mix of fantastical music numbers and naturalistic acting feels as if someone had plopped John Cassavetes on the MGM lot in the 1940s. “I saw this story as so romantic,” Stone said. “These two people somehow find each other when they’re each in a rut, and inspire each other to follow the paths they’ve been dreaming about all along. In a way, that is a kind of soulmate.” The characters represent different sides of Chazelle, he said, particularly a lonely period when he first moved to Los Angeles in 2008 hoping to begin his filmmaking career. (It didn’t take long -- the director’s first feature, the jazz romance “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench,” hit theaters in 2010). Stone said she and Gosling brought their own excruciating, real-life audition experiences to the movie, including one incident Stone’s character endures that happened to Gosling, when he was performing a crying scene and the casting director took a phone call in the middle of his audition. “I’ve had it where no one looks up from their paper, ‘cause they’ve written you off the moment you walk in the room,” said Stone, who, despite having acted since she was a teenager and earned an Oscar nomination for 2014’s “Birdman,” said she auditioned as recently as the past year. “It feels pretty nuts, especially if you really want the part. ‘Thanks for coming in’ means it’s never gonna happen. It is a little heartbreaking.” Chazelle wrote the script for “La La Land” in 2010, and began a process of hearing what he called, “very harsh nos” from potential financiers. They said “no one wants to see an original musical,” Chazelle said. “It’s this weird movie that needs to be both a fantastical musical at a certain scale and yet this realistic love story... All that, plus it’s a pretty young team in terms of me and Justin, unknown and unproven. It’s one thing if it’s an original musical with a songwriter people know. This is me and my college friend saying, ‘Hey, trust us.’” The tide of “no” changed after “Whiplash,” which earned five Oscar nominations, including a screenplay nomination for Chazelle and a supporting actor win for J.K. Simmons, and grossed nearly $40 million worldwide off a $3.3 million production budget. Chazelle said his budget for “La La Land” was “somewhere in the 20s” and the money shows on the screen, in scenes like an ambitious dance sequence set on an EZ Pass ramp connecting the 105 and 110 freeways, and in a flying number inside the Griffith Observatory. Stone, who first met with Chazelle while she was playing Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” on Broadway, had studied some dance as a child, but had to learn tap and ballroom dancing for the role. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the Laker girls?” Stone said, when asked to describe the style of dance she took as a child. “It’s called ‘pom dancing.’ And a year of ballet. But they told me in ballet class that I smiled too much.” During a four-month rehearsal period at their production offices in Atwater Village, Chazelle held cast and crew screenings of classic films, including “Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” a primary inspiration. Stone, whose favorite film is the 1931 Charlie Chaplin romantic comedy “City Lights,” relished the chance to dive into Hollywood history, but found some of her most helpful inspiration in clips from old musicals where the actors flubbed a note or a dance move. “We aren’t Fred and Ginger, even though Ryan is an incredible dancer,” Stone said. “It was nice to know that if we fell on our feet or if we laughed -- in the song ‘City of Stars’ I laughed twice because I was out of tune -- Damien was celebrating rather than yelling ‘Cut! We’re going back. Make it perfect!’” Moore, the choreographer, echoed the idea that emotion was more important than technique, which Stone said was key when they shot the Prius scene, which had to be completed during the brief magic-hour window at sunset, leaving a total of eight takes to get it right over two days of shooting.
The Piton de la Fournaise (Peak of the Furnace) shield volcano on France's Réunion island in the Indian Ocean erupts for the second time this year. It is one of the world's most active.
Seven children were among 11 people who died when a horrific fire trapped them inside a one-story Memphis home early Monday morning. Pictures of the devastation showed the innards of the brick building torched. The outside of the house was left largely untouched. Metal bars remained over almost all the windows. Only one was broken open, by the fire crew that tried in vain to save the people inside. “I’ve never seen firemen cry, but they were bawling like babies when they brought the children out,” neighbor Shoundra Hampton told The Tennessean. Authorities said at a Monday morning news conference that nine people had died, but family members told reporters that 11 people perished. The cause of the fire was not immediately determined, though Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the blaze began in the living room. The home had only two doors, both in the front of the house, leaving the family without an escape route, FOX13 reported. Some of the victims had signs of smoke inhalation, while others had burns, Memphis Fire Services Director Gina Sweat said. Sweat said it was not clear if those inside tried to escape through the windows. Sweat said window bars present a danger for people trying to escape a house fire, though many window bars have releases that can open them from the inside. "They could have been simply overcome by smoke and never had an opportunity to escape," she said. A smoke detector was found in the building, but it was damaged and officials didn't immediately know if it was working at the time of the fire, Sweat said. The children who died ranged in age from 3 to 16 years old, The Tennessean reported. The four adults were Eloise Futrell, 61; Carol Collier, 56; Lakeisha Ward, 27; and an unidentified 18-year-old man. Collier lived in the house with her 6-year-old son, Alonzo, who died in the fire; Futrell, who was the grandmother of all seven children who died; and several friends, Collier’s sister, Mary Whitmore, told The Tennessean. "She always tried to help everybody," Whitmore said. "I can't believe this." Collier called 911, The Tennessean reported, but, by the time first responders arrived around 1:20 a.m., the residents were unable to escape the six-room dwelling. Officials said the blaze was the deadliest in Memphis since the 1920s. A total of 10 people died in house fires across all of Tennessee in 2015, authorities told FOX13. "They are all gone," Futrell's niece, Elisa Weathersby, told The Tennessean. "Our hearts are ripped in two." The Associated Press contributed to this report. [SEP]President Obama plans to veto a bill Congress approved without objection that would allow families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, a White House spokesman said Monday. Obama did not mention his opposition to the bill, which would let courts waive claims to foreign sovereign immunity in cases involving terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, during brief remarks to reporters after meeting with congressional leaders. Administration officials cited fears that foreign governments might exploit the legislation to drag American officials into court. Yet the White House’s effort to stop the widely popular measure from becoming law might be short-lived: congressional leaders have suggested that they would try to override a veto, and they probably have sufficient support in both chambers to do so. “It’s not hard to imagine other countries using this law as an excuse to haul U.S. diplomats, U.S. service members or even U.S. companies into courts all around the world,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “The president feels quite strongly about this.” The announcement came hours before Obama held a bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office with congressional leaders in a bid to forge agreement on averting a government shutdown and funding to combat the Zika virus. Obama’s first meeting with both House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) since February came a week after lawmakers returned to Washington from a seven-week summer recess. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) also attended. The president laid out his priorities — including federal funding for flood relief in Louisiana, an Asia Pacific trade deal and criminal-justice reform — at a time when most in Washington expect there is little chance for collaboration on major legislation before the November presidential election. “There’s still business to be done,” Obama said. “My hope is that we can make some modest progress.” Foremost on the agenda, Obama said, is averting a partial federal government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. That effort has been complicated by Republican Party infighting over how long to extend funding. McConnell and a majority of House Republicans want to set a new deadline in December to craft a year-long spending bill — a position also supported by the White House and congressional Democratic leaders. But a minority of House conservatives favor a stopgap measure that would extend current funding levels into next year, giving a new president and Congress the opportunity to craft long-term spending plans. The budget issue appears on track to get resolved in tandem with a compromise on Zika funding. The Senate agreed on a $1.1 billion Zika funding package in May, but the House passed an alternative $1.1 billion measure that Democrats oppose because it blocks funding to a Planned Parenthood affiliate in Puerto Rico. That bill has been filibustered by Senate Democrats since June, but negotiators say there has been progress toward a resolution. The House passed the 9/11 victims’ legislation by voice vote on Friday, with members calling it a “moral imperative” to allow families to seek justice for the deaths of loved ones. The Senate had approved the legislation in May. On Sunday, a group of Sept. 11 attack victims’ relatives sent an open letter to Obama, imploring him not to “slam the door shut and abandon us” by vetoing the bill. But the White House has long argued there are bigger issues at play than the pending lawsuit. Officials have emphasized the need to maintain the tradition of extending sovereign immunity to foreign officials, for the sake of ensuring that American officials don’t become subject to foreign lawsuits, or worse. There are also concerns about how the measure might complicate relations with Saudi Arabia. Earlier this summer, Congress released a set of previously classified pages from a congressional inquiry into the Sept. 11 attacks, exploring allegations that Saudi officials supported the perpetrators. But the pages shed no significant new light on Saudi Arabia’s alleged ties to the attack. Saudi Arabia has been lobbying hard against the legislation, even threatening to sell off U.S. assets. Earnest acknowledged that Obama’s stance could anger the families of Americans who died in the terrorist attacks 15 years ago. But he added that Obama’s “words and deeds when standing up for the interests of the 9/11 families speak for themselves,” citing the U.S. military raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011, among other things.
A house fire in Memphis kills at least 11 people.
Duterte says he wants U.S. special forces out of southern Philippines MANILA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces troops from a group of islands in the southern Philippines, saying their presence could complicate offensives against Islamist militants notorious for beheading Westerners. Duterte, who was in the spotlight last week over a televised tirade against the United States and President Barack Obama, said the Americans still in Mindanao were high-value targets for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants as counter-insurgency operations intensify. "They have to go," Duterte said in a speech during an oath-taking ceremony for new officials. "I do not want a rift with America. But they have to go." He added: "Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom." The comments by Duterte, a former southern mayor known for his terse words and volatile temperament, add to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency this year will have on one of Washington's most important alliances in Asia. A spokesman for the U.S. State Department, John Kirby, said it was not aware of any official communication by Manila calling for a withdrawal. He said Washington remained committed to the alliance. Another U.S. official said there were only a "handful" of special forces in the Mindanao acting in limited liaison roles. White House spokesman Josh Earnest emphasised shared concerns and interests with the Philippines, before taking a thinly veiled swipe at Duterte, appearing to compare him to Donald Trump, the outspoken Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. "I think it's an indication of how important elections are," Earnest told a regular news briefing."Elections have consequences. Elections do say a lot about what kind of person is going to represent your country on the international stage. "And it's why you are going to prize qualities like decorum and temperament and judgment in casting votes in elections, because you know that person is going to represent you on the international stage. That's certainly something that the Filipino people are well aware of." Obama cancelled a planned meeting with Duterte at last week's ASEAN summit after Duterte appeared to call him a "son of a bitch". The two did eventually meet briefly and on Friday Duterte said he told Obama the remark was not directed against him. Washington deployed special forces soldiers to Mindanao in 2002 to train and advise Philippine units fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in a program that once involved 1,200 Americans. It was discontinued in 2015 but a small presence has remained for logistics and technical support. Washington has since shifted much of its security focus in the Philippines towards the South China Sea, where the two countries have shared concerns about China's territorial claims. As a counter to China, shortly before Duterte came to office, Washington and Manila enacted the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement giving the United States rotational access to five bases in the Philippines. Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday that it would "consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach the new administration adopts" on counter-terrorism measures. (Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton, David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart, Ayesha Rascoe, Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Martin Petty and Grant McCool)[SEP]Philippine president wants US forces out of restive south MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine president says he wants U.S. forces out of his country's restive south and blamed America for the restiveness of Muslim militants in the region and for the killings of Muslim Filipinos during a U.S. pacification campaign in the early 1900s. President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that Americans would constantly be in danger in the southern Mindanao region, where Islamic extremists would constantly try to kill or kidnap them for ransom. He did not mention any deadline or give other details. The U.S. Embassy did not immediately issue any reaction. Duterte also criticized President Barack Obama for raising human rights concerns about the Philippine leader's bloody crackdown against drugs when the U.S. leader, he says, has not apologized for the American atrocities against local Muslims.[SEP]Duterte orders US advisers out of southern Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ratcheted up his feud with the United States on Monday, ordering all American special forces out of the southern Philippines where they have been advising local troops battling Muslim extremists. Duterte's order came a week after he called US President Barack Obama "a son of a whore", causing Obama to cancel their scheduled bilateral meeting at a summit in Laos. The Filipino leader, the first to hail from the south and who claims Muslim ancestry, has been stepping up efforts to bring peace to the southern Philippines, where decades-long insurgencies with Muslim and communist rebels have claimed more than 150,000 lives. Last month he restarted peace talks with the largest separatist group, the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which like others has been fighting since the 1970s for an independent Islamic state or autonomous rule. US advisors in the area help train Filipino troops but are barred from engaging in combat except in self-defence. Previously, about 500-600 US personnel rotated through the Mindanao region but in 2014, then-defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin said this would be cut back to 200. Duterte did not specify when or how many Americans would be expelled but said the Philippines alignment with the West was at the root of the persistent Muslim insurgency. "These US special forces, they have to go in Mindanao," he told a gathering of government employees. "The (Muslim) people will become more agitated. If they see an American, they will really kill him." The US embassy could not be reached for comment. The United States is Manila's main military ally and the Philippines' colonial ruler until 1946. In his speech, Duterte showed photographs and cited accounts of how US troops killed Muslims during America's occupation of the Philippines in the early-1900s to explain his decision. Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said that "the statement reflects (President Duterte's) new direction towards coursing an independent foreign policy". The Filipino leader also hit out at Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for criticising his bloody crackdown on crime that has claimed 3,000 lives in a little over two months. "This Obama, when you accuse me of killing... let he who is without sin, cast the first stone," he said. In a brief encounter in Laos, Obama urged the Filipino leader to conduct his crime war "the right way" and protect human rights, but Duterte has dismissed it as being none of America's business.[SEP]CLOSE President Rodrigo Duterte ratchets up his feud with the United States, ordering all American special forces out of the southern Philippines where they have been advising local troops battling Muslim extremists. Video provided by AFP Newslook Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds up a photo -- and cites accounts of U.S. troops who killed Muslims during the U.S. occupation of the Philippines in the early-1900 -- during a speech in Manila on Sept. 12, 2016. (Photo: Ted Aljibe, AFP/Getty Images) U.S. forces advising the Philippine military against an Islamic insurgency are doing more harm than good and must leave, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday. Duterte, who made international headlines last week by crudely insulting President Obama, said white Westerners are an inviting target for kidnap-for-ransom groups such as the militant Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines. Duterte blamed his government's ties to the West — and a grisly U.S. military operation that targeted Muslims more than 100 years ago — for fueling much of the unrest centered in the Mindanao island group. ”I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go," Duterte, who is from the Mindanao region, said during a speech in Manila. "Americans, they (insurgents) will really kill them." Duterte said he had planned to raise the issue last week when he and Obama attended the ASEAN Summit in Laos but did not do so "out of respect." He provided no timeline for a U.S. exit. In Washington, the White House said it had not received a formal request to remove U.S. military personnel, spokesman Josh Earnest said. He added that Duterte had a tendency to make “colorful comments,” the Associated Press reported. Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Philippine president's comments reflected the government's "new direction toward coursing an independent foreign policy." Abella also pointed to lasting resentment over the U.S military campaign in 1906 that led to the slaughter of hundreds of Muslims in the southern Philippines. Duterte has criticized the United States for failing to apologize for the bloodbath. "Hence our continued connection with the West is the real reason for the 'Islamic' threat in Mindanao,” Abella said in a statement issued through the Philippines News Agency . The tough-talking Duterte has had a bumpy relationship with the U.S. since taking office in June. He drew sharp international criticism, including from the United Nations, for encouraging vigilante-style killings of drug dealers and criminals. Duterte shrugged off the controversy. "Maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations," Duterte said. On Sept. 3, Duterte issued a warning before the summit began in Laos that Obama better not condemn his law-and-order policies, or “son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum." Duterte later walked back the comment, saying he looked forward to "ironing out differences" between the two countries. The Philippines was a U.S. colony from 1898 until the 1940s. The island group hosted permanent U.S. military bases until the Philippine government ordered them removed 25 years ago. The U.S.has provided advisers some level of aid to fight Abu Sayyaf for more than a decade. Recently, the Philippine government has increased its own military effort to crush the militants. ”Those (U.S.) special forces, they have to go," Duterte said. "There are many white (people) there. They have to go." Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2cjcZI5[SEP]DAVAO CITY: President Rodrigo Duterte ratcheted up his feud with the United States on Monday, ordering all American special forces out of the southern Philippines where they have been advising local troops battling Muslim extremists. Duterte’s order came a week after he called US President Barack Obama “a son of a whore”, causing Obama to cancel their scheduled bilateral meeting at a summit in Laos. The Filipino leader, the first to hail from the south and who claims Muslim ancestry, has been stepping up efforts to bring peace to the southern Philippines, where decades-long insurgencies with Muslim and communist rebels have claimed more than 150,000 lives. Last month he restarted peace talks with the largest separatist group, the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which like others has been fighting since the 1970s for an independent Islamic state or autonomous rule. US advisors in the area help train Filipino troops but are barred from engaging in combat except in self-defence. Previously, about 500-600 US personnel rotated through the Mindanao region but in 2014, then-defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin said this would be cut back to 200. Duterte did not specify when or how many Americans would be expelled but said the Philippines alignment with the West was at the root of the persistent Muslim insurgency. “These US special forces, they have to go in Mindanao,” he told a gathering of government employees. “The (Muslim) people will become more agitated. If they see an American, they will really kill him.” The Pentagon said it was aware of Duterte’s statements but had not been contacted by authorities on the issue. “We will continue to consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach the new Administration adopts,” Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said. The United States is Manila’s main military ally and the Philippines’ colonial ruler until 1946. In his speech, Duterte showed photographs and cited accounts of how US troops killed Muslims during America’s occupation of the Philippines in the early-1900s to explain his decision. Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella said that “the statement reflects (President Duterte’s) new direction towards coursing an independent foreign policy”. The Filipino leader also hit out at Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for criticising his bloody crackdown on crime that has claimed 3,000 lives in a little over two months. “This Obama, when you accuse me of killing… let he who is without sin, cast the first stone,” he said. In a brief encounter in Laos, Obama urged the Filipino leader to conduct his war on crime “the right way” and protect human rights, but Duterte has said it is none of America’s business. AFP[SEP]When campaigning for the Philippine presidency last spring, Rodrigo Duterte promised to kill so many criminals that “fish will grow fat” in Manila Bay from feasting on their corpses. Since taking office on June 30, Mr. Duterte appears to be making every effort to meet that grisly goal. Over 1,800 people have been killed by the police and vigilantes since then, and the wave of killings shows no sign of subsiding. Many of the victims appear to have been innocent by any definition, and none had been proved guilty in a court of law. But the crackdown has struck a chord with the public, and Mr. Duterte’s popularity has been soaring. What drives this explosion of extrajudicial violence — which, far from unique, bears striking parallels to previous waves of killings in Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand and elsewhere?[SEP]Duterte orders US advisers out of southern Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ratcheted up his feud with the United States on Monday, ordering all American special forces out of the southern Philippines where they have been advising local troops battling Muslim extremists. Duterte's order came a week after he called US President Barack Obama "a son of a whore", causing Obama to cancel their scheduled bilateral meeting at a summit in Laos. The Filipino leader, the first to hail from the south and who claims Muslim ancestry, has been stepping up efforts to bring peace to the southern Philippines, where decades-long insurgencies with Muslim and communist rebels have claimed more than 150,000 lives. Last month he restarted peace talks with the largest separatist group, the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which like others has been fighting since the 1970s for an independent Islamic state or autonomous rule. US advisors in the area help train Filipino troops but are barred from engaging in combat except in self-defence. Previously, about 500-600 US personnel rotated through the Mindanao region but in 2014, then-defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin said this would be cut back to 200. Duterte did not specify when or how many Americans would be expelled but said the Philippines alignment with the West was at the root of the persistent Muslim insurgency. "These US special forces, they have to go in Mindanao," he told a gathering of government employees. "The (Muslim) people will become more agitated. If they see an American, they will really kill him." The US embassy could not be reached for comment. The United States is Manila's main military ally and the Philippines' colonial ruler until 1946. In his speech, Duterte showed photographs and cited accounts of how US troops killed Muslims during America's occupation of the Philippines in the early-1900s to explain his decision. Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said that "the statement reflects (President Duterte's) new direction towards coursing an independent foreign policy". The Filipino leader also hit out at Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for criticising his bloody crackdown on crime that has claimed 3,000 lives in a little over two months. "This Obama, when you accuse me of killing... let he who is without sin, cast the first stone," he said. In a brief encounter in Laos, Obama urged the Filipino leader to conduct his crime war "the right way" and protect human rights, but Duterte has dismissed it as being none of America's business.[SEP]Philippine president wants US forces out of restive south MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine president says he wants U.S. forces out of his country's restive south and blamed America for the restiveness of Muslim militants in the region and for the killings of Muslim Filipinos during a U.S. pacification campaign in the early 1900s. President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that Americans would constantly be in danger in the southern Mindanao region, where Islamic extremists would constantly try to kill or kidnap them for ransom. He did not mention any deadline or give other details. The U.S. Embassy did not immediately issue any reaction. Duterte also criticized President Barack Obama for raising human rights concerns about the Philippine leader's bloody crackdown against drugs when the U.S. leader, he says, has not apologized for the American atrocities against local Muslims.[SEP]Duterte says he wants U.S. special forces out of southern Philippines MANILA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces troops from a group of islands in the southern Philippines, saying their presence could complicate offensives against Islamist militants notorious for beheading Westerners. Duterte, who was in the spotlight last week over a televised tirade against the United States and President Barack Obama, said the Americans still in Mindanao were high-value targets for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf militants as counter-insurgency operations intensify. "They have to go," Duterte said in a speech during an oath-taking ceremony for new officials. "I do not want a rift with America. But they have to go." He added: "Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom." The comments by Duterte, a former southern mayor known for his terse words and volatile temperament, add to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency this year will have on one of Washington's most important alliances in Asia. A spokesman for the U.S. State Department, John Kirby, said it was not aware of any official communication by Manila calling for a withdrawal. He said Washington remained committed to the alliance. Another U.S. official said there were only a "handful" of special forces in the Mindanao acting in limited liaison roles. White House spokesman Josh Earnest emphasised shared concerns and interests with the Philippines, before taking a thinly veiled swipe at Duterte, appearing to compare him to Donald Trump, the outspoken Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. "I think it's an indication of how important elections are," Earnest told a regular news briefing."Elections have consequences. Elections do say a lot about what kind of person is going to represent your country on the international stage. "And it's why you are going to prize qualities like decorum and temperament and judgment in casting votes in elections, because you know that person is going to represent you on the international stage. That's certainly something that the Filipino people are well aware of." Obama cancelled a planned meeting with Duterte at last week's ASEAN summit after Duterte appeared to call him a "son of a bitch". The two did eventually meet briefly and on Friday Duterte said he told Obama the remark was not directed against him. Washington deployed special forces soldiers to Mindanao in 2002 to train and advise Philippine units fighting Abu Sayyaf militants in a program that once involved 1,200 Americans. It was discontinued in 2015 but a small presence has remained for logistics and technical support. Washington has since shifted much of its security focus in the Philippines towards the South China Sea, where the two countries have shared concerns about China's territorial claims. As a counter to China, shortly before Duterte came to office, Washington and Manila enacted the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement giving the United States rotational access to five bases in the Philippines. Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday that it would "consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach the new administration adopts" on counter-terrorism measures. (Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton, David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart, Ayesha Rascoe, Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Martin Petty and Grant McCool)[SEP]US says Philippines has not asked it to pull forces The United States said the Philippine government had not officially communicated President Rodrigo Duterte's demand to pull US military advisers out of the rebellion-torn southern Philippines. Since 2002, up to 600 US advisers have been deployed in the Mindanao region to train troops battling Muslim extremists but their numbers have been scaled down in recent years. A week after calling US President Barack Obama a "son of a whore", the incendiary leader said Monday US Special Forces in the region "have to go". Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay however attempted to downplay Duterte's comments, saying Tuesday they were "in the context of wanting to save the lives of these Americans who might be exposing themselves to unnecessary risk" from militant attacks. In Washington, the Pentagon and State Department said they had not been officially contacted by Manila about pulling out the remaining advisers, who Yasay said now numbered about 100. "We will continue to consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach the new administration adopts," Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said. State Department spokesman John Kirby also said they were not aware of any official request from the Philippine government. Yasay, interviewed by Manila's ABS-CBN network, confirmed the allies had not discussed Duterte's demand. Duterte, 71, has said he is "not a fan" of the United States and on Monday explained his demand by showing pictures of US troops killing Muslims as America took control of its new colony in the early 1900s. He has said the spat was triggered by State Department criticism of his controversial war on drug crime, which has left about 3,000 people dead since he began his six-year term in July. Obama has said Duterte must conduct his crime war "the right way", protecting human rights. Yasay stressed that Duterte's new comments did not signal a shift in policy, and that ties with the US remained strong. The president only wanted to protect Americans from kidnappings and terrorism as they had become "a very good target", Yasay said. "There is no shift in so far as our policy is concerned with respect to our close friendship with the Americans." Yasay, who was heading to Washington for talks, added the Duterte administration would honour existing defence agreements including a 2014 accord giving the US military access to at least five Philippine bases, one of them in Mindanao. His comments were in sharp contrast to an initial explanation by Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella, who said the demand "reflects (Duterte's) new direction towards coursing an independent foreign policy.
In response to criticism of his government's extrajudicial killings of 1,800 people since July, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte says that U.S. forces advising the Armed Forces of the Philippines against an Islamic insurgency in Mindanao are doing more harm than good and must leave the country, saying, ”I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go," during a speech in Manila.
Duterte says he wants U.S. special forces out of southern Philippines MANILA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called for the withdrawal of U.S. military from a restive southern island, fearing an American troop presence could complicate offensives against Islamist militants notorious for beheading Westerners. Duterte, who was in the spotlight last week over his televised tirade against the United States and President Barack Obama, said special forces now training Filipino troops were high-value targets for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf as counter-insurgency operations intensify. "These special forces, they have to go," Duterte said in a speech during an oath-taking ceremony for new officials. "I do not want a rift with America. But they have to go." He added: "Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom." The comment by Duterte, a former southern mayor known for his terse words and volatile temperament, adds to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency will have on one of Washington's best alliances in Asia. Duterte wants an independent foreign policy and says close ties with the United States are crucial, but he has frequently accused the former colonial power of hypocrisy when criticised for his deadly drugs war. He denied on Friday calling Obama a "son of a bitch". Some U.S. special forces have been killed in the southern Philippines since 2002, when Washington deployed soldiers to train and advise local units fighting Abu Sayyaf in Operation Enduring Freedom, part of its global anti-terror strategy. At the height of that, some 1,200 Americans were in Zamboanga City and on Jolo and Basilan islands, both strongholds of Abu Sayyaf, which is known for its brutality and for earning huge sums of money from hostage-taking. The U.S. programme was discontinued in the Philippines in 2015 but a small troop presence has remained for logistics and technical support. Washington has shifted much of its security focus in the Philippines towards the South China Sea. In his speech to officials on Monday, Duterte repeated comments from last week when he accused the United States of committing atrocities against Muslims over a century ago on Jolo island. (Editing by Martin Petty)[SEP]MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he won't allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with foreign powers, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the U.S. military earlier this year. Duterte also said he was considering acquiring defense equipment from Russia and China. The Philippines has traditionally leaned on the U.S., its longtime treaty ally, and other Western allies for its security needs. The remarks were the latest from a Philippine president who has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. but also has tried to mend relations with China strained over South China Sea disputes. Duterte said he wanted only Philippine territorial waters, up to 12 nautical miles offshore, to be patrolled by Filipino forces, but not other offshore areas that are contested. He added he opposes Filipino forces accompanying foreign powers like the U.S. and China in joint patrols which could entangle the Philippines in hostilities. "We do not go into a patrol or join any other army from now because I do not want trouble," Duterte said. "I do not want to ride gung-ho style there with China or with America. I just want to patrol our territorial waters." Like other security pronouncements, Duterte did not provide details, but his rejection for joint patrols apparently goes against such an arrangement announced in April by the U.S. and the Philippine defense chiefs. While visiting Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter disclosed for the first time in a news conference with then Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that U.S. ships had carried out sea patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move. Carter insisted that the U.S. did not intend to be provocative and was "trying to tamp down tensions here." But Gazmin said he expected that U.S. forces, "with their presence here, will deter uncalled-for actions by the Chinese." On Monday, Duterte said he wanted U.S. military forces out of the southern Philippines and blamed America for inflaming local Muslim insurgencies, in his first public statement opposing the presence of American troops in a part of the country. Washington later said it had not received a formal request to remove U.S. military personnel. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Duterte had a tendency to make "colorful comments" and drew a comparison with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In an apparent aim to prevent potential damage in relations, Philippine officials said Duterte wanted the Americans out of the south for fear of their safety. "He desires that our American counterparts should be eased from harm's way," the Philippine military said, adding about 100 U.S. military personnel were in the south to provide counterterrorism advice support to Filipino forces. "We assure our people and allies that Philippine-U.S. defense relations remain rock solid," the military said in a statement. It added that joint combat training and other activities by U.S. and Filipino forces this year and beyond "remain on track."[SEP]The United Nations has said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has a "striking lack of understanding" of its human rights institutions in a rebuke over his crime war that has killed more than 3,000 people. The fresh criticism came from UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein after Duterte called UN head Ban Ki-moon a "fool" and threatened to pull out of the organisation in response to the global body's condemnation of alleged extrajudicial killings in his anti-drug campaign. The sharp-tongued Duterte has said he does not "give a shit" about a wave of international criticism, including from the UN and US President Barack Obama. "The President of the Philippines's statements of scorn for international human rights law display a striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe," Zeid said at a speech in Geneva on Tuesday. Duterte, 71, has launched an unprecedented crime war since taking office on June 30, warning the Philippines is in danger of becoming a "narco-state". He was elected in a landslide in May after pledging to kill 100,000 criminals and promising to protect police from prosecution if they are charged over the deaths. Last month, Duterte announced a "shoot-to-kill" order against drug dealers. "This campaign (of) shoot-to-kill will remain until the last day of my term if I'm still alive by then," he said. Zeid said such an order "undermines justice". But on Wednesday, Philippine Ambassador to the UN Cecilia Rebong said Duterte never empowered police to shoot to kill anyone. "What he said was the police have the right to defend themselves when their lives are in danger," Rebong told the UN Human Rights Council. Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella added that Duterte did not tolerate extrajudicial killings but that "human rights cannot be used as an excuse to let the spread of drugs in the country run rampant". Police reported Wednesday killing 1,506 people in anti-drug operations in just over two months since Duterte took office. Another 1,715 were classified as "deaths under investigation", referring to people killed in suspicious circumstances including those shot by suspected vigilantes or found dead with crude cardboard signs labelling them as drug traffickers. Zeid urged the Philippines to invite a UN human rights expert to investigate the killings. Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose was non-committal, saying UN rights experts already "jumped to conclusions". Duterte last month lashed out at UN special rapporteur on summary executions Agnes Callamard for saying his directives amounted to an international crime.[SEP]MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he won’t allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with foreign powers, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the U.S. military earlier this year. Duterte also said he was considering acquiring defense equipment from Russia and China. The Philippines has traditionally leaned on the U.S., its longtime treaty ally, and other Western allies for its security needs. The remarks were the latest from a Philippine president who has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. but also has tried to mend relations with China strained over South China Sea disputes. Duterte said he wanted only Philippine territorial waters, up to 12 nautical miles offshore, to be patrolled by Filipino forces, but not other offshore areas that are contested. He added he opposes Filipino forces accompanying foreign powers like the U.S. and China in joint patrols which could entangle the Philippines in hostilities. “We do not go into a patrol or join any other army from now because I do not want trouble,” Duterte said. “I do not want to ride gung-ho style there with China or with America. I just want to patrol our territorial waters.” Like other security pronouncements, Duterte did not provide details, but his rejection for joint patrols apparently goes against such an arrangement announced in April by the U.S. and the Philippine defense chiefs. While visiting Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter disclosed for the first time in a news conference with then Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that U.S. ships had carried out sea patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move. Carter insisted that the U.S. did not intend to be provocative and was “trying to tamp down tensions here.” But Gazmin said he expected that U.S. forces, “with their presence here, will deter uncalled-for actions by the Chinese.” On Monday, Duterte said he wanted U.S. military forces out of the southern Philippines and blamed America for inflaming local Muslim insurgencies, in his first public statement opposing the presence of American troops in a part of the country. Washington later said it had not received a formal request to remove U.S. military personnel. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Duterte had a tendency to make “colorful comments” and drew a comparison with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In an apparent aim to prevent potential damage in relations, Philippine officials said Duterte wanted the Americans out of the south for fear of their safety. “He desires that our American counterparts should be eased from harm’s way,” the Philippine military said, adding about 100 U.S. military personnel were in the south to provide counterterrorism advice support to Filipino forces. “We assure our people and allies that Philippine-U.S. defense relations remains rock solid,” the military said in a statement. It added that joint combat training and other activities by U.S. and Filipino forces this year and beyond “remain on track.”[SEP]Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called for the withdrawal of US military from a restive southern island, fearing an American troop presence could complicate offensives against Islamist militants notorious for beheading Westerners. Duterte, who was in the spotlight last week over his televised tirade against the United States and President Barack Obama, said special forces now training Filipino troops were high-value targets for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf as counter-insurgency operations intensify. “These special forces, they have to go,” Duterte said in a speech during an oath-taking ceremony for new officials. “I do not want a rift with America. But they have to go.” He added: “Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom.” The comment by Duterte, a former southern mayor known for his terse words and volatile temperament, adds to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency will have on one of Washington’s best alliances in Asia. Duterte wants an independent foreign policy and says close ties with the United States are crucial, but he has frequently accused the former colonial power of hypocrisy when criticised for his deadly drugs war. He denied on Friday calling Obama a “son of a bitch”. Some US special forces have been killed in the southern Philippines since 2002, when Washington deployed soldiers to train and advise local units fighting Abu Sayyaf in Operation Enduring Freedom, part of its global anti-terror strategy. At the height of that, some 1,200 Americans were in Zamboanga City and on Jolo and Basilan islands, both strongholds of Abu Sayyaf, which is known for its brutality and for earning huge sums of money from hostage-taking. The US programme was discontinued in the Philippines in 2015 but a small troop presence has remained for logistics and technical support. Washington has shifted much of its security focus in the Philippines towards the South China Sea. In his speech to officials on Monday, Duterte repeated comments from last week when he accused the United States of committing atrocities against Muslims over a century ago on Jolo island.[SEP]MANILA: The United Nations has said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has a “striking lack of understanding” of its human rights institutions in a rebuke over his crime war that has killed more than 3,000 people. The fresh criticism came from UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein after Duterte called UN head Ban Ki-moon a “fool” and threatened to pull out of the organization in response to the global body’s condemnation of alleged extra judicial killings in his anti-drug campaign. The sharp-tongued Duterte has said he does not “give a shit” about a wave of international criticism, including from the UN and US President Barack Obama. “The President of the Philippines’s statements of scorn for international human rights law display a striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe,” Zeid said at a speech in Geneva on Tuesday. Duterte, 71, has launched an unprecedented crime war since taking office on June 30, warning the Philippines is in danger of becoming a “narco-state”. He was elected in a landslide in May after pledging to kill 100,000 criminals and promising to protect police from prosecution if they are charged over the deaths. Last month, Duterte announced a “shoot-to-kill” order against drug dealers. “This campaign (of) shoot-to-kill will remain until the last day of my term if I’m still alive by then,” he said. Zeid said such an order “undermines justice”. But on Wednesday, Philippine Ambassador to the UN Cecilia Rebong said Duterte never empowered police to shoot to kill anyone. “What he said was the police have the right to defend themselves when their lives are in danger,” Rebong told the UN Human Rights Council. Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella added that Duterte did not tolerate extra judicial killings but that “human rights cannot be used as an excuse to let the spread of drugs in the country run rampant”. Police reported Wednesday killing 1,506 people in anti-drug operations in just over two months since Duterte took office. Another 1,715 were classified as “deaths under investigation”, referring to people killed in suspicious circumstances including those shot by suspected vigilantes or found dead with crude cardboard signs labeling them as drug traffickers. Zeid urged the Philippines to invite a UN human rights expert to investigate the killings. Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose was non-committal, saying UN rights experts already “jumped to conclusions”. Duterte last month lashed out at UN special rapporteur on summary executions Agnes Callamard for saying his directives amounted to an international crime. AFP[SEP]MANILA: The United Nations has said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has a “striking lack of understanding” of its human rights institutions in a rebuke over his crime war that has killed more than 3,000 people. The fresh criticism came from UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein after Duterte called UN head Ban Ki-moon a “fool” and threatened to pull out of the organization in response to the global body’s condemnation of alleged extra judicial killings in his anti-drug campaign. The sharp-tongued Duterte has said he does not “give a shit” about a wave of international criticism, including from the UN and US President Barack Obama. “The President of the Philippines’s statements of scorn for international human rights law display a striking lack of understanding of our human rights institutions and the principles which keep societies safe,” Zeid said at a speech in Geneva on Tuesday. Duterte, 71, has launched an unprecedented crime war since taking office on June 30, warning the Philippines is in danger of becoming a “narco-state”. He was elected in a landslide in May after pledging to kill 100,000 criminals and promising to protect police from prosecution if they are charged over the deaths. Last month, Duterte announced a “shoot-to-kill” order against drug dealers. “This campaign (of) shoot-to-kill will remain until the last day of my term if I’m still alive by then,” he said. Zeid said such an order “undermines justice”. But on Wednesday, Philippine Ambassador to the UN Cecilia Rebong said Duterte never empowered police to shoot to kill anyone. “What he said was the police have the right to defend themselves when their lives are in danger,” Rebong told the UN Human Rights Council. Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella added that Duterte did not tolerate extra judicial killings but that “human rights cannot be used as an excuse to let the spread of drugs in the country run rampant”. Police reported Wednesday killing 1,506 people in anti-drug operations in just over two months since Duterte took office. Another 1,715 were classified as “deaths under investigation”, referring to people killed in suspicious circumstances including those shot by suspected vigilantes or found dead with crude cardboard signs labeling them as drug traffickers. Zeid urged the Philippines to invite a UN human rights expert to investigate the killings. Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose was non-committal, saying UN rights experts already “jumped to conclusions”. Duterte last month lashed out at UN special rapporteur on summary executions Agnes Callamard for saying his directives amounted to an international crime. AFP[SEP]Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called for the withdrawal of U.S. military from a restive southern island, fearing an American troop presence could complicate offensives against Islamist militants notorious for beheading Westerners. Duterte, who was in the spotlight last week over his televised tirade against the United States and President Barack Obama, said special forces now training Filipino troops were high-value targets for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf as counter-insurgency operations intensify. 'These special forces, they have to go,' Duterte said in a speech during an oath-taking ceremony for new officials. 'I do not want a rift with America — but they have to go,' the Filipino president added. 'Americans, they will really kill them, they will try to kidnap them to get ransom.' The comment by Duterte, a former southern mayor known for his terse words and volatile temperament, adds to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency will have on one of Washington's best alliances in Asia. Duterte wants an independent foreign policy and says close ties with the United States are crucial, but he has frequently accused the former colonial power of hypocrisy when criticized for his deadly drugs war. The controversial president insisted Monday that he snubbed Obama — and not the other way around — on the eve of their scheduled summit in Laos last week. Duterte sparked a storm ahead of an Asian gathering by labelling Obama a 'son of a bitch', and prompting the president to cancel planned talks between the two allies. The pair met briefly later in Laos after Duterte expressed regret. But the fiery Filipino leader said Monday that in fact he decided to scrap the meeting in reaction to US criticism of his bloody anti-crime campaign, which has claimed almost 3,000 lives since he took office. 'I purposely did not attend the bilateral talks (with)... the president of the United States,' Duterte said in a speech to police and military personnel. 'I really skipped that one.' 'You cannot just (lecture) a president of a sovereign state. Even Obama. It would be wrong for him to do that. That is why I swore against him.' The former prosecutor mocked the 'bleeding hearts' who criticized him for his human rights abuses, and reiterated his call for security forces to kill drug suspects and other criminals. Duterte won presidential elections by a landslide this year after promising that tens of thousands of people would be killed in an unprecedented law-and-order crackdown. Security forces have relentlessly followed his orders since he took office on June 30. But his actions have sparked a wave of international condemnation, including from the UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the US State Department. In a brief encounter in Laos, Obama urged the Filipino leader to conduct his crime war 'the right way' and protect human rights, but Duterte dismissed it as being none of America's business. Earlier Monday, Duterte said he was ordering all US special forces to leave the troubled southern Philippines where they have been advising local troops in battling Muslim extremists, saying the West was at the root of the persistent Muslim insurgency. The US is the country's main defense ally and former colonial ruler. Some U.S. special forces have been killed in the southern Philippines since 2002, when Washington deployed soldiers to train and advise local units fighting Abu Sayyaf in Operation Enduring Freedom, part of its global anti-terror strategy. At the height of that, some 1,200 Americans were in Zamboanga City and on Jolo and Basilan islands, both strongholds of Abu Sayyaf, which is known for its brutality and for earning huge sums of money from hostage-taking. The U.S. programme was discontinued in the Philippines in 2015 but a small troop presence has remained for logistics and technical support. Washington has shifted much of its security focus in the Philippines towards the South China Sea. In his speech to officials on Monday, Duterte repeated comments from last week when he accused the United States of committing atrocities against Muslims over a century ago on Jolo island.[SEP]Duterte says Philippines not cutting ties with allies MANILA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday his country was not cutting ties with its allies, a day after he called for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces. "We are not going to cut our umbilical cord to countries we are allied with," Duterte said in a speech at a Philippine air force event. Duterte also said the Philippines does not intend to fight any other country.[SEP]MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he won’t allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with foreign powers, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the U.S. military earlier this year. Duterte also said he was considering acquiring defense equipment from Russia and China. The Philippines has traditionally leaned on the U.S., its longtime treaty ally, and other Western allies for its security needs. The remarks were the latest from a Philippine president who has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. but also has tried to mend relations with China strained over South China Sea disputes. Duterte said he wanted only Philippine territorial waters, up to 12 nautical miles offshore, to be patrolled by Filipino forces, but not other offshore areas that are contested. He added he opposes Filipino forces accompanying foreign powers like the U.S. and China in joint patrols which could entangle the Philippines in hostilities. “We do not go into a patrol or join any other army from now because I do not want trouble,” Duterte said. “I do not want to ride gung-ho style there with China or with America. I just want to patrol our territorial waters.” Like other security pronouncements, Duterte did not provide details, but his rejection for joint patrols apparently goes against such an arrangement announced in April by the U.S. and the Philippine defense chiefs. While visiting Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter disclosed for the first time in a news conference with then Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that U.S. ships had carried out sea patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move. Carter insisted that the U.S. did not intend to be provocative and was “trying to tamp down tensions here.” But Gazmin said he expected that U.S. forces, “with their presence here, will deter uncalled-for actions by the Chinese.” On Monday, Duterte said he wanted U.S. military forces out of the southern Philippines and blamed America for inflaming local Muslim insurgencies, in his first public statement opposing the presence of American troops in a part of the country. Washington later said it had not received a formal request to remove U.S. military personnel. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Duterte had a tendency to make “colorful comments” and drew a comparison with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In an apparent aim to prevent potential damage in relations, Philippine officials said Duterte wanted the Americans out of the south for fear of their safety. “He desires that our American counterparts should be eased from harm’s way,” the Philippine military said, adding about 100 U.S. military personnel were in the south to provide counterterrorism advice support to Filipino forces. “We assure our people and allies that Philippine-U.S. defense relations remains rock solid,” the military said in a statement. It added that joint combat training and other activities by U.S. and Filipino forces this year and beyond “remain on track.”
In last week's meeting between Indonesian president Joko Widodo and Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, Widodo today says that Duterte allegedly said that he '(would) not interfere' in the execution of accused drug smuggler and Philippine national Mary Jane Veloso. However, today a Manila Bulletin article says that Manny Piñol, the Philippines Agriculture Secretary, states that Duterte actually asked for clemency for Veloso.
Hundreds of thousands of people rallied across Catalonia on Sunday declaring their support for the autonomous region’s full independence from Madrid, just as Spain faces the possibility of going to the polls yet again. Flags used by the pro-independence movement were seen flying at events attended by thousands in five Catalan cities, including the capital Barcelona, reports Reuters. The rallies took place on Catalonia’s National Day, or La Diada, which marks the defeat of the Catalan army by Spanish forces in Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession. Turnout was estimated by local police at around 800,000, but the central government insisted that only about 370,000 people attended these demonstrations. Just how should Madrid respond to the increasing sentiments for secession is, in part, causing the continuing paralysis of the Spanish government, according to Reuters. Despite two successive general elections, politics is still in deadlock, with the possibility of a third election looming large. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now The region’s premier said at a press conference on Sunday that early elections next year could be used to gauge the appetite for separation from Spain, unless Madrid would allow a direct referendum on the issue. In 2014, over 80% of voters in Catalonia said they wanted to break away from Spain in a referendum that was not recognized by Madrid. [Reuters] Contact us at editors@time.com.[SEP]BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona striker Neymar is making a leap into the world of music. The Brazilian says he will post his first song on his Facebook account on Wednesday. Neymar tweeted in Portuguese: "Wednesday I start my music career." He referred to his debut as "Neymusico." FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, and Neymar look on during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Alaves at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The 24-year-old Neymar is an extremely popular figure in Brazil and around the world, and several times he has appeared on stage with singers at concerts, including joining Michel Telo to sing his hit "Ai se eu te pego."[SEP]BARCELONA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Barcelona supporters plan to display 30,000 pro-Catalan independence flags during their Champions League game with Celtic at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, risking the wrath of European soccer's governing body UEFA. The club were fined 30,000 euros ($34,000) last July after supporters waved the flags, known as esteladas, during the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin. They were also fined 40,000 euros ($45,000) in October, 2015 after fans brought the flags to their Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen. UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ruled the club had breached article 16(2)(e) of their regulations, which prohibits "the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature". The Court of Arbitration for Sport is currently studying the case following Barcelona's appeal. Pro-independence groups including the National Catalan Assembly (ANC) announced they will distribute the flags before the game with Celtic, which comes two days after Catalonia's national day. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a pro-independence march in Barcelona on the national day, Sept. 11, which was also commemorated by the club, including president Josep Maria Bartomeu and captain Andres Iniesta. As is customary at Barcelona home games, supporters will chant in favour of independence during the game with Celtic after 17 minutes and 14 seconds of each half, marking the Siege of Barcelona in 1714. Spanish police announced earlier this year that supporters would not be able to bring the flags into the King's Cup final with Sevilla in May, although the ban was lifted on appeal. (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)[SEP]BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish soccer giant Barcelona has opened a second training academy in the United States. The new academy is in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club founded its first American academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2014. The new school has programs for boys and girls from 6 to 12 years old and a separate program for boys aged 12 to 16. The club says the academy's goal is to train young players in the same "creative and attacking style" its top team is known for. Barcelona's La Masia academy in Spain has produced several world-class stars, including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas. Barcelona has 20 training schools around the world. It says it plans to open others in Moscow; Mumbai, India; Ottawa, Canada; and Lagos, Nigeria.[SEP]Seven British and two Irish tourists were among 24 people injured in a bus crash in Barcelona, local government officials said. Three of the casualties were seriously injured, while six suffered less serious injuries and 15 were treated for minor injuries, according to the region’s ministry of health. All 23 passengers and one driver were injured. Nationals from Germany, Spain, Poland, Belarus and Lithuania were also injured in the accident, which occurred at 3.10am local time (2.10am BST) on Wednesday near Barcelona’s El Prat airport. The bus was transporting tourists from the resort of Lloret de Mar. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: “We are in contact with Spanish authorities following a coach crash in Barcelona and are ready to help any Britons involved.” Ambulance, police and the fire brigade crews attended the scene on the B-10 highway. ’Like’ The Scotsman on Facebook for regular updates DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY[SEP]Lionel Messi enjoyed celebrating his son's birthday as he took time off from his Barcelona duties. The Argentinian's partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, posted an Instagram photo of their whole family. Messi is seen holding his oldest son Thiago, while his partner is holding birthday boy Mateo, who has turned one. Messi celebrated with his family ahead of Barcelona's Champions League clash with Celtic at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night. Last campaign, Barcelona were eliminated earlier than usual in the quarter-finals after losing to Atletico Madrid. The five-time Ballon D'or winner will be hoping that Barcelona put the disappointment behind them from last season and can snatch the Champions League title off their arch rivals Real Madrid this time round. However, preparations leading up to the European clash with Celtic could have run much smoother. Barcelona suffered a poor day at the office on Saturday, falling to a shock La Liga defeat against Alaves at home. That disappointing result has left them sitting in fifth on six points after three matches. Meanwhile their European opponents Celtic will be full of confidence going into Tuesday's match after thrashing Rangers 5-1 in the Old Firm on Saturday.[SEP]Madrid (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans rallied in Barcelona on Sunday to show their support for breaking away from Spain, leaving the country without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region. Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended the rally in support of a legally-binding referendum that would achieve an independent Catalonia. Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont said that he plans to propose a government-approved binding independence referendum to secede from Spain by next year. Spain, which opposes secession, argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency. Catalonia held a non-binding vote in 2014, when around 1.6 million people voted in favor of independence. Most of the region’s 5.4 million eligible voters didn’t participate after Spain’s Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of the ballot. In June, a Catalan judge recommended former regional president Artur Mas stand trial for staging the vote and ignoring the suspension. Mas claims the vote was carried out by volunteers. Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain. Polls show most Catalans support a referendum on independence, but are roughly divided over splitting from Spain. Catalonia shares cultural traits with the rest of Spain, but many Catalans feel their customs, especially their language, set them aside from the rest of Spain. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, his conservative Popular Party and two more of Spain’s main political parties oppose a Catalonian state. Only the far-left Podemos supports allowing Catalonia to hold an independence referendum. The economically-powerful Catalonia has a thriving population of 7.5 million and accounts for 18 percent of Spain’s economic output.[SEP]Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans have rallied in Barcelona to show their support for an independent nation that would break away from Spain, leaving it without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region. Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended Saturday’s demonstration in support of a legally binding referendum on secession. Spain argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency. Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain, which has said any referendum on the issue would be unconstitutional. The economically powerful Catalonia accounts for 18 percent of Spain’s economic output.[SEP]MADRID (AP) — It didn't take long for Barcelona to overcome the disappointment of a rare home loss in the Spanish league. All it had to do was reunite its trio of superstars. With Lionel Messi, Luiz Suarez, and Neymar making their first start together of the season, Barcelona trounced Celtic 7-0 in its Champions League group opener on Tuesday, quickly putting to rest any talk of a letdown after losing to recently promoted Alaves 2-1 last weekend. Messi scored a hat trick, Suarez netted twice, and Neymar scored once and set up four goals at Camp Nou, giving Barcelona its biggest Champions League win. "We all know the quality of the trident," Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said. "They always turn up when we need them." The three players hadn't begun a match together since last season. Neymar arrived late because of the Olympics, and coach Luis Enrique had been rotating his starters following the summer break and a round of World Cup qualifiers. "We finally got a chance to start together and we were able to help the team earn the three points," Suarez said. "We have scored a lot of goals in the past, but the important thing is that these goals lead to titles." Since the three players joined forces in the 2014-15 season, they have scored 50 of the club's 56 goals in the Champions League. The shared 131 goals last season, with Suarez leading the way with 59. "Messi, Neymar and Suarez create a lot of damage when they are together, and we have to take advantage of that," Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes said. Messi and Suarez came off the bench in the second half against Alaves, joining Neymar on the field, but the trio was not able to prevent the loss. "We had an opportunity to move forward after that loss and we were able to do it," said Andres Iniesta, who came in as a substitute and scored for Barcelona on Tuesday. Luis Enrique added: "We practically didn't commit any mistakes. The players had fun, and that allowed the Barca supporters to have fun." Barcelona won its second straight league title last season, when it also won the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. It was eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions league. Next for Barcelona is a Spanish league match at Leganes, another recently promoted club, on Saturday. Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni[SEP]BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and Neymar excelled as a playmaker to lead Barcelona to a record-setting 7-0 win over Celtic in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Celtic missed a penalty in a miserable night for the Scottish visitors. Neymar set up Messi to score twice in the first half hour at Camp Nou before the Brazil striker struck from a free kick just after halftime. Neymar kept pouring it on, crossing for substitute Andres Iniesta to fire in a vicious volley. Messi took his career tally to 86 goals in Europe's top-tier competition before Luis Suarez rounded off the rout with a pair of goals. The 7-0 victory surpassed Barcelona's biggest win in the Champions League to date, a 7-1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. Long gone was the firepower Brendan Rodger's team displayed in Celtic's 5-1 rout of fierce Scottish rival Rangers on Saturday. Instead, Barcelona improved on the 6-1 win over Celtic from their last meeting in 2013. It was the first joint-start this season for Messi and Neymar, after Neymar missed Barcelona's first four matches helping his country win the Olympic gold medal. The two stars, who played in the last half hour of Saturday's stunning 2-1 loss to Alaves in la Liga, needed just three minutes to link up and put Barcelona in charge. Neymar used a clever, no-look pass to play Messi clear on the left side of the area. Messi did the rest by sizing up Dorus de Vries before blasting a left-footed shot past the Celtic 'keeper. It got even better from there. The second goal was a brilliant piece of shared playmaking that undid Celtic completely, as the ball flowed from Messi to Neymar and back again for him to nudge over the line in the 27th. Three minutes earlier, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made up for his foul in the area on Moussa Dembele by blocking his resulting penalty kick to deny Celtic its only scoring chance. Goal No. 3 came in the 50th when Neymar curled a free kick over the barrier. De Vries got a hand on the ball but not enough to keep it out. Iniesta blasted his volley home in the 59th, seconds before Messi slid to tap in Luis Suarez's pass. Suarez added a bit of his own flourish to the demolition when he took Neymar's lob on the chest, before swiveling and beating De Vries with a left-footed blast in the 75th. Suarez got his second from a low cross from Messi. Five-time champion Barcelona extended its winning streak at home in European competition to 12 straight matches.
In a protest in Barcelona, an estimated 800,000 people (370,000 in the government claim) demand secession from the Madrid-based Spanish government.
David Cameron quits as MP for Witney May: 'I was proud to serve under David Cameron' By-election to take place in Oxfordshire seat 'I'm at risk of becoming a diversion' says former PM Why did he quit - and what will he do next? James Kirkup: 'Cameron leaves no lasting legacy' David Cameron has quit as an MP saying that he did not want his disagreements with Theresa May to become a “distraction”, amid a growing row over grammar schools. Mr Cameron quit with immediate effect despite previously indicating that he would stay on as a backbencher until at least 2020. He announced his resignation just minutes before Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, was due to make a statement on the creation of new grammar schools in the House of Commons.[SEP]Former Prime Minister David Cameron has announced he is to quit as an MP. And the announcement came as a surprise to colleagues at Westminster - because he'd previously said he was looking forward to being a backbencher. But Mr Cameron said he risked "becoming a diversion" to the work of his successor, Prime Minister Theresa May , if he stayed on as a backbench MP. Critics of Mrs May's plans for new grammar schools have pointed out that Mr Cameron previously spoke out against grammars. In 2007 he said supporters of selective education "don’t understand that the idea of introducing a few extra grammars says nothing to thousands of parents worried about children languishing in failing schools". It means there will be a by-election in his seat of Witney, in Oxfordshire. Birmingham Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield) said: "In all the circumstances I can understand why he has reached his decision." Mr Cameron was Prime Minister from 2010 to July this year - but announced he was leaving Number 10 after the nation voted to leave the European Union in June's EU referendum . Watch: David Cameron announces Theresa May will become Prime Minister Mr Cameron led the campaign for the UK to stay in the EU, and the result was a personal defeat. Theresa May replaced him as Tory leader and Prime Minister. But despite this, he had initially indicated that he planned to stay on as a backbencher. The former PM said at the time that he was "very keen to continue" as MP for Witney and said it was "very much my intention" to seek re-election in 2020. But Mr Cameron has now said in a statement: "Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. "There will now be a by-election and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election. "In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government. "I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership." He has been an MP since 2001, and led the Conservative Party from 2005 to July 11 2016. His Witney seat is a safe Conservative seat and whoever is chosen as the Tory candidate will be seen as overwhelming favourite to become the new MP. Solihull Conservative MP Julian Knight said: "After many years of service as Prime Minister he has obviously decided that he wishes to pursue other things for him and his family "It's very understandable after such immense changes in politics. "I hope though that this doesn't spell an end to his involvement in public life as he is still a young man and has a lot to offer." And Birmingham MP Mr Mitchell said: "It is obviously a pity that there will be no former Prime Minister now in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords."[SEP]Former British prime minister David Cameron is standing down as MP for Witney, triggering a byelection in the Oxfordshire seat. Mr Cameron told the chairman of his Conservative Association and constituency agent before making the announcement, which comes two months after he quit as prime minister on July 13th in the wake of defeat in the EU referendum. The former PM said at the time that he was “very keen to continue” as MP for Witney, which he has represented in the House of Commons since 2001, and said it was “very much my intention” to seek re-election in 2020. But in a statement, he said: “Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. “There will now be a byelection and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election. “In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as prime minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the government. “I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.” William Hague, one of Mr Cameron’s predecessors as Conservative leader, praised the decision, backing the assessment that former PMs can become a “diversion” while sitting on the backbenches. Mr Hague, who returned to the frontbench under Mr Cameron after four years as a backbencher following his unsuccessful leadership of the Tories, tweeted: “Right decision by David Cameron to leave Commons – former prime ministers are either accused of doing too little or being a distraction.” Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “David Cameron led us into a referendum he didn’t want and then lost. He walked away from the country in June and now he’s done the same to his constituents. “He will be remembered as the prime minister who presided over massive cuts to vital public services and led our country out of Europe. A toxic legacy.”[SEP]David Cameron is standing down as MP for Witney, triggering a by-election in the Oxfordshire seat. Mr Cameron told the chairman of his Conservative Association and constituency agent before making the announcement, which comes two months after he quit as Prime Minister on July 13 in the wake of defeat in the EU referendum. The former PM said at the time that he was “very keen to continue” as MP for Witney, which he has represented in the House of Commons since 2001, and said it was “very much my intention” to seek re-election in 2020. But in a statement, he said: “Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. “There will now be a by-election and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election. “In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government. “I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.”[SEP](CNN) From world leader to the wilderness in just under three months. David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister has announced he will stand down as a member of parliament for his constituency of Witney immediately, triggering a by-election. Cameron, who has worked in Parliament since 2001, stepped down as Prime minister in the aftermath of the Brexit vote i n which the UK decided to leave the European Union. He had previously said that he was "keen to continue" in his role as a backbench MP after stepping away from Downing Street but has since decided such a role is untenable. The Camerons walk back into 10 Downing Street after David Cameron announces his resignation following the UK's decision to leave the European Union on June 23. The Camerons walk back into 10 Downing Street after David Cameron announces his resignation following the UK's decision to leave the European Union on June 23. Cameron attends a remembrance service for Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in her constituency in June. Cameron attends a remembrance service for Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in her constituency in June. Cameron tries to get the youth vote in April 2016, ahead of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. Cameron tries to get the youth vote in April 2016, ahead of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. Cameron puts on a pair of wellington boots after severe flooding hit large parts of northern England in December 2015. Cameron puts on a pair of wellington boots after severe flooding hit large parts of northern England in December 2015. The Prime Minister talks with Theresa May during the state visit of China's Xi Jinping in October 2015. The Prime Minister talks with Theresa May during the state visit of China's Xi Jinping in October 2015. Cameron is captured on camera eating a hot dog with a knife and fork during the 2015 general election campaign. Cameron is captured on camera eating a hot dog with a knife and fork during the 2015 general election campaign. Cameron bows as he greets Queen Elizabeth II during the Mexican President's state visit on March 3, 2015. Cameron bows as he greets Queen Elizabeth II during the Mexican President's state visit on March 3, 2015. Cameron speaks at a memorial service for Sir Winston Churchill in January 2015, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of his state funeral. Cameron speaks at a memorial service for Sir Winston Churchill in January 2015, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of his state funeral. Cameron urges Scotland not to vote to leave the UK during a pre-referendum speech in Aberdeen ahead of the 2014 vote. Cameron urges Scotland not to vote to leave the UK during a pre-referendum speech in Aberdeen ahead of the 2014 vote. Cameron stands beside the then London Mayor Boris Johnson as the Olympic cauldron is lit for the Paralympic Games on August 24, 2012 in London. Cameron stands beside the then London Mayor Boris Johnson as the Olympic cauldron is lit for the Paralympic Games on August 24, 2012 in London. Cameron and his wife Samantha wave on the steps of Downing Street on May 11, 2010 after he took office. Cameron and his wife Samantha wave on the steps of Downing Street on May 11, 2010 after he took office. The newly-elected Cameron leaves his parliamentary office on December 7, 2005 in London. The newly-elected Cameron leaves his parliamentary office on December 7, 2005 in London. Cameron was a fresh-faced candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party when he beat David Davis, Liam Fox and Kenneth Clarke to the post in October 2005. Cameron was a fresh-faced candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party when he beat David Davis, Liam Fox and Kenneth Clarke to the post in October 2005. David Cameron's time as British prime minister is coming to a close as he hands over the reins to Theresa May. David Cameron's time as British prime minister is coming to a close as he hands over the reins to Theresa May. "In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government," he said in a statement Monday. "I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership. "I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love." Cameron, 49, became Conservative leader in 2005 and Prime minister in 2010. He revealed that he spoke with his successor before making the decision public. "I spoke to Theresa May and she was very understanding about this decision," Cameron told ITV. "I support her. I support what she's doing. She's got off to a cracking start. Obviously I'm going to have my own views about different issues; people would know that. And that's really the point. "As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what the government is doing. "I don't want to be that distraction. I want Witney to have an MP that can play a full role in parliamentary and political life in a way that I think I would find very difficult, if not impossible." Under Cameron's leadership, the Conservatives won the 2010 general election, ending Labour's 13 years in government, although the party was forced into entering a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. During his time as Prime minister, he introduced same-sex marriage in 2013 and held off the threat of Scottish independence after a referendum in 2014. In the end, Cameron's undoing was his belief that he could end the constant infighting within the Conservative Party over the UK's position in Europe. His decision to call a referendum proved an unnecessary and costly gamble. Mrs May, who is now tasked with dealing with the fallout from Brexit, said she was "proud" to have served alongside her predecessor. "Not just stabilizing the economy, but also making great strides in delivering serious social reform. "His commitment to lead a one nation Government is one that I will continue -- and I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative party and the country. "I wish him and his family well for the future."[SEP](CNN) From world leader to the wilderness in just under three months. David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister, has announced he will stand down as a member of Parliament for his constituency of Witney immediately, triggering a by-election. Cameron, who has served in Parliament since 2001, stepped down as Prime Minister in the aftermath of June's Brexit vote i n which the UK decided to leave the European Union. He had previously said that he was "keen to continue" in his role as a backbench MP after stepping away from Downing Street but has since decided such a role is untenable. The Camerons walk back into 10 Downing Street after David Cameron announces his resignation following the UK's decision to leave the European Union on June 23. The Camerons walk back into 10 Downing Street after David Cameron announces his resignation following the UK's decision to leave the European Union on June 23. Cameron attends a remembrance service for Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in her constituency in June. Cameron attends a remembrance service for Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in her constituency in June. Cameron tries to get the youth vote in April 2016, ahead of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. Cameron tries to get the youth vote in April 2016, ahead of the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. Cameron puts on a pair of wellington boots after severe flooding hit large parts of northern England in December 2015. Cameron puts on a pair of wellington boots after severe flooding hit large parts of northern England in December 2015. The Prime Minister talks with Theresa May during the state visit of China's Xi Jinping in October 2015. The Prime Minister talks with Theresa May during the state visit of China's Xi Jinping in October 2015. Cameron is captured on camera eating a hot dog with a knife and fork during the 2015 general election campaign. Cameron is captured on camera eating a hot dog with a knife and fork during the 2015 general election campaign. Cameron bows as he greets Queen Elizabeth II during the Mexican President's state visit on March 3, 2015. Cameron bows as he greets Queen Elizabeth II during the Mexican President's state visit on March 3, 2015. Cameron speaks at a memorial service for Sir Winston Churchill in January 2015, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of his state funeral. Cameron speaks at a memorial service for Sir Winston Churchill in January 2015, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of his state funeral. Cameron urges Scotland not to vote to leave the UK during a pre-referendum speech in Aberdeen ahead of the 2014 vote. Cameron urges Scotland not to vote to leave the UK during a pre-referendum speech in Aberdeen ahead of the 2014 vote. Cameron stands beside the then London Mayor Boris Johnson as the Olympic cauldron is lit for the Paralympic Games on August 24, 2012 in London. Cameron stands beside the then London Mayor Boris Johnson as the Olympic cauldron is lit for the Paralympic Games on August 24, 2012 in London. Cameron and his wife Samantha wave on the steps of Downing Street on May 11, 2010 after he took office. Cameron and his wife Samantha wave on the steps of Downing Street on May 11, 2010 after he took office. The newly-elected Cameron leaves his parliamentary office on December 7, 2005 in London. The newly-elected Cameron leaves his parliamentary office on December 7, 2005 in London. Cameron was a fresh-faced candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party when he beat David Davis, Liam Fox and Kenneth Clarke to the post in October 2005. Cameron was a fresh-faced candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party when he beat David Davis, Liam Fox and Kenneth Clarke to the post in October 2005. David Cameron's time as British prime minister is coming to a close as he hands over the reins to Theresa May. David Cameron's time as British prime minister is coming to a close as he hands over the reins to Theresa May. "In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government," he said in a statement Monday. "I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership. "I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love." Cameron, 49, became Conservative leader in 2005 and Prime Minister in 2010. He said he had conferred with his successor before making his decision public. "I spoke to Theresa May and she was very understanding about this decision," Cameron told ITV. "I support her. I support what she's doing. She's got off to a cracking start. Obviously I'm going to have my own views about different issues; people would know that. And that's really the point. "As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what the government is doing. "I don't want to be that distraction. I want Witney to have an MP that can play a full role in parliamentary and political life in a way that I think I would find very difficult, if not impossible." Under Cameron's leadership, the Conservatives won the 2010 general election, ending Labour's 13 years in government, although the party was forced into entering a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. In the end, Cameron's undoing was his belief that he could end the constant infighting within the Conservative Party over the UK's position in Europe. His decision to call a referendum proved an unnecessary and costly gamble. "I'm sure I will be remembered for keeping that pledge to hold a referendum when many people thought that promise would never be kept," he told ITV. "But I hope that people will look back at the 11 years I was leader of the Conservative Party and six years as Prime Minister of our country as a time when we did create a stronger economy -- 1,000 people found work for every day I was prime minister -- and we did make some important social reforms ... and the Conservative Party went from being in the doldrums and getting beaten to being a modernizing, winning force in British politics. "But the historians will have to work all that out. I obviously now am going to be looking at a new life, but I'm only 49 -- I hope I can still contribute in terms of public service and contribute to our country." May, who is now tasked with dealing with the fallout from Brexit, expressed pride in having served alongside her predecessor. "Not just stabilizing the economy, but also making great strides in delivering serious social reform. "His commitment to lead a one nation Government is one that I will continue -- and I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative Party and the country. I wish him and his family well for the future." Cameron is now focusing on that future, and while he did not elaborate on his plans, he insisted he would not shy away from campaigning on the issues he is passionate about. "The only firm decision I've made is to leave the House of Commons and stop being an MP -- as I say, with a heavy heart, because I've loved the jobs but I don't think it works for a former prime minister who resigned in my circumstances and with all the new government needs to do," he added. "Issues for the future. I'll decide them in the future and, hopefully, as I say, continue to make some ... public service contribution to this country. I want to continue campaigning on the local, national and indeed international issues that were part of my prime ministership where I think we made some good progress. There's still a lot more to be done."[SEP]David Cameron is standing down as MP for Witney, triggering a by-election in the Oxfordshire seat. Mr Cameron told the chairman of his Conservative Association and constituency agent before making the announcement, which comes two months after he quit as Prime Minister on July 13 in the wake of defeat in the EU referendum. The former PM said at the time that he was “very keen to continue” as MP for Witney, which he has represented in the House of Commons since 2001, and said it was “very much my intention” to seek re-election in 2020. But in a statement, he said: “Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. “There will now be a by-election and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election. “In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government. “I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.” Mr Cameron said he would not be moving away from the constituency, where he has made his home with wife Samantha and their children. He said it had been “an honour” to serve the people of the area for the past 15 years. “Our house in Dean is the place Samantha, my children and I call home, and that will not change,” said Mr Cameron. “I will continue to support the local causes and charities that mean so much to me and many others in this beautiful and enterprising part of our country. “I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love.”[SEP]David Cameron is to stand down as MP for Witney, triggering a by-election in the Oxfordshire seat, he has announced. Mr Cameron said he would not be moving away from the constituency, where he has made his home with wife Samantha and their children. He said it had been “an honour” to serve the people of the area for the past 15 years. “Our house in Dean is the place Samantha, my children and I call home, and that will not change,” said Mr Cameron. “I will continue to support the local causes and charities that mean so much to me and many others in this beautiful and enterprising part of our country. “I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love.” The Scotsman’s EU Referendum page: Keep up to date with latest news, polls and features.[SEP]David Cameron has announced he is standing down as MP for Witney, triggering a byelection. It marks the end of the former prime minister’s parliamentary career, Cameron having previously said he intended to carry on as a local MP to 2020 and beyond. “As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what the government is doing.” We’d like your verdicts on Cameron’s time in politics as Conservative leader and prime minister. What will he be most remembered for, and what is his chief political legacy? You can share your views by filling out the form below. We’ll feature a selection of your responses in an article on the Guardian website.[SEP]Stewart Jackson has paid tribute to former Prime Minister David Cameron, who has stepped down as an MP with immediate effect. Mr Cameron resigned from his role as Prime Minister following the EU referendum in June. Today (Monday) he said he was also resigning from his role as MP for Witney in Oxfordshire. Peterborough MP and fellow Conservative Stewart Jackson - who did not always see eye-to-eye with Mr Cameron - said he was ‘surprised’ by the announcement. He said: “I’m very surprised by the announcement but perhaps he wants to spend more time with his family and doing other things and who can blame him after 10 very busy years as Prime Minister? “We were never close but I think he will be remembered more kindly by history as being the man whose commitment to an EU referendum allowed the UK to regain its role as a proud, outward looking Parliamentary democracy and global power again and that’s quite a legacy.” North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara added: “David Cameron managed to get the Conservatives back into power after 13 years and he led Britain at a time when we faced huge economic uncertainty. Under his leadership we managed to pull back from the brink. I wish him the very best for the future.” The former PM had previously said he was “very keen to continue” as MP for Witney, which he has represented in the House of Commons since 2001, and said it was “very much my intention” to seek re-election in 2020. But in a statement, he said: “Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. “There will now be a by-election and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election. “In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government. “I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.” Mr Cameron said he would not be moving away from the constituency, where he has made his home with wife Samantha and their children. He said it had been “an honour” to serve the people of the area for the past 15 years. “ Our house in Dean is the place Samantha, my children and I call home, and that will not change,” said Mr Cameron. “I will continue to support the local causes and charities that mean so much to me and many others in this beautiful and enterprising part of our country. “I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love.” Mr Cameron said it “isn’t really possible” to be a proper backbench MP as a former prime minister because his actions would become a “big distraction”. The former PM said he had quit with a “heavy heart” but he needed to “build a life” outside Westminster. He said Mrs May had “got off to a cracking start” and she had been “very understanding” about his decision. “Obviously I’m going to have my own views about different issues. People would know that and that’s really the point. “As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what the Government is doing.” Asked if Mrs May’s plans to introduce a new wave of grammar schools was linked to his decision, he replied: “This decision has got nothing to do with any one individual issue. The timing in that way, I promise, is coincidental.” Mr Cameron said there were “many good things” in the policy but refused to endorse the proposals. “My announcement today is not about grammar schools, there’s no connection with grammar schools, it’s purely one of timing.” Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “David Cameron led us into a referendum he didn’t want and then lost. He walked away from the country in June and now he’s done the same to his constituents. “He will be remembered as the prime minister who presided over massive cuts to vital public services and led our country out of Europe. A toxic legacy.”
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron resigns as MP for Witney, triggering a by-election.
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkey appointed new administrators in two dozen Kurdish-run municipalities on Sunday after removing their elected mayors over suspected links to militants, triggering pockets of protest in its volatile southeastern region bordering Syria and Iraq. Police fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside local government buildings in Suruc on the Syrian border as new administrators took over, security sources said. There were smaller protests elsewhere in the town. There were also disturbances in the main regional city of Diyarbarkir and in Hakkari province near the Iraqi border, where police entered the municipality building and unfurled a large red Turkish flag, taking down the white local government flags that had previously flown. President Tayyip Erdogan said this week the campaign against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, who have waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy, was now Turkey’s largest ever. The removal of civil servants linked to them was a key part of the fight. The 24 municipalities had been run by the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the third largest in parliament, which denies direct links to the militants. It decried the move as an “administrative coup”. “No democratic state can or will allow mayors and MPs to use municipality resources to finance terrorist organisations,” Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Twitter. “Being an elected official isn’t a licence to commit crimes.” Turkey’s battle against the PKK resumed with a new intensity after a ceasefire collapsed last year and with attempts by Kurdish groups in Syria’s war to carve out an autonomous Kurdish enclave on Turkey’s border. In a message to mark the Muslim Eid al Adha holiday, Erdogan said the PKK had been trying to step up attacks since a failed military coup in July and that they aimed to disrupt Turkish military operations in Syria. The U.S. embassy said it was concerned by reports of clashes in the southeast and that while it supported Turkey’s right to combat terrorism, it was important to respect the right to peaceful protest. A riot police officer stands guard in front of Sur municipality office, following the removal of the local mayor from office after he was deemed to support Kurdish militants, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, September 11, 2016. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar “We hope that any appointment of trustees will be temporary and that local citizens will soon be permitted to choose new local officials in accordance with Turkish law,” it said. WESTERN CONCERN The crackdown comes as Ankara also pushes ahead with a purge of tens of thousands of supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Turkey of orchestrating the attempted coup in July. Gulen denies any involvement. The mayors of four other municipalities, three from the ruling AK Party and one from the nationalist MHP opposition, were also replaced over alleged links to what the authorities call the “Gulen Terror Organisation”, or FETO. The interior ministry said the 28 mayors, 12 of whom are formally under arrest, were under investigation for providing “assistance and support” to the PKK and to Gulen’s organization. Turkey has sacked or suspended more than 100,000 people since the failed coup. At least 40,000 people have been detained on suspicion of links to Gulen’s network. The crackdown has raised concern from rights groups and Western allies who fear Erdogan is using the failed coup as pretext to curtail all dissent, and intensify his actions against suspected Kurdish militant sympathizers. Turkish officials say the moves are justified by the extent of the threat to the state. The HDP, which says it promotes a negotiated end to the PKK insurgency, said it did not recognize the legitimacy of the mayors’ removal. Slideshow (6 Images) “This illegal and arbitrary stance will result in the deepening of current problems in Kurdish cities, and the Kurdish issue becoming unresolvable,” it said in a statement. Tensions in the southeast had already been heightened since Turkey launched a military incursion into Syria two and half weeks ago dubbed “Operation Euphrates Shield”. The operation aims to push Islamic State fighters back from the border and prevent Kurdish militia fighters seizing ground in their wake. Turkey views the Kurdish militia as an extension of the PKK and fears that Kurdish gains there will fuel separatist sentiment on its own soil.[SEP]ISTANBUL, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Kurdish militants claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a car bombing in Turkey's southeastern city of Van a day earlier and said it was partly a response to the removal from office of two dozen mayors from Kurdish-run municipalities. The blast, close to local government offices, wounded around 50 people, including four police officers and four Iranian citizens thought to have been visiting during the Muslim Eid holiday, officials said. The bombing came a day after Turkey appointed new administrators in 24 Kurdish-run municipalities, most of them in the largely-Kurdish southeast, after removing their mayors over suspected militant links, triggering protests. Southeastern Turkey has suffered numerous bombings since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in the region, abandoned a ceasefire in 2015. The claim of responsibility, on a website close to the PKK, said the attack in Van was a retaliation for the killing by security forces of Kurdish youths and the removal of the mayors "in disregard of the Kurdish people's will." The PKK is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, as well as by Ankara. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey had evidence the mayors had sent support to Kurdish militants and that they should have been stripped of their roles sooner. Four towns in Van province were affected by the removals. (Reporting by Seda Sezer; Writing by Nick Tattersall)[SEP]ISTANBUL -- Turkey announced Sunday that it had replaced 28 elected municipal and district mayors in several predominantly Kurdish towns in the country's east and southeast, saying the leaders are suspected of colluding with groups the government considers terrorist organizations. The move led to protests that police later dispersed using water cannons and tear gas. The Interior Ministry said the decision to remove the mayors was in line with a governmental decree enacted in the wake of a failed military coup. Turkey declared a state of emergency after the July 15 coup attempt, allowing the government to rule by decree. It has since suspended tens of thousands of people from government jobs over suspected links to terrorist organizations. Of the 28 mayors who were replaced, 24 are suspected of ties with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, and four are thought to be linked to the movement led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which the government says is responsible for the abortive coup that left more than 270 people dead. The Interior Ministry said in its statement that when local governments "come under the influence of terrorist organizations, it is the state's primary duty to take precautions against those who have usurped the people's will." "Being an elected official isn't a license to commit crimes," Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag wrote on Twitter. "If mayors and town councilors finance terrorism by transferring public funds allocated to them to serve the people ... they lose their democratic legitimacy." The U.S. Embassy in Ankara expressed concern over the government's actions, saying in a statement that it hoped the substitute office-holders who took up their new posts Sunday would be temporary and that "local citizens will soon be permitted to choose new local officials in accordance with Turkish law." Three of the 28 officials are members of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party; one belongs to the Nationalist Movement Party. The rest belong to pro-Kurdish parties. The pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party condemned the appointments as a "coup by trustees" that violates the Turkish constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights. "This unlawful and arbitrary action will only deepen existing problems in Kurdish towns and cause the Kurdish issue to be even more unsolvable," the party said in a statement. The main opposition Republican People's Party also condemned the move. Senior party members spoke to reporters in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, where they called the appointments unlawful and said they would be taking the decision to Turkey's constitutional court. Addressing the nation Sunday for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was determined to "save Turkey from the PKK scourge," using an acronym for the Kurdistan Workers' Party. "Like the Gulen movement, the PKK cannot possibly withstand the power of the people and the strength of the state," Erdogan said in a video statement. The private Dogan news agency reported that a group of about 200 people gathered in front of city hall in the southeastern town of Suruc to protest the government-installed officials and were dispersed with tear gas and water cannons. A protest in front of Batman city hall was broken up in the same way. Four people, including a deputy mayor, were briefly detained in a minor skirmish outside city hall in the southeastern province of Hakkari. Co-Mayor Fatma Yildiz, who was replaced Sunday morning, said the decision was "a blow against the will of the people," Dogan reported. Turkish media reported that Internet and electricity were out in the affected cities in the morning, but no official reason was given. Also on Sunday, about 40 prominent academics and authors from around the world urged Turkey's government to end what they say is the persecution of the country's writers and professors who voice a differing point of view. In an open letter released Sunday, academics and authors including Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and British Booker Prize winner John Berger called on supporters to protest what they said is the Turkish government's "vendetta" against its brightest thinkers. They said the failed coup shouldn't be used as a pretext for a "[Joe] McCarthy-style witch hunt," referring to the Wisconsin senator who led an anti-communism crusade in the 1950s. The letter said the group was particularly disturbed by the detention of novelist Ahmet Altan and his brother Mehmet Altan, an economics professor, who Turkey accused of transmitting subliminal messages to rally coup supporters on TV the night before the coup attempt. Information for this article was contributed by staff members of The Associated Press.[SEP]ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's president says the dismissal of 28 elected municipal and district mayors in several predominantly Kurdish towns in the country's east and southeast was overdue. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after prayers at the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday Monday that it should have been done earlier in line with his own wishes. The removed officials, replaced by government-appointed deputy and district governors, are suspected of colluding with groups the Turkish government considers terrorist organizations. Turkey's Interior Ministry said the decision was in line with the state of emergency decreed after the failed July 15 military coup attempt.[SEP]ISTANBUL, Sept 12 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Turkey has evidence that mayors removed from two dozen Kurdish-run municipalities had sent support to Kurdish militants, and said they should have been stripped of office sooner. Turkey appointed new administrators in the 24 Kurdish-run municipalities on Sunday, triggering pockets of protest in parts of the largely-Kurdish southeast. The main pro-Kurdish opposition party called it an "administrative coup". "It is a step taken too late in my opinion. It should have been taken sooner, and it was my advice to do so earlier," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul after attending prayers to mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. "They sent the support they received to the mountains, but this has all been discovered," Erdogan said, referring to Kurdish militant bases in the mountains of southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. "Our government took this decision based on all of this evidence." Erdogan said last week that the campaign against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy, was now Turkey's largest ever and that the removal of civil servants linked to them was a key part of the fight. The 24 municipalities had been run by the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the third largest in parliament, which denies direct links to the militants. It said it did not recognise the legitimacy of the mayors' removal. The U.S. embassy said on Sunday that while it supported Turkey's right to combat terrorism, it hoped the appointment of government administrators would be temporary and that local citizens could soon choose new representatives. The United States and European Union both list the PKK as a terrorist organisation. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Dominic Evans)[SEP](CNN) Turkey's government replaced 28 mayors, whom the Interior Ministry accuses of terrorist ties, with trustees, sparking demonstrations and international concern. The mayors are the latest to find themselves targeted in President Recep Erdogan's post-coup state of emergency, enacted in July. According to the 10-day-old Decree Law No. 674, the government is allowed to replace mayors and city council members who "have been actively engaged in acts of terrorism and openly providing support to terrorism," an Interior Ministry statement said. Four of the mayors are accused of having ties to the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization, which Erdogan has claimed was behind the failed coup attempt, and 24 were allegedly linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency The mayors, who include 24 district mayors, two provincial mayors and two county mayors, most of them from the eastern portion of the country, are being prosecuted on charges of assisting the two groups, the Interior Ministry said. Twelve of the mayors have been arrested, its statement said. "It doesn't undoubtedly comply with the law for those elected by the public vote to abuse the will of nation to commit crimes against the public," the statement said. "The resources created by the taxes honored by our citizens and the political will aroused by their votes cannot be utilized for the benefit of terrorist organizations." Protests also erupted at four municipalities in Batman Province, where police deployed tear gas and water cannons, and in the Suruc district of Sanliurfa Province, the paper reported. All three provinces are in Turkey's southeast, along its border with Syria and Iraq. The People's Democratic Party called the mayoral substitutions a disregard of voters' will and said they represented a violation of international law, Hurriyet reported. The secular main opposition Republican People's Party, which supported Erdogan in the coup attempt but not his subsequent emergency declaration, also registered its displeasure, calling it a "coup" against the Grand National Assembly, the newspaper said. The U.S. Embassy, too, issued a "statement of concern." While Turkish authorities conduct their investigations, the statement said, "we note the importance of respect for judicial due process and individual rights, including the right of peaceful political expression." The embassy also expressed hope that the trustees would serve only temporarily and that citizens would soon be able to elect new officials. The mayors represent a small fraction of people fired or arrested since the July 15 coup attempt that killed at least 240 people and 40 coup plotters. A three-month state of emergency granted Erdogan sweeping powers, and a presidential decree stated suspects can be detained for as long as 30 days without charge, and the government can listen in on all conversations they have with their attorneys. Previously, suspects could be held only 24 hours, or four days in special circumstances. Parliament member Sebahat Tuncel, a Kurd, said Erdogan's Justice and Development Party had started "a war against Kurds," and said the government has no evidence the mayors, some of whom were elected by overwhelming majorities, had any ties to terrorism. She expressed fear that more Kurds would lose their jobs amid Erdogan's crackdown. "This is a political coup and ethnic cleansing," she said. "(More than 11,000) Kurdish educators lost their jobs recently. We are hearing that the same thing will happen to our people who are working at the health care industry."[SEP]ISTANBUL, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Turkey has proof that mayors removed from two dozen Kurdish-run municipalities on Sunday had sent support to Kurdish militants and they should have been stripped of office sooner, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul after attending prayers, Erdogan said any municipality which had supported militants would have to pay the price. Turkey appointed new administrators in the 24 Kurdish-run municipalities on Sunday, triggering pockets of protest in its largely-Kurdish southeastern region bordering Syria and Iraq. The pro-Kurdish opposition called it an "administrative coup".[SEP]The mayors are the latest to find themselves targeted in President Recep Erdogan's post-coup state of emergency, enacted in July. According to the 10-day-old Decree Law No. 674, the government is allowed to replace mayors and city council members who "have been actively engaged in acts of terrorism and openly providing support to terrorism," an Interior Ministry statement said. Four of the mayors are accused of having ties to the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization, which Erdogan has claimed was behind the failed coup attempt, and 24 were allegedly linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency The mayors, who include 24 district mayors, two provincial mayors and two county mayors, most of them from the eastern portion of the country, are being prosecuted on charges of assisting the two groups, the Interior Ministry said. Twelve of the mayors have been arrested, its statement said.[SEP]Kurdish militant group says it was behind car bombing in Turkey's Van ISTANBUL, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Kurdish militants on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a car bombing in Turkey's southeastern city of Van a day earlier and said it was a response to the removal from office of two dozen mayors from Kurdish-run municipalities. The blast, close to local government offices, wounded around 50 people, including four police officers and four Iranian citizens thought to have been visiting during the Muslim Eid holiday, officials said. The claim of responsibility was posted on a website close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group which has been used to claim previous attacks in Turkey. (Reporting by Seda Sezer; Writing by Nick Tattersall)[SEP]Suspected Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb near local government offices in Turkey's southeastern city of Van on Monday, wounding scores of people, a day after two dozen mayors from Kurdish-run municipalities were stripped of office. The blast hit some 200 metres from the Van provincial governor's office, security sources said, ripping through the city's central district and setting buildings and cars aflame. Police officials said 27 people were wounded but no one died. Southeastern Turkey has suffered repeated bombings and other attacks since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in the region, abandoned a ceasefire in 2015. Security sources said they suspected the PKK was behind the Van bombing and that an operation had been launched to pursue the suspected militants. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. READ MORE: * Car bomb attack on military buses rocks Turkish capital Ankara * 11 dead, dozens hurt after truck bomb explodes at police HQ in Turkey * Explosions in Turkey's capital kill dozens at peace march The blast tore the front off a four-storey building. Footage from the Dogan news agency showed water cannon trying to douse flames on the street opposite. The district, normally busy, was more empty of traffic on Monday, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Burhan Kayaturk, a local member of parliament from the AKP, said the blast had targeted the ruling AK Party's offices, but that they were well-secured and had not been badly damaged. Turkey appointed new administrators in 24 Kurdish-run municipalities mostly in the southeast on Sunday after removing their mayors over suspected PKK links, triggering protests. Four towns in Van province were affected by the removals. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey had evidence that the mayors had sent support to Kurdish militants, and that they should have been stripped of their roles sooner. The pro-Kurdish opposition party, the third-largest in the national parliament, decried what it said was an "administrative coup" and said the move was illegal.
Turkish authorities remove two dozen elected Kurdish mayors in southeast Turkey.
Brazilians concerned with rampant corruption in their political system have reason to rejoice today: the man who many consider the most corrupt politician in Brazil – a title for which there is much competition, and who had been removed from office in May – finally had his mandate ended. In May, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice determined that Eduardo Cunha, the former President of the Chamber of Deputies, a position equivalent to the Speaker of the House in the U.S., should have his term suspended. Tonight, in a session that was at times nasty and personal and that lasted through the night, the Chamber voted to end Cunha's mandate. Cunha was most recently caught lying about having offshore (Swiss) bank accounts. (He argued, among other things, that the accounts were his wife's.) At the end, 450 Congressmembers voted to end his mandate. Only 10 voted in favor of him. 10, a dramatically low number for the man who used to run Brazil's politics. It's a comment on how quickly the tides can turn in Brazil. And it might also signal a new era in Brazil's attempts to fight corruption. Interestingly, Cunha's few supporters claimed that he was being judged not on the law but on public opinion. That is the same argument supporters of the impeached Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff have made. In May, the justice explained the decision by citing the numerous and varied corruption proceedings that Cunha is currently caught up in. Some of those proceedings are related to graft charges in the massive Car Wash corruption investigation into Petrobras contacts that has washed over top-tier politicians of all political parties, including former president Luiz Ignacio da Silva. Some of those investigations are related to the good old-fashioned pay-to-play-politics that seem to dominate Brazilian governance. The justice, Teori Zavascki, noted that Cunha's mandate as leader of the lower house, "is not an empty title authorizing expectations of power that are unlimited, irresponsible and meaningless." He noted that there was evidence that Cunha set up a "network of obstruction" to shield himself from anti-corruption investigations. "I think this is a great sign," argued Rodrigo Fernandes, a São Paulo venture capitalist. "It's a sign that we are not going to tolerate corruption, no matter the [political] party." While the arrival of Cunha in the crosshairs of Brazil's anti-corruption crusade is a watershed moment for the country, it is one that was not at all inevitable. For decades – yes, decades – Eduardo Cunha has escaped prosecution on corruption charges, despite being implicated in case after case. For many Brazilians, he is the symbol of political malevolence, a bad guy who outsmarts the Brazilian public again and again. Related: He also happens to be one of the most powerful politician in Brazil. It is Cunha who ran the impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff before he was removed in May, which resulted in her impeachment by the lower house that he governs. During those proceedings he was the target of leftists' ire, as they pointed their fingers at him and called him a "scoundrel" and his proceeding a "coup". He was even called a "gangster" to his face by one Congressman. (Catch the word "gangster" in the beginning of the video below). A full recap of the most outrageous moments from that proceeding can be found here. Despite the hate aimed his way by his political enemies during the impeachment proceeding, Cunha found a way to grin as his political supporters approached the microphone that Sunday and voted to impeach the President. The grin is likely gone tonight. Brazilian social media is currently exploding with reactions to the news that Brazil's most invincible politician is politically dead. Many Brazilians are adjusting the anti-Rousseff chant of "Tchau, querida" (Bye, sweetheart) into the masculine form to create an anti-Cunha mantra: "Tchau, querido." Others are taking liberties with the fact that Cunha's name begins with the letters for a vulgar Brazilian word for a certain body part. "It would be very hard to find somebody that would be against the removal of Cunha at this point," notes Natalia Ribeiro, a graduate student in political science in Brasília. "Maybe there is, but I doubt someone would argue publicly against it." Fernandes, like many Brazilians, was in favor of the impeachment of Rousseff. But that doesn't mean he is a Cunha supporter. "The fact that he helped pushed the impeachment forward is not going to give him a free pass, despite what he might have thought." But, at the same time, Brazilians will have a hard time counting him out. Cunha, an evangelical Christian radio announcer, is Brazil's rubberman, a man who wriggles his way out of any net. Tonight, the net seems to have finally closed.[SEP]Eduardo Cunha, the former speaker of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, was removed from office Monday night by a landslide vote in the chamber of 450 votes to 10 with nine abstentions. Lawmakers decided overwhelmingly that Cunha had lied during the investigation into corruption at Brazil's state-run oil company, Petrobras, and had hid millions of dollars in offshore accounts. On top of losing his seat as speaker, Cunha also loses all political privileges for eight years. Cunha had resigned as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in July, and was already suspended as speaker in May by the Supreme Court, at the request of the attorney general, who accused him of obstructing justice and hiding millions of dollars in bribes in Swiss bank accounts. The corruption investigation has already brought down some of the country's top political and business leaders. By being voted out, Cunha loses partial immunity from prosecution offered to members of Congress and high-ranking politicians. The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies make up the country's Congress. When announcing his resignation earlier in the summer, Cunha, who has been widely compared to the character Frank Underwood in the TV series "House of Cards," had said: "I will continue to defend my innocence and that I told the truth." In July, the congressional ethics committee voted to strip him of his congressional seat. Although resigning as speaker, he still hung on to the seat until Monday's denouement. Cunha had launched his bid to impeach Rousseff, the country's first female leader, in December 2015, accusing the then-leader of hiding a budgetary deficit to win re-election in 2014. Her opponents also blamed her for the worst recession in decades. At the end of August, Brazil's Senate voted 61-20 in favor of removing her from office.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s lower house of Congress voted overwhelmingly late Monday to strip the legislative seat of its former speaker amid accusations of corruption and obstruction of justice. The Chamber of Deputies voted 450 to 10 to remove Eduardo Cunha after hours of debate. Nine legislators abstained. As speaker, Eduardo Cunha was the main driver behind the impeachment process that led to the Senate trying left-leaning President Dilma Rousseff and removing her from office last month. He has been a key ally of new President Michel Temer, who had been Rousseff’s vice president. Cunha has been accused by Brazilian prosecutors of receiving millions of dollars in bribes linked to the sprawling corruption scandal at state-run oil giant Petrobras. But the issue before the Chamber of Deputies was only whether he lied about having secret banking accounts in Switzerland. Cunha, who said the accounts belonged to a trust, was pressured into resigning as speaker after the accounts came to light, but he had refused to give up his post as a lawmaker. With the loss of his congressional seat, Cunha also loses his partial immunity from prosecution. In Brazil, only the country’s top court can decide to charge and try federal lawmakers. Cunha, who had been in his fourth term as a lawmaker, told his colleagues during the debate that the Rousseff impeachment effort was the reason for the drive to remove him. “This is all because I opened the impeachment proceedings. The (governing) Worker’s Party wants a trophy to say this was a coup,” Cunha said. “This criminal of a government of yours is now gone thanks to me.”[SEP]Bawtry’s Crown Hotel has become the latest patron of Doncaster Chamber after the two organisations worked on a successful campaign to promote the town. Craig Dowie, managing director of the four star hotel, has been working with the chamber on a ‘place marketing’ campaign to raise Doncaster’s profile as the place to live, work and visit. As a result, chamber bosses saw it as an optimum time for the two organisations to work more closely together and the hotel became the latest chamber patron. Mr Dowie said: “Being a patron will allow us to effectively network with the other Doncaster Chamber patrons, and also host and be involved with key chamber events. “I’m heading up the new place marketing board for Doncaster, and with this in mind, it seemed a great time to look at patronage with Doncaster Chamber where we will work alongside each other and other members to raise the profile and growth of business in Doncaster. “Doncaster is buzzing with transformational projects including the iport, the Great Yorkshire Way, the HS2 rail college, the new Doncaster Sheffield Airport routes and the forthcoming PGA golf course.” He added: “It’s a great time to do business and encourage inward investment on a regional, national and international stage. “The Crown already has key strategic partnerships with other chamber members, including Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster Rovers Football Club and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and the patronage will help us to continue to build our brand and venue as one of the best in Yorkshire.” Dan Fell, chief executive officer of Doncaster Chamber, welcomed them to the team. He added: “We are delighted to welcome the Crown Hotel as patron members – they are great advocates for what a great place Doncaster is to do business and we will continue to work alongside the team and other chamber members to keep growing the economy and ensure that Doncaster is recognised for its attractive investment opportunities.” In 2013 the hotel won two Doncaster Business Awards for Marketing Strategy of the Year and Business of the Year under £3m turnover. The business is also entering this year’s awards and the winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Doncaster Racecourse on Thursday, December 8. The Origin Broadband-sponsored event counts the Doncaster Free Press as an official media partner and it will be hosted by ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins. For tickets and further information about attending visit www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk
Eduardo Cunha, former President of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies loses his position as a Deputy following a vote of the Chamber as a result of a series of corruption scandals.
President Obama waves as he boards Air Force One after the closing ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images) Other presidents have mountains named after them. They're the namesakes for high schools, boulevards, space centers, libraries, airports, and elk. George Washington has the capital of our country named for him, for crying out loud. But how many of them have the dubious honor of being the namesake for a parasitic worm? World, meet Baracktrema obamai, a deadly turtle pathogen named in honor of our current president. Believe it or not, it's supposed to be a compliment. The new genus and species of parasitic flatworm was introduced this week in an article in the Journal of Parasitology. The tiny creatures, which are the thickness of a human hair, invade the lungs of freshwater turtles in Malaysia, often with deadly consequences. Thomas Platt, a turtle disease expert who discovered the new species shortly before his recent retirement from St. Mary's College, said that the name is meant to honor President Obama — not gross him out. Though most people (understandably) aren't big parasite fans, Platt has a deep respect for the resilient little creatures. They “face incredible obstacles to complete their [life cycles] and must contend with the immune system of the host in order to mature and reproduce,” he said in a statement. [To save Darwin's finches from devastation, scientists breed hordes of blood-sucking maggots] Platt's research also revealed that the worm is a relative of members of the genus Unicaecum, another turtle parasite. And both are more distant relatives of the worms that cause the disease schistosomiasis in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, schistosomiasis infects as many as 200 million people in the year, second only to malaria as the world's most devastating parasitic illness. The worms crawl into their hosts' blood vessels and lay eggs, which can become lodged in victims' organs and cause fever, muscle pain, liver problems, even seizures or cancer. Understanding Baracktrema obamai's relationship to Unicaecum can help scientists understand the evolutionary history of these parasitic diseases, Platt and his colleagues write. In turn, that will help researchers figure out how to treat them. As he was delving into the phylogenetic tree of parasites, Platt had been conducting research on his own family history. In the process, he discovered that he shares a not-so-distant common ancestor with the president. “I have named a number of species after people I admire, from my father-in-law, my PhD adviser, and good friends who are academics and/or amateur naturalists,” Platt said. “Baracktrema obamai will endure as long as there are systematists studying these remarkable organisms.” The turtle worm joins a long list of creatures named for Obama, which includes a lichen, an extinct lizard (the "obamadon"), a species of trapdoor spider and another parasite. At this rate, perhaps the president is looking forward to leaving office. Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly characterized the genus Unicaecum. It is a parasite that infects turtles. Read more: Giraffes aren't just giraffes. Turns out there are four species. NASA's OSIRIS-REx blasts off on ambitious mission to visit asteroid, bring a piece home Five times 'Star Trek' brought out the science nerd in all of us for #StarTrek50 Beer yeast is tame. Wine yeast is wild. Draw your own conclusions. Why bats ‘waggle’ their heads like adorable little puppies[SEP]Close U.S. President Barack Obama has been honored in a unique way. Researchers have discovered a new species of parasitic flatworms inhabiting turtles and has named it Baracktrema obamai, detailing their work in a study published in The Journal of Parasitology. Parasites are beautiful and resilient, so the researchers saw naming their discovery after Obama as an act of honor. According to lead researcher Dr. Thomas R. Platt, the idea to name the parasite after the U.S. president came after he discovered that they are related: fifth cousins, twice removed. They have a common ancestor called George Frederick Toot, who lived in Middletown, Pennsylvania, between 1759 and 1815. Long and thin and "cool as hell," the newly christened parasitic flatworms infect turtles. "They 'face incredible obstacles to complete their journey (life cycle) and must contend with the immune system of the host in order to mature and reproduce,'" Platt said. Platt, who is a retired professor of biology at Saint Indiana's Mary's College, called the parasite phenomenally incredible and eliciting profound respect. "Baracktrema obamai will endure as long as there are systematists studying these remarkable organisms," he added. Considering the unusual characteristics of the group of turtle parasites, the American parasitologists' team decided to categorize them into a separate genus and added as a new species. Characterized by threadlike bodies, the parasite was most prominently observed in the black marsh turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis), freshwater turtles and the Malaysian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis). Once inside a turtle, the parasites penetrate the lungs and lay hundreds of fluke eggs. However, it is unclear how they infect the hosts in the first place. Parasitologists are also of the belief that the turtle parasites could be the possible ancestors of the flatworms that are spreading the disease Schistosomiasis in developing countries and affecting millions of people. In August, the death of thousands of fish prompted the closure of the popular Yellowstone River in Montana, as well as hundreds of miles of other waterways. According to the state wildlife officials, the deaths were caused by a parasite not native to the area. This means it was likely introduced by people through contaminated boats or fishing waders or other means, although it is also possible for birds to have acquired the virus from another area and transported it to Montana. Decontamination stations were set up by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to help stem the problem. The agency also advised the public to be more mindful of cleaning their equipment when moving between bodies of water. ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.[SEP]Last week, a new species of flatworm discovered in Malaysia was named after President Barack Obama as Baracktrema obamai. The scientist making this designation, Thomas R. Platt, chose Mr. Obama, a distant relative, and a person Mr. Platt admires. Right away another new flatworm has been discovered, in New York waters, and it will be named after former mayor of New York, Mr. Rudy Giuliani. This time the honor is bestowed by Dr. Vertiginal Waymouth, with scientific designation for the new worm Giuliatrema nonsequituriai. Dr. Waymouth has explained that his choice of Mr. Giuliani is based on two factors: a) the former mayor's logic on Iraq, recently expounded on ABC News; and b) metaphorical applications of the worm's habits to national security. The new species is again a parasite infecting a host target and implanting eggs that endure and allow reproduction of the worm itself. Part a) of the honor for Mr. Giuliani derives from his saying to ABC's George Stephanopoulus that the US should have seized Iraq's oil when it had a chance, before leaving in 2011, because in war "Anything's legal." That is, taking the oil and putting the U.S. in charge of distributing it would have prevented its being used by the terrorists. This theft would be legal, Mr. Giuliani believes, because war allows it. But legal experts have pointed out that seizing Iraq's oil would have been illegal, based on international law for at least the last 100 years. Nonetheless, Mr. Giuliani argues that with Iraq's oil under the invader's lock and key, the defeated Sunnis would have been content to sit back and watch TV. Having no oil to peddle to places like Turkey, ISIS would have been without supporting funds and ability, probably causing wide-spread sighing plus wringing of hands in the sense of "Nothing to be done." The new governing class Shia in Iraq would have been happy to have the question of who controls and owns the oil off their hands. They would have sat back, saying, "The Americans have taken this burden of our oil off our hands! What a relief! And of course we accept their decisions on how our oil should be shared out to the oil companies and so forth." In part b) of Dr. Waymouth's reasoning, the remarkable similarity of the policy Mr. Guiliani is proposing for the US, and the flatworm's behavior, is almost startling. That is, the flatworm sneaks into its host, attacks and occupies it, and seizes its resources for growth and reproduction. The host withers. Pentagon strategists are reported interested in these developments, with Flatworm Stealth Programs and Flatworm Special Forces under study.
Baracktrema obamai, a new species of parasite is named after Barack Obama.
A man sits on an old tank as he watches fighting taking place in Syria as seen from the Israeli side of the border fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights September 11, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said its aircraft attacked a Syrian army position on Tuesday after a stray mortar bomb struck the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, and it denied a Syrian statement that a warplane and drone were shot down. The air strike was a now-routine Israeli response to the occasional spillover from fighting in a five-year-old civil war, and across Syria a ceasefire was holding at the start of its second day. Syria’s army command said in a statement that Israeli warplanes had attacked an army position at 1 a.m. on Tuesday (2200 GMT, Monday) in the countryside of Quneitra province. The Israeli military said its aircraft attacked targets in Syria hours after the mortar bomb from fighting among factions in Syria struck the Golan Heights. Israel captured the plateau from Syria in a 1967 war. Related Coverage Israeli military denies any of its aircraft shot down in Syria The Syrian army said it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone after the Israeli attack. Denying any of its aircraft had been lost, the Israeli military said in a statement: “Overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the mission to target Syrian artillery positions. At no point was the safety of (Israeli) aircraft compromised.” The seven-day truce in Syria, brokered by Russia and the United States, is their second attempt this year by to halt the bloodshed.[SEP]Story highlights Syria claims it shot down an Israeli warplane and drone near Israeli border Tuesday But Israel says none of its aircraft were struck, calling the claim "completely false" (CNN) The Israel Defense Forces have rejected Syrian military claims to have downed an Israeli warplane and drone over southwest Syria Tuesday morning as "completely false." The General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces said in a statement that the incident occurred at 1:30 am local time Tuesday (6:30 p.m. ET Monday), after Israeli warplanes attacked a Syrian army position in al-Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights . The statement said that Syrian air defense shot down a warplane southwest of al-Quneitra, and a drone west of the town of SaaSaa. But the IDF spokesman's office called the claims "total lies." Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said that "overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the mission overnight to target Syrian artillery positions. At no point was the safety of IDF aircraft compromised." Read More[SEP]Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - The UN's Syria envoy on Tuesday applauded a "significant drop" in violence through the first 24 hours of a fragile ceasefire but said security concerns meant aid convoys stayed on hold. The truce brokered by Russia and the United States began at sundown on Monday, in the latest bid to end a conflict that has killed more than 300,000 people since March 2011. The agreement aims to bring an end to fighting between President Bashar al-Assad's loyalists and a wide range of rebels but excludes jihadist forces like the Islamic State (IS) group. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said reports reaching his office indicated "a significant drop in violence", in a rare respite in Syria's devastating conflict. De Mistura noted isolated reports of conflict persisted, especially on Monday night, but that by sunrise on Tuesday the broad picture was positive. The envoy said he had "no information about any UN trucks moving at this stage", demanding "assurances that the drivers and the convoy will be unhindered and untouched". In second city Aleppo, AFP correspondents in both the rebel-held east and the government-held west reported nearly 24 hours had passed without air strikes or rocket fire. AFP correspondents in government-held Damascus and its rebel-controlled suburbs reported quiet too, with residents taking advantage of the lull in violence to mark the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported minor violations by both government and rebel forces in different parts of the country, but no deaths. However, the truce did not prevent heavy fighting between regime forces and the jihadist Jund al-Aqsa faction in Hama province of central Syria, the monitoring group said. Damascus accused the opposition of a series of violations, with its ally Moscow saying Syrian government forces were fully respecting the truce but that rebels had violated it 23 times. "Syrian government troops have completely stopped firing" except in jihadist-held areas, but "the same cannot be said for armed units of the moderate opposition controlled by the US", said Viktor Poznikhir, a senior Russian military officer. - 'We could sleep' - Story continues US Secretary of State John Kerry had said earlier that it was "far too early to draw conclusions" about the success of the ceasefire but urged all sides to seize the opportunity. "For all the doubts that remain, and there will be challenges in the days to come, this plan has a chance to work," he said of the deal he agreed on Friday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "I urge all the parties to support it because it may be the last chance that one has to save a united Syria." The lull in violence was a rare respite for residents of the war-ravaged country, where more than half the population has been displaced and hundreds of thousands live under siege. "We usually stay up all night with the airplanes, but thank God last night we could all sleep," said activist Hassan Abu Nuh in opposition-held Talbisseh in central Syria. It was also quiet in the largely rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib, where air strikes killed 13 people only hours before the truce. In rebel-held eastern Aleppo, children laughed as they ran through the streets, some playing football under a destroyed bridge. "The truce is good, but it's not enough. We want food to come in," said resident Abu Jamil. In the government-held west of the city, Habib Badr was enjoying the silence. "My house is near the Razi hospital and I'm used to hearing ambulance sirens every two or three hours. I haven't heard anything this morning," he said. The deal is the latest in a succession of attempts to end the fighting in Syria. It calls for the truce to be renewed every 48 hours, and immediate humanitarian aid access, particularly to civilians living under siege. By Tuesday afternoon, there were no signs aid had begun moving into those areas, including eastern Aleppo which is surrounded by government troops. Damascus warned, meanwhile, that all aid going to Aleppo, particularly assistance sent by Turkey, must be coordinated with it and the United Nations. - Opposition sceptical - Russia said its troops had been deployed on the key Castello Road running from Turkey into Aleppo that is to become a demilitarised zone under the deal. If the ceasefire holds for a week, Moscow and Washington will then begin an unprecedented joint campaign to target jihadists, including IS and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fatah al-Sham Front. Russia said De Mistura could invite government and opposition representatives to new peace talks "at the very beginning of October". But there is still deep scepticism about whether the truce will last, with the opposition yet to officially sign on. A crucial part of the deal calls on non-jihadist rebels to break ranks with Fateh al-Sham ahead of joint US-Russian operations against the group. But many Islamist rebel groups cooperate closely with Fateh al-Sham, and the biggest of them -- the powerful Ahrar al-Sham group -- has criticised the terms of the Russian-US deal. Damascus and its allies have backed the truce, but on Monday Assad said his regime remained "determined to recover every area from the terrorists".[SEP]Israel said its aircraft attacked a Syrian army position on Tuesday after a stray mortar bomb struck the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, and it denied a Syrian statement that a warplane and drone were shot down. The air strike was a now-routine Israeli response to the occasional spillover from fighting in a five-year-old civil war, and across Syria a ceasefire was holding at the start of its second day. Syria’s army command said in a statement that Israeli warplanes had attacked an army position at 1am on Tuesday (2200 GMT, Monday) in the countryside of Quneitra province. The Israeli military said its aircraft attacked targets in Syria hours after the mortar bomb from fighting among factions in Syria struck the Golan Heights. Israel captured the plateau from Syria in a 1967 war. The Syrian army said it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone after the Israeli attack. Denying any of its aircraft had been lost, the Israeli military said in a statement: “Overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the mission to target Syrian artillery positions. At no point was the safety of (Israeli) aircraft compromised.” The seven-day truce in Syria, brokered by Russia and the United States, is their second attempt this year by to halt the bloodshed.[SEP]The General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces said in a statement that the incident occurred at 1:30 am local time Tuesday (6:30 p.m. ET Monday), after Israeli warplanes attacked a Syrian army position in al-Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights . The statement said that Syrian air defense shot down a warplane southwest of al-Quneitra, and a drone west of the town of SaaSaa. But the IDF spokesman's office called the claims "total lies." Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said that "overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the mission overnight to target Syrian artillery positions. At no point was the safety of IDF aircraft compromised." The Israeli mission had been conducted to strike Syrian regime targets after a projectile launched from Syria had struck the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. No casualties had resulted from the Syrian strike on the Golan Heights, the IDF said. The Golan has been repeatedly struck with projectiles fired from across the border in southwest Syria, as fighting in the country's five-year civil war drags on. Last week, three projectiles landed in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights The Israeli strike on Syria came hours after a nationwide ceasefire , brokered by the United States and Russia, came into effect in the war-ravaged country. Syria ceasefire: What you need to know Syria: Will ceasefire hold in first 24 hours? In the first 24 hours of the deal, the second concerted attempt this year to halt the grinding civil war, the peace appeared to be holding, although a monitoring group reported a number of violations in and around Aleppo in its early hours. Israel seized parts of the Golan Heights, a strategic, rocky plateau to its northeast, from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. An Israeli tank in the Golan Heights near the Quneitra crossing with Syria in July. The international community considers the Golan Heights to be occupied territory and Israeli settlement-building there to be illegal. Syria wants the return of the territory that UN peacekeeping forces have monitored for decades.[SEP]Syrian army says it shot down Israeli warplane, drone Syria's military said it shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone early Tuesday in response to an attack on Syrian army positions -- a claim denied by Israel. "Our air defences blocked the attack and shot down the military aircraft in (the southern province of) Quneitra and a drone" in the province of Damascus, said the Syrian army statement carried by state news agency SANA. It accused Israeli forces of supporting "armed terrorist groups" in the country's south. The Israeli army said none of its aircraft had been downed. "Overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the (Israeli) mission overnight to target Syrian artillery positions," military spokesman Arye Shalicar said. "At no point was the safety of (Israeli) aircraft compromised. Nothing true about what they claim." The Israeli military earlier said it targeted Syrian army positions after stray fire from its war-torn neighbour hit the Israeli-held zone of the Golan Heights on Monday. An Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP Monday's projectile was most likely not intentional, rather spillover from "internal fighting in Syria." It was the fourth such incident in nine days, and came as a new Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States came into force on Monday. The initial 48-hour truce does not apply to areas held by jihadists such as the Islamic State group.[SEP]JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military struck artillery positions in Syria on Tuesday after a projectile from that country’s civil war hit the Israeli-controlled part of the Golan Heights, but denied a Syrian claim that Syrian forces shot down two Israeli aircraft. The incident was the fifth case since last week in which fighting in Syria has spilled over into Israel, and the first since a U.S.-Russia brokered truce went into effect at sunset on Monday to try and end the civil war, now in its sixth year. Israel has largely remained on the sidelines of the fighting, but has carried out reprisals on Syrian positions when errant fire previously landed in Israel. Shortly after the air raid, Syria’s armed forces claimed to have shot down an Israeli warplane and an unmanned drone along the frontier. The Israeli military quickly denied the report, saying that a pair of surface-to-air missiles were fired at its aircraft but missed. “At no point was the safety of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) aircraft compromised,” it said. Israeli warplanes have conducted several raids on Syrian army positions over the past weeks after stray shells hit the Israeli-controlled Golan. Israel is also widely believed to have carried out airstrikes on arms shipments said to be destined for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of the Syrian government. Later on Tuesday, the Israeli military said another “projectile” fired from Syria hit the Golan Heights, causing no injuries. It would not elaborate further. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and the two countries have technically been in a state of war for decades.[SEP]Fire from Syria hit the Israeli-held zone of the Golan Heights on Wednesday, the military said, the latest in a string of incidents ratcheting up tension between the uneasy neighbours. "Earlier today a projectile fired from Syria hit the northern Israeli Golan Heights," an army statement said. "No injuries have been reported." There was no immediate report of an Israeli response. On Tuesday Israeli aircraft struck Syrian army positions after stray fire from Syria's war hit the Israeli-occupied zone. Syria said it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone, a claim denied by Israel. The uptick comes as a new Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States came into force on Monday. The truce does not apply to areas held by jihadists such as the Islamic State group. The Israeli army holds the Syrian government accountable for any fire from its territory, regardless of its source. There were similar events in July and previously. Israel has sought to avoid being drawn into Syria's complex war which is now in its sixth year, but it has attacked Syrian military targets when fire from the conflict spills over. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.[SEP]Syrian army says it shot down Israeli warplane and a drone - state media BEIRUT, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The Syrian army said on Tuesday it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone in Syria after an Israeli attack on a Syrian army position in southern Syria, state media reported. SANA news agency said the warplane had attacked an army position at 1 a.m. on Tuesday in the southern Quneitra countryside. It and a drone were then shot down. The Israeli military was not immediately able to comment. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Dominic Evans)[SEP]YERUSHALAYIM/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The IDF denied on Tuesday morning a report on Syrian state media that an Israeli warplane and a drone were shot down after an Israeli attack on a Syrian army position. “Overnight two surface-to-air missiles were launched from Syria after the mission to target Syrian artillery positions. At no point was the safety of [Israeli] aircraft compromised,” the Israeli military said in a statement. The Syrian army earlier said it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone in Syria after an Israeli attack on a Syrian army position in southern Syria. SANA news agency said that the warplane had attacked an army position at 1 a.m. on Tuesday in the southern Quneitra countryside, and that it and a drone were then shot down.
Syria reports its air defense shot down an Israeli warplane that attacked a Syrian army position in al-Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces say that missiles were fired at their aircraft but none hit.
SHIKARPUR – At least 13 people, including five cops, were injured after one of the two suicide bombers struck the Eid congregation in a Shikarpur mosque, police said Tuesday. The district police said four suicide attackers infiltrated Khanpur and reached SHIKARPUR – At least 13 people, including five cops, were injured after one of the two suicide bombers struck the Eid congregation in a Shikarpur mosque, police said Tuesday. The district police said four suicide attackers infiltrated Khanpur and reached Shikarpur district of Sindh province. Two of the attackers targeted an Eid prayer ground where one assailant blew himself up, injuring 10 people, two of whom were policemen. The other attacker fled, police sources said. Two other attackers targeted an imambargah but were stopped by police at the entrance on account of appearing suspicious. One of the attackers blew himself up after he was stopped by guards for a search, whereas the other was arrested, police said. The second attacker, a would-be suicide bomber, was shot and wounded at the scene, after which the officers arrested him. On the other hand, according to the reports in local media, the second attacker was overpowered by the people and also tortured before handed over to the police. Three police officers were wounded in the explosion. One of the wounded officers was reportedly in critical condition. Those injured in the blast have been admitted to hospitals in Shikarpur for treatment. Additional contingents of police have been deployed at the blast site. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Sindh Inspector General of Police AD Khawaja reached Shikarpur and inspected the blast site. He also visited the injured admitted in different hospitals. The IGP announced Rs1 million financial aid for those who were seriously injured. Bakhtwar Bhutto Zardari took it to Twitter to appreciate the policemen who showed great courage.[SEP]KARACHI: At least 13 people, including five policemen, were on Tuesday injured in two separate suicide bombings during Eid prayers targeting minority Shias in Pakistan’s relatively peaceful southern Sindh province. Four suicide attackers infiltrated Shikarpur district’s Khanpur tehsil, 470 kilometres north of Karachi, police said. Two of the attackers targeted an Eid prayer ground where one assailant blew himself up, injuring 10 people, two of whom were policemen. The other attacker fled, they said. Two other suicide bombers targeted a Shia mosque but they were stopped at the entrance by policemen, which led to one of the attackers to blow himself up while the other was arrested. Three policemen were injured in the attack, one of whom was critical. Last year, at least 61 people were killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in the district. “If the policemen had not prevented these suicide bombers from entering the prayer venues there would have been large-scale casualties because of the large gathering because of Eid prayers,” he said. He said the attackers at the Shia mosque were stopped by policemen as they looked suspicious and when confronted one of them detonated himself. “The other attacker was brought down and arrested,” he added. Those injured in the blast have been admitted to hospitals in Shikarpur for treatment. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.[SEP]England cricket star Moeen Ali joined an estimated 40,000 worshippers for prayers at Eid al-Adha in Small Heath Park today. Moeen was pictured in a hat and black zip-up top instead of his more familiar Waitrose-sponsored white England shirt. A Sparkhill Muslim of Pakistani descent, the left-handed batsman made his first class debut for Warwickshire in 2005 before joining Worcestershire in 2007. Moeen tweeted: “Eid salah done! Eid Mubarak to everyone. May Allah accept everyone’s hajj. Ameen!!” The weather was warm and thankfullly dry after Saturday's prolonged rain 48 hours earlier. Sherjeel tweeted: "Last Eid at Small Heath, (a) man was in the front row (and) I realised how peak hay fever can be after Ramadhan and no hay fever tablets." On Facebook, Ayesha Haque wrote: "Eid Mubarak to all the team and volunteers and everyone of Green Lane Masjid who help make Eid in the park possible!" "We stayed to listen to the khutba (public preaching). Your speech was understood so clearly. We been going to the park since its started this is first time we enjoyed." Another large scale event was held in Ward End park as well as prayers at various mosques around the city. Earlier today, National Express warned of potential delays around Small Heath between 9am and 1pm due to the prayers in the park. Network West Midlands then tweeted at 11am to say services were running up to 30 minutes late due to traffic congestion. The celebration commemorates Ibraham’s devotion to Allah and also the end of the annual Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) that all Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives. Worshippers carry out a series of rituals at Mecca including gathering for prayers on the plain of Arafah, near Mount Arafat. They pray to be forgiven for all their sins committed over the preceding year and the coming year. How does it compare with Eid al-Fitre earlier this summer? The Adi al-Adha event doesn’t include stalls, refreshments, funfair and other family activities associated with Eid al-Fitr on July 6. This occasion marked the end of the daily fasting through the month of Ramadan and drew an estimated attendance of 80,000 people.[SEP]A suicide bomber injured four policemen, one critically, outside a Shiite mosque in southern Pakistan as the country marked the beginning of the religious festival Eid al-Adha on Tuesday. The attack took place in Shikarpur in Sindh province, around 470 kilometres (300 miles) north of Karachi and the same district where at least 61 were killed in a suicide attack on another Shiite mosque in 2015. Officials said two suicide bombers tried to enter the Khanpur Imambargah but were intercepted by police. "Four of our men are injured of whom one is critical," Umar Tufail, a senior local police officer told AFP. Tufail added doctors were also trying to save the life of the other suspected bomber, who was injured when the first one blew himself up but failed to detonate himself. "The attackers came as the worshippers were gathering to offer Eid prayers. Police were able to stop him at the gate outside the mosque," A.D. Khawaja, chief of police for Sindh province said. Worshippers overpowered the second would-be suicide bomber as the police were reeling from their injuries, he added. Pakistan has been hit by frequent sectarian violence in recent years, most of it perpetrated by hardline Sunni Muslim groups against minority Shiite Muslims, who make up around one in five of the population. The January 2015 attack on the Shiites in Shikarpur, blamed on the Sunni militant Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group, led to a wave of nationwide protests. In another incident Tuesday, a police van was hit by a roadside bomb in Quetta city in the southwestern province of Baluchistan. "One policeman was killed and five others injured when their van was targeted," local police official Abdul Razaq told AFP. He said two of the injured were in critical condition. The incident was confirmed by local administration official Akbar Harifal. Baluchistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has oil and gas resources but is afflicted by Islamist militancy, sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and a separatist insurgency.[SEP]The day begins with morning prayers. The celebrations continue with visits to friends and family, exchange of gifts and feasts. Those who can afford it also slaughter an animal, like a cow or sheep, and share the meat with the less fortunate. Here are five things to know about the holiday: one of two Eid holidays observed by Muslims. 1. Pronounced EED al-UHD-huh, the holiday is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice. It isobserved by Muslims. The other is Eid al-Fitr , which follows the conclusion of Ramadan, the month of fasting. when God appeared to Abraham -- known as Ibrahim to Muslims -- in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. 2. Eid al-Adha commemorates-- known as Ibrahim to Muslims -- in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. A version of the story also appears in the Torah and in the Bible's Old Testament. 3. To commemorate God's test of Ibrahim, many Muslim families sacrifice an animal and share the meat with the poor. They also are required to donate to charities that benefit the poor. Muslims also routinely exchange presents during the holiday. Ahead of Eid celebrations, a vendor awaits customers at a market in Dubai. height of the Hajj, 4. Considered one of Islam's revered observances, the four-day religious holiday corresponds with the the pilgrimage to Mecca that all financially and physically able Muslims are required to undertake once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage annually draws 2 million Muslims. Muslim pilgrims attend the evening prayers inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca 5. This year, Eid al-Adha will begin on Monday, in most of the Muslim world. Because the festival depends on the sighting of the new moon, some countries may celebrate on Tuesday. Eid Mubarak (pronounced EED muh-BAR-ack) and Eid Saeed are routine greetings used during the observance to offer best wishes.[SEP]The celebration of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which began on Monday, has provided a long-overdue respite for the littlest victims of Syria's devastating war. Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, the four-day celebration started with morning prayers and continues with feasts and visits to friends and family. Gifts are exchanged. The deal calls for a halt to the violence between the Syrian regime and rebel forces. It also allows much-needed humanitarian access to besieged cities such as Aleppo. The desperately-needed #ceasefire couldn't come soon enough for #Syria's children. https://t.co/sfUOTz0KIF pic.twitter.com/l9Qrj9PHbp — Save the Children US (@SavetheChildren) September 12, 2016 Aleppo has seen many of its neighborhoods come under fire and more than 6,000 people -- mainly civilians -- killed or injured. But this week at least, the giggles, laughs and excited voices of young children were heard rising from the city's ruins. Children lined up for simple amusement rides and mingled with costumed characters. We try to provide basic life needs for Aleppo's children who have forgotten the spirit of Eid because of Syrian war. pic.twitter.com/EDv5eL7zG8 — SOS-Syria (@SOS_Children_Sy) September 12, 2016 A decade ago Aleppo was a bustling economic hub boasting more than 2 million residents. Its robust history and ancient architecture drew many tourists. After four years of hellish battle, the city is now estimated to be home to roughly one-tenth of that number, between 200,000 and 300,000 people. The fighting has been brutal, and many residents have been killed. Others have fled. Those who remained haven't received much aid and are suffering shortages of food, fuel and medicine, a situation that grew only more desperate in July when President Bashar Assad's forces bombarded a major supply artery into the city. Just hours before the ceasefire began Monday evening, airstrikes continued to bombard opposition targets. In addition to eid outfits we have delivered food aid to families of 8.500 orphans in #Syria. pic.twitter.com/GjHC8odE7D — Humanitarian Relief (@IHHen) September 9, 2016 At least seven people, including three children, were killed in rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Monday, according to UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The latest assault followed the deaths of 93 people in airstrikes in Aleppo and Idlib over the weekend -- 61 of them in an attack on a popular market where residents were shopping ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday. The Syrian civil war has killed more than 300,000 people and forced more than 5 million to flee the country, spawning an international refugee crisis.[SEP]Monday 12 September marks the start of an auspicious week for millions of Muslims around the world, as devotees commence the annual Eid al-Adha celebrations following the end of Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Despite also being known as 'Eid', the September festival is distinct from Eid al-Fitr, the annual date that comes immediately after Ramadan, which in celebrated in the summer months. The Muslim holiday officially began Monday and continues through Thursday this week. It's also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or the Greater Eid and honors Prophet Abraham's sacrifice of his son Ishmael, as an act of submission to God's command. The celebrations commence with Muslims going to the Mosque for morning prayers, and later gifting, family gatherings and the exchanging of cards. Traditionally, the festival lasts for four days but public holidays vary around the world - with Arab countries observing a nine-day public holiday from Friday, September 9 until Saturday, September 17 2016. Here's all you need to know on Greater Eid. In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the 12th month and lasts for four days until the 13th day. n the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year. The exact date and timing of the occasion varies on the positioning of the moon at the beginning of the Islamic calendar month, better known as Dhu’l-Hijjah. As a result of this, Eid al-Adha often falls on different days around the world - depending on your location and region. Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced on Friday it would celebrate the festival on the September 12 2016. In Asia, however, Greater Eid will be marked on September 13. On the commencing morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims will attend morning prayers at local mosques – often embarking on a different route back home, as this is following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. Some Muslims also pray as part of community-led events in public places, such as parks - here are the events taking place around the UK for your family to get involved. As it's a celebratory festival, men and women will also dress up for the occasion, often wearing new outfits, or their best clothes. It's tradition to gift and be gifted new clothes during Eid al-Adha, families and friends will also gather together to exchange gifts, money and eat traditional food. Sacrifice is also part of the tradition - in some countries, Muslim families buy, keep and slaughter their own animal, anyone the UK wishing to sacrifice an animal has to do so humanely. Islamic rules also state that the animal must be an adult and in good health. The Qurbani (sacrificial) meat is then divided into three equal parts – one for the household, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor - a meal will then be prepared with this sacrifice. The meat can go to anyone, even if they’re not Muslim themselves. Aside from curries and traditional dishes, cakes, biscuits and desserts such as Turkish baklava and Indian rice pudding will also feature in the indulgent feast. Eid is a unique occasion and one of the things which makes it so is the Eid al-Adha congregational prayer on the morning of the opening day. A priest or Imam will be present, and as a guideline, worshippers should follow the Imam in prayer and mark his actions accordingly. If you are looking for ideas on how to celebrate Eid 2016, we've put together a handy guide for getting involved in events across the UK to mark the annual Muslim festival.[SEP]RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi district police have chalked out a comprehensive security plan chalked out for peaceful observance of Eid-ul-Azha. Over 3000 policemen will be deployed to guard some 672 mosques, 58 Imambargahs and 59 open Eid congregations in the district during Eid prayers. Elite Force, Mohafiz Squad and Special Branch personnel along with ladies police and police national volunteers will also perform duties during Eid days. Strict action in accordance with the law will be taken against one-wheelers while security arrangements have also been made for all public parks. Under the security plan devised on the instructions of City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi, policemen will also patrol in various sectors and police officers of respective circles will ensure proper security at the Eid congregations to be held at various locations of the district. Walk-through gates and scanners will also be installed at main Eid congregations for the safety of the citizens. Special directives have been passed on to all the officers concerned for the effective security measures. Special pickets have already been set up at all entry and exit points of the city where over 250 cops and officers are performing security duty. All superintendents of police (SPs) have been directed to himself supervise security arrangements in their respective areas. Special security arrangements have also been made for Murree.[SEP]NEW YORK: American-Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Azha on Monday as they offered prayers and exchanged greetings on the occasion that underlines the message of sacrifice, mutual care, patience and generosity. Pakistani-Americans living in the New York region joined their fellow Muslims in celebrating the festive occasion. In a special message to mark the occasion, United Nations Secretary-General said, “Eid al-Adha is a celebration of sacrifice for the common good, family and community, and compassion and solidarity with the least amongst us. “At a time when societies face complex challenges — violent conflict, displacement, division – let us draw on our common humanity to build a better world for all. I wish all Muslims around the world a blessed and peaceful Eid.” In their sermons, the Imams and Khateeb prayed for peace in conflict-torn Islamic countries and urged the need to foster values of brotherhood, love and peaceful coexistence. They also prayed for unity in the Muslim world to confront the many challenges it faces. In the New York region with the largest concentration of Muslims in the United States, prayers were offered at a number of places, with the main gathering at Manhattan Islamic Centre where diplomats accredited to the United Nations and the city government were among those who participated. —Agencies[SEP]Sept 12 (Reuters) - Muslims around the world celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday on Monday, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar. Marking the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command, Muslims mark the holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor. Faithful across continents marked the festival which comes as the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia draws to a close. In Iraq, authorities adopted tough security measures during the festival, searching worshippers as they entered Abdul-Qadir al-Gilani mosque in Baghdad. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prayed at a mosque in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, which was evacuated by rebels and surrendered to government control last month, state media reported. In Asia, tens of thousands of people left Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on crowded trains and ferries for their hometowns to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, while in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Muslims attended morning prayers. The festival was also celebrated across Africa, with the faithful in countries such as Somalia and Kenya attending mass prayers. In Russia, thousands of Muslims gathered for prayers in Moscow while in Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May released a video message to the country's Muslim community. "I am proud of the contribution British Muslims make to this country and proud that Britain is home to people from vibrant and diverse backgrounds," she said. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Two attackers of Eid al-Adha prayers in an Imambargah at Shikapur district, Sindh, injure at least ten people including five policemen. One assailant blew himself up and authorities arrested the other one.
Karachi: At least two policemen were killed in a roadside blast in the troubled Balochistan province while 13 people were injured in two separate suicide bombings during Eid prayers on Tuesday targeting minority Shias in Pakistan's relatively peaceful southern Sindh province. Two police officials were killed and 10 other injured in a blast near a police training centre on Quetta's Sariab road when militants targeted a police patrol vehicle in the area, police said. Also, four suicide attackers infiltrated Shikarpur district's Khanpur tehsil, 470 kilometres north of Karachi, police said. Two of the attackers targeted an Eid prayer ground where one assailant blew himself up, injuring 10 people, two of whom were policemen. The other attacker managed to flee, they said. Two other suicide bombers targeted a Shia mosque but they were stopped at the entrance by policemen, which led to one of them blowing himself up while the other was arrested. Three policemen were injured in the attack, one of whom was critical. Last year, at least 61 people were killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in the district. "Alert" policemen at the venues prevented huge casualties, police officer Beherdin Kehrio told reporters. "If the policemen had not prevented these suicide bombers from entering the prayer venues there would have been largescale casualties because of the large gathering because of Eid prayers," he said. He said the attackers at the Shia mosque were stopped by policemen as they looked suspicious and when confronted one of them detonated himself. "The other attacker was brought down and arrested," he added. Those injured in the blast have been admitted to hospitals in Shikarpur for treatment. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan has been frequently hit by sectarian violence in recent years, most of them perpetrated by hardline Sunni Muslim groups against minority Shia Muslims. However, Sindh is considered a relatively peaceful of Pakistan's four provinces and is highly influenced by Sufi doctrines and principles.[SEP]Roadside blast kills two cops in Quetta QUETTA: A roadside bomb killed two policemen and injured eight other people on Tuesday, police and rescue officials said. “A bomb planted on Sariab Road went off just as a police van passed by,” Geo News quoted Superintendent Police Abdullah Afridi as saying. It was not immediately clear whether all the injured were policemen, Afridi said. The injured were moved to Civil Hospital Quetta, where at least one of them is said to be in critical condition. Rescue officials said two policemen were killed and five others injured in the attack that apparently targeted their van. Two passers by are said to have sustained injuries in the attack. The police suspect that the attack was carried out through a remote-controlled device. Earlier in the day, at least three policemen were injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives while trying to enter Khanpur Imambargah in Shikarpur district of SIindh province as worshipers were offering Eid prayers. Worshippers overpowered the second would-be suicide bomber as the police were reeling from their injuries inflicted in the first blast.[SEP]Mr. Kirby was responding to a question on growing clarion calls from both inside and outside Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on its independence and violation of human rights by the Pakistani security forces there. The U.S. respects the unity and territorial integrity of Pakistan and does not support independence for Balochistan, a state department official has said. “The government policy is that we support the territorial integrity of Pakistan and we do not support independence for Balochistan,” State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday. Mr. Kirby was responding to a question on growing clarion calls from both inside and outside Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on its independence and violation of human rights by the Pakistani security forces there. “Where does the U.S. stand on Balochistan? Because Indian Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] has raised this subject,” Mr. Kirby was asked. “The U.S. Government respects the unity and territorial integrity of Pakistan and we do not support independence for Balochistan,” he reiterated. In his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 70th Independence Day, Modi talked about the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit and Balochistan and said people from there have thanked him for raising their issues.
A roadside blast in the Balochistan Province kills two policemen and injures eight people.
Typhoon Meranti battered southeastern China with heavy winds and torrential rain on Thursday, cutting power, ripping up trees and smashing windows, a day after lashing Taiwan. The super typhoon, packing winds of 170 kilometres per hour (105 miles per hour) made landfall around 3am near the city of Xiamen before heading inland, state media said. Images from Xiamen showed flooded streets, uprooted trees, and traffic signs torn from their posts by the violent winds. There were no reports of any casualties. The Xinhua news agency described the storm as the most powerful to hit Fujian province in at least 67 years, with meteorological records only going back to the founding of modern China in 1949. Local media described windows broken by flying roof tiles with fragments littering pavements and water supplies cut. Schools and many businesses were already shut for the Mid-Autumn Festival when people traditionally meet up with family for celebratory meals. Xiamen's utility providers said there had been power outages in most of the city, which is home to some 3.5 million people. Train services were disrupted throughout Fujian as well as in neighbouring Jiangxi province. Officials had earlier urged people to stay at home and ordered ships to return to port as Meranti bore down on the mainland, having lashed Taiwan on Wednesday. The storm left one person dead and 38 injured after skirting past the island's southern tip with the strongest winds recorded there in 21 years. A 58-year-old fisherman died when he fell into the water after a vessel broke from its anchor. Most of the other injuries were caused by falling objects. Thousands of others were forced to flee their homes and around 350,000 households were still without power as of Thursday morning. At the peak of the storm, more than one million households lost power. The island was also bracing for the possible impact of another tropical storm, Typhoon Malakas, which was forecast to sweep past the east coast of the island on Saturday.[SEP]Hong Kong (CNN) China has issued its highest warning for high ocean waves as Typhoon Meranti slices its way toward the mainland after pounding Taiwan. The powerful storm slammed southern Taiwan early Thursday local time, bringing winds of up to 230 mph (370 kilometers per hour) -- faster than a Formula One race car -- at one point and torrential rains. Meranti is the strongest typhoon since Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013 and is the strongest to come this close to Taiwan since 1959. As Meranti plowed toward the mainland, heavy rain has been socking Xiamen, a Chinese city across the Taiwan Strait, CNN correspondent Matt Rivers reported. Rough waters seen from the Chung Hwa bridge in Taiwan's Taitung county. Rough waters seen from the Chung Hwa bridge in Taiwan's Taitung county. Storm damage is seen near Fugang fishing port in southern Taiwan. Storm damage is seen near Fugang fishing port in southern Taiwan. A truck is overturned in southern Pingtung county, Taiwan on September 14, 2016. The island is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Meranti. A truck is overturned in southern Pingtung county, Taiwan on September 14, 2016. The island is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Meranti. Meranti is closing in on eastern China's Fujian Province. The storm's center is within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the coast and should make landfall around 2 p.m. ET Wednesday (2 a.m. local time Thursday) near Xiamen. Mainland emergency crews and officials braced for the deluge. "The typhoon will bring gales and heavy rains when it makes landfall," meteorologist Li Mei said, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. No longer super but still dangerous Meranti had been classified as a super typhoon, but the storm -- though still dangerous -- has weakened to typhoon status, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said late Wednesday. Continued weakening of the storm is expected, but Meranti should remain at typhoon strength for about the next 12 hours, forecasters said. The main threats to land include large storm surges and coastal inundation, inland flash flooding, mudslides and damaging winds in excess of 90 mph (150 kilometers per hour). Two people were injured, according to Taiwanese authorities. More than 500,000 households lost power, Taiwanese state-run Central News Agency said. More than 370 domestic and international flights were canceled, train services were suspended and roads were closed. As of 7 a.m. local time Wednesday, around 1,500 people had been evacuated from the affected areas, Li Wei-sen of the Taiwan Central Emergency Operating Center told CNN. Almost 4,000 military and police personnel were deployed to prepare for potential future evacuations, but he said authorities are not expecting major damage or destruction. In West Dawu, rainfall totaled 707 millimeters or nearly 28 inches, and flood warnings are in place for 16 rivers, the news agency said. But the main brunt of the storm will fall on mainland China. The storm could be the strongest to hit Guangdong province in 47 years if it makes landfall in the eastern part, Xinhua reported. "It only took nine hours for Meranti to grow into a super typhoon from a typhoon," Guangdong meteorologist Zhang Dong told the news agency. "Packing winds between 202 to 220 kilometers per hour, it is interacting with another storm, Malakas, 1,000 kilometers away, and the route could be hard to predict." China's National Meteorological Center issued a red typhoon warning at 6 a.m. local time Wednesday, while authorities cautioned that waves eight to 13 meters (26 to 42 feet) high could be expected in the northeastern South China Sea. "Gales and waves up to 12 meters high have been observed off the eastern coast of Taiwan, as the 14th typhoon this year moves westward and is expected to hit the coast of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces on Wednesday and Thursday," Xinhua reported. Surges are expected off those three provinces, officials said. The State Oceanic Administration trigged "a class-II emergency response, the second highest level," ships have been ordered back to harbor and people have been told not to venture outside, according to the news agency. Meranti underwent rapid intensification Monday and Tuesday, growing from a Category 1 equivalent storm to a Category 5; the typhoon has maintained winds of 190 mph (305 kilometers per hour) for nearly 24 hours. Despite being a frequent target for powerful Pacific typhoons, Taiwan has a track record of limiting their deadly impact. But storms often turn deadlier as they move to the mainland. The flatter terrain -- prone to storm surges and inland flooding -- and higher population density often result in a great number of deaths or displacement of people. Despite weakening to a tropical storm, Nepartak and its associated heavy rainfall of up to 10 inches killed more than 80 people. Meranti is expected to be much stronger when it hits the mainland, with winds around 130 mph (210 kilometers per hour), or the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.[SEP]Typhoon Meranti has hit southeastern China, bringing strong winds and lashing rain and cutting power in what state media is calling the strongest storm of the year globally. The storm, registered as a super typhoon before losing strength after sweeping southern Taiwan, made landfall on Thursday near the major city of Xiamen. Pictures on state media showed flooded streets in some parts of the province of Fujian, where Xiamen is located, fallen trees and crushed cars. Dozens of flights and train services have been cancelled, state television said, inconveniencing people at the start of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Some parts of Xiamen, including both urban and rural areas, had power supplies cut off, the report added. Xinhua news agency said it was the strongest typhoon to hit that part of the country since the founding of Communist China in 1949 and the strongest so far this year anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands of people had already been evacuated as the storm approached and fishing boats called back to port. One person died and 38 were injured in Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said, as the typhoon hit the southern part of the island on Wednesday night. Meranti was a Category 5 typhoon, the strongest classification awarded by Tropical Storm Risk storm tracker, before it made landfall on the mainland and has since been downgraded to Category 2. Meranti, which grew in strength the closer it got to Taiwan on Wednesday night, was carrying maximum winds of 227kmh as it clipped the south of the island, the weather bureau said. "This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year," weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Centre said many power lines were brought down, some by falling trees, cutting electricity to 550,000 households. "The damage from Meranti will continue to rise as the storm slams the island," said emergency centre spokesman Li Wei-sen. Trains and shipping services were disrupted, while offices and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities were closed and almost 1500 people were evacuated, the centre said. Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land. Meranti will continue to lose strength as it pushes inland and up towards China's commercial capital of Shanghai, but will bring heavy rain. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before it barrels into China, meteorologists said. China's National Marine Environment Forecasting Centre has issued its highest red alert as the storm approaches the country's eastern coast. The typhoon will first make landfall in Fujian and Canton on Thursday and authorities have launched an emergency response programme and ordered all ships to return to port and residents to remain indoors. The authorities have also ordered embankments of dams to be reinforced to prevent overflows. Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to US$3 billion of damage.[SEP]One of the strongest typhoons in recent history is bearing down on Taiwan and China with winds of up to 225mph and waves of almost 50ft. Super typhoon Meranti formed in the Pacific and is making its way to the tip of the tiny island on Wednesday morning local time. It grew from a Category 1 to a Category 5 storm in less than 24 hours. Schools have been shut and transport ground to a halt as the population of more than 23million people prepare to bunker down. Meranti is the strongest typhoon since Typhoon Haiayan which devastated the Philippines in 2013. Haiyan killed at least 6,300 people and further affected an estimated 11million. Meranti is also the strongest typhoon to come close to Taiwan since 1959. Most of the densely-populated country live in North-Western Taiwan, but many people are likely to feel its force nonetheless. • Summer's over as thunder, lightning storms and torrential rain hit Britain after record-breaking temperatures The typhoon is then expected to continue on its path and hit mainland China. It could potentially bring a 10-foot storm surge and hit coastal cities such as Xiamen which has a population of 3.5 million.[SEP]A powerful typhoon swept into southeastern China on Thursday after hitting Taiwan, leaving a total of two dead and dozens injured. Weather officials in both China and Taiwan said Typhoon Meranti was the strongest storm of its kind this year. Chinese state media reported one death and one person missing, as high winds and rain shattered windows on tall buildings, knocked down trees and disrupted water supplies in China's Fujian province, causing a widespread blackout in the coastal city of Xiamen. In Taiwan, the Central News Agency reported one person was killed and 44 were injured on the island by the storm. It said Meranti knocked out power in almost 1 million homes and water in more than 700,000. More than 140 trains heading into southeastern China were cancelled. An 800-year-old bridge in Fujian province was one casualty of the storm; state media released video of a rapidly flowing river pushing against the bridge until it fell in. Another video posted online shows a large, moon-shaped balloon bouncing between cars on a roadway. The balloon was an apparent decoration for Thursday's start of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival in both mainland China and Taiwan. Chinese meteorologists downgraded Meranti from a super typhoon to a tropical depression on Thursday afternoon and said they expect it to fade further as it moves north. Dozens of flights and train services have been cancelled, state television said, inconveniencing people at the start of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Xinhua news agency said it was the strongest typhoon to hit that part of the country since the founding of Communist China in 1949 and the strongest so far this year anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands of people had already been evacuated as the storm approached and fishing boats called back to port. One person died and 38 were injured in Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said, as the typhoon hit the southern part of the island on Wednesday night. Meranti was a Category 5 typhoon, the strongest classification awarded by Tropical Storm Risk storm tracker, before it made landfall on the mainland and has since been downgraded to Category 2. Meranti, which grew in strength the closer it got to Taiwan on Wednesday night, was carrying maximum winds of 227kmh as it clipped the south of the island, the weather bureau said. "This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year," weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Centre said many power lines were brought down, some by falling trees, cutting electricity to 550,000 households. "The damage from Meranti will continue to rise as the storm slams the island," said emergency centre spokesman Li Wei-sen. Trains and shipping services were disrupted, while offices and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities were closed and almost 1500 people were evacuated, the centre said. Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land. Meranti will continue to lose strength as it pushes inland and up towards China's commercial capital of Shanghai, but will bring heavy rain. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before it barrels into China, meteorologists said. China's National Marine Environment Forecasting Centre has issued its highest red alert as the storm approaches the country's eastern coast. The typhoon will first make landfall in Fujian and Canton on Thursday and authorities have launched an emergency response programme and ordered all ships to return to port and residents to remain indoors. The authorities have also ordered embankments of dams to be reinforced to prevent overflows. Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to US$3 billion of damage.[SEP]TAIPEI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of homes lost power across Taiwan on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Meranti hit the island, a storm seen as the strongest in the world so far this year, forcing schools and businesses to close and flights to be cancelled. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau warned that the Category 5 storm would threaten several southern and eastern cities, including Kaohsiung and Hualien, with strong winds, torrential rain and flooding. Meranti, which grew in strength as it neared Taiwan, was carrying maximum winds of 216 km per hour (134 mph), meteorologists said. Fallen power cables and trees were among some of the early damage reported. "This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year," weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. "Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today." Companies and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities have closed and almost 1,500 residents have been evacuated, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said in a statement. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, according to the Taiwan Power Co. Most domestic flights have been cancelled, including all of those from Kaohsiung airport, where international flights were also severely affected. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before the storm barrels into China, meteorologists said. Meranti is expected to make landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday, where authorities were already cancelling train services and preparing to evacuate people, state media said. In eastern Guangdong province, authorities ordered trawlers to return to harbour and fishermen to shelter on land from Meranti, which the official China News Service said could be the strongest typhoon to hit that part of China since 1969. Typhoons are generated at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific before bringing strong winds and violent rainstorms when they hit land. Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to $3 billion of damage. (Reporting by Faith Hung; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Paul Tait)[SEP]Typhoon Meranti has slammed into southeastern China bringing flooded streets, crushed cars and forcing people to evacuate in boats. The storm, registered as a super typhoon before losing strength after sweeping southern Taiwan, made landfall in the early hours of Thursday near the major city of Xiamen. Large sections of Xiamen had power supplies cut off, while parts of the city suffered water supply disruptions and some windows on tall buildings shattered. Meranti is the strongest typhoon to hit that part of the country since the founding of Communist China in 1949 and the strongest so far this year anywhere in the world. Dozens of flights and train services have been cancelled, state television added, disrupting travel at the start of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Tens of thousands of people had already been evacuated as the storm approached and fishing boats called back to port. One person died and 38 were injured in Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said, as the typhoon hit the southern part of the island on Wednesday. Meranti was a Category 5 typhoon, the strongest classification awarded by Tropical Storm Risk storm tracker, before it made landfall on the mainland and has since been downgraded to Category 2. Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land. Meranti will continue to lose strength as it pushes inland and up towards China's commercial capital of Shanghai, but will bring heavy rain. Meranti is the strongest typhoon since Typhoon Haiayan which devastated the Philippines in 2013. Haiyan killed at least 6,300 people and further affected an estimated 11million. • Summer's over as thunder, lightning storms and torrential rain hit Britain after record-breaking temperatures[SEP]Taipei, Sept. 13 (CNA) The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued its first land warning for Typhoon Meranti Tuesday morning, following a sea warning late Monday as the storm was expected to sweep past the southern part of Taiwan Wednesday through Thursday. Residents in Pingtung and Taitung as well as the outlying Orchid Island and Green Island are advised to be on alert for strong wind and heavy rain, the bureau said. Also, ships operating in waters southeast and northeast of Taiwan, the Bashi Channel, the Taiwan Strait and waters near the Pratas Islands should take precautions against high waves, it added. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Meranti was located 540 kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi, the southernmost tip of Taiwan, moving at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour in a west-northwesterly direction toward Taiwan, the bureau's data showed. With a radius of 200 kilometers, the typhoon was carrying maximum sustained winds of 209 kph, with gusts of up to 263 kph, according to the CWB. The bureau predicted that Meranti will have the strongest impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), a meteorologist and adjunct associate professor of atmospheric sciences at National Central University, described Meranti as "the strongest typhoon on earth this year." He said data from the U.S. military shows that Meranti is even stronger than Typhoon Nepartak that hit Taiwan in July, although data from Taiwan and Japan both indicate that Meranti is similar to Nepartak in intensity. (By Wang Shu-fen, Chen Wei-ting and Y.F. Low) ENDITEM/ke For latest flight information around Taiwan: ●Taipei Songshan Airport (Airport code: TSA, for domestic services and flights to Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Kimpo and several Chinese cities) ●Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE, for most international flights) ●Taichung airport (RMQ, domestic flights and services to Hong Kong, China, and regional destinations in Asia) ●Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH, for both international and domestic services)[SEP]Parts of Taiwan were brought to a standstill Wednesday as Typhoon Meranti skirted past the island’s southern tip, bringing the strongest winds in 21 years and disrupting traffic ahead of a major holiday. Although Meranti did not make landfall, the storm brought violent winds and torrential rain to eastern and southern Taiwan. By midafternoon, Meranti was 90 kilometers (56 miles) west-northwest of southernmost Hengchun township, packing gusts of up to 234 kilometers per hour (145 mph). Hengchun’s observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120-year history earlier Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. “Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today,” said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun. “It is the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in 21 years in terms of maximum sustained wind near the center.” Southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white sand beaches, was battered by winds and floods. Residents in a fishing port in southern Taitung County woke up to find that a small lighthouse had disappeared into the sea as waves almost 10 meters high lashed the shore. Trucks and cargo containers were overturned, while electricity poles and trees were blown down by winds in some southern areas. One uprooted tree hit a car in the southern city of Kaohsiung, though the driver was unharmed. There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. School and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties, and the typhoon had knocked out power for more than 300,000 households. There were severe travel disruptions for the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend starting Thursday; over 300 domestic and international flights had been cancelled and trains running along the east coast had been halted. More than 130 ferry services to offshore islets and to several Chinese coastal cities had been suspended. The coast guard was forced to cancel a ceremony to launch two new ships in Kaohsiung, while a maritime and defense expo in the city had been postponed. The storm was expected to dump as much as 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides. Close to 1,500 people had been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters. Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at 18 kilometers an hour. Another storm brewing east of the Philippines may also affect Taiwan later this week. The weather bureau’s Hsieh said Tropical Storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured in July when Typhoon Nepartak pounded Taiwan. The island’s worst typhoon death toll came in 2009, when Morakot left more than 600 dead, including 400 people who were buried by mudslides triggered by torrential rains.[SEP]An enormous 'super' typhoon set to rip through China after leaving a trail of devastation in Taiwan has recorded wind gusts of up to 370 km/h and waves 14-metres high. Super Typhoon Meranti is the strongest recorded since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and almost 1800 tourists have already been evacuated from smaller islands off Taiwan. There are also fears for 3000 people on the tiny island of Itbayat in the Philippines after the category 5 storm crashed through on Wednesday. It is unknown if residents had time to escape the typhoon as it engulfed the 83 square kilometre island, The Guardian reported. The typhoon hit Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon before moving on to China. Meranti is the strongest typhoon since Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. Haiyan was the deadliest typhoon to hit the Philippines and over 6000 people were killed. Photos of the devastation in Taiwan after Meranti ripped through show a truck southern Pingtung show a truck rolled on its side as the rain bucketed down. Residents waded through ankle deep water to remove rocks and create a clear passage to try and escape the flash floods in their vehicles. Over 200,000 homes lost power, schools were closed and flights were cancelled in Taiwan on Wednesday, according to the Indian Express. 'Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today,' weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. China is celebrating its Mid-Autumn Festival and a dumping of 100 to 200 millimetres of rain is expected to affect the festivities on Thursday. The typhoon recorded 300km/h winds for 18 hours on Wednesday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Taiwan issues land and sea warnings for Typhoon Meranti which is expected to hit tomorrow the southern part of the island.
TOKYO — Floods that devastated North Korea last month are turning out to be worse than initially feared, with more than 100,000 people left homeless, according to aid workers who visited the area last week. That puts Pyongyang in the inconvenient position of having to turn to the international community for help — at the same time North Korea is facing global condemnation after its nuclear test last week. “The effects of this flooding will be even more dramatic and devastating than initially thought,” said Chris Staines, the head of the Pyongyang office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “The people there are in a very desperate situation.” Staines was part of a group of 22 international and local staffers from 13 aid agencies stationed in Pyongyang who last week visited the northern city of Hoeryong, across the Tumen River from China. Floods ripped through the area Aug. 30 as Typhoon Lionrock lashed northeast Asia. North Korean authorities at first estimated that 44,000 people had been displaced between Onsong, in the north, and Musan, a major mining center 100 miles downriver. The North Korean government has confirmed that 133 people have been killed and 395 are missing as a result of the floods, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Sunday. At least 140,000 people are in urgent need of assistance, the OCHA said in a statement, including an estimated 100,000 people who have been displaced. Water supplies to about 600,000 people have been cut. “My impression was that this was a much worse disaster than the statistics indicate,” Staines said by Skype from Pyongyang. “The damage is very extensive, and there is clear evidence that the floodwaters were not only very high — you can see the watermarks above the window frames — but also moving very rapidly in some places.” Authorities took the aid workers, some of whom represented U.N. agencies, to destroyed medical clinics and to a water pumping station near Hoeryong that was wiped out, leaving 50,000 people without water. Kitchen gardens and household livestock — chickens, ducks, pigs — also were washed away, Staines said. “These households have clearly lost everything,” he said. In some areas, communication links remain cut and the roads are still impassable. North Korean authorities initially asked aid agencies to help with relief efforts using their existing budgets and supplies. But now officials plan to launch international appeals for donations. Their timing could hardly be worse. On Friday, Kim Jong Un ordered North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and its largest yet, triggering international calls for more sanctions to punish the regime. South Korea’s Defense Ministry warned Monday that Pyongyang could order another nuclear test at any time. The South’s Yonhap News Agency reported, citing unnamed government sources, that the North has completed preparations for a sixth test. With so many other crises around the world competing for donations, agencies operating in North Korea — which include the United Nations’ World Food Program and UNICEF, as well as a handful of European organizations — have confronted difficulty raising money for their projects for several years and have had to scale back operations. North Korea said the flooding was caused by the “strongest storm and heaviest downpour” since World War II. The government redirected people involved in a “200-day campaign” intended to increase production to instead help with the relief efforts. Soldiers were sent to the disaster area Saturday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Workers on Ryomyong Street, an ambitious development in Pyongyang that is trumpeted in the state media on an almost daily basis, also were dispatched. Tens of thousands of houses and public buildings collapsed, while railways and roads, along with factories and crops, were destroyed or submerged, KCNA reported. North Korea is particularly prone to flooding because of deforestation — a result of people cutting down trees to fuel fires in their homes — and a tendency to turn every inch of arable land over to crops. Making matters worse, houses, particularly in the downtrodden northern areas, are often made of substandard, locally produced bricks. Staines asked donor nations to remember that the flood has hurt regular people in North Korea. “In the communities we visited, we were allowed to meet with local people, and we could see their spirit and their energy and their support for each other,” he said. “These are people who are doing the best they can. They’re just normal, everyday people.”[SEP]Tokyo (AP) — North Korea is mobilizing to deal with a disastrous flood that killed more than 130 people, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and crippled infrastructure in its northern-most province. Brigades of soldiers from around the country have been enlisted to help victims of the flooding, which began Aug. 29 and was caused by Typhoon Lionrock. According to a U.N. report issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the floods displaced tens of thousands of people and destroyed homes, buildings and critical infrastructure. North Korean media said it was the worst single case of downpours and high winds since 1945, though that claim couldn’t be verified. The report said the government has confirmed 133 people were killed and another 395 missing. It said more than 35,500 houses, schools and public buildings were damaged, with 69 percent completely destroyed. It reported widespread inundation of farmland and at least 140,000 people in urgent need of assistance. The hardest-hit areas, parts of which remain inaccessible, are Musan and Yonsa counties near the Chinese border in the northern tip of the country. North Korea’s state media reported Sunday that high winds and heavy rainfall swept over several cities and counties, causing buildings to collapse and leaving railways, roads, parts of the electric power system, factories and farmlands destroyed or submerged. It said a mass recovery effort has been launched. On Monday, North Korea reported construction units were arriving in the flood-hit areas from all over the country, including the capital, Pyongyang. “The country’s manpower and material and technical potentials are now concentrated on the flood damage rehabilitation,” the Korean Central News Agency said. It said the ruling party has urged citizens to “achieve the miraculous victory of converting misfortune into favorable conditions … with the tremendous might of single-minded unity!” The North Korean media also said the focus of a 200-day “loyalty campaign” already underway to mobilize the nation behind leader Kim Jong Un in a mandatory show of devotion has been switched to a call for all citizens to support the recovery effort. The U.N. agency said humanitarian agencies have released relief materials from their stockpiles inside North Korea, including food, shelter and kitchen kits, water purification and sanitation supplies and emergency health supplies. The U.N. report said the government is “urgently working” to reopen roads, distributing relief goods and preparing to rebuild 20,000 houses by early October, before the onset of North Korea’s bitterly cold winter. It added that the government had allowed U.N. agencies, the North Korean Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Crescent, along with private international aid groups to conduct a joint assessment of needs in the affected areas last week, but they were unable to access Musan and Yonsa. The flooding occurred around the Tumen River, which runs between North Korea and China. North Korea experiences frequent natural disasters which are more devastating because of its often problematic infrastructure and lack of civil engineering projects designed to mitigate damage. In August last year, major downpours followed by flash floods killed at least 40 people and devastated parts of the Rason area, near the Russian and Chinese borders where a key special economic zone is located. A series of floods and droughts were a contributing factor in the disastrous famine years of the 1990s — called the “arduous march” in North Korea — that nearly brought the country to economic ruin.[SEP]North Korea floods a 'major, complex disaster', Red Cross says Updated North Korea is experiencing a "major and complex disaster", according to the Red Cross, after floods killed scores of people and left more than 100,000 homeless and in need of urgent help. The charity said rescue workers were struggling to reach stricken communities in the country's far north, where thousands have been left homeless and the risk of disease is looming. "From what we saw, it is clear that this is a very major and complex disaster," head of the Pyongyang office of the International Federation of the Red Cross, Chris Staines, said after visiting the affected areas. At least 133 people are known to have died after torrential rains triggered massive floods that tore through villages, devastating entire communities and washing away buildings. Hundreds more are missing and 140,000 people are in urgent need of food and shelter. "The floods came through with such force they destroyed everything in their path," Mr Staines said. "People were salvaging whatever possessions they could from piles of debris that used to be their homes." Some 24,000 houses have been totally destroyed and thousands more damaged, with the full extent of the disaster still emerging as rescue workers battle to reach areas that have been totally cut off, the Red Cross said. Mr Staines said there was barely a building left unscathed in some villages they had visited on the outskirts of Hoeryong City, which lies on the Tumen River on North Korea's border with China. "People displaced from the floods are now in a very difficult situation and there are real risks of secondary disasters, particularly relating to people's health," Mr Staines added. At least 100,000 people in Hoeryong City do not have safe drinking water, with up to 600,000 people in the affected area facing disruptions to their water supply, the Red Cross said. The disaster is set to worsen North Korea's already chronic food shortages, with about 40,000 hectares of farmland inundated just weeks before the local maize and rice crops were due to be harvested. "Their loss is another disaster that will be felt in the coming weeks and months," the Red Cross warned. The impoverished nation is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods, due partly to deforestation and poor infrastructure. At least 169 people were killed by a massive rainstorm in the summer of 2012. Major state resources are swallowed up by a missile and nuclear weapons programme Pyongyang says is essential to deter US aggression. AFP Topics: korea-democratic-peoples-republic-of First posted[SEP]North Korea is experiencing a "major and complex disaster" the Red Cross has warned, after floods killed scores of people and left tens of thousands in need of urgent help. Rescue workers are struggling to reach stricken communities in the country's far north, where thousands have been left homeless, and the risk of disease is looming. "From what we saw, it is clear that this is a very major and complex disaster," said Chris Staines, who heads a Red Cross delegation in North Korea and has visited the affected areas. At least 133 people are known to have died after torrential rains triggered massive floods that tore through villages, devastating entire communities and washing away buildings. Hundreds more are missing and 140,000 people are in urgent need of food and shelter. "The floods came through with such force, they destroyed everything in their path," Staines said. "People were salvaging whatever possessions they could from piles of debris that used to be their homes." Some 24,000 houses have been totally destroyed and thousands more damaged, with the full extent of the disaster still emerging as rescue workers battle to reach areas that have been totally cut off, the Red Cross said. "There was barely a building left unscathed," in some villages they visited on the outskirts of Hoeryong City, Staines said. "People displaced from the floods are now in a very difficult situation and there are real risks of secondary disasters, particularly relating to people's health," Staines added. At least 100,000 people in Hoeryong City do not have safe drinking water, with up to 600,000 people in the affected area facing disruptions to their water supply, the Red Cross said. The disaster is set to worsen North Korea's already chronic food shortages, with around 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of farmland inundated just weeks before the local maize and rice crops were due to be harvested. "Their loss is another disaster that will be felt in the coming weeks and months," the Red Cross warned. The impoverished nation is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods, due partly to deforestation and poor infrastructure.[SEP]Floods in North Korea that have left hundreds dead or missing are the "worst disaster" to hit the country since World War II, state media said on Wednesday. The official KCNA news agency did not give exact numbers of those killed or unaccounted for, but a UN report said 138 people have died and 400 are missing after torrential rains caused devastation in the country's far north. The floods along the Tumen River, which partially marks the border with China and Russia, tore through villages, washing away buildings and leaving thousands in urgent need of food and shelter. "The flood that resulted from the typhoon that hit North Hamgyong province from August 29 to September 2 was the worst disaster since liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945," KCNA said. It also provided figures on the flood damage and those displaced for the first time, saying 68,900 people had been forced to flee their homes, compared with a UN figure of 107,000. At least 29,800 homes and 900 public buildings were destroyed, it said, adding that 180 sections of road and over 60 bridges had been severely damaged, and electricity and communication lines were cut. But the report trumpeted the role of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party in responding to the disaster, saying all efforts were being put into rebuilding the northeastern border region, and that the military and people had responded to government calls to join rescue efforts. Impoverished North Korea is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods, as mountains and hills that have long been stripped bare for fuel or turned into terraced rice fields allow rainwater to flow downhill unchecked. However, huge government resources are swallowed up by a missile and nuclear weapons programme that Pyongyang says is essential to deter what it considers US aggression. A series of floods and droughts was partially responsible for a famine that killed hundreds of thousands between 1994-98, with economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support exacerbating the situation. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said in April that North Korea's chronic food shortages were expected to worsen, due to tight food supplies last year and this year when "most households were already estimated to have poor or borderline food consumption levels". The United Nations Security Council is also planning fresh sanctions against the North after it staged its fifth nuclear weapons test last week.[SEP]WILKES-BARRE — Floodwaters have left Louisiana, and local volunteers who traveled to the state with the Red Cross are back home. Storms devastated the state in August. The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared disasters in 22 parishes, Louisiana’s equivalent of counties. The disasters killed at least 13 people and displaced thousands. Seven American Red Cross volunteers from Northeastern Pennsylvania spent about two to three weeks in Louisiana, and several are still there today, said spokesman Dave Skutnik. One group was responsible for managing the shelters where people were staying who had lost their homes due to flooding, helping with food and registration and other tasks. Another group was out in the community distributing food and relief supplies. Kate Crowley of Tunkhannock helped run shelters near Baton Rouge, the state capital. Parishes outside the city were among the most affected. “I was absolutely blown away at the size of the entire operation. I’m used to flooding events here, where there is river flooding or at the sides of the river or a creek. Down there, there were whole communities under water,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Other volunteers had different images of the devastation. Kevin Beale of Fairview Township served hot meals from a Red Cross vehicle and had other images of the devastation as he made his way through the disaster zone. “All of a sudden, going into areas looking for people who needed to be fed, you’d be looking out at the trees and see mud halfway up the trees. It shouldn’t be there,” he said. John Byrd of Pittston helped deliver supplies and assess damage from the floods. He saw piles of waterlogged and ruined debris outside homes. People waiting in lines outside of Red Cross trucks for food. “The devastation was unreal,” he said. Volunteers also had stories of kindness and generosity. One reported that an anonymous person picked up the check for her and two other volunteers when they went out to dinner. Another said that the restaurant Joe’s Crab Shack visited a volunteer kitchen to feed the people working there. “People were saying ‘God bless you,’ ‘thank you.’ It was remarkable,” Byrd said. The Red Cross served more than 1 million meals and snacks in the state, provided more than 75,000 overnight stays and handled more than 35,000 calls from people needing help, Skutnik said. Some shelters are still open. The danger is over, but the disaster lingers. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said the floods caused $8.7 billion of damage, and he asked the federal government for $2 billion in funding for recovery efforts. The Red Cross depends on the public to support its work. The organization needs people to support relief efforts by making a financial donation, as well as to consider volunteering to help provide relief on the ground. The Red Cross is still collecting donations to support flood recovery efforts in Louisiana. To donate, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text “LAFLOODS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. People interested in volunteering can visit the organization’s website to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.
The Red Cross warns that North Korea faces a "major, complex disaster" after recent floods kill scores of people and leave more than 100,000 homeless.
More than 400 people had to flee their homes in Citadel Sevilla, Medellin – the home city of infamous cocaine drud lord Pablo Escobar. People at the scene were "terrified" by the sizeable 6.0 magnitude quake, which is believed to have lasted around 30 seconds and was followed by an intense aftershock. The local authority has initiated its Disaster Risk Management plan amid fears of landslides taking place in the rural region, which has been battered by heavy rains in recent days. The quake, which took place aroun 8pm local time, was also felt in Bogota – 400km away. Mayler Parra, who was near the epicentre in Mutatá, said: "The trucks on the roads were shaking, alarms of cars rang out, all the people in hotels took to the streets." Express.co.uk spoke to two tourists currently staying in nearby Sabaneta. Tegan and Daniel, from New Zealand, said: "It was pretty scary! We are staying on the sixth floor in an apartment block and we shook for about a minute. It was a bit daunting not knowing what was going to happen. I guess a lot of people would have felt the same, the city is full of apartments!" Other locals reported a 13 storey hotel building shaking ominously during the tremor.[SEP]BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A shallow, 5.9 magnitude earthquake rattled residents of Colombia's second-largest city of Medellin on Tuesday night in the country's biggest tremor in over a year. Colombia's natural disaster office said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck shortly before 9 p.m. local time near the western town of Mutata. The tremor had a depth of 10 miles (4 kilometers) and was felt as far away as the capital, Bogota. While the quake startled people relaxing at home it barely registered among soccer fans attending a match in Medellin between Atletico Nacional and Bolivar from Bolivia. Colombia is a seismically active country with a large potential for damage owing to its mountainous terrain and location along the Pacific Ocean ring of fire.[SEP]An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck northern Colombia on Tuesday night, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck about 83 miles (133 kilometers) north-northwest of Medellin. The USGS said the temblor was about 24 miles (39 kilometers) from Mutata, a town of about 4,800 people Developing story - more to come[SEP]The 4.0 magnitude earthquake that rattled many people from their Saturday morning sleep isn’t an unusual phenomenon in the South Okanagan, says an earthquake seismologist with Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN). Alison Bird, a veteran earthquake seismologist with NRCAN, says the earthquake was centred east of Oliver and was felt from Lake Country south and east as far as Bridesville. A 4.0 magnitude earthquake “would not be expected” to cause any significant damage or personal injury and there have been no reports of damage, said Bird. The depth of the earthquake was reported to be about one kilometre, “which is a very shallow seismic event for this region,” said Bird. NRCAN has revised its location to 49.21 N, 119.24 W, which is just north of Mount Baldy. An earthquake ranging from 4.0 to 4.9 is classed as “light” and would be felt by most people and the phone in her office was ringing regularly for about two hours after the earthquake was felt Saturday morning, she said. A 4.0 magnitude earthquake would cause noticeable shaking of indoor objects and a rattling noise, but generally causes no damage or only minimal damage, she said. It is not unusual for earthquakes of this magnitude to be felt in the South Okanagan, she said. “We’ve seen earthquakes in this region at around this level once every few years,” she said. “It’s quite common to have an earthquake in this region once every few years.” From her many years of experience, there would seldom be any personal injuries or property damage caused by an earthquake under 5.0 magnitude, she said. “Once you hit 5.0 magnitude, you would probably start to see some property damage and possible human injury,” she said. After earthquakes of this nature, NRCAN likes to remind members of the public to do their homework and prepare an earthquake preparedness kit and for neighbours to consider working together to formulate a “neighbourhood preparedness plan,” said Bird. “It’s most often those who live closest to you who you would have to rely on if a more serious earthquake were to take place,” she said. “It’s never a bad idea for neighbours to work together to put together a plan should a more catastrophic episode take place.” Emergency Management B.C. has a link on their website which informs members of the public what they should do to put together an emergency preparedness kit, she said. Historical paleontological data indicates the largest earthquake in British Columbia’s history took place in the 1700s and the largest earthquake recorded in modern times using sophisticated data was an 8.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the Queen Charlotte fault near Haida Gwaii in 1949, she said. “There were some serious injuries in that earthquake … and 8.1 earthquake is very significant,” she said. Bird said she would expect some “very minor” aftershocks throughout the course of the next 24 to 48 hours. “If there were to be some aftershocks, we would expect them to be very minor … probably in the neighbourhood of 3.0 magnitude,” she said. “They likely would not be felt by those who were affected by the earthquake on Saturday morning.”[SEP]SEOUL: A powerful 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the southern region of South Korea Monday evening, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, following an earlier quake of 4.9-magnitude. The Korea Meteorological Administration put the second tremor higher than USGS, at 5.8-magnitude. The quake hit at around 8:30 pm (1130 GMT), with the epicentre near the southeastern city of Gyeongju. No casualties or injuries have been reported yet, Yonhap news agency quoted the ministry of public safety as saying.[SEP]A powerful 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the southern region of South Korea Monday evening, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, following an earlier quake of 4.9-magnitude. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) put the second tremor higher than USGS, at 5.8-magnitude, describing it as the "biggest ever". "It was the biggest quake ever to hit the country," Yoo Yong-Gyu, a KMA official, told reporters, adding the tremor was "felt all across the country". Two people have been reported injured, he said, citing data from emergency rescue authorities. The previous record in the South was a 5.2-magnitude quake that hit the sea off the southeastern port of Uljin in 2004 and a quake of equal magnitude in the eastern mountainous region of Sokri in 1978. Monday's second quake hit at around 8:30 pm (1130 GMT), with the epicentre near the southeastern city of Gyeongju, the KMA said. On Friday USGS reported a 5.3-magnitude "artificial earthquake" in North Korea, that was in fact a nuclear test. Emergency centres across the South were flooded by tens of thousands of calls seeking information, Yonhap news agency said, adding train services in some regions were temporarily delayed. Local nuclear reactors were operating without disruption, it said, citing officials at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The country's largest mobile app used by 40 million -- KakaoTalk -- partially went down with many unable to access the service, the company said, apparently due to heavy traffic. The country's social media was also flooded with images of shattered storefront windows and people rushing out of buildings and apartments in panic, some with children in arms. TV stations showed video footage of computers violently shaking at a local Internet cafe, students rushing out of schools, and products falling off shelves at a store.
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hits near the Colombian city of Medellin.
Story highlights One person killed, four injured in accident on Harmony of the Seas Accident happened during lifeboat drill while ship docked in the south of France (CNN) Investigators are trying to determine how a lifeboat fell during a training exercise on the world's largest cruise ship Tuesday, leaving one crew member dead and four others injured. A 42-year-old Philippines national died after the lifeboat fell about 33 feet (10 meters) during the exercise on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which was docked in Marseille, France, Deputy Mayor Julien Ruas told CNN. The four other crew members are being treated at a hospital. Harmony of the Sea as it docked after the tragic deaths Photos: Harmony of the Seas – Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, makes its debut this weekend in Southampton, England. It's the world's largest cruise ship. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Can fit 6,780 guests – Harmony can fit up to 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew members. It's 1,188 feet long. In comparison, the Eiffel Tower is 984 feet tall. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: The Ultimate Abyss – See those purple, squiggly things in the back of the ship? That's one of Harmony's biggest attractions: The Ultimate Abyss, which the cruise line calls "the tallest slide on the high seas." It takes guests on a 100-foot drop from Deck 16 to Deck 6. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Perfect Storm – Speaking of slides, there's a trio of multi-story water slides called Perfect Storm. One slide features a champagne bowl that swirls you around as you plunge down. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Suites at sea – Included among Harmony's 2,747 staterooms are top-end suites. "We have more suites at sea than any cruise line in the world," says Mark Tamis of Royal Caribbean International. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Bionic Bar – The Bionic Bar is staffed by two robot bartenders. They can make two drinks per minute and 1,000 drinks per day. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Wonderland – Specialty restaurant Wonderland, already a hit on a few other Royal Caribbean vessels, has gotten an upgrade. "It's been expanded on Harmony of the Seas," says Tamis. "It's actually a two-story venue that is going to be dramatically beautiful. " Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Price tag – The cost? Prices start at $1,125 per person for a seven-night tour of the western Mediterranean. Hide Caption 8 of 8 The mammoth vessel first set sail in May, weighing 226,963 tons and accommodating 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew members. Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters). Read More[SEP]A Harmony of the Seas crew member has died and four others have been injured after a lifeboat fell off the world’s biggest cruise ship. The record-breaking ship, which is operated by Royal Caribbean, is docked in the French port of Marseille. One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger," a spokesman for the fire service told the AFP news agency. We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras. Five crew were onboard the lifeboat taking part in a safety drill when it "became detached" from the ship. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said in a statement: "We are sorry to share the sad news that a crew member aboard Harmony of the Seas has died of injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill conducted while docked at the port of Marseille, France. "Four other crew members received medical treatment in the same incident. We are keeping our colleagues and their families in our thoughts and prayers." The liner only had its maiden voyage on 29 May. Built by shipbuilders STX France, it is the widest ever cruise ship at a maximum of 66m across and is 50m longer than the Eiffel Tower at 362m. Using its 16 decks, it can carry more than 6,700 passengers and 2,300 crew. The Independent has contacted STX France for comment.[SEP]Investigators are trying to determine how a lifeboat fell during a training exercise on the world's largest cruise ship Tuesday, leaving one crew member dead and four others injured. A 42-year-old Filipino national died after the lifeboat fell about 10 meters during the exercise on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which was docked in Marseille, France, Deputy Mayor Julien Ruas told CNN. The four other crew members are being treated at a hospital. Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters).[SEP]One crew member was killed and four others injured Tuesday in an accident on the world's biggest cruise ship. The crew member died from injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill while the Harmony of the Seas ship was docked in Marseille, France, a representative for parent company Royal Caribbean said in a statement. The four other crew members were injured. Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters). The ship is so large it boasts seven "neighborhoods" -- including a tree-lined Central Park filled with restaurants.[SEP]PARIS (AP) — A crewmember on the world's largest cruise ship has died and four others were injured when a lifeboat fell from the deck into the water during a rescue drill, the operator and officials in the French port of Marseille said Tuesday. Cynthia Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise line, told The Associated Press via email that the incident happened while the Harmony of the Seas was docked in the city. Julien Ruas, a deputy mayor of Marseille, told the AP Tuesday that the lifeboat fell 10 meters (33 feet) or so from the fifth deck of the ship into the sea with the five crew members aboard. He identified the dead crewmember as a 42-year-old Filipino. Circumstances of the accident are still unclear. Local naval firefighters told the AP one person died, two were seriously injured and two were more lightly injured. The Harmony of the Seas holds the record for the largest cruise ship ever built, with a 6,360-passenger capacity. According to Royal Caribbean's website, the ship arrived in Europe in May and makes stops in France, Italy and Spain.[SEP]Marseille, France (AP) – A crewmember on the world’s largest cruise ship died and four others were injured Tuesday when a lifeboat fell from the deck into the water during a rescue drill in Marseille, the operator and officials in the southern French port city said. Julien Ruas, a deputy mayor of Marseille, told The Associated Press that the lifeboat fell about 10 meters (33 feet) from the fifth deck of the Harmony of the Seas into the sea with the five crewmembers aboard. He identified the dead crewmember as a 42-year-old Filipino. Circumstances of the accident are still unclear. Local naval firefighters told the AP one person died, two were seriously injured and two were more slightly injured in the “violent” fall. All were members of the crew. “It seems the people didn’t get the time to secure themselves so the fall was quite a violent one, like if you or me fell around 10 meters from a building,” Ruas, who is in charge of firemen, told The Associated Press. He said the reason the lifeboat broke away was not immediately clear. The Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise line “deplored” the death and said in a statement that the incident happened during a safety exercise while the ship was docked in the port of the Mediterranean city. The Harmony of the Seas holds the record for the largest cruise ship ever built, with a capacity of 8,690 people, including 6,300 passengers and 2,390 crew members. The $1 billion ship was built in France and set sail for its inaugural cruise in May. At 362 meters (1,187 feet) long, the 16-deck ship is longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. It’s been compared to a floating city with more than 2,500 staterooms, 20 dining venues, 23 swimming pools, water slides, a park with more than 10,000 plants and 50 trees, two climbing walls, discos and bar clubs, a theater, a skating rink, a basketball court and a casino.[SEP]A Filipino crewman was killed Tuesday during a safety drill on the world's biggest cruise liner, the Harmony of the Seas, while it was docked in Marseille, a city official said. The 42-year-old and four other crew members were in a lifeboat that plunged 10 metres (35 feet) into the water during a safety drill in the southern French port. Three other Filipinos and an Indian man were hurt in the incident, and two were fighting for their lives. A fire service spokesman said: "One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger." Marseille's deputy mayor Julien Ruas told AFP the five were the only people in the lifeboat at the time when it became detached from its fastenings and "fell 10 metres" into the harbour. The city's prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said a similar drill is carried out every week on the ship. "It involves putting a lifeboat to sea," he said. An investigation has been opened to find out why "the cable or the fastenings" holding the lifeboat in place gave way, the prosecutor said. The boat "fell suddenly into the water," he added. Royal Caribbean said in a statement: "We are keeping our colleagues and their families in our thoughts and prayers." The Harmony of the Seas sailed into Marseille early Tuesday from the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca. The ship had been scheduled to set sail for Italy later on Tuesday but the investigation into the lifeboat incident is expected to delay its departure until Wednesday at the earliest, the prosecutor said. The 120,000-tonne liner operated by Florida-based Royal Caribbean only entered service in May. At 66 metres (217 feet), it is the widest cruise ship ever built, while its 362-metre length makes it 50 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. On its maiden voyage, it sailed from Southampton on England's south coast to Barcelona. Built in the STX shipyard in the northwestern French port of Saint-Nazaire, the Oasis-class liner has 16 decks and can carry more than 6,000 passengers and 2,400 crew. Among the onboard attractions are "The Ultimate Abyss", a 10-storey slide from the top deck to the main deck which Royal Caribbean bills as the world's biggest ship-mounted waterslide. A giant climbing wall, a rope slide, mini-golf, surf simulator, floating jacuzzis, casino and 1,400-seat theatre playing Broadway musicals are among the other attractions. Royal Caribbean has ordered a sister ship of the Harmony to join its fleet in 2018.[SEP]One person has died and another four have been injured, two critically, after a lifeboat detached from the world's biggest cruise liner and reportedly plummeted 32 feet. The Harmony of the Seas was docked in the French port of Marseille when the lifeboat, with five people on board, broke free from the vessel and fell. A spokesman for the local fire service said: ' One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger. According to local news website 20Minutes.fr, the five people on the lifeboat were members of the ship's navigation crew. However, there was no immediate confirmation of reports that they had been taking part in a safety drill at the time. Julien Ruas from Marseille marine rescue service told the website, the lifeboat fell around '10 metres' with the five people inside. He added that the dead member of crew was a man from the Philippines. It is believed the vessel is currently on an eight day cruise around the Mediterranean having left Rome on September 8. It has already stopped in Naples, Barcelona and Majorca before arriving in Marseille earlier today. The 227,000-tonne liner operated by Florida-based Royal Caribbean only just entered service in May. At 66 metres (217 feet), it is the widest cruise ship ever built, while its 362-metre length makes it 50 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. It has 16 decks and can carry more than 6,000 passengers and 2,400 crew. The cruise liner has been dubbed a floating city as it boasts 20 restaurants, 23 swimming pools and almost 2,500 rooms. It also has a cinema, promenade, an entertainment palace, spa and fitness facilities. However, on the ship's inaugural voyage, it was branded a 'floating construction site' that put passengers at risk. People on board for a trip from Southampton to Rotterdam and a subsequent sailing to Cherbourg complained contractors were still carrying out vital work on board. Gaping holes were left in floors and walls, the hot water cut out, 90 per cent of children's rides were out of service and sleep was impossible in some rooms as drilling carried on through the night. They also said the top deck of the 1,188ft-long vessel was littered with hazards including loose cables, blow torches, open paint tins and power tools. A spokesperson for the company replied at the time: 'As always, Royal Caribbean's highest priority is to ensure the safety of all its guests and crew members and any final maintenance is being carried out in accordance with strict safety guidelines.'[SEP]One woman has died and several people are believed to be unwell after a suspected outbreak of gastroenteritis on a cruise ship off the coast of Queensland. The P&O Pacific Jewel cruise ship left from Sydney on September 6 for a 10-night "Barrier Reef Discovery" cruise. Margaret Carlson boarded with her daughter and teenage grandson. It was the 79-year-old's seventh cruise in 10 years after her husband passed away, and she was looking forward to the journey after being upgraded to a luxury cabin. She soon began showing signs of gastro and was told by medical staff that she had probably brought the bug onto the ship with her, her family says. Her daughter and grandson also fell ill after boarding the ship. P&O denied there had been a gastro outbreak on the ship. On Saturday afternoon, when the ship was docked at Yorkeys Knob in Cairns, Carlson's family discovered she had died in her room. Police were called to inspect the scene and determined she had died of natural causes several hours earlier. An autopsy will be performed. Carlson's daughter Vanessa D'Souza, 41, said her mother's death was sudden and extremely upsetting. "I keep getting these bunches of flowers at home and I just want to scream because I'm like, 'Oh, these flowers are beautiful and mum would love them', but she's not here," D'Souza said. "My first priority was to let people know, because I thought you would not want to send your mother or grandmother on that [ship]." D'Souza has been in contact with her sister, who will remain on the ship until it arrives back in Sydney on Friday, where it will dock briefly before leaving again with fresh passengers. She said large numbers of cruise passengers were locked out of their roo on Monday morning and not told why. The family believes dozens of roo on two decks of the ship were being cleaned and disinfected. A P&O spokesperson acknowledged the death but denied there was a gastro outbreak. "An elderly passenger sadly passed away on Saturday on Pacific Jewel and our thoughts are with her family," the spokesperson said. "There is no reported gastro outbreak onboard the ship." Queensland Health said it had not been informed of gastro on a cruise ship. Gastroenteritis is not a "notifiable" condition, meaning there is no obligation to report such an outbreak. One passenger was medically evacuated from the ship by helicopter on Monday for reasons which could not be divulged. D'Souza said most of the passengers on board "can't wait to get off". "We'd like some answers," she said. "Is there really some issue with hygiene, or is there something going wrong?" Carlson lived on her own in a house in Terrigal on the NSW central coast, where she had lived for 18 years. She had osteoporosis, but remained mobile by using a walking frame, and on her last check-up appeared to be in good health. Queensland Police confirmed a 79-year-old woman died on a cruise ship that was docked at Cairns on Saturday. Officers will prepare a report for the Coroner.[SEP]This article is the subject of a legal complaint made on behalf of Royal Caribbean International When the gargantuan Harmony of the Seas slips out of Southampton docks on Sunday afternoon on its first commercial voyage, the 16-deck-high floating city will switch off its auxiliary engines, fire up its three giant diesels and head to the open sea. But while the 6,780 passengers and 2,100 crew on the largest cruise ship in the world wave goodbye to England, many people left behind in Southampton say they will be glad to see it go. They complain that air pollution from such nautical behemoths is getting worse every year as cruising becomes the fastest growing sector of the mass tourism industry and as ships get bigger and bigger. The Harmony, owned by Royal Caribbean, has two four-storey high 16-cylinder Wärtsilä engines which would, at full power, each burn 1,377 US gallons of fuel an hour, or about 66,000 gallons a day of some of the most polluting diesel fuel in the world. In port, and close to US and some European coasts, the Harmony must burn low sulphur fuel or use abatement technologies. But, says Colin MacQueen, who lives around 400 yards from the docks and is a member of new environment group Southampton Clean Air, the fumes from cruise liners and bulk cargo ships are “definitely” contributing to Southampton’s highly polluted air. “We can smell, see and taste it. These ships are like blocks of flats. Sometimes there are five or more in the docks at the same time. The wind blows their pollution directly into the city and as far we can tell, there is no monitoring of their pollution. We are pushing for them to use shore power but they have resisted.” “The liners pollute, but the road traffic that they and the cargo ships generate is also huge,” he adds. Royal Caribbean, the US owners of the Harmony of the Seas, said that the latest and most efficient pollution control systems were used and that the ship met all legal requirements. Industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) added that companies had “invested significantly over the last decade to develop new technologies to help reduce air emissions”. But marine pollution analysts in Germany and Brussels said that such a large ship would probably burn at least 150 tonnes of fuel a day, and emit more sulphur than several million cars, more NO2 gas than all the traffic passing through a medium-sized town and more particulate emissions than thousands of London buses. According to leading independent German pollution analyst Axel Friedrich, a single large cruise ship will emit over five tonnes of NOX emissions, and 450kg of ultra fine particles a day. Bill Hemmings, marine expert at Brussels-based Transport and Environment group said: “These ships burn as much fuel as whole towns. They use a lot more power than container ships and even when they burn low sulphur fuel, it’s 100 times worse than road diesel.” “Air pollution from international shipping accounts for around 50,000 premature deaths per year in Europe alone, at an annual cost to society of more than €58bn [ $65bn],” says the group on its website. Daniel Rieger, a transport officer at German environment group Nabu, said: “Cruise companies create a picture of being a bright, clean and environmentally friendly tourism sector. But the opposite is true. One cruise ship emits as many air pollutants as five million cars going the same distance because these ships use heavy fuel that on land would have to be disposed of as hazardous waste.” Nabu has measured pollution in large German ports and found high concentrations of pollutants. “Heavy fuel oil can contain 3,500 times more sulphur than diesel that is used for land traffic vehicles. Ships do not have exhaust abatement technologies like particulate filters that are standard on passenger cars and lorries,” says Rieger. Southampton, which has Britain’s second largest container port and is Europe’s busiest cruise terminal, is one of nine UK cities cited by the World Health Organisation as breaching air quality guidelines even though it has little manufacturing. “Up to five large liners a day can be berthed in the docks at the same time, all running engines 24/7, said Chris Hinds, vice chair of the Southampton docks watchdog group WDCF. “Pollution from the port is leading to asthma and chest diseases. We are now seeing more, bigger liners but also very large bulk cargo ships.” According to CLIA, the cruise ship industry is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the mass tourism market, with 24 million passengers expected to sail in 2016, compared to 15 million in 2006 and just 1.4 million in 1980. “The industry shows no signs of slowing down. It generated $119.9bn (£83bn) in total output worldwide in 2015, supporting 939,232 full-time equivalent jobs,” said a spokesman. “The luxury sector is seeing the most amazing growth that it has ever seen in its history,” said Larry Pimentel, president of Azamara club cruises. • This article was amended on 23 May 2016. An earlier version said the Harmony of the Seas had three 16-cylinder engines which, if running at full power, would burn 96,000 US gallons of fuel a day. It has two such engines which together would burn about 66,000 US gallons of fuel a day if running at full power, and is understood to have four 12 cylinder engines. The article also said the ship must burn low-sulphur fuel in port and close to some coasts; it can also use abatement technologies to meet emissions guidelines.
One crew member of the MS Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, is killed and four other crew members are injured after a lifeboat fell on them during a training exercise on the ship that was docked in Marseille, France.
The Health Ministry on Tuesday (Sept 13) reported two more cases of locally transmitted Zika infections in the central Philippine city of Iloilo, 600km south of the capital Manila. Health Minister Paulyn Ubial said the mosquito-borne virus was found in two people living in the same house as the 45-year-old woman who tested positive for Zika on Sept 5. The woman, who is married but not pregnant, was the first confirmed case of locally transmitted Zika in the Philippines this year. The Philippines have reported four other cases since January, but these involved an American and three Korean travellers. The cases were considered travel-related rather than locally transmitted. The two new cases in Iloilo bring to eight the total number of Zika infections reported in the country since 2012. A confirmed case of locally transmitted Zika in the Philippines was reported in May 2012, involving a 15-year-old male in Cebu city, 572km south of Manila. All three patients in Iloilo have since recovered, but they remain under home quarantine, Dr Ubial said. The ministry had sent a team to Iloilo to check for more Zika cases there. Dr Ubial said 88 houses were inspected, and 12 people who had skin rashes and fever were tested for the virus. The United States-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said earlier in a bulletin that a strain of the mosquito-borne virus might have been introduced in the Philippines before 2012, and that it probably remained undetected. Zika resembles a mild case of flu and its symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medication. Patients infected with Zika seldom go to clinics, and doctors often associate symptoms with other illnesses, usually dengue or chikungunya. CDC bulletins showed Zika infections in the Philippines and Indonesia were detected only after targeted surveillance following outbreaks of dengue or chikungunya, or during long-term studies over specific areas.[SEP]BANGKOK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Thailand has recorded about 200 cases of Zika since January, the health ministry said on Tuesday, making it a country with one of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the region. It was the first time Thailand's health ministry has confirmed the number of Zika cases this year. The announcement comes a day after health experts called on Thailand to be more transparent in reporting the Zika threat to the public after health officials played down risks from rising infections of the mosquito-borne virus. Health officials have expressed concern that disclosing information on Zika, which is linked to serious birth defects, would damage Thailand's lucrative tourism industry. "Since January, we have recorded about 200 cases and over the past three weeks, we have confirmed an average of 20 new cases per week," Ministry of Public Health spokesman Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told Reuters. "The number of cases is stable," he said, without giving further details. Island city-state Singapore reported its first locally infected Zika patient on Aug. 27 and since then, the number of reported infections has soared to more than 300. Malaysia and the Philippines have also reported cases. The virus, which is affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, has been circulating in Asia for years. The lineage of the virus circulating in Asia is different to the one in the Americas, researchers say. The level of population immunity to the lineage of Zika in Asia remains unknown, according to the World Health Organization. Suwannachai urged the public not to panic and reiterated a message aimed at reassuring tourists. "People shouldn't be scared to visit provinces affected by the Zika virus," Suwannachai said. Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly - a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized - as well as other brain abnormalities. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly. Thailand has found no cases of microcephaly linked to Zika and it is monitoring about two dozen pregnant woman and about six who have given birth with no complications, the health ministry said. In adults, Zika infections have also been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre, as well as other neurological disorders. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947.[SEP]A number of Zika virus cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland since the World Health Organisation declared an outbreak in 2015. A spokeswoman for the UK’s Public Health Agency (PHA) told The Irish Times that all those infected had a history of travel outside Northern Ireland. However, she could not confirm a BBC report on Wednesday which suggested a person was diagnosed with Zika in the past week. When asked if a person has been treated recently and if it was linked to travelling to the Olympic Games in Brazil, the spokeswoman said she could not provide a response as the organisation “does not talk about individual cases”. A statement from the PHA said: “Zika does not occur naturally in the UK. “However, since 2015, the Public Health Agency (PHA) can confirm that there have been less than five cases of Northern Ireland residents diagnosed with Zika virus. “All have a history of travel to Zika-affected areas.” There have been 117 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the UK since the outbreak last year. According to the UK’s National Health Service, most cases of Zika virus disease are spread by infected mosquitoes biting humans. There have been a small number of reports of Zika virus being passed on through sexual intercourse, although the risk is thought to be low. Rory McIlroy, who is from Co Down, was among a number of golfers who decided not to take part in the Rio Olympics over the summer because of the risk posed by Zika. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly. In adults, Zika infections have also been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre, as well as other neurological disorders. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. In Brazil thousands of babies have been born with suspected microcephaly or abnormally small heads since the outbreak was declared. An estimated 80 per cent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.[SEP]Up to four people have been treated for the Zika virus in Northern Ireland. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed to the BBC that fewer than five patients were infected with Zika, with one being treated last week. The virus is spread by bites from the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species of mosquito, but it can also spread through sexual intercourse. It is not clear where the cases in Northern Ireland originated. The World Health Organisation has described the Zika virus as a global health emergency. The mosquitoes carrying the virus are common in South America, Africa and Asia. Zika is linked to thousands of babies born with underdeveloped brains. There have been 117 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the UK over the past 12 months. A PHA spokesperson said there was no specific treatment for Zika, other than hydrating patients with the symptoms. The agency said it was not its policy to give out the exact number of diagnosed Zika cases, because the figure was fewer than five and doing so could identify those affected.[SEP]Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial has ordered more intensive mosquito control campaigns over reports of two more Zika virus cases in Iloilo City. According to the reports from the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH), the two female patients who live in the same house were positive for the Zika virus based on results of tests done at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila). The patients showed mild skin rashes but no other symptoms unlike the first confirmed case of another pregnant woman who suffered from skin rashes, joint pains and red eyes. All three patients, none of whom is pregnant, have since recovered, did not require hospitalization and were told to stay at home. They refused to give their names for security reasons. Their cases will be monitored for one month to enable the DOH to determine the extent of local transmission of the Zika virus in the country. About 88 households around and near the residences of the three patients have been visited by local DOH personnel. According to Ubial, most of the water containers found by the personnel were found to be mosquito breeding sites and tested positive for larvae/pupae of Aedis aegypti, the principal mosquito vector for the Zika virus. The Health secretary has urged all local government units to implement intensive mosquito control campaigns to stop the spread of the virus. Individuals suffering from rashes, joint pains and red eyes, Ubial said, must visit the nearest health facility to confirm if they have contracted the Zika virus. Pregnant women and those who have potential to be pregnant are advised to see their doctors for any illness that develops around and during pregnancy. The Zika virus causes deformed births characterized by unusually small heads. Ubial reminded everyone to go back to the basics, participate in community clean-ups and make 4S a regular habit. 4S means Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days and Say No to indiscriminate fogging.[SEP]SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore said Tuesday it is investigating the severity of its locally transmitted Zika virus, amid a rising number of cases. Researchers concluded last week that the strain of Zika found in two patients in Singapore was not from South America, but was similar to those found in the region decades ago. “We cannot tell at this moment whether the viruses found here cause more or less severe disease than those in South America. Further research will be needed to shed light on this,” Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament. Singapore announced its first confirmed Zika infection in May, with the virus imported by a 48-year-old man who had traveled to Brazil. On Monday, the Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency confirmed four more locally transmitted cases, bringing the total to 333, including eight pregnant women. “It is still early days to ascertain what the long-term trend of Zika infection will be,” Gan said, stopping short of labeling the outbreak an epidemic. “Even if we can control the present outbreak, we will need to continue to guard against imported cases as the Zika virus is still circulating among many countries, including several in this region,” he said. Last week, Gan told Channel NewsAsia that Singapore will no longer isolate all Zika patients, except when the infection is “severe or unless they have other conditions that require medical attention.” The mosquito-borne Zika virus has mild effects on most people, but can be fatal for unborn children. Infection during pregnancy is believed to result in babies with small heads — a condition called microcephaly — and other brain defects. Every day, about 850 workers in Singapore inspect homes and worksites for possible mosquito breeding grounds. From January to July, 748,000 inspections were conducted and more than 10,000 breeding habitats were destroyed, according to official statistics. Despite government efforts, the island nation has been included in several travel advisories because of the Zika cases, with experts fearing this will cause a dip in tourism revenue.[SEP]Four new local cases of Zika virus has been reported in Cayman, bringing the total number of locally transmitted cases to nine, according to public health officials. Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez said in a press release that of 14 new test results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency, known as CARPHA, five returned positive. “Four females, all local residents of George Town, have no reported travel history to any of the countries where there is currently an outbreak of the Zika virus, thus bringing local transmission of the Zika virus within the Cayman Islands to nine cases,” Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said. The fifth positive result involved a woman from George Town who had traveled to a country between July 27 and Aug. 1 where there is an established outbreak of the Zika virus. Her case brings the total number of imported cases to seven. “None of the five patients are related and neither are they pregnant,” Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said. For advice on mosquito control, contact the Mosquito Research and Control Unit on 949-2557. For information on Zika, contact the Public Health Department at 244-2648 or 244-2621.[SEP]Singapore did not report any new cases of Zika virus on Tuesday, according to data published on National Environment Agency website. Island city-state Singapore reported its first locally infected Zika patient on Aug. 27 and since then, the number of reported infections has risen to 333. While most people experience mild symptoms, Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized. In adults, it can cause a rare neurological syndrome called Guillain-Barre.[SEP]As Congress debates emergency Zika funding for the third time this year, new findings from a Utah case suggest that the virus may spread through contact with bodily fluids. Until now, scientists have said that Zika is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be spread through sex as well as blood transfusions, and a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her fetus. But information released Tuesday by federal and state health officials suggest that contact with bodily fluids, such as tears, discharge from infected eyes, saliva, stomach contents, urine or stool could have been how a Utah man became infected after caring for his elderly father. The father died in June after contracting Zika from travel abroad. The father's blood had a level of infectious virus 100,000 times as high as the average level reported in people infected with Zika, according to a report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials are recommending that family contacts and close friends caring for Zika patients who are very sick avoid contact with the patient's bodily fluids and use good hand hygiene, said Angela Dunn, deputy state epidemiologist in Utah. Health care workers are urged to continue to apply standard precautions while caring for all patients, including those who might have Zika virus disease. Such measures include wearing gloves, masks and other personal protective equipment. People may often be lulled into a false sense of security about the way Zika spreads, thinking it may just be through mosquitoes or sex. Although city, state and federal officials cannot say definitively how the son became sick, the Utah case suggests that the way the virus was transmitted "doesn't appear to be one of the modes we've seen before," said Alexander Kallen, a CDC medical officer. "It does raise the possibility that there was potential exposure to the blood and bodily fluids of the index patient, and that could have led to transmission of the second case," Kallen said. Earlier this summer, the Food and Drug Administration asked blood centers in two Florida counties to immediately stop collection because of possible local transmission of the Zika virus. As part of the investigation in Utah, health officials interviewed and tested 18 other family members, and none were positive for the virus. Most people who get Zika infections don't show symptoms or have mild illnesses. But in some cases when patients are very sick, "they often have a lot of diarrhea" and the virus could have spread through that exposure, Dunn said.[SEP]Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, has made public the latest information on the transmission of the Zika virus within the Cayman Islands. “Since the last update of Thursday, 25 August 2016, 14 additional results have been received from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA); five of which returned positive,” Dr. Williams-Rodriguez said. “Four females, all local residents of George Town, have no reported travel history to any of the countries where there is currently an outbreak of the Zika virus, thus bringing local transmission of the Zika virus within the Cayman Islands to nine cases. “Additionally, there is one confirmed imported case, a female from George Town who travelled to a country during 27 July to 1 August where there is an established outbreak of the Zika virus. She reported an onset of symptoms which began on 11 August when she visited the Cayman Islands Hospital. The total number of laboratory diagnosed imported cases is therefore now at seven. None of the five patients are related and neither are they pregnant.” On the international scene, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its interim guidance on the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika. For regions with active transmission of Zika virus, WHO recommends that sexually active men and women be correctly counselled and offered a full range of contraceptive methods to be able to make an informed choice about whether, and when, to become pregnant in order to prevent possible adverse pregnancy and foetal outcomes. For regions without active transmission of Zika virus, WHO also recommends practising safe sex or considering abstinence for a period of six months for men and women who are returning from areas of active transmission. For more advice on mosquito control, contact the Mosquito Research and Control Unit on 949-2557 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2223 on Cayman Brac; and Department of Environmental Health (DEH) on 949-6696 in Grand Cayman, or 948-2321 in Cayman Brac. For further information on Zika, please contact the Public Health Department at 244-2648 or 244-2621. Interim recommendations for prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus Based on growing evidence that the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted, WHO recommends the following: Advice on preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus is precautionary and is constantly under review as more information becomes available. Zika virus usually causes mild illness. Symptoms most commonly include a slight fever or rash, appearing a few days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Although many will not develop any symptoms at all, others may also suffer from conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and feel tired. There is no known difference in the symptoms of infected pregnant and non-pregnant women.
The Department of Health of the Philippines discover an additional two cases of Zika virus infections bringing the total to eight.
Image caption Ten thousand police and soldiers have been deployed along Hungary's border to keep migrants out Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn has called for Hungary to be suspended or even expelled from the European Union because of its "massive violation" of EU fundamental values. He cited the Budapest government's treatment of refugees, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press. "Hungary is not far away from issuing orders to open fire on refugees," he suggested. Hungary said Mr Asselborn "could not be taken seriously". EU leaders meet in Slovakia on Friday to discuss the union's future. Mr Asselborn's interview with German daily Die Welt is likely to inflame passions ahead of the summit. The EU could not tolerate "such inappropriate behaviour", he said, and any state that violated such basic values "should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary for ever, from the EU''. It was "the only possibility to protect the cohesion and values of the European Union,'' he said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hit back, saying that his Luxembourg counterpart had "long left the ranks of politicians who could be taken seriously". Mr Asselborn was a "frivolous character", he said, adding that he was "patronising, arrogant and frustrated". Mr Asselborn's remarks also drew condemnation from Latvia's foreign minister, who spoke of "megaphone diplomacy". And German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a personal friend of the Luxembourg minister, said while he could understand some in Europe were "becoming impatient, it is not my personal approach to show a member state the door". Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Anti-migrant messages in Hungary have seen public sympathy for migrants plummet, as Nick Thorpe reports Hungary joined the EU in 2004 and while the European Union can reject or delay a candidate from joining, it is not thought to have the power to expel an existing member state. When the far-right Freedom Party joined Austria's government in 2000, EU member states responded by freezing bilateral diplomatic relations with Austria. Later that year the EU ended Austria's diplomatic isolation. Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Asselborn said Hungary was not far away from issuing orders to shoot at refugees Image caption Hungary is boosting the number of forces on its borders, but the number of asylum seekers trying to get in has fallen Hungary was caught up in an enormous influx of migrants and refugees a year ago as more than a million people headed through central Europe from the shores of Greece towards Germany and other Western European countries. Eventually, it sealed its borders with Serbia and Croatia and built a 175km (110-mile) razor-wire fence to stop people crossing on their way to Austria. Some 10,000 police and soldiers have been deployed to guard the frontier. Hungary's diplomatic fallout - BBC's Nick Thorpe Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has reacted with fury. The head of Hungarian diplomacy described his Luxembourg counterpart as a "classic nihilist" who worked tirelessly to destroy Europe's security and culture. By way of contrast, Hungary was defending not only its own territory, but that of the EU as well, the foreign minister insisted. "Only Hungarians have the right to decide who they wish to live with." Image caption Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to build a stronger fence at Kelebia, where there is a makeshift camp for migrants The number of migrants trying to enter Hungary has fallen dramatically in recent weeks. At the Horgos Transit Zone on the Hungary-Serbian border, only 80 were waiting on Monday, down from 800 on some days in July. Beside the Kelebia Transit Zone there were about 60, mostly from Syria and Iraq. Some had been living in atrocious conditions next to the razor wire fence for more than 10 weeks. Approximately 4,500 migrants are currently in camps in Serbia. Most are now trying alternative routes to Europe through Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. A referendum takes place on 2 October when Hungarians will be asked to decide on an EU quota to take in refugees. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly criticised the EU's plans to relocate 160,000 refugees across the bloc and his government has campaigned vigorously for a No vote. Mr Asselborn, whose country is a founder member of the EU, complained that Hungary's border fence was getting higher, longer and more dangerous. His remark that Hungary was not far from ordering live fire is likely to refer to a decision by police earlier this month to recruit 3,000 "border-hunters". The new force will carry pepper spray and pistols with live ammunition as part of their task to keep migrants out. What are the EU's fundamental values? In the Treaty on European Union (Article 2) EU values are spelt out as "human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities". The EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding on national governments as well as the EU's institutions, as part of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty. Those rights and freedoms range from freedom of thought and expression to the right to asylum, a fair trial and fair working conditions. As a condition of membership of the EU, a candidate country has to fulfil 35 separate chapters of requirements including an independent judiciary.[SEP]Luxembourg’s foreign minister has said that Hungary should be temporarily or even permanently expelled from the European Union over its approach to refugees and other issues. Jean Asselborn’s comments in Tuesday’s edition of German daily Die Welt came days before 27 EU leaders meet in Bratislava, Slovakia to discuss the bloc’s future without the UK. He said the EU cannot tolerate fundamental values being violated. “Anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war or who violates press freedom and judicial independence should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary forever, from the EU,” Mr Asselborn was quoted as saying. He argued it is the only way to “preserve the cohesion and values of the European Union”. Mr Asselborn said that Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is “protected by at least one other country”, which he did not identify, and that it would be “helpful” for EU rules to be amended so that suspending a member country’s membership no longer requires a unanimous vote. Hungary was among the loudest critics of EU plans to redistribute asylum-seekers in the bloc among its members. Last year, it erected razor-wire fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia to stem the flow. Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum October 2nd seeking support for rejecting any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. “He wants to exclude Hungary from the EU but he has long excluded himself from among the politicians who can be taken seriously,” Mr Szijjarto said in a statement, accusing Mr Asselborn of “working tirelessly to demolish European security and culture”. Mr Szijjarto said the referendum would give Hungarians the opportunity to voice their opinion about “illegal immigrants, Brussels’ quota package and the Jean Asselborn-type figures”. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday he did not share the view expressed by his Luxembourg counterpart. “This is not an agreed position in Europe, ” Mr Steinmeier said at a news conference in Riga. “I can understand, looking at Hungary, that some in Europe are getting impatient... however, it is not my personal approach to show a European member state the door”, he added.[SEP]BERLIN (AP) — Luxembourg's foreign minister says Hungary should be temporarily or even permanently expelled from the European Union over its approach to refugees and other issues. Jean Asselborn's comments in German daily Die Welt came days before 27 EU leaders meet in Bratislava to discuss the bloc's future. He said the EU can't tolerate fundamental values being violated. Asselborn was quoted Tuesday as saying: "Anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war or who violates press freedom and judicial independence should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary for ever, from the EU." He argued it's the only way to "preserve the cohesion and values of the European Union." Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum Oct. 2 seeking support for rejecting any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states.[SEP]Luxembourg has demanded Hungary be kicked out of the EU - for building a 110-mile-long fence to stop migrants crossing the continent. Foreign minister Jean Asselborn said the Hungarian government had disregarded the 'values of the EU' with its tough approach to migration. But Hungary hit back describing the tiny country, which is one of the Europe's wealthiest, as a 'tax haven' that has been 'working tirelessly to demolish European security and culture'. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban erected the razor-wire fence on its southern border last year after it became part of the route for migrants heading from Greece towards countries such as Germany and Sweden. According to official figures, Hungary received 174,435 asylum applications last year, the equivalent of 17,699 per million inhabitants. In contrast, Luxembourg had just 2,360 applications – or 4,194 per million inhabitants. In a scathing attack, Mr Asselborn said removing Hungary was the only way to 'preserve the cohesion and values of the European Union'. He told German newspaper Die Welt: 'Anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war or who violates press freedom and judicial independence should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary forever, from the EU. 'The fence that Hungary is building to keep out refugees is getting longer, higher and more dangerous. Hungary is not far from issuing an order to shoot refugees.' Mr Asselborn said it would be 'helpful' to amend EU rules so that suspending a member country no longer requires a unanimous vote. Hungary has been the loudest critics of plans drawn up by European Commission president and former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker to redistribute asylum-seekers through the continent according to compulsory quotas. Mr Orban is holding a referendum next month seeking support for rejecting any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto yesterday described Mr Asselborn as 'condescending and uppity', while arguing that his country had defended Europe throughout its history. 'He wants to exclude Hungary from the EU but he has long excluded himself from among the politicians who can be taken seriously,' he said. Mr Szijjarto said the referendum would give Hungarians the opportunity to voice their opinion about 'illegal immigrants, Brussels' quota package and the Jean Asselborn-type figures'. He added that it was strange that a land of 'tax optimisation' was looking to criticise others about shared burdens. Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka said talk of expelling EU members was 'nonsense'. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: 'It is not my personal position to show a European member state the door.' Last October, Luxembourg faced embarrassment after a group of 30 Syrian asylum seekers in Greece were offered places there but refused to go.[SEP]The Austrian and German foreign ministers joined Hungaryʼs Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today in firmly rejecting a suggestion by their Luxembourg colleague Jean Asselborn that Hungary should be temporarily or permanently ejected from the European Union, the Hungarian media reported widely today. “Those who build fences against refugees like Hungary does, or who violate press freedom and judicial independence, should be excluded temporarily or forever from the EU,” said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in an interview with German national daily newspaper Die Welt. He added that this is “the only way to preserve the cohesion and values of the EU.” Asselborn expressed the view that if Hungary were to apply for EU membership today, then it would have no chance of being accepted. He said that the fence which Hungary has built to keep out refugees “will only get longer, higher and more dangerous,” adding that, in his view, “Hungary is now not so far away from giving the order to fire on refugees.” Asselborn said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has caused a major problem for Europe, because while the EU would like to present a united front to the outside world and to stand up for certain values, it is no longer able to maintain these values within its borders. “Moreover,” he noted, “all this is happening in a country from where hundreds of thousands fled to Europe from the Soviets in 1956.” Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz described Asselborn’s words as unacceptable, saying that while serious words may be exchanged within the EU, sending messages through the media does not contribute to mutual cooperation. “Hungary is a European state, a member of the EU and Austria’s neighbor,” Kurz stressed, adding that "we need respect, so that peace in Europe in not endangered.” “I can understand, looking at Hungary, that some people are increasingly impatient in Europe because of the constant squabbles between the European Commission and the Hungarian government. However, it is not my personal approach to show a European member the door,” said Steinmeier. Responding to his Luxembourg colleague’s comments, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said the Hungarian people have a right to express their opinion, and to decide with whom they wish to live. Szijjártó added that “we already knew that Jean Asselborn is not a serious figure,” and described him as “a proper nihilist” who is “sermonizing, conceited and frustrated.” By contrast, Szijjártó said, Hungary has always protected Europe throughout its history, and is doing so now, adding that the Hungarian people will deliver their opinion in the referendum on October 2 on illegal immigration, the Brussels quota package, and “figures like Jean Asselborn.”[SEP]Hungary should be excluded from EU, Luxembourg For Min tells paper BERLIN, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Hungary should be excluded from the European Union because of its tough anti-migrant policies, including erecting a razor-wire fence, which undermine the EU's values, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told Germany's Die Welt newspaper on Tuesday. The unusually strong comments against Viktor Orban's government come days before an EU summit in Bratislava. "We cannot accept that the basic values of the European Union are being so seriously breached," Asselborn told Die Welt. (Writing by Madeline Chambers, editing by Larry King)[SEP]German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday he did not share a view expressed by his Luxembourg counterpart in a newspaper interview that Hungary should be excluded from the European Union because of its tough anti-migrant policies. "This is not an agreed position in Europe," Steinmeier said at a news conference in Riga. "I can understand, looking at Hungary, that some in Europe are getting impatient... however, it is not my personal approach to show a European member state the door," he added. Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn told Germany's Die Welt newspaper that Hungary should be excluded from the EU because of policies like the building of a razor-wire fence to keep out migrants undermine EU values.[SEP]Hungary should be excluded from EU, Luxembourg For Min tells paper BERLIN, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Hungary should be excluded from the European Union because of its tough anti-migrant policies, including erecting a razor-wire fence, which undermine the EU's values, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told the Germany's newspaper Die Welt on Tuesday. The unusually strong comments against Viktor Orban's government come days before an EU summit in Bratislava. "We cannot accept that the basic values of the European Union are being so seriously breached," Asselborn told Die Welt. "Anyone, like Hungary, who builds fences against war refugees or breaches press freedom and the independence of the justice system should be temporarily, or if needed forever, excluded from the EU," Asselborn said. Orban has angered many of his EU partners with his tough rhetoric on migrants and by building a razor-wire fence along Hungary's southern border to keep them out. He has also urged Hungarians to vote in a referendum next month against future EU quotas stipulating how many refugees each country should take. The EU could not tolerate such behaviour, and exclusion was "the only possibility to preserve the integrity and values of the European Union," Asselborn said, adding it would be helpful to change the rules to allow a county to be suspended without unanimous agreement. Asselborn said humans fleeing from war were being treated almost worse than wild animals. "The fence that Hungary is building to keep out refugees is getting longer, higher and more dangerous. Hungary is not far from issuing an order to shoot refugees," he said. (Writing by Madeline Chambers, editing by Larry King)[SEP]German For Min says on Hungary: We should not push out EU partner RIGA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday he did not share a view expressed by his Luxembourg counterpart in a newspaper interview that Hungary should be excluded from the European Union because of its tough anti-migrant policies. "This is not an agreed position in Europe," Steinmeier said at a news conference in Riga. "I can understand, looking at Hungary, that some in Europe are getting impatient... however, it is not my personal approach to show a European member state the door," he added. Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn told Germany's Die Welt newspaper that Hungary should be excluded from the EU because of policies like the building of a razor-wire fence to keep out migrants undermine EU values. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Gederts Gelzis; Writing by Madeline Chambers in Berlin; Editing by Michelle Martin)[SEP]ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Latest on Europe’s migration crisis (all times local): A Romanian television station is reporting that two migrants, including a 5-year-old boy, have drowned and six are missing after their boat sank last week crossing the River Danube from Bulgaria to Romania. Romanian television Digi24, reporting from Bulgaria on Tuesday, says the bodies were found in the Bulgarian waters of the Danube after their boat capsized on Thursday. Authorities are searching for six others in the river, which forms part of the border between Bulgaria and Romania. The station reported that another four migrants were rescued and were taken to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The station said the migrants had come from Turkey and were trying to avoid Serbia, where border controls have been tightened up. The station reported authorities found the body of a 5-year-old boy and a teenager on Sunday. Border police in the Bulgarian port of Ruse didn’t immediately respond to calls from The Associated Press. Romanian border police on the other side of the Danube declined to comment. A group of senior international diplomats has harshly criticized the European Union’s deal with Turkey to send back migrants in return for financial aid, calling it a “bad example” to other countries. The Elders, a global human rights group founded by the late Nelson Mandela, say the agreement between Brussels and Ankara “is morally dubious” and may be illegal under international law. In a report published Tuesday, they say the deal “sets a troubling precedent” that other countries with bad human rights records may use to demand payment in return for preventing migrants from traveling to Europe. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the group was “raising the alarm” about the agreement and compared it to the way civil liberties had been curtailed around the world after the 9/11 attacks. Hungary’s foreign minister rebuked his Luxembourg counterpart, who said that Hungary should be temporarily or even permanently expelled from the European Union over its approach to refugees and other issues. Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum Oct. 2 seeking support for rejecting any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. Szijjarto said the referendum would give Hungarians the opportunity to voice their opinion about “illegal immigrants, Brussels’ quota package and the Jean Asselborn-type figures.” Just 24 hours after his family was rescued from an overcrowded rubber boat, a baby boy has been born aboard a rescue vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. Doctors Without Borders, one of the operators of the rescue ship Aquarius, said the boy was born to Nigerian parents in international waters Monday morning. He was named Newman Otas. Jonquil Nicholl, a midwife with the aid group who delivered the baby, said it was “a very normal birth in dangerously abnormal conditions.” Parents Otas and Faith and older brothers Victory and Rollres were rescued from a rubber boat trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya a day previously. The baby’s mother said she was panicking before the rescue that she would go into labor, and had been having contractions for three days. Luxembourg’s foreign minister says Hungary should be temporarily or even permanently expelled from the European Union over its approach to refugees and other issues. Jean Asselborn’s comments in German daily Die Welt came days before 27 EU leaders meet in Bratislava to discuss the bloc’s future. He said the EU can’t tolerate fundamental values being violated. Asselborn was quoted Tuesday as saying: “Anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war or who violates press freedom and judicial independence should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary for ever, from the EU.” He argued it’s the only way to “preserve the cohesion and values of the European Union.” Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum Oct. 2 seeking support for rejecting any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. Greece’s coast guard says a search and rescue operation is underway for dozens of migrants on board a boat near the Greek island of Samos, after someone on board called emergency services. The coast guard said a helicopter and vessel from the European border patrol agency Frontex and a coast guard vessel are searching north of Samos for the vessel, which the caller said was carrying about 40 people. The short but often-dangerous crossing from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands has been the preferred route for more than a million refugees and migrants hoping for better lives in the European Union. But an EU deal with Turkey reached in March and Balkan border closures have severely restricted the flow.
Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn calls for Hungary to be expelled from the European Union for its treatment of migrants.
(CNN) Imprisoned former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning has learned that she will receive gender transition surgery, her lawyer told CNN, in what could make her the first US prison inmate to undergo such a procedure. Manning, a transgender woman, was convicted of stealing and disseminating 750,000 pages of documents and videos to WikiLeaks. The former US Army soldier is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, an all-male Army prison in eastern Kansas, despite her request to transfer to a civilian prison. Her lawyers say she has been denied medical treatment for her gender dysphoria, a condition in which there is a conflict between a person's physical sex and the gender he or she identifies with. The government's refusal to treat her for her condition led to a suicide attempt in July, her lawyers said. Manning began a hunger strike on September 9 to demand treatment and access to medically prescribed recommendations for her condition. It ended on Tuesday when she received word that the military will provide treatment for her gender dysphoria, beginning with surgery recommended by her psychologist, according to the ACLU, which is representing Manning. The Army declined to confirm the claim, saying "We cannot and will not discuss the medical needs of individuals." A new Department of Defense policy , which takes effect in October, lays out processes under which service members may transition. Under the policy, "service members with a diagnosis from a military medical provider indicating that gender transition is medically necessary will be provided medical care and treatment for the diagnosed medical condition." It is not clear if or how the policy applies to inmates like Manning. 'This is all that I wanted' Manning told her lawyers that she expects "to meet with a team of doctors in the next week or two to move the process forward to prepare for surgery," ACLU attorney Chase Strangio said in an email. No "concrete timeline was given," he said. The development could make Manning the first transgender person to receive gender affirming surgical treatment in any US prison, military, state or federal, the ACLU said. Manning began publicly identifying as a woman in August 2013, the day after her sentencing. She filed a lawsuit in 2014 against the Department of Defense so she could grow out her hair, use cosmetics and receive hormone treatment "in order to express her female gender." Photos: Know your identity terms Photos: Know your identity terms New terms are entering the cultural lexicon as people endeavor to codify their sexual orientation or gender. These definitions, which have been edited, are primarily from the LGBTQ advocacy group The Trevor Project. The gender fluid definition is from Dictionary.com. Visit The Trevor Project for more details Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Know your identity terms Hide Caption 10 of 10 Last year, the Army agreed to provide her with hormone therapy but would not allow her to groom as a woman. "I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me," Manning said in a statement through the ACLU. "But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. Also, why were such drastic measures needed? The surgery was recommended in April 2016. The recommendations for my hair length were back in 2014. In any case, I hope this sets a precedent for the thousands of trans people behind me hoping they will be given the treatment they need." 'Absolutely vital care' Manning's lawyer said she still faces charges related to her suicide attempt. Her hearing will be held on September 20, he said in a tweet. Plan for surgery important step for @xychelsea but she is still facing charges related to suicide attempt on 9/20. https://t.co/sJqcsF6hjc. — Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) September 13, 2016 "This is a monumental day for Chelsea, who can now enjoy some peace knowing that critically needed medical care is forthcoming. This medical care is absolutely vital for Chelsea as it is for so many transgender people — in and out of prison — who are systemically denied treatment solely because they are transgender," he said in a statement. "Thankfully the government has recognized its constitutional obligation to provide Chelsea with the medical care that she needs and we hope that they will act without delay to ensure that her suffering does not needlessly continue."[SEP]Whistleblower Chelsea Manning has ended her hunger strike after the Army agreed to give her gender transition surgery. The transgender soldier, who is serving a 35-year prison term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, went on hunger strike on Friday. Today, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Manning, 28, had ended her protest after the Army agreed to the treatment. Arrested originally as Bradley Manning, she was convicted in 2013 of six Espionage Act violations and 14 other offenses for leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents, plus some battlefield video. Manning, who was an intelligence analyst in Iraq at the time, later filed a transgender prisoner rights lawsuit. She has appealed the criminal case, arguing that her sentence was 'grossly unfair' and that her actions were those of a naive, troubled soldier who aimed to reveal the toll of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The appeal contends Manning's disclosures harmed no one, but prosecutors have said the leaked material damaged US security and identified informants who helped US forces. Her attorney's statement concluded: 'For us, hearing Chelsea's voice after learning that she had attempted to take her life last week was incredibly emotional. 'She is someone who has fought so hard for so many issues we care about and we are honored to fight for her freedom and medical care.' Manning made an attempt to take her own life in July, her attorneys confirmed. Chelsea Manning's legal representatives said in a statement: 'Last week, Chelsea made a decision to end her life. Her attempt to take her own life was unsuccessful.' They did not disclose details about the July 5 incident at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, where the 28-year-old is serving a 35-year sentence. But they accused the U.S. Army of a 'gross breach of confidentiality' for publicly revealing last week that Manning had been rushed to hospital. Manning's lawyers added that the soldier 'knows that people have questions about how she is doing' and will remain under close observation at the lockup for several weeks. 'She would have preferred to keep her private medical information private, and instead focus on her recovery,' said her attorneys. 'The government's gross breach of confidentiality in disclosing her personal health information to the media has created the very real concern that they may continue their unauthorized release of information about her publicly without warning.' Manning herself has since taken to Twitter, posting: 'I am okay. I'm glad to be alive. Thank you all for your love <3 I will get through this. #standwithchelsea' If you need to speak to a counselor, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1 (800) 273-8255.[SEP]Imprisoned transgender soldier Chelsea Manning has ended a hunger strike after five days when the US Army agreed to provide surgery to treat her gender dysphoria, her representatives said. The move is a major milestone not just for Manning, but for the US military, which in June announced it would begin allowing openly transgender people to serve, and would cover medical expenses related to the condition. Manning started a hunger strike Friday to protest what she said was the military's refusal to treat her condition, and for forcing her to keep her hair short. "I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted -- for them to let me be me," Manning said in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued the Pentagon in 2014 over Manning's medical treatment. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Originally called Bradley, Manning was convicted in August 2013 of espionage and other offenses after admitting to handing classified documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. She attempted suicide in July and has repeatedly decried her treatment in a men's military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she is appealing her 35-year sentence. Chase Strangio, staff attorney with the ACLU, said Manning would still be subject to male grooming standards. "It is nonetheless troubling that the government continues to insist that they will enforce the male hair-length standards against her and subject her to a disciplinary board over administrative charges related to her suicide attempt in July, which was precipitated by the government's refusal to adequately treat her for gender dysphoria," Strangio said. The ACLU said no transgender individual had ever received "gender affirming" surgical treatment in prison before. The Pentagon has said it would pay for troops to have gender surgery when deemed "medically necessary".[SEP](CNN) Imprisoned former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning has learned that she will receive gender transition surgery, her lawyer told CNN, in what could make her the first US prison inmate to undergo such a procedure. Manning, a transgender woman, was convicted of stealing and disseminating 750,000 pages of documents and videos to WikiLeaks. The former US Army soldier is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, an all-male Army prison in eastern Kansas. Her lawyers say she has been denied medical treatment for her gender dysphoria, a condition in which there is a conflict between a person's physical sex and the gender he or she identifies with. The government's refusal to treat her for her condition led to a suicide attempt in July, her lawyers said. Manning began a hunger strike on September 9 to demand treatment and access to medically prescribed recommendations for her condition. It ended on Tuesday when she received word that the military will provide treatment for her gender dysphoria, beginning with surgery recommended by her psychologist, according to the ACLU, which is representing Manning. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Manning told her lawyers that she expects "to meet with a team of doctors in the next week or two to move the process forward to prepare for surgery," ACLU attorney Chase Strangio said in an email. No "concrete timeline was given," he said. The development could make Manning the first transgender person to receive gender affirming surgical treatment in any US prison, military, state or federal, the ACLU said. Last year, the Army agreed to provide her with hormone therapy but would not allow her to groom as a woman. "I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me," Manning said in a statement through the ACLU. "But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. Also, why were such drastic measures needed? The surgery was recommended in April 2016. The recommendations for my hair length were back in 2014. In any case, I hope this sets a precedent for the thousands of trans people behind me hoping they will be given the treatment they need." Strangio said Manning still faces charges related to her suicide attempt. Her hearing will be held on September 20, he said in a tweet. "This is a monumental day for Chelsea, who can now enjoy some peace knowing that critically needed medical care is forthcoming. This medical care is absolutely vital for Chelsea as it is for so many transgender people — in and out of prison — who are systemically denied treatment solely because they are transgender," he said in a statement. "Thankfully the government has recognized its constitutional obligation to provide Chelsea with the medical care that she needs and we hope that they will act without delay to ensure that her suffering does not needlessly continue."[SEP]A transgender soldier imprisoned in the US for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks will end a hunger strike after the Army agreed to allow her to receive medical treatment for her gender dysphoria. Chelsea Manning’s medical treatment will begin with surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the American Civil Liberties Union said. Manning began the hunger strike at Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas on Friday, vowing to continue until she received better treatment. 'Let me be me' “I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that,” said Mannig, who attended Tasker Milward school in Pembrokeshire for four years. “This is all that I wanted – for them to let me be me. “But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. In any case, I hope this sets a precedent for the thousands of trans people behind me hoping they will be given the treatment they need.” Manning, who was arrested in 2010 as Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 in military court of leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was an intelligence analyst in Iraq at the time. She is serving a 35-year sentence. ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio said Manning should “enjoy some peace” knowing the medical care was coming. “Thankfully the government has recognised its constitutional obligation to provide Chelsea with the medical care that she needs and we hope that they will act without delay to ensure that her suffering does not needlessly continue.” Ms Strangio said it is worrying that Manning still faces administrative charges related to a suicide attempt on July 5 at the military prison. She wants the Army to drop those charges and stop efforts to make Manning cut her hair to male hair length military standards. The ACLU filed a lawsuit in 2014 against the US Department of Defence over its refusal to treat Manning’s gender dysphoria.[SEP]Wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning has ended her hunger strike after the US Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery . The 28-year-old Army private, who is currently serving a 35-year prison term in Kansas for leaking classified files, announced the hunger strike on Friday. Manning was born male and was formally known as Bradley but revealed, after being convicted of espionage, that she identifies as a woman. Her treatment will begin with the surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the American Civil Liberties Union said. No transgender inmate has ever before received gender affirming surgical treatment in prison, the ACLU said. • Teen transgender Kim Kardashian lookalike who was born a boy returned to school after holidays as a girl In a statement, Manning said: "I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me." She went on to criticise the government for taking "so long." A representative for the US Department of Defense could not immediately be reached for comment. In July, Manning tried to take her own life over what her representatives said was the government's denial of appropriate treatment for her gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person feels their physical gender is the opposite of the one he or she identifies with. The Army announced later that month that it would investigate Manning for misconduct in connection with the attempt to take her own life, a probe that could lead to indefinite solitary confinement, reclassification into maximum security or additional prison time. According to Manning's representatives, doctors have recommended that as part of her treatment for gender dysphoria the soldier, who began hormone therapy in 2015, be allowed to follow "female hair grooming standards." • Caitlyn Jenner is NOT a figurehead for the transgender community says Transparent star ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio said in Tuesday's statement that the government plans to still enforce the male hair standards. Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison after a military court conviction of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The case ranked as the biggest breach of classified materials in U.S. history. Among the files Manning leaked in 2010 was a gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing on suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2007, an attack that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.[SEP]U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning, who was born male but identifies as a woman, imprisoned for handing over classified files to pro-transparency site WikiLeaks, is pictured dressed as a woman in this 2010 photograph obtained on August 14, 2013. Courtesy U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning, serving a 35-year prison term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, ended her hunger strike on Tuesday after the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery, the American Civil Liberties Union said. The 28-year-old Army private, who was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman, announced the hunger strike on Friday. Manning's treatment will begin with the surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the ACLU, which represented Manning, said in a statement. Manning is held in Kansas. No transgender inmate has ever before received gender affirming surgical treatment in prison, the ACLU said. "I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me," Manning said in a statement, though she went on to criticize the government for taking "so long." A representative for the U.S. Department of Defense could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday evening. Manning in July tried to commit suicide over what her representatives said was the government's denial of appropriate treatment for her gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person feels their physical gender is the opposite of the one he or she identifies with. The Army announced later that month that it would investigate Manning for misconduct in connection with the attempt to take her own life, a probe that could lead to indefinite solitary confinement, reclassification into maximum security or additional prison time. According to Manning's representatives, doctors have recommended that as part of her treatment for gender dysphoria the soldier, who began hormone therapy in 2015, be allowed to follow "female hair grooming standards." ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio said in Tuesday's statement that the government plans to still enforce the male hair standards. Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison after a military court conviction of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The case ranked as the biggest breach of classified materials in U.S. history. Among the files Manning leaked in 2010 was a gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing on suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2007, an attack that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.[SEP]A transgender soldier imprisoned in Kansas for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks says she is ending a hunger strike because the Army has agreed to allow her to get medical treatment for her gender dysphoria. Chelsea Manning began a hunger strike Friday to protest her treatment at Fort Leavenworth. The American Civil Liberties Union said in a news release Tuesday that Manning's treatment will begin with surgery that her psychologist recommended in April. Manning says in the release that she's relieved the military approved the treatment but frustrated that it took so long. Manning, who was arrested as Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 in military court of leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents.[SEP]The imprisoned US soldier Chelsea Manning has ended a hunger strike after the army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery, the American Civil Liberties Union has announced. Ms Manning (28), who is serving a 35-year prison term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, began the hunger strike on Friday. Ms Manning’s treatment would begin with the surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, said the ACLU, which represented Ms Manning, who is held in Kansas. Ms Manning criticised the government in a statement for taking “so long” but said: “I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted – for them to let me be me.” The army private formerly known as Bradley Manning revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identified as a woman. No transgender inmate had ever before received such surgical treatment in prison, the ACLU said. Ms Manning in July attempted suicide over what her representatives said was the government’s denial of appropriate treatment for her gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person feels their physical gender is the opposite of the one he or she identifies with. The army announced later that month that it would investigate Ms Manning for misconduct in connection with the attempt to take her own life, a probe that could lead to indefinite solitary confinement, reclassification into maximum security or additional prison time. According to Ms Manning’s representatives, doctors have recommended that as part of her treatment for gender dysphoria the soldier, who began hormone therapy in 2015, be allowed to follow “female hair grooming standards”. ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio said in Tuesday’s statement that the government planned to still enforce the male hair standards. Bradley Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison after a military court conviction of providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The case ranked as the biggest breach of classified materials in US history. Among the files Bradley Manning leaked in 2010 was a gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing on suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2007, an attack that killed a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.[SEP]U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning, serving a 35-year prison term for passing classified files to WikiLeaks, ended her hunger strike on Tuesday after the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said. Manning (28), who was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman, announced the hunger strike on Friday. Manning’s treatment will begin with the surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the ACLU, which represented Manning, said in a statement. Manning is held in Kansas. No transgender inmate has ever before received gender affirming surgical treatment in prison, the ACLU said. “I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me,” Manning said in a statement, though she went on to criticise the government for taking “so long.”
Imprisoned former American Army intelligence analyst and transgender person Chelsea Manning, who is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, will have the military provide the costs of gender reassignment surgery. She was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified but sensitive military and diplomatic documents.
"You know, maybe he got what he deserved," said Juan Laguna, 55, whose mother, Minerva Duprey, died in the inferno. "I'm not going to feel sad about it or anything. You know what? He had it coming to him."[SEP]Arsonist who killed 87 in 1990 NYC club fire dies in prison NEW YORK (AP) — The man who started the fire that killed 87 people at a New York City nightclub 26 years ago has died at an upstate prison. The Daily News reports (http://nydn.us/2c7tHtd ) a state corrections spokesman says 61-year-old Julio Gonzalez died Tuesday at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh. Gonzalez had been serving a 25-years-to-life sentence in the maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility in nearby Dannemora. Authorities say Gonzalez was taken to the hospital after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack. An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday. Gonzalez set fire to the illegally operated Happy Land social club in the Bronx in March 1990 after getting into an argument with his former girlfriend and being thrown out of the club. Only six people inside the two-story club escaped, including his ex-girlfriend.
The Cuban-born American arsonist who torched 87 people in March 1990 at The Bronx Happy Land fire, Julio González, dies in prison at the age of 61.
National WATCH | Duterte accuses 'yellow' forces of using human rights to sow intrigue InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday virtually accused forces loyal to his predecessor of fanning "intrigues" against him by blaming him for the killings of nearly 3,000 people in his tough campaign on illegal drugs. He said these "Yellow" people, whom he did not name - but was obviously referring to certain people in the Liberal Party - could this early be laying the groundwork for his impeachment. For this, he said, he was prepared, adding that for his controversial campaign against crime and drugs, "I'm ready to lose my life, my honor and my presidency." He began his remarks after the swearing in of dozens of new government bureaucrats by swinging out again at the United States, calling the American leaders "hypocrites" for criticizing him for human rights violations while infringing on the rights of other people. He then showed his audience some of the photos he had used to shock delegates at the ASEAN-East Asia Summit in Laos last week, to illustrate America's history of violating human rights while assailing other countries' records. He held up photos of American soldiers standing over a pile of bodies in the Bud Dajo massacre in Sulu during the US pacification campaign in Mindanao. He reiterated that he never called Obama a "son of a bitch" but attacked him nonetheless for openly advising him in Laos to fight crime "the right way" and not short-circuit due process. Duterte lamented that Obama, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, "rode" on the human rights issues against him without bothering to get evidence that he had ordered the killings. Duterte and National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa have been saying that many of the killings since he took office July 1 were the result of rivalries between drug syndicates or vigilantes. Just about half of the 3,000 deaths are attributed to official police operations. "Sumakay itong si Obama. Sumakay si Ban Ki Moon. Dito sumakay. Alam mo kung kaninong laro ito? Yellow yan [This Obama and Mr. Ban rode on this human rights issue. You know who's fanning this intrigue and playing this? The yellow forces]." The Liberal Party is associated with the color yellow because the previous president, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and the middle-class forces associated with his family's democracy campaign in the 70s and 80s, have taken yellow as their signature color. In the past two weeks, Duterte has publicly excoriated an LP senator, the Senate's Justice committee chair Leila de Lima, for pushing a congressional inquiry into re extra-judicial killings that have marred his anti-drugs campaign. Duterte said Monday he won't back down in case the "yellow" forces are already paving the way for an impeachment case against him. It was an apparent reference to the conspiracy theory that made the rounds during the May 9 election campaign - when it became clear Duterte was headed for a landslide - that the LP will actively work to have Duterte impeached so their vice-presidential candidate, Leni Robredo, will assume the presidency. US special forces out Meanwhile, Duterte declared at the same Palace occasion Monday that he would order the US special forces out of Mindanao, saying the south would never have peace for as long as the Americans are there. According to Duterte, intervention by the US and its allies has damaged so many countries around the world. "Kaya yung mga [That's why the US] special forces, they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao. Maraming mga puti doon [There are so many white people there], they have to go. I don't want to have a rift with America but they have to go." He added, "for as long as we stay with America we will not have peace." HERE'S JV ARCENA'S VIDEO REPORT: [SEP]VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and her Liberal party mates on Tuesday denied a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, with Robredo calling the accusation that came from the President himself “misinformation.” Duterte on Monday said the “yellows” were out to discredit and impeach him, claiming they were behind the international media play-up of his expletive-laden outburst against the United States and US President Barack Obama amid last week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits in Laos. Yellow is the color associated with the Liberal Party (LP) of former President Benigno Aquino 3rd. Robredo, the LP’s highest-ranking elected official who was given the Social Welfare and Development portfolio by Duterte, said in a statement: “There are no moves from the Liberal Party to unseat the President.” “In fact, the leadership of the party has been consistently demonstrating its support to this administration. Members of the party coalesced with the majority in the House and the Senate,” she added. Robredo was referring to the LP lawmakers who belong to the “Super Majority” bloc led by Duterte’s allies from PDP-Laban, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party and Lakas-CMD in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Rep. Romero Quimbo of Marikina, a Liberal, is one of the 12 deputy speakers of the House. Robredo said she would “clarify” the “misinformation” on the supposed impeachment plot with the President and assure him of the party’s commitment to his reform measures, particularly on poverty and the fight against illegal drugs. “We’ve offered the anti-poverty programs and policies that I’ve been pushing for to complement the government’s priorities on poverty alleviation. We’ve been coordinating with the relevant government agencies so that our office can help in the rehabilitation effort that needs to accompany the campaign against illegal drugs,” she added. Liberal congressmen Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, Edcel Lagman of Albay, Raul Daza of Northern Samar and Edgar Erice of Caloocan City echoed Robredo. Belmonte said it would be hard to impeach Duterte, who controls Congress. “He (Duterte) is overwhelmingly popular which amounts to a public approval of his programs. Secondly, he has overwhelming majority in the House where impeachment starts,” Belmonte said. Daza agreed that impeachment was definitely off the table. “As you already know, 28 of the 33 LP members are with the Super Majority [bloc]. We [in the LP]have not even talked about impeachment. Impeachment, under the Constitution, begins in the House and I am sure there has not been any talk about that,” Daza said. ‘Impeaching himself’ For Lagman, a Liberal stalwart who chose to be part of the House minority, the President had no one to blame but himself for what happened last week. “It is the President who is … impeaching himself with ill-conceived statements that are unmindful of adverse effects and compromising consequences,” Lagman told reporters, referring to the President’s tirades against the US, expletives against world leaders, and controversial statements against political opponents. At least five LP members belong to the House opposition bloc that has called itself the “Legitimate 8” following the installation of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as minority leader. Lagman’s group, which claims the Suarez-led minority is friendly to the Super Majority, includes Daza, Erice, Teodoro Baguilat of Ifugao and Emmanuel Billones of Capiz. Erice clarified that being in the opposition did not mean support for Duterte’s ouster. “We don’t talk about impeachment because it is bad for our country and for our economy. We do not wish impeachment for the President,” Erice said. “We want President Duterte to succeed, and our role [in the opposition]is to provide check and balance. The President should also try to appreciate that what we are doing here [as opposition lawmakers]is also good for the country,” Erice added.
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte accuses the Liberal Party of former president Benigno Aquino III and their allies of orchestrating an impeachment complaint against him regarding his anti-drug campaign.
Humans across the globe may be actually speaking the same language after scientists found that the sounds used to make the words of common objects and ideas are strikingly similar. The discovery challenges the fundamental principles of linguistics, which state that languages grow up independently of each other, with no intrinsic meaning in the noises which form words. But research which looked into several thousand languages showed that for basic concepts, such as body parts, family relationships or aspects of the natural world, there are common sounds - as if concepts that are important to the human experience somehow trigger universal verbalisations.[SEP]MIAMI: Nearly two thirds of the world’s languages often use similar sounds for common objects, such as the “n” sound for nose, international researchers said Monday. The study challenges a long-standing principle of linguistics, which holds that the relationship between sound and meaning is completely arbitrary, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “These sound symbolic patterns show up again and again across the world, independent of the geographical dispersal of humans and independent of language lineage,” said Morten Christiansen, professor of psychology at Cornell University. “There does seem to be something about the human condition that leads to these patterns. We don’t know what it is, but we know it’s there,” added Christiansen, director of Cornell’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. For the study, scientists analyzed dozens of basic vocabulary words in 62 percent of the world’s more than 6,000 current languages. Pronouns, body parts, animals, adjectives and verbs to describe motion were all included. Not all, but “a considerable proportion of the 100 basic vocabulary words have a strong association with specific kinds of human speech sounds,” said the study. For instance, in most languages, the word for “nose” was likely to include the sounds “neh” or the “oo” sound, as in “ooze,” it said. The word for tongue was “likely to have ‘l’—as in ‘langue’ in French. The word for “sand” was likely to include the “s” sound. “R” sounds were likely to included in the words for “red” and “round.” “It doesn’t mean all words have these sounds, but the relationship is much stronger than we’d expect by chance,” Christiansen said. Some of the strongest associations were among words for body parts. More research is needed to understand why certain sounds are linked to certain words. Co-authors on the study came from the University of Zurich, University of Leiden, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, and University of Leipzig. AFP[SEP]Nearly two thirds of the world’s languages often use similar sounds for common objects, such as the “n” sound for nose, international researchers said on Monday. The study challenges a long-standing principle of linguistics, which holds that the relationship between sound and meaning is completely arbitrary, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “These sound symbolic patterns show up again and again across the world, independent of the geographical dispersal of humans and independent of language lineage,” said Morten Christiansen, professor of psychology at Cornell University. “There does seem to be something about the human condition that leads to these patterns. We don’t know what it is, but we know it's there,” added Mr. Christiansen, director of Cornell’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. For the study, scientists analysed dozens of basic vocabulary words in 62 per cent of the world’s more than 6,000 current languages. Pronouns, body parts, animals, adjectives and verbs to describe motion were all included. Strong association Not all, but “a considerable proportion of the 100 basic vocabulary words have a strong association with specific kinds of human speech sounds,” said the study. For instance, in most languages, the word for “nose” was likely to include the sounds “neh” or the “oo” sound, as in “ooze,” it said. The word for tongue was “likely to have ‘l’ – as in ‘langue’ in French. The word for “sand” was likely to include the “s” sound. “R” sounds were likely to included in the words for “red” and “round.”[SEP]The variation between the thousands of languages spoken across the world would make you think that they have very little in common. But a new study suggests otherwise. An analysis of nearly two-thirds of the world's languages has shown humans tend to use the same sounds for common objects and ideas, no matter what language they are speaking. The study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at two thirds of the world's languages and found a pattern formed between the words used for certain basic concepts. The 100 words in the study include things like nose, tongue, leaf and sand. The researchers, from Cornell University in New York, say the study shatters a concept considered a cornerstone in linguistics - the century-old idea that the relationship between a sound of a word and its meaning is arbitrary. In the past 20 years, language scientists have seen evidence suggesting that the rule is not necessarily iron-clad. Researchers looked at two thirds of the world's languages and found a pattern formed between the words used for certain basic concepts. In most languages the word for 'nose' is likely to include the sounds 'neh' or the 'oo' sound, as in 'ooze’. The word for 'tongue' is likely to have 'l'. 'Leaf' is likely to include the sounds 'b,' 'p' or 'l’. And 'Sand' will probably use the sound 's’. The team also found certain words are likely to avoid certain sounds. This was especially true for pronouns. For example, words for 'I' are unlikely to include sounds involving u, p, b, t, s, r and l. 'You' is unlikely to include sounds involving u, o, p, t, d, q, s, r and l. The words included pronouns, body parts and properties like small and full, verbs that describe motion and nouns that describe natural phenomena like star and fish. Some studies showed words for small objects in a variety of languages are likely to contain high-pitched sounds. But until now, evidence had looked only at specific word/sound relationships or small sets of languages. 'People haven't been able to show whether sound symbolism is really something more pervasive throughout languages all over the world,' Professor Christiansen said. 'And this is the first time anyone has been able to show that at such a scale.' Professor Christiansen looked at 40-100 basic vocabulary words in 62 per cent of the world's more than 6,000 current languages and 85 per cent of its linguistic lineages. 'These sound symbolic patterns show up again and again across the world, independent of the geographical dispersal of humans and independent of language lineage,' he said. 'There does seem to be something about the human condition that leads to these patterns. We don't know what it is, but we know it's there.' The researchers say, for example, in most languages the word for 'nose' is likely to include the sounds 'neh' or the 'oo' sound, as in 'ooze.' 'It doesn't mean all words have these sounds, but the relationship is much stronger than we'd expect by chance,' Professor Christiansen said. The associations were particularly strong for words that described body parts. 'We didn't quite expect that,' he said. The team also found certain words are likely to avoid certain sounds. This was especially true for pronouns. For example, words for 'I' are unlikely to include sounds involving u, p, b, t, s, r and l. 'You' is unlikely to include sounds involving u, o, p, t, d, q, s, r and l. The words included pronouns, body parts and properties like small and full, verbs that describe motion and nouns that describe natural phenomena like star and fish. Why humans tend to use the same sounds across languages to describe basic objects and ideas is another question. But Professor Christiansen thinks it could be related to the fact these concepts are important in all languages, and children are likely to learn these words early in life. 'Perhaps these signals help nudge kids into acquiring language,' he said. 'Likely it has something to do with the human mind or brain, our ways of interacting, or signals we use when we learn or process language. They found a considerable proportion of the 100 basic vocabulary words have a strong association with specific kinds of human speech sounds. The study's results are conservative; the actual number of sound symbolism patterns may in fact be even greater, Christiansen said. 'We wanted to show findings that we can really stand behind.'[SEP]Sifting through two-thirds of the world’s languages, scientists have discovered a strange pattern: Words with the same meanings in different languages often seem to share the same sounds — even when those two languages are completely unrelated. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, run counter to a long-held idea in linguistics and could complicate the work of researchers trying to trace the history and evolution of the world’s languages. If you look at basic words across unrelated languages from disparate parts of the world, you’ll typically find they sound nothing alike, the study authors point out. For example, “ptitsa,” “ndege” and “tori” all mean “bird” – in Russian, Swahili and Japanese, respectively. “The idea that there is essentially no relation between sound and meaning has [existed for] over 100 years now,” said lead author Damian Blasi, a language data scientist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. “And it strikes at something really intuitive.” Researchers often discount the idea that sounds might have some relationship to the meaning of their words in part because it encourages half-baked thinking that could lead to flawed science, Blasi said. “I think the reason why some of these ideas have a bad reputation is because people have proposed a lot of very sloppy theories,” Blasi said. Certainly, you might find related words within a language that sound alike – think glance, glimmer and glare in English, which all have to do with vision and begin with a “gl.” But that doesn’t mean you’d find the same “gl-” cluster across other languages as well. Still, Blasi and his colleagues realized there wasn’t a whole lot of data backing up this claim either way. But advancements in computing and modern statistical methods now mean that, instead of comparing a few — or a few dozen — languages, the scientists could do what generations of linguists before them could not: analyze thousands of language data sets at once. The team studied nearly two-thirds of the world’s 6,000-plus languages using word lists covering about 100 shared basic concepts, checking to see if similar sounds kept cropping up. (For example, “snow,” while it’s a basic concept, is not shared, since many languages arose in places that never have any; but “rocks” are a ubiquitous feature of natural human habitats.) Of course, plenty of languages share words that have similar sounds because they’re either “descended” from the same original language (such as Spanish “hospital” and French “hopital,” both of which arose from Latin) or because they’ve borrowed heavily (as English did after the French invaded in the Norman Conquest of 1066). The researchers had to make sure to rule out sound patterns that were similar simply because two languages were related. The problem is, some researchers disagree about which languages are related, and how. So the scientists based their analyses on two different linguistic family trees, looking for patterns that were clear enough to survive under both models. The researchers found, to their surprise, a number of sound/meaning relationships that cropped up across unrelated languages. For example, words for “tongue” often tend to have an “l” or a “u” (such as the Spanish “lengua”). Words for “nose” often have an “n” sound. Words for “round” often have an “r,” and “small” is associated with “ee” sounds. These preferences weren’t universal – far from it – but they appeared over and over again. Researchers are already fielding possible explanations for why these patterns crop up: perhaps “l” is associated with tongues and “n” is associated with noses because those body parts play a role in making those sounds, Blasi said. It might be that other associations are due to synesthesia — an ability to link perceptions from one sense to another (for example, seeing colors when hearing music). But the scientists avoided trying to pin down explanations for the phenomena they observed. “We don’t take any stance with respect to the origin,” Blasi said. “We just say, ‘What is the data saying? Is there any strong association, yes or no?’ Well, it seems that there is. Why? That’s a different question.” It’s far too easy to come up with unfounded theories to explain such patterns, Blasi said. He even tested this problem out at a conference a few years ago by making up links between words and sounds – “fire” and the sound of “t,” for example – and would randomly ask people to explain these associations. People found a reasonable explanation every time – for a relationship that did not actually exist. Instead, scientists may have to probe these preferences experimentally, Blasi said. Perhaps you could make up words for two different “alien” languages, and test people to see if they found it easier to remember words with the preferences found in this paper. The findings may have implications for linguists who look for shared sounds (and predictable changes) in current and older written languages to try to reconstruct their ancient, long-gone ancestors. Blasi’s study shows that some of those shared characteristics between “sister” languages may not be inherited from a “mother” language; instead, they could have arisen independently, simply because humans tend to like certain sounds with certain words. “That calls into question some of the attempts that people have put forward in order to determine the prehistory of many linguistic families,” Blasi said. This could throw a curveball into the work of researchers tracing our linguistic heritage. “The more we look into languages, the more we learn that they are extremely complex, and that we have to take them seriously,” he said. Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and "like" Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.
Researchers from the Americas and Europe discover that sounds in 40–100 basic vocabulary words in around 3,700 languages are similar.
GENEVA -- Russian hackers broke into a World Anti-Doping Agency database and posted confidential medical data online Tuesday of some United States female athletes who competed at the Rio Olympics -- including gymnast Simone Biles, tennis players Serena and Venus Williams and basketball player Elena Delle Donne. WADA said the attack was carried out by a "Russian cyber espionage group" called "Fancy Bears," who revealed records of "therapeutic use exemptions" -- which allow athletes to use substances that are banned if there is a verified medical need. The hackers posted medical records of Biles that showed the four-time gold medalist tested positive for methylphenidate after four tests -- Aug. 11, Aug. 14, Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. However, Biles was issued certificates that, per the International Gymnastics Federation, approved the one-daily use of the drug (15 mg) for therapeutic use for one-year periods in September 2012 and September 2013. In December 2013, Biles was again issued a one-year certificate for dexmethylphenidate that included an additional 10 mg dose per day, and that certificate for both dosages was extended for a four-year period from December 2014 to December 2018. Biles responded on Twitter, saying that she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and has "taken medicine for it since I was a kid." "Please know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me," she said. USA Gymnastics issued a statement on Twitter confirming that Biles' records were breached from the WADA database by hackers. USA Gymnastics statement regarding Simone Biles and WADA hack: pic.twitter.com/YTq2iVS7Vu — USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 13, 2016 The Williams sisters did not test positive in Rio, according to the records posted by the hackers, but had been granted multiple certificates of approval, authorized by the International Tennis Federation, for specified periods since 2010. Serena Williams was last approved for using prednisolone for a six-day period in June 2015. In the past, Serena also had approvals for methylprednisolone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and prednisone. Venus, meanwhile, had exceptions for triamcinolone, prednisone, formoterol and prednisolone for specified periods between 2010 and 2013. Venus Williams, who won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last month, issued a statement via her agent in which she said she was granted TUEs "when serious medical conditions have occurred," and those exemptions were "reviewed by an anonymous, independent group of doctors, and approved for legitimate medical reasons." Williams revealed in 2011 she had been diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an energy-sapping disease. "I was disappointed to learn today that my private, medical data has been compromised by hackers and published without my permission,'' Williams said. "I have followed the rules established under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program in applying for, and being granted, 'therapeutic use exemption.' " The ITF also cautioned against "unjustified conclusions'' being drawn from exemptions it approved. "All TUEs granted under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program are for the legitimate therapeutic use of medications and are in no way indicative of doping or a breach of the anti-doping rules,'' International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said in a statement. According to the hackers' documents, Delle Donne, who averaged 8.6 points per game as the U.S. won the gold in women's basketball, tested positive for using an amphetamine on Aug. 20, but she, too, had a certificate of approval, authorized by FIBA, for therapeutic use that was issued for a four-year period from Aug. 7, 2014 to Aug. 7, 2018. In addition, Delle Donne had another certificate, also authorized by FIBA, permitting the usage of a banned hydrocortisone from 2014 to 2018. "I'd like to thank the hackers for making the world aware that I legally take a prescription for a condition I've been diagnosed with, which WADA granted me an exception for," Delle Donne said in a tweet Tuesday. "Thanks guys!" USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement Tuesday condemning the hackers' "attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong." "The athletes haven't," Tygart continued. "In fact, in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication. The respective International Federations, through the proper process, granted the permission and it was recognized by the IOC and USADA. "The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged in by these hackers is cowardly and despicable. It is time for the entire international community to stand up and condemn this cyber-attack on clean sport and athletes rights." Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome said he has "no issue" with his medical data being leaked. "I've openly discussed my TUEs with the media and have no issues with the leak which confirms my statements," Froome said Thursday in a statement. The Washington Mystics hope the addition of Elena Delle Donne will help them vault to the top of the standings after finishing last in the Eastern Conference. Getty Images WADA previously warned of cyberattacks after investigators it appointed published reports into Russian state-sponsored doping. "These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia," World Anti-Doping Agency director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. WADA said it "extended its investigation with the relevant law enforcement authorities." Last month, hackers obtained a database password for Russian runner Yuliya Stepanova, a whistleblower and key witness for the WADA investigations. She and her husband, a former official with the Russian national anti-doping agency, are now living at an undisclosed location in North America. A spokesman for Russian state President Vladimir Putin rejected WADA's statement blaming Russian hackers as unfounded. "There can be no talk about any official or government involvement, any involvement of Russian agencies in those actions. It's absolutely out of the question," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. "Such unfounded accusations don't befit any organization, if they aren't backed by substance." The International Olympic Committee said it "strongly condemns such methods which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes." "The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016," the Olympic body said. Those behind the breach have adopted the name Fancy Bears, an apparently tongue-in-cheek reference to a collection of hackers which many security researchers have long associated with Russia. In a statement posted to its website early Tuesday, the group proclaimed its allegiance to Anonymous, the loose-knit movement of online mischief-makers, and said it hacked WADA to show the world "how Olympic medals are won." "We will start with the U.S. team which has disgraced its name by tainted victories," the group said, adding that more revelations about other teams were forthcoming. Internet records suggest Fancy Bears' data dump has been in the works for at least two weeks; their website was registered on Sept. 1 and their Twitter account was created Sept. 6. The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]GENEVA — Confidential medical data of gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and other female U.S. Olympians was hacked from a World Anti-Doping Agency database and posted online Tuesday. WADA said the hackers were a “Russian cyber espionage group” called Fancy Bears. They revealed records of “Therapeutic Use Exemptions” (TUEs), which allow athletes to use otherwise-banned substances because of a verified medical need. Williams, who won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last month, issued a statement via her agent in which she said she was granted TUEs “when serious medical conditions have occurred,” and those exemptions were “reviewed by an anonymous, independent group of doctors, and approved for legitimate medical reasons.” Williams revealed in 2011 she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping disease. “I was disappointed to learn today that my private, medical data has been compromised by hackers and published without my permission,” Williams said. “I have followed the rules established under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program in applying for, and being granted, ‘therapeutic use exemption.'” Another athlete named was women’s basketball gold medalist Elena Delle Donne, who had thumb surgery on Tuesday and posted a post-op pic on Twitter, along with a statement saying she takes prescribed medication approved by WADA. In a statement, USA Gymnastics said Biles — who won five medals, four gold, in Rio last month — was approved for an exemption and had not broken any rules. She wrote on Twitter that she’s taken medication to treat ADHD since she was a child. “Please know I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me,” Biles posted. WADA previously warned of cyberattacks after investigators it had appointed published reports into Russian state-sponsored doping. “These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia,” World Anti-Doping Agency director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. WADA said it “extended its investigation with the relevant law enforcement authorities.” Last month, hackers obtained a database password for Russian runner Yuliya Stepanova, a whistleblower and key witness for the WADA investigations. She and her husband, a former official with the Russian national anti-doping agency, are now living at an undisclosed location in North America. “There can be no talk about any official or government involvement, any involvement of Russian agencies in those actions. It’s absolutely out of the question,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. “Such unfounded accusations don’t befit any organization, if they aren’t backed by substance.” The International Olympic Committee said it “strongly condemns such methods which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes.” “The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016,” the Olympic body said. The top American anti-doping official said it was “unthinkable” to try to smear athletes who followed the rules and did nothing wrong. “The cyberbullying of innocent athletes being engaged in by these hackers is cowardly and despicable,” said Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The name “Fancy Bears” appears to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to a collection of hackers that many security researchers have long associated with Russia. In a statement posted to its website early Tuesday, the group proclaimed its allegiance to Anonymous, the loose-knit movement of online mischief-makers, and said it hacked WADA to show the world “how Olympic medals are won.” “We will start with the U.S. team which has disgraced its name by tainted victories,” the group said, adding that more revelations about other teams were forthcoming. Internet records suggest Fancy Bears’ data dump has been in the works for at least two weeks; their website was registered on Sept. 1 and their Twitter account was created on Sept. 6. Messages left with the group were not immediately returned. A French name and phone number associated with the site both appeared to be bogus. A mailing address listed by the hackers appeared to point to a florist east of Paris; messages left with the business were not immediately returned.[SEP]LOS ANGELES -- The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday slammed Russian hackers who breached its database and published confidential records of U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. WADA said in a statement that the Russian cyber-espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bears, had broken into its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database. The hacking group released information gleaned from the files of Biles, the Williams sisters and U.S. women's basketball player Elena Delle Donne. In a posting on its website, Fancy Bears claimed U.S. athletes at the Olympics had "played well but not fair." However, none of the documents published by the group provided evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the athletes involved. Instead, the disclosed files set out instances where the athletes had been granted exemptions to use various medications for legitimate reasons — a common practice in the sports world. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) characterized the hack as a "cowardly and despicable" attempt to smear the four women. "In each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication," USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said. "The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged by these hackers is cowardly and despicable," added Tygart, the anti-doping czar who famously helped expose U.S. cyclist and dope cheat Lance Armstrong.[SEP]The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday slammed Russian hackers who breached its database and published confidential records of US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. WADA said in a statement that the Russian cyber-espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bears, had broken into its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database. The hacking group released information gleaned from the files of Biles, the Williams sisters and US women's basketball player Elena Delle Donne. In a posting on its website, Fancy Bears claimed US athletes at the Olympics had "played well but not fair." However none of the documents published by the group showed wrongdoing. Instead, the disclosed files set out instances where the athletes had been granted exemptions to use various medications for legitimate reasons -- a common practice in the sports world. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) characterised the hack as a "cowardly and despicable" attempt to smear the four women. "In each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication," USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said. "The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged by these hackers is cowardly and despicable," added Tygart, the anti-doping czar who famously helped expose US cyclist and dope cheat Lance Armstrong. Biles said on Twitter she had taken medications for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since childhood. "Please know I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me," said Biles, one of the stars of the Rio Olympics after winning four gold medals. An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokeswoman said the leaked information was "clearly aimed at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes" while stating that no anti-doping violation had occurred. The data breach comes just weeks after hackers gained access to WADA's file on Russian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova. Stepanova, who is living in hiding in the United States, later said she feared for her life following the hack. "WADA deeply regrets this situation and is very conscious of the threat that it represents to athletes whose confidential information has been divulged through this criminal act," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. "WADA condemns these ongoing cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system," Niggli added. WADA said it believed the latest breach had occurred after "spear phishing" of email accounts and that it had been confined to ADAMS accounts of athletes competing in Rio. Spear phishing is when an email user receives a message purportedly from someone they know, but it is actually from a hacker. The hacking comes after a series of WADA investigations which have alleged a vast state-sponsored doping programme in Russian sport dating back several years. Russia's track and field athletes were banned from the Rio Olympics by the International Association of Athletics Federations, angering the Kremlin, which condemned the move as politically motivated. But an independent report commissioned by WADA and published in July by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren concluded that Russia had run an elaborate scheme to evade drug-testers at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, corroborating claims by the former head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory. WADA chief Niggli said the hacking of the agency would hamper Russian efforts to reintegrate into the sports world. "These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia further to the outcomes of the Agency's independent McLaren Investigation Report," Niggli continued. Fancy Bears however indicated it planned to release more information. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," the group said on its website. "Wait for sensational proof of famous athletes taking doping substances any time soon."[SEP]Serena and Venus Williams have been targeted by Russian hackers attempting to expose high-profile American sports stars for using banned substances. While there is no suggestion that the tennis sisters have done anything wrong, files obtained from the World Anti-Doping Agency have revealed the details of medications they are using. Although the substances are on the agency’s banned list, the International Tennis Federation said the Williams sisters had been given permission to use the drugs for ‘therapeutic use’. The agency confirmed on Tuesday that a Russia-based cyber espionage group had gained access to their database via an International Olympic Committee account created for the Rio Games. Details of medication for USA’s Olympic gymnastics sensation Simone Biles, who won four gold medals in Rio, have also been revealed. The International Federation of Gymnasts said Biles had done nothing wrong. The situation is being presented as a sporting cold war, with the Russians looking to discredit the Americans after the suspension of Russian athletes from the 2016 Olympics for being part of a state-sponsored doping programme. The documents leaked by a hackers group called the Fancy Bears allege that Serena Williams used oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone on different occasions since 2010. Venus Williams is said to have used prednisone, prednisolone and triamcinolone. Permission had been granted by doctors at the International Tennis Federation under exemptions granted for therapeutic use. Such drugs can be prescribed for the treatment of common muscle injuries and Australian doping expert Richard Ings tweeted on Tuesday: ‘Serena Williams having a two-day treatment with a glucocorticosteroid is simply normal. It’s an anti- inflammatory.’ Biles is said to have used Ritalin, a drug used for attention deficit hyper-activity disorder. And Biles tweeted on Tuesday: ‘I have ADHD and I have taken medicine for it since I was a kid. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing that I’m afraid to let people know. ‘Please know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.’ While more leaks may follow — and reopen the debate about the number of athletes who use banned substances under the therapeutic use system, WADA saw it on Tuesday as a blatant attempt to undermine the fight against drug cheats. In a statement, director general Olivier Niggli said: ‘WADA deeply regrets this situation and is very conscious of the threat that it represents to athletes whose confidential information has been divulged through this criminal act. WADA condemns the cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system. ‘WADA has been informed by law enforcement authorities that these attacks are originating out of Russia. Let it be known that these criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia.’ The US Anti-Doping Agency condemned the attempt to smear American athletes, with chief executive Travis Tygart branding them as ‘cowardly and despicable’. ‘It’s unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong,’ said Tygart. ‘The athletes haven’t. In fact in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication.’ A spokesman for Russian president Vladimir Putin rejected WADA’s statement blaming Russian hackers. ‘It’s absolutely out of the question,’ spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. But the Fancy Bears warned that this was only the beginning. ‘We will start with the US team which has disgraced its name by tainted victories,’ they said.[SEP]A group of Russian hackers claim to have found files showing the Williams sisters and gymnast Simone Biles were allowed to take banned substances by anti-doping bosses. Hacktivists Fancy Bears leaked documents that allegedly demonstrate both Venus and Serena Williams took substances that were on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list. However, the International Tennis Federation said the Williams sisters had been given permission to use the drugs for 'therapeutic use'. Fancy Bears claimed American gymnast Simone Biles tested positive for another banned substance in August but also had special dispensation to use it. Both the International Federation of Gymnasts and the International Tennis Federation said no rules had been broken. The hack on the WADA is thought to have been carried out in revenge for Russia being banned from the Olympics in Rio. The Kremlin was furious at the treatment of its athletes in Rio with some accusing Olympic chiefs of operating ‘double standards’ in banning Russian athletes while allowing US athletes previously found guilty of doping to compete. WADA confirmed Russian hackers broke into its database and posted some athletes' confidential medical data online. WHAT ARE THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTIONS? Therapeutic use exemptions are granted to athletes with health conditions that require them to take normally banned drugs. These allow them to take substances found on the WDA's prohibited list without fear of punishment. The exemptions, which often attract controversy, have previously been granted to cyclists who say they have asthma. Another sport that has seen several exemptions granted is MMA (mixed martial arts). Some fighters have been allowed to take steroids because of low testosterone. The hackers revealed records of 'Therapeutic Use Exemptions' which allow athletes to use substances that are banned unless there is a verified medical need. WADA previously warned of cyber-attacks after investigators it appointed published investigations into Russian state-sponsored doping. Director general Olivier Niggli said: 'These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia.' 'WADA condemns these ongoing cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system. 'WADA has been informed by law enforcement authorities that these attacks are originating out of Russia.' Fancy Bears claims it had more information showing how 'tainted' Olympics medals have been won. It said: 'Wait for sensational proof of famous athletes taking doping substances any time soon.' The International Olympic Committee said it 'strongly condemns such methods which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes.' An IOC spokesman said: 'The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016,' the Olympic body said. 'Fancy Bears,' is apparently a tongue-in-cheek reference to a collection of hackers which many security researchers have long associated with Russia. In a statement posted to its website early Tuesday, the group proclaimed its allegiance to Anonymous, the loose-knit movement of online mischief-makers, and said it hacked WADA to show the world 'how Olympic medals are won.' Britain finished second in the Rio Olympic medal table and currently stands second in the Paralympic standings and its athletes’ records are thought to be a possible target for the hackers. Many Russians blame Lord Coe, who as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations oversaw the ban on their track and field teams – a decision in contrast with many other Olympic sports. Internet records suggest Fancy Bears' data dump has been in the works for at least two weeks; their website was registered on September 1 and their Twitter account was created on September 6. It is the latest significant leak by Russian-based hackers suspected of links to the Moscow's intelligence services after a group broke into the US Democratic Party's National Committee computer networks and gaining access to data relating to Donald Trump. MailOnline has contacted Simone Biles for comment. Representatives of Serena and Venus Williams have also been contacted.[SEP]The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Tuesday that hackers stole confidential medical information about US Olympic athletes and published it on the internet, blaming a Russian group for the attack. The US government is investigating the case because there is evidence that the hackers are linked to the Russian government, though details are still sketchy, according to two sources familiar with the probe who were not authorised to publicly discuss the matter. Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying any possible Russian government or secret service participation in the hacking was out of the question. An FBI representative said she had no immediate comment on the release of the medical information, which prompted gymnast Simone Biles to disclose that she has an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. WADA issued a statement attributing the attack to Tsar Team, a hacking group widely known as APT28 and Fancy Bear by US cyber-security researchers. Fancy Bear is one of two hacking groups accused in June of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s computer network. CrowdStrike, a firm hired by the DNC to respond to those attacks, said in June that Fancy Bear was probably working on behalf of the Russian military. WADA said that law enforcement had told it the attacks originated in Russia. WADA spokeswoman Maggie Durand declined to elaborate or say how the operation had been uncovered. ‘WADA condemns these ongoing cyber-attacks that are being carried out in an attempt to undermine WADA and the global anti-doping system,’ said director General Olivier Niggli in a statement. WADA said it believed the hackers gained access to its anti-doping administration and management system via an IOC-created account for the Rio Games. The doping agency made the accusations as a website, www.fancybear.net, posted what appeared to be data about four US athletes: Simone Biles, Elena Delle Donne, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. That site, which internet registration records said was created on September 1, said it planned disclosing information about athletes from other nations in the future. On Tuesday it released documents known as Therapeutic Use Exemptions, or TUEs, which are issued by sports federations and national anti-doping organisations to allow athletes to take certain substances. The leak of a TUE with information about Biles prompted her to disclose on Twitter that she has ADHD. ‘I have ADHD and I have taken medicine for it since I was a kid,’ Biles said. ‘Please know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.’ The International Olympic Committee, US Anti-Doping Agency, International Tennis Federation, and USA Gymnastics all issued statements saying that athletes whose data had been released had done nothing wrong. The IOC condemned the leak as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of clean athletes. ‘The IOC can confirm, however, that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016,’ the group said in a statement. ‘In each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication,’ Travis Tygart, chief executive of USADA, said in a statement. ‘The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged by these hackers is cowardly and despicable.’ ITF president David Haggerty said all TUEs handed out to tennis players were done so in accordance with WADA rules. USA Gymnastics said that Biles was approved for a TUE exemption and had not broken any rules. WADA’s chief, who apologised for the hack, said that it was ‘greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia,’ following release of the McLaren Investigation Report. The independent McLaren report charged that Russians had swapped positive doping samples for clean ones during the Sochi winter Games, with the support of the Russian secret service. WADA revealed last month that Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova’s electronic account had been illegally accessed. Stepanova, who is in hiding in North America, helped reveal the biggest state-backed doping programme in Russia and was forced to flee the country with her husband for fear of her life.[SEP]Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has angrily denied suggestions that the hacking of confidential medical records belonging to leading American sports stars has anything to do with the Russian state. The records were held by the World Anti-Doping Agency and relate to “therapeutic use exemptions” granted to certain athletes so they can take medication — prescribed by a doctor and verified by an independent panel — that would normally be banned because of its performance-enhancing qualities. Wada confirmed on Tuesday that it had been the subject of repeated cyber attacks by a Russian-based group known as the Tsar Team or Fancy Bears. This followed the publication of the TUE data, including the drugs that were prescribed, for tennis sisters Serena and Venus Williams, four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles and US women’s basketball player Elena Delle Donne on a recently registered website, fancybear.net. Speaking at the Uefa extraordinary congress in Athens, which Mutko attended in his capacity as the president of the Russian Football Union, the 57-year-old said: “How can you prove they are from Russia? You blame Russia for everything. “I don’t know (where they are from), I don’t have this information. “But we are also concerned because they have the same data for Russian athletes and we can also be a victim. “No, there is no state involvement. How could there be?” When asked about the fact that Wada has clearly said the attacks come from Russia and the hackers themselves have hardly hidden their nationality, Mutko said: “It is a bad thing the information has been hacked. “All the information should be protected. It’s personal data. “We have data protection rules in Russia, too. If somebody hacks personal data they will be prosecuted.” The stealing of these private medical records — which reveal that the Williams sisters have been periodically prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and pain-killers, while Biles is being treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a condition she says she has had since early childhood — has already been strongly criticised. United States Anti-Doping chief Travis Tygart said: “It’s unthinkable that in the Olympic movement hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong. “The athletes haven’t. In fact in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication.” Venus Williams said she was “disappointed” that her medical data has been “compromised by hackers and published without...permission”. While Biles added in a short statement on her Twitter page: “Please know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.” Wada revealed that hackers had illegally gained access to its anti-doping administration and management system database via an IOC-created account for the Rio Games. Director general Olivier Niggli said: “Wada deeply regrets this situation and is very conscious of the threat that it represents to athletes whose confidential information has been divulged through this criminal act.” The attacks are understood to have originated in Russia in the wake of the McLaren Report, which uncovered a state-sponsored doping programme and led to some competitors being banned from this summer’s Olympic Games and the blanket exclusion of the country’s athletes at the Paralympics. The Fancy Bears hack team has promised that more hacked information will be published. “We are going to tell you how Olympic medals are won. We hacked World Anti-Doping Agency databases and we were shocked with what we saw,” the hackers have boasted on their website. “We will start with the US team which has disgraced its name by tainted victories. We will also disclose exclusive information about other national Olympic teams later.” These most recent attacks follow an earlier attempt to find the address of Russian doping whistle-blower Yulia Stepanova, who is now living in hiding in the United States with her family.[SEP]The substances identified in the leaks are typically anti-inflammatory medications and treatments for asthma and allergies. Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome has “no issue” with his medical data being leaked, in an alleged criminal attack by Russian hackers on a World Anti-Doping Agency database. Froome was a headline name among 25 athletes from Britain, the United States and Germany plus five other countries whose confidential details of using authorized medications spilled into the public domain late Wednesday. “I’ve openly discussed my TUEs (therapeutic use exemptions) with the media and have no issues with the leak which confirms my statements,” Froome said Thursday in a statement. WADA confirmed a second round of leaked data posted online, after medical records of gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams were among four American female Olympians whose data was revealed Tuesday. All 29 cases revealed records of “Therapeutic Use Exemptions” which allow athletes to use otherwise-banned substances because of a verified medical need. The substances identified in the leaks are typically anti-inflammatory medications and treatments for asthma and allergies. Froome’s use of strong anti-inflammatory medication, approved by the International Cycling Union for the 2014 Tour de Romandie race in Switzerland, was widely reported two years ago. “In nine years as a professional I’ve twice required a TUE for exacerbated asthma, the last time was in 2014,” said Froome, who won his third Tour de France title in July. He took a bronze medal in the time trial at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last month. The latest round of leaks identified 10 athletes from the United States, five from Germany, five from Britain, and one each from Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Romania and Russia. WADA said Wednesday that the Russian hacking group known as Fancy Bears had illegally gained access to its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System, or “ADAMS,” and said it included confidential medical data. “WADA is very mindful that this criminal attack, which to date has recklessly exposed personal data of 29 athletes, will be very distressing for the athletes that have been targeted and cause apprehension for all athletes that were involved in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. “To those athletes that have been impacted, we regret that criminals have attempted to smear your reputations in this way; and, assure you that we are receiving intelligence and advice from the highest level law enforcement and IT security agencies that we are putting into action.” Niggli said WADA had “no doubt that these ongoing attacks are being carried out in retaliation against the agency, and the global anti-doping system,” because of independent investigations that exposed state-sponsored doping in Russia. Russian officials have dismissed the claims as ridiculous. “How can you prove that the hackers are Russian?” Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said through a translator during a visit to Athens earlier Wednesday. “You blame Russia for everything. It is very ‘in’ now.” UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead said that her group “strongly condemns actions of this nature and we are appalled that five members of Team GB have had their private data published illegally online,” calling it “grossly unfair” to the athletes involved. Last month, hackers obtained a database password for Russian runner Yuliya Stepanova, a whistleblower and key witness for the WADA investigations. She and her husband, a former official with the Russian national anti-doping agency, are now living at an undisclosed location in North America. The International Olympic Committee said after Tuesday’s WADA statement that it “strongly condemns such methods which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes.” “The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016,” the Olympic body said. The hackers, who have set up their own website, have not responded to messages seeking comment. Their chosen name, “Fancy Bears,” appears to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to a collection of Russia—linked hackers that security researchers have blamed for a recent spate of attacks and which WADA holds responsible for the current breach. The group has proclaimed its allegiance to Anonymous, the loose-knit movement of online mischief-makers, and says it hacked WADA to show the world “how Olympic medals are won.” “We’ll keep on telling the world about doping in elite sports,” the group said Thursday. “Stay tuned for new leaks.”[SEP]Russian hackers have released confidential information about dozens more Olympic athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency says. The new leak from cyber criminal group known as "Tsar Team" and "Fancy Bear" affects 25 athletes, including 10 from the U.S., WADA said late Wednesday. WADA said the hackers stole the medical data of Olympic stars by breaking into its database. The anti-doping agency said the hackers were operating from Russia. Earlier this week, the same group published information about four U.S. athletes, including gold medal gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Venus Williams. The same group of Russian hackers is thought to have been behind the Democratic National Committee hack in June -- which released sensitive political information and led to the resignation of the committee chairman. "WADA is very mindful that this criminal attack, which to date has recklessly exposed personal data of 29 athletes, will be very distressing for the athletes that have been targeted and cause apprehension for all athletes that were involved in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," said Olivier Niggli, the agency's director general. It didn't name the athletes whose information was released in the latest leak. Besides the 10 from the U.S., those affected include five from Britain, five from Germany, and one athlete each from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Romania and Russia. On the Fancy Bears website, which CNN cannot confirm as legitimate, the hackers offered a message this week that said in part: "Greetings citizens of the world. Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Fancy Bears' international hack team. We stand for fair play and clean sport." They're expected to make more athletes' information public in the future, releasing the data "in batches," WADA said. The initial leak earlier this week affected Biles, Williams and basketball player Elena Delle Donne, revealing their use of approved medications. The United States Anti-Doping Agency said all of them had "done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication." The Russian government has denied any involvement in the hack. This is not the first time WADA has been targeted. The anti-doping agency database account of whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova was hacked in August. The runner helped expose the scale of Russian doping problems last year. Related: Pro athletes and the things they trademark WADA recommended banning all Russian athletes from the Rio 2016 games, after an independent report said the country operated a state-sponsored doping program during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Russian officials and athletes likened the move to Cold War era conflicts. "WADA has no doubt that these ongoing attacks are being carried out in retaliation against the agency," Niggli said. The organization has asked Russia "to do everything in their power to make it stop," he said. "Continued cyber-attacks emanating from Russia seriously undermine the work that is being carried out to rebuild a compliant anti-doping program in Russia."
The World Anti-Doping Agency reveals that Russian hackers broke into one of its databases and published confidential medical information on several prominent American female athletes who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics, among them, gymnast Simone Biles, tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, and basketball player Elena Delle Donne. The named individuals all received "therapeutic use exemptions" from WADA allowing them to use otherwise banned substances to treat documented medical conditions.
Davao City (CNN Philippines) — The death toll of the Davao City Night Market bombing on September 2 has risen to 15, following the death of a pregnant woman Monday evening. Vicenta Asperin died at the Metro Davao Medical and Research Center (MDMRC) at around 10:17 p.m. Monday — 11 days after she went into a coma. She sustained severe head injuries from the blast. Asperin was 21 years old and six months pregnant. Her unborn child also died. Read: Police hunt down possible Davao City bombing suspect The City Social Services and Development Office, quoting a medical report, said Asperin passed away from heart failure and brain damage. The bomb exploded near a massage parlor where Asperin was working. She sustained very severe shrapnel wounds in her head. A few minutes before her dying breath, she was declared brain-dead by her attending physician. Asperin was the massage therapist of a 12-year old victim, who was among those who died on the spot. According to CSSDO chief Ma. Luisa Bermudo, the deaths of Asperin and her unborn child should be counted as one. Bermudo explained, this is because the mother and child were not separated, as the unborn baby remained inside the mother's womb. Related: Reward for Davao blast culprits now at ₱3M Asperin's husband, John Lord, was in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province when the blast happened. The two married in March this year and were expecting their first baby girl.[SEP]Death toll rises to 25 in suicide bombing in Pakistan mosque - regional official PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The death toll in a suicide bombing in northwestern Pakistan on Friday rose to 25, a regional official said, with 30 wounded during the attack on a packed mosque. "A portion of the mosque and veranda collapsed in the blast and fell on worshippers. We are still retrieving bodies and the injured from rubble of the mosque building," Naveed Akbar, deputy administrator of Mohmand Agency, told Reuters. The attack took place during Friday prayers in the village of Payee Khan, in the Mohmand Agency region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. (Reporting by Jibran Ahman; writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Mike Collett-White)[SEP]Here are the films showing across the district from Friday, September 16 until Thursday, September 22. Kubo and the Two Strings: Fri: 09.45, 12.15. Sat: 10.30, 13.30. Sun: 09.30, 11.45, 14.15. Mon: 10.15, 13.00. Tues: 10.00, 12.45. Wed: 10.30, 13.15. Kubo And The Two Strings: Fri: 13.20. Sun: 15.15. Tues: 15.40.
The death toll of the September 2 bombing rises to 15.
NIAMEY (Reuters) - Thirty members of Boko Haram and five Nigerien soldiers have been killed in fighting in the southeastern Diffa region of Niger, the defense ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. The clash took place Monday near the village of Toumour, near Lake Chad and the Nigerian border, an area that has plagued by violence from the Islamist militant group and is under an extended state of emergency. Boko Haram took the nearby town of Bosso in early June, in an attack that killed 32 soldiers and was the deadliest Boko Haram assault in Niger since April 2015. Since then, Chad has sent troops to help Niger wage a counterattack. Fighting began on Monday morning when the army fell into an ambush, the statement said, adding that six soldiers were also injured and two militants were captured. “The Boko Haram fighters were trying to prevent people from praying to mark the feast of sacrifice,” said Laouan Boukar, a resident of Toumour, referring to the important Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha that was on Monday. Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamic state adhering to strict Sharia law in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. About 2.1 million people have been displaced and thousands have been killed during the insurgency.[SEP]NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger's defense ministry says at least five soldiers and 30 Boko Haram militants have been killed after an ambush by the Nigeria-based Islamic extremists led to fighting. Col. Moustapha Michel Ledru said the attack on soldiers Monday near Toumour, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast of the town of Diffa, also injured six soldiers. He spoke Tuesday night on national television, saying the army captured two extremists along with a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Ledru also said two soldiers were killed Sept. 8 when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device during a patrol near Barwa locality in the Diffa region. Boko Haram has been launching attacks across Nigeria's borders into Niger, Chad and Cameroon, which contribute to a multinational force that seeks to counter it.[SEP]Seven Niger soldiers were killed and eight others wounded in two separate attacks by Boko Haram Islamists over the past week, the army has said. The two attacks took place in the southeastern Diffa region near the border with Nigeria, according to a military statement released late on Tuesday. Five of them were killed in an ambush on Monday morning carried out by "members of the Boko Haram terrorist group" which also left six others wounded. In an earlier incident on September 8, two soldiers were killed and another two wounded when their patrol vehicle went over "an improvised explosive device", the statement said. Earlier this month, five villagers were killed and two others wounded in the same area in another attack by the Nigeria-based jihadist group in the first such incident since early June. Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency has left at least 20,000 people dead in Nigeria and border areas of neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, and made more than 2.6 million homeless.[SEP]A boy looks on in a camp in the village of Kidjendi near Diffa on June 19, 2016 as displaced families fled from Boko Haram attacks in Bosso. By Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File) Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - Niger is increasingly becoming a target for Boko Haram attacks, as the Islamists come under sustained military pressure in Nigeria while reeling under a leadership struggle, analysts said Thursday. Despite a decline in the frequency of attacks this year in northeastern Nigeria, the experts warned of escalating raids across the border, especially in Niger. "Niger's southern border with Nigeria represents a relatively soft flank for Boko Haram, particularly in its eastern stretches," Roddy Barclay, intelligence analyst at consultancy firm Africa Practice, told AFP. "The porous national border is under-policed and adjoins some of the most insecure territories in northeastern Nigeria." IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre (JTIC) said Boko Haram carried out 22 attacks into Cameroon, Chad and Niger in 2014 and 62 in 2015, when it aligned with the Islamic State group. There were 41 cross-border attacks this year until the end of August with Niger bearing the brunt of the violence, including a raid on a military base near the southeastern town of Bosso in June in which at least 26 soldiers were killed. "Before Boko Haram allied with the Islamic State, it did carry out cross-border attacks outside their core territory of north eastern Nigeria," said Matthew Henman, head of IHS JTIC. "But since 2015, the number of cross-border operations rose dramatically as the group retaliated against the West African coalition fighting to defeat them." Henman said the Bosso attack -- and subsequent strikes against government and other military targets in the region -- indicated a shift in Boko Haram to IS methods. This focused "less on the indiscriminate killing of fellow Muslims and more on targeting regional security forces". IS announced in August that Abu Musab al-Barnawi -- the son of Boko Haram's founder Mohammed Yusuf -- had replaced Abubakar Shekau as head of the group, which now styles itself Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Barnawi has criticised Shekau for the indiscriminate killing of fellow Muslims: at least 20,000 people have been killed in northeast Nigeria in a wave of raids, suicide attacks and bombings since 2009. The shadowy Shekau has maintained he is still in charge but there have been recent reports of clashes between rival factions in the north of northeast Nigeria's Borno state, near Lake Chad. JTIC said it still expected attacks on civilians from the Shekau camp to continue, while those aligned with Barnawi would conduct operations against the military and government. The upsurge in attacks in Niger was an indication Boko Haram may have already begun to regroup, contradicting the military's version that it was on the run and struggling, Henman told AFP. He also said the jihadists' aim appeared to be to undermine the Multi-National Joint Task Force of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin, which is operating in the Lake Chad region against them. The regional force, whose deployment has been long delayed, depends on coordination and cooperation between countries not known for working together or sharing mutual trust -- and Boko Haram could play on that, said Henman. "IS has been very good at picking apart alliances and coalitions, pitting allies against one another. They will try to sow discord in that coalition," Henman said. Nigeria is facing security threats on multiple fronts: Boko Haram in the northeast; ethnic violence in the central region; Biafran separatists in the southeast; and oil rebels in the south. "The military build-up (in northeast Nigeria) can't be sustained indefinitely", even if the threat in the Niger delta does not develop, he added. While Nigeria boasts one of the largest armies in Africa, Barclay warned that fighting multiple fronts could expose political mismanagement and corruption in the military and undermine recent gains. "The military technically has the resources to operate on two fronts," Barclay said. "But it risks becoming stretched and seeing some of its internal dysfunction exposed," he said. "Any shortfalls in discipline, management and logistics are likely to be accentuated."[SEP] • Cautions journalist against coverage in N/East without authorisation Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Zacchaeus Somorin with agency reports The terrorist group, Boko Haram, wednesday released another video threatening to capture President Muhammadu Buhari. The footage, narrated in Hausa Language, was said to have been shot somewhere in Borno State, where the sect sprang from. It showed suspected terrorists praying on what the narrator said was an Eid ground on Monday, Sallah day. The video was posted on YouTube wednesday and the group said it was using it to send out message that it remained a strong force. But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has rubbished the video as an invention of the social media. The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in response to THISDAY inquiries wednesday, urged members of the public to ignore the latest Boko Haram video as a photo shop creation. Abubakar stated that the terrorists had been decimated militarily, lost ground and only pretending to be alive through the social media. Earlier yesterday, 30 members of Boko Haram and five Nigerien soldiers were reported killed in fighting in the South-eastern Diffa region of Niger, the defence ministry said in a statement. According to Reuters, the clash took place on Monday near the village of Toumour, near Lake Chad and the Nigerian border, an area that has been plagued by violence from the Islamist militant group and is under an extended state of emergency. Fighting began on Monday morning when the army fell into an ambush, the statement said, adding that six soldiers were also injured and two militants were captured. “The Boko Haram fighters were trying to prevent people from praying to mark the feast of sacrifice,” said Laouan Boukar, a resident of Toumour, referring to the important Muslim holiday Eid-el-Kabir that was on Monday The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, did not appear in the video, but the narrator said his deputy, whose name was not mentioned, represented him at the gathering. In the video, which was recorded in composite to capture two Eid grounds, the group stated its willingness to continue its jihad against the Nigerian government. The group also called Buhari an infidel and threatened to capture him. “This is our Eid prayer from us and by the support of our leader Imam Abubakar Al-Shekau. We are extending our greetings to our people and fighters. “Message to the infidels and the leader of the entire infidels (kefir) who is the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, that he should know we are very strong and doing very good. By the will of Allah under the leadership of our leader (Shekau) we will capture Buhari with our hands.” The video comes exactly a month after the sect released a similar one which purportedly showed how the Nigerian military coordinated an aerial attack on its hideout that left some of the abducted Chibok girls dead. The military appeared embarrassed by the video and declared three people wanted for allegedly taking part in its release. The new video also comes a few days after rumours on social media that the federal government had already commenced a prisoner swap with the sect. The rumours said Kabiru Sokoto, a leader of the sect who was convicted for the Christmas Day bombing in 2013 had been released. The rumour later turned out to be false as the prison authority said that the terrorist was still in prison. The Boko Haram had indicated willingness for a prisoner swap with the federal government in order to release the kidnapped Chibok girls, a move the federal government has said it is willing to consider. The DHQ, however, dismissed the latest video as an invention of the social media. Abubakar said the video was photo shopped, adding that the terrorists had been decimated militarily, lost ground and only pretending to be alive through the social media. He said: “The only ground the BHT can go into and hide and pretend to be alive is social media because it is everybody’s home without tracing the source. “More so, in this era of cut and paste anything is possible in Information Technology. We reiterate our total commitment and resilience in stamping them out, but people shouldn’t be deceived by their use of photoshop.” The Defence spokesman noted that the Boko Haram video release was a sign of weakness and an indication that the terror group was a spent force. He dismissed its threat to kill the president and other key figures mentioned in the video as a huge joke and empty threat to stay afloat through the social media. “More so, which Boko Haram? I believe the issue of the group is near ending by the special grace of God. The video is a complete sign of weakness and poses no threat to us. The so called video is an attempt by the remnants to remind us that there was once a Boko Haram elements. “Empty vessels make the loudest sound. Issue of threat to PMB is a complete joke and dream of the century. Therefore, the entire clip is a washout as everybody is appreciative of our feat against BHT and there is no doubt about it . They too know,” he said. In a related development, Abubakar noted that certain journalists embarked on the coverage of security areas in the North-east for documentary purpose and the like without due authorisation from the military authorities. He warned: “This practice is not only capable of jeopardising the success of the on-going military operations in the area but also poses great concern to the safety of the journalists concerned.” He stressed that inasmuch as the military was not trying to gag the press from carrying out its legitimate duties, permission should be sought from the Armed Forces before embarking on such venture. According to him, this will enable adequate security to be provided for such journalists by the military. “Even though Boko Haram has been substantially decimated, any roaming journalist could be a target of unsuspecting fleeing Boko Haram member and this will not be in the best interest of media organisations and the nation at large,” he added. Abubakar advised that any journalist desirable of covering conflict areas should seek permission from the military hierarchy so that adequate security arrangements could be provided by the troops on the ground. He maintained that it was also the responsibility of the military to safeguard the lives and property of the Nigerian citizenry, including law abiding journalists in the theatre of operation and in Nigeria in general. A reliable source from the Nigerian Army told THISDAY yesterday that preliminary investigation showed that the latest Boko Haram video was an edited version of the one it released in 2014. “I am still laughing at the gullibility of some people; the video was shot in 2014. They only edited and imposed some aspects,” the senior officer said.[SEP]LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A new video by Boko Haram threatens to kill Nigeria's president and army chief and warns of further destruction, though the Islamic extremists have not mounted a major attack in Nigeria in months. A preacher in the video says Boko Haram is "even stronger now" and "will destroy what we never destroyed before," according to a translation from the Hausa by Premium Times newspaper. The video posted on YouTube on Wednesday says it was shot Monday in Nigeria's northeastern Sambisa Forest at prayers marking Eid al-Adha festival. It shows scores of worshipping men, many armed, in a mosque and at an outdoor ceremony. Boko Haram is in the midst of a power struggle and the video declares allegiance to long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. The 7-year uprising has killed more than 20,000 people.[SEP]Senator Iroegbu with agency report The death, last week of Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), is threatening the fragile peace in the Niger Delta, Reuters reported on Monday, saying militants were becoming restive over the circumstances of the death. The militants massed in the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), that had dealt heavy blows to oil and gas installations in the region, had entered into an unofficial ceasefire with the federal government, pending formal negotiations of their grievances last month. But the death of the father of the militant leader, the report said, might reverse the little gains of the peace process and lead to the resumption of hostilities as the militants were said to be holding the military vicariously liable for the incident. The octogenarian had fallen while fleeing an army raid on his hometown in May and injured his leg, which had to be amputated two months later, said a spokesman for his son, Tompolo. The old man died last week from complications arising from the amputation. And the NDA militants were said to be agitated by this. Although security sources said Tompolo had links to the NDA, which had claimed responsibilities for the attacks on oil and gas installations, which incidentally began shortly after corruption charges were brought against him, he had persistently denied any involvement in the acts. “In a nutshell, [the] government caused the death of my father,” Frank Ekpemupolo, another son, said at a gathering of 400 mourners at his father’s compound in Warri, the largest city in Delta State. Mourners including community chiefs, politicians and villagers accused troops of harassing people in the fishing communities dotted along the region’s waterways. An Avengers spokesman told Reuters the military was “harassing poor people of the Niger Delta”. The military denies it, saying troops are merely searching for militants and criminals. Several new militant groups have sprung up in the last few weeks, each with its own demands, and some have vowed to launch a new wave of attacks. Community leaders say they are concerned that the government has not contacted militants or unveiled a negotiation team, three weeks after the Avengers said they were ready for the promised talks. “We haven’t been contacted, but we are not worried,” said the Avengers spokesman. Captain Mark Anthony, a spokesman for the Niger Delta Liberation Force, a defunct militant group, said the “government’s muteness” since the Avengers announced a ceasefire was creating “a security concern for everybody”. “They have only stopped bombing temporarily. It doesn’t mean they are tired of bombing,” he said. An army offensive was launched in late August against militant camps which led to the deaths of five people and the arrests of 23 others. Eric Omare, spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), which represents one of the region’s largest ethnic groups, said statements by President Muhammadu Buhari that militants would be treated like Boko Haram jihadists prompted fears that the offer of talks was a ruse to prepare for a military onslaught. Tensions in Warri are concentrated along its murky brown waterways — used by fishermen, commuters and thieves stealing crude oil — where fleeting encounters with strangers can end in bloodshed. Boats slow down and their occupants raise their arms when they encounter naval patrol boats fitted with machine guns. Fishermen say they fear being mistaken for militants and shot. Gunmen disguised as priests killed three soldiers last month. An official who did not want to be named said “arrangements” were being made to resume dialogue with the militants. He said the government wanted each militant group to send representatives, rather than acting through intermediaries as in the past.[SEP]Your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Comments submitted by third parties on this site are the sole responsibility of the individual(s) whose content is submitted. The Daily Star accepts no responsibility for the content of comment(s), including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Please note that your email address will NOT appear on the site. If you are facing problems with posting comments, please note that you must verify your email with Disqus prior to posting a comment. follow this link to make sure your account meets the requirements. (http://bit.ly/vDisqus)[SEP]The troops of the Nigerian Army have killed four Boko Haram members near Jororo and Tombaeji villages in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Thursday that the troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole who carried out the clearance operation in which the insurgents were killed also captured one of them alive. He said the insurgents were killed in an encounter at Gajire village which lasted 15 minutes on Wednesday. The Acting Army Spokesman added that “the troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns, two AK-47 rifles and 144 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition from the terrorists. Two Kasea-branded motorcycles were said to have also been recovered for the insurgents. He said the troops were continuing with their routine operation designed to prevent the insurgents from carrying out any attack in the area. He said, “Following reported activities of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists around Jororo and Tombaeji villages in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole carried out a clearance operation in the area in the early hours of Wednesday 14th September 2016. “The fighting patrol team sent, came into contact with Boko Haram elements around Gajire village during which there was a firefight that lasted for about 15 minutes. “The gallant troops overpowered the terrorists and killed four of them and captured one alive.”[SEP]The jihadist group Boko Haram has released a new video without its embattled leader Abubakar Shekau, lending weight to claims by the Nigerian army he had been gravely wounded in an air strike. The 13-minute video posted on YouTube late Tuesday shows an unidentified man in a flowing white robe and a sword dangling by his side presiding over Eid prayers in a mosque. Hundreds of poorly fed villagers and children, who are apparently Boko Haram supporters, are seen in the video filmed on Monday. The man says he is representing Shekau, who had allegedly been ousted by the Islamic State to which Boko Haram pledged allegiance in March 2015. "My brethren, today is Eid ..in the Islamic Caliphate under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, may Allah protect him," he says, speaking in the local Hausa language. The Nigerian army claimed on August 23 Shekau had been seriously wounded in the shoulder in an air raid in which several commanders were killed. "We convey our Eid greetings to our brethren all over the world under the Islamic Caliphate and especially our leader Abubakar Shekau, may Allah protect him," the man in the video says. He then taunts the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Boko Haram would fight on despite a military crackdown, adding: "No retreat, no surrender." It was not immediately clear if the video, which was technically superior to previous ones, was shot in Boko Haram's Sambisa forest stronghold in the northern state of Borno or elsewhere. Nigerian soldiers, with the support of regional troops, have recaptured swathes of territory lost to the jihadists since they launched a military campaign in February 2014. Despite earlier claims by the Nigerian government that Shekau had been killed, the militant leader has resurfaced later in videos. Last month, the IS replaced Shekau with Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, in an apparent split in the group whose insurgency has killed some 20,000 and displaced more than 2.6 million since 2009. Boko Haram has also released a video showing at least one of the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok more than two years ago, and called for its detained fighters to be freed. The mass kidnapping of schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok provoked global outrage and brought unprecedented attention to Boko Haram and its bloody quest to create a fundamentalist state in northeastern Nigeria. Nigeria is facing security threats on multiple fronts: Boko Haram Islamists in the northeast, Biafran separatists in the southeast, oil rebels in the south and nomadic herdsmen in the central states.
Clashes near the village of Toumour in Niger's southeast Diffa Region kill at least 30 Boko Haram militants and five Niger Armed Forces soldiers.
FRANKFURT/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chemicals and healthcare group Bayer AG (BAYGn.DE) is poised to announce the acquisition of U.S. seeds company Monsanto Co MON.N on Wednesday for more than $66 billion, clinching the biggest deal of the year, people familiar with the matter said. A trader works at the post where Monsanto Co. is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid By accepting Bayer’s offer, the largest cash acquisition proposal on record, Monsanto is set to give the German company a shot at grabbing the top spot in the fast-consolidating farm supplies industry, combining its crop science business with Monsanto’s strength in seeds. It will also set the stage for the deal to be closely scrutinized by antitrust regulators. The breakthrough in negotiations, which follows more than four months of talks, came after Bayer further improved on the sweetened offer of $127.50 per share in cash it disclosed last week, the people said. However, the deal will still value Monsanto at less than $130 per share, which the company was previously hoping to fetch, the people added. Once St. Louis, Missouri-based Monsanto’s board of directors approves the deal on Tuesday, Leverkusen-based Bayer’s supervisory board will meet on Wednesday to also authorize the transaction, with an announcement expected before the stock market opens in New York on Wednesday, some of the people said. It is still possible the board of either company could decide to walk away from the deal at the last minute, the people cautioned. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Bayer and Monsanto declined to comment. Monsanto’s shares ended 0.8 percent lower at $106.10 in New York on Tuesday amid uncertainty over whether any agreed deal will clear antitrust hurdles. The stock later climbed to $108.79 in after-hours trading. Bayer shares ended trading in Frankfurt down 0.3 percent at 93.3 euros. Bayer said last week talks with Monsanto had advanced and that it was willing to offer $127.50 per share, up from $125 previously, valuing Monsanto at more than $65 billion, including debt. Sources told Reuters that topping up the price secured Bayer access to more privileged information on Monsanto’s business performance and paved the way for more detailed negotiations. “Given recent updates on the Monsanto approach suggest a final conclusion may be close, we suspect (Bayer) will work hard to try and reach a final conclusion before the Meet Management event, if possible,” Jefferies Research analyst Jeffrey Wolford said in a research note before the news, referring to Bayer’s presentations day for analysts and investors in Cologne next Tuesday. Bayer’s bid to combine its crop chemicals business, the world’s second-largest after Syngenta AG SYNN.S, with Monsanto’s industry leading seeds business, is the latest in a series of major consolidation moves in the agrochemical sector. U.S. chemicals giants Dow Chemical (DOW.N) and DuPont (DD.N) have agreed to merge and spin off their respective seeds and crop chemicals operations into a major agribusiness. Syngenta last year fought off unwanted suitor Monsanto, only to later agree to a takeover by ChemChina.[SEP]FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German drug and farm chemical company Bayer AG says it has signed a deal to acquire seed and weed-killer company Monsanto for $66 billion in cash. Bayer says it is paying Monsanto shareholders $128 per share, which represents a 44 percent premium over Monsanto’s closing price on May 9, the day before a proposed deal was announced. The deal is subject to approval by Monsanto shareholders and anti-trust regulators. Bayer said Wednesday the transaction brings together two different but complementary companies. Bayer makes a wide range of crop protection chemicals, while Monsanto is known for its seeds business. Leverkusen-based Bayer said the merged companies’ agriculture business would have its seeds business and North American business headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, where Monsanto is currently based.[SEP]It is being reported that Monsanto will soon be taken over by Bayer AG. The sides have come together and agreed on a cash deal of 66 billion dollars. Monsanto, a company specializing in seed and weed killer, has demanded a whopping $128 per share, a number highly inflated from its initial closing price, four months ago. This deal is yet to be approved, but the combination of Bayer’s crop protection background, paired with Monsanto’s wide reach in the seed industry has the prospective, German-based owners grinning. The company would shift its main North American headquarters to Monsanto’s current location – St. Louis, Missouri. The 66 billion dollar deal will be the largest takeover in 2016.[SEP]American seed and weed-killer company Monsanto and German medicine and farm chemical maker Bayer are combining in a deal that could help farmers produce higher yields to address challenges from global warming to rising food demand from a fast-growing global population. Consumers could benefit from more-affordable and healthier food options as well as the companies' using their expertise to help farmers limit their chemical use and environmental impact, company executives said Wednesday after the all-cash deal was announced. It comes amid record harvests driving crop prices to painfully low levels for many farmers. After four months of courtship, Leverkusen, Germany-based Bayer AG said Monsanto Co. accepted its third offer. In addition to the $57 billion price for shareholders, Bayer is assuming $9 billion in Monsanto debt. It will pay Monsanto shareholders $128 per share, $6 above its initial offer and a 44 percent premium over the St. Louis company's closing price before rumors of a bid emerged. Because Bayer is mainly funding the deal through debt, by selling bonds and stock, Jefferies LLC analyst Jeffrey Holford wrote to investors, Bayer's increased debt load could limit investment in its "sub-optimal" prescription drug pipeline and its consumer health business. The deal would create a global agricultural and chemical giant with a broad array of products. Fitch Ratings noted the combined Bayer would have a 25 percent share in some markets, "almost certainly drawing regulatory scrutiny and posing antitrust obstacles." That's because the deal combines two of the six U.S. and European companies that dominate in agrochemicals. "It will ... create an innovation engine for the next generation of farming," Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant said. The world's population is expected to jump by nearly 3 billion people, to 9 billion, by 2050. Together with the effects of warmer temperatures, more-severe storms, less land available for farming and the need to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from farming operations, that is pressuring farmers to be more productive. "It's going to take a lot of innovation to ensure that everybody can be fed," and the combined company will be able to speed up product improvements to help, Liam Condon, head of Bayer Crop Science, told The Associated Press. Affordability also is an issue, Condon said, as people in many poor countries spend more than half their income on food, compared to 10 percent to 15 percent in the U.S. Bayer and Monsanto both are well known to farmers and home gardeners. Monsanto sells seeds for fruits, vegetables, corn, soybeans, cotton and other crops, plus heavily advertised Roundup weed killer. Bayer sells chemical and biologic crop protection products and the Bayer Advanced garden chemicals line. Both companies offer services in "digital farming," helping farmers use data from sensors in their fields and satellites to improve crop yields by choosing the best seeds and applying just the right amount of chemicals at the right time throughout the growing season. Monsanto is a top maker of seeds genetically modified to resist drought, weeds and insects, among other "traits." They're not accepted in Europe due to health concerns, so Monsanto sells little in Bayer's backyard. Bayer is a major agricultural supplier in Europe, Asia and Africa, though it's best known for prescription drugs such as blood clot-preventer Xarelto and consumer health products including Aleve pain reliever and One A Day and Flintstones vitamins. "The overlaps are minimal," Grant told reporters on a conference call. He said the deal "represented the most compelling value for our shareholders." Bayer and Monsanto executives said they won't identify areas of business overlap before regulators in the EU, U.S., Canada, Brazil and two dozen other countries review the acquisition for potential antitrust issues. Bayer said it's so confident of approval that it's offered Monsanto a $2 billion breakup fee if the deal falls through. Bayer and Monsanto executives wouldn't discuss the fate of the Monsanto name, but said the combined company's seeds and North American business will have headquarters at Monsanto's St. Louis base. The companies also wouldn't discuss possible job cuts. Those are standard after big mergers and implied in this one, given that 80 percent of the $1.5 billion in synergies the companies predict after three years will be cost cuts in administration, sales and marketing. Bayer said the trans-Atlantic tie-up should close before the end of 2017. Monsanto plans a shareholder vote on the deal in a few months. In U.S. trading, shares of both companies closed up 0.6 percent, with Bayer at $104.85 and Monsanto at $106.76. Johnson reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and McHugh reported from Frankfurt, Germany.[SEP]FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German drug and farm chemical maker Bayer AG says it has agreed to acquire seed and weed-killer company Monsanto in an all-cash deal valued at $66 billion. Bayer says it is paying Monsanto shareholders $128 per share, which represents a 44 percent premium over Monsanto's closing price on May 9, the day before a proposed deal was announced. The deal is subject to approval by Monsanto shareholders and anti-trust regulators. Bayer said Wednesday the transaction brings together two different but complementary companies. Bayer makes a wide range of crop protection chemicals, while Monsanto is known for its seeds business. Leverkusen-based Bayer said the merged companies' agriculture business would have its seeds business and North American business headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, where Monsanto is currently based. Bayer initially offered $122 per share, only to be rebuffed by Monsanto management, and then $125 per share before reaching the deal announced Wednesday. Monsanto Chairman and CEO Hugh Grant said the deal "represented the most compelling value for our shareholders, with the most certainty through the all-cash consideration." Bayer said it would raise the cash to pay for Monsanto by issuing debt and $19 billion in equity, including a mandatory convertible bond and a rights issue.[SEP]Monsanto, Bayer AG in $US66 billion deal to create world's largest seed and chemical supplier After months of courtship, German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer AG has finally stuck a deal to buy out American biotechnology company Monsanto. Bayer AG, the company that invented aspirin and once trademarked 'Heroin' as a cough medicine, wooed Monsanto's board with a $US66 billion ($88 billion) offer on Wednesday night Australian time. If successful, the deal, touted as the year's largest, will make Bayer AG the world's largest agricultural seed and chemical supplier. It follows a string of similar mergers in the sector. American industrial giants Dow Chemical and DuPont pioneer struck a merger in December last year, and Swiss-based chemical and seed company Syngenta agreed to a takeover by Chinese industrial giant ChemChina in February this year. Now the internal negotiations are over, the biggest hurdle faced by the deal will be seeking approval from competition regulators around the globe. Already, US Democratic senator and former primary candidate Bernie Sanders has slammed the deal, calling it a "marriage made in hell" and urging the US Department of Justice to block the deal. Iowa State University Emeritus Professor Neil E Harl believes the deal should be blocked and a full market study undertaken into the lasting impact of the consolidation. "There isn't enough attention given to who wins and loses in the long term from these deals," he said. "You can definitely research this, it will give us all more information, and the time has come to take long-term view of the consequences." The most worrying consequence for Professor Harl is having too much ownership of critical seeds and crop chemicals concentrated in the hands of too few companies. In the future, these companies will also hold massive amounts of farm data, collected from precision farming equipment as well. Monsanto's market leadership in agricultural seeds and chemicals makes it a highly strategic acquisition for Bayer AG, which itself is a dominant crop chemical company. NSW farmer Dan Cooper advises the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission on agricultural policy, and said farmers were waiting for more details of the deal to emerge. "Lessening of the competition is the main concern, but also that investment in research and investment could decrease too," he said. "Every time a famer buys chemicals or seeds, the research and development behind that probably originated from one of those major companies." The three companies that will emerge if the deals are approved — Dow-DuPont, ChemChina-Syngenta and Bayer-Monsanto — will collectively control close to three-quarters of the agricultural chemical seeds market, according to analysis by Bloomberg. PAC Partners agribusiness analyst Paul Jensz has faith the competition regulators will act as a sufficient check and balance to the major mergers, but says mid-sized companies will also offer an alternative to farmers. "Australia's Nufarm is one example that provides a strong alternative, with its options of generic crop chemical that have come off patent," he said. "It's also important to consider the massive, massive amounts of money required for new research and development, and these major companies will be better positioned to undertake that."[SEP]Dubliner Liam Condon is a marathon man. And the Navan Road native is now limbering up for the run of his life: to seal one of the largest corporate takeovers in history. On Wednesday, Bayer, the German pharmaceuticals and chemicals giant, agreed a deal to buy Monsanto, the US seed superpower, in a $66 billion deal. After a lengthy corporate courtship, the all-cash bid accepted by Monsanto – the largest in German business history – will create a new giant in the agribusiness sector and, Bayer hopes, give it a crucial lead in the struggle to feed a growing population in a world with limited resources. As president of Bayer’s agribusiness crop science division, Condon knows the deal he helped put together is far from done. It will face close scrutiny from around 30 regulators worldwide, from markets, agriculture lobby groups and farmers. A taste of what is to come was an instant, negative response from environmental groups, which regularly accuse Bayer and Monsanto of putting corporate concerns before environmental responsibility. With the ink not yet dry, Condon will be a key figure in sealing the deal. “This is an ultra marathon and, in reality, we are just over the starting line on this one, not at the finishing line,” says the 48-year-old executive. “This is the start of a long journey for us, but I’ve run ultra marathons, so I know how this feels.” Pacing has been a key to Condon’s decade-long rise through the ranks of Bayer, one of Germany’s most iconic companies, as it has sought to globalise its business. He joined Bayer, the inventor of aspirin, in 2006, when it swallowed his employer at the time, the Berlin pharmaceutical company Schering. After that takeover, Condon was sure he would be surplus to requirements. Instead, the multilingual DCU marketing and languages graduate has risen steadily through the ranks in the intervening decade. After spells working for Schering and Bayer in Japan and China (speaking Japanese and Mandarin), he was appointed head of Bayer HealthCare in Germany in 2010, a key pillar of the empire which sells everything from aspirin to diabetes medication. It was a well-timed promotion, coming just as Bayer appointed its first non-German chief executive since the company’s foundation in 1863. And Condon has kept moving. This year he was appointed to the Bayer board and also heads Bayer Crop Science, the division that is poised to swallow Monsanto. Bayer had been pursuing the US company since May, when it made an initial bid of $122 per share, valuing Monsanto at $62 billion. The US company rejected that bid but, after itself trying and failing last year to take over Swiss rival Syngenta, Monsanto managers said they were open to further talks. Two further offers were made and rebuffed until Bayer upped its share offer, along with a $2 billion “break” clause for the US group in case the deal is halted by regulators. It’s a lot of money but Bayer executives are confident the deal will go through. Monsanto chief executive Hugh Grant told investors it was a “clean deal”. For Bayer chief executive Werner Baumann it is a “fantastic combination for modern agriculture”, creating a one-stop shop that marries Bayer’s power in the pesticide market with Monsanto’s pesticide- and insect-resistant seeds. When executives face regulators around the world, they will argue that the merging businesses operate in different fields and in different geographical markets: Monsanto in the Americas, Bayer in Europe and Asia. “Regulators are usually looking for overlap that would hinder competition and for anything that could lower innovation,” says Condon. “But we have done extensive analysis, as has Monsanto . . . and see a high complementarity of portfolios.” Bayer is hopeful the deal can go through next year because, in Condon’s view, there isn’t any time to waste. At seven billion, the world’s population continues to grow rapidly, with about 60 million additional mouths to feed so far this year. But the Earth isn’t growing any larger and its resources are growing more limited, particularly as climate change kicks in. With the United Nations predicting a global population of 10 billion by 2050, how to make more food with fewer resources is crucial for the survival of the planet, Condon says, and it is core to Bayer’s corporate mission. “The challenge is that there is no sense of urgency for many people, particularly in Europe, but we have a sense of urgency because we take a long-term view,” he says of his chosen field, where products take years to develop and test before they are market ready. “There is a gap between the point of innovation and availability and we cannot wait for the tipping point where society says we need more innovation.” Condon says a key challenge beyond sealing the deal will be explaining to the general public why pushing innovation in crop science and the growing digital farming sector is so important to tackle looming challenges coming over the horizon before they crash land in our everyday lives, at which point they will be too great to master. Bayer and Monsanto executives say they have received encouraging feedback from regulatory agencies, but the market reaction to the proposed merger was more equivocal. In Germany and elsewhere, investors suggested Bayer is paying over the odds. Bayer managers counter those concerns by arguing that – with combined sales of $23 billion in 2015 – synergy savings from the merger could see a boost of $1.5 billion to its underlying profit within three years. Then there is the matter of timing. Bayer and Monsanto’s rivals in the $100 billion global seed and pesticide market are also teaming up to cut costs, prompting a former federal trade commission official to warn that Bayer and Monsanto had “chosen to do a deal in a year of merging dangerously”. Farmer groups are concerned about what consolidation of two such massive companies will mean, given that in the United States alone they control almost 70 per cent of the cotton seed market, according to data from the Konkurrenz Group. And in Monsanto Bayer is acquiring a company that, particularly in Europe and in Bayer’s German homeland, is what could euphemistically be described as a burdened brand thanks to products that include DDT and Agent Orange. Founded in 1901, Monsanto, based in St Louis, Missouri, is a ubiquitous presence in US life where, three decades ago, it conducted the first field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops. After a series of mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs, today’s Monsanto shares the name but only part of the history. It is an agrochemical-biotech giant that produces a quarter of the world’s seeds as well as Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide. In July, EU member states voted to restrict Roundup’s use by the bloc’s farmers for 18 months amid concerns that glyphosates cause cancer. With Friends of the Earth dubbing the merger a “marriage made in hell”, how does Condon feel about effectively being the groom? The Dubliner dismisses criticism of Monsanto in Europe as having “no correlation to the size of the business” here. “We are absolutely committed going forward to continuing with our foundational values as a company, with strong focus on sustainability, innovation and social responsibility,” he says. Of course, Bayer’s chemicals business is no stranger to controversy, with long-running concerns that one of its own pesticides is harmful to certain bee populations – claims Bayer rejects. But, in consumer minds at least, if Bayer is aspirin and headache relief, is Monsanto simply a headache? Condon says no decisions have been taken so far about the future of the Monsanto brand but says its product brands are “probably more important to grow customers”. “When Monsanto was taking an approach to acquire Syngenta, they considered changing the name of the company, showing they are not married to the idea of holding the Monsanto company name at any cost,” he says. Syngenta eventually went to the state-owned China National Chemical Corp, but Monsanto might be ready to bury their name once inside the Bayer group. Regardless of the name game, Bayer has no plans to bury Monsanto’s products. However, Condon admits he sees no way of tackling Europe’s huge resistance to GM seeds. “GM acceptance in Europe is exceptionally low and, while we will argue for the technology, it’s something we have to accept,” he says. “We see no point in forcing anything; it would be stupid to do that.” It’s clear that the Bayer manager sees Europe’s resistance to GM crops as Europe’s loss. He points to China’s recent five-year development plan, which has decided to encourage GM production – a massive opportunity for Bayer and Monsanto. “They know it would be almost impossible to have food security in China without GMO, that is different to Europe,” he says. “China will be the more interesting market going forward.” For the Irish manager, the Chinese appetite and openness to the promise of GM – and Bayer-Monsanto’s GM products – more than makes up for European scepticism. “We won’t waste our time”, he says, trying to convince Europeans otherwise. But the Irishman insists Bayer hasn’t given up on Europe altogether. With its bid for Monsanto, he sees tremendous possibilities for his German employer, but also for farmers to improve yields, optimise input costs and environmental sustainability footprint. “Just increasing yields for the farmer is not enough; there has to be an advantage on return of investment,” he says. “Our value proposition otherwise won’t be compelling enough.” Fine words for a marketing graduate but, jettisoning the management speak, what will this deal mean for a farmer in Co Cavan? “Farmers will only pick a system or product where they can see clear advantages for themselves. It’s never about marketing or shiny packaging,” says Mr Condon. “Farmers need to see evidence and we will have to show that, otherwise they won’t choose us.” After a punishing corporate circuit in the last few months, Bayer’s Irish marathon man has begun the race of his life. Bayer’s takeover of Monsanto will transform his division of the sprawling German company. Does he hope to remain head of the new entity if the deal goes through? “We haven’t announced any personnel because, until now, the whole focus was getting deal done,” he says diplomatically . “In next weeks and months we will start to put together new management team.” But does he want to lead that team, finishing the race he has begun? “If I start a marathon,” he says, “I always want to finish.” Position: Board member of Bayern AG and head of its crop science division, operating in 120 countries with a workforce of 21,000 Outside interests: marathons of all descriptions Something you’d expect him to say: “The agriculture industry is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges of our time: how to feed an additional three billion people in the world by 2050 in an environmentally sustainable way.” Something that might surprise: After moving to Japan in 1996, he first lived in a rural community with a host family where the mother was a beautician for the local geishas.[SEP]German drug and farm chemical company Bayer AG said Wednesday it has signed a deal to acquire seed and weed-killer company Monsanto for $66 billion in cash. Bayer said it is paying Monsanto shareholders $128 per share, which represents a 44% premium over Monsanto's closing price on May 9, the day before a proposed deal was announced. The deal is subject to approval by Monsanto shareholders and antitrust regulators. Bayer said the transaction brings together two different but complementary companies. Bayer makes a wide range of crop protection chemicals, while Monsanto is known for its seed business. Leverkusen-based Bayer said the merged companies' agriculture business would have its seed business and North American business headquarters in St. Louis, where Monsanto is based. Bayer initially offered $122 per share, only to be rebuffed by Monsanto management, and then $125 per share before reaching the deal announced Wednesday. Monsanto Chairman and CEO Hugh Grant said the deal "represented the most compelling value for our shareholders, with the most certainty through the all-cash consideration." Bayer said it would raise the cash to pay for Monsanto by issuing debt and $19 billion in equity, including a mandatory convertible bond and a rights issue. Median incomes are up and poverty rate is down, surprisingly strong census figures show My ride in a self-driving Uber; or how I learned to stop worrying and trust the algorithm 5:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with additional information. This article was originally published at 5 a.m.[SEP]NEW YORK — German drugs and crop chemicals company Bayer has won over U.S. seeds firm Monsanto with an improved takeover offer of around $66 billion, ending months of wrangling after increasing its bid for a third time. The $128 a share deal, up from Bayer's previous offer of $127.50 a share, is the biggest of the year so far and the largest cash bid on record. The deal will create a company commanding more than a quarter of the combined world market for seeds and pesticides in the fast-consolidating farm supplies industry. However, competition authorities are likely to scrutinize the tie-up closely, and some of Bayer's own shareholders have been highly critical of a takeover plan which they say risks overpaying and neglecting the company's pharmaceutical business. The transaction includes a break-fee of $2 billion that Bayer will pay to Monsanto should it fail to get regulatory clearance. Bayer expects the deal to close by the end of 2017. The details confirm what a source close to the matter told Reuters earlier. Bernstein Research analysts said on Tuesday they saw only a 50 percent chance of the deal winning regulatory clearance, although they cited a survey among investors that put the likelihood at 70 percent on average "We believe political pushback to this deal, ranging from farmer dissatisfaction with all their suppliers consolidating in the face of low farm net incomes to dissatisfaction with Monsanto leaving the United States, could provide significant delays and complications," they wrote in a research note. Bayer said it was offering a 44 percent premium to Monsanto's share price on May 9, the day before it made its first written proposal. It plans to raise $19 billion to help fund the deal by issuing convertible bonds and new shares to its existing shareholders, and said banks had also committed to providing $57 billion of bridge financing. Bayer's move to combine its crop chemicals business, the world's second largest after Syngenta AG, with Monsanto's industry leading seeds business, is the latest in a series of major tie-ups in the agrochemicals sector. The German company is aiming to create a one-stop shop for seeds, crop chemicals and computer-aided services to farmers. That was also the idea behind Monsanto's swoop on Syngenta last year, which the Swiss company fended off, only to agree later to a takeover by China's state-owned ChemChina. Elsewhere in the industry, U.S. chemicals giants Dow Chemical and DuPont plan to merge and later spin off their respective seeds and crop chemicals operations into a major agribusiness. The Bayer-Monsanto deal will be the largest ever involving a German buyer, beating Daimler's tie-up with Chrysler in 1998, which valued the U.S. carmaker at more than $40 billion. It will also be the largest all-cash transaction on record, ahead of brewer InBev's $60.4 billion offer for Anheuser-Busch in 2008. Antitrust experts have said regulators will likely demand the sale of some soybeans, cotton and canola seed assets as a condition for approving the deal.
German chemicals company Bayer AG will announce that it has acquired American seeds company Monsanto Co. for US$66 billion.
TAIPEI: Parts of Taiwan were brought to a standstill Wednesday as super typhoon Meranti skirted past the island’s southern tip, bringing the strongest winds in 21 years and disrupting traffic ahead of a major holiday. Although typhoon Meranti did not make landfall, the storm brought violent winds and torrential rain to eastern and southern Taiwan. At 0500 GMT, Meranti was 90 kilometers (56 miles) west-northwest of southernmost Hengchun township, packing gusts of up to 234 kilometers per hour. Hengchun’s observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120 year history earlier Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. “Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today,” said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun. “It is the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in 21 years in terms of maximum sustained wind near the center,” she added. Southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, was battered by winds and floods. Residents in a fishing port in southern Taitung county woke up to find that a small lighthouse had disappeared and believed that powerful winds blew it off into the sea, as waves almost 10 meters high lashed the shore in the area. Trucks and cargo containers were overturned while electricity poles and trees were blown down by winds in some southern areas. One uprooted tree hit a car in southern Kaohsiung city, though the driver was unharmed. There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. School and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties, and the typhoon has knocked out power for more than 300,000 households. There are severe travel disruptions for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend which starts Thursday, as over 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled and trains running along the east coast have been halted. More than 130 ferry services to offshore islets and to several Chinese coastal cities have also been suspended, officials said. The coastguard was forced to cancel a ceremony to launch two new ships in Kaohsiung while a maritime and defense expo in the city has been postponed, officials said. The storm is expected to dump as much as 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides. Close to 1,500 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters, an official tally showed. Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at 18 kilometers an hour. Another storm brewing east of the Philippines may also affect Taiwan later this week. The weather bureau’s Hsieh said tropical storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured in July when super typhoon Nepartak pounded Taiwan. The island’s worst typhoon death toll came In 2009 when Morakot left more than 600 dead, including 400 people who were buried by mudslides triggered by torrential rains. AFP[SEP]TAIPEI: Parts of Taiwan were brought to a standstill Wednesday as the strongest typhoon of the year skirted past the island’s southern tip, knocking out power for more than 180,000 households. Although super typhoon Meranti did not make landfall, the storm brought record strong winds and torrential rains to eastern and southern Taiwan. At 0215 GMT, Meranti was 30 kilometres southwest of southernmost Hengchun township, packing gusts of up to 263 kilometres (163 miles an hour). Hengchun’s observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120 year history earlier Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. “Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today,” said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun. Television footage showed flooded streets and violent winds in southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches. School and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties while trains running along the east coast have been halted — affecting travel for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend which starts Thursday. The storm is expected to dump as much as 800 millimetres (31.5 inches) of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides. Close to 1,500 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at 18 kilometres an hour. Another storm brewing east of the Philippines may also affect Taiwan later this week. The weather bureau’s Hsieh said tropical storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall.[SEP]Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau warned that the Category 5 storm would threaten several southern and eastern cities, including Kaohsiung and Hualien, with strong winds, torrential rain and flooding. Meranti, which grew in strength as it neared Taiwan, was carrying maximum winds of 216 km per hour (134 mph), meteorologists said. Fallen power cables and trees were among some of the early damage reported. "This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year," weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. "Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today." Companies and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities have closed and almost 1,500 residents have been evacuated, the Central Emergency Operation Center said in a statement. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, according to the Taiwan Power Co. Most domestic flights have been canceled, including all of those from Kaohsiung airport, where international flights were also severely affected. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before the storm barrels into China, meteorologists said. Meranti is expected to make landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday, where authorities were already cancelling train services and preparing to evacuate people, state media said. Typhoon Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to $3 billion of damage.[SEP]"This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year," says weather bureau. Tens of thousands of homes lost power across Taiwan on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Meranti hit the island, a storm seen as the strongest in the world so far this year, forcing schools and businesses to close and flights to be cancelled. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau warned that the Category 5 storm would threaten several southern and eastern cities, including Kaohsiung and Hualien, with strong winds, torrential rain and flooding. Meranti, which grew in strength as it neared Taiwan, was carrying maximum winds of 216 km per hour, meteorologists said. Fallen power cables and trees were among some of the early damage reported. “This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year,” weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. “Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today.” Companies and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities have closed and almost 1,500 residents have been evacuated, the Central Emergency Operation Center said in a statement. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, according to the Taiwan Power Co. Most domestic flights have been cancelled, including all of those from Kaohsiung airport, where international flights were also severely affected. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before the storm barrels into China, meteorologists said. Meranti is expected to make landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday, where authorities were already cancelling train services and preparing to evacuate people, state media said. Typhoon Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to $3 billion of damage.[SEP]TAIPEI: Parts of Taiwan were brought to a standstill Wednesday as super typhoon Meranti skirted past the island’s southern tip, bringing the strongest winds in 21 years and disrupting traffic ahead of a major holiday. Although typhoon Meranti did not make landfall, the storm brought violent winds and torrential rain to eastern and southern Taiwan. At 0500 GMT, Meranti was 90 kilometers (56 miles) west-northwest of southernmost Hengchun township, packing gusts of up to 234 kilometers per hour. Hengchun’s observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120 year history earlier Wednesday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. “Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today,” said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun. “It is the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in 21 years in terms of maximum sustained wind near the center,” she added. Southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, was battered by winds and floods. Residents in a fishing port in southern Taitung county woke up to find that a small lighthouse had disappeared and believed that powerful winds blew it off into the sea, as waves almost 10 meters high lashed the shore in the area. Trucks and cargo containers were overturned while electricity poles and trees were blown down by winds in some southern areas. One uprooted tree hit a car in southern Kaohsiung city, though the driver was unharmed. There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. School and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties, and the typhoon has knocked out power for more than 300,000 households. There are severe travel disruptions for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend which starts Thursday, as over 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled and trains running along the east coast have been halted. More than 130 ferry services to offshore islets and to several Chinese coastal cities have also been suspended, officials said. The coastguard was forced to cancel a ceremony to launch two new ships in Kaohsiung while a maritime and defense expo in the city has been postponed, officials said. The storm is expected to dump as much as 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides. Close to 1,500 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters, an official tally showed. Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at 18 kilometers an hour. Another storm brewing east of the Philippines may also affect Taiwan later this week. The weather bureau’s Hsieh said tropical storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured in July when super typhoon Nepartak pounded Taiwan. The island’s worst typhoon death toll came In 2009 when Morakot left more than 600 dead, including 400 people who were buried by mudslides triggered by torrential rains. AFP[SEP]Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. 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Fallen power cables and trees were among some of the early damage reported. “This typhoon is the world's strongest so far this year,” weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. “Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today.” Companies and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities have closed and almost 1,500 residents have been evacuated, the Central Emergency Operation Center said in a statement. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, according to the Taiwan Power Co. Most domestic flights have been cancelled, including all of those from Kaohsiung airport, where international flights were also severely affected. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before the storm barrels into China, meteorologists said. Meranti is expected to make landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday, where authorities were already cancelling train services and preparing to evacuate people, state media said. Typhoon Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to $3 billion of damage.[SEP]Tens of thousands of homes lost power across Taiwan on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Meranti hit the island, a storm seen as the strongest in the world so far this year, forcing schools and businesses to close and flights to be cancelled. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau warned that the Category 5 storm would threaten several southern and eastern cities, including Kaohsiung and Hualien, with strong winds, torrential rain and flooding. Meranti, which grew in strength as it neared Taiwan, was carrying maximum winds of 216 km per hour (134 mph), meteorologists said. Fallen power cables and trees were among some of the early damage reported. ‘This typhoon is the world’s strongest so far this year,’ weather bureau spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-yun said. ‘Its impact on Taiwan will peak all day today.’ Companies and schools in Kaohsiung and other cities have closed and almost 1,500 residents have been evacuated, the Central Emergency Operation Center said in a statement. Nearly 200,000 households were without power, according to the Taiwan Power Co. Most domestic flights have been cancelled, including all of those from Kaohsiung airport, where international flights were also severely affected. Taiwan will feel the full force of the typhoon through Wednesday and into Thursday before the storm barrels into China, meteorologists said. Meranti is expected to make landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday, where authorities were already cancelling train services and preparing to evacuate people, state media said. Typhoon Meranti comes just over two months after the deadly typhoon Nepartak cut power, grounded flights and forced thousands to flee their homes across central and southern areas of Taiwan. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot cut a swath of destruction through southern Taiwan, killing about 700 people and causing up to $3 billion of damage.[SEP]Parts of Taiwan were brought to a standstill Wednesday as the strongest typhoon of the year skirted past the island's southern tip, knocking out power for more than 180,000 households. Although super typhoon Meranti did not make landfall, the storm brought record strong winds and torrential rains to eastern and southern Taiwan. At 0215 GMT, Meranti was 30 kilometres southwest of southernmost Hengchun township, packing gusts of up to 263 kilometres (163 miles an hour). Hengchun's observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120 year history earlier Wednesday, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau. "Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today," said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun. Television footage showed flooded streets and violent winds in southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches. School and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties while trains running along the east coast have been halted -- affecting travel for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend which starts Thursday. The storm is expected to dump as much as 800 millimetres (31.5 inches) of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides. Close to 1,500 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center. Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at 18 kilometres an hour. Another storm brewing east of the Philippines may also affect Taiwan later this week. The weather bureau's Hsieh said tropical storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall.[SEP]Xiamen, China (CNN) Typhoon Meranti struck China after pounding Taiwan, making landfall early on Thursday near Xiamen in Fujian Province. Morning light revealed empty streets covered in broken glass, from shattered windows on surrounding office buildings. "I have never seen anything so scary in my entire life," 72-year-old Ma Wenhua, who lives and works in Xiamen, told CNN. "We had to put so many buckets out to catch all the leaks." Despite the winds lessening after landfall, they were strong enough to knock down trees, break windows and push a large inflated moon down the city's streets. The moon had been part of a display to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival. Loose moon balloon rolls around Fuzhou, China, as Super Typhoon Meranti barrels through https://t.co/HCybtJw4vh pic.twitter.com/ASFWkzF9Pf An 800-year-old Song dynasty wooden bridge was washed away in Yongchun county in Fujian, the local tourism bureau reported. "The whole city is heartbroken! The bridge had withstood a long and stormy history but had no luck with Meranti," a statement said. The powerful storm first raked southern Taiwan, bringing torrential rains and winds of up to 230 mph (370 kilometers per hour) -- faster than a Formula One race car. One person died and 44 people were injured as the typhoon surged over the island, according to a Taiwan Red Cross spokeswoman. "Typhoon Merandi is away from the Taiwan main island, but still our staff and volunteers are in the mobilization preparation," she said. More than 900,000 households had lost power, the spokeswoman confirmed, while another 500,000 had issues with water supply. Hundreds of thousands were also waiting for repairs, she said. When it made landfall over mainland China, the storm's maximum sustained winds were 145 mph (230 kph) with gusts of up to 175 mph (280 kph). "The storm was most intense from 1 a.m. til 3.30 a.m. where our hotel was swaying significantly back and forth. Water was streaming into our rooms," CNN correspondent Matt Rivers said from Xiamen. It is a holiday in China and many people were home or traveling to see family. Winds were still blowing harshly in Xiamen and other coastal cities. "There's only been one other tropical system in modern history that was able to get to a strength of over 110 mph (180kph) and sustain that for over 24 hours," CNN meteorologist Tom Sater said. By the time the typhoon reached China, however, it had already slowed significantly due to its interaction with Taiwan, Sater said. "It's those outer bands that interact with (Taiwan's) high terrain -- the outer bands are like the exhaust system of a car, if the eye is the engine ... it just rips apart the exhaust system and it starts to choke. It did a good thing for China," he said. Meranti's strength had prompted China to issue its highest warning for high ocean waves as emergency crews and officials prepared for the deluge. Despite Typhoon Meranti weakening quickly as it continues to move inland, heavy rainfall and flash flooding, as well as dangerous winds, will continue for the next 48 hours. Mudslides will be possible in eastern China. Despite being a frequent target for powerful Pacific typhoons, Taiwan has a track record of limiting their deadly impact. But storms often turn deadlier as they move toward China. The flatter terrain -- prone to storm surges and inland flooding -- and higher population density often result in a great number of deaths or displacement of people. Despite weakening to a tropical storm, Nepartak and its associated heavy rainfall of up to 10 inches killed more than 80 people.
Typhoon Meranti hits southern Taiwan with record breaking winds and heavy rains, disrupting transport and knocking out power to tens of thousands of people.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption President Maduro, seen here on his TV programme, welcomed delegates more than 100 countries while his region's trading bloc threatened to suspend Venezuela The South American trading bloc Mercosur has threatened to suspend Venezuela if it does not comply with a series of trade and human rights rules. Paraguay's foreign minister said demands included protecting human rights and enacting a law guaranteeing free movement of Mercosur citizens. The group set a deadline of 1 December. The four original Mercosur members - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - blocked Venezuela from assuming the rotating presidency in June. Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodriguez, tweeted that the country rejected the announcement and that the other countries were trying to destroy Mercosur. She said the bloc was supposed to make decisions by consensus. Meanwhile Venezuela is hosting more than 100 nations at a meeting of "non-aligned" countries - those who did not back either the US or the Soviet Union during the Cold War. President Nicolas Maduro said on his TV programme on Tuesday that the start of the summit would "stay in the annals of Venezuelan diplomacy for centuries to come". Venezuela will take on the rotating presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, which has been held by Iran since 2012.[SEP]ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — The four original nations of South America's Mercosur trading bloc announced Tuesday that they are giving Venezuela until Dec. 1 to comply with its commitments when it joined in 2012 that it would comply with all the group's requirements. Brazil's foreign minister tweeted that Venezuela would be suspended from the group if it failed to meet the deadline. The ultimatum was contained in a statement from Mercosur founders Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay that was released by the Foreign Ministry of Paraguay, where the group has its headquarters. The statement gave no details about the requirements that Venezuela had not met. But Paraguayan Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga recently said that among the things Venezuela needed to do was protect human rights and enact a law guaranteeing free movement of citizens of the member nations. He also said Venezuela was not allowing opposition groups to protest freely. On Twitter, Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra said the group would suspend Venezuela as a member if the group's demand is not met. He also said that the four countries agreed that Venezuela would not take over the bloc's rotating presidency as scheduled and instead Mercosur will be presided over by a commission of one member each from the four founding states. Mercosur took in Venezuela as a member in an effort to link the region's most powerful agricultural and energy markets.[SEP]ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — The four original members of South America’s Mercosur trading bloc are giving Venezuela a Dec. 1 deadline to comply with its commitments to meet all the group’s standards when it joined in 2012. A Tuesday statement from the bloc says Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay agreed that Venezuela’s socialist government has to meet its commitments by that date. But Paraguayan Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga recently said that among the requirements unmet by Venezuela are the protection of human rights and enactment of a law guaranteeing free movement by citizens of the member nations. He also said Venezuela was not allowing opposition groups to protest freely. Mercosur took in Venezuela as a member in an effort to link the region’s most powerful agricultural and energy markets.[SEP]CARACAS: The founding members of the South American trading bloc Mercosur announced Wednesday that they have taken over its rotating presidency to block Venezuela from the post, threatening to suspend the country if it fails to comply with obligations. “The presidency of Mercosur in the current semester will not be passed on to Venezuela, but rather exercised through coordination between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay,” read a joint statement by the four countries — Mercosur’s founding states — that Brazil released at dawn. Venezuela would be “suspended from Mercosur” if the government of President Nicolas Maduro does not adopt all of its agreements and legal regulations, it added. Venezuela, crippled by a major economic crisis, said it would not recognize the decision. “Venezuela, in the full exercise of the rotating Mercosur presidency, and in accord with the treaties, rejects the declaration,” Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez posted on Twitter. The regional trading bloc’s “decisions are adopted by consensus and respect procedural norms,” he added. “We will not allow violations of the treaty.” Although Venezuela joined Mercosur in 2012, it has yet to ratify a large number of rules governing trade, politics, democracy and human rights. The country was set to take over the presidency in July according to an alphabetical rotation, but only Uruguay supported the move. Venezuela’s neighbors are becoming increasingly wary of developments in the once-booming economy. Maduro’s opponents blame him for an economic meltdown marked by food shortages, riots and looting in the oil-rich country facing its third year of deep recession, hit hard by the plunge in global crude prices since mid-2014. Members of Venezuela’s opposition said the ban amounted to a “defeat” for Maduro, a socialist whom they are seeking to recall from office. “The international community is now clear about the reality (in Venezuela), where human rights are violated and there is no democracy,” said opposition deputy Luis Florido, who heads the National Assembly’s foreign policy committee. Raquel Gamuz, a foreign policy professor at the Central University of Venezuela, agreed, saying the move dealt Maduro “a very hard blow.” He would “participate in the multilateral organization in the same way that he governs Venezuela (but) there are regulations Venezuela has not fulfilled,” he said. The crisis comes at a delicate moment for Mercosur, which has relaunched free-trade negotiations with the European Union. Tensions between Maduro’s government and its Mercosur partners were exacerbated with the election of Mauricio Macri as president of Argentina in 2015 and the replacement of Brazil’s ousted former president Dilma Rousseff with Michel Temer this month.[SEP]Venezuela fumes at Mercosur ultimatum as Latin America shifts right CARACAS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela on Wednesday decried a decision that could see it suspended from the Mercosur trade bloc as the crisis-stricken leftist country grows increasingly isolated in South America. Socialist-led Venezuela has been at the center of a fight over the rotating presidency of Mercosur and has lost its weight in the once staunchly leftist bloc. The founding members of Mercosur will give Venezuela until Dec. 1 to meet its membership requirements or be suspended from the bloc, said the Foreign Ministry of Brazil, which like several other countries in the region has recently shifted to the right. "Trying to destroy MERCOSUR via illegal ruses is a reflection of intolerant politics and the desperation of bureaucrats," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said on Twitter. All Mercosur members but Uruguay blocked Venezuela from assuming the rotating presidency in June, accusing the OPEC nation of failing to incorporate a joint economic accord and a commitment to protect human rights. Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the ultimatum for Venezuela was meant to "preserve and strengthen Mercosur." The bickering over leadership has stalled Mercosur's everyday operations and trade negotiations with other countries, ultimately forcing Uruguay to accept a tougher stance against Venezuela, a Brazilian official familiar with the matter said. (Reporting by Caracas newsroom; Editing by Bill Trott)[SEP]Mercosur lays down ultimatum for Venezuela to meet membership terms BRASILIA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The founding members of Mercosur will give Venezuela until Dec. 1 to meet its membership requirements or be suspended from the trade bloc, Brazil said on Tuesday, in the latest twist in a row that has exposed ideological divisions. The ultimatum will further isolate the socialist-led nation, which has been at the center of a fight over the rotating presidency of Mercosur, which has turned to the right after years dominated by leftist governments. Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that decision was meant to "preserve and strengthen Mercosur." Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay also decided in a deal first reported by Reuters to share the presidency of the group in a temporary solution to the group's currently being without a head. Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately responded to requests for comments. All Mercosur members but Uruguay blocked Venezuela from assuming the rotating presidency in June, accusing the OPEC nation of failing to incorporate a joint economic accord and a commitment to protect human rights. The bickering over leadership has stalled Mercosur's everyday operations and trade negotiations with other countries, ultimately forcing Uruguay to accept a tougher stance against Venezuela, a Brazilian official familiar with the matter said. Facing food shortages and political turmoil, Venezuelan leftist President Nicolas Maduro has come under greater international pressure to cede to opposition calls for a recall vote on his leadership this year. "Having that Mercosur membership is seen as important by the Venezuelan regime to show its population that it is integrated in the region," said Oliver Stuenkel, professor of international relations at Sao Paulo-based think tank FGV. "This will certainly add pressure, but is unlikely change things in Venezuela." Brazilian diplomats have said that until late August Venezuela had met about 30 percent of the membership requirements, which entails adopting a series of rules to facilitate trade inside the group. Venezuela was initially admitted in the bloc in 2012 and given four years to meet all the requirements. Brazil's new President Michel Temer, a center-right politician who replaced leftist Dilma Rousseff after she was impeached in August for breaking fiscal rules, has led the charge to undermine Venezuela in the bloc. After Temer, who was Rousseff's vice-president, permanently assumed the presidency until the end of the term in late 2018, Venezuela froze ties and recalled its ambassador in Brasilia. The leftist governments of Ecuador and Bolivia, once close allies to Brasilia, also recalled their ambassadors. The widening political divisions in South America also reflect the changing luck of a region struggling with a drop in global commodity prices after a decade-long boom that helped leftist leaders raise spending on the poor. (Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Writing by Alonso Soto; Editing by Leslie Adler and Nick Macfie)
The South American trading bloc Mercosur threatens to suspend Venezuela if it does not protect human rights and enact a law guaranteeing the free movement of Mercosur citizens. The bloc sets a deadline of December 1, 2016, for Venezuela to comply with their requirements.
CURITIBA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors charged ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday with being the “boss” of a vast corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras, in a major blow to the leftist hero’s hopes of a political comeback. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva talks with his wife Marisa Leticia during a ceremony at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, June 26, 2007. REUTERS/Jamil Bittar/File Photo It was the first time that Lula, still Brazil’s most popular politician despite corruption accusations against him and his Workers Party, was charged by federal prosecutors for involvement in the political kickbacks scheme at Petroleo Brasileiro (PETR4.SA), as the company is officially known. Public Prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol told a news conference that Lula will be charged with corruption and money laundering for leading a kickback scheme that caused an estimated 42 billion reais ($12.6 billion) in losses to Petrobras shareholders and tax payers. “He was the conductor of this criminal orchestra,” Dallagnol said during a detailed presentation of the investigation. “The Petrobras graft scheme aimed at keeping the Workers Party in power by criminal means.” Lula’s lawyers said prosecutors lacked evidence to back up their accusations which were part of political persecution to stop him running in the 2018 election. “This Lula-centered farce was trumped up as an affront to the democratic state and intelligence of Brazilian citizens,” one of Lula’s lawyers, Cristiano Zanin, told reporters in Sao Paulo. Dallagnol stopped short of saying investigators would seek an arrest order for Lula, who became a hero to many poor Brazilians during his 2003-2010 government. The two-year-old Operation Carwash anti-corruption investigation, based in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba, has uncovered how political appointees named by Lula’s Workers Party and its allies handed overpriced contracts to engineering firms in return for illicit party funding and bribes. The scandal helped topple the Workers Party from power last month by crushing the popularity of Lula’s chosen successor, Dilma Rousseff. She was impeached by Congress on unrelated charges of breaking budget rules, amid rising anger over her handling of Brazil’s worst recession since the 1930s. Dallagnol said that Lula, because of his control of the machinery of the Workers Party and the Brazilian government, was the central figure in the scheme. Prosecutors allege that the charismatic former union leader had personally received some 3.7 million reais ($1.11 million) in bribes, including a luxury apartment on the coast of Sao Paulo from one of the engineering and construction firms at the center of the bribery scandal, OAS. Lula has denied ownership of the three-floor condo in Guarujá. Related Coverage Brazil prosecutors say Lula was 'general' of vast Petrobras graft scheme Lula’s case will go before crusading anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro, who has jailed dozens of executives and others involved in the scheme. Former first lady, Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva, has also been charged. Lula has separately been indicted by a court in Brasilia for obstruction of justice in a case related to an attempt to persuade a defendant in the Petrobras scandal not to turn state’s witness. BLOW TO LULA MYTH Lula, 70, has not ruled out running again for president in 2018, but a criminal conviction would bar him from being a candidate for the next eight years. His fall, as well as that of the leftist party he founded in 1980, has been dramatic. A one-time shoeshine boy and union leader who led massive strikes against Brazil’s military dictatorship, contributing to its downfall, he was elected the nation’s first working class president in 2002 after three failed campaigns. Wildly popular with Brazil’s poor, Lula’s social policies helped yank millions out of poverty and into the middle class, and he left office in 2010 with an 83-percent approval rating and an economy that grew at a blistering 7.5 percent. But two years ago, as the Petrobras probe became public, prosecutors began to slowly put Lula in their crosshairs. Many prosecutors and investigators say they cannot imagine such a powerful figure was unaware of the institutionalized corruption and political kickbacks taking place at Petrobras and other state-run companies. Marcos Troyjo, a former Brazilian diplomat and co-director of Columbia University’s BRICLab in Rio de Janeiro, said he thinks Wednesday’s charges are the first of many Lula will be facing in the coming months. “That means the Workers Party, which may have thought it would move comfortably into the opposition after Dilma’s impeachment, will confront extreme challenges,” said Troyjo. “It’s certainly the beginning of the end to Lula’s presidential aspirations for 2018.” Slideshow (3 Images) Recent polls have shown that despite the investigations targeting Lula and the Workers Party, he would be a favorite to win the next presidential election. “But these charges are likely too big a blow to the political myth of Lula, to the candidate Lula and to the Workers Party as a whole for that to happen,” Troyjo said.[SEP](CNN) Here's a look at the life of Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Children: with Marisa Letîcia Lula da Silva: Luis Claudio (1985), Sandro (1979), Fabio (1975), Marcos (1970, from her first marriage and adopted by da Silva); with Miriam Cordeiro: Lurian (1974) He goes by the nickname Lula, which he formally added to his name in 1982. Da Silva's father was against education and believed supporting the family was more important, so da Silva didn't learn to read until age 10 and began working full-time at 12. He left school completely after the fifth grade to work full-time. Has nine fingers, having lost the little finger on his left hand in a work accident. First wife, Maria, died of hepatitis in her eighth month of pregnancy along with the child. Unhappy with the lack of political representation of the working class in Brazil, he decided to get involved in politics. 1966 - Becomes a metalworker and is active in the metalworkers union. April 19-May 19, 1980 - As one of the leaders of a metalworkers union strike, is arrested after police confront workers and held for 31 days. November 1982 - Comes in fourth in the gubernatorial race for the state of Sao Paolo. 1989, 1994, and 1998 - Is the Workers' Party candidate for president; he comes in second each time. October 27, 2002 - Is elected president in a runoff election with 61.3% of the vote. October 29, 2006 - Wins a second four-year term in office with 61% of the vote. September 30, 2008 - Reacts to the downturn in global and U.S. markets: "We can't be turned into victims of the casino erected by the American economy." April 2010 - Is voted number one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2010. October 29, 2011 - Is diagnosed with throat cancer and will undergo chemotherapy to treat a malignant tumor in his larynx.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian federal investigators have charged former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with money laundering and corruption. The charges announced Wednesday are in connection with a sprawling corruption investigation at state-run oil giant Petrobras. Silva, his wife and five others are accused of illegally benefiting from renovations at a beachfront apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja, in Sao Paulo state. The improvements were made by constructors involved in the kickback scheme emanating from Petrobras. FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2016 file photo, Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil. Federal investigators charged Lula with money laundering and corruption on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 in connection with a sprawling corruption investigation at state-run oil giant Petrobras. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File) Silva acknowledges having visited the penthouse but says he never owned it. Police recommended the charges last month. Judge Sergio Moro must now decide whether Silva will stand trial. In a separate case related to Petrobras, Silva will go on trial charged with obstruction of justice.[SEP]BRASILIA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors have filed corruption charges against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife in the sprawling Petrobras kickback scandal, GloboNews TV reported on Wednesday. This was the first time Lula, still Brazil's most popular politician despite corruption accusations against his Workers Party, was charged directly by federal prosecutors for involvement in the graft scheme at the state-run oil company. His case will go before crusading anti-corruption judge Sergio Moro. Prosecutors will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. (1800 GMT). (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)[SEP]CURITIBA, Brazil, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors filed corruption charges on Wednesday against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his wife and six others in the sprawling Petrobras kickback scandal. This was the first time Lula, still Brazil's most popular politician despite corruption accusations against him and his Workers Party, was charged by federal prosecutors for involvement in the massive graft scheme at the state-run oil company. Lula's case will go before crusading anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro, who has jailed dozens of executives and others involved in the scheme. Lula could face arrest for receiving a luxury apartment on the coast of Sao Paulo from one of the engineering and construction firms at the center of the bribery scandal. Lula has denied ownership of the three-floor condo in Guarujá. Federal police urged prosecutors last month to bring charges against Lula and his wife, accusing them of receiving some 2.4 million reais ($747,896) in benefits from the builder OAS in relation to the apartment. Lula, a charismatic former union leader who was a two-term president from 2003 to 2010, has separately been indicted by a court in Brasilia for obstruction of justice in a case related to an attempt to persuade a defendant in the Petrobras scandal not to turn state's witness. Lula's fall, and that of the leftist party he founded in 1980, has been dramatic. Last month, his protégé and successor as president, Dilma Rousseff, was removed from office in an impeachment trial. Rousseff's fall was driven by Brazil's worst recession since the 1930s and its biggest ever corruption scandal, which has implicated dozens of politicians from her ruling coalition, including several in the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party led by current President Michel Temer. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)[SEP]Brazilian federal investigators have charged former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with money laundering and corruption. The charges are in connection with a sprawling corruption investigation at state-run oil giant Petrobras. Silva, his wife and five others are accused of illegally benefiting from renovations at a beachfront apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja, in Sao Paulo state. The improvements were made by constructors involved in the kickback scheme emanating from Petrobras. Silva acknowledges having visited the penthouse but says he never owned it. Judge Sergio Moro must now decide whether Silva will stand trial. In a separate case related to Petrobras, Silva will go on trial charged with obstruction of justice.[SEP]Brazil's Lula says charges aimed at wrecking his political career SAO PAULO, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday dismissed corruption charges against him as a fabrication and said he was being framed to stop him from running for the presidency in two years time. Still Brazil's most popular politician despite involvement of his Workers Party in the massive Petrobras graft scandal, Lula cried and laughed as he dismissed charges that could lead to his arrest and end his political career. "Prove I committed one act of corruption and I will walk to the police station and hand myself in," the gravelly-voiced Lula said at his first public appearance since he was formally charged on Wednesday. Prosecutors charged him with corruption and money laundering for allegedly taking bribes disguised as favors from an engineering firm implicated in the sprawling bribery and political kickback scheme at Petrobras, the state-run oil company. Tears came to Lula's eyes as he recalled going hungry as a child before he rose to become a union leader, founded Latin America's most important leftist party, and was elected as Brazil's first working-class president. The 70-year-old Lula was a hero to many poor Brazilians during his 2003-2010 government, which helped to raise more than 30 million people out of poverty. Lula said he would collaborate with prosecutors because he had committed no crime, and he pleaded for respect for his wife, who has also been charged in a case involving a luxury apartment in the coastal resort of Guarujá that prosecutors allege was given to Lula as a bribe by construction company OAS. Lula has not ruled out a presidential bid in 2018; polls show he would beat other candidates in a first round but lose a runoff. However, a criminal conviction would bar him from running for eight years. With its former treasurer in jail and other party members under investigation in the Petrobras scandal, Lula's party is expected to suffer big losses in mayoral races next month. Some analysts predict the party could lose half of its majors. Lula was charged two weeks after his hand-picked successor Dilma Rousseff was removed from office in an impeachment trial that was driven by discontent with her management of the economy, now in its second year of recession. "The damage to the Workers Party is enormous. The creator and the creation are being systematically demolished," said Thiago de Aragao, a partner at Arko Advice consultancy. Lula's fate is now in the hands of crusading anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro, who has until Monday to decide whether to indict the former president. Earlier on Thursday, Moro sentenced a friend of Lula's, rancher Jose Carlos Bumlai, to nine years in jail for a fraudulent loan to the Workers Party that was allegedly repaid with a lucrative Petrobras drillship contract. Brazilian media reported that police are investigating the Workers Party governor of Minas Gerais state, Fernando Pimentel, for facilitating loans by the national development bank BNDES to finance projects in Argentina and Mozambique by Brazil's largest builder, Odebrecht, when he was a minister in Rousseff's government. Construction magnate Marcelo Odebrecht is serving a 19-year prison sentence for bribery, money laundering and organized crime for his part in the Petrobras scheme in which billions of dollars were siphoned off overpriced contacts with Petrobras. (Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Leslie Adler)[SEP]Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday he was ready to cooperate with prosecutors because he had committed no crime and called charges against him "pure fiction" aimed at stopping him running again. Lula cried and laughed at the first press conference since he was charged on Wednesday with corruption and money laundering for allegedly receiving bribes disguised as favors from an engineering company implicated in the massive Petrobras graft scandal.[SEP]Rio de Janeiro (AP) — Brazilian investigators on Wednesday charged former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with money laundering and corruption, calling him the “maximum commander” of the mammoth graft scandal roiling Latin America’s largest nation. While the charges against Silva were expected — police recommended them last month — the characterization of his role in the kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras was stunning. The so-called Car Wash investigation the last two years has led to the jailing of dozens of businessmen and top politicians. While Silva, president between 2003 and 2010, has long been implicated, before Wednesday prosecutors had never said that he was anything more than a beneficiary. Silva was “the maximum commander of the corruption scheme identified as Car Wash” Deltan Dallagnol, head of the task force investigating, said during a televised news conference from the southern city of Curitiba. “We are not judging here who (Silva) is or was as a person, but what he did or didn’t do to the people,” Dallagnol said. Dallagnol put up diagrams that purported to show Silva’s connection to various players in the kickback scheme going back more than a decade. He said prosecutors could show that Silva had met at key times with people involved in the scheme, such as Marcelo Odebrecht, the former president of the big Odebrecht construction company who has been jailed. Dallagnol alleged that Silva, who left the presidency with very high approval ratings, used a network of illegal campaign financing and kickbacks for political support in Congress. Silva’s lawyer, Cristiano Zanin Martins, blasted Dallagnol, saying he had shown himself unfit for the job. “His political behavior is incompatible with the role of a federal prosecutor,” said Martins. Despite a litany of accusations against Silva, there were only two actual charges: money laundering and corruption. Silva, his wife and five others were accused of illegally benefiting from renovations at a beachfront apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja in Sao Paulo state. The improvements, valued at about $750,000, were made by construction company OAS, one of those involved in the kickback scheme emanating from Petrobras. Prosecutors also believe Silva benefited from OAS paying the rent of storage unit to house symbolic gifts that Silva received while president. Silva acknowledges having visited the penthouse but says he never owned it. Sergio Moro, the judge overseeing the probe, must now decide whether Silva will stand trial. In a separate case related to Petrobras, Silva will go on trial on charges of obstruction of justice. While his Workers’ Party has lost much support amid corruption scandals in recent years, Silva continues to enjoy popularity nationwide and has signaled his intention to run for president in 2018. The yawning gap between the verbal accusations Wednesday and what Silva was accused of raised many questions about the future of the investigation. Silva, who denies wrongdoing, has long been trying to get the cases against him removed from the jurisdiction of Moro, who has become famous for locking up prominent figures the last two years. Legal experts said that making such drastic statements could help prosecutors retrain the case in their jurisdiction and keep the investigation in the public eye. However, such maneuvers also come with risks. “The harsh wording shows that the evidence might not be that great,” said Cezar Britto, former head of Brazilian Bar Association. “It looks as if the prosecutors are looking for the support of society instead of looking for more evidence.”[SEP]Brazil prosecutors say Lula was 'general' of vast Petrobras graft scheme SAO PAULO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors on Wednesday denounced former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the 'general' in command of a vast corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras aimed at keeping his leftist Workers Party in power. Public Prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol told a news conference that the Petrobras scheme caused an estimated 42 billion real ($12.6 billion) in losses. Lula's lawyers said in a statement that he strongly denied the allegations and would fight the charges. ($1 = 3.3405 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Sergio Spagnuolo; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
Brazilian prosecutors file corruption charges against former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his wife, Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva. Federal judge Sérgio Moro will preside over his case.
Obama Says U.S. Is Prepared To Lift Sanctions Against Myanmar Enlarge this image toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP Carolyn Kaster/AP President Obama has announced that the U.S. is ready to lift economic sanctions against Myanmar in light of political reforms in the Southeast Asian nation. It's going to happen "soon," Obama said, but he did not indicate a specific timeline during a joint news conference Wednesday at the White House with Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Lifting sanctions "is the right thing to do in order to ensure that the people of Burma see the rewards from a new way of doing business, and a new government," Obama said. (The country is also known as Burma.) The sanctions were imposed in 1997, and as NPR's Michele Kelemen explains, they were "originally put in place to isolate Myanmar's former military junta." The military, she says, "still controls much of the economy and retains great political power." In 2012, the Obama administration began to ease some financial and investment sanctions following political reforms, according to the Treasury Department. But it "retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and dozens of officials of the former ruling junta," as The Associated Press reports. In March, the country elected its first civilian president in decades. Obama and Suu Kyi said in a joint statement Wednesday that the U.S. will also give preferential trade status to Myanmar "in light of progress on a number of fronts, including strengthening protections for internationally recognized worker rights." These changes are designed to create incentives for U.S. businesses and nonprofits to invest in the country, Obama said. The president characterized the changes in Myanmar as a "remarkable social and political transformation" after decades of authoritarian rule. Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who spent years under house arrest, is barred from running for president under the terms of the country's military-penned constitution. But as The Two-Way has reported, the winner of this year's election is one of her most trusted confidantes, and she considers herself to be "above the president." Here's more from Obama on Myanmar's transition: "When I was first elected, Daw Suu was still under house arrest. ... What we've seen over the last several years is a transition to elections, a representative legislature that still has significant constraints from the previous military government but is giving voice to the hopes and dreams of a new generation of Burmese people." The U.S. remains "concerned about the outsized role the military plays in Myanmar, as well as the country's treatment of ethnic and religious minorities," as NPR's Scott Horsley tells our Newscast unit. And Ben Rhodes, a top adviser to Obama, told Michele that the U.S. hoped to strike a delicate balance as it changed its policy on sanctions against Myanmar. "The question is, how do we balance the need to continue to demonstrate that this transition is not complete with the fact that we don't want to shut ourselves and responsible investment out of the country?" Rhodes says.[SEP]YANGON: Myanmar cheered a US promise to end sanctions on Thursday, with residents in its commercial capital clamoring for American brands while politicians and business moguls heralded a new era of transparency and trade. US President Barack Obama vowed to scrap the trade limits during Aung San Suu Kyi’s first visit to the White House since her party took power in March, ending decades of military domination. The move marks a milestone in the country’s rapid transformation from an international pariah into Asia’s fastest-growing economy under the leadership of the Nobel laureate. But Soe Naung Win, who owns a mobile phone shop in Myanmar’s bustling economic capital of Yangon, had more immediate concerns. “I want Apple to officially come to Myanmar,” the 32-year-old told AFP. “I am crazy about the Apple brand and I want Apple to come here as an American brand.” While iPhones are widely available in Myanmar, one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile phone markets, there are no official Apple stores in the country. The US sanctions, imposed 20 years ago in a bid to put pressure on the former military regime, bar Americans from dealing with anyone on its blacklist of more than 100 people and companies linked to the former junta. Some major US brands have already jumped into the frontier economy, but many have stayed away saying the sanctions make investment too expensive and dangerous. Coca-Cola was left red-faced last year when watchdog Global Witness discovered its local partner was linked to a sanctioned military holding company, while a dealer for machinery giant Caterpillar had ties to jade companies controlled by a major drug lord. Although some curbs on ties to the military will probably stay in place, Obama’s move is expected to bring greater clarity to US companies considering business in the emerging nation. In Myanmar, key business players said the end of sanctions would usher in new investment and help drive the country’s rise from decades of punishing poverty. “This is very significant and signifies a new chapter in our country’s economic development,” said Serge Pun, who runs several companies including First Myanmar Investment, one of Myanmar’s biggest conglomerates. “I have never been so optimistic about Myanmar’s future as I am now.” Khin Maung Lwin, permanent secretary from the Ministry of Commerce, said the changes would help shine a light on shadowy industries like the jade trade, worth billions of dollars and run by illicit gangs and corrupt military officials that has fuelled decades of violence in Myanmar’s borderlands. The sanctions currently ban US imports of jadeite. “Removing sanctions on the jade industry is important, and more transparency is needed on production and trading,” he told Agence France-Presse. “Domestically, it will also mean more taxes for the government,” he added. Washington started paring back sanctions in 2012 under the previous quasi-civilian regime, led by former president Thein Sein, and rolled them back further in May after Suu Kyi’s party took office. While the latest lift was celebrated in the business world, rights groups cautioned Obama was forgoing crucial leverage over the military, which still holds a quarter of parliament seats and controls several powerful ministries. “Lifting all sanctions now will embolden the Myanmar military and its partners,” said Matthew Smith, chief executive at Fortify Rights. “This decision was hasty and fails to recognize political realities on the ground.” AFP[SEP]'I want Apple': Myanmar abuzz over end of US sanctions Myanmar cheered a US promise to end sanctions on Thursday, with residents in its commercial capital clamouring for American brands while politicians and business moguls heralded a new era of transparency and trade. US President Barack Obama vowed to scrap the trade limits during Aung San Suu Kyi's first visit to the White House since her party took power in March, ending decades of military domination. The move marks a milestone in the country's rapid transformation from an international pariah into Asia's fastest-growing economy under the leadership of the Nobel laureate. But Soe Naung Win, who owns a mobile phone shop in Myanmar's bustling economic capital of Yangon, had more immediate concerns. "I want Apple to officially come to Myanmar," the 32-year-old told AFP. "I am crazy about the Apple brand and I want Apple to come here as an American brand." While iPhones are widely available in Myanmar, one of the world's fastest-growing mobile phone markets, there are no official Apple stores in the country. The US sanctions, imposed 20 years ago in a bid to put pressure on the former military regime, bar Americans from dealing with anyone on its blacklist of more than 100 people and companies linked to the former junta. Some major US brands have already jumped into the frontier economy, but many have stayed away saying the sanctions make investment too expensive and dangerous. Coca-Cola was left red-faced last year when watchdog Global Witness discovered its local partner was linked to a sanctioned military holding company, while a dealer for machinery giant Caterpillar had ties to jade companies controlled by a major drug lord. Although some curbs on ties to the military will probably stay in place, Obama's move is expected to bring greater clarity to US companies considering business in the emerging nation. In Myanmar, key business players said the end of sanctions would usher in new investment and help drive the country's rise from decades of punishing poverty. "This is very significant and signifies a new chapter in our country's economic development," said Serge Pun, who runs several companies including First Myanmar Investment, one of Myanmar's biggest conglomerates. "I have never been so optimistic about Myanmar's future as I am now." Khin Maung Lwin, permanent secretary from the Ministry of Commerce, said the changes would help shine a light on shadowy industries like the jade trade, worth billions of dollars and run by illicit gangs and corrupt military officials that has fuelled decades of violence in Myanmar's borderlands. The sanctions currently ban US imports of jadeite. "Removing sanctions on the jade industry is important, and more transparency is needed on production and trading," he told AFP. "Domestically, it will also mean more taxes for the government," he added. Washington started paring back sanctions in 2012 under the previous quasi-civilian regime, led by former president Thein Sein, and rolled them back further in May after Suu Kyi's party took office. While the latest lift was celebrated in the business world, rights groups cautioned Obama was forgoing crucial leverage over the military, which still holds a quarter of parliament seats and controls several powerful ministries. "Lifting all sanctions now will embolden the Myanmar military and its partners," said Matthew Smith, chief executive at Fortify Rights. "This decision was hasty and fails to recognize political realities on the ground."[SEP]The White House is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar, officials said Wednesday, as Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and now the nation's de facto leader, met with President Obama. Suu Kyi's party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel peace laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration's support for Myanmar's shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago but has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and dozens of officials and associates of the former ruling junta in Myanmar, also known as Burma. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. Human rights groups, however, say there are powerful reasons for retaining sanctions. Military abuses continue in ethnic minority regions. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship. Congressional aides said that Suu Kyi had requested the removal of the national emergency with respect to Myanmar — the executive order authorizing sanctions that has been renewed annually by U.S. presidents for two decades. A U.S. official says that by terminating the emergency, 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with the military and on the imports of rubies and jade. The official and aides spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter before it was expected to be announced after Obama's meeting with Suu Kyi. The move does not remove all economic sanctions. Penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. The move does not normalize relations with Myanmar's military. The U.S. does not intend to provide weapons, military equipment or other support for the military, the official said. The White House notified Congress on Wednesday it was offering preferential trade benefits to Myanmar that were suspended in 1989, a year after the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters by the military. The U.S. had cited Myanmar's refusal to recognize workers' rights. Suu Kyi's visit to Washington signals her transformation from long-imprisoned heroine of Myanmar's democracy struggle to a national leader focused on economic growth. She last visited Washington in 2012 when she was still opposition leader. On that occasion, she was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the legislature's highest civilian honor, which she had been awarded in 2008 while under house arrest. Now she meets Obama as the de facto leader of the country with the title of state counsellor, although a junta-era constitution still enshrines the military's role in politics and bars her from the presidency. When Obama last visited Myanmar in November 2014, he voiced support for constitutional reform. 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In a letter to Congress, Obama also announced plans to reinstate preferential tariffs for Myanmar that were suspended more than two decades ago amid rights abuses by the ruling junta. The White House is keen to help the country’s economy and Suu Kyi’s administration — which is managing a difficult transition from military-run pariah to full-fledged democracy. Although its constitution technically bars the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate from heading Myanmar’s government, she received a leader’s welcome in Washington. After talks with Obama, Suu Kyi took part in a coveted Oval Office grip-and-grin photo shoot. Obama turned to the once-imprisoned former opposition leader, offering his “congratulations on the progress that has been made.” “It’s a good news story in an era when so often we see countries going the opposite direction,” he said, acknowledging that much work remains to be done. Suu Kyi is officially foreign minister and self-appointed state counsellor — a role akin to prime minister. After spending much of the last few decades under arrest, she is now de facto leader of a skeletal government, an economy hollowed out by decades of kleptocratic dictatorship and a country riven with ethnic and religious violence. The veteran campaigner must tackle all those problems while keeping an eye on generals who may have second thoughts about reform. US officials, who acknowledge Suu Kyi is working under some very tough political constraints, dare not push the military or the public too far or too fast. “She has to tackle problems one by one” said Ben Rhodes, a key Obama aide who has spearheaded the administration’s Myanmar policy. Leverage and sanctions Obama did not say when he would rescind an executive order underpinning broader sanctions that declares Myanmar a “national emergency.” Although some curbs on ties to the military and some individuals will probably stay in place, scrapping the order would bring clarity to US companies considering business there. Washington lifted a host of financial and trade embargoes on state-owned banks and businesses in May, but US firms have remained cautious. Some policymakers worry lifting sanctions completely could weaken American leverage and may let the military off the hook. There is still no civilian control of the military and officers are guaranteed a quarter of legislative seats. Global Witness and other human rights groups have criticized Obama’s move as “a major setback for efforts to clean up Myanmar’s notoriously corrupt and abusive business environment.” “Lifting restrictions before the new government’s reforms have borne fruit effectively invites US companies to do business with some of the worst figures from the country’s past,” it added. Suu Kyi has disappointed some of her more zealous Western supporters by following the junta’s lead on some issues, especially refusing to recognize the Rohingya — a persecuted Muslim minority group in the overwhelmingly Buddhist country. Tens of thousands of stateless Rohingya have spent the past four years trapped in bleak displacement camps with limited access to health care and other basic services.[SEP]AP Explains: US lifting of economic sanctions on Myanmar U.S. economic trade sanctions on the once-isolated Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar are being eased to support the country's transition toward democracy and a market economy. President Barack Obama announced the plan to lift remaining sanctions and restore trade benefits after meeting at the White House with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now Myanmar's foreign minister and the country's de facto leader. Here is a look at some details and implications of the plan to lift most sanctions: WHAT SANCTIONS ARE BEING LIFTED The U.S. eased broad sanctions since Myanmar began political reforms five years ago, but kept in place targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. The White House also notified Congress it will reinstate trade benefits to Myanmar that the U.S. provides to least developed countries. They were suspended in 1989, a year after the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters by the military. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. By ending most of the remaining sanctions Obama has cleared the way for them to invest and trade more freely with Myanmar's fast-growing economy, and for companies there to do business with the U.S. The restoration of Generalized System of Preferences trade privileges, such as lower import tariffs, will open the way for more exports from Myanmar of garments and textiles, core products of its nascent manufacturing sector. For two decades, U.S. presidents have renewed an executive order declaring a "national emergency" with respect to Myanmar annually. Obama must issue a new executive order to end the emergency. U.S. officials said 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with military and on imports of rubies and jade. Penalties meant to block the drug trade and bar military trade with North Korea via Myanmar would still apply. A visa ban will still bar some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. Human rights groups favor keeping sanctions due to military abuses in ethnic minority regions. A top concern is for Rohingya Muslims, who remain displaced by sectarian violence and are denied citizenship. The military elite, U.S.-sanctioned drug lords and crony companies have huge stakes in the economy, especially in the jade trade, which is worth nearly half Myanmar's economic output. For ordinary Burmese, better job opportunities thanks to increasing investment and trade with the U.S., and access to more, better quality imported products. For the U.S., wider access to a resource-rich economy of 54 million people whose annual growth is estimated to average over 8 percent for the rest of this decade. Removing barriers to trade and investment also will give U.S. business more leverage vis a vis China, which has been Myanmar's chief source of foreign investment for years.[SEP]U.S. senator wants Congress consulted on Myanmar sanctions -documents WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Cory Gardner will introduce legislation on Wednesday, coinciding with the visit to Washington of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, that would require close consultation with Congress on lifting of any sanctions. According to documents seen by Reuters, Gardner planned to introduce the "Empower Burma Act of 2016," which also includes several provisions seeking to boost the economy of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Gardner, the chairman of a Senate subcommittee that focuses partly on relations with South Asia, told Reuters he remained concerned that the military continues to hold "tremendous power and grip," over key parts of Myanmar's economy and politics. "Hopefully the military continues to loosen its grip," Gardner said. Unelected military officers still hold 25 percent of the seats in Myanmar's Parliament and control three key ministries. Through two sprawling conglomerates, the military has business interests ranging from real estate development to cigarette and beer production. Gardner said he was concerned an easing of sanctions done without "adequate filtering or monitoring," could further enrich the military and cronies who profited from a close relationship with the former military junta. The legislation also asks for a comprehensive, multi-year strategy to promote development and supports extending the country preferential treatment under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences program, as long as it meets relevant conditions. The bill follows a measure introduced on Tuesday by two other senators, Democrat Ben Cardin and Republican John McCain, seeking to preserve a focus on human rights in Myanmar as the United States moves toward easing or lifting sanctions. Obama is expected to decide on the extent of the sanctions relief after consultations between Suu Kyi and his administration to gauge how far she wants Washington to go in loosening the screws on Myanmar's military. Suu Kyi met Obama at the White House on Wednesday on her first visit to the United States since her party won a sweeping victory in last year's election, capping a decades-long journey from political prisoner to national leader. She is trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the country's generals for further reforms. Human rights groups also remain deeply concerned about the oppression of the Rohingya Muslim minority, who remain stateless and largely confined to camps near Myanmar's western coast. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Paul Simao)[SEP]Washington (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation’s de facto leader. Obama hailed a “remarkable” transformation in the country, which spent five decades under oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi’s party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration’s support for Myanmar’s shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia’s last untapped markets. “The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time,” Obama said as he sat alongside Suu Kyi in the Oval Office. He said it was “the right thing to do” to ensure Myanmar benefits from its transition. Asked by a reporter when sanctions would be lifted, Obama said “soon.” Suu Kyi concurred it was time to remove all the sanctions that had hurt the economy. She urged Americans to come to the country and “to make profits.” Congressional aides said that Suu Kyi requested the removal of the national emergency with respect to Myanmar — the executive order authorizing sanctions that has been renewed annually by U.S. presidents for two decades. The Treasury Department said that Obama’s decision will be legally effective when he issues a new executive order to terminate the emergency. A U.S. official said that 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with military and on the imports of rubies and jade. But penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. The official and aides spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hailed the announcement as “historic.” But human rights groups say there are powerful reasons for retaining sanctions. Military abuses continue in ethnic minority regions. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship. The military and its associates still have huge stakes in the economy. “Obama and Suu Kyi just took important tools out of their collective tool kit for dealing with the Burmese military, and threw them into the garbage,” said John Sifton, deputy Washington director for Human Rights Watch. Transparency watchdog Global Witness says Myanmar’s jade industry, based in a northern region plagued by civil conflict, is dominated by a military elite, U.S.-sanctioned drug lords and crony companies. It estimates the industry is worth nearly half of the nation’s economic output. Suu Kyi addressed problems in western Rakhine state, where more than 100,000 Rohingyas remain stuck in camps, separated from Buddhists who are the majority in Myanmar. She said everyone entitled to citizenship in Myanmar should get it. “We are sincere in trying to bring together the different communities,” Suu Kyi said. The White House also notified Congress on Wednesday it would be reinstating in November trade benefits to Myanmar because of its progress on workers’ rights. The benefits were suspended in 1989, a year after the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters by the military. Suu Kyi last visited Washington in 2012 when she was still opposition leader. On that occasion, she was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the legislature’s highest civilian honor, which she had been awarded in 2008 while under house arrest. Now she is de facto leader of the country with the title of state counsellor although a junta-era constitution still enshrines the military’s role in politics and bars her from the presidency. White House spokesman Josh Earnest pushed back on the notion the U.S. was undercutting its leverage over Myanmar on human rights and constitutional reforms by lifting sanctions. He said greater U.S. engagement would promote its ability to promote change.[SEP]YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar economists and businessmen on Thursday welcomed President Barack Obama's announcement that the U.S. will lift economic sanctions and restore long-lost trade benefits to the Southeast Asian country as it emerges from half a century of oppressive military rule. The nation of more than 50 million is rich in natural resources, and before a military coup in the early 1960s it was among the region's stronger economies. Today it's among Asia's least developed and poorest countries, with more than a quarter of the population living in poverty. Experts hope the lifting of sanctions helps change that by making it easier for U.S. companies to invest and do business here. "There will be more trading and investment as the result of lifting sanctions on our country. It will really benefit the citizens of this country and be a great hope for Myanmar's economic development," said Khin Maung Nyo, a Myanmar economist. The United States first imposed sanctions on Myanmar in 1997, when the military junta ruled. In 2011, the junta gave way to a quasi-civilian government that was dominated by former military officials but still ushered in some democratic reforms, leading the U.S. to restore full diplomatic relations and ease sanctions. Myanmar's new government took power in April after the party led by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide election victory late last year. The military still retains power in the government, in part through a constitution that effectively bars Suu Kyi from the presidency. She is formally state counselor and foreign minister but is universally viewed as the country's leader. Sitting beside Suu Kyi in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Obama said the U.S. will "soon" lift restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. Suu Kyi said it was time to remove remaining sanctions, which have kept U.S. companies and banks leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. But the military still retains major political and economic interests, and some rights groups said the U.S. should continue applying pressure on Myanmar to change. Massive illegal trade in goods including jade and timber continues, as does civil war with many ethnic minorities. "Lifting all sanctions now will embolden the Myanmar military and its partners," said Matthew Smith of Fortify Rights. "This decision was hasty and fails to recognize political realities on the ground." Khin Maung Nyo, however, said it is impossible to single out Myanmar military interests without making the entire country suffer. "In Myanmar, there are no businesses which are not related to cronies or military. But we do hope that they change according to the political changes, not only for their own profit but also benefiting the country and its people," he said. Ye Hein Aung, a member of Myanmar Center for Responsible Business, said the lifting of sanctions will improve not only imports and exports but banking, and would make Myanmar less dependent on regional trade. "When we have more economic development, grassroots-level people will have more hope to have a better life in the future. The current economic situations really hurt the grassroots-level people right now," Ye Hein Aung said. Khin Maung Lwin, a 60-year-old who sells snacks on the roadside in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, hoped the changes would be not only wealth but more choices for consumers. "This is really good, and the economy will grow," he said. "By lifting sanctions, there will be better-quality import products. We don't have good medical products and it affects people's health."[SEP]WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Barack Obama moved to restore trade benefits to Myanmar, saying broader sanctions would soon be scrapped as he hosted the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Welcoming her for the first time since her historic election victory last year, Obama announced a series of steps to coax the rapidly transforming southeast Asian country — also known as Burma — from decades of economic isolation. “The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time,” he said, adding that the move would come “soon.” “It is the right thing to do to ensure that the people of Burma see rewards for a new way of doing business,” he added. In a letter to Congress, Obama also announced plans to reinstate preferential tariffs for Myanmar that were suspended more than two decades ago amid rights abuses by the ruling junta. The White House is keen to help the country’s economy and Suu Kyi’s administration — which is managing a difficult transition from military-run pariah to full-fledged democracy. Although its constitution technically bars the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate from heading Myanmar’s government, she received a leader’s welcome in Washington. After talks with Obama, Suu Kyi took part in a coveted Oval Office grip-and-grin photo shoot. Obama turned to the once-imprisoned former opposition leader, offering his “congratulations on the progress that has been made.” “It’s a good news story in an era when so often we see countries going the opposite direction,” he said, acknowledging that much work remains to be done. Suu Kyi is officially foreign minister and self-appointed state counsellor — a role akin to prime minister. After spending much of the last few decades under arrest, she is now de facto leader of a skeletal government, an economy hollowed out by decades of kleptocratic dictatorship and a country riven with ethnic and religious violence. The veteran campaigner must tackle all those problems while keeping an eye on generals who may have second thoughts about reform. US officials, who acknowledge Suu Kyi is working under some very tough political constraints, dare not push the military or the public too far or too fast. “She has to tackle problems one by one” said Ben Rhodes, a key Obama aide who has spearheaded the administration’s Myanmar policy. Leverage and sanctions Obama did not say when he would rescind an executive order underpinning broader sanctions that declares Myanmar a “national emergency.” Although some curbs on ties to the military and some individuals will probably stay in place, scrapping the order would bring clarity to US companies considering business there. Washington lifted a host of financial and trade embargoes on state-owned banks and businesses in May, but US firms have remained cautious. Some policymakers worry lifting sanctions completely could weaken American leverage and may let the military off the hook. There is still no civilian control of the military and officers are guaranteed a quarter of legislative seats. Global Witness and other human rights groups have criticized Obama’s move as “a major setback for efforts to clean up Myanmar’s notoriously corrupt and abusive business environment.” “Lifting restrictions before the new government’s reforms have borne fruit effectively invites US companies to do business with some of the worst figures from the country’s past,” it added. Suu Kyi has disappointed some of her more zealous Western supporters by following the junta’s lead on some issues, especially refusing to recognize the Rohingya — a persecuted Muslim minority group in the overwhelmingly Buddhist country. Tens of thousands of stateless Rohingya have spent the past four years trapped in bleak displacement camps with limited access to health care and other basic services.
The Obama administration plans to lift sanctions against Myanmar.
Children play at the yard of an abandoned school used by volunteers for hosting families of refugees from Syria and Afghanistan in Athens on June 27. ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images[SEP]US plans to take in 110,000 refugees next year The White House has unveiled plans to increase refugee admissions to 110,000 next year, amid a fraught US debate over the appropriate numbers to take in. Ahead of a summit on the global refugee crisis at the United Nations next week, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said a goal has been set of admitting around 30 percent more refugees in the coming fiscal year. That would include around 40,000 people from the near east and south Asia -- a vast region that includes Syria. Nearly five million Syrians have fled their country since war broke out in 2011, and the United States has committed to resettling 10,000 this year, an issue that has inflamed the 2016 presidential election race. While offering the prospect of accepting more refugees, the White House was talking tough about security. "It's important for people to remember that individuals who admitted to the United States under this program have to undergo more rigorous screening and vetting than any other individual that enters the United States," said Earnest. "The president places our national security at the top of his priority list. And that certainly is true with regard to considering the admission of refugees to the United States." The United Nations on September 19 will host the first summit on refugees and migrants, which will be followed the next day by a pledging conference for new offers of aid to refugees hosted by Obama.[SEP]Obama plans to increase number of refugees admitted to U.S. - media Sept 13 (Reuters) - The Obama Administration plans to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States by 30 percent in fiscal year 2017, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited an annual refugee report submitted to Congress. Secretary of State John Kerry presented the new target of 110,000 in the 2017 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, up from 85,000 in 2016, during a closed session to members of the House and Senate judiciary committees on Tuesday, according to the newspaper. Kerry has said repeatedly over the past year that the United States would admit at least 100,000 refugees in fiscal 2017 and try to admit more if it were able. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)[SEP]WASHINGTON (The Washington Post) - The Obama administration seeks to accept at least 110,000 refugees from around the world in fiscal 2017. Secretary of State John F. Kerry briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the new goal, which is an increase from 85,000 in fiscal 2016 and 70,000 in the previous three years. It represents a 57 percent increase in refugee arrivals since 2015, as ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere have spurred an exodus of migrants seeking asylum in Europe, Canada and other regions. A senior administration official, who asked for anonymity because the policy is not yet officially announced, “is consistent with our belief that all countries should do more to help the world’s most vulnerable people.” The official added that Kerry told lawmakers “that if it is possible to do more” in terms of accepting refugees, “we would.” The increase comes even as the question of refugees has emerged as an issue in this year’s presidential campaign. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump initially called for a halt to Muslims seeking to enter the United States but later modified this goal to say the ban should apply to any applicants coming from a country with a history of terrorism. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has called for the United States to accept more refugees from Syria, which has been embroiled in conflict for more than five years. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) criticized the decision, saying policymakers should focus on reforming the nation’s system for admitting refugees rather than having the White House set goals. “For generations, the United States has been a safe haven for people fleeing persecution. We must remain compassionate toward refugees but we also need to make sure that we use common sense,” Goodlatte said in a statement. “Unfortunately, President Obama unilaterally increases the number of refugees resettled in the United States each year and gives little thought as to how it will impact local communities. The president also continues to ignore warnings from his own national security officials and plans to bring in even more Syrian refugees over the next year.” CNN first reported the new refugee goal Wednesday morning. The administration has launched a new effort to reach a political solution to the Syrian conflict by brokering a still-fragile cease-fire with Russia that took effect Monday.[SEP]The Obama Administration plans to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States by 30 percent in fiscal year 2017, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited an annual refugee report submitted to Congress. Secretary of State John Kerry presented the new target of 110,000 in the 2017 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, up from 85,000 in 2016, during a closed session to members of the House and Senate judiciary committees on Tuesday, according to the newspaper. Kerry has said repeatedly over the past year that the United States would admit at least 100,000 refugees in fiscal 2017 and try to admit more if it were able.[SEP]Official: US sets goal to take in 110,000 refugees next year WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will strive to take in 110,000 refugees from around the world in the coming year, a senior Obama administration official said Wednesday, in what would be a nearly 30 percent increase from the 85,000 allowed in over the previous year. The increase reflects continuing concern about the refugee crisis stemming from Syria's civil war and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet it's still far short of what advocacy groups say is needed to address an unprecedented crisis that saw some 1 million people pour into Europe alone last year. Of the 110,000, 40,000 will come from the Middle East and South Asia, where the origins of the crisis have been most pronounced. An additional 35,000 will come from Africa, 12,000 from East Asia, 4,000 from Europe and 5,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean, the official said. The administration did not release a country-specific breakdown. The total includes 14,000 unallocated slots that can be given to refugees from any region once Congress is notified. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the numbers before an official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. Secretary of State John Kerry had previously suggested that the U.S. target would climb to 100,000 in the coming year, but that the figure was a floor, not a ceiling. He briefed lawmakers on the revised figure on Tuesday. The 110,000 goal covers a 12-month period that starts next month. In the 12 months ending Sept. 30, the U.S. goal was 85,000, and in the three years before that, the target was 70,000 per year. The White House has tried to emphasize that the refugee program is safe and doesn't pose a major threat to national security. That concern was heightened last year after terrorist attacks in European cities - including some connected to people who had spent time in Syria. Officials said that potential refugees would continue to be subject a rigorous screening process that typically lasts more than a year and involves both in-person interviews and examination of biographical and biometric information. The announcement comes two weeks after the U.S. announced it had met President Barack Obama's goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees despite early skepticism that it would reach its goal. Millions of Syrians have been displaced by a civil war that has killed roughly half a million people. Republican governors have pushed back vehemently and tried to refuse to let them into their states, leading to a clash with the administration, which has maintained that states can't legally bar refugees who otherwise meet the criteria. The U.S. has tried to encourage other countries, too, to increase their contribution to alleviating the refugee crisis. The official said increasing the U.S. target this year reflected that strategy and Obama's belief that all nations need to do more to help the neediest. As part of that effort, Obama plans to host a summit on refugee issues with world leaders next week during the U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York. The White House said the summit would spotlight the need to increase money for aid agencies, resettle more refugees and provide education and job assistance. The refugee crisis has become a major political issue in Europe, where countries have been inundated by migrants after harrowing journeys that have killed scores. Concerns about refugees have played into the broader debate about immigration in Europe and were a major factor in Britain's recent vote to leave the European Union. The U.N. refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said Tuesday that Europe needed to boost its efforts to take in people from places like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In an Associated Press interview, he called it "one of the great challenges" of the future. "There's a time now to have this rational discussion," he said. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.[SEP]WASHINGTON -- The United States will strive to take in 110,000 refugees from around the world in the coming year, the White House said Wednesday, in what would be a nearly 30 percent increase from the 85,000 allowed in over the previous year. The increase reflects continuing concern about the refugee crisis stemming from Syria's civil war, and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet it's still far short of what advocacy groups say is needed to address an unprecedented crisis that saw some 1 million people pour into Europe last year. Of the 110,000, 40,000 will come from the Middle East and South Asia, where the origins of the crisis have been most pronounced. An additional 35,000 will come from Africa, 12,000 from East Asia, 4,000 from Europe and 5,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. The administration did not release a country-specific breakdown. The total includes 14,000 unallocated slots that can be given to refugees from any region once Congress is notified. Secretary of State John Kerry had previously suggested that the U.S. target would climb to 100,000 in the coming year but that the figure was a floor, not a ceiling. He briefed lawmakers on the revised figure Tuesday. The 110,000 goal covers a 12-month period that starts next month. In the 12 months ending Sept. 30, the U.S. goal was 85,000, and in the three years before that, the target was 70,000 per year. The White House has tried to emphasize that the refugee program is safe and doesn't pose a major threat to national security. That concern was heightened last year after terrorist attacks in European cities, including some connected to people who had spent time in Syria. Officials said potential refugees would continue to be subject to a rigorous screening process that typically lasts more than a year and involves in-person interviews, and examination of biographical and biometric information. The announcement came two weeks after the U.S. said it had met President Barack Obama's goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees despite early skepticism that it would reach its goal. Millions of Syrians have been displaced by a civil war that has killed roughly 500,000 people. Republican governors have pushed back vehemently and tried to refuse to let the refugees into their states, leading to a clash with the administration, which has maintained that states can't legally bar refugees who otherwise meet the criteria for entry. The U.S. has tried to encourage other countries, too, to increase their contributions to alleviating the refugee crisis. The official said increasing the U.S. target this year reflected that strategy and Obama's belief that all nations need to do more to help the neediest. As part of that effort, Obama plans to host a summit on refugee issues with world leaders next week during the U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York. The White House said the summit would spotlight the need to increase money for aid agencies, resettle more refugees, and provide education and job assistance. The refugee crisis has become a major political issue in Europe, where countries have been inundated by migrants after harrowing journeys that have killed scores. Concerns about refugees have played into the broader debate about immigration in Europe and were a major factor in Britain's recent vote to leave the European Union. The U.N. refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said Tuesday that while the U.S. is "by far the largest donor government to refugee programs worldwide," more needs to be done. In an interview, he said the U.N. was discussing those needs with the U.S. "all the time." The country that is sending the most refugees to the U.S. at the moment is not Syria or any other Middle Eastern country, but Burma. The Southeast Asian nation, also known as Myanmar, sent 18,386 refugees to the United States in 2015, more than 26 percent of the total and surpassing Iraq, the previous leader that last year sent 12,676 refugees. Burma sent nearly 4,000 more refugees than it had in 2014, according to an analysis from the Migration Policy Institute. The primary cause for the exodus from Burma is long-standing ethnic conflicts in the eastern part of the country where tens of thousands of ethnic Karen and Karenni have fled persecution from the former military regime that ran the country for a half-century. Most of them ended up in refugee camps in Thailand and have been resettled in countries around the world, including the United States. The ethnic conflicts were on the agenda Wednesday when Obama met with Burma's state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in Washington for a two-day visit. "They've been there for generations, and for some all they've ever known are the refugee camps," said Derek Mitchell, who served as U.S. ambassador to Burma from 2012 until earlier this year. "This is an ethnic conflict that is going on 70 years and drives this country." Data for fiscal 2016 is not yet complete, but a report last month from the Pew Research Center showed Burma narrowly edging out Congo for the most refugees to the United States. Both countries had sent more than 10,000 refugees through early August, with Syria ranking third with more than 8,500. Kathleen Newland, co-founder of the Migration Policy Institute, said the large numbers from Burma and Congo are to some degree vestiges of U.S. policy after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks when lawmakers halted refugees from countries with links to terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. "One of the things that the government did was to look around the world for refugees from non-al-Qaida-linked countries," she said. She added that she expects the numbers from Burma to decline in coming years as the crisis in the Thai camps eases and U.S. commitments shift elsewhere, such as to Syria. Human-rights advocates said the plight of Burma's refugees is a prime reason the Obama administration should resist lifting the national emergency designation established by executive order in 1997 that allows the United States to restrict companies from doing business with specific entities in that country. Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. is prepared to lift sanctions "soon" to help boost investment in the country of 53 million people. "It is a state of emergency when it comes to humanitarian issues," said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. He said, "15,000 refugees are resettled in the U.S. every year. It's a leading source of refugee resettlement. Those are spots we can't give to Syrians or Iraqis." Information for this article was contributed by Josh Lederman, Jamey Keaten and Kevin Freking of The Associated Press; and by David Nakamura of The Washington Post.[SEP]The United States will strive to take in 110,000 refugees from around the world in the coming year, a senior Obama administration official said Wednesday, in what would be a nearly 30 per cent increase from the 85,000 allowed in over the previous year. Whether that goal is met is largely contingent on whether Hillary Clinton is elected president in November. That number is about as large as the population of Billings, Montana or Cambridge, Massachusetts. The increase reflects continuing concern about the refugee crisis stemming from Syria's civil war and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet it's still far short of what advocacy groups say is needed to address an unprecedented crisis that saw some 1 million people pour into Europe alone last year. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the numbers before an official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. Secretary of State John Kerry had previously suggested that the U.S. target would climb to 100,000 in the coming year, but that the figure was a floor, not a ceiling. He briefed lawmakers on the revised figure on Tuesday. The 110,000 goal covers a 12-month period that starts next month. In the 12 months ending September 30, the U.S. goal was 85,000, and in the three years before that, the target was 70,000 per year. The White House has tried to emphasize that the refugee program is safe and doesn't pose a major threat to national security. That concern was heightened last year after terrorist attacks in European cities - including some connected to people who had spent time in Syria. Officials said that potential refugees would continue to be subject to a rigorous screening process that typically lasts more than a year and involves both in-person interviews and examination of biographical and biometric information. The announcement comes two weeks after the U.S. announced it had met President Barack Obama's goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees despite early skepticism that it would reach its goal. Millions of Syrians have been displaced by a civil war that has killed roughly half a million people. Republican governors have pushed back vehemently and tried to refuse to let them into their states, leading to a clash with the administration, which has maintained that states can't legally bar refugees who otherwise meet the criteria. The administration did not release a breakdown of how many refugees would be accepted from specific countries in the coming year. The U.S. has tried to encourage other countries, too, to increase their contribution to alleviating the refugee crisis. The official said increasing the U.S. target this year reflected that strategy and Obama's belief that all nations need to do more to help the neediest. As part of that effort, Obama plans to host a summit on refugee issues with world leaders next week during the U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York. The refugee crisis has become a major political issue in Europe, where countries have been inundated by migrants after harrowing journeys that have killed scores. Concerns about refugees have played into the broader debate about immigration in Europe and were a major factor in Britain's recent vote to leave the European Union. The U.N. refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said Tuesday that Europe needed to boost its efforts to take in people from places like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In an Associated Press interview, he called it 'one of the great challenges' of the future. 'There's a time now to have this rational discussion,' he said.[SEP]The White House is planning to increase the number of refugees accepted into the United States from around the world to at least 110,000 in 2017, a senior administration official told CNN. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed Congress on Tuesday about the administration's decision and has stated over the past year that the United States would seek to welcome 100,000 refugees in 2017 -- and if possible, would accept more. The increase -- from 70,000 during 2013-2015 to 85,000 in 2016 to the plan of 110,000 in 2017 -- is more than a 57% increase in refugee arrivals since 2015 and consistent with the administration's belief that all countries should do more to help vulnerable people. The United States' refugee policy has been a top campaign issue in the 2016 election. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made waves last December when he proposed a temporary ban on all Muslims immigrating to the United States. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, has said that she would like to see the number of Syrian refugees accepted into the United States increase from the Obama administration's goal of 10,000 a year to 65,000 refugees.[SEP]After a late-summer surge, the Obama administration has met its goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. The Republican House Freedom Caucus considers that 10,000 too many, preferring to stop resettling Syrians until the administration can “assure no terrorists or individuals with radical sympathies or views will be admitted.” Such fears are largely misplaced. Few, if any, classes of travelers to the U.S. face greater scrutiny. Nevertheless, the process for admitting refugees from Syria can be tightened. And at least as important, the process of integrating them into American life can be improved. Three-quarters have come via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which selected them from among the most vulnerable people languishing in refugee camps. Indeed, four-fifths of this year’s arrivals have been women and children; nearly half are under 18. That said, the possibility remains that some of the rest might be Islamic State recruits such as those who have blended into the refugee masses flowing toward Europe. But consider the monthslong gauntlet they would have had to run — including face-to-face interviews with officers from the Department of Homeland Security, medical exams, screening through intelligence databases, and case referrals back in Washington. A terrorist leader looking to infiltrate operatives into the U.S. could no doubt find easier ways. No screening process is foolproof, of course — especially, as FBI Director James Comey has pointed out, when you’re dealing with people fleeing a war zone. Homeland Security needs more Arabic speakers to conduct interviews, and once refugees have arrived in the U.S., law enforcement and intelligence agencies could look harder for signs of radicalization and other trouble. It’s also essential that the U.S. ensure that all the newcomers are successfully integrated, especially with the nation increasingly polarized by their arrival. The U.S. planned to resettle 85,000 refugees from around the world this fiscal year, up from 70,000 the previous year; Secretary of State John Kerry just announced that next year, the U.S. proposes to admit 110,000. But funding for refugee assistance hasn’t kept up, in part because it’s based on past admissions. Considering the traumas Syrians have experienced, especially the children, more support is needed for mental health care and remedial education. The State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services should begin collecting comprehensive data about which strategies and programs work best. The benefits of such efforts flow both ways: Refugees go to the considerable strain of moving to the U.S. because they seek opportunities to work hard and improve their lives. Thus, they can be a boon to their new communities — creating jobs, stabilizing shrinking school districts, revitalizing blighted neighborhoods and helping communities thrive. On the other hand, consider the costs of denying entry to any more Syrian refugees. It would feed Islamic State’s narrative that the U.S. is anti-Muslim and weaken America’s global leadership. Set next to the nearly half-million Syrian refugees the United Nations says need to be resettled over the next three years, 10,000 is a pretty modest figure. Set against the more than 3 million refugees the U.S. has admitted since 1975, it seems very small indeed.
The Obama administration plans on increasing refugees admitted to the United States to 110,000.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made a spirited defence of his doomed same-sex marriage plebiscite as he introduced the bill to Parliament on Wednesday, saying "society would be stronger if more people were married". At his most animated when berating Labor for its opposition to the public vote, Mr Turnbull argued a plebiscite was the best way to decide a matter on which Australians had such deeply-held personal convictions. "We have to respect that it is a very big moral issue. It is an issue of conscience for millions of Australians," he said. "If ever there is an issue to be put to a plebiscite, this is one that can and should be, because it is a very straightforward question." A year to the day since he toppled Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister argued that social attitudes to same-sex couples had changed rapidly in recent years and reiterated his personal support for gay marriage.[SEP]The son of two mothers, Eddie Blewett has turned to Malcolm Turnbull and demanded the Prime Minister 'do his job' ahead of a possible same-sex marriage plebiscite. The 13-year-old faced relentless teasing over his parent's same-sex relationship, until he was moved to a new high school, but his mums Neroli Dickson and Claire Blewett fear a plebiscite campaign will ignite further bullying for even more children. 'It has given people permission to say things in the playground - to pass on what they've heard at the dinner table,' Ms Dickson told the Sydney Morning Herald. The family traveled to Canberra on Tuesday with LGBTQI support group Rainbow Families, where Eddie's story was represented in Question Time by Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek. Eddie and his mums watched from the public gallery as Ms Plibersek questioned Malcolm Turnbull why a 13-year-old boy should 'have to put up with a $7.5 million campaign by people who have never met him, telling him that there is something wrong with his family'? She quoted Eddie who said: 'Why should people who barely know us make an assumption on our families and vote on how we can live?' In response, Mr Turnbull said that while he welcomed Eddie to Question Time at the House of Representatives, he accused his presence as a political point being made by Ms Plibersek, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Eddie will understand that everything we do here in this Parliament is designed to ensure that Australia becomes an even better place for him to grow up in and realise his dreams,' Turnbull said. 'What [Plibersek] has said is that people who do not know Eddie are not entitled to express a view on the Marriage Act. That's what she is saying.' The Australian Prime Minister added that the country has nothing to fear from the plebiscite, because the debate will be 'respectful' and 'civil'. 'He has no idea how uncivil a playground can be.' Eddie was also unhappy with Mr Turnbull's response and wrote him a letter after Question Time. 'That really upset me,' he wrote. 'Please do your job. 'We want same-sex marriage without hearing in the playground that I am not normal.' A date for the same-sex marriage plebiscite has been proposed for February 11, 2017. The Coalition has to convince nine senators to support legislation in order for the plebiscite to go through. But Labor leader Bill Shorten has threatened to block the bill, cautioning the impact the vote could have on vulnerable children.[SEP]PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has presented the legislation to parliament which would allow a public vote to go ahead on February 11 next year asking the Australian public if they approve of the legalisation of same-sex marriage. When introducing the bill to parliament today he said it was “parliament committed to marriage”. “And that is why I support same-sex marriage… that is where I stand and that is where Lucy (Turnbull) stands and when the plebiscite is held we will be voting yes.” Turnbull said the main argument against a plebiscite was that people were worried about the hurtful debate that might arise from the campaigning in the lead-up to the vote. “That insults the Australian people, that disrespects the Australian people. If ever there is an issue to be put forward to a plebiscite, it’s this one and should be because it’s a very straight forward question,” he said. “I ask the leader of the opposition to support this plebiscite… I ask Labor to respect the people they represent… to respect their ability to have a discussion about this important matter and resolve it and resolve it in a manner that is fair, that is democratic and will at the end of the day whoever wins be regarded as a just determination of this important issue.” However, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is expected to recommend to the Labor shadow cabinet and caucus that it block the plebiscite-enabling legislation. “The fact the Liberals announced public funding to give a platform to bigotry shows no interest from the government to work with Labor on this,” he said. “He is deliberately sabotaging the process to make it difficult for even the most ardent supporters of marriage equality to back it. “History will record Malcolm Turnbull as a fraud on marriage equality, the man who had the opportunity to make it happen but cowered in the face of Tony Abbott, Kevin Andrews and Eric Abetz, the Prime Minister who broke the nation’s heart. “I am gravely concerned about the plebiscite and over the coming days and weeks, we will be sitting down with people affected, families and mental health experts about the harm a plebiscite will cause. He has no idea of the harm this could inflict on so many people and their families.” The PM also confirmed $170 million dollars in funding for the plebiscite, $160 million which will go to holding the vote and $7.5 million each for the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigners. The ballot for the vote was revealed and confirmed the question will be with people having to write yes or no beside the question.[SEP](CNN) The chances of Australians having their say on same-sex marriage are fading rapidly after strong hints from the main opposition party that it'll block the vote. The country's conservative Liberal government had planned to hold a national plebiscite, similar to a referendum, on whether or not to allow gay couples to marry in February 2017. But the opposition Labor Party said the government should simply make same sex marriage legal without a national vote, avoiding a vicious debate over LGBT rights and savings millions of dollars in election funding. Australia is one of the last Western countries without legal same sex marriage, which has already been introduced in the United States, New Zealand, France, Canada and the United Kingdom. About 57% of Australians support same sex marriage, according to a recent Essential polling survey "This will be the 22nd marriage equality bill in Australia and we still haven't got (LGBT) marriage and at a certain point we have to think, what are we doing wrong here?" Australian Marriage Equality director Tiernan Brady told CNN. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull brought the legislation before Parliament for the first time on Wednesday after months of negotiation. Australian National University School of Politics professor John Warhurst said it was now very likely the national vote would not happen, and no other moves on gay marriage may be made for years. "I think there's a high likelihood that the issue will not be proceeded with for at least two and a half years, and it's not clear even beyond the next election (2019) exactly what the dynamic will be," he said. Warhurst said the plebiscite had originally been the policy of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, as a way to defer the introduction of same sex marriage, and when he became leader Turnbull had been forced to keep it by his party's conservatives. Both Turnbull and Shorten are publicly in favor of marriage equality. A major criticism of the Australian government's plebiscite plan has been it would inflict several months of aggressively negative campaigning on LGBT people. "No matter how positive or inclusive (our campaign) is there are still the voices on the 'no' side who will inflict terrible damage with their words," Brady said. "The idea that any group of people would have their relationships measured and discussed and have people talk about whether they have a value at all to society -- there's no way anyone could conceive that wouldn't be a difficult journey." Brady said even if the plebiscite failed, LGBT rights group would not be content to wait years for marriage equality and would attempt to pass it in this parliament.[SEP]Australians could vote next year on whether the country should allow gay marriage – but politicians will have the final say. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced legislation on Parliament yesterday on the first anniversary of him getting the job. He replaced Tony Abbott, who proposed that the public decide the issue with a popular vote and avoid a bitter debate in Parliament. Mr Turnbull wants the compulsory vote to be on 11 February, but it will be non-binding and Parliament would ultimately decide whether the law would be changed. He told Parliament that the reason marriage equality advocates opposed the vote was because they thought enough politicians already supported the reform for it to become law. “They don’t want to run the risk of the Australian people giving them the wrong answer,” Mr Turnbull said. “For our part, we put our faith in the Australian people and we know that their answer, whether it is ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ will be the right answer.” Most gay rights activists are against a vote, saying it should be decided in Parliament without the potential divisive public debate. They fear that government plans to spend 15 million Australian dollars (£8.3 million) on publicising the cases for and against marriage equality would give legitimacy to bigoted and homophobic views. Mr Turnbull is a marriage equality advocate who is the only serving prime minister to attend Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. His government does not have a majority in the Senate, and two minor parties that back same-sex marriage have said they will not support the public vote. The government’s only chance of a plebiscite is now the opposition Labor Party. Labor leader Bill Shorten has argued that a public vote would “give the haters a chance to come out from underneath the rock and make life harder for” lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. But Mr Shorten, who backs marriage equality, has not ruled out supporting the plebiscite to avoid a stalemate in Parliament over the issue that could last until the next election in 2019. Attorney-general George Brandis, who supports same-sex marriage, accused Mr Shorten of jeopardising the reform to score political points against Mr Turnbull. “I’m sorry to say, so far Mr Shorten has been putting political game playing ahead of the merits of the issue,” he said.[SEP]CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s prime minister introduced legislation to Parliament on Wednesday that would allow a public but nonbinding vote on gay marriage early next year. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a marriage equality advocate who is the only serving prime minister to attend Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, introduced the bill on the first anniversary of his ascension to the top government job. He replaced Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a gay-marriage opponent who proposed that the public decide the issue with a popular vote and avoid a bitter debate in Parliament. But the Feb. 11 plebiscite — a compulsory vote for all adult Australians — would have no legal weight. Parliament would ultimately decide whether the law would be changed. Although such a vote appears to be a move toward changing the law, most gayrights activists are against a plebiscite, saying it should be decided in Parliament without the potential divisive public debate. They fear that government plans to spend $11 million on publicizing the cases for and against marriage equality would give legitimacy to anti-gay views. Turnbull said the real reason marriage equality advocates opposed the plebiscite was because they thought enough lawmakers already supported the overhaul for it to become law. “They don’t want to run the risk of the Australian people giving them the wrong answer,” Turnbull told Parliament.[SEP]Malcolm Turnbull will mark his first anniversary as Prime Minister by introducing the bill for a same-sex marriage plebiscite. But the only way that legislation can pass is with Labor’s backing and Bill Shorten is increasingly strident in his opposition to it. The Opposition leader told Parliament that in the lead up to the leadership change a year ago Mr Turnbull said he believed a free vote in Parliament was the best way to go. “Why are we led by a man who will, when knowing the best option, recommend to Australians a second best option? That is moral cowardice,” Mr Shorten said. For Tony Abbott, it is a year today since he lost the prime ministership. “I really don’t want to go over the entrails of the events a year ago,” Mr Abbott told Sky News. “Of course they were disappointing. Of course I think it should not have happened. “But it did happen, and as many people say and rightly so, we have got to look at the world as it is rather than the world as we would like it to be or as maybe even it should be.” Mr Shorten is using the anniversary to critique Mr Turnbull’s performance. “This Prime Minister is the great national disappointment. From Messiah to mediocrity; from agile to fragile,” he said. But Treasurer Scott Morrison is pleased the Government has notched up a win by forcing Labor to agree to vote for $6 billion of savings. He is critical of the Opposition for not being prepared to go further. “They are largely tapped out on the issue of things they are prepared to do on savings — one thing they are very enthusiastic about doing is actually lifting taxes,” Mr Morrison said. He told Sky News he will keep trying to negotiate with the Senate crossbench to try and pass some of the measures Labor remains opposed to, like removing the energy supplement from pensioners. “We got rid of the carbon tax so going forward we are not going to give you the compensation for a tax that doesn’t exist,” Mr Morrison said. “Now we are not walking away from that measure just because the Labor Party chose not to support that … we do support it and we want to see that passed and so we will now obviously go and deal with the crossbenchers in the Senate.” But that will be challenging after the double dissolution election Mr Turnbull decided on earlier this year. The Senate has more crossbenchers and new members like One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts, who gave his first speech yesterday calling for Australia to leave the United Nations.[SEP]It has been one year since Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took over as the leader of the nation and Labor MP Ed Husic decided to cheekily acknowledge his achievement by giving 'back'. The Labor frontbencher arrived at Parliament on Wednesday with a replica model of a human backbone, suggesting that to mark the PM's first year anniversary he needs to grow a spine and confront ministers in his own ranks. 'I was just trying to be helpful. For the man who thinks he has everything, we gave him the thing he needs most,' Mr Husic told Sky News this morning. Liberal MP Andrew Laming who witnessed the prank joked, 'you've got a nerve mate'. Mr Husic even referred to Mr Turnbull as a PM spokesman, calling him the C.J Cregg of Australian politics who was the president's spokeswoman in the US TV series West Wing. The pre-meditated stunt was aimed at Mr Turnbull's perceived lack of hardline decisions lately with the tactic of shining the spotlight on the same-sex marriage plebiscite or imposing a carbon price. Mr Husic has openly spoken about making same-sex marriage legal with a conscience vote within parliament rather than a $160m plebiscite. "I think there are a number of us, and I certainly am of the view that we should get on with the vote, make the decision, do what the Parliament is supposed to and provide for marriage equality," Mr Husic told the ABC. PM Malcolm Turnbull will be looking to introduce the same-sex marriage plebiscite to mark his first year anniversary as Prime Minster, but opposition leader Bill Shorten is expected to block the legislation.[SEP]The country's conservative Liberal government had planned to hold a national plebiscite, similar to a referendum, on whether or not to allow gay couples to marry in February 2017. But the opposition Labor Party said the government should simply make same sex marriage legal without a national vote, avoiding a vicious debate over LGBT rights and savings millions of dollars in election funding. Australia is one of the last Western countries without legal same sex marriage, which has already been introduced in the United States, New Zealand, France, Canada and the United Kingdom. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - The chances of Australians having their say on same-sex marriage are fading rapidly after strong hints from the main opposition party that it'll block the vote.
Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull plans to introduce a plebiscite on the legality of same-sex marriage in the country.
Aleksander Ceferin (right) was the strong favourite ahead of Michael van Praag (left) New president Aleksander Ceferin said Uefa must show Europe's big clubs who is in charge as he made Champions League reforms his first priority. Ceferin, 48, beat Michael van Praag 42-13 in the poll to become the new head of European football's governing body. Uefa and European clubs last month agreed changes to the Champions League, which critics said favour bigger clubs. Slovenian Ceferin said his organisation should show the clubs "we are the ones who are the governing body". Analysis: Why we need Leicester to shake up the Champions League too Under the reforms announced last month, Europe's top four domestic leagues will be guaranteed four places each in the group stages of the Champions League from 2018-19. The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), which represents the continent's 24 domestic football leagues, called on Uefa to scrap the proposals, claiming national leagues will suffer. "It will be the first thing to deal with," said Ceferin, who succeeds Michel Platini following his resignation after being banned from all football activity last year. "Uefa is a very good, strong organisation. It was without leadership for some time and that was a problem dealing with this. "We have to speak and have dialogue with the clubs and I think it can be solved." Ceferin, who has been the head of the Football Association of Slovenia since 2011, takes on the remainder of Platini's term of office, until 2019. The lawyer said Financial Fair Play rules - introduced, in Uefa's words, to "improve the overall financial health of European club football" - should be enforced more strongly. He added there was "a lot of work to do", citing match-fixing, security and safety, and racism as issues to address. England's Football Association last week declared its support for Van Praag, who - unlike Ceferin - is a member of Uefa's executive committee. The Scottish Football Association said it would vote for the Slovenian. After the vote, FA chairman Greg Clarke said he was happy to work with Ceferin, and welcomed his clear mandate. Analysis BBC Sports News correspondent Richard Conway: "It is, by any measure, a meteoric rise to power. "Aleksander Ceferin only took over as the boss of the Slovenian FA in 2011 but this election sees him become a key figure in European and world football. "His first priority, he says, is to look at the recent changes to the Champions League structure and financial arrangements. "This will be a thorny task. Europe's big clubs have negotiated extra cash and group stage slots in recent weeks, a coup which has prompted anger from many smaller nations and leagues. "His clear mandate will help. So too will the fact he was backed by nations of all sizes with big guns such as Germany, Russia, France and Italy all part of the 42 votes he amassed." My conscience is clear - Platini Michel Platini was appointed Uefa president in 2006 Platini earlier said his "conscience is clear" as he spoke to European football's governing body for what is likely to be the last time. World governing body Fifa gave the Frenchman permission to speak at the meeting in Athens. The 61-year-old was last year banned from all football activity for breaching ethics rules over a £1.3m "disloyal payment" made to him in 2011 by then Fifa president Sepp Blatter. "I am certain that I committed not the slightest fault," he said. "I am continuing to fight legally. Just simply know that my conscience is clear. "You are going to continue this beautiful mission without me, for reasons that I do not wish to come back on." Fifa's ethics committee handed down an initial eight-year ban to both Blatter and Platini, who have always denied wrongdoing. The bans were later reduced to six years on appeal to Fifa, then four years in a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The issue is still under investigation by Swiss prosecutors.[SEP]NEW president Aleksander Ceferin said UEFA must show Europe’s big clubs who is in charge as he made Champions League reforms his first priority.Ceferin, 48, beat Michael van Praag 42-13 in the poll to become the new head of European football’s governing body. UEFA and European clubs last month agreed changes to the Champions League, which critics said favour bigger clubs. Slovenian Ceferin said his organisation should show the clubs “we are the ones who are the governing body”. Under the reforms announced last month, Europe’s top four domestic leagues will be guaranteed four places each in the group stages of the Champions League from 2018 to 2019. The European Professional Football League (EPFL), which represents the continent’s 24 domestic football leagues, called on UEFA to scrap the proposals, claiming national leagues will suffer. “It will be the first thing to deal with,” said Ceferin, who succeeds Michel Platini following his resignation after being banned from all football activity last year. “UEFA is a very good, strong organisation. It was without leadership for some time and that was a problem dealing with this. “We have to speak and have dialogue with the clubs and I think it can be solved.” Ceferin, who has been the head of the Football Association of Slovenia since 2011, takes on the remainder of Platini’s term of office, until 2019. The lawyer said Financial Fair Play rules – introduced, in UEFA’S words, to “improve the overall financial health of European club football” – should be enforced more strongly. He added there was “a lot of work to do”, citing match-fixing, security and safety, and racism as issues to address. England’s Football Association last week declared its support for van Praag, who – unlike Ceferin – is a member of UEFA’S executive committee. The Scottish Football Association said it would vote for the Slovenian. After the vote, FA chairman Greg Clarke said he was happy to work with Ceferin, and welcomed his clear mandate. MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR – PLATINI `Platini earlier said his “conscience is clear” as he spoke to European football’s governing body for what is likely to be the last time. World governing body FIFA gave the Frenchman permission to speak at the meeting in Athens. The 61-year-old was last year banned from all football activity for breaching ethics rules over a £1.3M “disloyal payment” made to him in 2011 by then FIFA president Sepp Blatter. “I am certain that I committed not the slightest fault,” he said. “I am continuing to fight legally. Just simply know that my conscience is clear. “You are going to continue this beautiful mission without me, for reasons that I do not wish to come back on.” FIFA’s ethics committee handed down an initial eight-year ban to both Blatter and Platini, who have always denied wrongdoing. The bans were later reduced to six years on appeal to FIFA, then four years in a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The issue is still under investigation by Swiss prosecutors. (BBC Sport)[SEP]Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Slovenia’s football federation, was overwhelmingly elected as the new head of European football’s governing body UEFA at an extraordinary Congress on Wednesday. Ceferin, 48, beat Dutchman Michael van Praag, the only other candidate, by 42 votes to 13 and will succeed Frenchman Michel Platini, who announced his resignation in May after being banned from football for four years for ethics violations. Ceferin, who is not a member of UEFA’s executive committee, was little known outside his own country until he announced his intention to run in June. “I am not a showman, I have no ego issues and I am not a man of unrealistic promises,” he told delegates before the vote. Each of UEFA’s 55 member associations had one vote in the election.[SEP]ATHENS, Greece (AP) — UEFA elected Aleksander Ceferin to succeed Michel Platini as president on Wednesday, replacing one of the greats of soccer with a largely unknown Slovenian lawyer to lead the European game. The 48-year-old Ceferin will complete Platini's four-year presidential term through 2019, while the former France captain serves a four-term FIFA ban over an improper payment. Ceferin, the head of the Slovenian federation, beat UEFA vice president Michael van Praag of the Netherlands 42-13 in the vote in Athens. Ceferin's immediate challenge is to heal the rifts in European soccer created by the secret deal to increase guaranteed Champions League places for clubs from the powerful leagues of England, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Ceferin is the seventh president in the 62-year history of UEFA. "My small and beautiful Slovenia is very proud about, it and I hope one day you will also be very proud of me," Ceferin told UEFA delegates. Ceferin, who has never served on UEFA's executive committee, tackled his apparent lack of preparedness for the presidency head on in his pre-vote address. "Some people may have said that I am not a leader, that I am too young and too inexperienced to become the next UEFA president," said Ceferin, a father-of three from Ljubljana. "It's not because you repeat again and again, loud and clear 'I am a leader' that you are a leader. If you have to do it you are probably not a leader." Ceferin said combining running a law firm in Slovenia with leading the country's soccer federation required him to be "creative, strong and inspiring." "You can say that I am young and experienced but I honestly think it disrespectful for all small and medium-sized federations who, 365 days a year, have to do more with less," Ceferin said. UEFA was forced to call the special election after Platini was banned by FIFA's ethics judge last year for taking a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) from the global governing body in 2011. Despite being banned from holding any position of power or involvement in soccer, Platini was allowed by FIFA's ethics judge to address UEFA delegates on Wednesday as a "gesture of humanity." "Be assured that I have a clear conscience, that I'm convinced I did not make the slightest mistake, and that I'm continuing the legal battle," Platini told an audience which included FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "I want to thank everyone in this room who had the courage and loyalty to support me during the past months." Emerging from his FIFA-enforced exile, Platini used the platform in Athens to highlight his achievements since assuming the UEFA presidency in 2007 and issue advice to the next head of European soccer. "Continue to balance sports realities and economic interests," he said. Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports[SEP]Michel Platini reluctantly handed over the reins of power in European football to Aleksander Ceferin, a little-known Slovenian lawyer who won the Uefa presidential election by a landslide yesterday. Ceferin will complete Platini’s four-year term through to 2019 while the disgraced former France captain returns to his Fifa-imposed exile to continue serving a four-year ban over an improper payment. Before Ceferin beat Uefa vice-president Michael van Praag 42-13 in the secret ballot, Platini was given special dispensation by Fifa’s ethics judge to bid farewell to European football leaders. Platini assured Uefa delegates he has a “clear conscience” over the legitimacy of the 2 million Swiss francs (£1.5m) he received from Fifa in 2011 that led to his downfall four years later. After Platini was initially suspended last October by Fifa, a political vacuum opened up in European football that was capitalised on by the elite clubs to influence the future of the Champions League. Ceferin’s immediate challenge is to heal the rifts created by the secret deal, which he opposes, to increase guaranteed Champions League places for clubs from the powerful leagues of England, Spain, Germany, and Italy. “The most important thing is to give that leadership back to Uefa that clearly we have not had since Michel Platini had to step down last year,” Uefa vice president David Gill said. With only two and a half years until having to renew his mandate, Ceferin will have little time to waste to convince Uefa’s members it was right to entrust someone with only five years of experience around the governing body with its top job. “Some people may have said that I am not a leader, that I am too young and too inexperienced to become the next Uefa president,” said Ceferin, a father-of three from Ljubljana. “It’s not because you repeat again and again, loud and clear ‘I am a leader’ that you are a leader. If you have to do it you are probably not a leader.” Ceferin, aged 48, said combining running a law firm in Slovenia with leading the country’s football federation since 2011 required him to be “creative, strong and inspiring”. “You can say that I am young and experienced but I honestly think it disrespectful for all small and medium-sized federations who, 365 days a year, have to do more with less,” Ceferin said. Reinhard Grindel, the German federation president, viewed Ceferin’s election as a vote against the Uefa establishment, including Van Praag of the Netherlands. “This big majority shows that a lot of FAs ... have a wish to get a new dynamic in Uefa from outside the executive committee,” Grindel said. The Scottish FA voted for Ceferin but the English FA backed Van Praag. Ceferin is the seventh president in the 62-year history of Uefa. He said he speaks five languages, is a black belt in karate, and has crossed the Sahara Desert five times, four by car and once on motorbike.[SEP]Aleksander Ceferin has been elected as the new president of UEFA after winning the necessary number of pledges at the governing body's congress in Athens. Ceferin, the head of the Slovenian Football Association, was elected ahead of his only rival, Dutchman Michael van Praag, after winning 42 pledges - 14 more than the 28 vote majority needed. The 49-year-old replaces former president Michel Platini, who resigned from the role last year after receiving an eight-year ban from all football activity for breaching rules over a £1.3m payment from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter. The French three-time Ballon d'Or winner protested his innocence in an address to the congress ahead of the election and claimed that his "conscience is clear" over the payment. Ceferin becomes just the seventh president in the 62-year history of UEFA and will now take on the remainder of Platini's term, which is due to end in 2019. "Dear friends, thank you for your fantastic support," Ceferin said in a speech to the congress. "It is a great honour but at the same time a great responsibility. It means a lot to me. My family is very proud about it. "My small and beautiful Slovenia is also proud about it. I hope one day you will also be proud of me. Thank you very much." Ceferin is known to oppose the recent changes to the Champions League format, in which the big four nations - England, Germany, Spain and Italy - are set to be granted half of the 32 places in the competition. UEFA pushed through the secret deal in order to satisfy European football's biggest teams, who had threatened to break away and form their own 'Super League'. However, Ceferin has criticised the changes - claiming they are "out of the question" and could create a "war" within UEFA.[SEP]Michel Platini opened UEFA's extraordinary congress to find a replacement for him as president in Athens with an emotional farewell and a note of defiance. The 61-year-old Frenchman has been banned from all football-related activities since December for receiving what Swiss investigators called a 'disloyal payment' from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2011, but was given special permission to say goodbye to his former colleagues by FIFA's ethics committee. Clearly moved by the occasion, Platini used most of his allotted 10 minutes to praise the organisation he led for eight years from 2007 but he started by repeating that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. "I am certain that I haven't made any mistakes and I will continue to fight this in the courts," said Platini. The former France and Juventus maestro, who was once widely expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA boss, has endured a chastening year, having seen two appeals against his ban result only in reductions to his original eight-year sentence. Still banned for four years, he was only allowed to address UEFA's 55 member associations as a "gesture of humanity" from FIFA ethics commission chairman Hans-Joachim Eckert - a concession that was criticised by anti-corruption campaigners, particularly as Platini is still under investigation by the Swiss authorities. And there were some fears that he would use this opportunity to launch into another long defence of his record, effectively rehearsing his next appeal, but doing so before a friendly audience. Those fears, however, were not realised, as the vast majority of his speech was a florid eulogy of football's "beauty" and "universality", and praise for UEFA's work under his leadership. "You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me, for reasons that I won't go into," said Platini. "I hold no grievance against anybody who didn't support me - everybody is entitled to their own belief. But that is not important, what is important is football." He then reminded the audience at Athens' five-star Grand Resort Lagonissi of what he said when elected UEFA president for the first time in 2007. "It is a game, rather than a product; a sport, not a market; a show, rather than a business," he said, before referencing a quote by veteran Israeli statesman Shimon Peres that just as "Jerusalem is a flame, so is football". He finished his speech by saying "friends of football, farewell", before quickly leaving the room to an ovation that was warm but not extended or standing. The sense that this really is the end of an era was immediately reinforced when new FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who had been Platini's right-hand man at UEFA, made the next speech. "This is emotional for me, too. A page is turning and this is a new chapter for UEFA," he said, before pledging FIFA's support to whoever the members elect: Dutch veteran Michael Van Praag or Slovenia's Aleksander Ceferin, two men with very different backgrounds and styles to their predecessor Platini.[SEP]'Aleksandar and I have the same goal,' said Michael Van Praag on Wednesday morning in Athens, referring to his opponent in the race for UEFA's Presidency. 'We want a different UEFA; we want a better UEFA,' the Dutch FA Chief added. 'But he wanted to do it his way, and I wanted it my way.' But, after the tension of secret ballot casting and result counting, Praag didn't have it his way. Aleksandar did. Aleksandar Ceferin, the Slovenian FA Chief with a background in Law, romped to victory at the polls, securing 42 out of 55 member nation votes - a whopping 14 votes more than the majority quota of 28 votes required to lead European Football's governing body. The Slovenian's victory was unsurprising, though. He had always been the favourite. Sources from his camp told the BBC ahead of Wednesday's elections that the he had received at least 40 pledges of support from most of Europe's FAs - among them Russia, Germany and France. This backdrop left Praag's competitiveness in doubt. A one-time Ajax Chairman from 1989 to 2003 - in the process overseeing the club's most successful era - Praag, ahead of the elections, famously had the support of the English FA, and also the advantage of being on the UEFA Executive Committee, yet failed to benefit from both, polling only 14 votes. There were concerns about his age too, 68, especially in contrast with his competitor's, although he claimed on Wednesday that it would not be a problem because 'even the Rolling Stones perform well into their 70s.' Eventually, he couldn't perform as well at the polls though: he lost by a margin of 29 votes to his the 48-year-old Ceferin. READ MORE: Who is Aleksander Ceferin? The other contender, Spain's Angel Maria Villar, pulled out last week. Maria Villar, 66, a long serving Head of the Spanish FA, had been acting as UEFA President even since the erstwhile President Michel Platini resigned in May. Platini bid farewell to UEFA at the Extraordinary Congress in Athens before the elections, in the wake of a disgraceful ban from all football activities; a consequence of bribery allegations levelled against him by Swiss Prosecutors. He was revealed to have received a 'disloyal payment' amount of $2m from former FIFA President Sepp Blatter in 2011: a breach of ethics rules. 'I am certain that I committed not the slightest fault,» Platini told UEFA delegates in Athens in his final address after an eight-year reign. 'I am continuing to fight legally. Just simply know that my conscience is clear. You are going to continue this beautiful mission without me, for reasons that I do not wish to come back on. I want to thank everyone in this room who had the courage and loyalty to support me during the past months." Ceferin, who has only five years of top level football administrative experience, having been boss of Slovenia's FA, the NZS, since 2011, is expected to see out the remainder of Platini's term - which lasts until 2019. Fresh elections will be held that year to determine who leads the body ahead of 2020 Euros, which will be a novelty, spread across 13 cities in 13 countries to mark Euros' 60th anniversary. 'It is a great honour, but also a great responsibility,» Ceferin said in his victory address. «It means a lot to me. My small and beautiful Slovenia is very proud of it, and I hope that one day you will also be proud of me." Ceferin is expected to restore credibility to UEFA amid the taint of the Platini scandal. Once he begins work at UEFA's Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, he will be expected to address many key issues, the most dominant one being the controversial 'secret deal' - UEFA's decision to grant extra Champions League slots to its top four power players (England, Spain, Germany and Italy) from the 2018/19 season. Ceferin's opposition to this decision, announced in August, has been well documented. He has expressed disappointment at UEFA kowtowing to pressure from the Big Four, and has also called the bluff of these same countries to set up a 'European Super League', a bargaining chip to force the hand of UEFA into granting them 16 of the Champions League's 32 slots. Ceferin believes the Super League, which has been the subject of the Big Four's flirtation for many years, is 'out of question' and would create 'war with UEFA.' «We have to speak and have dialogue with the clubs and I think it can be solved,' Ceferin said immediately after his win. Born on October 13, 1967, Ceferin is a married father of three who works and resides in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, where for the last five years he has been juggling the responsibilities of running his own law firm in addition to his Slovenian FA Presidency. Ceferin has claimed that he is 'not a part of the old establishment' of UEFA - unlike Praag and Maria Villar - although he has served on UEFA's Legal Committee for the last five years. In addition to highlighting the fact that he has not been associated with either FIFA or UEFA in their scandal-ridden recent pasts, he has also extoled his virtues of being 'transparent' and a 'family man' - qualities he feels will help him redeem the trust and respect UEFA seems to have lost. "I'm a man of conviction, a passionate man, a man of my own and a man of his word,» he said on Wednesday. «I'm not a showman. I have no ego issues and I'm not a man of unrealistic promises. Some people may have said that I'm not a leader, that I'm too young and too inexperienced to become the next UEFA president. Me a leader? I don't know. I cannot declare myself a leader. It's not because you repeat again and again loud and clear, 'I'm a leader', that you're a leader. If you have to do it, you're probably not a leader. I'm almost 50 years old and I'm chairing my own company and the Football Association of Slovenia for years now. You can say that I'm young and inexperienced but I honestly think it's disrespectful for all the presidents of small and medium-sized federations, who for 365 days a year have to do more with less. Presidents of these kinds of federations must be creative, strong and inspiring. And, believe me, we have experience." The road to power has been anything but smooth for Ceferin, who has had to defend his reputation many times, including in the face of one suggestion that insinuated that he is into football administration to capitalize on the wealth. 'I have a very big law firm so I don't need it [the presidency] for my CV or to get something for me personally,' he claimed. Again, during campaigning, his opponent Praag, on twitter, shared an article titled 'The President's Man' from the website Josimar, a investigative piece that accused Ceferin of receiving support from a very influential puppet master: FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Slovenian was quick to counter-accuse the Dutchman of 'making up stories to pollute the pre-election period', further describing the article and its claims as 'imagination.' Meanwhile, Infantino also distanced himself from the speculations. "This is an insult on the intelligence of all the national associations and those who are voting," Infantino said after the vote on Wednesday. "You have seen there was a democratic process." All is set for the football chief of the world's 59th ranked nation to assume what is arguably football's second most powerful political seat. He seems well equipped too, linguistically at least: he speaks at least five languages. On the flip side, there's some trivia to suggest a hard-core character: he has a Black Belt in Karate and has reportedly crossed the Sahara Desert on five different occasions, all for fun - four times in a car and including once on a motorbike.[SEP]Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini insisted he had done nothing wrong and said his conscience was clear as he gave a farewell speech to European soccer's governing body at their extraordinary Congress on Wednesday. The Frenchman, who resigned in May after being banned for from the sport for four years for ethics violations, was given a round of applause by the delegates but did not get a standing ovation. "Thank you. Thank you for these nine years. I think we did a great job... Friends of football, farewell," said Platini, who was first elected in 2007, at the end of his seven-minute speech. His replacement was to be elected immediately afterwards with Slovenia's Aleksander Ceferin and Dutchman Michael van Praag as the two candidates. Despite Platini's ban, FIFA's ethics committee said an exception had been made for the event as a "gesture of humanity." "It's very emotional for me to be here but I'm also delighted to be here because this will be my last speech to a UEFA Congress," Platini began. "You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me for reasons I don't want to go into today. "I have a clear conscience, I am certain not to have made any mistake and will continue to fight this in the courts." One of the finest players of his generation who went on to become a powerful sporting official, Platini was suspended over his dealings with fallen world soccer chief Sepp Blatter during the scandal which shook the sport's global governing body last year. Platini was banished along with Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.08 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter's approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. Platini said that football was "a game rather than a product, a sport rather than a market, a show not a business." "There isn't one football for large nations and one for small nations, there is a single football, a single sport, it doesn't belong to FIFA or UEFA, it belongs to the whole world," he said. "That is why I wanted to come today to say thank you and, friends of football, farewell."[SEP]New UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin has been a high profile lawyer in his native Slovenia but had no record in football until he took over his country’s football federation in 2011. The 48-year-old father of three has often appeared on Slovenian television speaking for high-profile defendants represented by his family law firm, never losing his temper and always keeping the image of someone who has the situation under control. UEFA will be a severe test of his skills as it seeks to overcome the shock of losing ex-leader Michel Platini, implicated in FIFA’s corruption scandals, and facing challenges to its prized Champions League. Ceferin already surprised people when he took over the presidency of Slovenia’s football association, the NZS, in 2011 and quickly joined FIFA’s disciplinary committee and UEFA’s legal committee. Besides reorganizing the NZS, Ceferin is also credited with bringing together the former Yugoslavian republics in 2015 to make them a football politics bloc. “I was the first to bring to the same table the national associations of the former state (Yugoslavia), that we adopted a common positions and presented them to UEFA and by doing so improved our reputation within UEFA,” he told state television in a recent interview. Ceferin really emerged as a growing power in international sports in June when he announced his bid to become UEFA president with the backing of over a dozen European associations ranging from Russia to Scandinavian countries. He says running for UEFA’s top job was not his idea. The football associations of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, with which he shares many ideas on reforming European football, urged him to run. “When that thing (scandal) happened to Michel Platini, the Scandinavians called me and told me ‘we believe you would be the perfect candidate for president'”, Ceferin told Ljubljana’s daily Delo. Platini who only officially resigned in May, had not been in the post since October last year over revelations of a $2 million payment from FIFA in 2011 for work carried out a decade earlier. After the Scandinavian call, Ceferin could not turn back and says he has even paid for almost one hundred flights to lobby for support with national associations. “I’m little known in these circles so I have to introduce myself to each one of them,” Ceferin said recently. “People want changes, they want a younger man with new ideas who has not been around since forever,” Ceferin added. As a lawyer, he has cautiously abstained from criticising the handling of UEFA’s affairs but this month he lost his temper when a Norwegian paper accused him of being “the (FIFA) president’s man” in the race, an allegation he attributed to his main rival, the Dutch Michael van Praag. “You can judge yourself who’s using the old (UEFA) methods. The one that meets football associations and presents them his programme to get their support or the one that invents stories to compromise the elections and desperately get at least some support,” Ceferin told Slovenian state. Slovenia, a country of two million, has been organising its own football leagues since it declared independence in 1991 and its national team’s greatest success was to qualify to the 2002 World Championship in South Korea.
Members of European football's governing body, UEFA, elect Aleksander Čeferin, president of the Football Association of Slovenia since 2011, president of UEFA. Čeferin will serve the remainder of former UEFA president Michel Platini's term of office, until 2019, who was banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee for corruption last year.
Iran’s Siamand Rahman wrote his name into the history books after doing what no man had ever done before – he cleared the bar at 310kg in the men’s over 107kg, setting a new world record and claiming his second consecutive Paralympic gold. The world’s strongest Paralympian, who had lifted 296kg at a World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last February, was widely expected to break the 300kg barrier after years systematically improving his marks. Rahman won gold at London 2012 with a 280kg lift. Two years later, he registered 285kg at the World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and 290kg at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea. In Rio, the 28-year-old proved again that nothing can stop him in front of a noisy crowd that had gathered to witness the historic moment and never stopped chanting “Iran, Iran”. “I feel very happy and proud for having broken the 300kg barrier and for being the strongest Paralympian in the world,”said Rahman afterwards. “I want to be an inspiration for all people with impairment who stay at home and don’t lead an active life, and especially for the youth." Egypt’s Amr Mosaad claimed silver thanks to his 235kg lift in the last round, whilst Jordania’s Jamil Elshebli (234kg) sealed bronze. “Winning silver is like winning gold to me. It is just impossible to defeat Rahman,” said Mosaad. The other stand-out story of the day at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2 was the success of Josephine Orji. The Nigerian cleared 160kg, adding 7kg to her previous own world record to top the podium in the women’s over 86kg. The world champion ended far ahead of Poland’s Marzena Zieba (134kg), who collected silver, and the Netherlands’ Melaica Tuinfort (130kg), who sealed bronze. “It is very special for me to win gold at my first Paralympic Games,” said Orji. With six golds, two silvers and one bronze, Nigeria topped the final Rio 2016 powerlifting medal tally. “We eat a lot of good food and that is why we are so strong,” Orji added. World champion Pavlos Mamalos confirmed he is the strongest in the men’s up to 107kg, breaking the Paralympic record with a 238kg lift on his way to gold, Greece’s second powerlifting medal at Rio 2016 after Dimitrios Bakochristos sealed bronze in the men’s up to 54kg. Mamalos finished ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed (233kg) and Iran’s Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani (226kg), who claimed silver and bronze, respectively. The Greek later tried to break Azerbaijan’s Elshan Huseynov’s world record of 243kg but failed. “Winning a gold medal is only possible if you are strong, brave and never give up. I am extremely happy,” said Mamalos. “I have been working very hard to reach my best possible shape ahead of this Paralympic Games, training every day except Sundays in the morning and the afternoon. “I never think of winning a medal before competing but of giving my best and being as focused on my lifts as possible. “Next year we have the World Championships in Mexico, where I will try again to break the world record. And then I will start training for Tokyo 2020.”[SEP]Siamand Rahman who clinched the title in powerlifting’s +107kg class, breaking the Games’ record with his first attempt of 270 kilograms. Iran's Siamand Rahman (R) celebrates with his coach during the men's powerlifting +107kg category at the Paralympic Games in the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 14, 2016. ©AFP He then set new world and Paralympics records with 300 and 305 and 310 kilograms in his 2nd, 3rd and 4th attempts. Iran's Siamand Rahman celebrates with his coach after lifting 300kg, a world record, during the men's powerlifting +107kg (group A) at the Paralympic Games in the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 14, 2016. ©AFP Athletes from Egypt and Jordan won silver and bronze respectively.[SEP][SEP]Georgie Hermitage has won her second gold medal of the Paralympics winning the T37 400m title in a world record time of 1min 0.53sec. Hermitage, who has cerebral palsy, also won the T37 100m crown on Friday in another world record time. “This is my preferred event,” said the 27-year-old after the race, which was run in searing heat in Rio. “I knew everyone was expecting. So to come out and win it was amazing. I knew the Chinese wouldn’t back down so I knew I had to get a good start. I’m really happy “The heat actually relaxed my muscles but you’ve still got to deal with the humidity. My left side is really happy but the rest of me wants to die.” A latecomer to Paralympic sport after walking away from athletics 10 years ago. Hermitage decided to compete again after being dragged along to see Mo Farah run at London 2012. At the time she was working in a brewery and barely kept fit. “I’m so glad I came back,” she said. “As a 14-year-old I wasn’t ready to cope. I’m so glad I came back.” She wanted to inspire her daughter by travelling to Rio 2016 and has now recorded two world record and collected two gold medals. “Everything’s for her,” said Hermitage. “I want her to know you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I miss her so much.”[SEP]There are few better examples of bouncing back from life’s difficulties than the athletes competing in the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro through Sunday. There is U.S. swimmer Brad Snyder, who lost his vision when an IED exploded near him as he patrolled with a Navy SEAL unit in 2011 in Afghanistan. A former captain of the Naval Academy swimming team, he found solace in the pool and won two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. “I didn’t like that everyone was so distraught and so messed up (after his injury),” Snyder told The Washington Post. “I’m used to having a positive impact on people. Swimming, in the beginning, was a way to turn that on its head.” Australian rower Erik Horrie was 7 years old when his parents dropped him off at an orphanage. At 21, he was involved in a head-on crash and was told he would never walk again. He hasn’t, but he became an elite wheelchair basketball player, a silver medalist in 2012 in the single sculls and, most important, a youth counselor. Joe Berenyi of Aurora, Ill., lost his right arm and severely injured his knee in a factory accident in 1994. Now, he is the top Paralympic cyclist in the world. Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” There are more than 4,350 athletes competing in Rio who have not given into life’s disappointments. The word “hero” gets used loosely these days. It actually applies to Paralympic athletes.[SEP]Great Britain has surged beyond the gold medal haul from the London Games on another glorious night in Rio. Team GB's nine golds on Wednesday took their tally to 43, improving on their 34 in 2012. In a scintillating evening session, Britain's Paralympians won 10 medals in the space of an hour in the pool and on the track. Cyclist Sarah Storey reinforced her status as Great Britain's most decorated female Paralympian with her second gold in Rio, while Kadeena Cox became the first British athlete to win gold medals in separate sports since 1984. After victory on her bike in the C4-5 500m time-trial with a world record time, the girl with the golden smile yesterday made history by winning T38 400m athletics gold and setting another world record. The 25-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, had also won a bronze in the 200m. 'I'm so happy and so glad I've done it, for everyone's who struggled with chronic conditions', she said. 'I was sat praying in the cool room saying "please let me get it". I was pretty broken after two events, everything was hurting but I'm gold medallist and world record holder in two sports. That is literally what I was dreaming of.' Fittingly, it was Storey who took Britain past their gold medal tally from London - as she registered her 13th gold spanning seven Games. Watched by her parents, husband Barney and three-year-old daughter Louisa, draped in a Union flag, Storey grinned as she crossed the line in 27:22.42 to win the C5 road time-trial. After her latest victory her coach, Dr Gary Brickley, said she was good enough to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Tokyo Games in 2020. He said: 'I think she can prove you can win the Olympics at 42. In the past there have been excuses made but you can't give those excuses any more, that she's missing a hand, that you have a child, or you're too old because on paper her stats say she's one of the best horses on the track.' Storey, who feels her form could assist Lizzie Armitstead in the defence of her road race world title next year, added: 'I have a big engine, who knows if that will help Lizzie when she defends her title?' The 38-year-old is staying with her husband Barney - who has won three Paralympic gold medals as a sighted pilot but is not competing here - and daughter Louisa - which she said helped with her preparation. 'I don't go back to my room and worry about stuff. I get to do toddler stuff, playing Lego and My Little Pony', she said. 'It's about having the confidence and the right support network. Barney is full‑time support to both of us. He's a super-domestique if ever there was one.' Away from the Velodrome, Britain also dominated cycling on the road. Steve Bate, who is visually impaired, won his second gold in the B time trial. Bate and his guide, Adam Duggleby, finished in 34:35.33. Karen Darke, who was paralysed in a climbing accident at the age of 21, won the H1-3 time trial. In the Olympic stadium, wheelchair athlete Hannah Cockroft won her second gold of the Games, in the T34 400m, and will go for a third in the 800m tomorrow. Sophie Wells claimed her first individual Paralympic gold medal in the grade IV championship test to give Britain a first gold from a first attempt at the Olympic Equestrian Centre. Team GB had an excellent night in the pool, with Aaron Moores pipping team-mate Scott Quin to gold for a one-two in the men's SB14 100m breaststroke and Michael Jones and Jonathan Fox taking first and second respectively in the men's S7 400m freestyle final. Hannah Russell's victory in the S12 100m backstroke was Britain's 43rd gold medal in Rio and the third of the night in the pool.[SEP]City of Sunderland’s Matt Wylie is the Paralympic swimming champion! The 19-year-old from Washington won tonight’s S9 50m final in Rio to claim gold. Wylie had qualified as the fastest swimmer this afternoon and triumphed tonight in 25.95 seconds. It was an incredibly tight finish but Wylie clinched it to join the ranks of British gold medallists.[SEP]As a first Paralympic final appearance goes, swimmer Matt Wylie made sure to mark it in style, beating his Australian rival by just four hundredths of a second to take gold in Rio. Described as the splash and dash event, the 50m freestyle event is over in the blink of an eye compared to other races and demands the individual gets off to a fast start. And S9 swimmer Wylie did just that before powering his way to the wall first in 25.95 seconds. Such was the closeness of the race that just nine hundredths of a second separated gold from fourth place with runner-up Timothy Disken having to settle for silver with 25.99 – the same time Wylie had clocked as the fastest qualifier in the heats. Victory sees the 19-year-old City of Sunderland swimmer add to the European title he claimed earlier this spring and also continued ParalympicsGB’s golden run in the pool in Rio. “After this morning’s heats I wasn’t sure if I would win but is just shows that anything is possible at the Paralympic Games,” said Wylie. “It’s been a bit of a wait for me seeing everyone doing well, people have been smashing it out all week with medals left, right and centre. “This was my chance and I was desperate to show what I could do. “I thought Timothy (Disken) got the touch if I’m honest so I couldn’t believe it when I realisesd I had won. “I’ve only been really focused on the 50m for a season now, so the improvement I’ve made in the year I can’t believe it.” Wylie’s win followed hot on the heels of Stephanie Millward who stormed to gold in the women’s 100m backstroke S8 final, while there was also a silver for Ollie Hynd in the men’s equivalent and bronze for Ellie Simmonds in the 400m freestyle S6 in yesterday’s evening session. That takes the total of British swimming medals won in Rio so far to 26, of which nine are gold. And Wylie, who still has the relay to come, admitted he was loving every second of life in Brazil. “The venue is good, it’s the biggest capacity crowd I’ve ever swam in front of in my life,” he added. “It’s really loud, especially when you are walking out. I tried to use that to my advantage. “The village is great too, everything is just where I need it. The food hall is probably the biggest food hall I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s great. There’s just rows of food, that makes me very happy! “I just want to thank everyone for all the support over the past few years. People say it’s a four-year cycle but for me, it’s been seven years in the making so just thanks to everyone who has been there.” You can help #Supercharge ParalympicsGB to Rio 2016 and beyond. Show your support for the team and find out more atwww.paralympics.org.uk/supercharge[SEP]Nigerian Nollywood actress, Lauritta Onye won a gold medal in shot put, as he smashed a world record in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Her performance skills were put to good use on Sunday night when she celebrated her victory in acrobatic style in front of the cameras. Under that name, she starred in the Nollywood film Lords of Money in 2015. Nigeria's Paralympians already have six golds, two silvers and one bronze medal.[SEP]Dame Sarah Storey won her 13th Paralympic gold after winning the C5 road time-trial in Rio. The victory takes Great Britain beyond their gold medal haul from the London games four years ago. ParalympicsGB ended Tuesday's sixth day of competition with 34 gold medals, equalling the haul from the 11 days of competition four years ago in London. And Storey delivered the 35th. The 38-year-old became Britain's most successful female Paralympian when her 12th gold in the C5 individual pursuit saw her overtake wheelchair racer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's haul of 11 gold medals. • Stockport's Sarah Storey becomes Paralympic great after winning her 12th gold And Storey added her 13th with a dominant win in the 20-kilometres road time-trial at Pontal. Storey, who won her first Paralympic gold as a 14-year-old swimmer in Barcelona in 1992, was almost a minute ahead of her nearest rival at the halfway mark. And she claimed a commanding win in 27 minutes 22.42 seconds. Anna Harkowska of Poland was second in 28mins 52.79secs, more than 1:30 behind. Colin Lynch claimed Ireland's fourth medal of the Paralympics, with silver in the men's C2 road time-trial.
Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman cleared the bar at 310kg in the men's over 107kg, setting a new world Paralympic record and claiming his second consecutive Paralympic gold.
Deutsche Bank AG DB, +3.57% shares fell in the extended session Thursday following a report that the Justice Department was proposing the bank pay $14 billion in fines to resolve a probe into mortgage securities. Deutsche Bank shares slipped 6.8% to $13.75 after hours. The figure is preliminary, according to The Wall Street Journal, and has been discussed between the bank and government lawyers in recent days.[SEP]US seeks $14 bn from Deutsche Bank over mortgage bonds Authorities in the US are seeking as much as $14 billion from Deutsche Bank to resolve allegations stemming from the sale of mortgage securities in the 2008 crisis, the German financial giant confirmed Thursday. The payout would be the largest ever inflicted on a foreign bank in the United States, easily surpassing the $8.9 billion that the French bank BNP Paribas paid in 2014 for sanctions violations. But in a quick reaction, Deutsche Bank rejected the $14 billion figure, which the bank said was an opening proposal in settlement talks with US prosecutors. "Deutsche Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited," the statement said. "The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts." The US investment bank Goldman Sachs in April agreed to pay more than $5 billion to settle similar allegations. US authorities have accused major banks of misleading investors about the values and quality of complex mortgage-backed securities sold before the 2008 financial crisis. Much of the underlying lending was worthless or fraudulent, delivering billions of dollars in losses to holders of the mortgage bonds when the housing market collapsed, bringing down numerous banks and touching off the country's worst recession since the 1930s. According to securities filings, Deutsche Bank as of June 30 had set aside $5.5 billion to resolve pending legal matters. In the mortgage-backed securities matter, the bank is aiming for an amount between $2 billion and $3 billion, according to knowledgeable sources. The US Justice Department declined to comment. Bank of America in 2014 paid out nearly $17 billion in a related enforcement action but federal authorities have faced stinging criticism for failing to hold individuals to account. In recent years, Deutsche Bank has found itself mired litigation and enforcement actions around the world. US market regulators last year fined the German lender $55 million, concluding that it had overvalued its holdings of credit derivatives by at least $15 billion during the financial crisis. In 2015 and 2016 Deutsche Bank failed so-called stress tests conducted by the US central bank that were designed to determine whether it had adequate capital strength to weather shocks such as those of the financial crisis. In June, the International Monetary Fund described the bank as a "major systemic risk," leaving its chief executive John Cryan to strive to convince markets that Deutsche Bank was bound to recover. In April of last year, Deutsche Bank also paid a record $2.5 billion to settle American and British charges that it had manipulated the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor, affecting commercial interest rates. The bank also settled with the US Fed and New York's Department of Financial Services of alleged sanctions violations in Syria and Iran. In July Deutsche Bank posted a 98 percent year-on-year drop in second-quarter profits, with net earnings recorded at only $22 million, which Cryan, the bank's chief, attributed to "sustained restructuring." Cryan plans to cut 9,000 jobs worldwide by 2020, while the bank's share price has fallen to around 10 percent of its pre-crisis value.[SEP]Deutsche Bank said it would fight a $14-billion demand from the U.S. Department of Justice to settle claims it missold mortgage-backed securities, a shock bill that raises questions about the future of Germany’s largest lender. The claim against Deutsche, which is likely to trigger several months of talks, far exceeds the bank’s expectations that the DoJ would be looking for a figure of only up to €3-billion ($3.4-billion). The demand adds to the problems facing Deutsche Bank’s Chief Executive John Cryan, a Briton who has been in the job for a year. The bank only scraped through European stress tests in July and has warned it may need deeper cost cuts to turn itself around after revenue fell sharply in the second quarter due to challenging markets and low interest rates. Deutsche Bank shares, which have lost around half their value this year, tumbled 7.6 per cent to 12.10 euros in Frankfurt on Friday, with analysts saying the bank may need to raise fresh funds from investors or sell assets to shore up its capital ratios. The cost of insuring Deutsche Bank debt against default rose by around eight per cent. The bank, which employs around 100,000 people, said it regarded the DoJ demand as an opening shot. “Deutsche Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited,” it said in a statement. “The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts.” Analysts said that even a hefty reduction in the bill was likely to weigh heavily on Deutsche Bank’s finances. “If the final bill is at €5-billion or more Deutsche Bank will not be able to avoid a capital hike anymore,” said Ingo Frommen, banking analyst at LBBW. Deutsche Bank’s problems are likely to alarm political leaders in Europe’s largest economy and the home to the European Central Bank. The German finance ministry said on Friday that the government expected a “fair result” from the negotiations but that the talks were a matter for the bank and the American authorities. Finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble took the unusual step of voicing public support for the bank earlier this year and a senior opposition figure said he expected the government to step in as a last resort if needed. “The question would be how much damage would it do to the economy if the bank were to topple,” said Green Party financial spokesman Gerhard Schick. The DoJ has taken a tough stance in settlement negotiations with other banks, requesting sums higher than the eventual fine. A recent European Union ruling that Apple must pay up to €13-billion in taxes to the Irish government and the forthcoming U.S. election could complicate Deutsche Bank’s efforts to whittle down the demand. One of Deutsche’s top 10 investors said he expected the bank to have to pay 4-€5.5-billion for the mortgages case. “But because of the election campaign it may end up higher – at maybe 6 or 7 billion.” In 2014, the DoJ asked Citigroup to pay $12-billion to resolve an investigation into the sale of shoddy mortgage-backed securities, sources said. The fine eventually came in at $7-billion. In a similar case, rival Goldman Sachs agreed in April to pay $5.06-billion to settle claims that it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis. Deutsche Bank’s settlement will comprise a different list of recipients from the Goldman case, a source close to the matter said, adding that the lender had already settled some claims three years ago. In late 2013, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $1.9-billion to settle claims that it defrauded U.S. government-controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, America’s biggest providers of housing finance, into buying $14.2-billion in mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis. A $14-billion fine, or even half that sum, would still rank among one of the largest paid by banks to U.S. authorities in recent years. Deutsche Bank has not said what it has set aside in anticipation of a settlement over the sale and packaging of resident mortgage-backed securities before 2008. Its overall legal provisions stood at €5.5-billion at the end of June, and according to a person close to the bank 2.5-3 billion of that had been reserved for the mortgages case. Deutsche was once one of Europe’s most successful players on Wall Street. Like many of its peers, it has since faced a slew of lawsuits that often trace back to the boom years before the crash. Its litigation bill since 2012 has already hit more than €12-billion. Claims filed by individuals, companies and regulators against Deutsche, outlined in the bank’s 2015 annual report, relate to mis-selling of subprime loans and alleged manipulation of foreign exchange rates or gold and silver prices. Other lawsuits are for the rigging of borrowing benchmarks Libor and Euribor, used to set the price of mortgages and derivatives. In July, Chief Executive Cryan said he hoped to close the four largest remaining litigation cases this year. These are the mortgages and FX cases, an investigation into suspicious equities trades in Russia and allegations of money laundering.[SEP]The U.S. Department of Justice is asking Deutsche Bank to pay $14 billion to settle an investigation into its selling of mortgage-backed securities. As Sara Hemrajani reports, the claim far outstrips the bank's and investors' expectations.[SEP]Deutsche Bank said it had no intentions of paying the $14 billion (£10.6bn) fine sought by the US Department of Justice to settle civil claims regarding its handling of mortgage-backed securities that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. The German-based bank is among many financial institutions investigated over dealings in discreditable mortgages in the run-up to the financial crisis. The government has accused the banks of misleading investors about the quality of their loans. “Deutsche Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited. The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts,” Deutsche Bank said in a statement. The $14 billion fine is more than triple what some Bloomberg analysts estimated. Deutsche Bank emphasised that negotiations with the Department of Justice have just started and has confirmed it had been invited to submit a counter proposal. The news of the fine, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, hit Deutsche Bank shares which dropped more than 6 per cent in after-hours trading in the US. Deutsche Bank previously thought that a settlement between $2 billion and $3 billion would be fair, as it had already paid $1.9 billion in 2013 to resolve similar claims, according to WSJ. The Department of Justice has taken a tough stance in settlement negotiations with other banks, requesting sums higher than the eventual fine. In 2014, it asked Citigroup to pay $12 billion to resolve an investigation into the sale of shoddy mortgage-backed securities, sources said. The fine eventually came in at $7 billion. In a similar case, rival Goldman Sachs agreed in April to pay $5.06 billion to settle claims that it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis. The news comes at a difficult time for Deutsche Bank. The German lender has lost about 43 per cent of its market value this year. Net income decreased to €18 million (£15m) from €796 million a year earlier, Deutsche Bank announced in July. John Cryan, Deutsche Bank chief executive has been cutting risky assets, freezing dividend payments and eliminating about 9,000 staff to boost capital levels. In June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that of the banks big enough to bring the financial system crashing down, Deutsche Bank was the riskiest.[SEP]The claim against Deutsche, which is likely to be negotiated in several months of talks, far outstrips the bank's and investors' expectations for such costs. While it is yet to become clear what the final payment will be, if it were to be as high as $14 billion, this would be a severe strain for Deutsche's fragile finances and would likely further rock investor confidence in the bank. "Deutsche Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited. The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts", Deutsche Bank said in a statement on Friday. The Department of Justice declined to comment. The Department of Justice has taken a tough stance in settlement negotiations with other banks, requesting sums higher than the eventual fine. In 2014, it asked Citigroup ( ) to pay $12 billion to resolve an investigation into the sale of shoddy mortgage-backed securities, sources said. The fine eventually came in at $7 billion. In a similar case, rival Goldman Sachs ( ) agreed in April to pay $5.06 billion to settle claims that it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis. That settlement included a $2.39 billion civil penalty, $1.8 billion in other relief, including funds for homeowners whose mortgages exceed the value of their property, and an $875 million payment to resolve claims by cooperative and home loan banks among others. Deutsche Bank's settlement will comprise a different list of recipients, a source close to the matter said, adding that the lender had already settled some claims three years ago. In late 2013, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $1.9 billion to settle claims that it defrauded U.S. government-controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, America's biggest providers of housing finance, into buying $14.2 billion in mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis. A $14 billion fine, or even half that sum, would still rank among one of the largest paid by banks to U.S. authorities in recent years. In 2013, JPMorgan Chase & Co ( ) agreed to pay $13 billion to settle allegations by the U.S. authorities that it overstated the quality of mortgages it was selling to investors in the run-up to the 2008-2009 financial crisis. In 2014, Bank of America Corp. ( ) agreed to pay $16.7 billion in penalties to settle similar charges. Deutsche Bank has not said what it has set aside in anticipation of a settlement over the sale and packaging of resident mortgage-backed securities before 2008. Its overall legal provisions stood at 5.5 billion euros at the end of the second quarter. Deutsche was once one of Europe's most successful players on Wall Street. Like many of its peers, it has since faced a slew of lawsuits that often trace back to the boom years before the crash. Its litigation bill since 2012 has already hit more than 12 billion euros. Claims filed by individuals, companies and regulators against Deutsche, outlined in the bank's 2015 annual report, relate to mis-selling of subprime loans and manipulation of foreign exchange rates or gold and silver prices. Other lawsuits are for the rigging of borrowing benchmarks Libor and Euribor, used to set the price of mortgages and derivatives. In July, Chief Executive John Cryan said he hoped to close the four largest remaining litigation cases this year. These are the mortgages and FX cases, an investigation into suspicious equities trades in Russia and allegations of money laundering.[SEP]Deutsche Bank says it will not pay the $14 billion sought by the US Justice Department to settle an investigation into the firm’s sale of residential mortgage-backed securities, a figure that’s more than triple what some analysts estimated could be a potential worst case. “Deutsche Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited,” the company said in a statement early Friday in Frankfurt. “The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts.” Germany’s largest lender confirmed that it had started negotiations with the justice department to settle civil claims the US may consider over the bank’s issuing and underwriting of residential mortgage-backed securities from 2005 to 2007. The $14 billion is considered an “opening bid” that could go “much lower,” according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported the figure shortly before Deutsche Bank issued its statement. US shares of Deutsche Bank tumbled 6.5 per cent to $13.80 in extended trading in New York. The company’s stock has plunged 42 per cent this year in Germany up to the close of trading on Thursday. A US justice department spokesman declined to comment on the negotiations. JPMorgan Chase analysts wrote in a note to clients earlier on Thursday that a settlement of about $2.4 billion “would be taken very positively,” and that an agreement exceeding $4 billion would pose questions about the bank’s capital positions and force it to “build additional litigation reserves”. Deutsche Bank chief executive John Cryan has struggled to boost profits as unresolved legal probes and claims compound concerns that the lender will be forced to raise capital or sell assets. Reaching a mortgage deal would clear a major hurdle for the bank, which has paid more than $9 billion in fines and settlements since the start of 2008. – (Bloomberg)[SEP]The U.S. Department of Justice is asking Deutsche Bank ( ) to pay $14 billion to settle an investigation into its selling of mortgage-backed securities, Germany's flagship lender said on Friday. The claim against Deutsche, which is likely to be negotiated in several months of talks, far outstrips the bank's and investors' expectations for such costs. "Deutsche Bank has no intention to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the figure cited. The negotiations are only just beginning. The bank expects that they will lead to an outcome similar to those of peer banks which have settled at materially lower amounts", Deutsche Bank said.[SEP]Deutsche Bank AG says it does not intend to pay $14 billion to settle civil claims with the U.S. Department of Justice for its handling of residential mortgage-backed securities and related transactions. The bank confirmed Friday in a statement that the Justice Department had proposed a settlement of $14 billion and asked the German bank to make a counter proposal. It described the proposed amount as an "opening position" put forward by the Justice Department in negotiations that were just beginning. Deutsche Bank is among many financial institutions investigated over dealings in shoddy mortgages in the run-up to the 2008 crisis that led millions of Americans to lose their jobs and sometimes their homes. The government has accused the banks of misleading investors about the quality of their loans.[SEP]NEW YORK: Authorities in the US are seeking as much as $14 billion from Deutsche Bank to resolve allegations stemming from the 2008 mortgage crisis, a source close to the matter told AFP on condition of anonymity. The payout would be the largest ever inflicted on a foreign bank in the United States, easily surpassing the $8.9 billion that the French bank BNP Paribas paid in 2014 for sanctions violations.
The Obama administration through the U.S. Justice Department seeks a fine of $14 billion against Deutsche Bank in regards to mortgage securities.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation’s de facto leader. Obama hailed a “remarkable” transformation in the country also known as Burma, which spent five decades under oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi’s party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration’s support for Myanmar’s shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia’s last untapped markets. “The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time,” Obama said as he sat alongside Suu Kyi in the Oval Office. He said it was “the right thing to do” to ensure Myanmar benefits from its transition. Asked by a reporter when sanctions would be lifted, Obama said “soon.” Suu concurred it was time to remove all the sanctions that had hurt the economy. She urged Americans to come to the country and “to make profits.” Congressional aides said that Suu Kyi requested the removal of the national emergency with respect to Myanmar — the executive order authorizing sanctions that has been renewed annually by U.S. presidents for two decades. A U.S. official said that by terminating the emergency, 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with military and on the imports of rubies and jade. But penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. The official and aides spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hailed the announcement as “historic.” But human rights groups say there are powerful reasons for retaining sanctions. Military abuses continue in ethnic minority regions. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship. The military and its associates still have huge stakes in the economy. “Obama and Suu Kyi just took important tools out of their collective tool kit for dealing with the Burmese military, and threw them into the garbage,” said John Sifton, deputy Washington director for Human Rights Watch. Transparency watchdog Global Witness says Myanmar’s jade industry, based in a northern region plagued by civil conflict, is dominated by a military elite, U.S.-sanctioned drug lords and crony companies. It estimates the industry is worth nearly half of the nation’s economic output. Suu Kyi addressed problems in western Rakhine state, where more than 100,000 Rohingyas remain stuck in camps, separated from Buddhists who are the majority in Myanmar. She said everyone entitled to citizenship in Myanmar should get it. “We are sincere in trying to bring together the different communities,” Suu Kyi said. The White House also notified Congress on Wednesday it would be reinstating in November trade benefits to Myanmar because of its progress on workers’ rights. The benefits were suspended in 1989, a year after the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters by the military. Suu Kyi last visited Washington in 2012 when she was still opposition leader. On that occasion, she was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the legislature’s highest civilian honor, which she had been awarded in 2008 while under house arrest. Now she is de facto leader of the country with the title of state counsellor although a junta-era constitution still enshrines the military’s role in politics and bars her from the presidency. White House spokesman Josh Earnest pushed back on the notion the U.S. was undercutting its leverage over Myanmar on human rights and constitutional reforms by lifting sanctions. He said greater U.S. engagement would promote its ability to promote change. Associated Press writers Kathleen Hennessey and Josh Lederman contributed to this report.[SEP]Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi met President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday on her first visit to the United States since her party won a sweeping victory in last year’s election, capping a decades-long journey from political prisoner to national leader. With Suu Kyi no longer an opposition figure, the United States is weighing a further easing of sanctions against Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as Obama looks to normalise relations with a country Washington shunned when it was ruled by a military junta. Suu Kyi also was expected to meet other US officials including Secretary of State John Kerry and senior members of Congress. “Before it was very much encouraging her (Suu Kyi) and supporting her in her role as someone pushing for increased democracy. Now they (US officials) are meeting someone in charge of the government,” said Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asia expert at Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Obama is expected to consult with Suu Kyi on whether to further ease US sanctions to help investment and the democratic transition in her country, the White House said. As Suu Kyi arrived at the White House, Obama issued a statement saying he would reinstate Myanmar to the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which provides duty-free treatment for goods from poor and developing countries. Myanmar was removed from GSP benefits in 1989 following pro-democracy uprisings a year earlier that were brutally suppressed by the ruling military junta. The United States eased some sanctions against Myanmar earlier this year to support political reform but maintained most of its economic restrictions with an eye toward penalizing those it views as hampering the democratically elected government. With Suu Kyi in Washington, officials in Myanmar said the government there was making a push to overhaul rules on new foreign investment this week. New investment approvals have fallen since Suu Kyi took power in April and some businesses and investors have criticized her for failing to prioritize the economy. Separately, a group of 46 non-governmental organizations circulated a letter they wrote to Obama on Monday expressing concern about reports of plans to ease sanctions on Myanmar while human rights abuses by the military and against Rohingya Muslims persisted. “While incremental progress is being made in Burma, it is vital that the US continue to act in support of Burma’s people, particularly those still suffering under the current government,” the letter said. “To lift sanctions prior to tangible change for suffering communities would be a disservice to those vulnerable peoples who deserve international protection,” it said. On Wednesday, Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized what he described as Suu Kyi’s “dismissive” reaction to concerns he had raised about her country’s record on human trafficking. “After witnessing her lack of regard for Burma’s dismal track record on this issue, I plan to pay very close attention to her government’s efforts to prevent innocent human beings from being trafficked and sold into forced labor and sex slavery,” Corker said in a statement released to Reuters after a breakfast meeting with Suu Kyi and Vice President Joe Biden. Myanmar’s military stepped back from direct control of the country in 2011 after 49 years in power, but maintains a commanding role in politics, controlling 25 per cent of the seats in Parliament and leading three key ministries. Suu Kyi is barred from being president under a military-drafted constitution because her sons are not Myanmar citizens. She serves instead as the country’s de facto leader by holding the positions of foreign minister and state counselor. She faces the challenge of guiding Myanmar’s relationship with the United States and neighboring China, which enjoyed a preferential relationship with the military government. “The US-Myanmar dynamic, it is not a close strategic relationship to the exclusion of China but introducing more balance,” said Richard Horsey, an independent political analyst in Yangon. There are also formidable obstacles at home for the popular Nobel laureate. Suu Kyi has been criticized by rights groups for failing to address the plight of the country’s stateless Rohingya minority. About 125,000 remain confined to squalid camps on the country’s western coast following violence between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012. Last week, a commission Suu Kyi set up and charged with making recommendations on the situation and which is led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan traveled to Myanmar for the first time. “It is clear that in setting up the Annan Commission, Suu Kyi is not merely looking for some diplomatic cover, but is making Rakhine State a priority and is serious about taking steps to address the situation,” Horsey said.[SEP]Obama says U.S. is prepared to lift Myanmar sanctions "soon" WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States was prepared to lift sanctions on Myanmar "soon" and that democratic progress in the country was incomplete but on the right track. During a meeting with Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House, Obama said the U.S. moves would give incentives to businesses to invest in the Asian country. Suu Kyi, visiting the White House for the first time since her party won a sweeping victory in last year's election, said it was time for all sanctions that hurt her country economically to be lifted. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Paul Simao)[SEP]WASHINGTON – The White House is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar, officials said Wednesday, as Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and now the nation's de facto leader, met with President Barack Obama. Suu Kyi's party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel peace laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration's support for Myanmar's shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago but has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and dozens of officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. Human rights groups, however, say there are powerful reasons for retaining sanctions. Military abuses continue in ethnic minority regions. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship. Congressional aides said that Suu Kyi had requested the removal of the national emergency with respect to Myanmar — the executive order authorizing sanctions that has been renewed annually by U.S. presidents for two decades. A U.S. official says that by terminating the emergency, 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with the military and on the imports of rubies and jade. The official and aides spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter before it was expected to be announced after Obama's meeting with Suu Kyi. The move does not remove all economic sanctions. Penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. The move does not normalize relations with Myanmar's military. The U.S. does not intend to provide weapons, military equipment or other support for the military, the official said. The White House notified Congress on Wednesday it was offering preferential trade benefits to Myanmar that were suspended in 1989, a year after the bloody crackdown on democracy protesters by the military. The U.S. had cited Myanmar's refusal to recognize workers' rights. Suu Kyi's visit to Washington signals her transformation from long-imprisoned heroine of Myanmar's democracy struggle to a national leader focused on economic growth. She last visited Washington in 2012 when she was still opposition leader. On that occasion, she was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the legislature's highest civilian honor, which she had been awarded in 2008 while under house arrest. Now she meets Obama as the de facto leader of the country with the title of state counsellor although a junta-era constitution still enshrines the military's role in politics and bars her from the presidency. When Obama last visited Myanmar in November 2014, he voiced support for constitutional reform. Associated Press writer Kathleen Hennessey contributed to this report.[SEP]Long-standing trade sanctions against Myanmar are to be lifted, US President Barack Obama has said. The news came as Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, arrived in Washington on her first official visit. Myanmar’s access to trade benefits for poorer nations had been suspended in 1989 over human rights abuses. President Obama said the country should now be allowed to benefit from preferential tariffs as it emerges from decades of military rule. He confirmed the move in a letter to Congress on Wednesday, adding Myanmar – also known as Burma – to the Generalised System of Preferences, a list which exempts certain countries from high import taxes. Though many companies will now enjoy lower tariffs, there are some sanctions which remain in place. These include a “blacklist” of at least 100 companies and individuals with links to the former military junta, as well as trade in jade and rubies. President Obama said the lifting of some sanctions would happen “soon”, but did not give further details. “It is the right thing to do to ensure the people of Burma see rewards from a new way of doing business, and a new government,” he said. He also paid tribute to the efforts made towards peace in the country, and the “enormous potential” of the country. Ms Suu Kyi called on the US Congress to eliminate all remaining sanctions against Myanmar. “Unity also needs prosperity,” she said. “People, when they have to fight over limited resources, forget that standing together is important.” “We think that the time has come to remove all of the sanctions that hurt us economically,” she said. Ahead of Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit, Human Rights Watch said the sanctions targeted military officials, and “shouldn’t be fully lifted until the democratic transition is irreversible.” Ms Suu Kyi, who as opposition leader was kept under house arrest for 15 years, led her National League for Democracy party to victory in Myanmar’s first openly contested election for decades in November 2015. She is barred from the role of president under the country’s constitution – instead holding the title of state counsellor – but is widely seen as the country’s leader in all but name.[SEP]WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to Burma as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation's de facto leader. Obama hailed a "remarkable" transformation in the country also known as Myanmar, which spent five decades under military rule. Suu Kyi's party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration's support for Burma's shift to democracy, which the administration views as a major foreign policy achievement. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago, and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia's last untapped markets. "The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time," Obama said as he sat alongside Suu Kyi in the Oval Office. He said it was "the right thing to do" to ensure Burma benefits from its transition. Asked by a reporter when sanctions would be lifted, Obama said "soon." Suu Kyi concurred that it was time to remove all the sanctions that had hurt the economy. She urged Americans to come to the country and "to make profits." Congressional aides said Suu Kyi requested the removal of the national emergency with respect to Burma -- the executive order authorizing sanctions that has been renewed annually by U.S. presidents for two decades. The Treasury Department said Obama's decision will be legally effective when he issues a new executive order to terminate the emergency. A U.S. official said 111 Burmese individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist, and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with the military and on the imports of rubies and jade. But penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hailed the announcement as "historic." But human-rights groups say there are powerful reasons for retaining sanctions. Military abuses continue in ethnic minority regions. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship. The military and its associates still have huge stakes in the economy. "Obama and Suu Kyi just took important tools out of their collective tool kit for dealing with the Burmese military, and threw them into the garbage," said John Sifton, deputy Washington director for Human Rights Watch. Transparency advocate Global Witness says Burma's jade industry, based in a northern region plagued by civil conflict, is dominated by a military elite, U.S.-sanctioned drug lords and crony companies. It estimates the industry is worth nearly half the nation's economic output. Suu Kyi addressed problems in western Rakhine state, where more than 100,000 Rohingyas remain stuck in camps, separated from Buddhists who are the majority in Burma. She said everyone entitled to citizenship in Burma should get it. "We are sincere in trying to bring together the different communities," Suu Kyi said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest pushed back on the notion that the U.S. was undercutting its leverage over Burma on human rights and constitutional reforms by lifting sanctions. He said greater U.S. engagement would promote its ability to promote change. Information for this article was contributed by Kathleen Hennessey and Josh Lederman of The Associated Press.[SEP]WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s administration will seek to accept 110,000 refugees from around the world in fiscal 2017, officials announced Wednesday. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the new goal, which is an increase from 85,000 in fiscal 2016 and 70,000 in the previous three years. It represents a 57 percent increase in refugee arrivals since 2015, as ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere have spurred an exodus of migrants seeking asylum. The country that sent the most refugees to America in 2015, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, was Burma, which sent 18,386 refugees that year. That figure accounted for more than 26 percent of the total and surpassed Iraq, which sent 12,676 refugees. WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. is lifting economic sanctions and restoring trade benefits to former pariah state Myanmar as he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner who is now the nation’s de facto leader. Obama hailed a “remarkable” transformation in the country also known as Burma, which spent five decades under oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi’s party swept historic elections last November, and the visit by the 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, deeply respected in Washington, is a crowning occasion in the Obama administration’s support for Myanmar’s shift to democracy. The U.S. has eased broad economic sanctions since political reforms began five years ago and Obama has visited the country twice. But the U.S. has retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta. U.S. companies and banks have remained leery of involvement in one of Asia’s last untapped markets. “The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time,” Obama said as he sat alongside Suu Kyi in the Oval Office. He said it was “the right thing to do” to ensure Myanmar benefits from its transition. Asked by a reporter when sanctions would be lifted, Obama said “soon.” Suu Kyi urged Americans to come to the country and “to make profits.” The Treasury Department said Obama’s decision will be legally effective when he issues a new executive order to terminate the emergency. A U.S. official said that 111 Myanmar individuals and companies will be dropped from a Treasury blacklist and restrictions will be lifted on new investment with military and on the imports of rubies and jade. But penalties intended to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S.[SEP]President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States was prepared to lift sanctions on Myanmar "soon" and that democratic progress in the country was incomplete but on the right track. During a meeting with Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House, Obama said the U.S. moves would give incentives to businesses to invest in the Asian country. Suu Kyi, visiting the White House for the first time since her party won a sweeping victory in last year's election, said it was time for all sanctions that hurt her country economically to be lifted.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi is calling for U.S. companies to bring investment to the former pariah state, saying economic success would help convince people and the powerful military that democracy is the best way forward. Suu Kyi addressed the U.S. business community on Thursday, a day after President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions and restore long-lost trade benefits as the Southeast Asian nation emerges from half a century of oppressive military rule. Suu Kyi says that lifting sanctions entails some political and economic risk, but adds, “It is time now for our people to depend on themselves.” Obama aide Ben Rhodes says the so-called “national emergency” with respect to Myanmar that authorizes the sanctions will be terminated in the “coming days.”[SEP](WASHINGTON) – Burma’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian country on Thursday as a way to advance its democratic transition, a day after U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to lift long-standing sanctions on the country. Suu Kyi, speaking in Washington, said that economic development spurred by foreign investment was needed to show the impoverished nation of more than 50 million people that democracy could improve their livelihoods and promote further change. “Economic success is one of the ways that we can persuade everyone in our country, including the military, that democracy is the best way forward for our union,” Suu Kyi told a dinner of business officials, diplomats and government officials hosted by the U.S. ASEAN Business Council. “In order to make the political transition work, we have to have the economic expectations of our people fulfilled as well,” she added. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now Sanctions were imposed on the country, formerly known as Burma, in 1997 after decades under a military dictatorship that stifled dissent and showed little regard for human rights. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy swept to power in November elections, the first free national vote in 25 years. But the Nobel Peace laureate has been criticized by the private sector for not focusing on business reforms and failing to put forth comprehensive economic policies. Read more: Five Things to Know About Aung San Suu Kyi’s Visit to Washington Obama said on Wednesday that he would lift remaining sanctions on Burma, a move supported by Suu Kyi, who said she recognized that some believed the move came too soon. Obama’s announcement drew swift condemnation from rights groups, which said it forfeited leverage on Burma’s military. “In some ways it is a risk, it as much a political risk as an economic risk, because there are those who believe it is not yet time for us to remove the sanctions, but we think that it is time now for our people to depend on themselves, to go forward with the help of our friends,” Suu Kyi said of the decision. When sanctions are lifted, it will clear U.S. businesses to work with companies and individuals that were previous off limits, including some of Burma’s most prominent businessmen. Conglomerate Asia World, blacklisted for alleged ties to Burma’s military, welcomed Obama’s pledge to lift sanctions. “AWC (Asia World Company) expects to see a stronger economic growth and foreign investments in Burma with the removal of the sanctions,” the company said by email. (Editing by Peter Cooney) Contact us at editors@time.com.
Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi asks U.S. businesses to invest in Myanmar after Barack Obama agrees to lift U.S. sanctions.
MULTAN: At least six people were killed and over 150 injured after Karachi-bound Awam Express collided with a freight train near Multan early on Thursday, officials and railways sources said. The incident took place near Bucch railway station in Sher Shah area, some 25 kilometers from here. The accident occurred when a man was reportedly overrun by a freight train and the freight train driver stopped the train to take out the body, said DCO Nadir Chattha. 15 minutes later Awam Express heading on the same line collided with the stationary goods train. The driver of Awam Express has been declared responsible for the accident, which left at least six people dead and wounded over 150, out of which 10 were said to be in precarious condition. Three people trapped inside damaged carriages were also saved, said rescue workers. 250 rescue workers provided medical aid to 50 injured passengers on the spot before transferring them to the hospital. All the injured have been taken out of the train. The rescue work lasted four hours. The collision wrecked the engine and power van, and overturned four bogies of Awam Express. CEO Railways Javaid Anwar told Geo News the accident was a result of the Awam Express driver's negligence as he ignored the signal and did not stop the train in time. The CEO added that an initial report on the accident has been sent to the government. The train's driver and foreman jumped out of the train and escaped, initial investigation revealed. All the injured and dead were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, he said. He also announced that one lakh rupees will be given to each injured. A delay was initially observed in response by rescue services due to Eid holidays, according to sources. Relief works were also affected as darkness prevailed in the vicinity. The passenger train was en route to Karachi from Peshawar. Meanwhile, authorities imposed emergency at Multan's Nishtar Medical Hospital and Shahbaz Sharif Hospital. Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr. Ashiq appealed to citizens to donate blood for the wounded. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered condolences to the victims of the accident and instructed that the injured be provided the best treatment available. He also offered prayer of forgiveness for the dead.[SEP]An explosion on a ferry carrying 35 tourists between the Indonesian resort islands of Bali and Lombok on Thursday killed two people, an Indonesian and a Dutch national, and injured 13, police said. “Two of them died, 13 were injured,” Bali police spokesman Made Sudana said, adding the explosion happened off the coast of Lombok. “It seems there was some sort of explosion on the boat, so there was an emergency with the engine.” Tourists on board included Australian, Korean, British, French, and German citizens, according to media. A Karachi-bound express train collided with a freight train in Pakistan’s central Punjab region early on Thursday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 150, Geo TV said. The Awam Express hit a stationary cargo train about 25 km (15 miles) from the city of Multan, Geo TV said, citing local officials. Four carriages were overturned. There was a delay in the emergency response due to Eid holidays in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation of 190 million people. Pakistan’s colonial era railway network has fallen into disrepair in recent decades due to chronic under investment and poor maintenance. About 130 people were killed in July 2005 when a train rammed into another at a station in Sindh province, and a third train hit the wreckage.[SEP]A Karachi-bound express train collided with a freight train in Pakistan’s central Punjab region early on Thursday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 150, Geo TV said. The Awam Express hit a stationary cargo train about 25 km (15 miles) from the city of Multan, Geo TV said, citing local officials. Four carriages were overturned. There was a delay in the emergency response due to Eid holidays in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation of 190 million people. About 10 people were badly injured. Pakistan’s colonial era railway network has fallen into disrepair in recent decades due to chronic under investment and poor maintenance. About 130 people were killed in July 2005 when a train rammed into another at a station in Sindh province, and a third train hit the wreckage. (Updated)[SEP]MULTAN: Six passengers were killed and more than 150 sustained injuries after Karachi-bound Awam Express collided with a goods train in Multan early Thursday morning. The Karachi-bound goods train had stopped near Buch railway station after it accidentally hit a man, railways Multan spokesman Rao Tasleem told APP. In the mean time, 14-Down Awam express, that had left Multan fifteen minutes after the goods train, hit the stationary goods train, he added. He said that four coaches of Awam Express were derailed. He said that four passengers were killed and 15-16 were injured. However, Rescue 1122 spokesman Abdul Jabbar said that over 40 injured passengers were shifted to Nishtar hospital while another 51 provided first aid on the spot. Railways spokesman said that work was in progress to clear the track adding that Awam express was being brought back to Multan railway station. He said that vehicles have been arranged for transportation of rest of the passengers to their respective destinations by road. Rescue 1122 official said that incident occurred around 3:40 to 3:50 am today near Buch railway station. Around 250 rescuers and 25 ambulances from Multan, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh and Lodhran were participating in the rescue operation, he said. Rescuers have so far shifted 44 injured persons to Nishtar hospital. Rescuers were now busy in search operation to look if any one else was stuck inside the train. Meanwhile, MS Nishtar hospital Dr. Ashiq Malik appealed the people to donate blood to save lives of the injured persons. Emergency has been declared at Nishtar and Shahbaz Sharif hospital where doctors and paramedical staff were busy in providing treatment to the injured. Those who died included Nasir (23) s/o Allah Daad r/o Rahimyar Khan, Sardar s/o Ilyas r/o Rahimyar Khan and an unknown person of the age of 55 years, Abdul Jabbar said. Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has directed the authorities concerned to probe into train accident within 72 hours. While expressing grief and sorrow over the train accident, he said the main line will soon be restored and those injured will be sent to their destination points after recovery, Radio Pakistan reported. CEO Pakistan Railways Javed Anwar said that the heirs of those killed and the injured will be given compensation. An inquiry committee headed by Additional General Manager (AGM) traffic was constituted, to probe into accident, occurred between Awam Express and goods train, near Multan Railways station on Thursday early morning. According to DCO Tahir Marwat, the responsibility cannot be fixed at the moment as it is too early. He said that the reason behind the accident would be fixed by an inquiry team headed by AGM traffic Railways, which will be held in Lahore. He said that railways would give compensation allowance to the dead and injured people, after recommendation of a board, constituted by a doctors team of the Railways department. He said that a counter was set up for giving out any further information and all medical facilities being provided to the injured. —APP[SEP]Pakistan train crash kills at least six, injures more than 150 - Geo TV ISLAMABAD, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A Karachi-bound express train collided with a freight train in Pakistan's central Punjab region early on Thursday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 150, Geo TV said. The Awam Express hit a stationary cargo train about 25 km (15 miles) from the city of Multan, Geo TV said, citing local officials. Four carriages were overturned. There was a delay in the emergency response due to Eid holidays in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation of 190 million people. Pakistan's colonial era railway network has fallen into disrepair in recent decades due to chronic under investment and poor maintenance. About 130 people were killed in July 2005 when a train rammed into another at a station in Sindh province, and a third train hit the wreckage. (Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Nick Macfie)[SEP]MULTAN: Four passengers were killed and more than 150 sustained injuries after Karachi-bound Awam Express collided with a goods train in Multan early Thursday morning. The Karachi-bound goods train had stopped near Buch railway station after it accidentally hit a man, railways Multan spokesman Rao Tasleem told APP. In the mean time, 14-Down Awam express, that had left Multan fifteen minutes after the goods train, hit the stationary goods train, he added. He said that four coaches of Awam Express were derailed. He said that four passengers were killed and 15-16 were injured. However, Rescue 1122 spokesman Abdul Jabbar said that over 40 injured passengers were shifted to Nishtar hospital while another 51 provided first aid on the spot. Railways spokesman said that work was in progress to clear the track adding that Awam express was being brought back to Multan railway station. He said that vehicles have been arranged for transportation of rest of the passengers to their respective destinations by road. Rescue 1122 official said that incident occurred around 3:40 to 3:50 am today near Buch railway station. Around 250 rescuers and 25 ambulances from Multan, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh and Lodhran were participating in the rescue operation, he said. Rescuers have so far shifted 44 injured persons to Nishtar hospital. Rescuers were now busy in search operation to look if any one else was stuck inside the train. Meanwhile, MS Nishtar hospital Dr. Ashiq Malik appealed the people to donate blood to save lives of the injured persons. Emergency has been declared at Nishtar and Shahbaz Sharif hospital where doctors and paramedical staff were busy in providing treatment to the injured. Those who died included Nasir (23) s/o Allah Daad r/o Rahimyar Khan, Sardar s/o Ilyas r/o Rahimyar Khan and an unknown person of the age of 55 years, Abdul Jabbar said.[SEP]At least six passengers have been killed in a train accident near the Pakistani city of Multan, officials said early Thursday. Rescue official Kalim Ullah said more than 100 passengers were also hurt in the predawn crash Thursday when a Karachi-bound train collided with a freight train at Sher Shah, a town near Multan. Railway official Saima Bashir confirmed the accident, which she said may have been caused by suspected negligence on the part of passenger train engineer. She said the freight train had stopped so the driver could remove the body of a man who had been crushed to death while crossing the railway track. She said the passenger train hit the freight train from behind. The injured passengers have been taken to local hospitals. The $.7-billion pipeline that became a rallying cry for tribes across America Obama alternates a supportive message for Hillary Clinton with tough words for Donald Trump The complicated immigration history of Melania Trump: Tourist visas, then work visas[SEP]MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — At least six passengers were killed and more than 100 others were hurt Thursday when a passenger train collided with a freight train near the central Pakistan city of Multan, rescuers and a railway officials said. The pre-dawn accident happened near the town of Sher Khan in Punjab province 15 minutes after the freight train stopped after hitting a man on the track, railway official Saima Bashir said. Bashir said the freight train had stopped so its driver could remove the body of the man who had been crushed to death while crossing the railway track, The freight train was then hit from behind by the passenger train. "The driver of the passenger train did not see the red signal which went up after the man was crushed to death by the freight train," she said. Bashir said authorities have ordered a probe to determine the exact cause of accident, but initial investigations suggest the driver of passenger train was at fault for the crash. Rescue official Kalim Ullah said six bodies and more than 100 injured passengers were taken to hospitals, and that some of the injured passengers were listed in a critical condition. TV footage showed derailed cars and wreckage of the train as ambulances rushed away. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a statement expressed sympathies for the families of the dead and injured. Train accidents are common in Pakistan, where tracks and bridges are often poorly maintained.[SEP]The Awam Express hit a stationary cargo train about 25 km (15 miles) from the city of Multan, Geo TV said, citing local officials. Four carriages were overturned. There was a delay in the emergency response due to Eid holidays in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation of 190 million people. Pakistan's colonial era railway network has fallen into disrepair in recent decades due to chronic under investment and poor maintenance. About 130 people were killed in July 2005 when a train rammed into another at a station in Sindh province, and a third train hit the wreckage.[SEP]MULTAN, Pakistan: At least four people were killed and more than 100 injured when two trains collided in central Pakistan early on Thursday, officials said. The accident occurred near the city of Multan around 2:30 a.m. when the Karachi-bound “Awami Express” passenger train rammed into a goods train that had stopped after running over a man crossing the railway track. “At least four people have been killed and scores others wounded,” local district administration official Nadir Chattha told reporters. TV footage showed rescue officials working around crumpled and overturned bogies in the darkness. Chatta said several trapped passengers had to be extracted from their carriages. A three-day public holiday for the festival of Eid ul-Adha ended on Wednesday, with many returning from their family homes to the cities where they work. Railway official Saima Bashir blamed the accident on the passenger train driver, saying he failed to heed a red signal that went up after the goods train had stopped. Train accidents are common in Pakistan, which inherited thousands of miles of track and trains from former colonial power, Britain. The railways have seen decades of decline due to corruption, mismanagement and lack of investment. Last November, 19 people were killed in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province after a train’s brakes failed and it sped down the side of a mountain. In July 2015, at least 17 people were killed when a special military train fell into a canal after a bridge partially collapsed.
The Awam Express train collides with a freight train near the Pakistani city of Multan killing at least six people and injuring another 150.
Two foreign tourists were killed and about 20 other people were injured in an explosion Thursday on a speedboat that was ferrying them from the Indonesian tourist island of Bali to neighboring Lombok, police said. Karangasem district police chief Sugeng Sudarso said the "Gili Cat 2" fast boat had about 40 people including crew on board. He said all the passengers have been evacuated and the injured are being treated on the island. He said the dead are an Austrian woman and a woman of European nationality who police initially said was German. Police have not yet determined the cause of the explosion, but a member of the forensics team investigating the scene said initial indications are it was an accident. The officer didn't want to be named because he is not an official police spokesman. Sudarso said the explosion occurred after smoke was seen billowing from an engine. Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago made up of thousands of islands where regulation of boat services is often lax. Sudarso said the explosion, which occurred when the boat was about 200 meters (220 yards) from the port of departure, shattered its rear windows and upended seating. "We are still questioning the boat captain while a forensic team is examining the scene to find the cause of the explosion," he said. "One of the passengers died from bad injuries after being hit by boat debris that also caused injuries to others," Sudarso said. A manifest showed that passengers were from several countries including Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain. Bali became a byword for tragedy in 2002 when bombings by Jemaah Islamiyah militants killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. A sustained security crackdown since then has weakened JI but counter-terrorism officials say there is still a threat of attacks from militants inspired by the Islamic State group. ——— This story has corrected to fix the district police chief's name to Sugeng Sudarso instead of Bambang Sudarso.[SEP]Twenty people were taken to hospital for injuries sustained in a boat explosion, which killed one other passenger, on Thursday, according to the Denpasar Port Health Office (KKP). The explosion occurred at 9:35 a.m. local time just after the Gili Cat 2 speed boat departed from Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali, for several destinations, including Gili Trawangan in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. KKP’s Padangbai office coordinator Putu Swardiana said the incident happened only 200 meters from Padangbai Port. “Witnesses saw smoke emanating from an area near the boat’s engine. It was reported that a liquid tank exploded,” he told The Jakarta Post. Putu further said the Gili Cat 2 was carrying 35 passengers, all were foreign citizens. He said 15 victims were taken to Penta Medika clinic in Manggis village, Karangasem, around three kilometers from Padangbai Port. Five other passengers were taken to Manggis community health center (Puskesmas) while one other was rushed to Klungkung Hospital after sustaining a fractured backbone. “One female passenger taken to Penta Medika clinic died. We have not yet identified the victim but it is suspected that she is a German citizen,” said Putu, adding that all victims at Penta Medika clinic had been referred to several hospitals in Denpasar. Karangasem Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sugeng Sudarso said police were currently investigating the cause of the incident. “The police’s forensic laboratory personnel have been dispatched to the incident’s site,” he said. Four crew members were on board when the incident occurred. They comprised boat captain Totok Wasito, engineer Sugiarto and deckhands Nyoman Supartika and Kadek Kris. (ebf) Under investigation: Police have sealed off the Gili Cat 2 speed boat after an explosion on the vessel injured 20 people and killed one on Sept. 15. (JP/Ni Komang Erviani) -- Correction: The article's previous edition contained an error. We reported the name of the boat as the "Gini Cat 2". Its proper name is the "Gili Cat 2", which we have corrected. -Editor[SEP]Police rule out attack as cause of Bali boat explosion BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian police said Friday there is no indication that a terror attack was the cause of a tourist boat explosion in Bali that killed two people and injured about 20 others. Karangasem district police chief Sugeng Sudarso said investigators believe a fuel leak below deck caused a buildup of fumes that ignited, though the finding is provisional. Sudarso and Bali police spokesman Made Sudana said there was no sign of terrorism and a bomb squad did not find any explosive materials. Police investigators examine the Gili Cat 2 boat following an explosion while it was enroute to nearby island of Lombok, at Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Police on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali said Thursday a German woman was killed and about 20 other people injured in an explosion on a speed boat ferrying them to neighboring Lombok. (AP Photo) Investigators have recovered body parts and continue to examine the boat, Sudarso said. Police on the popular tourist island of Bali have given conflicting accounts of the nationalities of the two women killed in Thursday's explosion but now say one was from Austria and the other from Spain. Sanglah Hospital gave the same information for the nationalities and said the Austrian woman was 28. About 20 people were injured on the speedboat that was ferrying tourists from Bali to neighboring Lombok. Bali became a byword for tragedy in 2002 when bombings by Jemaah Islamiyah militants killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. A sustained security crackdown since then has weakened JI but counter-terrorism officials say there is still a threat of attacks from radicals inspired by the Islamic State group. Police investigators examine the Gili Cat 2 boat following an explosion while it was enroute to nearby island of Lombok, at Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Police on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali said Thursday a German woman was killed and about 20 other people injured in an explosion on a speed boat ferrying them to neighboring Lombok. (AP Photo)[SEP]An explosion on a ferry carrying 35 tourists between the Indonesian resort islands of Bali and Lombok on Thursday killed two people, an Indonesian and a Dutch national, and injured 13, police said. ‘Two of them died, 13 were injured,’ Bali police spokesman Made Sudana said, adding the explosion happened off the coast of Lombok. ‘It seems there was some sort of explosion on the boat, so there was an emergency with the engine.’ Tourists on board included Australian, Korean, British, French, and German citizens, according to media. Bali and neighbouring Lombok are two of Indonesia’s most popular holiday destinations.[SEP]BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Police on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali said Thursday a German woman was killed and about 20 other people injured in an explosion on a speed boat ferrying them to neighboring Lombok. Karangasem district police chief Bambang Sudarso said the "Gili Cat 2" fast boat had more than 40 people including crew on board. He said all the passengers have been evacuated and the injured are being treated at a local medical clinic. The explosion occurred about 200 meters (220 yards) from the port of departure, Padang Bai, and was preceded by smoke billowing from the engine, he said. "One of the passengers died from bad injuries after being hit by boat debris that also caused injuries in others," Sudarso said. Aside from Germany, a manifest showed that passengers were from several other countries, including Britain, France, Italy and Spain.[SEP]DENPASAR -- An explosion hit a tourist boat as it departed the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Thursday, killing one foreign woman and injuring 14 other foreigners, police said. The blast in the speedboat carrying about 30 passengers appeared to have happened in the fuel tank, said police, adding it was not caused by a bomb. Indonesia has a poor maritime safety record and there have been similar incidents in the past where no foul play was detected. Authorities said the woman killed on the boat, which was heading for the nearby holiday island of Gili Trawangan, was a foreigner but that they were verifying her identity before releasing more details. The dead woman and the 14 injured tourists were taken to medical centres on the island, with TV footage showing dazed, bloodied passengers lying on hospital beds and being carried into ambulances on stretchers. A manifest provided by authorities showed that among the passengers were 17 Britons, and smaller numbers of foreigners from France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain. The boat, which was also carrying four crew, and had just left Padang Bai port in eastern Bali on Thursday morning when the blast occurred. "The explosion happened five minutes after the boat departed," local police chief Sugeng Sudarso told AFP, adding the vessel had been about 200 metres (yards) from the port.[SEP]An explosion on a speedboat in Bali left two foreigners dead and 18 other tourists injured Thursday, sparking dramatic scenes as rescuers rushed to haul stunned and bloodied holidaymakers off the vessel. Dazed passengers, many covered in cuts and bruises, were taken to medical centres on the Indonesian holiday island after the blast, with TV footage showing them being carried on stretchers to ambulances and lying in hospital beds. An Austrian woman was killed along with a second female foreigner, whose nationality was still being verified. Nationals from Briton, France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain were also on the boat at the time of the blast. It appeared to be an accident with the explosion occurring in the fuel tank. The bomb squad was initially deployed to the scene on an island that has suffered bloody Islamist militant attacks in the past, but authorities quickly ruled out an attack. Indonesia has a poor maritime safety record and regularly suffers fatal boat accidents but serious incidents around Bali — which attracts millions of foreign visitors each year — are rare. The speedboat, which was carrying some 30 foreign tourists and four crew, had just left Padang Bai port in eastern Bali on Thursday morning when the blast occurred. “The explosion happened five minutes after the boat departed,” local police chief Sugeng Sudarso told AFP, adding the vessel had been about 200 metres (yards) from the port. One woman died from head injuries soon after the blast while the Austrian woman died later in hospital, he said. Sudarso said he believed a malfunctioning battery near the fuel tank may have caused the accident. “Based on the testimony (from passengers) and from what I saw at the scene, the explosion came from the fuel tank,” he said. “Above it was a battery, maybe there was a short circuit that affected the fuel tank.” The British embassy in Jakarta said it was providing assistance to those affected by the explosion. The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is heavily dependent on ferry services but the industry has a poor safety record and fatal accidents are common. Last year, dozens of tourists were injured when small explosions hit a ferry crossing between Bali and the neighbouring holiday island of Lombok. The explosions, determined to be an accident, were thought to have come from the fuel tank of the ferry, which was carrying 129 passengers, most of them tourists. However fears have also been growing in Indonesia that radicals who have headed to fight with the Islamic State group in the Middle East could encourage supporters back home to mount attacks, or may do so themselves on their return. In January, a gun and suicide bomb attack claimed by IS in the capital Jakarta left four attackers and four civilians dead. Bali has been attacked by Islamic radicals before. In 2002, more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in bombings on the island. A sustained crackdown following the Bali bombings had weakened the most dangerous networks but IS has proved a potent new rallying cry for the country’s extremists. A pocket of Hinduism in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors every year due to its palm-fringed, tropical beaches and picture-postcard temples.[SEP]A Spanish woman on her honeymoon was killed in an explosion on a Bali tourist boat that left another foreigner dead and about 20 injured, officials said Friday. The blast hit the speedboat carrying about 35 mostly European tourists shortly after it departed the Indonesian holiday island Thursday, smashing the rear window and sending debris flying through the vessel. Officials say it was an accident likely caused by a problem with the fuel tank, and ruled out foul play on the island that has been hit by bloody Islamist militant bombings in the past. An Austrian woman died soon after the explosion. A second tourist died later from her injuries in hospital and authorities confirmed Friday the victim was a 29-year-old Spanish woman, whose husband was also hurt in the blast. Vanesa Pascual and her 31-year-old husband, who lived near Madrid, had been on honeymoon in Bali following their wedding at the start of September, according to local authorities in Spain. "I can confirm that a Spanish woman died," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told Spanish television. "Her husband is being operated on." A total of 23 foreign tourists were injured in the blast on the boat, which was also carrying nationals from countries including Britain, France, Italy, Portugal and Ireland. The speedboat, which was carrying four crew, had just left Padang Bai port in Bali on Thursday morning en route to the holiday island of Gili Trawangan when the blast occurred. On Friday Bali police were examining the scene of the accident and questioning the boat crew and some of the foreign passengers. Police spokesman Anak Agung Ngurah Sedana said they were trying to determine the cause of the accident and assess whether negligence was to blame. The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is heavily dependent on ferry services but the industry has a poor safety record and fatal accidents are common. Last year, dozens of tourists were injured when small explosions hit a ferry crossing between Bali and the neighbouring holiday island of Lombok. A pocket of Hinduism in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors every year due to its palm-fringed, tropical beaches and picture-postcard temples.[SEP]Two Irish people are understood to have been on board a tourist boat in Bali which was hit by an explosion on Thursday. Initial reports from local police said the ferry carrying 35 tourists between the Indonesian resort islands of Bali and Lombok on Thursday killed two people, an Indonesian and a Dutch national, and injured 13. However, subsequent reports from the scene said a German woman was killed in the blast and 20 people were injured when the ferry blew up near a port in the east of the island. It added that more than 40 people were on board the Gili Cat 2 ferry. The Irish tourists on board the boat are not believed to have been injured in the blast. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the incident but there had been no request for consular assistance. He added that there was “no immediate concern for any Irish citizens” caught up in the incident but that department officials would be available to assist if required. All the passengers on board the ferry were evacuated with the injured being treated at a local medical centre, Karangasem police chief Bambang Sudarso told reporters. “One of the passengers died from bad injuries after being hit by boat debris that also caused injuries in others,” he said. There were unconfirmed reports that a second person had died. The boat was travelling to the small island of Gili Trawangan, off neighbouring Lombok, and was carrying tourists from the Republic of Ireland, Britain, Australia, Germany, France and South Korea. Police are now questioning the boat’s captain. Images circulated on social media appeared to show bloodied passengers in lifeboats and others being helped by crew and locals on the Indonesian island. The UK foreign office said it is assisting British holidaymakers affected by the explosion. A faulty battery may have sparked the blast, which happened just 200 metres from the departure port of Padang Bai harbour, reports suggested. Bali and neighbouring Lombok are two of Indonesia’s most popular holiday destinations.[SEP]DENPASAR, Indonesia: An explosion hit a tourist boat as it departed the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Thursday, killing one foreign woman and injuring 19 other foreigners, police said. The blast in the speedboat carrying about 30 passengers appeared to have happened in the fuel tank, said police, adding it was not caused by a bomb. Indonesia has a poor maritime safety record and there were similar incidents in the past where no foul play was detected. Authorities said the woman killed on the boat, which was heading for the nearby holiday island of Gili Trawangan, was a foreigner but that they were verifying her identity before releasing more details. The dead woman and the 19 injured tourists were taken to medical centers on the island, with TV footage showing dazed, bloodied passengers lying on hospital beds and being carried into ambulances on stretchers. A manifest provided by authorities showed that among the passengers were 17 Britons, and smaller numbers of foreigners from France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain. The boat, which was also carrying four crew, and had just left Padang Bai port in eastern Bali on Thursday morning when the blast occurred. “The explosion happened five minutes after the boat departed,” local police chief Sugeng Sudarso told Agence-France Presse, adding the vessel had been about 200 meters (yards) from the port. Not caused by a bomb Teams of police and the bomb squad were initially deployed to investigate but Sudarso later ruled out a bomb as the cause. “Based on the testimony [from passengers]and from what I saw at the scene, the explosion came from the fuel tank,” he said. “Above it was a battery, maybe there was a short circuit that affected the fuel tank,” he added. The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is heavily dependent on ferry services but the industry has a poor safety record and fatal accidents are common. Last year, dozens of tourists were injured when small explosions hit a ferry crossing between Bali and the neighboring holiday island of Lombok. The explosions were an accident and thought to have come from the fuel tank of the ferry, which was carrying 129 passengers, most of them tourists. However, fears have also been growing in Indonesia that radicals who have headed to fight with the Islamic State (IS) group in the Middle East could encourage supporters back home to launch attacks, or may launch attacks themselves on their return. In January, a gun and suicide bomb attack claimed by IS in the capital Jakarta left four attackers and four civilians dead. Bali has been attacked by Islamic radicals before. In 2002, more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in bombings on the island. A sustained crackdown following the Bali bombings had weakened the most dangerous networks but IS has proved a potent new rallying cry for the country’s extremists. A pocket of Hinduism in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors every year because pf its palm-fringed, tropical beaches and picture-postcard temples.
An explosion on a tourist speed boat kills two people and injures 20 others shortly after departing from the Indonesian port of Padangbai in Karangasem, Bali.
Author: European Council. The Council prolonged by 6 months the application of EU restrictive measures targeting actions against Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. These sanctions consist of an asset freeze and a travel ban against 146 persons and 37 entities. They have been extended until 15 March 2017. The measures had been introduced in March 2014 and were last extended in March 2016.The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the regime of sanctions nor in the list of persons and entities under restrictive measures. Information and statement of reasons for listing related to these persons and entities were updated as necessary. The legal acts are available in the EU Official Journal of 16 September 2016. The decision was adopted by written procedure. Several EU measures are in place in response to the crisis in Ukraine including: – economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until 31 January 2017; – restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, currently in place until 23 June 2017.[SEP]The former leader of Catalonia, who led the Spanish region to a declaration of independence last year and subsequently fled to Belgium, has said he will not seek to regain his former post "for the time being." Madrid (dpa) - Renouncing a[SEP]BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is extending for six months the sanctions targeting people and entities involved in what the EU considers Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The extension, officially announced Thursday, consists of an asset freeze and a ban on EU travel, and affects 146 individuals and 37 entities. The measures, originally introduced in 2014, were last extended in March, the EU said in a statement. The latest action endorsed by representatives from the 28 EU member states means the punitive measures can remain in force through March 15, 2017. European Union leaders have strongly condemned Russia's annexation of Crimea. The people and entities subject to EU sanctions are deemed to have acted "against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence."[SEP]MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has inspected construction work on a mammoth bridge intended to link the Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia. Putin, who was in the Crimean city of Kerch Thursday, visited the construction site for the 19-kilometer (12-miles) bridge across the Kerch Strait set to open in December 2018 After annexing Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, Russia has moved to improve the Black Sea peninsula's transport and energy infrastructure. Those efforts have grown more urgent as the Ukrainian government last year barred all commercial transport from crossing into Crimea via a strip of Ukrainian land. Russia has also laid undersea power cables to Crimea to end its reliance on Ukraine. Crimea last year experienced severe shortages after anti-Russia protesters in Ukraine blocked power supplies. From left, Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev listen to Crimean Museum director Tatyana Umrikhina in Kerch, Crimea on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to hold a Presidential Security Council meeting and attend an event at the Kerch Bridge site. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) From right, Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crimean Museum director Tatyana Umrikhina and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev walk in Kerch, Crimea on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to hold a Presidential Security Council meeting and attend an event at the Kerch Bridge site. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)[SEP]While his nation waded deeper into the Syrian civil war, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, spent his 63rd birthday on the ice Wednesday, October 7, playing hockey with NHL stars and various Russian officials and tycoons in Sochi. For years, Russia's leader has cultivated a populist image in the Russian media. Putin holds a cat as he inspects housing built for victims of wildfires in the village of Krasnopolye, in a region in southeastern Siberia, Russia, on Friday, September 4. Putin, left, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev jokingly toast at a lunch during a meeting at the Black Sea resort in Sochi, Russia, on Sunday, August 30. Putin exercises during his meeting with Medvedev on August 30. Putin sits in a bathyscaphe as it plunges into the Black Sea along the coast of Sevastopol, Crimea, on Tuesday, August 18. Putin went underwater to see the wreckage of an ancient merchant ship that was found in the end of May. Putin holds a Persian leopard cub in February 2014 at a breeding and rehabilitation center in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Perhaps the most important vote in Russia's public selection of a new Olympic mascot was cast when Putin said he wanted a funky leopard to represent the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Putin holds a pike he caught in the Siberian Tuva region of Russia on July 20, 2013. Putin enjoys some fishing during his vacation to the Tuva region on July 20, 2013. Putin submerges on board Sea Explorer 5 bathyscaphe near the isle of Gogland in the Gulf of Finland on July 15, 2013. Putin studies a crane during an experiment called Flight of Hope on September 5, 2012, in which he piloted a hang glider, aiming to lead the birds into flight. It's part of a project to save the rare species of crane. Putin takes part in a training session for young ice hockey players before the "Golden Puck" youth tournament final in Moscow on April 15, 2011. Putin rides a Harley-Davidson to an international biker convention in southern Ukraine on July 14, 2010. The Russian president aims at a whale with an arbalest (crossbow) to take a piece of its skin for analysis at Olga Bay on August 25, 2010. A wetsuit-clad Putin embarks on a dive to an underwater archaeological site at Phanagoria on the Taman Peninsula on August 10, 2011. Famed for his love of martial arts, Putin throws a competitor in a judo session at an athletics school in St. Petersburg on December 18, 2009. Putin during his vacation in southern Siberia on August 3, 2009. Putin swims the butterfly during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in southern Siberia on August 3, 2009. Assisted by a Russian scientist, Putin fixes a satellite transmitter to a tiger during his visit to the Ussuriysky forest reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Far East on August 31, 2008.[SEP]Slovakia's Fico says Ukraine doing less than Russia to meet Minsk deal BRATISLAVA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Ukraine is doing less than Russia to meet its obligations under the Minsk peace plan, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Saturday, stepping up calls for the European Union to end sanctions against Moscow. Fico said sanctions have been ineffective while harming European Union and member Slovakia's economic interests. But added he would respect EU solidarity on the issue. "When speaking about the implementation of the Minsk agreement, it needs to be said clearly that both parties are violating it. Actually, if we were to do an inventory of how Ukraine is meeting it, you would have to say Ukraine is meeting it even less than Russia," Fico told Reuters in an interview. "With the Minsk agreement (to bring peace in Ukraine), it is necessary to take stock. It is not true that Ukraine is the good guy and Russia is the bad guy," he said. The EU imposed energy, financial and defence sanctions on Moscow after it annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and agreed in June to extend them until the end of January. Fico has repeatedly called for the end of the sanctions, most recently after meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in August. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a phone call on Saturday to do his part in implementing the peace plan. "The Chancellor expressed the opinion that the coming weeks must be used to take a decisive step forward," a German government spokeswoman said, adding Merkel told Poroshenko it was essential that both Russia and Ukraine demonstrated the political will to reach an agreement. Merkel said last month there was no reason to lift sanctions as Russia has not fulfilled its commitments under the Minsk agreements aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine where Kiev and the West say Russia is arming and supporting separatist rebels. Germany's Social Democrats, junior partner in Merkel's ruling coalition, have adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow than her conservative bloc. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a senior SPD member, has said the EU should gradually phase out sanctions imposed against Russia over the Ukraine crisis if there is substantial progress in the peace process. But Merkel insists the sanctions can only be lifted once the peace agreement is fully implemented, not partially. Fico said on Saturday the sanctions had done nothing to change Russian policy. "Sanctions are harming the EU and Russia and they help the United States. I reject them but at the same time I won't break the unity of the EU on that," he said. Slovakia holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of this year. The central European country imports almost all its gas and oil from Russia, as well as nuclear fuel to generate two power plants. It exports cars to Russia, though these are just a fraction of its exports to the EU. Some neighbouring countries have also questioned the use of sanctions on Russia. Hungary has taken a similar line as Slovakia. Czech President Milos Zeman has also repeatedly called for ending sanctions. (Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Dominic Evans)[SEP]“In the walls of the cubicle there were three tens of thousands throughout the building. … For some reason they were nicknamed memory holes.” WASHINGTON — Documents inconvenient to the regime went into the Ministry of Truth’s slits and down to “enormous furnaces.” Modern tyrannies depend on state control of national memories — retroactive truths established by government fiat. Which is why Russia’s Supreme Court recently upheld the conviction of a blogger for violating Article 354.1 of Russia’s criminal code. This May 2014 provision criminalizes the “Rehabilitation of Nazism.” The blogger’s crime was to write: “The communists and Germany jointly invaded Poland, sparking off the Second World War.” The secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact have gone down one of Vladimir Putin’s memory holes. The pact was signed Aug. 23, 1939. On Sept. 1, Germany invaded Poland. Sixteen days later, the Soviet Union invaded from the east. Poland was carved up in accordance with the secret protocols, and about six months later Soviet occupiers were conducting the Katyn Forest Massacre of 25,700 Polish military officers, officials, priests and intellectuals. Although in 2009 Putin denounced the pact as “collusion to solve one’s problems at others’ expense,” in 2015 he defended it as Stalin’s means of buying time to prepare for the Nazi onslaught. This fable is refuted by, among other facts, this: Stalin did not prepare. When Germany’s ambassador in Moscow informed Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov that their nations were now at war, a stunned Molotov asked, “What have we done to deserve this?” The Russian Supreme Court’s Orwellian ruling was that the blogger denied facts established by the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal. It convicted leading Nazis of waging aggressive war against, among others, Poland, but, in an act of victors’ justice, made no judgment against the Soviet regime, representatives of which sat on the tribunal. This accommodation to postwar political reality was necessary to enable the tribunal to function, which was necessary for civilizing vengeance. The tribunal ignored, but did not deny, the patent fact of Soviet aggression. The Russian court’s ruling is a window into the sinister continuity of Putin’s Russia and the Soviet system that incubated him. So, if the former secretary of state who aspires to the American presidency has time to read a book before Jan. 20, she should make it “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin” by Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times. It is a study of the volatile nostalgia of a man seething with resentments acquired as a KGB operative — a “devoted officer of a dying empire” — during the Soviet Union’s final years. It is a pointillist portrait painted with telling details that should cause sobriety to supplant dreams of happy policy “resets” with Russia: As a senior security official in post-Soviet Russia, Putin kept on his desk a bronze statue of “Iron Felix” Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Soviet secret police and terror apparatus. During Putin’s May 7, 2000, presidential inauguration, a choir sang a composition “written in 1836 to celebrate a soldier’s death in the war against Poland and rewritten in Soviet times … to remove the homage to the tsar. For Putin, the choir sang the Soviet verses.” There was the 2006 assassination in Moscow, on Putin’s 54th birthday, of the troublesome journalist Anna Politkovskaya. (Asked about the frequent deaths of anti-Putin journalists, Donald Trump breezily said, “I think our country does plenty of killing.”) And the 2006 poisoning in London of Putin’s antagonist Alexander Litvinenko using radioactive polonium-210. Domestically, Putin’s “managed democracy” is Stalinism leavened by kleptomania, as in the looting of the energy giant Yukos. In foreign policy, Putin’s Russia is unambiguously and unapologetically revanchist. The Soviet Union was likened to a burglar creeping down a hotel corridor until he finds an unlocked door. Putin, who found Crimea unlocked (when he honeymooned there in 1983, it seemed “a magical, sacred place to him,” writes Myers), is pushing on the door of what remains of Ukraine. Back in the day, some analysts prophesied a “convergence” between the Soviet Union and the United States, two industrial societies becoming more alike. In our day, there is indeed a growing similarity: In both places, post-factual politics are normal. George Will’s syndicated column appears Thursdays and Sundays in the Tribune-Herald. His email address is georgewill@washpost.com.
The European Union extends the asset freeze and travel ban against 146 persons and 37 entities, including close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, by six months until 15 March 2017 for the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
National Former 'DDS member' links Duterte, son Paolo to more than 1,000 murders InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 4 - 12:28 p.m.) A self-confessed member of the so-called “Davao Death Squad” recited Thursday a litany of more than a thousand murders over than three decades, including retaliatory bombings of mosques in Davao City, he claimed were carried out on orders of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his son Paolo, the incumbent vice mayor. Edgar Matubato, 57, said he appeared at the Senate inquiry into the extrajudicial killings that have accompanied the Duterte administration’s war on drugs because “I want to give justice for my crimes and to those who we, I, killed.” He estimated having killed up to 50 persons personally between 1988 to 2013, and described several of these in detail. The motives for the killings, he said, ranged from getting rid of alleged criminals to personal grudges. Among the many murders he claimed were ordered by Duterte, who went by the code name "Charlie Mike," was the ambush of broadcaster Jun Pala, a former bosom friend turned fierce critics of the then Davao mayor who was ambushed in September 2006. He also accused Paolo Duterte of ordering the 2014 murder of Cebu hotelier Richard King, supposedly because of rivalry over a woman. The two gunmen were also later killed, again supposedly on Paolo Duterte's orders. A police officer, Superintendent Leonardo Felonia, former head of the regional intelligence unit, has been charged for the King murder. Government broadcaster PTV-4 tweeted what it said was Vice Mayor Duterte's reaction to the revelations: "What De Lima and this certain Matobato say in public are bare allegations and in the absence of proof are mere hearsay. I will not dignify the accusations of a madman." Matubato also hinted that now Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, then head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force unit in Davao, knew of the murders because, at one time, the DDS was detailed to his unit. This was in 2002, he said, they abducted a foreigner and alleged terror suspect named Salim Macdum from Samal Island, taking him to a quarry in Davao City where they stabbed him dead and chopped up his body before burying him. Matubato said he was a militiaman under the Scout Rangers when he was personally recruited by Duterte in 1988 to join the “Lambada Boys,” a seven-man “liquidation squad” he said was the precursor of the DDS. The Lambada Boys, he said, was sent out to kill “criminals -- pushers, rapists, snatchers every day.” "Ang trabaho lang po namin Ma'am, pumatay lang nang pumatay ng tao (Our only job was to kill and kill people)," he told Senator Leila De Lima. Following the 1993 bombing of Davao’s San Pedro cathedral, in which seven were killed and more than 150 wounded, Matubato said Duterte ordered them to carry out grenade attacks on mosques in the city. He said he personally attacked the mosque in Bangkerohan. Later, he said, they would abduct Muslim men and murder them. By this time, Matubato said, their ranks had increased with former communist rebels who had surrendered as well as members of the city police, particularly the “heinous crimes” unit that he said was also known as “pulis ni mayor (the mayor’s police). Among the policemen Matubato linked to the DDS was Senior Police Officer 4 Arthur Lascanas, who he described as the “team leader” of the death squad and “the most powerful police officer” in Davao because of his ties to Duterte. Others were Bienvenido Laud, who owns a quarry in Ma-a district where several victims were supposedly taken to be killed and buried, many of them chopped up, a Major Lao, a Major Francia, Lascanas, and Sonny Buenventura, who he described as a security aide of Duterte’s since he was a fiscal. Both Matubato and De Lima both recalled an incident in 2009, when the senator, then chair of the Commission on Human Rights, conducted hearings on the DDS in Davao City and visited the Laud quarry where they found some human remains. Matubato said he and several DDS members were ordered, allegedly by Duterte, to ambush De Lima and her party and had positioned themselves on the hilly portion of the quarry. However, the attack was not carried out because De Lima said, "hindi na kami umabot doon (we did not reach that far)." In the 2010 elections, Matubato said when Prospero Nograles ran for mayor against Duterte, they killed four “bodyguards” of the former speaker, including a former woman barangay chairman. The four, he said, were taken to Samal where they were strangled after which their abdomens were cut open and hollow blocks placed inside their bodies before these were thrown out at sea. Duterte’s son, Paolo, on the other hand, allegedly ordered at least two hits in 2013, when he was already vice mayor-- one on a man who had angered him by accusing him of acting brave only because of his position, and another man who supposedly cut him at a gasoline station. Matubato said an elderly woman and another man were also killed in the first hit when they tried to protect the target. Another hit prompted by personal motives, Matubato claimed, was the 2013 murder of a dance instructor who was allegedly the lover of Duterte’s sister. Although he said he did not participate in the murder of Pala, Matubato said he was part of “planning” the ambush carried out by two policemen and a number of surrendered rebels. The killing was then made to appear as if Pala, who was an avid supporter of the anti-communist Alsa Masa vigilantes, had been killed by the New People’s Army. Another victim, an alleged kidnapper seized in Sarangani, was supposedly fed to crocodiles at a breeding farm in Digos, Davao del Sur.[SEP]A former Filipino militiaman testified before the country's Senate that President Rodrigo Duterte, when he was still a city mayor, ordered him and others to kill criminals and opponents that left about 1,000 dead. MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A former Filipino militiaman testified before the country’s Senate on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte, when he was still a city mayor, ordered him and other members of a liquidation squad to kill criminals and opponents in gangland-style assaults that left about 1,000 dead. Edgar Matobato, 57, told the nationally televised Senate committee hearing that he heard Duterte order some of the killings and acknowledged he himself carried out about 50 of the abductions and deadly assaults, including a man who they fed to a crocodile in 2007 in southern Davao city. The Senate committee inquiry was being led by Sen. Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign that has left more than 3,000 suspected drug users and dealers dead since he assumed the presidency in June. Duterte has accused de Lima of involvement in illegal drugs, alleging that she used to have a driver who took money from detained drug lords. She has denied the allegations. The hearing was briefly halted so senators could discuss how to provide security for Matobato because of the explosive nature of his allegations. “Our job was to kill criminals like drug pushers, rapists, snatchers,” Matobato said under oath, adding some of the targets were not criminals but opponents of Duterte and one of his sons in Davao city. Presidential spokesman Martin Andanar rejected the allegations, saying government investigations into Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao had already gone nowhere because of a lack of real evidence. There was no immediate reaction from Duterte, who has denied any role in extra-judicial killings when he was the longtime mayor of Davao and after he assumed the presidency in June. Matobato said the victims in Davao allegedly ranged from petty criminals to people associated with Duterte’s political opponents, and included a wealthy businessman who was killed in central Cebu province because of a feud with Duterte’s son over a woman. Some of the victims were shot and dumped on Davao streets or buried in three unmarked graves, he said, adding some were disposed of in the sea with their stomachs cut open so they would not float and would be eaten by fish right away. “They were killed like chickens,” said Matobato, who added he backed away from the killings after feeling guilty and entered a government witness-protection program. He left the program when Duterte became president, fearing he would be killed. Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. © 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.[SEP]PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has tagged the Alcala clan of Quezon, whose ranks include former President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala, as among the most influential personalities involved in the illegal drug trade. Duterte said he was convinced the Alcalas were involved in the illegal drug trade and took advantage of their political connections. “In Quezon, the Alcalas, publicly I will tell you, that’s true,” Duterte said before Philippine Air Force personnel at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday evening. Last month, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala and son Sajid turned themselves in to the police to clear their names after being tagged as Quezon’s top drug suspects in a police watchlist. Cerilo is the brother of Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala and of former agriculture chief Proceso Alcala. On Sunday, Cerilo’s wife Maria Fe and daughter Toni Ann were arrested in a buy-bust in the family’s house in Tayabas. The President said he won’t let the Alcalas off the hook. “Let them be, I said, so I can time it well. Because if they find out too soon, we won’t get anything out of them because of their connections: a mayor here, a governor,” Duterte said. “And to think if I didn’t become President, you would never be able to go after them,” he added. “They are surrounded by bodyguards, police, hoodlums. Even the police are scared.” Duterte has tagged a number of politicians, including Sen. Leila de Lima and a long list of mayors, governors and congressmen, of being involved in the illegal drug business in the country. In his speech, Duterte said he will release another “thick” list of alleged drug personalities, which went through “final validation.” “I have the third round and final round. Validation, it’s being done,” the President said.[SEP](CNN) He's caused outrage with inflammatory comments on the rape and murder of an Australian missionary , called US President Obama a " son of a bitch" and told police they can kill drug dealers if they fight back . Controversial former mayor Rodrigo Duterte was elected as president of the Philippines in a landslide victory on May 6, winning almost twice as much of the vote as his nearest rival. Since he won, more than 1,900 people have been killed, including 700 during police operations, as part of a vicious drug war being waged on Duterte's behalf on the streets of the Philippines. But who was the hardline Philippines leader before he became president? As mayor of Davao City, a metropolis of 1.5 million people on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, Duterte first made his name nationally for his no-nonsense approach to crime. He advocates a hard-line approach to criminals and claims to have drastically reduced Davao's previously high rates of violent crime. Duterte himself confirmed the claims during a regular live weekly TV show broadcast locally in the Philippines last year. "Me? They are saying that I'm part of a death squad? True, that's true," he said in a mix of English and Visayan, a language spoken in southern Philippines, before threatening to kill thousands more criminals and dump them into Manila Bay if he was elected president of the Philippines. When it comes to women, it's complicated Duterte came under fire for his flirty behavior on the campaign trail, as well as the large number of women in his life. He has three children from his first marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman, a partnership that has since been annulled, and currently has a common-law wife, Cielito Avancena, who is better known as Honeylet. Far from monogamous, he has publicly admitted to having as many as three girlfriends Duterte's relationships and his public behavior -- he has faced allegations of sexual harassment, after photos of him kissing women seated on his lap during the election campaign started circulating locally -- have led many to question his attitude to women. "Not ever. I have a mother, I have a daughter, I have a wife. Why would I do it? It's not an object [sic] simply because I am separated from my wife," he said. Duterte has featured in the Philippines press throughout his political career but made international headlines before the election with comments he made in a YouTube video on the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary. "I was angry she was raped, yes that was one thing. But she was so beautiful, I think the mayor should have been first. What a waste," he said of the attack, which took place in Davao City. He has repeatedly refused to apologize for the comments and told the ambassadors of the United States and Australia, two of the Philippines' closest allies, to " shut their mouth " after they criticized his "joke." He has also disowned an apology that was issued on his behalf by his political party. "We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the Pope. I wanted to call him, "Pope, (swear words), go home. Do not visit us again," he said.[SEP]Why did this happen? Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.[SEP](CNN) He's caused outrage with inflammatory comments on the rape and murder of an Australian missionary , called US President Obama a " son of a bitch" and told police they can kill drug dealers if they fight back . Controversial former mayor Rodrigo Duterte was elected as president of the Philippines in a landslide victory on May 6, winning almost twice as much of the vote as his nearest rival. Since he won, more than 1,900 people have been killed, including 700 during police operations, as part of a vicious drug war being waged on Duterte's behalf on the streets of the Philippines. But who was the hardline Philippines leader before he became president? As mayor of Davao City, a metropolis of 1.5 million people on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, Duterte first made his name nationally for his no-nonsense approach to crime. He advocates a hard-line approach to criminals and claims to have drastically reduced Davao's previously high rates of violent crime. Duterte himself confirmed the claims during a regular live weekly TV show broadcast locally in the Philippines last year. "Me? They are saying that I'm part of a death squad? True, that's true," he said in a mix of English and Visayan, a language spoken in southern Philippines, before threatening to kill thousands more criminals and dump them into Manila Bay if he was elected president of the Philippines. When it comes to women, it's complicated Duterte came under fire for his flirty behavior on the campaign trail, as well as the large number of women in his life. He has three children from his first marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman, a partnership that has since been annulled, and currently has a common-law wife, Cielito Avancena, who is better known as Honeylet. Far from monogamous, he has publicly admitted to having as many as three girlfriends Duterte's relationships and his public behavior -- he has faced allegations of sexual harassment, after photos of him kissing women seated on his lap during the election campaign started circulating locally -- have led many to question his attitude to women. "Not ever. I have a mother, I have a daughter, I have a wife. Why would I do it? It's not an object [sic] simply because I am separated from my wife," he said. Duterte has featured in the Philippines press throughout his political career but made international headlines before the election with comments he made in a YouTube video on the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary. "I was angry she was raped, yes that was one thing. But she was so beautiful, I think the mayor should have been first. What a waste," he said of the attack, which took place in Davao City. He has repeatedly refused to apologize for the comments and told the ambassadors of the United States and Australia, two of the Philippines' closest allies, to " shut their mouth " after they criticized his "joke." He has also disowned an apology that was issued on his behalf by his political party. "We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the Pope. I wanted to call him, "Pope, (swear words), go home. Do not visit us again," he said.[SEP]PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has tagged the Alcala clan of Quezon, whose ranks include former President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala, as among the most influential personalities involved in the illegal drug trade. Duterte said he was convinced the Alcalas were involved in the illegal drug trade and took advantage of their political connections. “In Quezon, the Alcalas, publicly I will tell you, that’s true,” Duterte said before Philippine Air Force personnel at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday evening. Last month, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala and son Sajid turned themselves in to the police to clear their names after being tagged as Quezon’s top drug suspects in a police watchlist. Cerilo is the brother of Quezon Rep. Vicente Alcala and of former agriculture chief Proceso Alcala. On Sunday, Cerilo’s wife Maria Fe and daughter Toni Ann were arrested in a buy-bust in the family’s house in Tayabas. The President said he won’t let the Alcalas off the hook. “Let them be, I said, so I can time it well. Because if they find out too soon, we won’t get anything out of them because of their connections: a mayor here, a governor,” Duterte said. “And to think if I didn’t become President, you would never be able to go after them,” he added. “They are surrounded by bodyguards, police, hoodlums. Even the police are scared.” Duterte has tagged a number of politicians, including Sen. Leila de Lima and a long list of mayors, governors and congressmen, of being involved in the illegal drug business in the country. In his speech, Duterte said he will release another “thick” list of alleged drug personalities, which went through “final validation.” “I have the third round and final round. Validation, it’s being done,” the President said.[SEP]ANTI-COMMIE. Journalist Jun Pala was known for his anti-Communist stance. Graphic by Nico Villarete MANILA, Philippines – A key witness during a Senate probe into the rise of killings in the government's war on drugs said on Thursday, September 15, that President Rodrigo Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, ordered the killing of broadcaster Jun Pala in 2003. Speaking under oath during Thursday's Senate probe, Edgar Matobato said that Duterte, through his supposed "right hand man," a certain Arthur Lascañas, ordered Pala killed because the Davao-based radio commentator had been criticizing Duterte repeatedly. On September 6, 2003, Pala was gunned down by unknown men on a motorcycle in Davao City. He sustained 9 gunshot wounds, mostly on his chest and head, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Pedro Hospital. His murder remains unsolved. Shortly after he won the May 2016 presidential race, Duterte said in press conference that journalists are legitimate targets of assassination "if you're a son of a bitch." One of these people "who deserved it," he said then, was broadcaster Jun Pala. (READ: Duterte's 'enemy': Jun Pala) – with reports from Jodesz Gavilan/Rappler.com[SEP]In an extraordinary hearing in the Philippine Senate, a witness claimed President Rodrigo Duterte paid him to carry out executions that involved, among other things, feeding a body to a crocodile, chopping up corpses and murder by packing tape. The witness, Edgar Matobato, spoke to Filipino lawmakers at Senate hearings investigating a recent wave of extra-judicial killings that has claimed more than 3,000 lives as part of the president's anti-drug campaign. Matobato said he spent years working as part of the so-called "Davao Death Squad," a group of killers associated with the president's time as a city mayor. Matobato's claims, which have not been independently confirmed, linked President Duterte and his son, Paolo Duterte, to a list of crimes worthy of a gangster film. He said he and fellow assassins referred to then-mayor Duterte using the code name, "Charlie Mike," and he ordered them to kill dozens of people ranging from drug pushers, to the dance-instructor boyfriend of Duterte's sister, to a millionaire hotelier. "People in Davao City were like chickens - they were being killed without any reason," said Matobato. The hearing's chair, Senator Leila de Lima, is a longtime critic of Duterte's human rights record. She said she saw the testimony as a step toward truth and justice for victims of the president's alleged purges, past and present. "People deserve to know," she said. A Duterte ally present at the hearing, Senator Alan Cayetano, dismissed Matobato's sworn testimony as "lies," questioning his credibility and casting the whole process as a politically motivated plot against the president. A spokesman for the president denied the allegation. The dramatic scene at the Senate on Thursday showed a country divided at home and struggling to keep its balance on the global stage. Duterte swept to power this spring promising to crackdown on crime, just as he did as the longtime mayor of Davao, where he earned a reputation for strongman tactics and was christened "the death squad mayor" for allegedly overseeing extra-judicial killings. During this year's campaign Duterte did not shy away from his "death squad" moniker, promising he would kill 100,000 criminals in six months. "When I become president, I'll order the police and the military to find these people and kill them. The funeral parlors will be packed. . . I'll supply the dead bodies," he said. Since he took office in July, some 3,000 people have been murdered. Duterte initially seemed to urge the killers on, but has more recently tried to distance himself from extra-judicial killings and summary executions. The deaths have been condemned by the United Nations and questioned by President Barack Obama. Duterte has shrugged off all criticism, instead railing against U.S. colonialism in the saltiest possible terms. The president's undiplomatic comments and erratic approach to foreign policy has the U.S. worried. The Philippines, a onetime U.S. colony, is a close ally of the United States. With China pressing its claims to most of the South China Sea, the U.S. and Philippine sides have for several years been moving toward greater military cooperation. But Duterte's rise puts that in question. After his profanity-laced comments about Obama at a recent summit, Duterte called for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from the island of Mindanao. He also announced he will buy weapons from the Chinese. Duterte has yet to comment on Wednesday's hearing.[SEP](CNN) Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's office has denied accusations that Duterte ordered a militia group to carry out extrajudicial killings while he was mayor of Davao City. The claims were made by a witness who was testifying Thursday before a Philippines Senate committee set up to probe alleged extrajudicial killings in the three months since Duterte became president. The man, who identified himself as Edgar Matobato, testified that he was part of the 300-member "Davao Death Squad" (DDS), which he alleges was run on the orders of Duterte. Matobato testified the DDS killed alleged drug dealers and criminals in the southern city of Davao, on the order of Duterte when he was mayor, between 1988 and 2013. More than 1,000 were killed in Davao City alone, he claimed. Edgar Matobato answers questions as he testifies before the Philippine Senate in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines on Thursday Sept. 15, 2016. When asked by a reporter if he thought Duterte was capable of giving such directive, Martin Andanar said: "The Commission on Human Rights already conducted an investigation years ago, when the President was still a Mayor, and charges were not filed, they did not see any direct evidence." Last year, Duterte addressed claims he was part of a death squad during a regular live weekly TV show broadcast locally in the Philippines. He later retracted that statement in a press conference, telling reporters there were "no Davao death squads," but the allegations remain and numerous local and international human rights groups have repeatedly criticized his record. Matobato testified the death squad started out as a "liquidation squad" called "Lambada Boys," which he said was formed by Duterte. "Our work was to kill criminals like drug pushers, rapists, snatchers. Those were the people we killed every day," Matobato said. He said the group grew in 1993 and evolved into the DDS. Its members consisted of former rebels and police. In his testimony, Matobato went into detail about several cases, including an alleged order by Duterte to "massacre the mosques of Muslims" after the Davao City Cathedral was bombed in 1993. "A few days later, he ordered that we arrest and kill Muslim suspects, so we were staking out the Muslims," Matobato testified. He added the squad kidnapped and killed the suspects and buried them in a quarry. When the Philippines Commission of Human Rights launched an investigation into the Davao killings in 2009, Duterte allegedly ordered the DDS to kill the Commission's Chairman Leila de Lima, according to Matobato. But the killing was not carried out. Matobato also brought up other cases in his testimony, including one in 2010 when he alleged Duterte ordered the killing of his own sister's boyfriend. Matobato accused Duterte of ordering the DDS to kill a journalist who was critical of him. And, in his testimony, he implicated Duterte's son Paolo, who is now Vice Mayor of Davao. He told the committee Paolo Duerte also ordered the DDS to kill people, and that Paolo was a drug user. One of the people Paolo Duterte ordered killed was billionaire Richard King in 2014, with whom he was fighting with over a woman, Matobato said. "People are like chickens in Davao," Matobato said. Paolo Duterte posted a response on Facebook saying "What de Lima and this certain Matobato say in public are bare allegations in the absence of proof. They are mere hearsay. I will not dignify with an answer the accusations of a madman." Witness says he was tortured Matobao told the committee he quit the death squad in 2013 and was tortured and threatened to keep quiet about the killings. He said he surrendered to the Philippines Commission of Human Rights and the Department of Justice in 2014 and was in Witness Protection up until earlier this year. He left Witness Protection before Duterte took the presidency because he feared for his life, he said. Duterte has come under increasing international criticism for his war on drugs, which as of late August had claimed more than 1,900 lives. Testifying before the Senate committee on August 23, Philippines National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said that more 700 drug traffickers and users had been killed in police operations since July 1. He added that the police "follow the rule of law" and that there was no shoot-to-kill order despite the growing toll of bodies piling up in the wake of Duterte's crackdown. Duterte came into office with huge public support after he vowed to clean up the country of drugs and corruption.
A former militiaman claims while testifying at a hearing by the Philippine Senate that President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte ordered the deaths of criminals and political opponents, allegedly Leila de Lima, critic and journalist Juan Pala, and unidentified Filipino Muslims in 1993, while he was mayor of Davao City. The witness also revealed that Duterte's son Paolo may also have been involved in the murders as an accomplice to his father.
HOUSTON -- The family of Sandra Bland has reached a settlement in its federal wrongful death lawsuit against Texas authorities, the family’s attorney told CBS News on Thursday morning. Attorney Cannon Lambert said combined settlements with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County jail will pay the family $1.9 million. But local officials said the agreement hasn’t been finalized and was supposed to remain confidential until a final settlement was reached. Bland, a Prairie View A&M University graduate, died in the jail in 2015, CBS DFW reports. The 28-year-old woman had been pulled over by Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia. The traffic stop became heated when Bland refused the officer’s request to put out a cigarette and his subsequent order to get out of the car. Encinia threatened to shoot Bland with a stun gun unless she obeyed his order and said she kicked him during the tussle. Bland was later taken to the jail in Hempstead, where she was later found hanging from a cell partition. As part of the settlement, the jail will have an on-duty nurse and emergency medical technician for all shifts going forward, Lambert told CBS News. Also, the Walter County judge will seek passage of state legislation that will fund improvements in intakes, bookings, screenings and jail support, Lambert said. Any legislation that may pass will be named in Bland’s honor.[SEP]AUSTIN, Texas -- The family of a black motorist found hanged in her Texas jail cell after being held in police custody following a traffic stop has reached a $1.9 million settlement in a wrongful death suit against law enforcement, their lawyer said on Thursday. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County Jail, run by the local sheriff, will pay the family of Sandra Bland, Chicago-based lawyer Cannon Lambert said in an interview. The county jail will also step up staff training and inmate monitoring, and have a nurse or emergency medical technician available for all shifts as part of the settlement, he said. "This is the beginning, not the end," he said, adding that Bland's mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, insisted on jail reform in the settlement. Bland, 28, was found dead in her cell three days after her July 2015 arrest, with a trash bag around her neck. Critics said race was a factor in her being pulled over while driving, and for her arrest, which they said was sparked by the trooper escalating tensions. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County Sheriff's office were not immediately available for comment. The county has denied any mistreatment of Bland. In the settlement, the Department of Public Safety, whose liability is capped by state statutes, will pay $100,000 and the jail will pay $1.8 million. Bland was pulled over in her car on July 10 by then-state trooper Brian Encinia for failing to signal a lane change in Waller County, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. She was charged with assaulting an officer. The Department of Public Safety faulted Encinia for his conduct during the stop and subsequently fired him. A dashcam video showed him shouting at Bland and failing to answer her when she asked repeatedly why she was being arrested. Shortly after the incident, Bland's family filed a wrongful death suit against Encinia, the Waller County sheriff's office and her jailers, accusing them of being responsible for her hanging. They also questioned an autopsy report that described her death as a suicide by hanging. Encinia has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of lying in the arrest report he had written of the incident. He has pleaded not guilty. The county jail has previously been cited by a state monitor for not doing enough to keep an eye on inmates.[SEP]The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County Jail, run by the local sheriff, will pay the money to the family of Sandra Bland, Houston TV station KTRK station reported. Bland, 28 and an African-American, was found dead in her cell three days after her July 2015 arrest, with a trash bag around her neck. Critics said race was a factor in her being pulled over while driving, and for her arrest, which they said was sparked by the trooper escalating tensions. Lawyers for Bland and officials from the sheriff's office, as well as the Texas Department of Public Safety, were not immediately available for comment. The sheriff in Waller County, outside of Houston, has denied any mistreatment of Bland. Bland, 28, was pulled over in her car on July 10 by then- state trooper Brian Encinia for failing to signal a lane change in Waller County, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. She was charged with assaulting an officer. The Texas Department of Public Safety faulted Encinia for his conduct during the stop and subsequently fired him. A dashcam video showed him shouting at Bland and failing to answer her when she asked numerous times why she was being arrested. Shortly after the incident, Bland's family filed a wrongful death suit against Encinia, the Waller County sheriff's office and her jailers, accusing them of being responsible for her hanging. In the settlement, the Department of Public Safety, whose liability is capped by state statutes, will pay $100,000 and the jail will pay $1.8 million, KTRK station reported, citing attorneys for Bland. Encinia has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of lying in the arrest report he had written of the incident. The Waller County jail, where Bland was held, had been cited by a state monitor for not doing enough to keep an eye on inmates and properly filling out intake forms, Brandon Wood, the executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, told a Texas House of Representatives committee in July 2015.[SEP]Key events in case of black woman found dead in Texas jail HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) — The family of Sandra Bland, a Chicago-area black woman who died in a Texas jail cell after a contentious traffic stop last summer, has settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $1.9 million, according to the family's attorney. Bland's arrest and death, which was ruled a suicide, came amid heightened national scrutiny of police and their dealings with black suspects, especially individuals who were killed by officers or who died in police custody. Here are some key events in the Bland case: — July 10, 2015: Bland is pulled over in Prairie View, northwest of Houston, for changing lanes without signaling. The stop grows confrontational and state trooper Brian Encinia orders her from the car before forcing her to the ground and taking her into custody on a charge of assaulting a public servant. Bland, who was in the process of moving to Texas from the Chicago area, is booked into the Waller County jail. — July 13, 2015: A jailer finds Bland hanging in her cell. A preliminary autopsy determined she used a garbage bag to hang herself. — July 16, 2015: The Texas Department of Public Safety announces Encinia has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities determine he violated procedures guiding traffic stops and the department's courtesy policy. — July 21, 2015: DPS releases dash-cam video showing the traffic stop, which quickly became confrontational. The video shows the trooper holding a stun gun and yelling, "I will light you up!" after Bland refuses to get out of her car. Bland eventually steps out of the vehicle, and Encinia orders her to the side of the road. The confrontation continues off-camera but is still audible. — July 22, 2015: Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith reveals that Bland told a guard during the booking process that she had previously tried to kill herself. Smith said two jailers who spoke with Bland insisted that she appeared fine when booked into the jail. She was not placed under suicide watch. — July 23, 2015: The Waller County district attorney's office reveals details of autopsy findings, which concluded Bland killed herself. The findings also show she had marijuana in her system and that about 30 cuts along Bland's wrist were likely self-inflicted some weeks before her arrest. — July 31, 2015: Department of Public Safety personnel records show Encinia was once cautioned about "unprofessional conduct" in a 2014 incident while he was still a probationary trooper. — Dec. 21, 2015: Waller County grand jury decides no felony crime was committed by the sheriff's office or jailers in the treatment of Bland. — Jan. 6: Waller County grand jury indicts Encinia on perjury count, a misdemeanor, for allegedly lying about how he removed Bland from her vehicle during the stop. The Department of Public Safety says it is firing Encinia. — March 2: State officials say Encinia has been formally fired. He has the ability to appeal. — March 22: Encina pleads not guilty to the misdemeanor perjury charge. — April 12: Panel convened after Bland's death issues report saying the small-town jail where Bland died needs more expertise among its staff to identify mental health issues, along with body cameras and anger-management training for jailers. — July 22: A Bland family attorney says an ex-guard told him in a deposition that he falsified jail log entries by noting he'd checked on Bland in the hour before she was found dead in her cell. — Aug. 26: Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that two of Bland's jailers were quietly moved to other jobs two months after her death. — Sept. 15: An attorney for Bland's family tells Houston television station KTRK that the wrongful death lawsuit has been settled for $1.9 million.[SEP]AUSTIN, Texas, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The family of a black motorist found hanged in her Texas jail cell after being held in police custody following a traffic stop has reached a $1.9 million settlement in a wrongful death suit against law enforcement, their lawyer said on Thursday. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Waller County Jail, run by the local sheriff, will pay the family of Sandra Bland, Chicago-based lawyer Cannon Lambert said in an interview. The county jail will also step up staff training and inmate monitoring, and have a nurse or emergency medical technician available for all shifts as part of the settlement, he said. "This is the beginning, not the end," said Lambert, who added that Bland's mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, had insisted that jail reform be included in the settlement. The Texas Department of Public Safety said it had not settled litigation regarding Bland and was not a party to any agreements between the plaintiffs and Waller County defendants. Lambert said that in the settlement, the Department of Public Safety, whose liability is capped by state statutes, will pay $100,000 and the jail will pay $1.8 million. Bland, 28, was found dead in her cell three days after her July 2015 arrest, with a trash bag around her neck. Critics said race was a factor in her being pulled over while driving, and for her arrest, which they said was sparked by the trooper escalating tensions. The Waller County Sheriff's office said an agreement had been reached but was not yet final. It said the deal's details were still confidential. "The Waller County defendants also emphasize they vigorously deny any fault or wrongdoing, and the potential settlement does not involve any such admissions," it said in a statement. Bland was pulled over in her car on July 10 by then-state trooper Brian Encinia for failing to signal a lane change in Waller County, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. She was charged with assaulting an officer. The Department of Public Safety faulted Encinia for his conduct during the stop and later fired him. A dashcam video showed him shouting at Bland and failing to answer her when she asked repeatedly why she was being arrested. Shortly after the incident, Bland's family filed the wrongful death suit against Encinia, the Waller County sheriff's office and her jailers. They also questioned an autopsy report that described her death as a suicide by hanging. Encinia has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of lying in the arrest report he had written of the incident. (Editing by Bernadette Baum)[SEP]Known as the “Alligator Capital of Texas,” Anahuac will host the annual Texas Gator Fest from Friday, Sept. 11 – Sunday, Sept. 13, on the grounds of the historic Fort Anahuac Park (1704 S. Main St). It’s airboats, alligators, carnival rides, vendors, Cajun food and good music. Tickets are $15 (ages 12 and older) each day while seniors (65 and older) and children (5 and under) pay $5. Festival hours are 6:15 p.m. – midnight on Friday, 10 a.m. – midnight Saturday, and noon – 6 p.m. on Sunday. Scheduled to perform Friday are Bayou Sounds, Brian Jack, and everyone’s favorite Cajun, Wayne Toups (10:30 p.m.). Saturday, it’s a day of Texas country with the Kings of Mojo, John Baumann, Red Shahan, Josh Ward, Kevin Fowler, and Cody Johnson Band (10:30 p.m.). Sunday performances are Texas Union, Luther & The Healers, and Al White & Chaparral (4:30 p.m.). For more information, view texasgatorfest.com.[SEP]A lawyer for the family of Sandra Bland, a black Chicago-area woman who died in a Texas jail after a contentious traffic stop last summer, says a $1.9-million settlement has been reached in the family's wrongful death lawsuit. Attorney Cannon Lambert said the settlement includes a provision that the Waller County Jail have a 24-hour nurse or emergency medical technician on duty, told KTRK-TV of Houston reported Thursday. Authorities have said Bland killed herself in the jail three days after she was arrested by a state trooper for a minor traffic offense. Bland's family later sued the county and the Texas Department of Public Safety. County officials, the sheriff's office and their lawyer didn't immediately return messages Thursday from the Associated Press. Bland's sister also didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. Kindergarten student brings 30 packs of heroin to school in his lunchbox
Texas authorities agree to pay $1.9 million to the family of Sandra Bland, the woman who was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, in July 2015. A grand jury did not issue an indictment.
House Intel Panel: Edward Snowden 'Was No Whistleblower' Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Platiau/AP Charles Platiau/AP Summarizing its investigation of Edward Snowden, the House Intelligence Committee says the former National Security Agency contractor did tremendous damage to the U.S. The committee published the summary findings of a two-year investigation Thursday as a new film about Snowden opens across the country. Snowden stole 1.5 million classified government documents that he had access to as an NSA contractor. He then fled to Russia via Hong Kong. As NPR's David Welna reports: "Most major congressional reports are rolled out with news conferences, floor speeches and press releases. Not this one. There is only a three-page unclassified summary of the House Intelligence Committee's actual 36-page report, which remains classified. "[Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the panel]: The report is based on facts, so it's just all the facts that we gathered over a two-year process, and the report ... I think, speaks for itself." The summary is available here. It contains five major points: Snowden caused "tremendous damage to national security," and the documents he stole had nothing to do with programs affecting individual privacy interests. Rather, the documents pertained to "military, defense, and intelligence programs of great interest to America's adversaries." The report says the government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to mitigate the damage Snowden caused. Snowden is not a whistleblower but a disgruntled employee whose actions infringed on the privacy of thousands of government employees and contractors. A real whistleblower, the report suggests, would have remained in the U.S. and not fled to China and Russia. Two weeks before he began the massive download of 1.5 million documents, Snowden had a "workplace spat" with NSA managers. Snowden is "a serial exaggerator and fabricator" who told a series of untrue stories about his health, education and performance reviews. The committee says it is concerned that NSA and the intelligence community in general have not done enough to prevent "another massive unauthorized disclosure of documents." The committee unanimously voted to endorse the report, and all members signed a letter to President Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. The committee's report may or may not have anything to do with the release of the new biopic Snowden, directed by Oliver Stone and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the title role. David also reports that committee member Tom Rooney, R-Fla., was especially bothered by the trailer he has seen for the movie:[SEP]WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. House Intelligence panel issued a scathing report on Thursday accusing National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden of lying about his background, feuding with co-workers and leaking secrets that "caused tremendous damage" to U.S. security. The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee report declared that Snowden was "not a whistleblower" as he has claimed in interviews and that most of the material he stole from NSA outposts was about intelligence and defense programs of great interest to U.S. foreign adversaries. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by David Alexander)[SEP]WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. House committee issued a scathing report on Thursday accusing National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden of lying about his background, feuding with co-workers and leaking secrets that "caused tremendous damage" to U.S. security. The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee report declared that Snowden was "not a whistleblower" as he has claimed in interviews and that most of the material he stole from NSA outposts was about intelligence and defense programs of great interest to U.S. foreign adversaries. The committee only released a four-page summary of what it said was a 36-page investigative report by committee staff that remains highly classified. But the summary contained strong words about Snowden's actions and background. The committee said that while the "full scope" of damage caused by Snowden's disclosures remains unknown, a review of materials he allegedly compromised "makes clear that he handed over secrets that protect American troops overseas and secrets that provide vital defenses against terrorists and nation-states." The House Committee's release of the report coincides with the release of "Snowden," a Hollywood movie directed by Oliver Stone, which portrays the former intelligence contractor as a whistleblower and hero. On Wednesday, prominent human rights advocates publicly urged President Barack Obama to issue a pardon for Snowden before he leaves office - a suggestion Snowden himself made to the Guardian newspaper earlier in the week. U.S. officials have said that Obama is not considering a pardon for Snowden, who is facing U.S. criminal charges for providing classified information to unauthorized persons, and that there is no discussion of such a pardon inside the Justice Department. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball; editing by David Alexander and Cynthia Osterman)[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — A House intelligence committee report on National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden says he's not a whistleblower and that the vast majority of the documents he stole were military and defense secrets that had nothing to do with Americans' privacy. The committee on Thursday released a three-page unclassified summary of its two-year investigation into the Snowden case. The committee says that contrary to Snowden's self-portrayal as a whistleblower, the report reveals that he was a "disgruntled employee who had frequent conflicts with his managers." The report comes as Snowden, living in Russia, seeks a presidential pardon because he says he helped his country by revealing secret domestic surveillance programs. FILE - This June 6, 2013 file photo, the National Security Agency (NSA) campus in Fort Meade, Md. A House intelligence committee report on NSA leaker Edward Snowden says he¿s not a whistleblower and that the vast majority of the documents he stole were military and defense secrets that had nothing to do with Americans¿ privacy. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Snowden's actions led to revelations about the NSA's bulk collection of millions of Americans' phone records.[SEP]WASHINGTON — A House intelligence committee report is calling National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden a “serial exaggerator and fabricator” who doesn’t fit the profile of a whistleblower. Snowden’s attorney denounced the committee’s report, released on the eve of the opening of the movie “Snowden,” and called him a “genuine American hero.” Separately, all members of the committee sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama on Thursday urging him not to pardon Snowden. Snowden’s revelations about the agency’s bulk collection of millions of Americans’ phone records set off a fierce debate that pit civil libertarians concerned about privacy against more hawkish lawmakers fearful about losing tools to combat terrorism. Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans pushed through a reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act last year that ended the program. “Mr. Snowden’s claim that he stole this information and disclosed it to protect Americans, privacy and civil liberties is undercut by his actions,” the letter said. “Rather than avail himself of the many lawful avenues to express legal, moral, or ethical qualms with U.S. intelligence activities, Mr. Snowden stole 1.5 million classified documents from National Security Agency networks.” The Republican-led committee released a three-page unclassified summary of its two-year bipartisan examination of how Snowden was able to remove the documents from secure NSA networks, what the documents contained and the damage their removal caused to U.S. national security. Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said the probe revealed that the vast majority of what Snowden took had nothing to do with Americans’ privacy. “The majority of what he took has to do with military secrets and defense secrets,” Schiff said in an interview Thursday for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers.” ”I think that’s very much at odds with the narrative that he wants to tell that he is a whistleblower.” Snowden was an NSA contract employee when he took the documents and leaked them to journalists who revealed massive domestic surveillance programs begun in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The programs collected the telephone metadata records of millions of Americans and examined emails from overseas. Snowden fled to Hong Kong, then Russia, to avoid prosecution and now wants a presidential pardon because he says he helped his country by revealing secret domestic surveillance programs. The Obama administration has urged Snowden to return to the U.S. and face trial. Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi has said “there is no question his actions have inflicted serious harms on our national security.” Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the House intelligence committee, said Snowden betrayed his colleagues and his country. “He put our service members and the American people at risk after perceived slights by his superiors,” Nunes said in a statement. “In light of his long list of exaggerations and outright fabrications detailed in this report, no one should take him at his word. I look forward to his eventual return to the United States, where he will face justice for his damaging crimes.” Snowden insists he has not shared the full cache of 1.5 million classified documents with anyone. However, the report notes that in June, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense and security committee publicly conceded that “Snowden did share intelligence” with his government. Ben Wizner, Snowden’s attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the committee’ report was an attempt to discredit a “genuine American hero.” “After years of investigation, the committee still can’t point to any remotely credible evidence that Snowden’s disclosures caused harm,” Wizner said. “In a more candid moment, the NSA’s former deputy director, who was directly involved in the government’s investigation, explicitly said he didn’t believe Snowden had cooperated with either China or Russia.” The committee, on the other hand, called Snowden a “disgruntled employee who had frequent conflicts with his managers.” According to the committee, Snowden began mass downloads of classified material two weeks after he was reprimanded for engaging in a spat with NSA managers. The committee also described Snowden as a “serial exaggerator and fabricator.” “A close review of Snowden’s official employment records and submissions reveals a pattern of intentional lying,” the report said. “He claimed to have left Army basic training because of broken legs when in fact he washed out because of shin splints. He claimed to have obtained a high school degree equivalent when in fact he never did. “ The report said Snowden claimed to have worked for the CIA as a senior adviser, when he was a computer technician. “He also doctored his performance evaluations and obtained new positions at NSA by exaggerating his resume and stealing the answers to an employment test,” the report said. Speaking by video link from Moscow, Snowden said Wednesday that whistleblowing “is democracy’s safeguard of last resort, the one on which we rely when all other checks and balances have failed and the public has no idea what’s going on behind closed doors.” The 33-year-old addressed a New York City news conference where advocates from the ACLU, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International announced an online petition drive to urge Obama to pardon Snowden before he leaves office.[SEP]Edward Snowden exaggerated his resume, stole test answers and failed training on U.S. surveillance law before he copied an estimated 1.5 million classified documents from the National Security Agency, according to a summary of a House Intelligence Committee report released Thursday. The committee unanimously adopted the investigative report a day before Oliver Stone’s “Snowden” premieres in movie theaters. The film apparently portrays the former NSA contractor as a heroic whistle-blower. Civil liberties advocates have launched a national publicity campaign calling on President Obama to pardon Snowden, who has been accused of espionage, before he leaves office. Committee members sent a bipartisan letter to Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. The House report provides new details about Snowden’s background, and calls into question his self-declared motivations and his work at the NSA before he fled to China and then Russia, where he now lives. It describes him as a “serial exaggerator and fabricator.” “Contrary to Snowden’s self-portrayal as a principled whistle-blower,” the committee said in a statement, he was “a disgruntled employee who had frequent conflicts with his managers and was reprimanded” shortly before he began downloading the trove of NSA documents. Release of the digital documents to media groups in 2013 “did severe damage to U.S. national security, compromising the intelligence community’s anti-terror efforts and endangering the security of the American people as well as active-duty U.S. troops,” the committee said. The release also led to a public debate about U.S. intelligence powers, and new restrictions on how far the NSA can go in surveillance of U.S. citizens. Committee members said their two-year investigation found most of the files Snowden took had no civil liberties concerns, but instead revealed spying programs against adversaries and allied governments. “Edward Snowden is no hero — he’s a traitor who willfully betrayed his colleagues and his country,” Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), the committee chairman, said in a statement. “In light of his long list of exaggerations and outright fabrications detailed in this report, no one should take him at his word.” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), ranking member of the committee, said the investigation found that Snowden’s claims that he acted to defend Americans’ privacy were “self serving and false” and that he did “profound” damage to national security. “While those disclosures did spark a useful public debate, the collateral damage has been extraordinary,” Schiff said. Snowden disputed how he was characterized by the committee, writing on Twitter that "Congress spent two years writing a report to discourage you from going to see" Stone's film. "Their report is so artlessly distorted that it would be amusing if it weren't such a serious act of bad faith," Snowden wrote. The 36-page investigative report remains classified, but a three-page summary released by the committee shows that Snowden failed an internal training for NSA employees on Section 702 of surveillance law, which targets foreign Internet traffic. Part of that training, lawmakers concluded, included privacy provisions in place to protect the rights of U.S. citizens from data collected inadvertently while the NSA vacuumed up online data. Snowden has lived openly as a fugitive in Russia since June 2013, frequently giving interviews and appearing at conferences via video hookups. Intelligence officials have said that material he leaked helped Russia and China protect themselves from U.S. surveillance, and taught terrorist groups such as Islamic State to better hide their tracks. The House report is based on hundreds of secret documents and dozens of briefings with intelligence officials. The committee concluded that Snowden is not a whistle-blower because he did not try to raise his civil liberties concerns through official channels or with Congress, and most of the data he stole from NSA computers was not related to privacy concerns. The report does not outline specific damage to national security but lawmakers said the disclosures “exacerbated and accelerated existing trends” in the use of encrypted messages by adversaries and terrorist groups. Lawmakers also expressed concern that intelligence officials have not done enough to prevent future thefts. The Department of Defense has reviewed all 1.5 million documents Snowden removed, but the intelligence community has not conducted such a comprehensive review. The government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars “and will eventually spend billions” to mitigate the damage caused by the leaks, the committee concluded. The American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other organizations have urged Obama to pardon Snowden. “It is indisputable that our democracy is better off thanks to Snowden, and it’s precisely for cases like his that the pardon power exists,” ACLU Director Anthony D. Romero said in a statement. “President Obama should use this power for good instead of leaving an American whistle-blower stranded in exile.”[SEP]A House intelligence committee report issued on Thursday condemned Edward Snowden, saying the National Security Agency leaker is not a whistleblower and accused him of leaking secrets that 'caused tremendous damage' to U.S. security. The report also indicated that the vast majority of the documents he stole were defense secrets that had nothing to do with privacy. The Republican-led committee released a three-page unclassified summary of its two-year bipartisan examination of how Snowden was able to remove more than 1.5 million classified documents from secure NSA networks, what the documents contained and the damage their removal caused to U.S. national security. The committee said while the 'full scope' of damage caused by Snowden's disclosures remains unknown, a review of materials he allegedly compromised 'makes clear that he handed over secrets that protect American troops overseas and secrets that provide vital defenses against terrorists and nation-states.' Snowden, 33, was an NSA contract employee when he took the documents and leaked them to journalists who revealed massive domestic surveillance programs begun in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The programs collected the telephone metadata records of millions of Americans and examined emails from overseas. Snowden fled to Hong Kong, then Russia, to avoid prosecution and now wants a presidential pardon as a whistleblower. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the committee, said Snowden betrayed his colleagues and his country. 'He put our service members and the American people at risk after perceived slights by his superiors,' Nunes said in a statement. 'In light of his long list of exaggerations and outright fabrications detailed in this report, no one should take him at his word. 'I look forward to his eventual return to the United States, where he will face justice for his damaging crimes.' Snowden's revelations about the agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' phone records set off a fierce debate that pit civil libertarians concerned about privacy against more hawkish lawmakers fearful about losing tools to combat terrorism. Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans pushed through a re-authorization of the USA Patriot Act last year that ended the program. There was little evidence that the phone records or other surveillance programs Snowden revealed ever thwarted an attack. Snowden is seeking a presidential pardon because he says he helped his country by revealing secret domestic surveillance programs. Separately, all members of the committee sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. 'The vast majority of what he took has nothing to do with American privacy,' said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee. 'The majority of what he took has to do with military secrets and defense secrets,' Schiff said in an interview Thursday for C-SPAN's Newsmakers. 'I think that's very much at odds with the narrative that he wants to tell that he is a whistleblower.' The Obama administration has urged Snowden to return to the U.S. and face trial. Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi has said 'there is no question his actions have inflicted serious harms on our national security.' Snowden was a 'disgruntled employee who had frequent conflicts with his managers,' according to the committee report. Publicly revealing classified information does not qualify someone as a whistleblower, the report said. The committee 'found no evidence that Snowden took any official effort to express concerns about U.S. intelligence activities to any oversight officials within the U.S. government, despite numerous avenues for him to do so.' Snowden began mass downloads of classified material two weeks after he was reprimanded for engaging in a spat with NSA managers, according to the committee. The committee also described Snowden as a 'serial exaggerator and fabricator.' 'A close review of Snowden's official employment records and submissions reveals a pattern of intentional lying,' the report said. 'He claimed to have left Army basic training because of broken legs when in fact he washed out because of shin splints. 'He claimed to have obtained a high school degree equivalent when in fact he never did. ' Snowden also claimed to have worked for the CIA as a senior adviser, when he was a computer technician, the report said. 'He also doctored his performance evaluations and obtained new positions at NSA by exaggerating his resume and stealing the answers to an employment test,' the report said. Speaking by video link from Moscow, Snowden said on Wednesday that whistleblowing 'is democracy's safeguard of last resort, the one on which we rely when all other checks and balances have failed and the public has no idea what's going on behind closed doors.' The 33-year-old addressed a New York City news conference where advocates from the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International announced an online petition drive to urge Obama to pardon Snowden before he leaves office. The supporters called Snowden a hero for exposing the extent of government surveillance by giving thousands of classified documents to journalists. Snowden insists he has not shared the full cache of 1.5 million classified documents with anyone. However, the report notes that in June, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament's defense and security committee publicly conceded that 'Snowden did share intelligence' with his government. The report was released one day ahead of Friday's opening of director Oliver Stone's film Snowden, which portrays the former intelligence contractor as a whistleblower and hero.[SEP]WASHINGTON – A House intelligence committee report issued Thursday condemned Edward Snowden, saying the National Security Agency leaker is not a whistleblower and that the vast majority of the documents he stole were defense secrets that had nothing to do with privacy. The Republican-led committee released a three-page unclassified summary of its two-year bipartisan examination of how Snowden was able to remove more than 1.5 million classified documents from secure NSA networks, what the documents contained and the damage their removal caused to U.S. national security. Snowden was an NSA contract employee when he took the documents and leaked them to journalists who revealed massive domestic surveillance programs begun in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The programs collected the telephone metadata records of millions of Americans and examined emails from overseas. Snowden fled to Hong Kong, then Russia, to avoid prosecution and now wants a presidential pardon as a whistleblower. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the committee, said Snowden betrayed his colleagues and his country. “He put our service members and the American people at risk after perceived slights by his superiors,” Nunes said in a statement. “In light of his long list of exaggerations and outright fabrications detailed in this report, no one should take him at his word. I look forward to his eventual return to the United States, where he will face justice for his damaging crimes.” Snowden insists he has not shared the full cache of 1.5 million classified documents with anyone. However, the report notes that in June, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense and security committee publicly conceded that “Snowden did share intelligence” with his government. Ben Wizner, Snowden’s attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, blasted the report, saying it was an attempt to discredit a “genuine American hero.” “After years of investigation, the committee still can’t point to any remotely credible evidence that Snowden’s disclosures caused harm,” Wizner said. “In a more candid moment, the NSA’s former deputy director, who was directly involved in the government’s investigation, explicitly said he didn’t believe Snowden had cooperated with either China or Russia.” Snowden’s revelations set off a fierce debate that pit civil libertarians concerned about privacy against more hawkish lawmakers fearful about losing tools to combat terrorism. Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans pushed through a reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act last year that ended the program. There was little evidence the phone records or surveillance programs Snowden revealed thwarted an attack. Snowden is seeking a presidential pardon because he says he helped his country by revealing secret domestic surveillance programs. Separately, all members of the committee sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. “The vast majority of what he took has nothing to do with American privacy,” said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee. “The majority of what he took has to do with military secrets and defense secrets,” Schiff said in an interview for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers.” ‘‘I think that’s very much at odds with the narrative that he wants to tell that he is a whistleblower.” The Obama administration has urged Snowden to return to the U.S. and face trial. Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi has said “there is no question his actions have inflicted serious harms on our national security.” The committee report says that he was a “disgruntled employee who had frequent conflicts with his managers.” Publicly revealing classified information does not qualify someone as a whistleblower, the report said. The committee “found no evidence that Snowden took any official effort to express concerns about U.S. intelligence activities to any oversight officials within the U.S. government, despite numerous avenues for him to do so.”[SEP]Not aware of any conversations or communications between Snowden and the president, says White House press secretary Edward Snowden, a former CIA contractor who leaked classified government documents is not a whistleblower, but someone who risked national security and American lives, the White House said, dimming his hopes of a presidential pardon from Barack Obama before he demits office. “There actually is a specific process that is well-established and well-protected that allows whistleblowers to raise concerns that they have, particularly when it relates to confidential or classified information, to do so in a way that protects the national security secrets of the US. That is not what Snowden did,” Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. “Edward Snowden is not a whistleblower,” Earnest said. “His conduct put American lives at risk and it risked American national security. That is why the policy of the Obama administration is that Snowden should return to the US and face the very serious charges that he is facing,” he told reporters yesterday. Snowden, 33, is accused of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property for leaking sensitive data to the media about National Security Agency’s internet and phone surveillance. He faces at least 30 years in jail in the US, and has been living in exile at an undisclosed location in Russia since June 2013. His residency permit expires next year. Earnest maintained the long-held position of the US government that Snowden will be “afforded the rights that are due to every American citizen in our criminal justice system.” “But we believe that he should return to the United States and face those charges,” he said, adding that there is no communication between Snowden and the US president. “I’m not aware of any conversations or any communications between Snowden and the president,” he said. Snowden, on the other hand, argues that though he leaked secret data, the information have benefited the public as they led to a improvement in privacy protection laws. Snowden has asked Obama for clemency in an interview with a UK newspaper, saying: “If not for these disclosures, if not for these revelations, we would be worse off.” “Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing. But that is perhaps why the pardon power exists - for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems these were necessary things,” he said.[SEP]Edward Snowden speaks via video link at a news conference in New York City on Sept. 14, 2016, and the cover art for the U.S. House report. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News, photos: Brendan McDermid/Reuters, U.S. House) A new bipartisan report by the House Intelligence Committee depicts former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden as a “serial exaggerator and fabricator” who only began downloading highly classified documents after being reprimanded over a “workplace spat” with his bosses. The highly damning report, which accuses Snowden of doing “tremendous damage to national security,” was released by the committee late Thursday — the day before the release of a new Oliver Stone movie about the case that portrays its subject as a courageous whistleblower who exposed frightening and illegal surveillance by the U.S. government. It also comes the same week that Snowden’s supporters mounted a public campaign to win him a pardon from President Obama, allowing him to return from Moscow without facing a criminal prosecution that could result in years behind bars. It is a request that the White House has already rejected. “Edward Snowden is no hero — he’s a traitor who willfully betrayed his colleagues and his country,” said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the committee chairman. “He put our service members and the American people at risk after perceived slights by his superiors. In light of his long list of exaggerations and outright fabrications detailed in this report, no one should take him at his word.” Rep. Adam Schiff, the panel’s ranking Democrat, told Yahoo News that the report was the product of a two-year investigation of Snowden’s conduct that uncovered new details about his theft of government documents. “I learned things, this was quite exhaustive,” Schiff said in a telephone interview. “The thing that leapt out to me — and I’m glad we can now disclose it — is that the vast majority of what he took had nothing to do with civil liberties. They were military and defense” documents, he said, that harmed national security. Snowden’s lawyer, Ben Wizner, immediately denounced the release as a “dishonest report that attempts to discredit a genuine American hero. After years of ‘investigation,’ the committee still can’t point to any remotely credible evidence that Snowden’s disclosures caused harm,” he said. “The truth is that Edward Snowden and the journalists with whom he worked did the job that the House Intelligence Committee was supposed to do: bring meaningful oversight to the U.S. intelligence community. They did so responsibly and carefully, and their efforts have led to historic reforms.” Glenn Greenwald, one of the first journalists to receive documents from Snowden, immediately ridiculed the report on Twitter: “BREAKING: Government officials dislike those who expose their illegal surveillance and trigger global debate about their surveillance.” The full 36-page report by the committee remains classified, although Schiff said the panel intends to ask the office of the director of National Intelligence to declassify it so it can be made public. But a three-page executive summary released by the panel seeks to recast the narrative that has been shaped by Snowden’s supporters and is expected to gain wide exposure through the Stone movie. Significantly, however, the executive summary makes no claim that Snowden was a spy or “an agent of influence” of Russian or Chinese intelligence, as some former U.S. intelligence officials have alleged. Perhaps the most surprising new claims in the report relate to Snowden’s work history as an NSA contractor and, before that, as a CIA employee. Snowden was “repeatedly counseled by his managers regarding his behavior at work,” the report states. It asserts that in June 2012, Snowden became involved in a “fiery email argument” with one of his supervisors about how computer updates should be managed. Snowden then copied a NSA senior executive several levels above to the email thread — “an action that earned him a swift reprimand from his contracting officer for failing to follow the proper protocol for raising grievances through the chain of command.” It was two weeks after that, the report states, that Snowden began his massive downloading of classified documents from NSA computers. The timeline in the report would seem to undercut one of the episodes portrayed in the Stone movie: the film suggests that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper’s false testimony to the Senate — denying that the NSA collected information about American citizens — was among the motivations that prompted Snowden to act. (The film shows Snowden watching the testimony in disgust.) In fact, the report points out, that testimony by Clapper was given in March 2013 — nine months after Snowden began downloading his material. The report summary also disputes Snowden’s contention that he was careful about the government documents he leaked, giving only a select portion to “responsible” journalists so they could screen them and make sure those that were released did not do any actual damage to national security. “Snowden insists he has not shared the full cache of 1.5 million classified documents with anyone; however, in June 2016, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense and security committee public conceded that ‘Snowden did share intelligence’ with his government.” The intelligence committee has carried out multiple reviews to assess the damage caused by Snowden’s disclosures, according to the report. Even by a conservative estimate, it says, “the U.S. Government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars and will eventually spend billions, to attempt to mitigate the damage Snowden caused.” Disputing Snowden’s contention that he was a whistleblower, the committee said that it “found no evidence that Snowden took any official effort to express concerns about U.S. intelligence activities — legal, moral, or otherwise, noting that he never took his purported concerns about government surveillance to any oversight officials within the U.S. Government, despite numerous avenues for him to do so.” (Snowden has said that he knew that any such protests over highly classified programs would have been shut down before they saw the light of day.) Finally, the report accuses Snowden of misleading his colleagues and compromising their privacy. “To gather the files he took with him when he left the country for Hong Kong… he obtained his colleagues’ security credentials through misleading means, abused his access as a systems administrator to search his co-workers’ personal drives, and removed the personally identifiable information of thousands of IC [Intelligence Community] employees and contractors,” the report states.
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee releases a summary of its two-year investigation into former NSA contractor Edward Snowden which downplays his alleged status as a whistleblower while acknowledging "tremendous damage to national security" as a result of the classified documents he stole.
The Japan NewsThe Democratic Party on Thursday elected acting party chief Renho as its new president with the majority support of its rank and file, making her the first woman to lead the DP. Renho’s three-year term will last through September 2019. Under her leadership, the major opposition party now faces the task of rebuilding its apparatus after a major defeat in this summer’s House of Councillors election. “I firmly accept the grave responsibility to lead [the DP] and rebuild it into a party that people will vote for,” Renho, 48, said in a speech after the presidential ballot. She added that the DP should become “a party that can confront the enormous ruling party by making proposals in a stately manner rather than by just criticizing.” However, it remains unclear how the new party chief intends to achieve her goals. At a press conference later in the day, Renho said that she does not yet have any ideas as to who should be included in the new DP leadership. The winner of the presidential ballot, held during the DP’s extraordinary party convention in Tokyo, was decided by the number of points the candidates won based on the votes they gained from Diet members, registered party members and supporters, and local assembly members. Of the 849-point total, Renho won 503 points, which gave her majority support. Two other candidates — former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and current House of Representatives member Yuichiro Tamaki — both aimed to prevent Renho, who was deemed the leading contender, from winning a majority. This would have meant a run-off, but ultimately they finished far behind. Renho announced her bid for the party presidency in early August after outgoing party chief Katsuya Okada announced at the end of July that he would not seek another term. Okada gave his support to Renho in the presidential election. Born to a father from Taiwan and a Japanese mother, Renho ran into trouble recently when her dual citizenship came to light. Despite her saying she had relinquished her Taiwan citizenship, it was discovered that she still held it.[SEP]TOKYO — Renho Murata became the first woman to lead the opposition Democratic Party in Japan after winning a leadership contest on Thursday. Ms. Murata, who has served in the country’s upper house of Parliament for more than a decade, won in a landslide against two male competitors despite controversy over her part-Taiwanese heritage. By winning the leadership contest, Ms. Murata, who is widely known by just her first name, became the third woman to take up a prominent political job in Japan in less than two months, heralding a budding shift in a country with an abysmal track record of putting women in power. In her final speech before the vote, Ms. Murata, a former model and television news anchor, spoke emotionally about her children, 19-year-old twins, and how she was sometimes frustrated trying to balance work and motherhood.[SEP]Prime minister Shinzo Abe’s dominance over Japanese politics is under threat for the first time since 2012 after the main opposition party elected a charismatic former TV star as its new leader. Renho Murata – who goes by her first name, Renho – swept to victory with 503 votes out of 849 in the Democratic Party’s electoral college. Born to a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother, the 48-year-old Renho is the first person of mixed-ethnic heritage to lead a big political party in Japan, and has sought to cast herself as a voice for the country’s younger generation. She is also the first woman to lead Japan’s main opposition party. Renho’s victory follows Yuriko Koike’s election as governor of Tokyo and Tomomi Inada’s appointment as defence minister. All three are seen as symbols of cultural change with the potential to become Japan’s first female prime minister. Wearing her trademark white suit, Renho said the road ahead would be difficult as she competes against a popular Abe administration. But she declared: “Our goal now is to become the ruling party.” The Democratic Party has been in the doldrums since it lost to Mr Abe in 2012 after a disastrous spell in office, marred by economic weakness, foreign policy confusion and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. It has just 8 per cent in the opinion polls, compared with 40 per cent for Mr Abe’s Liberal Democrats, after the prime minister’s latest stunt – dressing as the video game character Super Mario at the Rio Olympic closing ceremony – boosted his popularity. Renho is seen as one of few politicians who can compete with Mr Abe for attention. She has 400,000 followers on Twitter and won more votes than any other candidate in the Tokyo district in this summer’s upper house elections. She was elected to parliament in 2004 after working as a model and a TV newsreader. Renho attracted attention as minister for government revitalisation from 2010 to 2012 by launching pointed critiques of Japan’s bureaucracy. Renho’s signature issue is support for young families, including free pre-school and higher pay for nursery teachers, but she is regarded as fairly centrist on policy. She opposes nuclear power; is in favour of trade deals in principle but against the Trans-Pacific Partnership; and is open to some revision of Japan’s constitution. Her campaign was marred by a row over her ancestry, with some Democratic MPs calling for her to quit the race after it emerged that she has not formally renounced her Taiwanese citizenship. Japan forbids dual nationality. Her wobbly handling of the issue – changing position several times only to be confronted with past statements – led some Democratic Party rivals to argue she will be an easy target for attacks by Mr Abe and the LDP. But in the end she won a clear victory, winning majorities from among MPs and local elected officials, with especially strong support from the party’s grass roots supporters.[SEP]The Democratic Party made history Thursday, electing Renho as the first female leader of the main opposition force. The 48-year-old mother-of-two and former swimwear model, who previously served as deputy leader, was set to give a striking image makeover to a party dogged by lackluster popularity linked in part to its disastrous performance in power during the Fukushima nuclear crisis. Renho is also a radical choice in Japan for the fact that she is of partly non-Japanese origin, with a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother. She won an election by DP lawmakers and party rank and file despite an eleventh-hour storm over the revelation that she holds dual nationality. On Tuesday, she reversed an earlier denial in the matter, revealing that a past attempt to relinquish her Taiwanese citizenship had failed. She said she is now renewing efforts to lose it, but critics said her fumbling reflected a lack of political savvy. In the run-up to Thursday’s leadership election, Renho, who goes only by one name, campaigned on a promise to transform the struggling DP into a “revolutionary party” that offers realistic alternatives to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Specifically, she called for greater investment in people and education, including free preschool and higher salaries for nursery teachers. Her leadership represents a sharp break from the DP’s traditional presidency roster dominated by aging men. It also comes as Japan’s male-dominated political and business circles make cautious efforts toward empowering female leaders. Other women recently to have made it big include LDP lawmaker Tomomi Inada, who is now defense minister, and Yuriko Koike, who was elected Tokyo governor. However, Renho’s talk about remaking the DP may prove to be nothing more than that. Some observers expect her to adhere to the liberal policies upheld by her predecessor, Katsuya Okada, and make no major shifts in other areas. Upon throwing her hat into the ring, Renho promised to protect the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, at a time when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is widely believed to be seeking to amend it. However, she also expressed readiness to discuss constitutional amendments with the ruling coalition. Renho, a third-term Upper House lawmaker, served as state minister in charge of government revitalization in 2010, when the Democratic Party of Japan, the DP’s predecessor, held power. A mother of twins, she enjoys high support from the public. She secured more than 1 million votes to finish a strong first in the Upper House election in her Tokyo district in July.[SEP]The Democratic Party made history Thursday, electing Renho as the first female leader of the main opposition force. The 48-year-old mother of two and former swimwear model, who previously served as deputy leader, was set to give a striking image makeover to a party dogged by lackluster popularity linked in part to its disastrous performance in power during the Fukushima nuclear crisis. “We are up against the juggernaut of the ruling coalition and the highly popular administration” of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Renho said after being elected. “But we won’t just criticize the ruling power. Rather, we’ll propose actual counter-policies so we can become the party of people’s choice.” Renho is also a radical choice in Japan for the fact that she is of partly non-Japanese origin, with a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother. She won an election by DP lawmakers and party rank and file despite an eleventh-hour storm over the revelation that she holds dual nationality. On Tuesday, she reversed an earlier denial in the matter, revealing that a past attempt to relinquish her Taiwanese citizenship had failed. She said she is now renewing efforts to lose it, but critics said her fumbling reflected a lack of political savvy. Renho emerged victorious with total of 503 points out of 849. Her rivals, veteran lawmaker Seiji Maehara and rookie contender Yuichiro Tamaki, garnered 230 and 116 points, respectively. Of the total 849 points up for grabs, including votes by Diet members, 206 points were allocated to some 1,600 local and prefectural assembly members. Ballots cast by rank-and-file party members accounted for slightly more than 50 percent of the total points. In the run-up to Thursday’s leadership election, Renho, who goes only by one name, campaigned on a promise to transform the struggling DP into a “revolutionary party” that offers realistic alternatives to Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Specifically, she called for greater investment in people and education, including free preschool and higher salaries for nursery teachers. Her leadership represents a sharp break from the DP’s traditional presidency roster dominated by aging men. It also comes as Japan’s male-dominated political and business circles make cautious efforts toward empowering female leaders. Despite pioneers such as the late Takako Doi, who led the predecessor of the Social Democratic Party from 1986 to 1991, and later the SDP between 1996 through 2003, female leaders have been a rarity in Japanese politics. More recently, women to have broken through the glass ceiling include LDP lawmaker Tomomi Inada, who is now defense minister, and Yuriko Koike, who was elected Tokyo governor. Other women recently to have made it big include LDP lawmaker Tomomi Inada, who is now defense minister, and Yuriko Koike, who was elected Tokyo governor. Some say Renho’s victory will turn the DP into a stronger counterweight to the LDP, though others remain skeptical. Kazuhisa Kawakami, a professor of political science at the International University of Health and Welfare, said Renho could play up her role as a mother to differentiate herself from Abe. Her leadership, Kawakami said, represents a “significant revamp” of the DP’s public image and could possibly lead to an uptick in its chronically sluggish support rate of around 10 percent. But Yoshiaki Kobayashi, a professor of political science at Keio University, was more cynical. He said Renho’s woman card is unlikely to prove a game-changer given Abe, too, has trumpeted a raft of female-friendly policies under what is dubbed the “womenomics” drive. In fact, some of Renho’s key campaign promises on the “women front,” such as vows to increase female lawmakers and ax the decades-long spousal tax break system critics say has dissuaded women working full-time, are already part of the LDP platform. “Renho’s pro-women policies are not that different from those already pushed by the Abe administration,” Kobayashi said. But for Renho, even more daunting challenges lie ahead as the coalition appears set to pounce on her mishandling of the citizenship issue, and are likely to use it to question her caliber as a leader, particularly for the biggest opposition party. On Thursday, the Justice Ministry clarified that despite Tokyo’s lack of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the Japanese government does not apply Chinese law to those who possess Taiwanese citizenship in Japan. The announcement could work to Renho’s disadvantage because it discredits the claim that she actually no longer has Taiwanese citizenship as per China’s law stipulating Chinese citizens abroad automatically forfeit such citizenship upon acquiring foreign nationality of their own volition. After being elected president, Renho reiterated that she had broken no laws. But legal questions aside, “the criticism she somehow obfuscated her inconvenient past will likely persist,” Kawakami said. Another Achilles’ heel is the fact that she is an Upper House lawmaker. Although lawmakers from the upper chamber are technically allowed to become prime minister, history shows no one from the less influential chamber has ever clenched the position in the post-war era. Renho has already expressed her willingness to run for a Lower House seat to place herself in a better position to dethrone Abe. Kawakami noted it is easier said than done, saying “the LDP is not stupid enough to let her win so easily.” Policy-wise, observers expect Renho to adhere to the liberal policies upheld by her predecessor, Katsuya Okada. Upon throwing her hat into the ring, Renho echoed Okada’s calls that the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution be protected, at a time when Abe is widely believed to be seeking to amend it. In a possible break from Okada’s stance, she did, however, express a readiness to discuss constitutional amendments with the ruling coalition. While flatly ruling out the possibility of forming a coalition government with the far-left Japanese Communist Party, she has refused to rule out another electoral tie-up with the party — a controversial tactic pushed by Okada — in case the Lower House is dissolved. Renho, a third-term Upper House lawmaker, served as state minister in charge of government revitalization in 2010, when the Democratic Party of Japan, the DP’s predecessor, held power. A mother of twins, she enjoys high support from the public. She secured more than 1 million votes to finish a strong first in the Upper House election in her Tokyo district in July. Throughout her campaign, Renho called the election a chance for the DP to evolve into a “next-generation” party. But her calls for rejuvenation apparently haven’t struck a chord with voters, with the latest NHK poll showing its support rate slumped to 8.3 percent in September from 9.0 percent the previous month. In addition, its much-hyped merger with the smaller Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) in March did little to increase its popularity.[SEP]TOKYO, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Japan's main opposition Democratic Party on Thursday elected a former cabinet minister as its first female leader on Thursday, following a last-minute hiccup when she was found to hold dual citizenship in violation of Japanese law. Renho, 48, who goes by her given name only, hopes to repair the party's image, battered by three years in power that were plagued by infighting, policy flip flops and unkept promises that handed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) a landslide election win in 2012. Born to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father, the former TV announcer and mother of twins was embarrassed this week when she discovered she held Taiwanese as well as Japanese citizenship. The law requires those with dual citizenship to choose one by age 22 and when opting for Japan, endeavour to renounce the other nationality. But there is no penalty for not doing so. Renho had previously said she believed paperwork to renounce her Taiwanese citizenship had been completed when she was a teenager but was recently notified by the de facto Taiwanese embassy in Japan that her Taiwanese citizenship was still valid. "I would like to apologise for the recent trouble I have caused by my unclear memory and statements," she said in a speech ahead of the vote. Renho is one of a handful of women to grab the spotlight lately in Japan's male-dominated corridors of power, along with hawkish Defence Minister Tomomi Inada and Yuriko Koike, a former defence minister who is now Tokyo's first female governor. She admitted on Thursday her party faces an uphill battle against the LDP, which together with its junior partner dominates both houses of parliament. "From here on, we will face a giant ruling party," she said after the vote. "I'd like to call upon everyone to join me in becoming a party that does not criticise but makes proposals ... so one day we will become Japan's choice." An Asahi newspaper poll this week showed 40 percent of those surveyed support the LDP against 7 percent for the Democrats. In an interview with Reuters, Renho said the prime minister's signature "Abenomics" growth policies had stalled, and a Democratic government would not sharply shift Japanese foreign policies centred on Tokyo's alliance with Washington. Renho beat former foreign minister Seiji Maehara and party lawmaker Yuichiro Tamaki in the leadership election. (Writing by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Linda Sieg; Reporting by Megumi Lim; Editing by Nick Macfie)[SEP]Japan's main opposition party chose a half-Taiwanese former model and TV anchorwoman as its new leader Thursday, as it looks to reboot its fortunes after four years in the political wilderness. The telegenic Renho, a 48-year-old who goes by only one name, trounced her opponents -- including a former foreign minister -- to take the helm of the beleaguered Democratic Party. The one-time journalist earned the nickname "Hissatsu" (shoot-to-kill) for her style of grilling bureaucrats over public waste, in a country where the media are often criticised for pulling their punches. "I'll stand at the forefront of our fight to rebuild the party to win an election again," Renho said, after being declared the winner. Renho's Taiwanese heritage -- her father is from the island, a former Japanese colony -- became an issue during the vote. She was forced to apologise after it emerged she had never given up her Taiwanese citizenship. Japan does not allow adults to hold dual nationality. With the exception of its television personalities, largely ethnically homogenous Japan is unused to seeing mixed-race people in public positions. However, last week a half-Indian beauty queen was crowned Miss Japan. That came a year after a black woman claimed the title, and faced an ugly backlash on social media. Renho first came to national prominence in the 1980s as a model and later as a TV newscaster, reporting from the quake-devastated city of Kobe in 1995. She sparked controversy in 2010 when she posed for a magazine shoot inside parliament for Vogue Nippon, the Japanese version of the international fashion monthly. The centre-left Democratic Party that she now leads faces a huge battle to revive flagging fortunes, with premier Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition boasting a majority in both houses of parliament. The party -- formerly known as the Democratic Party of Japan before merging with a smaller party in March -- swept to power in 2009, ousting Abe's Liberal Democratic Party after more than half a century of conservative dominance. But a series of mis-steps and policy flip-flops, along with its shambolic handling of the Fukushima nuclear crisis, cost it dearly in the polls, and it was booted from office in 2012.[SEP]New party leader gives Japan troika of top women in politics TOKYO (AP) — Dressed in a white pants suit, the new head of Japan's main opposition party stood out as she raised her hands on stage with three other dark-suited party leaders. Renho Murata, who generally goes by only her first name, is one of three women who have assumed prominent political posts in recent weeks in a country more known for its male-dominated political and business hierarchy. Her election Thursday followed that of Tokyo's first female governor on July 31, and the appointment of a woman as defense minister later the same week. It's too early to say whether they are a harbinger of greater change, notwithstanding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "womenomics" push to encourage women to pursue careers. Japanese women have served in high posts before — a pioneer was popular politician Takako Doi, who took the reins of the Socialist party in 1986 — but they have been more the exception than the rule. FILE - This combination of photos taken in Sept. 12, 2016, left, Sept. 2, 2011, center, and Aug. 29, 2016, shows Japanese female politicians, from left, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, newly elected opposition Democratic Party leader Renho Murata and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. It¿s too early to say whether these three are a harbinger of greater change, notwithstanding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¿s ¿womenomics¿ push to encourage women to pursue careers. Japanese women have served in high posts before - a pioneer was popular politician Takako Doi, who took the reins of the Socialist party in 1986 - but they have been more the exception than the rule. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, Shizuo Kambayashi, File) The latest three took varied paths to leadership: At 48, newly elected Democratic Party leader Renho is relatively young to head a Japanese political party. She is also half Taiwanese, an issue that caused a hiccup in the closing days of the party contest, though in the end she won the three-way race by an overwhelming majority. Born Hsieh Lien-fang to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father, Renho is the Japanese pronunciation of her given name. A former TV news personality and swimsuit model, she is a fast talker who earned a reputation for toughness while grilling bureaucrats over wasteful government projects. She held key party posts when the predecessor in the Democratic Party was in power, and was considered a possible future prime minister at the time. The Democrats, who have struggled since losing a parliamentary majority in 2012, are placing their hopes for a revival in Renho, with her trademark white jackets and articulate style. Like Renho, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is a former television news personality who knows how to play to an audience. A member of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, she ran for governor without the support of the party's Tokyo leadership, which backed another (male) candidate. She went straight to voters and trounced both the establishment candidate and other challengers. A widely reported comment by former Gov. Shintaro Ishihara that Tokyo shouldn't be run by someone with too much makeup may only have boosted her popularity. Since her election, she has launched a review of the city's spiraling costs for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and postponed the move of Tokyo's fish market because of soil contamination concerns at the new site. Her decisions have reportedly infuriated some Tokyo government staff, but are popular with the public. Koike is no stranger to leadership. The 64-year-old veteran lawmaker was Japan's environment minister from 2003 to 2006 and briefly served as defense minister in 2007, the only woman to hold the post previously. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, who holds her first meeting with U.S. counterpart Ash Carter on Thursday in Washington, D.C., leapfrogged over more senior lawmakers to the defense post in a Cabinet reshuffle on Aug. 3. The 57-year-old lawyer has attracted attention for questioning mainstream accounts of Japanese atrocities during World War II and the fairness of the postwar Tokyo war crimes trials. She has been mum on her views of history since becoming defense minister, telling the media to refer to official government positions. Inada has risen quickly since being elected to parliament in 2005, serving most recently as policy chief for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Some speculate that Abe is grooming her to succeed him — which would make her Japan's first female prime minister — since they share similar views on wartime history and she could carry on his legacy. That would require some even more serious leapfrogging, though, over some (male) political veterans long waiting in the wings. Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this story.
Japan's Democratic Party elects Sha Renhō as President. The House of Councillors member becomes the first female to head the opposition party.
Story highlights Space lab precursor to a 20-ton space station China pressing ahead with ambitious space plans Hong Kong (CNN) China is set to launch a second space lab into orbit Thursday, a crucial step in Beijing's ambition to have a permanent space presence. A Long March 2F rocket is expected to blast off at 10.04 p.m. local time (10:04 a.m. ET) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert carrying the lab, known as Tiangong 2 or "Heavenly Palace," state media reported. The Long March 2F carrier rocket is scheduled to blast off on September 15, 2016. The new lab is able to host astronauts for much longer than its predecessor, the Tiangong 1, which was launched in 2011. It has two cabins -- one for astronauts and experiments, the other for equipment. If Thursday's launch is successful, next month the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft holding a two-man crew is expected to launch in mid to late October -- China's first manned mission since 2013. It will dock with the space lab and the two astronauts will spend 30 days there carrying out experiments -- making it China's longest mission yet. Read More[SEP]A Long March 2F rocket blasted off successfully at 10:04 p.m. local time Thursday (10:04 a.m. ET) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert carrying the lab known as Tiangong-2, which translates to "heavenly vessel," according to state media China Central Television. Once in space, the Tiangong-2 will maneuver itself into orbit roughly 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) above the Earth, CCTV reported. A spacecraft will ferry a two-man crew to the lab in October -- China's first manned mission since 2013. The astronauts will remain in the lab for a month, where they will be carrying out experiments related to medicine, physics and biology. It's China's longest mission yet. The Tiangong-2 and its predecessor, Tiangong-1, are prototypes for China's ultimate goal -- a permanent 20-ton space station, which is expected to launch after 2020. "Tiangong is a precursor test bed of capabilities; building toward the large space station has always been the culminating goal of the Shenzhou program," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor at the US Naval War College specializing in space programs and space security. Shenzhou-10 was China's fifth manned space mission. The Shenzhou-10 spaceship, propelled by a Long March-2F rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert on June 11, 2013. The crew for this mission included a woman, Wang Yaping, and two male astronauts, Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang. Nie, Zhang and Wang discuss technical issues during training in April 2012, a year before the 15-day mission. The astronauts had to undergo a series of tests in their pressure suits prior to the mission. Wang undergoes a cardiovascular endurance test a few weeks before the mission. Zhang practices entering the return capsule on May 31, 2013. Zhang, left, Nie, center, and Wang, right, during a training session in the return capsule. Nie, Zhang and Wang wave to onlookers the day before the start of the mission. The Shenzhou-10 spacecraft is transferred to the launch site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the day of the launch. Hours before launch, the Shenzhou-10 spaceship arrives at the launch site. After the 15-day mission, the Shenzhou-10's return capsule landed successfully in Inner Mongolia on June 26, 2013. After emerging from the return capsule, the astronauts wave to people on the ground. The Chinese space station is expected to be sent into orbit just as the US-led International Space Station goes out of service -- making China potentially the only country with a permanent space presence. European astronauts are already said to be learning Chinese in anticipation. Since 2011, the US Congress has barred NASA from contact with China's space program because of national security fears. "Chinese politicians certainly have wanted to work with the United States in space, to show they are an accepted part of the international family of space-faring nations, but with their own space station forthcoming and international partners other than the US willing and lining up to work with them, that imperative decreases," Johnson-Freese said. China was late to the space race -- it didn't send its first satellite into space until 1970 -- just after the United States put the first man on the moon. But in the decades since, China has pumped enormous amounts of money and resources into research and training. Future plans include sending a robotic probe to Mars and a potential manned mission to the moon. "If the US does not change its policies very soon and begin to work with China in space, it will lose whatever leverage it might have in shaping Chinese space plans for the future, " Johnson-Freese said.[SEP]China launched its second space lab Thursday, official media said, as the country works towards setting up its own manned space station by 2022. The Tiangong-2 blasted off just after 10:00 pm (1400 GMT) "in a cloud of smoke" from the Gobi desert, the official news agency Xinhua reported. State television CCTV broadcast images of the Long March-2F rocket's engines igniting in tandem before slowly lifting into the air and exiting the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, leaving a long trail of flames in its wake. The 8.6 tonne Tinagong-2 -- or Heavenly Palace-2 -- will initially orbit at a height of around 380 kilometres (240 miles) above earth, Xinhua cited Wu Ping, deputy director of China's manned space engineering office, as saying. It will then move slightly higher to allow the Shenzhou-11 mission to transport two astronauts to the facility, where they will stay for 30 days. Once inside Tiangong-2, the two astronauts will carry out research projects related to in-orbit equipment repairs, aerospace medicine, space physics and biology, atomic space clocks and solar storm research. Zhou Jianping, chief engineer of China's manned space program, said Tiangong-2 also aimed to verify technology involved in the construction of the space station. "It has the basic technological capacity of a space station," Zhou said. "Once the space lab mission comes to an end, China will start building our own space station," he said, adding this could start in as early as 2017. In April 2017, China's first space cargo ship Tianzhou-1 will be sent towards the space lab, providing fuel and other supplies. China is pouring billions into its space programme and working to catch up with the US and Europe. It hopes to have a crewed outpost by 2022. China's first space lab, Tiangong-1, was launched in September 2011 and ended transmissions in March this year. It is expected to fall back to Earth in the second half of 2017. Beijing sees its military-run space programme as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature. The nation's first lunar rover was launched in late 2013, and while it was beset by mechanical troubles it far outlived its expected lifespan, finally shutting down only last month. But for the most part China has so far replicated activities that the US and Soviet Union pioneered decades ago. As well as building a Chinese space station, it intends to eventually put one of its citizens on the surface of the moon. It announced in April it aims to send a spacecraft "around 2020" to orbit Mars, land and deploy a rover to explore the surface.[SEP]China has launched its second experimental space station. The successful launch is a sign of the growing sophistication of the country's military-backed space program, that intends to send a mission to Mars in the coming years. The Tiangong 2 was carried into space on Thursday night on a Long March 7 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northern China. Tiangong 2 lifted off on a Long March rocket just after 10 PM local time (1400 GMT) yesterday from the remote launch site in Jiuquan, in the Gobi desert. The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts and dock with Tiangong 2, will be launched sometime next month. The astronauts expect to remain in Tiangong 2 for about a month, testing systems and processes for mid-term stays in space and refuelling, and conduct medical and other experiments. Plans call for the launch next month of the Shenzhou 11 spaceship with two astronauts to dock with the station and remain on board for a month. The station, whose name means 'Heavenly Palace,' is considered a stepping stone to a mission to Mars by the end of the decade. China's first space station, Tiangong 1, was launched in September 2011 and officially went out of service earlier this year, after having docked with three visiting spacecraft. China insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes, but the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. China could start building its space station starting as early as next year, Xinhua quoted Zhou Jianping, chief engineer of the manned spaceflight programme, as saying. 'Once the lab mission comes to an end, China will start building our own space station,' Zhou was quoted as saying. The station would be more economically efficient than the International Space Station and use 'more data', he said. China will launch a 'core module' for the station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. China was prevented from participating in the International Space Station, mainly due to US concerns over the security risks of involving the increasingly assertive Chinese military in the multinational effort. In a manned space mission in 2013, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with the Tiangong 1. Its successor, Tiangong 2, lifted off on a Long March rocket just after 10 PM local time (1400 GMT) yesterday from the remote launch site in Jiuquan, in the Gobi desert. The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts and dock with Tiangong 2, will be launched some time next month. The astronauts expect to remain in Tiangong 2 for about a month, testing systems and processes for mid-term stays in space and refuelling, and conduct medical and other experiments. China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, becoming only the third country after Russia and the US to do so, and has since staged a spacewalk and landed its Yutu rover on the moon. Administrators suggest a manned landing on the moon may also be in the program's future. China could start building its space station starting as early as next year, Xinhua quoted Zhou Jianping, chief engineer of the manned spaceflight programme, as saying. 'Once the lab mission comes to an end, China will start building our own space station,' Zhou was quoted as saying. The station would be more economically efficient than the International Space Station and use 'more data', he said. China will launch a 'core module' for the station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. China was prevented from participating in the International Space Station, mainly due to US concerns over the security risks of involving the increasingly assertive Chinese military in the multinational effort. A source of enormous national pride, China's space program plans a total of 20 missions this year at a time when the US and other countries' programs are seeking new roles. China is also developing the Long March 5 heavier-lift rocket needed to launch other components of the Tiangong 2 and other massive payloads. The country plans to land a rover on Mars by 2020, attempting to recreate the success of the US Viking 1 mission that landed a rover on the planet four decades ago. China has been working to develop its space programme for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the US and Russia. China's Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon in late 2013 to great national fanfare, but soon suffered severe technical difficulties.[SEP]BEIJING (AP) — China has launched its second space station in a sign of the growing sophistication of its military-backed program that intends to send a mission to Mars in the coming years. The Tiangong 2 was carried into space on Thursday night atop a Long March 7 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northern China. Plans call for the launch next month of the Shenzhou 11 spaceship with two astronauts to dock with the station and remain on board for a month. The station, whose name means "Heavenly Palace," is considered a stepping stone to a mission to Mars by the end of the decade. The Tiangong 2 module will be used for "testing systems and processes for mid-term space stays and refueling," and will house experiments in medicine and various space-related technologies. China's first space station, Tiangong 1, was launched in September 2011 and officially went out of service earlier this year after having docked with three visiting spacecraft. China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, becoming only the third country after Russia and the U.S. to do so, and has since staged a spacewalk and landed its Yutu rover on the moon. Administrators suggest a manned landing on the moon may also be in the program's future. China was prevented from participating in the International Space Station, mainly due to U.S. concerns over the security risks of involving the increasingly assertive Chinese military in the multinational effort. A source of enormous national pride, China's space program plans a total of 20 missions this year at a time when the U.S. and other countries' programs are seeking new roles. China is also developing the Long March 5 heavier-lift rocket needed to launch other components of the Tiangong 2 and other massive payloads. China plans to land a rover on Mars by 2020, attempting to recreate the success of the U.S. Viking 1 mission that landed a rover on the planet four decades ago.[SEP]China could send astronauts to its space station for more than a year at a time once it goes operational in 2022, a senior project designer told state media. The country's second space lab, the Tiangong-2 -- or Heavenly Palace-2 -- blasted off Thursday night from the Gobi desert and is expected to operate for at least two years, the latest stage of the Asia's giant's ambitious space programme. Construction on a space station will start in as early as 2017 and take around three years, before it enters into service in 2022, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Zhu Zongpeng, chief designer of the space lab system. Astronauts could be stationed in orbit for missions that last for more than one year in the facility, which has an initial designed life of at least 10 years, Zhu said, according to the report. The longest single stay in space by a human so far is 437 days by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov. The Chinese space station will weigh over 60 tonnes -- much smaller than the 420-tonne International Space Station -- and consist of a core module attached to two space labs, Xinhua said. It will normally accommodate three astronauts at a time but has a maximum capacity of six, it added. China is pouring billions into its space programme and working to catch up with the US and Europe. Beijing sees its military-run space programme as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature. The nation's first lunar rover was launched in late 2013, and while it was beset by mechanical troubles it far outlived its expected lifespan, finally shutting down only last month. The Tiangong-2 will have two astronauts transported to it to conduct research projects related to in-orbit equipment repairs, aerospace medicine, space physics and biology, atomic space clocks and solar storm research during a 30-day stay, Xinhua said. But for the most part China has so far replicated activities that the US and the former Soviet Union pioneered decades ago. As well as building a space station, it intends to eventually put one of its citizens on the surface of the moon. It announced in April it aims to send a spacecraft "around 2020" to orbit Mars, land and deploy a rover to explore the surface.[SEP]China launched its second experimental space laboratory, part of a broader plan to have a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. Advancing China’s space programme is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, Beijing has tested anti-satellite missiles. China insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes, but the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. In a manned space mission in 2013, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with an experimental space laboratory, the Tiangong 1, or “Heavenly Palace”. Its successor, Tiangong 2, lifted off on a Long March rocket just after 10 pm from the remote launch site in Jiuquan, in the Gobi desert, in images carried live on state television. The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts and dock with Tiangong 2, will be launched sometime next month. The astronauts expect to remain in Tiangong 2 for about a month, testing systems and processes for mid-term stays in space and refuelling, and conduct medical and other experiments. The smooth launch imparts a high-tech sheen to week-long celebrations of China’s National Day, starting on Oct. 1, as well as this week’s shorter Mid-Autumn Festival holiday that coincides with the full moon. China would start building its space station starting as early as next year, Xinhua quoted Zhou Jianping, chief engineer of the manned spaceflight programme, as saying. The station would be more economically efficient than the International Space Station and use “more data”, he said. “Once the lab mission comes to an end, China will start building our own space station,” Zhou was quoted as saying. China will launch a “core module” for the station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. China has been working to develop its space programme for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the United States and Russia. China’s Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon in late 2013 to great national fanfare, but soon suffered severe technical difficulties. The rover and the Chang’e 3 probe that carried it there were the first “soft landing” on the moon since 1976. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had accomplished the feat earlier.[SEP]BEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) - China launched its second experimental space laboratory on Thursday, part of a broader plan to have a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. Advancing China's space programme is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, Beijing has tested anti-satellite missiles. China insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. Defense Department has highlighted its increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. In a manned space mission in 2013, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with an experimental space laboratory, the Tiangong 1, or "Heavenly Palace". Its successor, Tiangong 2, lifted off on a Long March rocket just after 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) from the remote launch site in Jiuquan, in the Gobi desert, in images carried live on state television. The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts and dock with Tiangong 2, will be launched sometime next month. The astronauts expect to remain in Tiangong 2 for about a month, testing systems and processes for mid-term stays in space and refuelling, and conduct medical and other experiments. The smooth launch imparts a high-tech sheen to week-long celebrations of China's National Day, starting Oct. 1, as well as this week's shorter Mid-Autumn Festival holiday that coincides with the full moon. China will launch a "core module" for its first space station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. China has been working to develop its space programme for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the United States and Russia. China's Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon in late 2013 to great national fanfare, but soon suffered severe technical difficulties. The rover and the Chang'e 3 probe that carried it there were the first "soft landing" on the moon since 1976. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had accomplished the feat earlier. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Ralph Boulton)[SEP]China to launch second space lab module, another manned mission BEIJING, Sept 14 (Reuters) - China will launch its second experimental space laboratory late on Thursday and another manned space mission next month, the government said, part of a broader plan to have a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. Advancing China's space programme is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, Beijing has tested anti-satellite missiles. China insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. Defense Department has highlighted its increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. In a manned space mission in 2013, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with an experimental space laboratory, the Tiangong 1, or "Heavenly Palace". China will launch the Tiangong 2 just after 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Thursday, a space programme spokeswoman told a news conference carried live from the remote launch site in Jiuquan, in the Gobi desert. The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which will carry two astronauts and dock with Tiangong 2, will be launched sometime next month, mission spokeswoman Wu Ping said on Wednesday. The astronauts expect to remain in Tiangong 2 for about a month, Wu added. A smooth launch would impart a high-tech sheen to week-long celebrations of China's National Day, starting Oct. 1, as well as this week's shorter Mid-Autumn Festival holiday that coincides with the full moon. "Launching Tiangong 2 is a key battle in comprehensively completing the space laboratory stage mission, and will establish a firm foundation for our country's continued space station construction and operation," Wu said. Work on "quantum key transmission" will eventually be carried out at the laboratory, China's official Xinhua news agency said. The country launched the world's first quantum satellite in August, aimed at achieving "hack-proof" communications between space and the ground. China will launch a "core module" for its first space station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. China has been working to develop its space programme for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the United States and Russia. China's Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon in late 2013 to great national fanfare, but soon suffered severe technical difficulties. The rover and the Chang'e 3 probe that carried it there were the first "soft landing" on the moon since 1976. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had accomplished the feat earlier. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Gao Liangping and Michael Martina; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)[SEP]China successfully launched space lab the Tiangong-2 Thursday night from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in northwest China. Tiangong-2 will link with Shenzhou-11 manned spaceship, which will be launched later in October. Also piggybacking on the Tiangong-2 launch is a micro satellite that will orbit close to the space lab –its purpose has not been reported. The mission is part of China’s ambitious space program to build a permanent manned space station around year 2022. With the sound of rolling thunder on the vast Gobi dessert, Tiangong-2 space lab blasted off into space propelled by its Long March 2F carrier rocket, shortly after 10pm on Thursday. In just 585 seconds, Tiangong-2 was placed in an orbit about 393 kilometers above the Earth. The Shenzhou-11 spaceship will ferry two astronauts to dock with the lab and stay in space for 30 days to conduct a range of scientific experiments covering areas such as fundamental physics, biology, fluid mechanics in micro gravity and aerospace medicine. More than 40 space science and application experiments will be conducted aboard Tiangong-2. Once inside Tiangong-2, the two astronauts will carry out key experiments related to aerospace medicine, space physics and biology as well as on-orbit equipment repairs in areas such as quantum key transmission, space atomic clock and solar storm research. “The number of experiments carried by Tiangong-2 is the highest so far of all manned space missions,” said Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office. Its payload includes POLAR, a collaboration between Swiss, Polish and Chinese institutions to study gamma ray bursts. The space cold atomic clock, which scientists say only loses one second about every 30 million years, is expected to make future mobile navigation more accurate. Many experiments are at the very forefront of space science exploration, and one of them is the world’s first in-space cold atomic clock, used to improve time measurements to the equivalent of one second every 30 million years, and will also result in improvements in navigation accuracy. Lv Congmoin, Deputy director at the technology and engineering center for space utilization, Chinese academy of sciences, says “The synchronization of the navigation system on our mobile phone runs via the internet. But the function of time correction systems all depends on numerous atomic clocks on the ground. If we can maintain the smooth running of the cold atomic clock in space, time synchronization between the earth and space can finally be achieved, thus improving navigation accuracy. ” The new space lab, designed with two modules, offers a larger payload capacity, better living quarters, and new communication technologies on board. As a major breakthrough in the “three step strategy” proposed by Chinese scientists toward the goal of building a permanent manned space station, the Tiangong2 is expected to further boost the development of China’s space exploration. “Tiangong 2 is the first space vehicle in the second phase of the second step of the strategy,” says Chief designer of the Tiangong-2 space lab Zhu Zongpeng. “It’s going to dock with Shenzhou-11 this year, and with a cargo vessel next year. Once it has completed missions of long term space stays, facility maintenance, refueling, and space experiments, it will be the end of the phase. If we cannot carry out the mission well, it’s going to affect the building of the space station directly. So Tiangong-2 has great significance in the process. ” The manned space engineering office said in March that the orbit of Tiangong-1 will descend gradually over several months until the orbiter eventually burns up in the atmosphere. Source: The Daily Galaxy via cri.cn and xinhuanet.com
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) launches the Tiangong-2 space laboratory from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia.
At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a Taliban splinter group at a mosque in Pakistan. The blast struck as Muslims gathered for Friday prayers in the village of Payee Khan in Mohmand Agency district. “The suicide bomber was in crowded mosque, he shouted 'Allahu Akbar', and then there was a huge blast,” Naveed Akbar, deputy administrator of the region, told Reuters. We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras. Officials said at least 25 people were killed and 30 injured and there were fears the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued. Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack, with local tribal elder Haji Subhanullah Mohmand suggesting it may have been revenge for the killing of a militant by tribal volunteers. “It seems to have enraged the militants and they got their revenge by carrying out a suicide attack in a mosque today,” he said. Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, condemned the bombing and said “attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.” The military says security is improving, with recorded “terrorist incidents” dropping from 128 in 2013 to 74 last year - but Islamist extremists continue to stage major attacks. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Pakistan hospital attack Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Pakistan hospital attack 1/10 A man reacts after his relative was killed in a bomb blast in restive Quetta EPA 2/10 Residents light candles to honour victims of the blast in Quetta during a candellight vigil in Peshawar Reuters 3/10 People carry the coffin of a victim of suicide bomb attack at a hospital for burial in Quetta REUTERS 4/10 Pakistani victims injured in a suicide bombing are treated at a hospital in Quetta AFP/Getty Images 5/10 A lawyer who was injured in a bomb blast wait to receive medical treatment in restive Quetta EPA 6/10 A doctor treats an injured lawyer at the scene of a bomb blast in restive Quetta EPA 7/10 People comfort a man mourning the death of a family member who was killed in suicide bombing, at a funeral in Quetta AP 8/10 People transfer an injured man from the blast site in Quetta Rex Features 9/10 Pakistani security officials and lawyers gather around the bodies of victims killed in a bomb explosion at a government hospital premises in Quetta AFP/Getty Images 10/10 The scene following a bomb blast outside a hospital in Quetta Naseer Ahmed/Reuters 1/10 A man reacts after his relative was killed in a bomb blast in restive Quetta EPA 2/10 Residents light candles to honour victims of the blast in Quetta during a candellight vigil in Peshawar Reuters 3/10 People carry the coffin of a victim of suicide bomb attack at a hospital for burial in Quetta REUTERS 4/10 Pakistani victims injured in a suicide bombing are treated at a hospital in Quetta AFP/Getty Images 5/10 A lawyer who was injured in a bomb blast wait to receive medical treatment in restive Quetta EPA 6/10 A doctor treats an injured lawyer at the scene of a bomb blast in restive Quetta EPA 7/10 People comfort a man mourning the death of a family member who was killed in suicide bombing, at a funeral in Quetta AP 8/10 People transfer an injured man from the blast site in Quetta Rex Features 9/10 Pakistani security officials and lawyers gather around the bodies of victims killed in a bomb explosion at a government hospital premises in Quetta AFP/Getty Images 10/10 The scene following a bomb blast outside a hospital in Quetta Naseer Ahmed/Reuters Friday's bombing came a day after a woman was killed by a grenade in Lower Mohmand Agency when militants attacked a pro-government tribal elder's home. Mohmand lies in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, a semi-autonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Independent news email Only the best news in your inbox Independent news email Only the best news in your inbox Enter your email address Continue Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. Log in to update your newsletter preferences Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email Update newsletter preferences Largely deeply conservative, the territory is remote and hard to access, providing sanctuary for extremist fighters targeted in decades of military operations and drone strikes. Tehrik-i-Taliban (Pakistani Taliban) militants are waging an Islamist insurgency in the area and have launched a series of bombing attacks and assaults on security services. Its Jamaat ul-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for a bombing targeting lawyers that killed 74 people in the city of Quetta last month, as well as the the Easter Sunday blasts in Lahore that killed 72 people, many of them children. Al-Qaeda fighters are also present in Pakistan, while Isis has recently bene seeking to increase its presence in the country and neighbouring Afghanistan, where it has founded an affiliate called Khorasan Province.[SEP]KHAR, Pakistan — A Pakistani official says the death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque has risen to 36 after several of those wounded in the attack died in hospitals. Pashin Gul, the head of the tribal police in the northwestern Mohmand region, provided the updated toll on Saturday, a day after the bombing. Several children were among those killed and wounded in the attack, which targeted weekly Friday prayers. The initial toll provided by officials was 24 dead and 28 wounded. Some 200 worshippers were inside the mosque when the bomber struck. A breakaway Taliban faction knows as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying it targeted members of a pro-government militia.[SEP]The death toll from a deadly suicide attack in north-western Pakistan has climbed to at least 28 as another 30 have been wounded, according to the local government officials. The incident took place on Friday afternoon as scores of people had gathered in a mosque for Friday prayers in a remote village in the Mohmand Agency, north of Peshawar. According to the political administration sources the explosion took place when people were returning home from the mosque after Friday prayers. However, a senior tribal administration official told AFP news agency: “The Friday prayer was in progress at the mosque when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the main room.” A faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has reportedly carried out the attack which apparently targeted elders from a government-sponsored anti-Taliban militia. The tribal areas of Pakistan have been subject to recent attacks both by the Pakistani Taliban and the loyalists of the Islamic State. The violence sporadically continue in the area despite the Pakistani military began operations there in 2014 to reduce the strength of the Taliban. Follow Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS[SEP]Jamaat-ul-Ahra, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the bombing that also injured 34 people, according to the group's spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan. The attack took place at one of the biggest mosques in Mohmand Agency, a district in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas north of Peshawar, said Naveed Akbar, assistant administrator for the agency. Two children under the age of 10 were killed in the blast while four children under the age of 10 are among the injured, Akbar said. The official said the suicide bomber detonated his device inside the packed hall of the mosque, which has a capacity of 100 to 150 people. Screams could be heard after the blast, and body parts were found scattered around the mosque, Akhbar said. He said the death toll is likely to grow. "The cowardly attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country," he said. Jamaat-ul-Ahra has carried out several major attacks in Pakistan this year, including a bombing on August 8 that targeted lawyers and journalists and killed more than 72 people.[SEP]At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a Taliban splinter group at a mosque in Pakistan. The blast struck as Muslims gathered for Friday prayers in the village of Payee Khan in Mohmand Agency district. “The suicide bomber was in crowded mosque, he shouted 'Allahu Akbar', and then there was a huge blast,” Naveed Akbar, deputy administrator of the region, told Reuters. Officials said at least 25 people were killed and 30 injured and there were fears the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued. Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack, with local tribal elder Haji Subhanullah Mohmand suggesting it may have been revenge for the killing of a militant by tribal volunteers. “It seems to have enraged the militants and they got their revenge by carrying out a suicide attack in a mosque today,” he said. Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, condemned the bombing and said “attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.” The military says security is improving, with recorded “terrorist incidents” dropping from 128 in 2013 to 74 last year - but Islamist extremists continue to stage major attacks. Friday's bombing came a day after a woman was killed by a grenade in Lower Mohmand Agency when militants attacked a pro-government tribal elder's home. Largely deeply conservative, the territory is remote and hard to access, providing sanctuary for extremist fighters targeted in decades of military operations and drone strikes. Tehrik-i-Taliban (Pakistani Taliban) militants are waging an Islamist insurgency in the area and have launched a series of bombing attacks and assaults on security services. Its Jamaat ul-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for a bombing targeting lawyers that killed 74 people in the city of Quetta last month, as well as the the Easter Sunday blasts in Lahore that killed 72 people, many of them children. Al-Qaeda fighters are also present in Pakistan, while Isis has recently bene seeking to increase its presence in the country and neighbouring Afghanistan, where it has founded an affiliate called Khorasan Province.[SEP]KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani official says the death toll from a suicide bombing at a mosque has risen to 36 after several of those wounded in the attack died in hospitals. Pashin Gul, the head of the tribal police in the northwestern Mohmand region, provided the updated toll on Saturday, a day after the bombing. Several children were among those killed and wounded in the attack, which targeted weekly Friday prayers. The initial toll provided by officials was 24 dead and 28 wounded. Some 200 worshippers were inside the mosque when the bomber struck. A Pakistani child who was injured in a suicide bombing is treated at a local hospital in Khar, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. A suicide bomber attacked a Sunni mosque in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing dozens of worshippers and wounding many others, officials said. Several children were also among those killed or wounded in the deadly attack. (AP Photo/Anwarullah Khan) A breakaway Taliban faction knows as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying it targeted members of a pro-government militia.[SEP]No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Payee Khan, a village in Mohmand Agency that is part of the lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. "The suicide bomber was in a crowded mosque, he shouted 'Allahu akbar' (God is greatest) and then there was a huge blast," Naveed Akbar, deputy administrator of Mohmand Agency, told Reuters. Akbar added that some fatalities appear to have been caused when part of the mosque caved in from the force of the blast. "A portion of the mosque and verandah collapsed in the blast and fell on worshippers. We are still retrieving bodies and the injured from the rubble of the mosque," he said. Local tribal elder Haji Subhanullah Mohmand said the attack may have been carried out by Islamist militants seeking revenge after local tribesmen gathered a volunteer force and killed one and captured another insurgent. "It seems to have enraged the militants and they got their revenge by carrying out a suicide attack in a mosque today," Mohmand said. Pakistan's frontier regions, which are deeply conservative and hard to access due to rough terrain, have long been the sanctuary of fighters from al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups. In 2014 the army launched a major operation in other parts of FATA including North and South Waziristan against insurgents who routinely attacked government officials and civilians. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the bombing and said the "attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country." Security in Pakistan has improved in recent years - the military says "terrorist incidents" dropped from 128 in 2013 to 74 last year - but Islamist extremists continue to stage major attacks. A bombing of lawyers in the city of Quetta killed 74 people last month, an attack claimed by both the Islamic State and Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban. Jamaat-ur-Ahrar also claimed the Easter Sunday bombing in a park in the eastern city of Lahore that killed 72 people, many of them children. Most of the myriad militant groups that stage attacks inside Pakistan seek to overthrow the government to establish an Islamic theocracy and impose a stricter interpretation of the religion than is practiced in much of the country. Other armed groups based in the country target neighboring Afghanistan and Indian-controlled Kashmir.[SEP]At least 25 people are dead in northwestern Pakistan, after a suicide bomber shouted "Allahu akbar" and blew himself up in a packed mosque, a local official says. At least 30 other people were wounded in the attack during Friday (Saturday NZ Time) prayers. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Payee Khan, a village in Mohmand Agency that is part of the lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. "The suicide bomber was in a crowded mosque, he shouted 'Allahu akbar' (God is greatest) and then there was a huge blast," Naveed Akbar, deputy administrator of Mohmand Agency, told Reuters. Akbar added that some fatalities appear to have been caused when part of the mosque caved in from the force of the blast. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the bombing and said the "attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country". Local tribal elder Haji Subhanullah Mohmand said the attack may have been carried out by Islamist militants seeking revenge after local tribesmen gathered a volunteer force and killed one and captured another insurgent. Pakistan's frontier regions, which are deeply conservative and hard to access due to rough terrain, have long been the sanctuary of fighters from al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups. In 2014 the army launched a major operation in other parts of FATA including North and South Waziristan against insurgents who routinely attacked government officials and civilians. Security in Pakistan has improved in recent years - the military says "terrorist incidents" dropped from 128 in 2013 to 74 last year - but Islamist extremists continue to stage major attacks. A bombing of lawyers in the city of Quetta killed 74 people last month, an attack claimed by both the Islamic State and Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban. Jamaat-ur-Ahrar also claimed the Easter Sunday bombing in a park in the eastern city of Lahore that killed 72 people, many of them children.[SEP]Khar, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber attacked a Sunni mosque in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 24 worshippers and wounding 28 others, officials said. Several children were also among those killed or wounded in the deadly attack. A breakaway Taliban group later claimed responsibility for the bombing. The attacker shouted “God is Great” as he entered the mosque in the village of Ambar in Pakistan’s Mohmand tribal region, government administrator Naveed Akbar told The Associated Press. He said rescuers had transported the dead and wounded to nearby hospitals, where some of the wounded were listed in critical condition. Akbar said about 200 worshippers were inside the mosque at the time of attack. Pashin Gul, the head of local tribal police, confirmed that it was a suicide attack. He said the bombing took place during Friday prayers, adding that several of the wounded were in a critical condition. Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar — the breakaway Taliban faction — claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media. He claimed the attacker targeted members of a pro-government militia. The White House in a statement Friday condemned the attack, saying it is an “appalling reminder that terrorism threatens all countries in the region” and said the U.S. would continue to work with the Pakistani government to fight terrorism. Saeed Khan, in charge of the hospital in the town of Khar, said an army helicopter was being used to transport the critically wounded to Peshawar, the main city in northwestern Pakistan. One of the wounded, 41-year-old Ghulam Khan, 41, said he heard a deafening explosion during the prayers and then he fell down. “I cried for help, but no one came to me … there were other bodies … wounded worshippers, who were reciting verses from Quran and waiting for help,” he told The Associated Press from his hospital bed. Khan said local residents and tribal police helped ferry the wounded to hospital. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which targeted a Sunni mosque. Previous such large-scale attacks have usually targeted Shiite mosques. The country has witnessed several large-scale militant attacks this year, claimed by an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State group. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan issued a statement, condemning the attack. Pakistan’s tribal regions, which border Afghanistan, were considered to be strongholds of Pakistani Taliban militants until 2014, when the military launched a major operation there, evicting and killing large numbers of insurgents. However, violence has continued in some of the tribal regions. Friday’s attack came hours after army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss security issues. According to a government statement, Sharif pledged to continue the war against terrorism. The military says some 18,000 civilians and 5,000 soldiers have been killed in militant attacks in Pakistan since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, when Islamabad threw its support behind Washington in the war on terror.[SEP]A suicide bomber killed at least 16 people and wounded 35 others as they attended Friday prayers at a mosque in a northwestern Pakistani tribal area, officials said. The bombing took place in the village of Butmaina in the Mohmand tribal district bordering Afghanistan where the army has been fighting against Taliban militants. "The Friday prayer was in progress at the mosque when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the main room killing at least 16 worshippers and wounding 35 others," a senior tribal administration official told AFP. "The area is remote and so far I have received only this information from our sources via wireless," he said, adding a curfew had since been imposed. Another local government official confirmed the information. The assault was later condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose office released a statement that said: "The cowardly attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country." There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Pakistani Taliban routinely attack soft targets such as courts, schools and mosques. On September 2, at least 14 people were killed and more than 50 wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a court in the Pakistani city of Mardan in an assault targeting Pakistan's legal community that was claimed by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Taliban faction. The group has also said it was behind an attack on lawyers in southwest Quetta, which killed 73 people on August 8, as well as the Lahore Easter bombing that killed 75 in Pakistan's deadliest attack this year. Pakistan's deadliest ever attack occurred in Peshawar in December 2014, when Taliban militants stormed a school killing more than 150 people, mostly children. The army launched an operation in June 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in the northwestern tribal areas and so bring an end to the bloody insurgency that has cost thousands of civilian lives since 2004. Security in the country has since improved. Scattered attacks still take place, but they are fewer and of a lesser intensity than in previous years. According to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 457 civilians and 182 security forces were killed in Pakistan from January 1 to September 11, putting 2016 on course for fewer casualties than 2015. Last year, the country recorded its lowest number of killings since 2007, when the Pakistani Taliban was formed.
A suicide bombing at a mosque in Mohmand Agency kills at least 28 people and injures 31 others. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claims the responsibility.
BEIJING (AP) — At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing. Taiwanese authorities reported that one person died in the storm. According to Chinese officials, Meranti forced the relocation of 33 million people and destroyed 1,600 homes. Images shared by state news media showed power lines and destroyed vehicles downed on streets in the coastal city of Xiamen. Taiwanese media reported that parts of southern Taiwan remain flooded. But even as the cleanup is underway there, another typhoon, Malakas, is expected to hit Taiwan late Friday and Saturday. A man carries belongings away from a destroyed structure after a typhoon in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian province Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Typhoon Meranti, labeled the strongest storm so far this year by Chinese and Taiwanese weather authorities, made landfall in southeastern China early Thursday after previously affecting Taiwan. (Chinatopix via AP) A man wearing a red helmet, left, climbs on the wreckage of a destroyed structure after a typhoon in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian province Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Typhoon Meranti, labeled the strongest storm so far this year by Chinese and Taiwanese weather authorities, made landfall in southeastern China early Thursday after previously affecting Taiwan. (Chinatopix via AP)[SEP]BEIJING (AP) — At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing. Taiwanese authorities reported that one person died in the storm. According to Chinese officials, Meranti forced the relocation of 33 million people and destroyed 1,600 homes. Images shared by state news media showed power lines and destroyed vehicles downed on streets in the coastal city of Xiamen. Taiwanese media reported that parts of southern Taiwan remain flooded. But even as the cleanup is underway there, another typhoon, Malakas, is expected to hit Taiwan late Friday and Saturday.[SEP]Taiwan is about to be soaked by its second severe storm in just three days, with typhoon Malakas forecast to pass by the northern end of the island early on Saturday. The tropical storm will tear past Taiwanese capital Taipei at around midday and is forecast to reach as high as a category four hurricane, with wind speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). It comes just two days after typhoon Meranti made landfall on the southern coast, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power. On Friday afternoon, typhoon Malakas was hovering off the eastern coast of Taiwan and is forecast to curve up the country's coastline, growing stronger and passing Taipei, before heading towards Japan. "Even though the storm is not forecast to make a direct landfall on Taiwan at the moment, areas towards the north of Taitung county are forecast to receive tropical storm force winds beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting into Sunday morning," CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said. "Once the storm begins its track towards the northeast it will impact the Ryuku Islands with high surf, winds and rain." Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a typhoon warning for parts of the country on Friday, ahead of the storm's arrival. Typhoon Malakas was tracked at position 20.1,124.7 with 105mph NW winds #Malakas #hurricane https://t.co/Gux4BwJZHL pic.twitter.com/OkB9nk5JMP — My Hurricane Tracker (@myhurricaneapp) September 16, 2016 The new storm arrives as Taiwan's southern communities are still recovering from typhoon Meranti's arrival on Wednesday, which left two people dead and 63 injured on the island. Hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power and water, while another half a million were in need of repairs. In Xiamen province, China, at least seven people had been reported dead on Friday afternoon, while another nine were missing, after heavy rain and wind from typhoon Meranti smashed windows, uprooted trees and destroyed an 800-year-old bridge. While typhoon Malakas has been classified as a "severe typhoon" by the Hong Kong Observatory, it still cannot match the strength of Meranti, which was the region's most powerful tropical storm since typhoon Haiyan in 2013.[SEP]BEIJING—At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed parts of southeastern China and Taiwan. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing. Taiwanese authorities...[SEP]Taiwan is about to be soaked by its second severe storm in just three days, with typhoon Malakas forecast to pass by the northern end of the island early on Saturday. The tropical storm will tear past Taiwanese capital Taipei at around midday and is forecast to reach as high as a category four hurricane, with wind speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). It comes just two days after typhoon Meranti made landfall on the southern coast, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power. On Friday afternoon, typhoon Malakas was hovering off the eastern coast of Taiwan and is forecast to curve up the country's coastline, growing stronger and passing Taipei, before heading towards Japan. "Even though the storm is not forecast to make a direct landfall on Taiwan at the moment, areas towards the north of Taitung county are forecast to receive tropical storm force winds beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting into Sunday morning," CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said. "Once the storm begins its track towards the northeast it will impact the Ryuku Islands with high surf, winds and rain." Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a typhoon warning for parts of the country on Friday, ahead of the storm's arrival. Typhoon Malakas was tracked at position 20.1,124.7 with 105mph NW winds #Malakas #hurricane https://t.co/Gux4BwJZHL pic.twitter.com/OkB9nk5JMP — My Hurricane Tracker (@myhurricaneapp) September 16, 2016 The new storm arrives as Taiwan's southern communities are still recovering from typhoon Meranti's arrival on Wednesday, which left two people dead and 63 injured on the island. Hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power and water, while another half a million were in need of repairs. In Xiamen province, China, at least seven people had been reported dead on Friday afternoon, while another nine were missing, after heavy rain and wind from typhoon Meranti smashed windows, uprooted trees and destroyed an 800-year-old bridge. While typhoon Malakas has been classified as a "severe typhoon" by the Hong Kong Observatory, it still cannot match the strength of Meranti, which was the region's most powerful tropical storm since typhoon Haiyan in 2013.[SEP]Taiwan is about to be soaked by its second severe storm in just three days, with typhoon Malakas forecast to pass by the northern end of the island early on Saturday. The tropical storm will tear past Taiwanese capital Taipei at around midday and is forecast to reach as high as a category four hurricane, with wind speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). It comes just two days after typhoon Meranti made landfall on the southern coast, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power. On Friday afternoon, typhoon Malakas was hovering off the eastern coast of Taiwan and is forecast to curve up the country's coastline, growing stronger and passing Taipei, before heading towards Japan. "Even though the storm is not forecast to make a direct landfall on Taiwan at the moment, areas towards the north of Taitung county are forecast to receive tropical storm force winds beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting into Sunday morning," CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said. "Once the storm begins its track towards the northeast it will impact the Ryuku Islands with high surf, winds and rain." Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a typhoon warning for parts of the country on Friday, ahead of the storm's arrival. Typhoon Malakas was tracked at position 20.1,124.7 with 105mph NW winds #Malakas #hurricane https://t.co/Gux4BwJZHL pic.twitter.com/OkB9nk5JMP — My Hurricane Tracker (@myhurricaneapp) September 16, 2016 The new storm arrives as Taiwan's southern communities are still recovering from typhoon Meranti's arrival on Wednesday, which left two people dead and 63 injured on the island. Hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power and water, while another half a million were in need of repairs. In Xiamen province, China, at least seven people had been reported dead on Friday afternoon, while another nine were missing, after heavy rain and wind from typhoon Meranti smashed windows, uprooted trees and destroyed an 800-year-old bridge. While typhoon Malakas has been classified as a "severe typhoon" by the Hong Kong Observatory, it still cannot match the strength of Meranti, which was the region's most powerful tropical storm since typhoon Haiyan in 2013.[SEP]Typhoon kills at least 11 in China and Taiwan; another on the way SHANGHAI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The world's strongest storm this year killed at last 10 people in China when it hit the southeast coast, the government said on Friday, as rescuers scoured flooded streets and work crews struggled to restore power to more than a million homes. Typhoon Meranti had largely dissipated by Friday afternoon, a day after it swept in from the Pacific Ocean, clipping the southern tip of Taiwan, and making landfall near the Chinese port city of Xiamen, in Fujian province. The storm killed seven people in Fujian and three in neighbouring Zhejiang province, state media and the government said. Eleven people were missing. More than 330,000 people were returning to their homes on Friday after being forced to flee a storm that meteorologists said was the world's biggest this year. The typhoon killed one person and injured 38 on Taiwan where people were on Friday preparing for another, Typhoon Malakas, which was forecast to bring heavy rain on Saturday. The Taiwan weather bureau issued land and sea warnings, urging people to be on alert for severe weather and flooding. Meranti was the strongest typhoon to hit that part of China's coast since 1949, the Xinhua state news agency said. Pictures on state media showed flooded streets, fallen trees and crushed cars in Xiamen. Three power transmission towers were blown down in the city and utility crews were trying to restore power. Across Fujian, 1.65 million homes had no electricity, Xinhua reported. Dozens of flights and train services were cancelled on Thursday, disrupting travel at the beginning of a three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land. (Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Robert Birsel)[SEP]Typhoon Meranti had largely dissipated by Friday afternoon, a day after it swept in from the Pacific Ocean, clipping the southern tip of Taiwan, and making landfall near the Chinese port city of Xiamen, in Fujian province. The storm killed seven people in Fujian and three in neighboring Zhejiang province, state media and the government said. Eleven people were missing. More than 330,000 people were returning to their homes on Friday after being forced to flee a storm that meteorologists said was the world's biggest this year. The typhoon killed one person and injured 38 on Taiwan where people were on Friday preparing for another, Typhoon Malakas, which was forecast to bring heavy rain on Saturday. The Taiwan weather bureau issued land and sea warnings, urging people to be on alert for severe weather and flooding. Meranti was the strongest typhoon to hit that part of China's coast since 1949, the Xinhua state news agency said. Pictures on state media showed flooded streets, fallen trees and crushed cars in Xiamen. Three power transmission towers were blown down in the city and utility crews were trying to restore power. Across Fujian, 1.65 million homes had no electricity, Xinhua reported. Dozens of flights and train services were canceled on Thursday, disrupting travel at the beginning of a three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land.[SEP]At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing. Taiwanese authorities reported that one person died in the storm. According to Chinese officials, Meranti forced the relocation of 33 million people and destroyed 1,600 homes. Images shared by state news media showed power lines and destroyed vehicles downed on streets in the coastal city of Xiamen. Taiwanese media reported that parts of southern Taiwan remain flooded. But even as the cleanup is underway there, another typhoon, Malakas, is expected to hit Taiwan late Friday and Saturday.[SEP]BEIJING (AP) — At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful typhoon lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday updated the number of deaths to seven as a result of Typhoon Meranti, which struck Fujian province early Thursday. Nine people in China are still missing. Taiwanese authorities reported that one person died in the storm. According to Chinese officials, Meranti forced the relocation of 33 million people and destroyed 1,600 homes. Images shared by state news media showed power lines and destroyed vehicles downed on streets in the coastal city of Xiamen. Taiwanese media reported that parts of southern Taiwan remain flooded. But even as the cleanup is underway there, another typhoon, Malakas, is expected to hit Taiwan late Friday and Saturday. A man carries belongings away from a destroyed structure after a typhoon in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian province Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Typhoon Meranti, labeled the strongest storm so far this year by Chinese and Taiwanese weather authorities, made landfall in southeastern China early Thursday after previously affecting Taiwan. (Chinatopix via AP) A man wearing a red helmet, left, climbs on the wreckage of a destroyed structure after a typhoon in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian province Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. Typhoon Meranti, labeled the strongest storm so far this year by Chinese and Taiwanese weather authorities, made landfall in southeastern China early Thursday after previously affecting Taiwan. (Chinatopix via AP)
Typhoon Meranti hits mainland China and Taiwan killing at least eight people and destroying 1,600 houses.
AFTERMATH. Photo by Aeron Mayor CAGAYAN, Philippines – Batanes province has been placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ferdie (Meranti). Norma Talosig, chief of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley region, confirmed to Rappler on Friday, September 16, that the provincial board declared the province under a state of calamity on Thursday, September 15. The declaration follows the recommendation of the provincial disaster management agency, according to Talosig. Governor Marilou Cayco said on Friday that the declaration will allow the provincial government to "immediately respond to the restoration needs of some facilities which were greatly affected by strong the typhoon and to enable quick response and service delivery to the affected families." Cayco said the provincial government will prioritize families whose houses were totally damaged by strong winds. On Thursday, Batanes Representative Henedina Abad said the province was "heavily" damaged by Ferdie. Abad said the province still had no power supply, and the communication lines in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, and Mahatao had been cut. “Our communities at the moment do not have access to water or electricity, and communication across the province is difficult to establish,” Abad said, adding that there was also great damage in agriculture and infrastructure. She said she's "thankful" that there were no casualties reported. Talosig, meanwhile, reported 50 houses were totally damaged while 100 were partially damaged. The buildings of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Technical Education Development Authority (TESDA), Basco Central School, Batanes National High School, Provincial Capitol building and Sto Domingo Church also suffered damages. 'No help yet' In a Facebook post, Rachel Ponce, Abad's aide who is a resident of Itbayat, pleaded for help as they have yet to contact some towns. Ponce lamented the lack of media coverage on the aftermath of Ferdie in Batanes, saying the damage had left some town islands isolated. "Nakakalungkot na [sobra ang] media coverage [sa] Senate samantalang ang mga kahilyan (kababayan) sa Itbayat eh nagiiyak na sa pag aalala sa Itbayat Island," Ponce said. (It is saddening that the Senate is receiving a huge media coverage while our countrymen in Itbayat are crying and worried of what had happened to our families in Itbayat Island.) "Ilang araw na kaming walang naririnig na communication sa kanila. We are so worried. We just want to know if there are casualties, kung buhay pa ba sila? Sa Itbayat kasi ang eye ng typhoon. The last text we received eh nilipad na yung mga bubong, nag evacuate na sa mga may concrete houses ang mga iba. Binaha na daw po sa plaza. First time po na nangyari yun," Ponce added. (We have not received any communication from them for days. We are so worried. We just want to know if there are casualties, or if they are still alive. The eye of the typhoon passed through Itbayat. The last text we received is that their roofs were blown away and that they are already evacuating to those with concrete houses. Our plaza was flooded and that never happened before.) Ponce said they "badly" need attention because Batanes had never experienced a typhoon of such strength until then. She said that since the C130 could not land in Itbayat, they are requesting a helicopter for the town. "We do not have a voice. Kahit aerial view lang po, kahit ibagsak niyo na lang po yung satellite phone and relief goods (Reach Itbayat even if it's only an aerial view, or even if you just drop a satellite phone and relief goods,) she said. The regional disaster management agency said it is set to fly to Basco on Saturday via a C-130 plane. The agency will assess the damage of the typhoon and to deliver relief goods. The team supposedly fled to Batanes on Thursday but they were not given clearance due to the bad weather. – Rappler.com[SEP]The provincial government of Batanes has declared a state of calamity after Typhoon Ferdie (international codename: Meranti) affected more than 10,000 people and damaged P55.5 million worth of crops and infrastructure. Gov. Marilou Cayco also appealed for potable water, food items, generator sets for water pumps, transformers, galvanized iron, construction materials and ropes. “With the calamity funds, we will be able to restore heavily damaged facilities by the strong typhoon as well as facilitate the delivery of services to affected families and individuals,” Cayco said. She said families whose houses were totally damaged by strong winds will be given priority. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 2 estimated P37 million worth of vegetables, root crops and corn crops were damaged by the typhoon. Meanwhile, 28 school buildings were also destroyed by the typhoon. Norma Talosig, OCD-Region 2 director, said at least 10,214 people were affected. She added that 292 houses were totally damaged and 932 partially damaged in the towns of Basco, Ivana and Uyugan. In Basco town, the buildings of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Provincial Capitol and the Santo Domingo Church were destroyed. The province had no power since Tuesday because electric posts were toppled. Officials said electricity may be restored after a week. Telecommunication lines in the towns of Basco, Mahatao and Itbayat were also down since Wednesday except in Uyugan town. However, communication lines were established on Thursday through SSB Radio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and through VSAT of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) connecting Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Basco town in Batanes. Meanwhile, another typhoon, locally named Gener, was forecast to leave the country today, Sunday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), however, said that some parts of Luzon will still experience rains because of the southwest monsoon. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains accompanied by thunderstorms are expected over the provinces of Ilocos, Batanes, Apayao, Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, and Babuyan Group of Islands. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will be experienced in Metro Manila and certain parts of the country. Moderate to strong winds will blow in Luzon and Visayas, while the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.
The storm cuts power and communications in the Philippine province of Batanes as it undergoes a "state of calamity."
Story highlights Japan also plans to give aid to other South China Sea nations There are competing claims to vast areas of sea by countries in the region (CNN) Japan is planning on upping its activities in the South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and exercises with regional navies, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said. Japan would also be giving military aid to countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam as it increases its role in the contested waters of the South China Sea, Inada said Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, DC, Inada also welcomed the US's plan to allocate 60% of its Navy and Air Force assets to the Asia Pacific region by 2020. Territorial rows Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan are engaged in territorial disputes with China.[SEP](CNN) Japan is planning on upping its activities in the South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and exercises with regional navies, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said. Japan would also be giving military aid to countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam as it increases its role in the contested waters of the South China Sea, Inada said Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, DC, Inada also welcomed the US's plan to allocate 60% of its Navy and Air Force assets to the Asia Pacific region by 2020. Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan are engaged in territorial disputes with China. Inada mentioned how China's recent activities in the East China and South China seas were "raising serious concern in the Asia-Pacific and beyond." "I would like to underline my government's resolve to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty," said Inada. "To this end, we will continue our own defense efforts and also maintain and enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance." Nancy Snow, a professor of public diplomacy at Kyoto University, told CNN that under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan has made it "crystal clear" that its Self Defense Forces will be "more interventionist" and closely aligned with the US. "Right now, it has a lot to do with Japan flexing its muscles and being under the thumb of the US military, which can't operate on its own in the South China Sea," Snow told CNN. Snow explained that currently China was in competition with the US and would not back away from its claims over the South China Sea. But Snow warned that Japan had much to lose from strengthening its military presence in the world. "Japan has a 71-year-old history of being a peace brand, but there are plenty of people who would say that it's time for an update, but if so, why aren't the public on board?" asked Snow. "Japan's strength has come through trade and culture, not through having a high military profile." Some, however, view Japan's increased investment in its military might as a defense mechanism for "serious security threats" in the region. Inada referenced North Korea's desire to continue its nuclear missile tests, while in March 2015, then vice defense minister Kenji Harada told the Washington Times that Japan was building up its military to defend against the threats posed by China. In recent months, tensions have risen in the South China Sea as the United States has increased its presence there. In May 2016, the Navy sent a guided missile destroyer within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea, prompting China to dispatch fighter jets and warships to "expel" the American ship.[SEP]Japan to boost S.China Sea role with joint training patrols with U.S. - minister WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Japan plans to step up its activity in the contested South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said on Thursday. Inada said in a speech at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank that Japan's increased engagement in the area, where Japan shares U.S. concerns about China's pursuit of extensive territorial claims, would include capacity building for coastal nations. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, editing by G Crosse)[SEP]Speaking Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, Inada asserted that Japan's role in the contested waters of the South China Sea would include Japanese military aid to countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam. Inada also welcomed the US's plan to allocate 60% of its Navy and Air Force assets to the Asia Pacific region by 2020. Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan are among a group of nations engaged in territorial disputes with China. In July 2016, an international tribunal in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute by concluding that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to expansive territories in the South China Sea. Inada mentioned how China's recent activities in the East China and South China seas were "raising serious concern in the Asia-Pacific and beyond." "I would like to underline my government's resolve to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty," said Inada. "To this end, we will continue our own defense efforts and also maintain and enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance." In recent months, tensions have risen in the South China Sea as the US has increased its presence there. In May 2016, the US Navy sent a guided missile destroyer within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea, prompting China to dispatch fighter jets and warships to "expel" the American ship. On Wednesday, Chinese and Russian naval ships began joint exercises in the South China Sea, adding a new twist to the ongoing tensions.[SEP]Chinese state media outlets have responded to news of potential joint U.S.-Japan operations in the disputed South China Sea with a spate of fiery editorials, but experts say Japan’s announcement of increased engagement in the waters breaks little new ground. State media outlets said Saturday that any joint U.S.-Japan patrols in the South China Sea could prompt Beijing to beef up its military deployments in the hotly contested Spratly Islands — and ultimately set the stage for an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) declaration. The reaction comes after a speech Thursday by Defense Minister Tomomi Inada to a Washington think tank in which she said Japan would “increase its engagement in the South China Sea through … Maritime Self-Defense Force joint training cruises with the U.S. Navy.” The state-run Global Times, known for its strident nationalist stance, blasted the speech in an editorial Saturday, calling any joint patrols of the contested waters the “gunboat diplomacy of the 21st century.” “The joint patrol, once it begins, is the ‘gunboat policy’ of the 21st century against China,” the editorial said. “China should resolutely begin military deployment on its expanded Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) to balance the situation, and should notify ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries beforehand to allow the international society to know the cause of the increased tension.” The commentary added that if the joint operations intensify or involve other countries, China could then declare a South China Sea ADIZ. In such a scenario, it added, “Japanese naval ships should be the major target of China. Chinese warplanes may take sophisticated actions like low-altitude flyby against the ships to pressure Japan.” In her speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Inada said Japan would also continue its program of helping coastal nations bolster their maritime capabilities while conducting bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies. Inada visited Washington last week for her first meeting with U.S. defense chief Ash Carter, where they discussed issues including North Korea and the South and East China seas. Japan and the U.S. have emphasized the rule of law in settling international disputes, giving heavy backing to a July ruling by an international tribunal on the South China Sea that denied China’s sweeping claims in the strategic waterway. Experts played down the reaction in Chinese state media, saying that Inada’s comments did not break new ground in Japan’s approach to the South China Sea. “She talked about cruises, which means Japan will have some presence in the South China Sea when traveling back and forth from the Gulf of Aden and for port visits or exercises with regional partners, which is the same as before,” said James Schoff, a former senior adviser for East Asia policy at the U.S. Defense Department. “So her speech is either being misrepresented or misunderstood. It doesn’t represent a policy change and seems only to be something that a few in China want to try to use to further escalate the situation,” Schoff added. Zhang Baohui, director of the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies at Hong Kong’s Lingnan University, said that Japan’s presence in the South China Sea will not by itself become a significant driver of China’s militarization of the newly expanded islands there. “However, Japan’s naval operations may generate far more dangerous scenarios like direct conflicts between the two navies,” Zhang said. “We cannot rule out scenarios of Chinese ships ramming Japanese ones or Chinese ships blocking their passage. “China has done nothing directly against U.S. operations but Japan is a different story,” he added. Additional commentaries were also published by the official Xinhua News Agency and the state-run China Daily on Saturday following Inada’s speech. Xinhua said the true reason behind Tokyo’s apparent ramped-up interest in the South China Sea is not in those waters, but rather in the East China Sea. Beijing is involved in a territorial dispute with Tokyo over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which are known as the Diaoyu Islands in China. “That is where its true and major purpose lies, as revealed in the very same speech Inada made,” Xinhua said. This echoed the Global Times commentary, which urged China to increase the frequency of coast guard patrols near the Senkakus since Japan is likely using the South China Sea dispute “to create space for itself in the East China Sea.” Inada slammed Beijing’s moves near the Senkakus in her speech, saying Chinese maritime law enforcement vessels have maintained a sustained presence in the waters surrounding the islets, which she called an inherent part of Japanese territory. “Their incursions into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkakus have become ‘routinized’ in recent years,” Inada said, according to a transcript of the speech. “These moves clearly represent China’s unprovoked escalation in the waters surrounding Japan and its attempt to change the status quo,” she said, adding that Tokyo will “keep the door open” for “candid discussions” with China. Lingnan University’s Zhang cast doubt on Beijing’s claims that the disputes are linked, saying that Tokyo is mainly worried the strategic waters — home to key shipping lanes through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year — could be dominated by China. “I think Japan’s concerns for the South China Sea are long-standing and are driven by true strategic considerations,” Zhang said. “Japan has a profound fear that China may one day establish de facto control over the South China Sea and that will drastically affect Japan’s national security. So its announced intention of sending its navy to the South China Sea has its own strategic logic that is not related to China’s activities in the East China Sea.”[SEP]Japan to boost S.China Sea role with training patrols with U.S. - minister WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Japan will step up its activity in the contested South China Sea through joint training patrols with the United States and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said on Thursday. Inada said in a speech at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank that Japan's increased engagement in the area, where Japan shares U.S. concerns about China's pursuit of extensive territorial claims, would include capacity building for coastal nations. Inada, whose country has its own dispute with China over territory in the East China Sea, said that if the world condoned attempts to change the rule of law and allowed "rule bending" to succeed, the "consequences could become global." "In this context, I strongly support the U.S. Navy's freedom-of-navigation operations, which go a long way to upholding the rules-based international maritime order," she said. "Japan, for its part, will increase its engagement in the South China Sea through, for example, Maritime Self-Defense Force joint training cruises with the U.S. Navy and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies," she said. Japan would also help build the capacity of coastal states in the South China Sea, said Inada, before heading for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon. Japan said this month it was ready to provide Vietnam with new patrol ships, in its latest step to boost the maritime law-enforcement capabilities of countries locked in territorial rows with China. It also agreed to provide two large patrol ships and lend up to five used surveillance aircraft to the Philippines, another country at odds with China over sovereignty issues in the South China Sea. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, editing by G Crosse and Chizu Nomiyama)[SEP]Inada said in a speech at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank that Japan's increased engagement in the area, where Japan shares U.S. concerns about China's pursuit of extensive territorial claims, would include capacity building for coastal nations. Inada, whose country has its own dispute with China over territory in the East China Sea, said that if the world condoned attempts to change the rule of law and allowed “rule bending” to succeed, the "consequences could become global." "In this context, I strongly support the U.S. Navy's freedom-of-navigation operations, which go a long way to upholding the rules-based international maritime order," she said. "Japan, for its part, will increase its engagement in the South China Sea through, for example, Maritime Self-Defense Force joint training cruises with the U.S. Navy and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies," she said. Japan would also help build the capacity of coastal states in the South China Sea, said Inada, before heading for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon.Japan said this month it was ready to provide Vietnam with new patrol ships, in its latest step to boost the maritime law-enforcement capabilities of countries locked in territorial rows with China. It also agreed to provide two large patrol ships and lend up to five used surveillance aircraft to the Philippines, another country at odds with China over sovereignty issues in the South China Sea.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — Japan's defense minister says its forces will increase engagement in the South China Sea through training cruises with the U.S. Navy and multilateral exercises with regional navies. Newly appointed Defense Minister Tomomi Inada says Japan will also help build the capacity of coastal nations. She was speaking ahead her first meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter Thursday in Washington. Japan, a close U.S. ally, is not among the countries claiming territory in the disputed South China Sea but shares U.S. concern about China's assertive behavior there. Japan has a separate territorial dispute with China over unoccupied islands they both claim farther north in the East China Sea. Inada says she is open to constructive dialogue with China on preventing collisions between their forces at sea and in the air.[SEP]An MK 45 5-inch lightweight gun is fired from the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Stethem in the South China Sea on July 26, 2016, during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, an annual maritime exercises involving assets from the U.S. military and nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. John Pearl/U.S. Navy America’s strategy for confronting China in the South China Sea is threatening to unravel as the new leader of a key frontline state backs away from military cooperation — including joint naval patrols — with the U.S. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said this week he wants U.S. special operators to leave Mindanao island, where they are assisting in the fight against Islamist extremists. The next day, Duterte said he won’t allow the Philippine navy to conduct joint patrols with foreign powers near the South China Sea, apparently scrapping an agreement his predecessor reached with the U.S. before he took office in June. “The Obama administration’s containment strategy against China is falling apart as front-line countries like the Philippines change gear, creating a cascade effect,” Richard Heydarian, a security analyst De La Salle University in Manila, said in a phone interview last week. “They (U.S. officials) want enough diplomatic pressure on China to give it an incentive to behave. That is where the U.S. might have a problem with Duterte,” he said. The Filipino strongman has expressed regret for calling President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” at the recent G20 meeting in China. But he raised more questions Monday about the U.S.-Philippines relationship. Speaking during an oath-taking ceremony for state officials, Duterte blamed America for Islamic militancy in the archipelago’s south and called for the withdrawal of U.S. advisers from the area, according to The Associated Press. “For as long as we stay with America, we will never have peace in that land,” he said, adding that U.S. special forces in Zamboanga “must go” because they could become high-value targets for Abu Sayyaf rebels, who are notorious for kidnapping and beheading foreigners. While other officials quickly dismissed suggestions that Duterte could break commitments with the U.S., which include hosting rotational forces, and erode the bilateral relationship, the comments raise questions about how he will handle territorial disputes in the South China Sea that involve several nations. Duterte has signaled that he’s open to bilateral negotiations with China, which is at the center of the disputes, and he hasn’t pressured Beijing to comply with a ruling in his country’s favor from an international tribunal based in The Hague. That stance puts him at odds with U.S. officials, who would prefer that international law be upheld and that no impediments develop to free trade in the region. It’s also weakening resolve among other nations with sea territory claims, Heydarian said. Vietnam, which was taking inspiration from its neighbor, is becoming less hawkish, and Singapore and Indonesia are dialing back their rhetoric, he said. “The U.S. hasn’t acted to drawn a red line (over the South China Sea issues),” Heydarian said. “If they aren’t willing to do that, then why should small countries stand up to China and risk conflict and billions in forgone investment opportunities?” Much of Southeast Asia prefers Duterte’s approach, he said. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, which have been alarmed by Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, have remained fence-sitters, refusing to hammer Beijing on its destabilizing behavior, he said. “Only the U.S., Japan and other like-minded external powers have raised the arbitration issue and the need for compliance,” he said. In his book “Asia’s New Battlefield: The USA, China and the Struggle for the Western Pacific,” Heydarian writes that Asian nations should seek resolution of maritime disputes that conform to international law but that small powers such as the Philippines should reduce their reliance on external powers, most notably the U.S., by building their own defense capabilities and pursuing confidence-building measures vis-à-vis China. However, China, which has reclaimed land and built military facilities in the disputed Spratly Islands, appears poised for more provocative acts in another disputed area — Scarborough Shoal. Last week, the Philippines released images of Chinese boats near the shoal and expressed concern. The Hague court ruled that both Chinese and Filipino fishermen had traditional rights to the area and reprimanded China for blocking Filipino fishing boats. Duterte must choose whether to negotiate with China over the waters or call for the judgment to be upheld, according to Patricio Abinales, a University of Hawaii expert on the Philippines. Filipino business interests favor negotiation because they don’t want to jeopardize Chinese investment in mining, agriculture and fisheries in the southern Mindanao region, whereas the military would rather international law be upheld, he said. Chinese economic activity in the Philippines is still tiny compared to the U.S., which contributes 13 percent of foreign direct investment in the islands, but Duterte likely hopes it will increase and that infrastructure projects could be offered as part of his negotiations with the Chinese, Heydarian said. Duterte — trusted by nine out of 10 Filipinos according to a Pulse Asia survey taken a few days after he was sworn in as president on June 30 — has plenty of political capital to spend. But a rift with the U.S., which along with the United Nations has been critical of recent extra-judicial killings of drug dealers in the Philippines, won’t strengthen his hand in the sea dispute, said Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think tank president and former U.S. Air Force officer Ralph Cossa. The Philippines doesn’t have back-up other than the U.S. should the dispute with China heat up, he said. Chinese influence in Cambodia means there has been no mention of the Hague verdict by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which operates on a policy of consensus on issues. Other nations providing military assistance to the Philippines, such as Japan and Australia, are there as allies of the U.S., Cossa said. A danger for Duterte is that if the Chinese get the impression that the U.S. won’t come to his aid, they are more likely to act up in the South China Sea, he said. “Clearly the ball is in the Philippines’ court, he said. “Filipinos speak English, but they could start learning Chinese.” Heydarian said Duterte’s recent behavior reflects his desire for a more independent foreign policy. “He’s willing to push back on any criticism from the west on issues where he doesn’t think there should be foreign interference, like human rights,” he said. He is also signaling the Chinese that he is not a proxy of the U.S. and that he’s open to a bilateral deal in the South China Sea, Heydarian said. “That is raising eyebrows and worries in the US,” he said. The experts agreed that Duterte won’t scuttle the existing security agreements with the U.S. U.S. forces training and operating out of the Philippines are governed by a Visiting Forces Agreement and the more recent Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. U.S. counterintelligence trainers have been credited with helping the Philippine military make inroads against Islamic extremists. If Duterte attempted to undermine the agreements, he’d clash with his own military, Heydarian said. “The relationship is going on whether he has an outburst or not,” he said. Cossa said the Filipino people won’t support too much confrontation with the U.S. “There will be some elements in the Philippines who will applaud his outspokenness. The general mood will be, `We can’t afford to piss off the U.S. when we are being bullied by China,’ ” he said. U.S.-based Filipinos sending checks back home won’t appreciate the level of disrespect shown to America by Duterte, he said. Heydarian said there is scope for Duterte to limit access for U.S. forces in the Philippines if the tensions persist. “He might not scuttle the agreement, but he might not give the Americans access to important bases such as Oyster Bay on Palawan,” he said. On the U.S. side, the best option is for officials to bide their time, he said. If China builds military facilities in Scarborough Shoal, impedes Filipino troop movement or doesn’t allow Filipino fishermen to return, it is possible that things could change within a year, he said. “If China takes Duterte for a ride, it will be a huge blow to his credibility. People in the Philippines are very critical of China. If nothing happens in a year, he will be under pressure to adopt a different strategy,” he said.[SEP]Defense Minister Tomomi Inada on Thursday threw “strong support” behind U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea and vowed to increase engagement in the disputed waters as part of efforts to maintain a rules-based maritime order being challenged by China. Speaking in Washington, Inada said Japan’s engagement would include joint training exercises involving the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy, bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies, as well as providing capacity-building assistance to coastal nations facing China’s maritime expansion. Inada criticized Beijing’s construction and militarization of island outposts in the South China Sea, and its rejection of an international arbitration ruling in July that invalidated its claims to almost the whole of the South China Sea. “These Chinese actions constitute its deliberate attempt to unilaterally change the status quo, achieve a fait accompli, and undermine the prevailing norms,” she said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Later Thursday, Inada will hold talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon. Inada made the comments as China rejects the interference of non-claimant countries such as the United States and Japan in its territorial disputes with smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, such as the Philippines and Vietnam. In a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that Japan should “exercise caution in its words and deeds” on the South China Sea. In Thursday’s speech, the defense minister also referred to repeated intrusions by Chinese law enforcement ships into Japanese waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and the first entry in June by a Chinese naval vessel into a contiguous zone just outside the waters around the islets. The Japanese-administered islands, located about 400 km west of Okinawa’s main island, are claimed by China and Taiwan, which call them Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively. “If the world condones coercive attempts to change the rules of the road in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and allow rule-bending to succeed in their waters and airspace, its consequences could become global, not to be confined in the Western Pacific,” Inada said. “In this context, I strongly support the U.S. Navy’s Freedom of Navigation operations,” she added, referring to maritime maneuver in which the United States since last October has sent warships near artificial islets that China has built in the South China Sea. But Inada also pledged that Japan will continue to “engage” China to encourage it to act as “an agent of stability and prosperity, not their spoiler.” Regarding North Korea, which conducted its fifth nuclear test last week in defiance of international warnings, Inada also called for increased trilateral coordination with the United States and South Korea in addressing security threats posed by the sanctions-hit country. Friday’s test came amid North Korea’s continuing pursuit of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs despite U.N. Security Council resolutions banning such activities. Pyongyang successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in August. “If and when it achieves operational status, North Korea’s SLBM system would bring improved survivability and a new mode of attack to its already formidable ballistic missile forces,” Inada said.
The Obama administration agrees to have the United States Armed Forces assist Japan on conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "I really worry for the toll it's taking on my health, and my family's," said Lauri Love An autistic man suspected of hacking into US government computer systems is to be extradited from Britain to face trial, a court has ruled. Lauri Love, 31, who has Asperger's syndrome, is accused of hacking into the FBI, the US central bank and the country's missile defence agency. Mr Love, from Stradishall, Suffolk, has previously said he feared he would die in a US prison if he was extradited. A judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court made the extradition ruling. Follow updates on this story and other Suffolk news Earlier, his lawyer said his alleged hacking had "embarrassed" US authorities. Tor Ekeland said the US government "had very, very bad security and these hacks utilised exploits that were publicly-known for months". Image copyright PA Image caption Lauri Love spoke to members of the press outside Westminster Magistrates' Court before the hearing Mr Love's lawyers said he could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted of the hacking offences. Earlier he stood in the dock as district judge Nina Tempia ruled he could be extradited to the US, where he could face trials in three different states. He was first arrested at home in Suffolk in 2013 and had computer equipment seized by British police, who then released him on bail. He was not charged in the UK, where the investigation into him was dropped. Mr Love's defence team argues his depression and Asperger's syndrome mean he should not be sent abroad, but US prosecutors say he is using his mental health issues as an excuse to escape justice. In England and Wales, the maximum sentence for crimes such as those of which Mr Love is accused is two years and eight months.[SEP]Gary McKinnon’s mother has warned that an alleged hacker facing the same charges as her son will not survive if he is extradited to the US. Asperger’s sufferer Lauri Love, 31, is accused of breaking into the FBI, the US Federal Reserve and other networks and stealing personal data while sitting at his computer in the UK. His legal team say his case is ‘almost identical’ to that of Mr McKinnon, whose extradition was blocked by then home secretary Theresa May following a Daily Mail campaign. A judge will rule today whether or not Mr Love can be extradited to the US, where he faces a possible 99-year jail term if convicted. But Mr McKinnon’s mother Janis Sharp warned that Mr Love would not survive in the US justice system. ‘He has Asperger’s, is nervous, scared and suicidal and is in a really bad way,’ she said. ‘I am worried he will be extradited and end up in an American prison … I worry that he won’t survive as American jails are terrible places. I just hope that Gary didn’t go through all of this for nothing.’ She added of Mr Love, who has been deemed a high suicide risk by medical experts: ‘He’s very intelligent but also naive, innocent and vulnerable. You’re putting someone gentle, who shies away from human contact, in a system with convicted criminals. He is terrified at the prospect of going to America.’ Mr Love, who is studying electrical engineering at Suffolk University, has spent the past three years in legal limbo. The prison chaplain’s son from Newmarket, Suffolk, said he was ‘apprehensive but optimistic’. ‘I’ve been having weird dreams and trouble getting to sleep … I feel more for my parents,’ he told the Mail. ‘They’re at an age when they should have a quieter life.’ He added: ‘US prisons are not good for people with mental health problems. ‘If I am sent to an American jail, I don’t see anything positive happening after that.’ He said he hoped the precedent set by Mr McKinnon’s case in 2012 would encourage the judge to rule in his favour. Mr McKinnon, who broke into Nasa and Pentagon systems faced similar charges. But Mrs May blocked his extradition because of the ‘high risk of him ending his life’. The Rev Alexander Love, 63, said he often feared he would find his son dead. Ben Cooper, Mr Love’s barrister has described him as ‘highly vulnerable’ and said extradition would be ‘unjust’. Mr Love faces 12 counts of hacking between October 2012 and October 2013 across New York, New Jersey and Virginia.[SEP]A British superhacker should be extradited to the United States to face trial where he could be jailed for 99 years, a judge ruled today. Asperger's sufferer Lauri Love, 31, allegedly to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI in a spate of online attacks in 2012 and 2013. American authorities have been fighting for the 31-year-old, who lives with his parents near Newmarket in Suffolk, to face trial over charges of cyber-hacking. His case is 'almost identical' to that of fellow hacker Gary McKinnon, whose extradition was blocked by then Home Secretary Theresa May following a Mail campaign. Mr Love, who plans to appeal to the High Court, stood in the dock, wearing a purple sash as a belt, as district judge Nina Tempia ruled he can be extradited to the US, where he could face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions. 'I'm going to extradite Mr Love but what I mean by that is I'm going to send his case to the Secretary of State,' Judge Tempia told the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London. He faces a possible 99-year prison sentence if convicted in America - but has the right to appeal against his extradition. There were gasps in the court room as Mr Love was read the ruling, which followed a case hearing in June at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was told he had 14 days to appeal the decision. The 31-year-old embraced friends and family, who appeared shocked and angry by the decision. 'If you have come for justice then you have missed it,' Mr Love told a crowd of press in the courtroom afterwards. His father damned the laws that could see his son sent to America. Reverend Alexander Love, a prison chaplain, said he often feared he would find his son, who has been deemed a high suicide risk by medical experts, dead when he returned home. He said: 'I am obviously very upset. I always believed that to be here [in the UK] was to have won the lottery and I thought our laws were just. 'The judge has made a judgement on a law that is flawed. It is not right that my son has been taken away. It is not fair or just that a boy with mental health issues is taken away from his family and support network to the US. 'It is wrong and I hope the high court will be able to make that case. Our confidence is not in the legal system but in God. 'We have had a big discussion about who should be let into this country, but we need to have one about who should be taken out'. Judge Tempia said Mr Love's rights under article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a private and family life - were 'clearly engaged'. But she added: 'In balancing the factors for and against extradition I am satisfied that the very strong counter-balancing factors required to find extradition would be disproportionate are not found in this case.' She said Mr Love faces 'extremely serious charges for offences of computer hacking' and while she acknowledged his physical and mental health issues, she was 'satisfied' his needs would met by US authorities. She added: 'I am satisfied Mr Love's extradition would be compatible with his convention rights and I send this case to the Secretary of State for her decision as to whether or not Mr Love should be extradited.' Outside court Mr Love's solicitor Karen Todner said they were 'extremely disappointed' with the decision. 'Most of this judgment is about the defence case, the prosecution didn't actually call any evidence,' she told a huge pack of reporters. 'This is not the end of the road, we are going to lodge an appeal, we are still hopeful the appeal will be successful in the High Court.' Ahead of Friday's hearing, Mr Love said he held little hope of justice if he was extradited, and suggested a jail term in the US could cause his health to deteriorate and would lead to a mental breakdown or suicide. He and his family want him to face justice in the UK rather than the US, which he said 'coerces' people into pleading guilty to get reduced sentences. Gary McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp warned yesterday that the hacker would not survive life in the US justice system. 'He has Asperger's, is nervous, scared and suicidal and is in a really bad way,' she said. 'I am worried he will be extradited and end up in an American prison, which doesn't have the same standards as jails in Britain. 'If this happens, I worry that he won't survive as American jails are terrible places. I just hope that Gary didn't go through all of this for nothing.' Speaking about Mr Love, who has Finnish and British dual nationality, she said: 'He's very intelligent but he is also naïve, innocent and vulnerable. 'He is terrified at the prospect of going to America, but he's also hopeful that the courts will do the right thing. It is ridiculous to extradite him with no evidence.' Mr Love, who is studying electrical engineering at Suffolk university, has spent the past three years in legal limbo, waiting to learn his fate. Speaking to the Mail, the vicar's son, from Newmarket, Suffolk, said he was 'apprehensive but optimistic' about today's judgment. 'I've been having weird dreams and trouble getting to sleep,' he said. 'I've not been getting openly stressed, but it comes out in my eczema. 'I feel more for my parents. They're at an age when they should have a quieter life but I'm hoping that after the judgment things will be easier for them. 'U.S. prisons are not good for people with mental health problems. If I am sent to an American jail, I don't see anything positive happening after that. 'It'll be reasserting British sovereignty if I am not extradited and it's important that our courts are sovereign.' Mr Love faces 12 counts of hacking between October 2012 and October 2013 across the states of New York, New Jersey and Virginia, and could face trials in three separate states in the U.S.[SEP]The computer activist Lauri Love will discover on Friday whether he is to be sent to the United States to face charges of hacking into the US military agencies, in the first test case since the extradition law was tightened by Theresa May. The 31-year-old, who has Asperger’s syndrome, told Westminster magistrates court this summer that he may take his own life if he is forcibly removed to an American prison for trial. The decision will be the first substantive test of the “forum bar”, introduced by May when she was home secretary. This allows courts to block extradition if it is in the interests of justice to have a person tried in Britain instead. May’s reforms also narrowed the home secretary’s discretion to intervene in such highly charged cases. Introduced after a protracted political row over the case of the British hacker Gary McKinnon, the measures leave it up to the courts to decide whether risks to a suspect’s health should prevent extradition. Love, who lives at home with his parents in Newmarket, Suffolk, is alleged to have stolen vast amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI in a series of online attacks in 2012 and 2013. His lawyers say he could receive a sentence of up to 99 years in prison if found guilty. Love and his family want him to face justice in the UK rather than the US, which he said “coerces” people into pleading guilty to get reduced sentences. The US application to extradite him was heard in June. Giving evidence then, Love said that due to the pressure of plea-bargaining in the US justice system, more than 95% of cases did not end in trials but in guilty pleas. “I don’t entertain any prospects of justice in America,” he said. “If any crimes were committed, they were committed in the UK … I can’t imagine anything worse than being in a US prison.” On Friday afternoon the judge Nina Tempia will decide whether Love should be extradited to face the possibility of three separate trials in different American courts. His supporters say he would not be granted bail if transferred to the US. The electrical engineering student also suffers from severe eczema and depression. The magistrates court hearing is also expected to set a date for Love’s case against the National Crime Agency over its retention of computer equipment it seized from him. Love’s legal team is led by Ben Cooper of Doughty Street Chambers, who also acted for McKinnon during his extradition battle.[SEP]A hacker who allegedly infiltrated the computer systems of the FBI, the American Missile Defence Agency and Nasa is to be extradited to the US where he might face up to 99 years in jail if convicted – despite a British court hearing he has Asperger’s and may kill himself in prison. Lauri Love, a prison chaplain’s son from Suffolk, has had indictments issued against him in three different US states. Arrested at his parents’ home in the village of Stradishall, he faces accusations he repeatedly hacked US government systems, supposedly joked about “owning lots of Nasa sites” and allegedly accessed the personal information of 104,000 US Energy Department employees. His lawyers have told reporters that Love, 31, who lives with his parents, could spend up to 99 years in a US jail if found guilty. The computer science graduate’s father Rev Alexander Love, who himself works with vulnerable prisoners at risk of suicide, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London he feared his son might take his own life. Ten days ago, Mr Love himself told a BBC interviewer: “If I went into a US prison, I don't think I'd leave again.” But, in a case with strong echoes of hacker and Asperger’s sufferer Gary McKinnon’s ten-year fight against extradition, District Judge Nina Tempia told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “I am going to extradite Mr Love.” The McKinnon case had ended in 2012 when Theresa May, who was then Home Secretary, blocked Mr McKinnon’s extradition, saying he was a suicide risk. Love’s case will now be sent to the Home Secretary for formal confirmation of his extradition. It is understood that due to recent rule changes, the Home Secretary only has very limited powers to stop the extradition. Love is also expected to launch a High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. He was granted bail on condition that he reports regularly to a police station and that his passport remains surrendered. Love sat impassively in the dock as the judge announced her decision. He mother, however, put her head in her hands as his father tried to comfort her. The decision was also greeted with an audible gasp from the public gallery. A three-day extradition hearing in June had heard Rev Love plead with the court on his son’s behalf. The prison chaplain said the "bitter experience" of leading funerals for people who had killed themselves led to the regret that everyone has, "that they didn't see it coming". "In Lauri's case," said Rev Love, "We do see it coming. That is the big difference. "In regard to my son ... Lauri is somebody who strikes me as somebody who will do this. The probability is quite high. At times Lauri is in utter despair.” Rev Love was backed by psychologist Prof Simon Baron Cohen who told the court "about two thirds of people with Asperger's have suicidal thoughts. The overwhelming priority is to keep him alive". The US authorities have accused Love of substantially impairing the functioning of dozens of computer servers, causing “millions of dollars in damage” to government agencies, and planning to use social media to publicise his work. One US indictment claimed he sent a message to friends saying he would like to announce one of his hacks “So it rolls along the morning news in US and gets Europe for the afternoon and evening.” He was also accused of messaging associates: “LoL Nasa. Ahaha, we owning lots of Nasa sites … I think we can do some hilarious stuff with it.” Love’s supporters, however, have always insisted his alleged hacking was not for personal gain and should be considered in the context of ‘online activisim’. Before his arrest in October 2013, Mr Love had been an activist in the anti-austerity Occupy movement, becoming heavily involved in the seven-month Hetherington House occupation of 2011 at the University of Glasgow, where he was studying Computer Science and Physics. Among the allegations against him is that he participated in the Anonymous-led 'Operation Last Resort' which protested against the US authorities’ alleged mistreatment of the coder Aaron Swartz who killed himself in 2013 while facing prison under computer misuse charges. Swartz’s family blamed his death on “a criminal justice system rife with intimidation” that overreacted to “an alleged crime that had no victims.” Since he was arrested when the National Crime Agency raided his parents’ home and confiscated computer equipment Love has stressed how he wants to put his hacking skills to good use. He is thought to have launched a cyber-security consultancy start-up, and in May, in an article for Freud’s Cyber Security Journal that was reproduced in The Independent, he said: “I am a hacker. I like technology and I would like to use it to make the world a better place.” Suggesting that “kids will always play pranks”, he added: “Most of what might be considered ‘illegal hacking’ is conducted without any criminal motive, any attempt to cheat or make malicious gain, but rather, it's the natural human desire and drive to understand the world in which we find ourselves.” Arguing the need for more constructive approaches “that could help bring many of our brightest and best kids back into society”, he wrote: “The first thing is for people in the Government to realise that you can’t prosecute your way out of this problem. “Just like with the drugs problem, people thought if you arrest enough people then they would stop using drugs, and that didn’t work - although it has taken about 60 years for people to start realising this. “Locking people up is not going to help them.” Emphasising his fears for his son in a BBC interview last month, Rev Love said: “"My son has Asperger’s and depression. He also suffers from very bad eczema and asthma, which have psychological triggers and, at the very heart of it all, is his emphatic statement that he will kill himself. "He needs the support of his family. He chooses to live at home because it's the only place he feels safe. If the Americans have their way, a whole ocean will be put between us and him." "When Lauri says he will kill himself if he is taken to America, I believe he is stating something he intends to do.” Love’s supporters fear that he will not be granted bail in the US and will spend his time awaiting trial in an American jail. Outside court, Love stressed that his battle against extradition was not yet over because he would be appealing to the High Court. "Its not the end of the road," he said. "I would like to thank the judge for giving us an opportunity to win at a higher court and set a stronger precedent. It's just unfortunate for me and my family that we have to go through another six months of legal stuff. "I really worry for the toll it is taking on my health and my family's health."[SEP]An autistic man accused by the FBI of hacking into US government computer systems is to be extradited from Britain to face trial, a court has ruled. Lauri Love, 31, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is alleged to have broken into classified accounts of the US central bank, America’s missile defence agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The 31-year-old, from Stradishall, Suffolk, has previously said he feared he would die in a US jail if he was extradited. He has said a prison sentence could cause his health to deteriorate and would lead to a mental breakdown or suicide. But District Judge Nina Tempia, sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court, today ruled he could be handed over to US authorities for trial. Before the hearing, Love's lawyer Tor Ekeland said the US government was "embarrassed" about failing to secure its computer systems. The computer and business law specialist, based in Brooklyn, New York, said America "had very, very bad security and these hacks utilised exploits that were publicly-known for months". • Lauri Love: US government 'wants to crush Asperger's Brit hacker because they think he's part of Anonymous' He said he thought the US government was "taking [its] embarrassment out" on his client. Love’s case was heard in June over whether he should be extradited to face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions. If convicted he could face up to 99 years in prison if he is found guilty, his lawyers say. Judge Tempia said Mr Love's rights under article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a private and family life - were "clearly engaged". But she added: "In balancing the factors for and against extradition, I am satisfied that the very strong counter-balancing factors required to find extradition would be disproportionate are not found in this case." She said Mr Love faces "extremely serious charges for offences of computer hacking" and while she acknowledged his physical and mental health issues, she was "satisfied" his needs would met by US authorities. She added: "I am satisfied Mr Love's extradition would be compatible with his convention rights and I send this case to the Secretary of State for her decision as to whether or not Mr Love should be extradited."[SEP]AN AUTISTIC man accused of hacking into US Government computers can be extradited to the US from Britain to stand trial, a judge has ruled. Former Glasgow University student Lauri Love , who has Asperger Syndrome , is alleged to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI in a spate of online attacks in 2012 and 2013. American authorities have been fighting for the 31-year-old, who lives with his parents near Newmarket in Suffolk, to face trial over charges of cyber-hacking, which his lawyers say could mean a sentence of up to 99 years in prison if found guilty. • Security services lose fight to force alleged cyber hacker to hand over his secret passwords Mr Love stood in the dock, wearing a purple sash as a belt, as district judge Nina Tempia ruled he can be extradited to the US, where he could face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions. “I’m going to extradite Mr Love but what I mean by that is I’m going to send his case to the Secretary of State,” Judge Tempia told the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London. There were gasps in the court room as Mr Love was read the ruling, which followed a case hearing in June at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He was told he had 14 days to appeal the decision. The 31-year-old embraced friends and family, who appeared shocked and angry by the decision. “If you have come for justice then you have missed it,” Mr Love told a crowd of press in the courtroom afterwards. Mr Love thanked “everyone for their support”, and said it is “unfortunate” for him and his family that they have to go through another six to 12 months of “legal stuff”. Asked how he felt when he heard the decision, he said: “It is probably a psychological defence mechanism, I will defer processing it until I am in a safe environment and I know I won’t end up being acutely depressed and being useless to the world. “I feel the disappointment and frustration just by the indication of people in the gallery.” Mr Love said he was worried about the toll the case was having on his health and family, but he added: “We shouldn’t look upon this as merely the end.” • Hacking group Anonymous threatens to release documents 'linking politician to prostitution' after homeless row Ahead of Friday’s hearing, Mr Love said he held little hope of justice if he was extradited, and suggested a jail term in the US could cause his health to deteriorate and would lead to a mental breakdown or suicide. He and his family want him to face justice in the UK rather than the US, which he said “coerces” people into pleading guilty to get reduced sentences. The case was considered to be the first substantive test of the “forum bar”, which was introduced by former home secretary Theresa May to allow courts to block extradition if it is in the interests of justice to have a person tried in Britain instead. The Rev Alexander Love, Mr Love’s father, said he was “obviously very upset” with the decision. “I have been alive for a long time and all my life I have always believed to be born in these islands was to win the lottery of life,” he said. “That in our society there was decency and fairness, that our laws were just. I don’t criticise the judge, she has sought to pass judgment on a law that is flawed. LinkedIn leak: Hacker claiming to have log-in details of millions of users is selling the data online “This is not right, that my son can be taken away. “It is my belief that it is not fair or just that a boy who has mental health issues can be taken away from his family, who are his support network, merely to satisfy the desire of the Americans, to exact what I feel is vengeance on him.” Outside court Mr Love’s solicitor Karen Todner said they were “extremely disappointed” with the decision. “Most of this judgment is about the defence case, the prosecution didn’t actually call any evidence,” she told a huge pack of reporters. “This is not the end of the road, we are going to lodge an appeal, we are still hopeful the appeal will be successful in the High Court.”[SEP]The computer activist Lauri Love has lost his appeal against extradition to the US, where he could face up to 99 years in prison for hacking into American missile defence centres and financial institutions. The 31-year-old, who has Asperger’s syndrome, has been granted leave to appeal against the ruling, which was handed down at Westminster magistrates court by Judge Nina Tempia on Friday afternoon. Love was granted bail pending further legal action. Supporters stormed out of court shouting “kangaroo court”. There were gasps in the courtroom as Love was read the ruling, which followed a case hearing in June. He was told he had 14 days to appeal the decision. Concluding her judgment, Tempia said: ““Mr Love faces extremely serious charges for offences of computer hacking over a period of one year, from October 2012 to October 2013. “I accept Mr Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues, but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate, on arrival and during any sentence if he is convicted available to him, are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the US authorities. “I am satisfied Mr Love’s extradition would be compatible with his convention rights and I send this case to the secretary of state for her decision as to whether or not Mr Love should be extradited.” Love embraced friends and family, who appeared shocked and angry by the decision. “If you have come for justice then you have missed it,” Love told a crowd of press in the courtroom afterwards. He added that he had not yet read the judgment and would “delay processing it until he was in a safe place”. “It may simply be that this us such an important case that it has to be settled at a higher court.” His father, the Rev Alexander Love, said: “I don’t criticise the judge. She has just acted on a law that is flawed.” Outside the court, Karen Todner, Love’s solicitor, said she was very disappointed by the district judge’s ruling. She pledged to appeal against the decision, initially at the high court and, if necessary, to the supreme court and eventually the European court of human rights in Strasbourg. “I feel awfully disappointed,” Todner said. “I thought we had done enough. I’m hopeful that the higher courts will consider the human rights issues.” Before any legal appeals are launched, the home secretary must first authorise Love’s extradition. “This is not the end of the road,” Todner said. “We are going to lodge an appeal.” She said the legal battle could last more than a year. “I was in and out of courts for 10 years with Gary McKinnon.” Ahead of Friday’s hearing, Love said he held little hope of justice if he was extradited, and suggested a jail term in the US could cause his health to deteriorate and would lead to a mental breakdown or suicide. He and his family want him to face justice in the UK rather than the US, which he said “coerces” people into pleading guilty to get reduced sentences. The case was considered to be the first substantive test of the “forum bar”, which was introduced by Theresa May when she was home secretary to allow courts to block extradition if it is in the interests of justice to have a person tried in Britain instead.[SEP]Lauri Love, 31, who has Asperger's syndrome, is accused of involvement in a series of hacks in 2012 and 2013 into computers at agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. army, the Missile Defense Agency and the Federal Reserve. He faces a lifetime in prison in the United States if found guilty, a fate which he has said could lead him to taking his own life. "If you're here for justice, you missed it," he said quietly as he emerged from the defendants' box in court after the verdict was announced. U.S. authorities say Love was connected to Anonymous, an international group of hackers, and argued his actions had caused millions of dollars' worth of damage. "I accept Mr Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate ... are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the U.S. authorities," judge Nina Tempia said in her ruling. Love's U.S. lawyer Tor Ekeland said the U.S. penal system would "crush" his client who suffers episodes of depression and psychosis. "They want to destroy him because they want to use him as an example," Ekeland told Reuters. The judge's decision must be agreed by Britain's Home Secretary (interior minister) and Love's lawyers said they would launch an appeal if it was ratified. Love, wearing a tartan flat cap and with a purple sash for a belt for the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, twisted his hands with nerves before the ruling. His face and neck were red with sores from eczema as he embraced supporters. He said he would defer processing the ruling until he was in a "safe environment". He left the court on bail. His father Alexander, a prison chaplain, said the law applied to his son was flawed. "It is not fair or just that a boy who’s got mental health issues can be taken away from his family who are his support network merely to satisfy the desire of the Americans to exact what I feel is vengeance," he said. Love's legal team had argued he should face any charges in Britain, pointing to new rules that make it easier for British courts to try people for crimes committed there but involving other countries. Those rules were introduced in 2012 after the extradition to the United States of Scottish hacker Gary McKinnon was blocked by then-Home Secretary Theresa May, who is now Prime Minister. McKinnon, who also had Asperger's, said he broke into U.S. state computers while on a "moral crusade" to find classified documents about UFOs. May said he was seriously ill and extradition would violate his human rights.[SEP]An autistic man accused of hacking into US Government computers can be extradited to the US from Britain to stand trial, a judge has ruled. Lauri Love, who has Asperger Syndrome, is alleged to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI in a spate of online attacks in 2012 and 2013. Love is a former student at the University of Glasgow and was a prominent figure in the 2011 staff and student-led Hetherington House Occupation against cuts to higher education funding. American authorities have been fighting for the 31-year-old, who lives with his parents near Newmarket in Suffolk, to face trial over charges of cyber-hacking, which his lawyers say could mean a sentence of up to 99 years in prison if found guilty. Mr Love stood in the dock, wearing a purple sash as a belt, as district judge Nina Tempia ruled he can be extradited to the US, where he could face the possibility of three separate trials in different jurisdictions. “I’m going to extradite Mr Love but what I mean by that is I’m going to send his case to the Secretary of State,” Judge Tempia told the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London. READ MORE: Insight: Lauri Love - the making of a hacker ’Like’ The Scotsman on Facebook for regular updates DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY
The United Kingdom agrees to allow alleged hacker Lauri Love to be extradited to the United States.
This article is more than 2 years old This article is more than 2 years old The Philippines cannot “forever be the little brown brothers of America”, the country’s top diplomat has said, making it clear the country will not accept foreign criticism for a deadly crackdown on drugs. Speaking in Washington, foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay said that while his country still regards the US as a trusted ally, the Philippines wanted mutual respect. Americans used the term ‘little brown brothers’ to refer to native Filipinos during the era of US colonial rule that ended in 1946. 'He's vulgar – but honest': Filipinos on Duterte's first 100 days in office Read more The south-east Asian nation has for decades been seen by Washington as a dependable partner, especially against China’s expanding military reach in the region. American troops and ships are sent on regular rotations to the Philippines. But the election of Rodrigo Duterte in May has soured the alliance, with the president’s first months in office dominated by a bloody crackdown on the drug trade that has left 3,526 drug dealers, and also addicts, dead since July 1. Last week, Barack Obama cancelled a meeting with Duterte at a regional summit after the Filipino leader he was a “son of a whore”. And on Thursday, a self-confessed former assassin testified that Duterte had personally ordered members of a death squad to kill criminals and opponents and even “finished off” a justice department employee with a submachine gun. The government denied the allegations. Yasay said on Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies that his country would never condone unlawful killings. “Extrajudicial killing has no place in our society,” he said. “We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest Perfecto Yasay speaks in Washington on Thursday. But he added: “You do not go to the Philippines and say, ‘I’m going to give you something, I’m going to help you develop and I’m going to help you grow but these are the checklists that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights’.” Beijing warns US to stay out of South China Sea dispute Read more New figures released by the Philippine national police this week showed that 1,491 people had been killed during police operations and 2,035 people were murdered by vigilante groups since 1 July. Duterte, a former prosecutor, has repeatedly said he will not go after civilians who kill drug dealers. In the same time period, more than 16,500 “drug personalities” had been arrested and 710,961 people surrendered to the police, the vast majority of them drug users but also some considered “pushers”, authorities say. Ten police personnel have been killed. During his trip, Yasay sought in part to reassure Washington, pointing to a defence cooperation agreement which gives the US access to five military bases. But he added that the two countries would not undertake joint patrols in disputed waters near the South China Sea, a policy of the previous administration.[SEP]Philippines is not 'little brown brother' of U.S. -foreign minister WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines is firmly committed to its alliance with the United States but will not be lectured on human rights and treated like a "little brown brother," the country's Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Thursday. Speaking in Washington after recent remarks by the Philippines' outspoken new President Rodrigo Duterte that have strained relations with the United States, Manila's main ally, Yasay said some of Duterte's remarks had been misunderstood. He said Duterte had explained that his call for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from the southern Philippines was only a temporary measure to keep them out of harm's way while Philippine forces undertook an offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants. Yasay also said Duterte's opposition to joint maritime patrols with the United States only concerned the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone", not joint patrols within 12 nautical miles. The latter patrols, aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the Philippines, "must continue because this is our commitment to the United States," Yasay said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. The Philippines and the United States share concern about China's pursuit of broad territorial claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with the claims of Manila and other neighbors. Washington and Manila agreed earlier this year on joint patrols in the area. The minister rejected criticism of Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands have been killed, and said relations with Washington should be based on mutual respect. "I am asking our American friends, American leaders, to look at our aspirations," he said. "We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America. ... We have to develop, we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people. "You (have to) manage it correctly. You do not go to the Philippines and say 'I am going to give you something; I am going to help you grow, but this is the check list you must comply with - we will lecture you on human rights'." Yasay stressed that Duterte was "firmly committed to keep and respect alliances, including that with the United States." He said Manila was "not at this point in time" prepared to sit down and discuss its territorial disputes with China bilaterally, given that the two sides differed on what the framework for any such discussions should be. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish)[SEP]Philippines is not 'little brown brother' of U.S. -foreign minister WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines is firmly committed to its alliance with the United States but will not be lectured on human rights and treated like a "little brown brother," the country's Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said on Thursday. Speaking in Washington after recent remarks by the Philippines' outspoken new President Rodrigo Duterte that have strained relations with the United States, Manila's main ally, Yasay said some of Duterte's remarks had been misunderstood. He said Duterte had explained that his call for the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from the southern Philippines was only a temporary measure to keep them out of harm's way while Philippine forces undertook an offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants. Yasay also said Duterte's opposition to joint maritime patrols with the United States concerned the Philippines' "exclusive economic zone," not joint patrols within 12 nautical miles of its coast. The latter patrols, aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the Philippines, "must continue, because this is our commitment to the United States," Yasay said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. The Philippines and the United States share concerns about China's pursuit of broad claims in the South China Sea, which overlap with those of Manila and other neighbors. Washington and Manila agreed earlier this year on joint patrols in the South China Sea and a Pentagon spokesman said three had been conducted from March until July. Yasay rejected criticism of Duterte's war on drugs, in which thousands have been killed, saying that Philippines would never condone illegal killings, and said relations with Washington should be based on mutual respect. "I am asking our American friends, American leaders, to look at our aspirations," he said. "We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America. ... We have to develop, we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people. "You (have to) manage it correctly. You do not go to the Philippines and say 'I am going to give you something, I am going to help you grow, but this is the check list you must comply with - we will lecture you on human rights'." Yasay stressed that Duterte was "firmly committed to keep and respect alliances, including that with the United States." He said Manila was "not at this point in time" prepared to sit down and discuss its territorial disputes with China bilaterally, given that the two sides differed on what the framework for any such discussions should be. Duterte's abrasive and sometimes contradictory comments, including calling President Obama a "son of a bitch," have caused anxiety in Washington, where the Philippines has been seen as an important ally in standing up to China in Asia. Yasay did not address testimony in the Philippines senate earlier in the day from a self-confessed hit man who said Duterte issued assassination orders while mayor of a city where activists say hundreds of summary executions took place. Asked to comment on this testimony, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, Anna Richey-Allen, reiterated past comments that it was "deeply concerned" by reports of extrajudicial killings "by or at the behest of government authorities." "We strongly urge the Philippines to ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations," she said. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by James Dalgleish)[SEP]Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay made the comments after a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Thursday, during which he described the US relationship with the Philippines as cooperative and symbiotic. "We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally with whom we share not just a common history and shared values, but a common destiny as well." The "little brown brothers" comment came during a Q+A session. Here's what he said:[SEP]Philippines Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay made the comments after a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Thursday, during which he described the US relationship with the Philippines as cooperative and symbiotic. "We will always view the United States as an esteemed and trusted ally with whom we share not just a common history and shared values, but a common destiny as well." The "little brown brothers" comment came during a Q+A session. The phrase is used in the Philippines to refer to people that are trying to act like they're American. It's a bit jocular with a slight derogatory insinuation.[SEP]DEFENDING President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs right in the US capital, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. called on the United States to stop lecturing the Philippines on human rights, saying Filipinos “cannot forever be the little brown brothers of America.” “At one point in time, we have to make sure … we have to grow and become the big brother of our own people, of the next generation of Filipinos,” Yasay said in a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Thursday. The United States has expressed alarm over the rising deaths of suspects in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, which has frayed relations between Manila and Washington. Early this month, Duterte launched an expletive-laden tirade against the US and US President Barack Obama for criticizing the anti-drug campaign, forcing the White House to cancel a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Laos. In Laos Duterte brought up atrocities committed by the US army against Moros in Sulu during the pacification campaign by American colonizers a century ago. Duterte has since proclaimed that the Philippines would adopt an independent foreign policy, and announced plans to get military equipment from China and Russia. He had also called for the withdrawal of US troops in Mindanao, only to take it back later. In Washington, Yasay said the US should not tie its aid to certain conditions. “You do not go to the Philippines and say ‘I am going to give you something, I am going to help you develop. I am going to help you grow, but these are the checklists that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights,”” Yasay said. Yasay said the Philippines respects human rights, and called on the US to understand that each country pursues its national interest. “We would like to assure you that even before America became [our]colonial power … the Filipinos had already fully understood the sanctity of human life, the dignity of human life, the respect of certain inalienable rights,” he explained. Yasay reiterated that Manila won’t cut ties with Washington, and invited American companies to set up more businesses in the Philippines “Our alliance based on mutual trust and respect will continue to contribute to the peaceful and stable regions that both of our countries have committed to our people,” he said. “We can do more. The Philippines and the US are natural business partners because of shared values and common interests,” he added.[SEP]WASHINGTON (AP) — The Philippines' top diplomat said Thursday it still regards the U.S. as a trusted ally but will not accept lectures on human rights as a condition for receiving American help. Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, "We cannot ... forever be the little brown brothers of America," as he appealed for mutual respect between the allied nations. Yasay sought to reassure an audience at a Washington think tank about Manila's commitment to positive relations with the United States, its former colonial power. His address came amid strains in the relationship because of recent remarks by the Southeast Asian nation's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, who has waged a bloody war on the drug trade that has been criticized by the U.S. More than 3,000 suspected drug users and dealers have been killed since he assumed the presidency in June. Last week, President Barack Obama canceled a formal meeting with Duterte at a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders after he used the phrase "son of a bitch" in warning that he wouldn't accept lectures from Obama on human rights. Yasay said the Philippine government would never condone unlawful killings. He said the Philippines shared the U.S. goal for full respect of human rights. He said Filipinos had fully understood about the sanctity of human life since before it was a U.S. colony and that was at the core of its struggle for independence. "You do not go to the Philippines and say, 'I'm going to give you something, I'm going to help you develop and I'm going to help you grow but these are the checklist(s) that you must comply with. We will lecture you on human rights'," he told the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yasay did not comment on testimony Thursday by a former Filipino militiaman before the Philippine Senate that Duterte, when he was still a city mayor, ordered him and other members of a liquidation squad to kill criminals and opponents in gangland-style assaults that left about 1,000 dead. Yasay also sought to tamp down U.S. concern about statements from Duterte in the past week that suggested an intent to scale back in the U.S.-Philippine security alliance. He said the Philippines is committed to a defense cooperation agreement signed by the previous government that will give the U.S. access to five Philippine military bases. And while Duterte has taken steps to repair relations with China, Yasay also said Manila will only discuss their territorial dispute in the South China Sea with Beijing on the basis of a recent international tribunal ruling, supported by Washington. The tribunal found in Manila's favor and invalidated the legal basis of China's expansive claims. But Yasay confirmed the Philippines does not want to undertake joint patrols with the U.S. beyond its territorial waters in disputed waters near the South China Sea — a step taken by the last government.[SEP]This past Monday, in response to being called an obscenity, President Obama canceled his scheduled meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Obama was originally planned to meet with Duterte in Laos after attending the G20 summit in China. President Duterte had previously threatened to curse out Obama if he brought up the roughly 2,000 drug-related killings by police that have happened under his watch since assuming office in late June. On Monday, Duterte stated, “Who does [Obama] think he is? I am no American puppet. I am the president of a sovereign country and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people. Son of a bitch, I will swear at you.” President Duterte came into office with the goal of crack-ing down on the serious drug trafficking problem that the Philippines faces, and heavily campaigned on this vow. There was popular support for his campaign, but with the number of killings rising steadily since he took office, human rights groups, the United States, and the United Nations have taken notice. On Monday, when Obama first heard of the obscenity said against him, he shrugged it off and said it was another one of his “colorful statements,” calling him “a colorful guy” at the G20 summit in China. He also called the Philippines a close “friend and ally” of the United States. When Obama first scheduled the meeting, he said that he would not avoid discussing the “international norms” of due process rights in regard to the police killings. “We recognize the significant burden the drug trade plays in the Philippines and around the world… [But] we will always assert the need to have due process and engage the fight against drugs that is consistent with basic international norms. Undoubtedly, if and when we have a meeting, this is going to be something that’s brought up. My expectation, my hope, is that it could be dealt with constructively.” Before canceling the meeting, Obama suggested that in order for it not to be canceled, Duterte would have to agree to seriously discussing the issue. “I’m just going to make an assessment,” Obama said. However, later on Monday, Ned Price, a spokes-man for the National Security Council, announced that the meeting between Obama and Duterte had been canceled. Instead, Obama had scheduled to meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. On Tuesday, President Duterte released a statement voicing his regret for his obscene statements. “We look for-ward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions,” read the statement. The statement also stated that the “son of a bitch” comment was actually directed at the journalist that posed the question provoking Duterte’s statements. Throughout his presidency, Obama has worked on building the United States’ relationship with the Philippines. Duterte’s statement said that the “meet-ing has been mutually agreed upon to be moved to a later date.”
In response to American criticism of the Duterte regime, Filipino foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay says the Philippines cannot remain as the "little brown brother" of the United States.
ROME (Reuters) - Former Italian president, prime minister and central bank governor Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who played a key role in guiding the country into the European single currency, has died, the government said on Friday. Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi waves to the crowd while visiting his home town of Livorno May 3, 2006. Italian Presidency/Enrico Oliverio/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo He was 95 and had been ill for some time. One of Italy’s most respected figures on the international stage, Ciampi helped steer the country through the dark days of corruption scandals in the 1990s and persuaded skeptical EU allies that the economy was fit to join the euro. “One of our fathers has left us. If Italy is (still) a great country then we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Ciampi,” former prime minister Enrico Letta wrote on Twitter. Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, wrote: “Today, we have lost a great Italian and a great European.” Pope Francis praised Ciampi’s “gentlemanly discretion and great sense of duty”. While tributes flowed in from across Europe, the head of the anti-EU Northern League party struck a discordant note, denouncing Ciampi for the crucial role he had played in making sure Italy was part of the euro from its birth in 1999. “Politically speaking, Ciampi is one of the traitors of Italy,” Matteo Salvini told Sky Italia TV. “He carries on his conscience the disaster that has befallen 50 million Italians,” said Salvini, who regularly rails against the euro, arguing that a loss of monetary independence has brought years of economic misery to Italy. Ciampi spent most of his working life at the Bank of Italy, which he joined in 1946 after the Second World War when he fought with the Italian partisans against Mussolini. During his 14 years as its head, the Bank was freed from political control, winning leeway to set interest rates and exchange rate policy. He often said he expected to retire when he left the central bank but in 1993, with Italy mired in the corruption scandals of “”Tangentopoli” (Bribesville), Ciampi was persuaded to become prime minister to stave off crisis. CHARM OFFENSIVE He launched himself with gusto into Italy’s myriad financial and economic problems and his lack of political ties gave his government a “”can-do” image contrasting with the tortuous deal-making that characterized many previous administrations. Always a non-partisan figure, Ciampi took no part in the 1994 election which launched Silvio Berlusconi’s political career, But he returned two years later when Berlusconi was defeated by Romano Prodi at the head of a center-left alliance. When Prodi took office in 1996, he called on Ciampi to lend credibility to his campaign to get Italy included into the first wave of euro zone members. With doubts about Italy’s financial fitness stacked up as high as its mountain of debt, the calm, confident Ciampi was sent on a charm offensive among its partners, especially to Germany. It paid off. Ciampi, who spoke German having studied in Leipzig in his youth, enjoyed warm relations with the then Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer and Finance Minister Theo Waigel. Thanks to drastic tax hikes, including a one-off “euro tax”, and plunging interest rates, Ciampi slashed Italy’s fiscal deficit from 6.7 percent in 1996 to 2.7 percent in 1997 to secure Italy’s entry into the currency club. His team of talented economists at the Treasury known as the “Ciampi Boys” included the current European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. Slideshow (6 Images) The Prodi government was brought down by its communist allies the following year but Ciampi’s retirement was delayed yet again when parliament overwhelmingly elected him president of the republic in 1999, for a seven-year term. Three years in the Italian army from 1941-44 and the horrors of World War Two made Ciampi a fervent Europhile who believed that monetary union must be only a first step in a process of broader political integration. In recent years he had expressed frustration at what he saw as a lack of vision behind the euro’s travails, as well as at Italy’s economic woes which have seen the public debt rise far above the levels he presided over back in the 1990s.[SEP]Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, a widely respected former Italian president who played a crucial role in Italy’s adoption of the euro, has died at the age of 95, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced Friday. Ciampi, who also served briefly as prime minister in a 1993-94 caretaker government of technocrats, was president from 1999-2006. He was so popular that he was widely urged to serve a second term — a proposal he declined on the grounds of his advanced age. Ciampi spent 14 years as governor of the Bank of Italy and later served as a treasury minister, a role in which he was the principal architect of Italy’s adoption of the euro as one of the founder members of the single currency. He “served Italy with passion,” Renzi wrote on Twitter. Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni hailed “a great Italian statesman,” and other tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. A career economist, Ciampi was politically on the centre-left although he was not officially aligned to any party for the bulk of his career. He took over as prime minister at a time when Italy was reeling from the enormous “mani pulite” (clean hands) corruption scandal. As president, a largely ceremonial role in Italy, he was credited with being a restraining influence on Silvio Berlusconi when the controversial media tycoon was prime minister. Ciampi leaves a widow, Franca, to whom he was married for 70 years, and two children. Media reports said he had died after spending several weeks in a Rome hospital.[SEP]Former Italian president and premier Ciampi dies at 95 MILAN (AP) — The Italian Senate says that former premier and president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who was also a senator for life, has died at age 95 after a long illness. Ciampi, who died on Friday, served as both premier of Italy, in 1993-94 when he headed a technocratic government, and also as president, from 1999-2006. He also was governor of the Bank of Italy for 14 years Premier Matteo Renzi paid tribute to Ciampi, recalling him as "a man of the institutions who served Italy with passion." The news agency ANSA, citing Ciampi's doctor, said the senator been hospitalized in recent days at the Pio XI hospital in Rome after his condition had worsened. No details were provided. FILE - This May 3, 2006 file photo shows Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, right, and his wife Franca waving during their visit to the city of Leghorn, Italy. Ciampi died on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at the age of 95 after a long illness. (AP Photo/Fabio Muzzi, files)[SEP]Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed on Saturday his condolences to his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella for former Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi death. “A convinced pro-European, supporter of the European single currency, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi promoted European Union enlargement at a time when Romania aspired to become a member state. He was one of my country’s supporters during the entire negotiation and preparation of adhering process, he repeated on every occasion Italy’s support, in virtue of indestructible historical relations between Romanians and Italians as well as exceptional economic, political and bilateral relations Romania and Italy developed after 1990,” Iohannis said in his message. At the same time, Iohannis expressed his sincere condolences, personally as well as on behalf of Romanian people, for the passing of Ciampi, which he called “a remarkable landmark of Italy’s politics.” Former Italian President Ciampi passed away on Friday, at the age of 95. In his long career, Ciampi served as President of Italy, Prime Minister and governor of Italian Central Bank, and had a key role in his country adopting the Euro.[SEP]Prime Minister Matteo Renzi praised Ciampi as a man who had worked tirelessly for Italy and served the country with passion. Ciampi, who had been ill for some time, helped steer Italy through the dark days of corruption scandals in the 1990s and was considered one of the founders of the euro currency. "One of our fathers has left us. If Italy is (still) a great country then we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Ciampi," former prime minister Enrico Letta wrote on Twitter. Ciampi spent most of his working life at the Bank of Italy, which he joined in 1946 after World War Two and headed for 14 years. He wrestled the bank free of political control, winning leeway to set interest rates and exchange rate policy. He was prime minister from 1993 to 1994 and president from 1999 to 2006. While Ciampi held the country's top two jobs, it was as treasury minister between 1996 and 1999 that he will probably be best remembered abroad. Overcoming massive doubts about the financial fitness of heavily indebted Italy, the calm, confident Ciampi went on a charm offensive amongst Italy's EU partners to get good terms for Rome to join the euro project.[SEP]ROME (JTA) – Italy’s Jews mourned the death of former President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who had a close relationship to the Italian Jewish community. Ciampi, who served as president from 1999 to 2006, died Friday at 95. In a statement, the president of the umbrella Union of Italian Jewish Communities, Noemi Di Segni, expressed “the deepest condolences, both personally and in the name of all Italian Jews” at Ciampi’s death. Throughout his life, he was “always close to the Jewish world,” Di Segni wrote, as witnessed by his lifelong friendship with the late Rabbi Elio Toaff, who served as Rome’s chief rabbi for half a century. Ciampi, who also served as Italian prime minister and head of the country’s central bank, was a ”generous, just, and visionary man” committed to anti-fascism and fundamental democratic values, she wrote. Daniel Nahum, the former vice president of the Milan Jewish community, also remembered Ciampi in a Facebook post. ”For me, he was the best President, the only true [Italian] statesman in the past 20 years,” Nahum wrote.[SEP]Your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Comments submitted by third parties on this site are the sole responsibility of the individual(s) whose content is submitted. The Daily Star accepts no responsibility for the content of comment(s), including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Please note that your email address will NOT appear on the site. 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Former Prime Minister and President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi dies at the age of 95.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption New UKIP leader Diane James tells PM to 'stop the faff' Diane James has been elected as the UK Independence Party's new leader and has told Prime Minster Theresa May to "get on with" getting the UK out of the EU. Ms James had been regarded as the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage, who quit as leader following the UK's vote to leave the EU. The MEP won with 8,451 votes. ahead of Lisa Duffy, who received 4,591. She said UKIP was "the opposition party in waiting" and said the Tories "cannot be trusted with true Brexit". "The threats to the referendum outcome are increasing by the day," she said, adding she would reject "Brexit-lite". LIVE: New UKIP leader as Farage bows out Profile: Who is Diane James? Analysis: Can Diane James unite UKIP? Farage: I have given UKIP my all To applause at the UKIP conference, she said: "Yes to a 100% European Union exit. Can I be any clearer? Yes to a sovereign independent UK. Yes to a UK free to make trade deals with whoever and whenever we want and yes to an immigration policy that allows entry regardless of origin to those with the skills and the expertise and the social values that this country wants." On the referendum vote, Ms James warned that "we have only just won a heat" in a "28-member state Olympic competition to leave the European Union". She praised her predecessor and said she was "not Nigel-lite" and would not pretend to be so but would be "stepping into his leadership shoes" to try to continue his political success. Image copyright AFP Image caption This photo attracted much comment on social media Later, in a news conference, she said Mr Farage would not be a "back seat driver" and she would be "making my own decisions" but she would seek his opinion on some matters: "Why wouldn't I? The legacy he bequeathed to this party, the experience, the knowledge he has got - I would be absolutely nuts to ignore that." She was also asked about comments by outgoing deputy leader Paul Nuttall that he "fears for the very future of our party" if in-fighting that had plagued the party for more than a year could not be resolved. Votes in UKIP contest Diane James 8,451 Lisa Duffy 4,591 Bill Etheridge 2,052 Phillip Broughton 1,544 Elizabeth Jones 1,203 Ms James said she was surprised he had said that as it was an "opposition narrative" that suggested UKIP was not united and she was happy with way UKIP MEPs had worked together. She said UKIP had "moved mountains on the political landscape" and was the "change movement of the United Kingdom" and added: "I believe in UKIP's values of liberty, common sense, democracy and pragmatic approaches to the challenges this country faces." She told the party conference in Bournemouth that she might use different language and be less frank than Mr Farage, but she would be honest and "uphold all the beliefs and values that this party stands for". And, in a message to the prime minister, she said: "If you're watching this afternoon, you'll be watching the opposition party in waiting." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Diane James addresses the UKIP party conference after being elected its new leader She accused Mrs May of stealing some of UKIP's policies - such as grammar school expansion - adding: "Mrs May: from one grammar school girl to another, stop the faff, stop the fudge and the farce, get on with it - invoke Article 50 and give UKIP the best Christmas present we could ever have." She added later: "My view is the Tory Party cannot be trusted with true Brexit." Asked about her decision, within an hour of becoming leader, to remove Neil Hamilton from the list of speakers at the conference on Saturday, she said it was "my prerogative and I chose to change the programme", but denied it was a "purge". Mr Hamilton has been replaced on the agenda by Nathan Gill, the man he ousted as leader of the UKIP group on the Welsh Assembly. Mr Hamilton said it was a "rather bizarre way" to unite a party and criticised another decision to reduce the time allocated to UKIP's sole MP, Douglas Carswell. Earlier, Ms James said Mr Gill, who now sits as an independent member of the Welsh Assembly, "has my 100% support". UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, who had been expected to stand but was ruled ineligible after submitting his papers late, told BBC News that Ms James had been "very clear that she wants to make UKIP a winning machine". "I hope and I believe that she will take the party forward," he said. Questions remain But Labour MP Pat McFadden, a member of Open Britain - born out of the unsuccessful Remain campaign during the referendum - said: "UKIP may have a new leader but the same questions apply about the UK's future outside the EU. "Will she press for the £350m a week extra pledged by the Leave campaign for the NHS? Will she campaign for their other promises to be met?" Mr Farage stood down following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, saying his "political ambition has been achieved". The face of Euroscepticism in the UK for nearly two decades, he helped turn UKIP from a fringe party into the third biggest in UK politics - in terms of votes at the 2015 general election. He also helped persuade more than 17 million people to vote to leave the EU. Ms James, a former businesswoman and healthcare professional, saw off four other contenders: Bill Etheridge, Lisa Duffy, Liz Jones and Phillip Broughton.[SEP]UK's anti-EU party elects new leader as Brexit talisman Farage steps aside BOURNEMOUTH, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Britain's anti-European Union UK Independence Party elected deputy chairwoman Diane James its new leader on Friday to replace Brexit talisman Nigel Farage who stepped down after helping to win the referendum on EU membership in June. James, currently a member of the European parliament, was announced as the party's new head at its annual conference in the southern English coastal town of Bournemouth after a ballot of UKIP's 40,000 members. A former business analyst with a long career the healthcare sector, James has pledged to ensure the government delivers an exit from the EU that meets the demands of UKIP voters: namely tighter immigration controls and more free trade. (Reporting by William James; editing by Michael Holden)[SEP]UK's anti-EU party elects new leader as Brexit talisman Farage steps aside BOURNEMOUTH, England, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Britain's anti-European Union UK Independence Party elected deputy chairwoman Diane James its new leader on Friday to replace Brexit talisman Nigel Farage who stepped down after helping to win the referendum on EU membership in June. James, currently a member of the European parliament, was announced as the party's new head at its annual conference in the southern English coastal town of Bournemouth after a ballot of UKIP's 40,000 members. "We are the political change movement of the United Kingdom," James said, pledging to makes sure Britain acted on the referendum result and left the EU. A former business analyst with a long career the healthcare sector, James has pledged to ensure the government delivers an exit from the EU that meets the demands of UKIP voters: namely tighter immigration controls and more free trade. But, she will inherit a party riven with factional disputes and struggling to define a clear identity after achieving its number one goal of triggering Britain's exit from the EU. A close ally of Farage defected to the ruling Conservative Party on the eve of the conference, saying that Prime Minister Theresa May had delivered on key elements of the UKIP manifesto since taking office in July, and that droves of UKIP supporters were doing the same. Led by the charismatic Farage, who successfully tapped into a powerful anti-establishment mood among voters, the party won nearly 4 million votes at a general election in 2015 and played a key role in persuading Britons to vote to leave the EU. (Reporting by William James; editing by Michael Holden)[SEP]Britain’s anti-European Union UK Independence Party elected deputy chairwoman Diane James its new leader on Friday to replace Brexit talisman Nigel Farage who stepped down after helping to win the referendum on EU membership in June. James, currently a member of the European parliament, was announced as the party’s new head at its annual conference in the southern English coastal town of Bournemouth after a ballot of UKIP’s 40,000 members. A former business analyst with a long career the healthcare sector, James has pledged to ensure the government delivers an exit from the EU that meets the demands of UKIP voters: namely tighter immigration controls and more free trade.[SEP]Support for independence remains higher than it was in 2014, a new poll has found, as Scotland today marks the second anniversary of the historic referendum. Scots remain split down the middle on the issue of leaving the UK, the Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times finds with 48% saying they would vote Yes, while 52% want to remain in the union. This up from the 45% who voted Yes in the referendum two years ago today, while 55% said No. But it finds that the post-Brexit spike in support for independence has fallen away, with about two-thirds of Scots opposed to another referendum being staged. A series of events are being held around the country today, to mark the second anniversary, with pro-independence rallies being held in Glasgow and other cities, while pro-Union have stepped up their calls for a proposed second referendum to be abandoned. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today said that independence is more important than "oil, national wealth and balance sheets". "Two years on from the historic vote of 2014, the fundamental case for Scotland's independence remains as it was," she wrote in an article for the Sunday herald newspaper. "The case for full self-government ultimately transcends the issues of Brexit, of oil, of national wealth and balance sheets and of passing political fads and trends." A rally of independence supporters is to be held at Glasgow Green. A relaunch will also take place in the city of the Scottish Independence Convention. Other events are taking place in Oban and Inverness, and a rally is also planned for Edinburgh later in the week. Ms Sturgeon has said that a second referendum is "highly likely" in the aftermath of the Brexit vote and this month launched a "listening exercise" aimed at winning over wavering Scots to independence. Opposition leader Ruth Davidson has responded by setting up her own taskforce to map out the possibilities for Scotland after Brexit - but as part of the UK.
Members of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) elect Diane James as their new leader.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party hopeful Jill Stein have failed to quality for the first planned U.S. presidential debate on Sept. 26, the Commission on Presidential Debates said on Friday. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is seen during an interview before a rally in New York, U.S., September 10, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich The commission, citing the averages the various candidates have achieved in selected polls, confirmed that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton had met the criteria. It also said that the vice presidential running mates of the two leading candidates were the only two to qualify for the vice presidential debate set for Oct. 4. The first presidential debate will be held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York and the vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. Using the average of five national polls, Clinton scored 43 percent, Trump 40.4 percent, Johnson 8.4 percent and Stein 3.2 percent, the commission said. Selection for the debates requires at least 15 percent support. Johnson and Stein were both constitutionally eligible and had ballot access in enough states to theoretically win an electoral college majority, but missed the polling threshold. Stein’s campaign website said she and her running mate Ajamu Baraka will both attend the first presidential debate, and urged supporters to join them. The campaign said it might ask supporters to attempt to escort the candidates into the debate in an action that “may lead to arrest — it is possible but not definite. There will be actions you can take with us at Hofstra that do not risk arrest.” The campaign said it is “organizing nonviolent civil resistance training for this.” Johnson said in a statement that: “I would say I’m surprised that the CPD has chosen to exclude me from the first debate, but I’m not.” The commission was a private organization created by the Republican and Democratic parties “for the clear purpose of taking control of the only nationally televised presidential debates voters will see,” Johnson said. The last time a third-party candidate was allowed to participate in the televised debates was in 1992, when Ross Perot met the requirements running as an independent.[SEP]Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will have the debate stage to themselves at Hofstra University in two weeks. The bipartisan commission that manages the general election skirmishes said Friday that two third party candidates seeking podiums had failed the qualify for the first match. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was once thought to have a shot at reaching the 15 percent threshold in national polls. He came nowhere close in the surveys that were used to determine who made the cut, however, attracting a little more than half of what he would have needed - 8.4 percent. Green Party candidate Jill Stein was even worse off at 3.2 percent. The Commission on Presidential Debates said Friday afternoon in a statement that its 'Board determined that the polling averages called for in the third criterion are as follows: Hillary Clinton (43%), Donald Trump (40.4%), Gary Johnson (8.4%) and Jill Stein (3.2%). 'Accordingly, Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, and Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, qualify to participate in the September 26 presidential debate and the October 4 vice-presidential debate, respectively. ' Those debates will take place at Hoftra, in Hempstead, New York, less than 10 miles outside the Big Apple, and Longwood, University, in Farmville, Virginia. 'No other candidates satisfied the criteria for inclusion in the September 26 and October 4 debates. The criteria will be reapplied to all candidates in advance of the second and third presidential debates,' the statement said.[SEP]It’s official – Gary Johnson and Jill Stein failed to make the cut for the first presidential debate. The exclusion is a major blow to the already long-shot bids of Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee, and Stein, the Green Party nominee. The debate would have offered Johnson and Stein the largest audiences of their campaigns. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday that Johnson and Stein failed to meet one criteria for participating in the debate – receiving an average of 15% support in five national polls. “… the Board determined that the polling averages … are as follows: Hillary Clinton (43%), Donald Trump (40.4%), Gary Johnson (8.4%) and Jill Stein (3.2%). Accordingly, Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, and Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, qualify to participate in the Sept. 26 presidential debate and the Oct. 4 vice-presidential debate, respectively,” the board said in a statement. “No other candidates satisfied the criteria for inclusion in the September 26 and October 4 debates.” Some notable Republicans who have expressed disdain or skepticism of Trump have been calling for the inclusion of Johnson and running-mate William Weld in the debates, including 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.[SEP]LOS ANGELES — Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein failed to make the cut to participate in the first presidential debate on Sept. 26. The Commission on Presidential Debates said that only Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump met the threshold for inclusion in the debate. Participants much have demonstrated a 15 percent level of support based on recent polls. The board of directors of the commission determined that Johnson averaged 8.4 percent and Stein averaged 3.2 percent. The commission looked at polls from ABC-Washington Post, CBS-New York Times, CNN-Opinion Research Corporation, Fox News and NBC-Wall Street Journal. Clinton was at 43 percent and Trump at 40.4 percent. The first debate will be held on Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Lester Holt will moderate. The commission said that the third-party candidates may still be eligible for the second and third debates in October if they meet the threshold closer to those dates. The second debate will be on Oct. 9 and the third on Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In a statement, Johnson said, “I would say I am surprised that the CPD has chosen to exclude me from the first debate, but I’m not. After all, the Commission is a private organization created 30 years ago by the Republican and Democratic parties for the clear purpose of taking control of the only nationally-televised presidential debates voters will see. At the time of its creation, the leaders of those two parties made no effort to hide the fact that they didn’t want any third party intrusions into their shows.”[SEP]Watch CNN's Brian Stelter's interview with Gary Johnson on "Reliable Sources" Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein will not participate in the first presidential debate, and their running mates will not be in the vice presidential debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday. The decision means Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump will be the only two candidates on the stage on September 26, and Tim Kaine and Mike Pence, their respective running mates, will be the only participants on October 4. The candidates needed to make a 15% polling threshold across several major national polls in order to qualify for the debates. The commission determined that the polling averages for the candidates had Clinton at 43%, Trump at 40.4%, Johnson at 8.4% and Stein at 3.2%. Johnson said he wasn't surprised by the decision to "exclude" him from the first debate. "There are more polls and more debates, and we plan to be on the debate stage in October," Johnson said in a statement. Stein's campaign did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. The commission said it will review the criteria for the second and third debates in the future, but didn't specify in the release when it would make the announcement. NBC's Lester Holt will moderate the first debate on September 26. CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC's Martha Raddatz will lead the second debate, a town hall format, on October 9. Fox's Chris Wallace will moderate the third debate on October 19.[SEP]Hofstra University’s debate stage will be set for only the two major-party candidates later this month, as the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday it has excluded Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein. That makes the Sept. 26 debate the first head-to-head showdown between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Under the commission’s rules, Johnson and Stein each needed to average at least 15 percent support in the most recent polls of five national polling organizations to be included. Johnson had been vying for a spot and a Twitter campaign #LetGarydebate has been underway. But, according to the commission, he didn’t come close. Polling numbers showed Clinton with 43 percent, Trump with 40.4 percent, Johnson with 8.4 percent and Stein with 3.2 percent. The commission’s criteria for participation will be reapplied to all candidates before the second and third presidential debates, scheduled Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis and Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Johnson, in a post on his Facebook page Friday, wrote, “I would say I am surprised that the CPD has chosen to exclude me from the first debate, but I’m not. After all, the commission is a private organization created 30 years ago by the Republican and Democratic parties for the clear purpose of taking control of the only nationally televised presidential debates voters will see. “Americans are tired of rigged systems, and the monopoly on debates created by the CPD is a prime and skillfully executed example,” he wrote. Stein has been pushing to open the debates, organizing a petition drive on the issue. On her website, she said, “Voters have a right to hear directly from their possible choices for the highest office in the land. These choices should reflect the diversity of American political opinion, and not be restricted to two candidates nominated by establishment parties awash in corporate donations and billionaire support.” Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine, and Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, qualified to participate in the the Oct. 4 vice-presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, the commission announced on its website. The 90-minute debate at Hofstra, to be held in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on the Hempstead campus, will be divided into six segments of about 15 minutes each on major topics that will be chosen by the lone moderator, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt. The subjects will be announced at least one week ahead of time. The commission, which oversees the event, said the moderator will begin each segment with a question. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond, and then may respond to each other. The remaining time in the segment will be devoted to “a deeper discussion of the topic,” the commission said. Hofstra — Long Island’s largest private university — will become the first school to host presidential debates in three consecutive presidential election cycles. In 2012, Democrat Barack Obama, running for re-election, and Republican Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, shared the stage. In 2008, Obama, then an Illinois senator, and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona faced off there.[SEP]DENVER — The commission that oversees presidential debates has invited only Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to the first presidential debate. It excluded two third-party candidates who had hoped the event could help them talk directly to an electorate unhappy with the two front-runners. The Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement Friday that Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein were polling too low to qualify for the Sept. 26 event. The commission since 2000 has invited only candidates polling at 15 percent or above in an average of five polls. Johnson was at 8.4 percent and Stein at 3.2 percent. Johnson, a former New Mexico governor and ex-Republican who is running with former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, has been pushing aggressively to get into the debate. He and Stein could still qualify for the two remaining ones in October if their poll numbers hit 15 percent, but that will be challenging without the national exposure of the debate. In a statement, Johnson slammed the commission as a tool of the Democratic and Republican parties and vowed to make the October contests. "The CPD may scoff at a ticket that enjoys 'only' 9 or 10% in their hand-selected polls, but even 9% represents 13 million voters, more than the total population of Ohio and most other states," Johnson said.[SEP]As it stands, it's a two-horse race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the presidency of the United States. And that's too bad, because though they may be their respective parties' nominees, Trump and Clinton are the least popular presidential nominees in modern history. People don't trust Clinton or Trump, but many think they have no other choice but to vote for one or against the other. So far, very little consideration—from the media, the public in general or anyone else—has been given to the next two viable candidates as far as poll numbers go—Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party. There are three presidential debates scheduled, the first of which kicks off Sept. 26 on NBC. Only Clinton and Trump have been invited as they're the only two candidates polling above 15 percent nationally, which is the threshold set by the Commission on Presidential Debates. That threshold should be ignored, at least for the first debate. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 15 percent mark is problematic because the CPD draws that average from five national polls conducted by traditional media outlets that often restrict themselves to head-to-head match-ups between Trump and Clinton, leaving Johnson and Stein out. "... thanks to the electoral college, our national election is really a series of 50 state contests. A national poll is therefore essentially worthless when it comes to predicting the winner in November," a Tuesday editorial in the Times stated. According to the CBS News/New York Times poll, on Thursday Johnson was polling about 8 percent and Stein about 4 percent. Debate organizers need to take a cue from the nominating processes used by Republicans and Democrats and allow more candidates to take the stage. At the very least, Johnson and Stein should be invited to take the stage for that Sept. 26 debate. It would give voters a chance to hear from candidates other than Trump and Clinton who, to be frank, have done little to inspire the electorate. Why should we just be limited to hearing from them? Should Johnson's and Stein's numbers not rise to 15 percent nationally after that debate, they don't make the second round. Seems pretty simple to us. Voter apathy and anger are so high, many have said they will not vote for either Clinton or Trump. If that's the case, we don't see the harm in allowing Americans to the opportunity to other candidates. If nothing else, it allows us to see what else is out there. The Dispatch Editorial Board doesn't endorse any candidate for president, or any elected office for that matter. What we do endorse is the chance for voters to make an informed choice from a wider pool of candidates than we've been offered, especially when the leading two candidates leave so little to be desired.[SEP]A day after he learned he would be left out of the first presidential debate, Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson called it “a rigged game” as he campaigned on his platform of social liberalism and fiscal conservatism in downtown Seattle. Johnson, a former two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, held a rally in a packed ballroom at the Seattle Sheraton hotel Saturday afternoon, followed by a fundraiser. The visit came a day after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced he did not qualify for the first presidential debate — a major blow to his campaign — after he failed to reach the required 15 percent polling threshold. Only Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump will take part in the Sept. 26 nationally televised debate. “It’s a rigged game, man,” Johnson said in a news conference before the rally. “Democrats and Republicans make up the presidential debate commission, 15 percent is not the law. It’s Democrats and Republicans not wanting a Ross Perot on the stage again.” Johnson is polling at an average 8 percent nationally, the commission said, although he was as high as 16 percent in a Washington Post poll of Washington state conducted in August. Before the rally, hundreds of supporters in the ballroom chanted “Let Gary Debate.” While Clinton is a heavy favorite in the state in November, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won an overwhelming victory in Washington’s Democratic caucuses last spring. Johnson acknowledged to reporters that he attracts a lot of Sanders supporters, but added, “It’s not a strategy.” One of those Sanders supporters is Taylor Gonzales, a student at the University of Puget Sound who attended the Johnson rally. He was disappointed that Sanders had endorsed Clinton. “Find the issue that polls the highest and just go there,” Gonzales said. “I just feel like that’s Hillary’s lifetime M.O.” Johnson was joined in Seattle by his running mate, Bill Weld, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts, as well as by two celebrities with local ties — former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Drew Carey, comedian, actor and an owner of the Seattle Sounders. The odds of a Johnson-Weld victory are long, but Weld had little interest in saying which of the major-party candidates he’d prefer to see in the White House. “We don’t want to argue against ourselves,” Weld said at the news conference. “You can tell I’ve reserved most of my negative comments for Mr. Trump.” Wearing a Seahawks 12th Man jersey for the rally, Weld criticized Clinton for her support of military intervention in Libya and Syria, but had harsher criticism for Trump, calling his false claim that Clinton started the “birther” movement “a complete lie.” “The two major candidates, but chiefly Mr. Trump, have succeeded in getting everyone’s teeth on edge,” Weld said. “Donald Trump seems to want to go out and make everybody feel bad about being an American.” Johnson took the stage and immediately addressed a recent flub — when he asked “what is Aleppo?” in a recent television interview, in reference to the war-ravaged Syrian city. “I want to start out with an apology on this Aleppo gaffe,” Johnson said. “I care about these issues because I don’t want our men and service women maimed or killed.” Johnson favors legalized marijuana, same-sex marriage and abortion rights. But he is fiscally conservative — he doesn’t believe there should be a national minimum wage, he wants to replace the income tax with a national sales tax, and says he would submit a balanced federal budget. “Fiscally conservative, socially inclusive, skeptical of military interventions, regime change, favoring free trade,” Johnson said of his agenda. “Always come down on the side of personal choice. Shouldn’t you and I be able to decide in our own lives?” He opposes the death penalty and spoke about the racial discrepancies in the criminal-justice system. “All lives matter, but black lives matter and let me tell you why,” he told the crowd. “If you are white and they take you out of your car, they don’t start shoving you around …” Johnson wants to abolish the federal departments of Education, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Housing and Urban Development. He touted himself as the candidate most supportive of free trade and the only one who backs the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He wants an open policy on immigration, saying we should embrace anyone who wants to come here and work. “And building a wall across the border is just nuts,” he said. Johnson said that he would submit a balanced budget within his first 100 days in office, without raising taxes. That would require slashing about 20 percent of federal spending, a massive cut on a scale not seen since just after World War II. Even the most ardent deficit hawks in Congress have proposed plans they say would balance the budget over a span of five to 10 years, not in one fell swoop. Johnson said he would look to block-grant Medicaid to the states, “devolve Medicare to the states,” means-test and raise the retirement age on Social Security, and shut down American military bases across the nation and world. “Can there be reform and can there still be a health-care safety net? Absolutely,” Johnson said. Pressed by reporters on how he would cut so much, specifically from Medicaid, without taking away health care from people, Johnson was at a loss for specifics.[SEP]WASHINGTON -- After five years questioning Barack Obama's birthplace, Donald Trump reversed course Friday and acknowledged the president was born in the U.S. "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period," Trump said, enunciating each word in a brief statement at the end of a campaign appearance. "Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again." Trump made no apology for and took no questions after the statement. But as the GOP presidential nominee put that conspiracy theory to rest, he stoked another, claiming that the "birther movement" was begun by his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. "Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it, you know what I mean," Trump said. While the question of Obama's birthplace was pushed by some bloggers who backed Clinton's primary campaign against him eight years ago, Clinton has long denounced the conspiracy as a "racist lie." "Trump has spent years peddling a racist conspiracy aimed at undermining the first African-American president," Clinton tweeted after his Friday event. "He can't just take it back." Speaking to an audience of black women in Washington, Clinton denounced the "temerity" of Trump's campaign to make that assertion. "He is feeding into the worst impulses, the bigotry and bias that lurks in our country," Clinton said. "Barack Obama was born in America, plain and simple, and Donald Trump owes him and the American people an apology." Black members of Congress held a news conference at the Capitol to denounce Trump immediately after his appearance. His statement on Friday, in a ballroom at his new Washington hotel, lasted only a few seconds after a lengthy campaign event featuring military officers and decorated veterans who have endorsed him. The major cable TV networks aired the full event live in anticipation of comments Trump had hyped hours before. "I'm going to be making a major statement on this whole thing and what Hillary did," he told the Fox Business Network. "We have to keep the suspense going, OK?" For years, Trump has been the most prominent proponent of the "birther" idea. He used the issue to build his political profile, earning him media attention and vaulting him to the front of Republican primary polls in 2011 as he considered running for president. He said that he had hired investigators and that they "cannot believe what they're finding." But the topic remained a fringe issue within the Republican Party; in 2011, conservatives, including Ann Coulter, now a vocal Trump supporter, called on Trump to stop pursuing the issue. The Trump campaign had given conflicting signals on the question of Obama's birthplace in recent weeks. Those connected with the campaign -- Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, Trump's running mate; Kellyanne Conway, his campaign manager; and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and Trump adviser -- all recently acknowledged that Obama was born in the United States. Friday marked the first time Trump himself said in no uncertain terms he was wrong. As late as Wednesday, he refused to acknowledge Obama was born in Hawaii, declining to address the matter in a Washington Post interview published late Thursday. "I'll answer that question at the right time," Trump said. "I just don't want to answer it yet." Clinton also seized on the Trump interview during a speech Thursday night. "This man wants to be our next president? When will he stop this ugliness, this bigotry?" she asked. Hours later, Trump's campaign spokesman Jason Miller issued a statement that suggested the question had been settled five years ago -- by Trump. "In 2011, Mr. Trump was finally able to bring this ugly incident to its conclusion by successfully compelling President Obama to release his birth certificate," Miller said. "Mr. Trump did a great service to the president and the country by bringing closure to the issue that Hillary Clinton and her team first raised," he added. But Trump repeatedly questioned Obama's birth in the years after the president released his birth certificate. In August 2012, for example, Trump was pushing the issue on Twitter. "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that Barack Obama's birth certificate is a fraud," he wrote. Even in January of this year, Trump sounded skeptical when asked whether he now believed the president was a natural-born citizen. "Who knows? Who cares right now? We're talking about something else, OK?" Trump said in a CNN interview. "I mean, I have my own theory on Obama. Someday I'll write a book." Obama took the unprecedented step of releasing his long-form birth certificate in 2011, after persistent questions from Trump and others. On the day he released the document, Obama jabbed at Trump, saying, "We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers." The president on Friday added that he hoped the election would focus on more serious matters and that he "was pretty confident about where I was born." In her speech in Washington on Friday to the Black Women's Agenda symposium workshop -- before Trump made his statement -- Clinton said that Trump owed Obama and the country an apology and that it was too late for him to walk back what he has done. "For five years he has led the birther movement to delegitimize our first black president," Clinton said. "His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie." She added, "There is no erasing it in history." The Black Women's Agenda invited both candidates to address its annual conference, but the group's president said only Clinton had accepted. After both Clinton and Trump spoke, her campaign released a statement calling Trump's remarks "disgraceful." "After five years of pushing a racist conspiracy theory into the mainstream, it was appalling to watch Trump appoint himself the judge of whether the President of the United States is American," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said. "This sickening display shows more than ever why Donald Trump is totally unfit be president." Adding a new face to the current political fray, Michelle Obama on Friday warned young voters against being "tired or turned off" in the 2016 election. She urged them to rally behind Clinton, "particularly given the alternative." Michelle Obama is emerging as one of Clinton's most effective advocates, especially with voters who backed her husband but are less enthusiastic about his potential Democratic successor. Friday's rally in Virginia was Michelle Obama's first solo campaign event for Clinton and comes nearly two months after her turn at the Democratic convention. Speaking to mostly students at George Mason University, she repeatedly jabbed Trump without mentioning him by name, declaring that being president "isn't anything like reality TV." The first lady pointedly called out those who continue to question the president's citizenship "up to this very day." Drawing on a frequently quoted line from her convention speech, Michelle Obama said her husband had responded to those questions by "going high when they go low." She vouched repeatedly for Clinton's resume and character, urging voters motivated by her husband's history-making campaigns to feel the same way about the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. party. "When I hear folks saying that they don't feel inspired in this election, well let me tell you, I disagree -- I am inspired," Michelle Obama said. Also addressing the youth vote for Clinton was her primary rival, Bernie Sanders. At a Democratic rally in New Platz, N.Y., Sanders stressed that this isn't a year to vote third party. Mentioning Clinton's name sparingly, Sanders told several hundred voters -- many still wearing gear from the Democratic primary -- that their votes could stop the election of a Republican "who thinks climate change is a hoax." His comments were in reaction to Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson's candidacy, whose ads have called for challenging the two-party status quo. "Our economic challenges will be conquered not by force, but by cooperation and mutual respect," Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico, says in one of the ads. "For the independent majority of Americans who feel as I do, I say: Why wait one more day?" Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, is gradually embracing a role as a critic of the third-party option. As Democrats contemplate ways to tamp down a protest vote for Johnson or for the Green Party's Jill Stein, Sanders is already arguing that anyone who voted for him would set the movement back by voting against Clinton. In an interview after the rally, Sanders said that Democrats and the media need to focus on Clinton's actual policies more than they have been, in a campaign dominated by back-and-forths about Trump's gaffes. "This is not the time for a protest vote, in terms of a presidential campaign," Sanders said. "I ran as a third-party candidate. I'm the longest-serving independent in the history of the United States Congress. I know more about third-party politics than anyone else in the Congress, OK? And if people want to run as third-party candidates, God bless them! Run for Congress. Run for governor. Run for state legislature." He continued: "When we're talking about president of the United States, in my own personal view, this is not time for a protest vote. This is time to elect Hillary Clinton, and then work after the election to mobilize millions of people to make sure she can be the most progressive president she can be." Both Johnson and Stein have not made overwhelming splashes in national polls. As such, the commission that oversees presidential debates has invited only Clinton and Trump to the first presidential debate, set for Sept. 26. The Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement Friday that Johnson and Stein were polling too low to qualify for the event. The commission since 2000 has invited only candidates polling at 15 percent or above in an average of five polls. Johnson was at 8.4 percent and Stein at 3.2 percent. Johnson and Stein could still qualify for the two remaining ones in October if their poll numbers hit 15 percent. In a statement, Johnson slammed the commission as a tool of the Democratic and Republican parties and vowed to make the October contests. Information for this article was contributed by Jill Colvin, Jonathan Lemire, Ken Thomas and Josh Lederman of The Associated Press; by Maggie Haberman, Alan Rappeport, Nick Corasaniti, Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Jonathan Martin of The New York Times; and by Anne Gearan, John Wagner and David Weigel of The Washington Post.
The Commission on Presidential Debates officially announces the invitation of Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton, and GOP nominee Donald Trump, to the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on September 26. However, third party candidates, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, have not met the criteria, and will not be participants in the debate.
Image copyright AP Image caption Fighters of so-called Islamic State in Deir al-Zour, where they have been battling Syrian troops The US-led coalition has admitted its planes carried out an attack in eastern Syria that the Russian army says killed at least 62 Syrian troops fighting IS. The US said its planes had halted the attack in Deir al-Zour when informed of the Syrian presence. A spokesman for the US administration expressed "regret" for the "unintentional loss of life". The attack caused a bitter row between the US and Russia at the United Nations Security Council. US envoy Samantha Power accused Russia of "pulling a stunt" by calling an emergency meeting of the council. Her opposite number, Vitaliy Churkin, said he had never seen "such an extraordinary display of American heavy-handedness" as shown by Ms Power. The Russians earlier said the current ceasefire in Syria was in danger of collapse and the US would be to blame. The cessation of hostilities does not include attacks by the US on IS or other jihadist groups. The US Central Command statement said the coalition believed it was attacking positions of so-called Islamic State and the raids were "halted immediately when coalition officials were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military". It said the "Combined Air Operations Center had earlier informed Russian counterparts of the upcoming strike". It added: "Syria is a complex situation with various military forces and militias in close proximity, but coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit. The coalition will review this strike and the circumstances surrounding it to see if any lessons can be learned." Russia's defence ministry earlier said that if the US air strikes did turn out to be an error, it would be because of Washington's refusal to co-ordinate military action with Moscow. Image copyright AFP Image caption Numerous ceasefire breaches by Syrian government troops and rebel groups have been reported Only if the current ceasefire - which began on Monday - holds for seven days, will the US and Russia begin co-ordinated action against the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham group, which was previously known as the al-Nusra Front, and IS. The Russian defence ministry quoted a statement by Syrian army general command as saying that the four coalition air strikes on Syrian troops had allowed IS to advance. The Russian foreign ministry said the attack had jeopardised the US-Russia agreement on Syria. The Syrian statement said that the air strikes were "conclusive evidence" that the US and its allies supported the jihadist group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group put the death toll at at least 80. There have been no confirmed cases of US air strikes targeting Syrian troops. Last December, Syria accused the coalition of attacking a government army camp in Deir al-Zour but the US denied it. 'Repeated messages' Earlier, Russia's military expressed fears for the ceasefire. It said rebel groups had increased attacks and it urged the US to act or be responsible for the collapse of the truce. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Syrian family living in cemetery in Eastern Aleppo Russian General Vladimir Savchenko said "the situation in Syria is worsening", with 55 rebel attacks over the past 24 hours, leading to the deaths of 12 civilians. Gen Viktor Poznikhir said Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, was doing all it could to rein in Syrian troops. "If the American side does not take the necessary measures to carry out its obligations... a breakdown of the ceasefire will be on the United States," he said. "The United States and the so-called moderate groups they control have not met a single obligation they assumed in the framework of the Geneva agreement." The terms require moderate rebel groups to separate themselves from jihadists. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage appears to show Free Syrian Army rebels chasing US special forces out of the northern Syrian town of Al-Rai Gen Poznikhir said: "Our repeated messages to the American side are left without a response. There is doubt that the US is able to influence the moderate opposition they control." A US National Security Council spokesman later said: "While there have been challenges on both sides, violence is considerably lower and the cessation is broadly holding. "What we're not seeing is humanitarian aid getting through and it will be hard to build confidence on the ground until that occurs." Some 20 trucks have been waiting since Monday for safe passage from Turkey into Syria and on to rebel-held east Aleppo. Truce's days may be numbered - BBC's James Longman, Beirut This was meant to be a trust-building exercise, but nearly a week after the truce began, the blame game has begun. There was deep scepticism from the rebels about details in the plan which called for their separation from extremist groups. That is why they never formally accepted the deal. It was always a major sticking point. Were US backed groups supposed to surrender territory to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? Or were they required to fight them? It was never clear. Either way, the stipulation would leave them far weaker on the battlefield. But refusing and standing in the way of much-needed humanitarian aid would not have been popular. Now this weekend, the main rebel groups are due to meet to discuss their position. Their mistrust of the government and its Russian allies runs deep. They see the obstruction of aid deliveries on the border as a stalling tactic, and one which they have seen before. If aid doesn't reach besieged areas soon, the ceasefire's days are numbered. And co-ordinated strikes against IS won't happen.[SEP]"A Syrian warplane belonging to the Syrian regime was brought down when targeted by fighters from the Islamic State in the city of Deir al-Zor," Amaq said in an online statement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, said the pilot of the MiG Syrian warplane was killed. The Observatory said the plane came down in the Jebel Tharda area which overlooks the government's Deir al Zor military airport. Jebel Tharda is where on Saturday U.S.-led coalition air strikes reportedly killed dozens of Syrian soldiers, endangering a U.S.-Russian brokered ceasefire and prompting an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting as tensions between Moscow and Washington escalated. The city's airport and some government-held districts have been entirely surrounded by Islamic State since last year, with the airport providing the only external access. Intense air strikes over the past 24 hours have hit Islamic State controlled areas near Deir al Zor city, the Observatory and Syrian state media said.[SEP]Syrians walk through the rubble following an air strike on the regime-controlled neighbourdhood of Karm Al Jabal on Sunday (AFP photo) MOSCOW/BEIRUT — Moscow stepped up its war of words with Washington on Sunday, saying air strikes by a US-led coalition on the Syrian army threatened the implementation of a US-Russian ceasefire plan for Syria and bordered on connivance with Daesh. The diplomatic row heated up on the last day of a seven-day ceasefire marred by a surge of violence as warplanes hit the strategic northern city of Aleppo for the first time since the truce came into effect. On Saturday, the Russian defence ministry said US jets had killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor in four air strikes by two F-16 and two A-10 fighter jets coming from the direction of Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group with contacts across Syria, cited a military source at Deir Ezzor airport as saying at least 90 Syrian soldiers had been killed. Russia's foreign ministry denounced the US position on the incident as "unconstructive and inarticulate". "The actions of coalition pilots — if they, as we hope, were not taken on an order from Washington — are on the boundary between criminal negligence and connivance with Islamic State [Daesh] terrorists," it said in a strongly worded statement. "We strongly urge Washington to exert the needed pressure on the illegal armed groups under its patronage to implement the ceasefire plan unconditionally. Otherwise the implementation of the entire package of the US-Russian accords reached in Geneva on September 9 may be jeopardised." Russia, which along with Iran supports Syrian President Bashar Assad, has called on the United States to press units of the moderate Syrian opposition to separate themselves from Daeshand other "terrorist groups". Iran also condemned the US military action. "Such moves indicate America supports terrorist groups in Syria," a foreign ministry spokesman said, according to Iranian news agencies. The US military said the coalition stopped the attacks against what it believed to be Daesh positions in northeast Syria after Russia informed it that Syrian military personnel and vehicles may have been hit. "The White House is defending Daesh. Now there can be no doubts about that," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in comments aired by state TV. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said Zakharova should be embarrassed by that claim. Russia’s UN representative Vitaly Churkin said Russia had no “specific evidence” of the US colluding with Daesh militants. The diplomatic row should further complicate humanitarian aid deliveries to Syria, including its largest pre-war city Aleppo where the fragile truce has been repeatedly violated. The UN told Reuters that aid trucks that had been due to move to Aleppo on Sunday morning were once again being delayed. Russia’s defence ministry said conditions in Syria were deteriorating as fighting escalated in parts of the country where the ceasefire, set to expire late on Sunday, should apply. Aleppo was hit by air strikes for the first time since the truce began. Moscow said militants there were preparing for large-scale military actions against Syria’s army. Heavy clashes continued on Sunday east of Damascus in the rebel-held Jobar suburb, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a witness said. The Al Rahman Legion, part of a Free Syrian Army rebel alliance there, said its fighters had destroyed a government tank and killed soldiers after government forces tried to storm Jobar for the second time this week. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, at least eight people died and many were seriously injured when helicopters dropped barrel bombs onto a town in a rebel-held part of the southern Syrian province of Daraa on Sunday. Insurgents say they only reluctantly accepted the initial deal to relieve the dire humanitarian situation in besieged areas they control, and blamed Russia for undermining the truce. “The truce ... will not hold out,” a senior rebel official in Aleppo said. Rebels have also accused Russia of using the ceasefire to give the Syrian army and allied Shiite militias a chance to regroup and deploy forces ready for their own offensives. Daesh is excluded from the truce. Separate US-led, Damascus-led and Turkey-backed operations against the militants have continued throughout the ceasefire on various fronts. One Turkish soldier and six Syrian rebels were wounded on Sunday in clashes with Daesh near the Syrian border town of Al Rai as Turkey-backed Syrian rebels pushed south towards the Daesh-held town of Al Bab, Turkey’s Dogan News agency reported. Ahmed Osman, commander of the Sultan Murad rebel group, said the rebels had advanced south and west of Al Rai but could not say when they might reach Al Bab. “Yesterday we took two villages only, today five,” he told Reuters. Turkey hit Daesh targets within Syria with warplanes, according to Dogan, Osman and the observatory. On Sunday, Daesh said it had shot down a warplane in Deir Ezzor with “anti-aircraft” guns, in the same area as the US-led coalition strikes hit the Syrian military on Saturday. The Syrian military confirmed the loss of a warplane it said was carrying out an operation against rebels.[SEP]Australia has said its warplanes took part in US-led air strikes in eastern Syria that mistakenly killed Syrian army troops in an incident threatening to wreck an already tenuous ceasefire before it is a week old. Russia’s military said it was told by the Syrian army that at least 62 soldiers were killed in the attack on a government position near Deir ez-Zour, with more than 100 wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 90 soldiers were killed. The first air strikes on Aleppo since the ceasefire began last Monday evening were reported on Sunday. An Australian defence department statement said its jets had targeted fighters they thought to be members of Islamic State, the jihadist faction also known as Isis. “Overnight, coalition aircraft were conducting air strikes in eastern Syria against what was believed to be a Daesh [Islamic State] fighting position that the coalition had been tracking for some time,” the statement said. “However, shortly after the bombing commenced, Russian officials advised the Combined Air Operations Centre that the targets may have been Syrian military personnel. “While Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support [Islamic State],” it said, offering condolences to the families of the dead and pledging to co-operate with a US inquiry. The US has also offered condolences and insisted the air strikes were a mistake. It said it had targeted Tharda mountain where a Syrian government offensive was seeking to capture Islamic State positions overlooking the Deir ez-Zour military airport. Damascus claimed it had succeeded in taking Tharda despite the US bombing, and rejected Washington’s insistence that it hit Syrian troops in error. A foreign ministry statement said Syrian positions had been repeatedly attacked in strikes that were “on purpose and planned in advance”. Russia warned that the incident puts a “very big question mark” over the future of a precarious ceasefire agreed by Washington and Moscow, and a strongly worded foreign ministry statement on Sunday said the strikes were “on the boundary between criminal negligence and direct connivance with Islamic State terrorists”. It said the incident was a result of Washington’s “stubborn refusal” to co-operate with Moscow in fighting Isis, the al-Nusra Front – now renamed Jabhat Fateh al Sham – and “other terrorist groups”.[SEP]The UN Security Council will hold urgent consultations on Saturday after US-led coalition air strikes hit Syrian military positions, diplomats said. Russia requested the meeting, which is set to take place from 7:30 pm (2330 GMT). "We demand Washington's full and detailed explanation, and that must be made before the UN Security Council," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in Moscow. Russia is "very concerned" by the strikes that "directly targeted the Syrian army, which has been consistently fighting the Islamic State group's forces", she added. The bombing hit an army position in the east, near the IS-controlled town of Deir Ezzor, a Russian army statement said. At least 62 soldiers were killed in the strike, according to Russian officials and a Syrian monitoring group. "These strikes endanger everything that has been done so far by the international community" to reach peace in Syria, the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said. Zakharova accused the United States of being "simply incapable of honoring its commitment" to distinguish between jihadists and Syrian mainstream rebels in the implementation of a ceasefire in force since Monday.[SEP]US-led coalition aircraft hit a Syrian army position in the country's east on Saturday, according to an armed forces statement carried by the state news agency SANA. "Warplanes from the American coalition hit one of the Syrian army's positions... near the Deir Ezzor airport," the statement said, adding that there were "casualties" but without giving a number. The Russian army said 60 Syrian soldiers were killed in US-led coalition strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 30 soldiers were killed in the raids, but could not specify who carried them out. Syria's army has been fighting off a fierce offensive by the Islamic State jihadist group on the Deir Ezzor military airport since last year. "This is a dangerous and bold attack against the Syrian state and army, and clear evidence that the United States and its allies support the terrorist group Daesh," the statement said, referring to IS. A Syrian military source also told AFP that US-led coalition strikes hit an army position in Jabal Therdeh, near Deir Ezzor military airport. Under a fragile truce deal negotiated by the United States and Russia, fighting in Syria is to halt on all fronts across the country except those held by IS. The US-led coalition has been carrying out raids against IS for two years in both Syria and Iraq.[SEP]A senior adviser to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad said that the US airstrike on Syrian Army positions in Deir Ezzor was preplanned. President Assad’s Political and media adviser Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban told RT, “None of the facts on the ground show that what happened was a mistake or a coincidence.” US-led coalition jets bombed Syrian government forces’ positions near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, killing troops and “paving the way” for ISIS militants to launch their offensive, according to Syria’s official news agency Shaaban said: “The moment the American planes struck the Syrian army, the terrorists came from the same side that the Americans struck, and occupied the place [that] the Syrian army was in. So it was obvious to anyone in the field that there is an absolute coordination between the American planes who shelled the Syrian army and the terrorists who came in place of the Syrian army” U.S. Central Command admitted the attack claiming it was a mistake The Syrian official also blamed Washington and its allies for colluding with the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in the region. “Everything was calculated and Daesh knew about it…. Even Russia reached the terrifying conclusion that the United States is colluding with Daesh,” Shaaban stated, adding, “When Daesh advanced, the raids stopped.” The coalition aircraft, purportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, bombed the airbase on Saturday. At least a hundred soldiers were also injured. Two F-16 and two A-10 jets entered the Syrian airspace from Iraq to conduct the attacks. The US military says it halted the raids after Russian officials said the targets were Syrian government forces and not Daesh terrorists. Elsewhere in her remarks, Shaaban said since the US-led intervention began in Syria in 2014, adding, “We have been saying that this is not against Daesh, that they are not striking Daesh.” The so-called coalition has been conducting the airstrikes in Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. Many have criticized the ineffectiveness of the raids. Washington and some of its regional allies have supported Takfiri groups fighting against Syria’s government. The Syrian Foreign Ministry has called on the UN Security Council to condemn the attacks and to make the US respect Syria’s sovereignty. Shaaban said such attacks could endanger a US-Russia brokered ceasefire deal meant to end hostilities in the conflict-ridden Arab country. She added that Damascus believed the Saturday raids may signal divisions within the US administration on deepening cooperation between Washington and Moscow under the truce deal. “What is worrying is its effect on the US-Russia agreement. I believe that some elements in the United States do not want this deal,” Shaaban said, adding, “There is a side that agrees with the Russians and another side that rejects the agreement. This makes it seem to us that the White House wants this agreement while the Pentagon rejects it.” However, Shaaban said Damascus was committed to the existing truce, adding, “We are committed to the truce. The truce is continuing until its expiration. Maybe it will be extended, maybe there will be another agreement.”[SEP]Syria’s army general command has said that US-led coalition jets bombed Syrian government forces’ positions near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition, supposedly fighting ISIS, bombed a Syrian army position at Jebel Tharda near Deir al-Zor military airport at 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday. The air strike killed Syrian soldiers who had been preparing for an attack against ISIS, and was “conclusive evidence” that the U.S. and its allies support the terrorist group, the Syrian army said in a statement Sixty-two Syrian soldiers were killed and over 100 injured in the airstrike by the US-led coalition, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said, citing information received from the Syrian General Command. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the aircraft which carried out the bombings had entered Syrian airspace from the territory of Iraq. The airstrike against Syrian positions was performed by two F-16 jet fighters and two A-10 support aircraft, it said. Even if the bombardment of the Syrian government troops was a mistake, it’s still a consequence of Washington’s unwillingness to coordinate its anti-terror efforts with Moscow, the ministry said. The Defense Ministry also confirmed a report by SANA that an Islamic State offensive began right after Syrian Army positions were hit from the air. The actions of the coalition “clearly paved the way for Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists to attack the position and take control of it,” the agency said citing the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces. The General Command has called the bombing a “serious and blatant aggression” against Syrian forces, and said it was “conclusive evidence” that the US and its allies support IS militants. Earlier on Saturday, Russia accused the US of being reluctant to take measures to force rebels under its control to fall in line with the terms of the Syrian ceasefire. Numerous Russian appeals to the American side remain unanswered, which “raises doubts over the US’s ability to influence opposition groups under their control and their willingness to further ensure the implementation of the Geneva agreements,” senior Russian General Staff official, Viktor Poznikhir, said. Poznikhir also said that the truce is being used by the militants to regroup, resupply and prepare an offensive against government troops.[SEP]Syrian army says U.S.-led coalition jets bombed it in support of Islamic State BEIRUT, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Syria's army general command said warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition bombed a Syrian army position at Jebel Tharda near Deir al-Zor airport on Saturday, paving the way for Islamic State fighters to overun it. The air strike killed Syrian soldiers and was "conclusive evidence" that the U.S. and its allies support the jihadist group, the Syrian army said in a statement, noting that the strike was "dangerous and blatant aggression". The U.S.-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against Islamic State since September 2014. In December Damascus accused the coalition of striking an army camp near Deir al-Zor, but Washington said it was done by Russian jets. A strike list issued by the U.S. on Saturday said it had carried out a strike at Deir al-Zor against five Islamic State supply routes, as well as strikes near Raqqa and elsewhere in Syria. Syria's army controls Deir al-Zor airport and parts of the city which are otherwise entirely surrounded by territory held by Islamic State. The United States and Russia agreed a deal on Syria last week, involving a ceasefire which came into effect on Monday, aid deliveries to besieged areas and eventual joint targeting of militant jihadist groups if the truce works out. Syria's five-year civil war between President Bashar al-Assad and rebels seeking to topple him has drawn in regional and global powers and allowed militant jihadist groups including Islamic State to gain territory and inspire attacks. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Louise Ireland)[SEP]The United States Central Command has released a statement admitting that US airstrikes hit Syrian Army positions. They claim that they hit Syrian soldiers by mistake when they were targeting ISIS terrorists. Up to 80 Syrian service men were killed in the incident near Deir al-Zor military airport on Saturday US military officials acknowledge responsibility for the bombing attack against Syrian Army positions that paved the way for a major Daesh offensive against Assad government forces and that killed 80 Syrian service personnel, but claimed that the attack was an accident with the intended target being Daesh terrorists. The attack was conducted by two F-16 fighter jets and two A10 ground attack aircraft that came into Syrian airspace through the Iraqi border without authorization from the Assad government. The Russian Ministry of Defense immediately blasted the United States for the lethal attack observing that Daesh engaged in a major offensive after American forces crippled the Assad regime’s position. “If this airstrike was carried out due to an error in the coordinates of the targetm it is a direct consequence of US side’s unwillingless to coordinate its actions against terrorist groups with Russia,” the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman emphasized. The attack came amid a ceasefire in Syria agreed upon by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry one week earlier and that came into effect on September 12. The attack threatens to undermine the delicate ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government concerned that it will provide Daesh terrorists an opportunity to regroup and that the rebels will not hold to the arrangement. Nonetheless, the attack also highlights the importance of the ceasefire deal and the need for the United States and Russia to coordinate on intelligence. In the statement, Central Command says that “Coalition forces believed they were striking a Da’esh fighting position that they had been tracking for a significant amount of time before the strike. The coalition airstrike was halted immediately when coalition forces were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military.” The statement, provided in full below, goes on to imply that Russia is somehow to blame for the egregious accident that killed the 80 Syrian soldiers because the US claims that it “had earlier informed Russian counterparts of the upcoming strike.”
The United States acknowledges that its warplanes may have hit a Syrian Army position near Deir ez-Zor Airport in eastern Syria, while conducting an operation against ISIL, killing more than 60 Syrian troops.
Syria calls for U.N. Security Council to condemn U.S. BEIRUT, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Syria's foreign ministry called for the United Nations Security Council to condemn what it called U.S. aggression and require Washington to respect Syrian sovereignty, it said in a statement carried on the country's state-owned media. Syria and Russia earlier said jets from a U.S.-led coalition had struck a Syrian army position near Deir al-Zor, killing scores and allowing Islamic State fighters to briefly overrun it. The U.S. military said it had stopped an air strike after being told by Russia it may have hit a Syrian army position. (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Marguerita Choy)[SEP]U.N. Security Council likely to meet on U.S.-led Syria strikes -diplomats UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is likely to meet on Saturday at the request of Russia, diplomats said, to discuss air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, which Moscow said had targeted and killed Syrian military personnel. Russia and a war monitoring group said coalition jets bombed a Syrian army position near Deir al-Zor airport on Saturday, killing dozens of Syrian soldiers. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao)[SEP]This article is more than 2 years old This article is more than 2 years old The United Nations security council has called an emergency meeting to discuss air strikes by the US-led coalition in Syria, diplomats said, after Russia said coalition warplanes had bombed and killed Syrian government forces. Vladimir Putin questions US commitment to Syria ceasefire deal Read more The 15-member council was due to meet behind closed doors on Saturday evening in New York, diplomats told Reuters. The US envoy to the United nations, Samantha Power, said she regretted loss of life in the Syria airstrike, but said the Russian call for the security council meeting was “a stunt”. Earlier on Saturday Russia’s ministry of defense said coalition planes had killed 62 Syrian soldiers, wounded 100 more and allowed Islamic State militants to gain an advantage through the strike. The Pentagon did not outright admit that coalition planes had hit Syrian forces, but said that pilots had “believed they were striking a Daesh [Isis] fighting position” and may have struck Syrian government forces instead. The death toll could not immediately be confirmed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based group that has tracked casualties of the war, reported that about 80 Syrian soldiers were killed. The Russian defense ministry said more than 100 were injured. In a statement, the ministry echoed questions from President Vladimir Putin about US commitment to a shaky ceasefire deal brokered by the two countries, and said the airstrikes could be evidence that American officials had not consulted with their counterparts in Moscow. “If this airstrike was the result of a targeting error,” Russian major general Igor Konashenkov said in a statement, “it is a direct consequence of the US side’s stubborn unwillingness to coordinate its action against terrorist groups on Syrian territory with Russia.” Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, was subsequently quoted by Ria Novosti saying the Kremlin would demand an explanation at the UN. “We are reaching a really terrifying conclusion for the whole world,” she said, according to the state-owned news agency. “The White House is defending Islamic State. Now there can be no doubts about that. “We demand a full and detailed explanation from Washington. That explanation must be given at the UN Security Council.” Konashenkov did not identify the planes’ country of origin, but said they were part of the US-led coalition. US central commmand (Centcom) said “Russian counterparts” had been consulted. The Russian defense ministry said Isis militants were emboldened by the airstrikes, which hit an airport near Deir al-Zor, and that the forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad were now fighting a pitched battle against those of the terror group. It also said the strikes were conducted between 5pm and 5.30pm local time by two F-16s and A-10s that entered the country from the direction of Iraq. SOHR said Russian warplanes had been bombing the same region recently, citing a source at the airport who also said Isis fighters had used the strike to overrun a government position. Centcom acknowledged the strikes in a statement, saying: “Coalition forces believed they were striking an [Isis] fighting position that they had been tracking for a significant amount of time before the strike.” The statement added: “The coalition airstrike was halted immediately when coalition officials were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military.” Centcom said the coalition had struck the area in the past, and that its members had “earlier informed Russian counterparts of the upcoming strike”. “It is not uncommon for the Coalition Air Operations Center to confer with Russian officials as a professional courtesy and to deconflict,” the command center said, “although such contact is not required by the current US-Russia Memorandum of Understanding on safety of flight.” The statement added that “coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit” and that they would “review this strike and the circumstances surrounding it to see if any lessons can be learned”. The US and Russia last week brokered a controversial ceasefire that made provisions for joint strikes on jihadi militants, even though the Kremlin stands accused of killing 2,000 civilians in six months of strikes. Many Russian strikes have targeted US-backed groups that oppose Assad’s government, which is itself responsible for tens of thousands of civilians killed, many with chemical weapons, according to rights groups. The US says its bombing campaign has killed 55 civilians, though rights groups say at least 210 died in the battle for the city of Manbij alone. Migrant death toll expected to exceed 10,000 in 2016 Read more Elements of the Syria pact have been resisted by leaders in the Pentagon, including defense secretary Ash Carter. State-owned Russian news agencies have quoted military officials as saying that Syrian rebels have violated the ceasefire agreement 55 times already. Rebels have alleged violations by Assad’s forces. Aid shipments into the devastated city of Aleppo have yet to be allowed to reach civilians. More than 470,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war since 2011, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. On Saturday, Putin blamed ceasefire violations and the aid blockade on resistance from Washington, saying Americans “still cannot separate the so-called healthy part of the opposition from the half-criminal and terrorist elements. “In my opinion, this comes from the desire to keep the combat potential in fighting the legitimate government of Bashar Assad. But this is a very dangerous route.” Putin has supported Assad’s government since the start of the war with money, aid and arms, and, since last September, with airstrikes.[SEP]Russia has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss US-led airstrikes in Syria, a United Nations diplomat tells CNN. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, the UN diplomat says.[SEP]U.N. Security Council to meet on U.S.-led air strikes in Syria UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will meet on Saturday at the request of Russia, diplomats said, to discuss air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, which Moscow said had targeted and killed Syrian military personnel. The 15-member body is due to meet behind closed doors at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT), diplomats said. Russia and a war monitoring group said coalition jets bombed a Syrian army position near Deir al-Zor airport on Saturday, killing dozens of Syrian soldiers. In a statement carried on Syria's state-owned media, Syria's foreign ministry called for the Security Council to condemn what it described as U.S. aggression and require Washington to respect Syrian sovereignty. Such a move is unlikely as statements by the council have to be agreed by consensus. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao)[SEP]MOSCOW: Moscow will convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after a string of deadly US-led coalition air strikes hit a Syrian army base, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said late Saturday. “The Russian ambassador to the UN has been tasked with convening an urgent meeting of the Security Council over this issue,” Zakharova told Rossia-24 public television. “We demand Washington’s full and detailed explanation, and that must be made before the UN Security Council.”[SEP]The UN Security Council on Friday canceled an urgent meeting that had been called to discuss a US-Russian deal on Syria, at the request of both the United States and Russia, diplomats said. During the scheduled meeting, US and Russian envoys were to present details of the joint agreement that calls for a ceasefire, the delivery of aid and joint targeting of Islamist rebels in Syria. Russia, Syria's key ally, is pushing for the Security Council to endorse the agreement, but France and other council members have said they must first learn more details about the deal. Under the deal, all sides were due to allow deliveries of food and other basic supplies to the battleground city of Aleppo after a ceasefire went into effect on Monday. But on Friday, aid convoys positioned at the border with Turkey had yet to receive the all-clear to begin their journey to Aleppo. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Thursday that the council could adopt a resolution backing the agreement during a high-level meeting on Syria to be held on Wednesday. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are due to attend the council talks, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.[SEP]UNITED NATIONS (AP) — US UN envoy regrets loss of life in Syria airstrike, but says Russian call for emergency Security Council meeting is ‘a stunt’[SEP]UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Friday canceled an urgent meeting that had been called to discuss a US-Russian deal on Syria, at the request of both the United States and Russia, diplomats said. During the scheduled meeting, US and Russian envoys were to present details of the joint agreement that calls for a ceasefire, the delivery of aid in Syria. Russia, Syria’s key ally, is pushing for the Security Council to endorse the agreement, but France and other council members have said they must first learn more details about the deal. Under the deal, all sides were due to allow deliveries of food and other basic supplies to the battleground city of Aleppo after a ceasefire went into effect on Monday.[SEP]Russia says U.S. refuses to share Syria truce deal with UN council UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday that a U.N. Security Council endorsement of a Syria ceasefire deal between Moscow and Washington appeared unlikely because the United States does not want to share the documents detailing the agreement with the 15-member body. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power had been due to brief the council behind closed-doors on Friday but that was canceled at the last minute. "The main problem ... which in my mind makes it impossible to produce any resolution, is that they are refusing to give those documents to members of the Security Council or even to read those documents to the members of the Security Council," Churkin told reporters. "We believe that we cannot ask them (council members) to support documents which they haven't seen," said Churkin, suggesting there was lack of unity in U.S. President Barack Obama's administration toward the agreement. The U.S. mission to the United Nations said it could not agree with Russia on a way to brief the council that would "not compromise the operational security of the arrangement." "Right now we are focused on the implementation of the agreement brokered by Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov, particularly the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach Syrians in need," a U.S. spokesperson said in a statement. The deal reached on Saturday aims to put Syria's peace process back on track. It includes a nationwide truce that started at sundown on Monday, improved humanitarian aid access and joint military targeting of banned Islamist groups. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reached agreement on five documents, which they said would not be publicly released. However, France on Thursday called on the United States to share details of the deal. Churkin said Russia has given two drafts of a possible Security Council resolution to the United States. He said on Thursday that Moscow hoped a resolution could be adopted next week during the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "They, in their typical way, came up with a completely different thing, which is trying to interpret and reinterpret the agreement," Churkin said, referring to U.S. officials. A Security Council endorsement would add political weight to the deal, but would have no implications on the ground. The United States and Russia said on Friday they wanted to extend the four-day-old ceasefire in Syria that they have co-sponsored, although the agreement looked increasingly shaky, undermined by increasing violence and a failure to deliver aid.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) holds an emergency session to discuss the U.S. airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor.
National Abu Sayyaf releases kidnapped Norwegian for P30-million ransom InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA - Reports reaching Manila indicated that the Al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) released late Friday night their Norwegian kidnap victim Kjartan Sekkingstad at a remote village in Indanan, Sulu. The area where Sekkingstad was released is one of the sites where government forces have been conducting a massive offensive against the ASG in the past few months, police and military intelligence reports said on Saturday. A police and military intelligence report seen by journalists in Manila indicated that Kjartan Sekkingstad was released by his captors at around 10:30 p.m. Friday in the vicinity of Brgy. Buanza in Indanan, Sulu. The intelligence report informed that Sekkingstad was set free after ASG received an estimated PhP30 million in ransom money. The intelligence report said that the release was facilitated by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Commander Tahil Sali. Sekkingstad was immediately bought to the house of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, in the middle of an electricity outage. Sekkingstad, along with Canadians John Risdel and Robert Hall, and Filipina Marites Flor, were snatched in late 2015 while they were on vacation at Oceanview resort in Samal Island in Davao del Norte. A few weeks after the kidnapping, the ASG demanded ransom for the safe release of their kidnap victims. The two Canadians were beheaded by the ASG after they failed to receive the ransom money.[SEP][SEP]ASG HOSTAGES. Masked gunmen surround Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) hostages in a jungle setting earlier this year. Video screengrab from SITE Intelligence Group MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group has released its Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad. The Abu Sayyaf released Sekkingstad at around 2 pm Friday, September 16, in Patikul, Sulu, Chief Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said in a statement Saturday night, September 17. "His release from captivity capped months of quiet, patient but determined efforts with the assistance of all sectors," Dureza said. Dureza said he had a phone conversation with Sekkingstad whose first words to him were, "Thank you to President Duterte." He said that the men of Moro National Liberation Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari and former Sulu governor Sakur Tan, "and other volunteers" helped facilitate Sekkingstad's release. "He is now staying overnight at the place of MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari in Barangay Kagay who volunteered to host his stay due to heavy rains and nightfall....I will fly him out of Jolo town tomorrow morning," Dureza added. Sekkingstad is the last Abu Sayyaf captive from the group of 4 abducted in Samal Island in Davao del Norte in September 2015. Norway said the release was a "positive development," adding that it was closely monitoring the situation and working with Philippine authorities to bring Sekkingstad to safety. "According to Philippine authorities, Sekkingstad is now in a relatively safe place," Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende said in a written comment to Agence France-Presse. "We refrain from celebrating until Sekkingstad has been safely handed over to Philippine authorities." Ransom paid? Sekkingstad's captors freed him after reportedly receiving a ransom of P30 million ($627,228), according to a source from the intelligence unit of Joint Task Group Sulu. The source also said that the release was facilitated by the group of MNLF Commander Tahil Sali, and that Sekkingstad was brought to the house of the former Sulu governor while there was a brownout in the area. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement on Saturday night that "intense pressure" from pursuing government troops led to Sekkingstad's release. "Under the intense pressure of focused military operations, the terrorist kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf Group was constrained to release Sekkingstad as holding him under custody slows down their continues movement," the AFP said. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said P50 million had been paid for the Norwegian's release. On August 25, Duterte said despite the payment of the ransom, Sekkingstad had not yet been released, and that the Abu Sayyaf wanted more money. "They kept on postponing it [the release] because of the huge sum of money. Millions. 'Yung Norwegian, bayad na 'yon (Ransom has been paid for the Norwegian)," Duterte told reporters last August. Duterte was supposed to present Sekkingstad in a briefing at the Mindanao Development Authority office in Davao City early Saturday night, according to a Palace media advisory, but the event was cancelled due to bad weather in Sulu. Filipina Marites Flor had been set free earlier. Her boyfriend, Robert Hall, and Hall's fellow Canadian John Ridsdel were beheaded after the deadline for their ransom payment lapsed in June and April, respectively. The Canadian government is observing a no-ransom policy. On June 25, Norwegian Ambassador Erik Forner went to see Duterte during Flor's release. The two leaders talked about negotiating for the release of Sekkingstad. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com $1 = P47.82[SEP]ABU SAYYAF bandits on Sunday freed three Indonesian tugboat crew members in Sulu, a day after they released a Norwegian captive. Indonesian sailors Teo Kopong, Lorenz Koten and Emmanuel, who were kidnapped in July in Sabah, were handed over, along with Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad, to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari, who was said to have “assisted” in their release and provided shelter. The kidnappers were reportedly paid P30 million in ransom following negotiations with former Indonesian army general Kivlan Zein. No other details surrounding the negotiations were available, but the release of the hostages came after the Abu Sayyaf freed Sekkingstad for a P30-million ransom payment. The militants handed over Sekkingstad to an MNLF commander named Tahil Sali, who allegedly helped in the negotiations, according to an army report. The Philippine military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) had linked Sali to deadly attacks against government forces in Sulu, where he was said to fought alongside the Abu Sayyaf. Zein, through MNLF chieftain Misuari, also negotiated the release of 14 kidnapped Indonesian sailors in Sulu in May this year. The Abu Sayyaf, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is still holding four Malaysian sailors, three Filipino fishermen, a Dutch photographer and a Japanese treasure hunter in southern Philippines. The three Indonesian sailors were kidnapped on July 9 at Lahad Datu in Sabah. Maj. Felimon Tan, Westmincom spokesman, said the freed hostages were brought to the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, the capital of Sulu, for medical examinations and debriefing. “The release of the kidnap victims is an offshoot of the ongoing military operations to sustain pressure against the [Abu Sayyaf], and the assistance of the MNLF,” he said. ‘Lucky to be alive’ Escorted by a small contingent of Jolo police on Sunday, Misuari, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, the freed captives and local officials met in a building surrounded by hundreds of MNLF fighters before leaving for the military camp. Sekkingstad appeared gaunt and frail as he was handed over to Dureza along with the three Indonesian seamen who had been held captive with him. “I am so very happy and lucky to be alive,” said Sekkingstad, heavily bearded and wearing a camouflage jacket, told reporters in the town of Indanan before being flown to meet President Rodrigo Duterte. Sekkingstad was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in September last year from a high-end tourist resort in Samal Island that he managed. Two Canadians taken hostage at the same time, John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, were later beheaded by the group after a ransom demand of about P300 million ($6.5 million) was not met. Sekkingstad showed the press his backpack with his rubber slippers, plastic water jug and other items he used in captivity, saying that he would never lose these “souvenirs.” Sekkingstad and Dureza were transported to an airbase where a plane flew them out to Davao City for the meeting with Duterte. The three freed Indonesians were taken to Zamboanga City where a retired Indonesian general was waiting to pick them up. No ransom for Norwegian Norwegian foreign affairs communications chief Frode Andersen told AFP by phone that “the Norwegian government does not pay ransom in this case or any other case.” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar also said “the [Philippine] government maintains the no-ransom policy.” “If ransom was indeed handed over from a third party or the family, we would not know. What we know is that the government does not give ransom money to [Abu Sayyaf] kidnappers,” Andanar said in a radio interview. A spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf was quoted in a local newspaper on Sunday as saying the group received P30 million (about $625,000) for the Norwegian. Last month, President Duterte told reporters private negotiators paid P50 million to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of Sekkingstad, but the group demanded P250 million more. The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network. It is based in remote Muslim-populated southern islands in the mainly Catholic Philippines, and has earned millions of dollars in ransom from kidnappings, often targeting foreigners. While its leaders have in recent years pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, analysts say the Abu Sayyaf is mainly focused on a lucrative kidnapping business rather than religious ideology. The group, which is blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history and is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization, has been the target of a military operation since August.[SEP]ZAMBOANGA CITY: Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants linked to the Islamic State have freed Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad following negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the military said on Saturday. Sekkingstad was turned over by the rebel group late Friday to MNLF commander Tahil Sali in the village of Buanza in Sulu’s Indanan town. Reports said P30 million in ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for Sekkingstad’s freedom. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters that private negotiators paid P50 million to the ASG for the safe release of Sekkingstad, but the group demanded P250 million more. Norwegian Ambassador Erik Forner, who previously met with Duterte in Davao City, thanked the President for his efforts to secure the release of Sekkingstad. Col. Edgard Arevalo, head of the public affairs office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said Sekkingstad was released at about 4 p.m. on Saturday. “Mr. Sekkingstad will proceed to the Provincial Capitol for his turnover to proper authorities,” Arevalo said. “The release of the kidnap victim is an offshoot of the ongoing military operations to sustain pressure against the ASG and the assistance of the MNLF,” the military official added. Simultaneous land, air, naval and police operations were conducted against Abu Sayyaf militants following the deadly bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed 15 peopl. Members of the Naval Commander Amphibious Task Group 80.2, which conducted raids in the islands of Pata and Kalinggalang Caluang in Sulu, confiscated 15 unregistered motorized boats, including one believed to be used by Abu Sayyaf leader Alhabsy Misaya, who is behind the kidnapping of Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crews. Arevalo said AFP chief Ricardo Visaya commended the soldiers who sustained the pressure on the militants. “He expects there will be more kidnap victims released under the same circumstances,” he added. Sekkingstad was kidnapped along with Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Maritess Flor, a Filipina, in September last year in a resort in Samal Island in Davao del Norte province. Ridsdel and Hall were beheaded by the ASG when their families failed to pay the ransom demanded by the group. Flor was released by the militants in June. The ASG is still holding more than a dozen other hostages, including Malaysian and Indonesian tugboat crew and Filipino fishermen kidnapped in Sabah. WITH REPORTS FROM ANTHONY VARGAS AND PNA[SEP]A Norwegian man freed after almost a year in captivity by the Abu Sayyaf terror group in the Philippines says the experience was “devastating”. Kjartan Sekkingstad said that he and his fellow captives, two of whom were Canadians who were subsequently beheaded, were treated like slaves. Sekkingstad was freed on September 17. He was one of four captives seized by the extremist gang at a resort he ran on Samal Island in September 2015. Sekkingstad said that he was regularly threatened with execution. Two of his fellow captives, Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, were beheaded earlier this year. A Philippine woman, Marites Flor, was freed in June. “I am very happy to be alive and free,” Mr. Sekkingstad told reporters following a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and Norwegian Embassy officials in Davao City, the president’s hometown. “It’s a wonderful feeling.” When he arrived in Davao City, the Norwegian was heavily bearded and wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying a backpack that he said had stopped a bullet and saved his life during a clash between troops and militants. He was clean-shaven and wearing fresh clothes when he met the president. Sekkingstad told reporters upon arriving in Davao City that the Abu Sayyaf militants had forced him and the other captives to act as porters. He said that after the beheadings began he was told constantly that he would be executed, and survived several clashes between the militants and Philippine troops. “We were treated like slaves,’’ he said, describing the captivity as “devastating.” The two Canadians were killed after Canada’s government refused to pay millions of dollars in ransom to the militants, who have sworn allegiance to Islamic State and have earlier links to al Qaeda and have carried out bombings, assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, often ending in murder. Duterte said recently that 50 million pesos ($1.1 million) had been paid to Abu Sayyaf as ransom for Sekkingstad. Subsequently, the president said that the group wanted even more money. He didn’t elaborate on the source of the payments or how they were made. Sekkingstad was released September 17 in Jolo, the capital of Sulu, a predominantly Muslim and impoverished island south of Manila, but had to stay there overnight because of bad weather. He was expected to fly to Manila later on September 18. It was unclear if and when he will return to Norway. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that three Indonesian fishermen who had been kidnapped recently by Abu Sayyaf were released September 18. He said he was “unaware if any ransom has been paid.” The Indonesians were flown to the military’s regional command center in western Mindanao island and handed over to Indonesian authorities. Abu Sayyaf is believed to still hold 11 foreigners and six Filipinos captive, the military said. The group is believed to have about 400 members. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg welcomed the release of Sekkingstad and thanked Duterte and presidential peace adviser Jose Dureza, who negotiated the release, for working to free him. “This has been a challenging case, and has put an indescribable strain on Mr. Sekkingstad himself and his family and friends,” Solberg said September 18. “The violence committed against innocent people by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organization can only be met by our condemnation and disgust.” Abu Sayyaf has come under recent pressure from the Philippine armed forces as Duterte ordered a new offensive against them. The group responded with a deadly bomb attack September 2 in Davao City that killed 15 people and injured dozens more. Sekkingstad was handed over by his Abu Sayyaf captors to rebels from the larger Moro National Liberation Front, which has signed a peace deal with the Philippine government and helped negotiate his release. On September 18, he was handed over to Philippine authorities, along with three Indonesian fishermen freed separately by the Abu Sayyaf. Sekkingstad said he survived more than a dozen clashes between Philippine forces and his captors in the lush jungles of Sulu province. Sekkingstad was kidnapped from a yacht club he helped managed on southern Samal Island on September 21, 2015, along with Canadians Ridsdel and Hall and Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor. Ridsdel was beheaded in April, and Hall was decapitated in June after ransom deadlines lapsed. When Flor was freed in June, she recounted in horror how the militants rejoiced while watching the beheadings.[SEP]MANILA, Philippines — Abu Sayyaf extremists on Saturday freed a Norwegian man kidnapped a year ago in the southern Philippines with two Canadians who were later beheaded and a Filipino woman who has been released by the ransom-seeking militants, officials said. Kjartan Sekkingstad was freed in Patikul town in Sulu province and was eventually secured by rebels from the larger Moro National Liberation Front, which has signed a peace deal with the government and helped negotiate his release, Philippine government officials said. Sekkingstad, held in jungle captivity since being kidnapped last September, was to stay overnight at the house of Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari in Sulu and then meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, said Jesus Dureza, who advises Duterte on peace talks with insurgent groups. When he spoke on the phone with Sekkingstad, Dureza said the Norwegian expressed his gratitude to Duterte. A plan to fly the freed hostage out of Sulu, a jungle-clad Muslim region about 950 kilometres (590 miles) south of Manila, was scrapped Saturday because of bad weather, Dureza said. It was not immediately clear whether Sekkingstad had been ransomed off. Duterte suggested in a news conference last month that 50 million pesos ($1 million) had been paid to the militants, but that they continued to hold on to him. The military said Saturday that relentless assaults forced the extremists to release the hostage. Sekkingstad fell ill while in captivity, according to an army officer who helped monitor the kidnapping. “Under the intense pressure of focused military operations, the terrorist kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf group was constrained to release Sekkingstad, as holding him under custody slows down their continued movement,” said military spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo. Military chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya warned the militants to release their other captives, including a Dutch birdwatcher and Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crewmen, “or suffer annihilation.” While Duterte has pursued peace talks with Misuari’s group and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front, he has ordered the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, a smaller but more brutal band that the president says aims to establish an Islamic state or caliphate. “They are no longer hungry for autonomy. They are hungry for a fight to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia,” Duterte told troops on Saturday, although his predecessors have regarded the militants as a loose collective of bandits. Sekkingstad was kidnapped from a marina on southern Samal Island on Sept. 21, 2015, with Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Marites Flor, sparking a massive land and sea search by Philippine forces. The Abu Sayyaf demanded a huge ransom for the release of the foreigners, and released videos in which they threatened the captives in a lush jungle clearing where they displayed Islamic State group-style black flags. Ridsdel was beheaded in April and Hall was decapitated in June after ransom deadlines lapsed. When Flor was freed in June, she recounted in horror how the militants rejoiced while watching the beheadings. “It’s so painful because I saw them moments before they got beheaded,” Flor told reporters in June in southern Davao city, where she was flown to meet then President-elect Duterte. “They were watching it and they were happy,” she said of the militants, adding that she did not witness the killings. Government forces launched a major offensive against the Abu Sayyaf after the beheadings of the Canadians sparked condemnations from then-Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called on other nations not to pay ransoms if their citizens are abducted to discourage the brutal militants from carrying out more kidnappings. The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. Without any known foreign funding, the extremists have relied on ransom kidnappings, extortion and other acts of banditry, and some commanders have pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group partly in the hope of obtaining funds.[SEP]Philippine militants got ransom for Norwegian, say analysts A notorious kidnapping-for-ransom gang in the strife-torn southern Philippines enjoyed another lucrative payday when it released a Norwegian hostage after a year in captivity, analysts said Monday. A bearded and bedraggled Kjartan Sekkingstad was released Saturday on a remote southern island after what analysts said was almost certainly a payment in the thousands of dollars after the Abu Sayyaf demanded millions. The Philippine and Norwegian governments have denied paying ransom for the release of Sekkingstad, while highlighting their efforts to secure his freedom after the kidnappers had beheaded two of his fellow hostages, both Canadian. Security analysts said the Abu Sayyaf would never release a hostage without ransom. "There was a ransom payment negotiated by intermediaries of the family with diplomatic help. My information is 30 million pesos ($625,000) was paid," said Rodolfo Mendoza, senior analyst of Manila-based Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research. "Hostage-taking is the Abu Sayyaf's fund-raising activity," Mendoza, a former police general, told AFP. Sekkingstad's brother Odd Kåre Sekkingstad declined to comment when asked by AFP about reports of a ransom. His sibling was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf from a tourist resort in September 2015, alongside a Filipina who has been freed, and the two Canadians who were beheaded in April and June. Philippine authorities have said the Norwegian was freed due to a military offensive which President Rodrigo Duterte ordered against the militants, and with the help of a separate Muslim rebel group holding peace talks with the government. Duterte himself had said last month that 50 million pesos ($1 million) had been paid for Sekkingstad's release. "The Norwegian, that's already paid," Duterte told reporters. "I don't know (where the money came from), maybe my bank," he said in jest when asked who paid the ransom. Zachary Abuza, a Southeast Asian security expert at the National War College in the United States, told AFP there was no doubt ransom was paid. "The (Abu Sayyaf) did not release him out of the goodness of their hearts... governments have to deny paying ransoms, as it incentivises more hostage-taking. But often governments will use third parties." The payment would allow Abu Sayyaf to buy more guns through the black market, Abuza added. The Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the nation's worst terror attacks, is a loose network of militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. Based in remote Muslim-populated southern islands of the mainly Catholic Philippines and listed by the US as a terrorist organisation, some of its leaders have since pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. In 2014 the Abu Sayyaf boasted of receiving 250 million pesos for two German hostages it freed after six months in captivity. In 2013 the militants also released an Australian ex-soldier after holding him for 15 months, with a local politician who acted as a negotiator saying ransom was paid.[SEP]Three Indonesians freed by militant Abu Sayyaf group in Philippines MANILA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three Indonesian fishermen held by Islamic State-linked rebels in the Philippines have been released, a Philippine military spokesman said on Sunday, just hours after the militias freed a Norwegian man after a year-long ordeal. The Indonesians - identified as Lorence Koten, Teo Doros Kofong, and Emmanuel Arakian - were released by the Abu Sayyaf group on Saturday night at an undisclosed place in Sulu in the Southwest Philippines, said spokesman Major Filemon Tan. They were taken on July 9 this year from the Malaysian state of Sabah, he said. The Indonesians were set free just hours after the same group notorious for kidnappings, beheadings and extortion released Norwegian captive Kjartan Sekkingstad, who met President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City on Sunday evening. Sekkingstad was taken from an upscale resort on Samal island in Davao del Norte along with a Filipina, who has already been freed, and two Canadians, whom the militants later executed. While it is widely believed that no captives are released by the Abu Sayyaf without the payment of ransom, the Philippine government said it did not pay the group and was unaware of any payment made by other parties for the release of the victims. "I would like to reiterate that the government maintains the no-ransom policy," Communications Minister Martin Andanar said. Now if there was a third party who made the payment, if it's the family (of those kidnapped), we are not aware of that." The Philippine military insists the release of the kidnap victims was a result of the ongoing intensified military operations against the Abu Sayyaf, with the assistance of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), one of the two major Muslim rebel groups based in the south of the mainly Catholic nation. In a media briefing in Davao City, Duterte lauded the efforts of his peace adviser Jesus Dureza, former Sulu Governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan, and MNLF leader Nur Misuari. Dureza confirmed the release of the Indonesian captives. Duterte told Sekkingstad and the Norwegian government that justice would be sought for his abduction. "I am very happy to be alive and free," Sekkingstad said at the briefing. A new round of peace talks between the Philippine government and the Maoist-led rebels resumed in Norway in August to end nearly five decades of conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz and Manuel Mogato; Editing by Eric Meijer and Elaine Hardcastle)[SEP]FOLLOWING the release of one Norwegian and three Indonesian hostages, the military on Sunday vowed to maintain intense pressure on the Abu Sayyaf terrorist and kidnap group to force it to free other captives. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the military would be unrelenting in its operations against the bandit group. “We will continue to forge the support and cooperation of the local residents who will ultimately benefit from the success of these operations,” he said. Maj. Felimon Tan, spokesman of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command, claimed that relentless land, sea and air operations forced the Abu Sayyaf to free Norwegian kidnap victim Kjartan Sekkingstad. The Naval Commander Amphibious Task Group conducted raids at the islands of Pata and Kalinggalang Caluang in Sulu, resulting in the confiscation of 15 unregistered motorized boats, Tan said. A boat was also seized by the Philippine National Police in Parang, Sulu. The boat was believed to have been used by Abu Sayyaf member Alhabsy Misaya, who was said to have been responsible for kidnapping Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crews in the high seas in the past months. Commenting on reports that ransom money went to the kidnappers, Arevalo said: “We have not received such information [on ransom]although we can always validate that on the ground. Maybe it is not that apparent to the public the effect, or how the intensity of the unrelenting conduct of operations really falls on the Abu Sayyaf Group.” Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, commander of the AFP Joint Task Force Sulu, claimed the Abu Sayyaf was forced to release Sekkingstad because his presence “slows them down” and releasing him would allow the kidnap group to evade soldiers. Sekkingstad was kidnapped along with Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Maritess Flor, a Filipina, in September last year in a resort at Samal Island in Davao del Norte province. Ridsdel and Hall were beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf supposedly after no ransom money was paid. Flor was released by the group in June.
Abu Sayyaf frees a Norwegian hostage for a ransom of ₱30 million (US$638,000) and releases three kidnapped Indonesians from Sabah.
The impact shattered windows, damaged cars and sent crowds running from the scene at an hour when Chelsea, always a popular destination, was filled with residents and tourists. “It was the biggest blast I ever would imagine, lights flashing, glass shattering,” said a woman who was injured in the explosion. The force of the explosion, she said, flung her into the air. “It happened so fast I was thrown up and landed down, I didn’t know where it had come from,” said the woman, who would give only her first name, Helena, as she hobbled out of Bellevue Hospital Center about 4 a.m. after she was treated for injuries to her eye and legs. “I realized there was blood streaming down my face, and I couldn’t see out of my eye.” Luke McConnell, who was visiting from Colorado, was headed toward a restaurant on West 27th Street when the blast occurred. “I felt it, like a concussive wave, heading towards me.” “Then there was a cloud of white smoke that came from the left side of 23rd Street near Sixth,” he said. “There was no fire, just smoke.” Witnesses said they could feel the explosion from several blocks away. Daniel Yount, 34, said he was standing on the roof of a building at 25th Street and the Avenue of the Americas with friends. “We felt the shock waves go through our bodies,” he said. It was a startling scene, full of dark possibilities, for a city that endured the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but has so far been spared the kind of mayhem that has terrorized city after city around the world in the 15 years since. The closest New York has come to an attack was in 2010, when the police found a crude car bomb of propane, gasoline and fireworks inside a sport utility vehicle in Times Square. Although the device had apparently started to detonate, there was no explosion. On Saturday night in Chelsea, the device found on West 27th Street also caused no harm. Images shared on social media and confirmed as authentic by a senior police official showed a silver-colored piece of cookware with wires and a cellphone attached. The official said the Police Department’s bomb squad was taking the device to a department facility in the Bronx, where robots would inspect it.[SEP]NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A loud explosion shook the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on Saturday night, prompting New York City police and fire department personnel to swarm the area, a Reuters witness said. At least three people were seen being taken away from the apparent scene of the blast in ambulances, but the severity of their injuries was not immediately clear. Police and fire representatives said they were investigating reports of an explosion. (Reporting by Simon Webb; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Mary Milliken)[SEP]NEW YORK - A blast shook 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night, possibly from an explosion in a Dumpster, according to reports by local media and eyewitnesses. Authorities said that 25 people were injured, but most are minor injuries and none life-threatening. NYPD counterterrorism units are responding to the scene. Photos posted on Twitter show a mangled dumpster, and shattered glass from windows in a building next to the Dumpster. A witness told Fox News that she had just gotten off the crosstown bus at 7th Ave, when she went into a convenience store to buy a magazine. “I came outside, and I heard, ‘Boom!’ It was so huge, and I saw a big cloud of smoke.” “People were frantic, and they were just running, running,” said said. “It sounded like fireworks, but a thousand times stronger, and it shook everything … like I was in Iraq and a bomb dropped.” The woman said that the blast did not seem to come from inside a building, but, “it just was like in the middle of the street; that’s what it seemed like to me.” She said that people who were inside buildings in the neighborhood and were running after the explosion told her that the explosion even shook the buildings. Videos posted on social media show people running in the crowded streets, and emergency vehicles rushing to the area.[SEP]Police and firefighters work near the scene of an apparent explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. More than two dozen people have sustained minor injuries in the explosion on West 23rd Street. Andres Kudacki/AP Photo NEW YORK — An explosion in a crowded Manhattan neighborhood on Saturday night left 29 people injured, and authorities said a second nearby site was also being investigated. Mayor Bill de Blasio called the blast an "intentional act," but said there was no terrorist connection. "Tonight, New York City experienced a very bad incident," de Blasio said at a news conference near the scene in Chelsea. "We have no credible and specific threat at this moment. " De Blasio said the blast was "an intentional act" and tried to calm any fears among nervous New Yorkers, saying the explosion had no terrorist connection and wasn't related to a pipe bomb explosion earlier Saturday in New Jersey at a charity run. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that a second device that officers were investigating four blocks from the scene appeared to be a pressure cooker attached to wiring and a cellphone. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation, said the device was found inside a plastic bag on West 27th Street. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. New York officials said the incident was not due to a gas leak. The blast happened on West 23rd street, in front of a residence for the blind, near a major thoroughfare with many restaurants and a Trader Joe's supermarket. Witnesses say the explosion at about 8:30 p.m. blew out the windows of businesses and scattered debris in the area. Officials said no evacuations were necessary. Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said several people were taken to hospitals with injuries. One of the injured suffered a puncture wound that was considered serious. Officials said the other injuries were minor, described as scrapes and bruises. Donald tweeted a warning to residents near the second site that officials are investigating, saying: "As a precautionary measure, we are asking residents who live on West 27th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan to stay away from windows facing 27th Street until we clear the suspicious." A number of New York City subway routes were affected by the earlier explosion. Chris Gonzalez, visiting from Dallas, was having dinner with friends at a restaurant in the area. "We felt it, we heard it, the restaurant went real quiet, the 26-year-old Gonzalez said. "It wasn't like jolting or anything, everyone just went quiet." Rudy Alcide, a bouncer at Vanity Nightclub at 21st Street and 6th Avenue, said he, at first, thought something large had fallen. "It was an extremely loud noise, everything was shaking, the windows were shaking, it was crazy," he said. "It was extremely loud, almost like thunder, but louder." The FBI and Homeland Security officials, along with the ATF arson and explosive task force are also at the scene. The White House said President Barack Obama has been apprised of the explosion in New York City and will be updated as additional information becomes available. In St. Cloud, Minnesota, police said multiple people were injured at a shopping mall Saturday evening in an attack that possibly involved both a shooting and stabbing. The suspect was believed to be dead. Hillary Clinton says she has been briefed "about the bombings in New York and New Jersey and the attack in Minnesota." She says the nation needs to support its first responders and "pray for the victims." "We have to let this investigation unfold," she said. The reports of a possible blast come hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors. No injuries were reported. Associated Press writers Jake Pearson and Maria Sanminiatelli in New York and Eric Tucker and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed.[SEP]Police officers and firefighters respond to an explosion on Sept. 17, 2016, at 23rd Street and 7th Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.[SEP]NEW YORK — An explosion in a crowded Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan on Saturday night left 29 people injured, and authorities called the blast an “intentional act,” but said there was no terrorist connection. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also said a second site was being investigated. “Tonight, New York City experienced a very bad incident,” de Blasio said at a news conference near the scene. “We have no credible and specific threat at this moment. “ De Blasio said the blast was “an intentional act” and tried to calm any fears among nervous New Yorkers, saying the explosion had no terrorist connection and wasn’t related to a pipe bomb explosion earlier Saturday in New Jersey at a charity run. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. New York officials said the incident was not due to a gas leak. The blast happened on West 23rd street, front of a residence for the blind, near a major thoroughfare with many restaurants. Witnesses say the explosion at about 8:30 p.m. blew out the windows of businesses and scattered debris in the area. Officials said no evacuations were necessary. Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said several people were taken to hospitals with injuries. One of the injured suffered a puncture wound and was considered serious. Officials said the other injuries were minor, described as scrapes and bruises. Donald tweeted a warning to residents near the second site that officials are investigating, saying: “As a precautionary measure, we are asking residents who live on West 27th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan to stay away from windows facing 27th Street until we clear the suspicious.” A number of New York City subway routes have been affected by the earlier explosion. Chris Gonzalez, visiting from Dallas, was having dinner with friends at a restaurant in the area. “We felt it, we heard it, the restaurant went real quiet, the 26-year-old Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t like jolting or anything, everyone just went quiet.” Rudy Alcide, a bouncer at Vanity Nightclub at 21st Street and 6th Avenue, said he, at first, thought something large had fallen. “It was an extremely loud noise, everything was shaking, the windows were shaking, it was crazy,” he said. “It was extremely loud, almost like thunder, but louder.” The FBI and Homeland Security officials, along with the ATF arson and explosive task force are also at the scene. The White House said President Barack Obama has been apprised of the explosion in New York City and will be updated as additional information becomes available. In St. Cloud, Minnesota, police said multiple people were injured at a shopping mall Saturday evening in an attack that possibly involved both a shooting and stabbing. The suspect was believed to be dead. Hillary Clinton says she has been briefed “about the bombings in New York and New Jersey and the attack in Minnesota.” She says the nation needs to support its first responders and “pray for the victims.” “We have to let this investigation unfold,” she said. The reports of a possible blast come hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors. No injuries were reported.[SEP]NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says explosion in Chelsea neighborhood was “an intentional act”[SEP]NEW YORK (AP) — An apparent explosion in a crowded Chelsea neighborhood of New York City on Saturday night left 26 people with minor injuries, authorities said. Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said on Twitter that the explosion happened at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday on West 23rd Street, which is a major thoroughfare with many restaurants. He says several people were taken to hospitals with injuries. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says there is no reason to think that the explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood had a terrorist connection, but he did call the blast an “intentional act.” The mayor also said there is no specific connection to a pipe bomb explosion in the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park earlier Saturday at a charity run. There were no injuries in that incident. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro says a total of 29 people were injured in the Chelsea blast. He says one person’s injuries were serious and the rest were minor. Police Commissioner James O’Neill says officers are investigating a possible second explosive device a few blocks away from the explosion at about 8:30 p.m. on West 23rd Street. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building on West 23rd Street. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. The blast happened in front of a residence for the blind. Witnesses say the explosion blew out the windows of businesses in the area. No detail about the extent of damage was immediately available. A number of New York City subway routes have been affected by the incident. Chris Gonzalez, visiting from Dallas, was having dinner with friends at a restaurant in the area. “We felt it, we heard it, the restaurant went real quiet, the 26-year-old Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t like jolting or anything, everyone just went quiet.” Witnesses say FBI and Homeland Security officials, along with the ATF arson and explosive task force are also at the scene. The blast came hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors. No injuries were reported. Check back to timesleader.com for the latest updates to this story. A police officer escorts an injured man away from the scene of an apparent explosion on West 23rd Street in New York on Sunday. A police officer escorts an injured man away from the scene of an apparent explosion on West 23rd Street in New York on Sunday. Firefighters arrive at the scene of an apparent explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Police say 26 people have sustained minor injuries in the explosion on West 23rd Street. Firefighters arrive at the scene of an apparent explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Police say 26 people have sustained minor injuries in the explosion on West 23rd Street. Police work at the scene of an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. Police work at the scene of an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that the explosion appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. Police and firefighters work near the scene of an apparent explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Police and firefighters work near the scene of an apparent explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.[SEP]Chelsea Handler wants to be more than funny[SEP]NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities are looking for a naturalized Afghanistan citizen for questioning in a weekend explosion in a Manhattan neighborhood that injured 29 people as the governor conceded Monday that investigators could no longer rule out international terrorism. The man sought for questioning was identified as 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami. Mayor Bill de Blasio said he could be armed and dangerous. “We need to get this guy in right away,” de Blasio said on CNN. “My experience is one the FBI zeroes in on someone, they will get them.” Cuomo had said Sunday that there was no evidence to suggest that the bombing was related to international terrorism, but he appeared to walk that back Monday. “Today’s information suggests it may be foreign related, but we’ll see where it goes,” he said. Authorities were still working to determine whether there is a connection between multiple explosive devices found over the weekend in two states: the Manhattan explosion, an unexploded pressure cooker device blocks away, a pipe bomb blast at a Jersey shore town and five explosive devices at a New Jersey train station. On Sunday night, FBI agents in Brooklyn stopped “a vehicle of interest” in the investigation of the Manhattan explosion, according to FBI spokeswoman Kelly Langmesser. She wouldn’t provide further details, but a government official and a law enforcement official who were briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that five people in the car were being questioned at an FBI building in Manhattan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the ongoing investigation. No one has been charged with any crime, and the investigation is continuing, Langmesser said. Cuomo, touring the site of Saturday’s blast that injured 29 people in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, said the unexploded pressure cooker device appeared “similar in design” to the bomb that exploded in Chelsea, but he didn’t provide details. On Sunday, a federal law enforcement official said the Chelsea bomb contained a residue of Tannerite, an explosive often used for target practice that can be picked up in many sporting goods stores. The discovery of Tannerite may be important as authorities probe whether the two New York City devices and the pipe bomb at the Jersey shore are connected. Cellphones were discovered at the site of both bombings, but no Tannerite residue was identified in the New Jersey bomb remnants, in which a black powder was detected, said the official, who wasn’t authorized to comment on an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The pipe bomb exploded Saturday in Seaside Park, New Jersey, before a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors. The race was canceled and no one was injured. Late Sunday, five suspicious devices were found near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage said the devices were found in a bag in a trash can by two men who reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of the package. One of the devices exploded as a bomb squad used a robot to try to disarm it. No injuries were reported. There was no immediate word on whether the devices were similar to those in nearby Seaside Park or New York City. Officials haven’t revealed any details about the makeup of the pressure cooker device, except to say it had wires and a cellphone attached to it. On Sunday night, police blew up the device, rendering it safe. A forensic examination of the device will be sent to the FBI Laboratory at Quantico, Virginia, police said. Homemade pressure cooker bombs were used in the Boston Marathon attacks in 2013 that killed three people and injured more than 260. On Sunday, a team of five FBI agents searched an Uber driver’s vehicle that had been damaged in the Manhattan blast. The driver had just picked up three passengers and was driving when the explosion occurred, shattering the car’s windows and leaving gaping holes in the rear passenger-side door. The Chelsea explosion left many rattled in a city that had marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks only a week earlier and that was schedule to hold a United Nations meeting Monday to address the refugee crisis in Syria. Witnesses described a deafening blast that shattered storefront windows and injured bystanders with shrapnel in the mostly residential neighborhood on the city’s west side. One New Yorker, Anthony Stanhope, was in his apartment when the blast went off. At first he thought it was thunder and lightning. “Then all of a sudden, car horns went off, and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this isn’t lightning. This is too loud,” Stanhope said. “This is a bomb.” Caldwell reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Karen Matthews, Maria Sanminiatelli, Michael Balsamo and Dake Kang in New York and Eric Tucker and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. Crime scene investigators work at the scene of Saturday's explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Crime scene investigators work at the scene of Saturday's explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) In this Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 frame from video provided by Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea, a door shatters after an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Investigators scrambled Sunday to find out who planted a bomb that rocked Chelsea, scouring shrapnel, forensic traces and surveillance video. (Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea via AP) In this Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 frame from video provided by Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea, a door shatters after an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Investigators scrambled Sunday to find out who planted a bomb that rocked Chelsea, scouring shrapnel, forensic traces and surveillance video. (Orangetheory Fitness Chelsea via AP) This undated photo provided by the FBI shows Ahmad Khan Rahami. The New York Police Department said it is looking for Rahami for questioning in the New York City explosion that happened Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. (FBI via AP) This undated photo provided by the FBI shows Ahmad Khan Rahami. The New York Police Department said it is looking for Rahami for questioning in the New York City explosion that happened Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. (FBI via AP)
A bombing occurs in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan injuring 29 people.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Theresa May met European Council president Donald Tusk last week in London UK Prime Minister Theresa May is likely to trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union early next year, according to a top EU official. European Council President Donald Tusk said Mrs May had told him the UK could be ready to begin talks by February. The BBC's Tom Bateman says this is the clearest sign yet of when the two-year withdrawal process may start. Mrs May's office said it would not be launched this year, but did not confirm Mr Tusk's account. Formal negotiations over the withdrawal cannot begin until the UK triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal mechanism for leaving the union. The timing of the process has so-far been clouded by uncertainty, with no clear signal from Mrs May's government on when it would begin. There is also confusion over the nature of the the UK's future relationship with the bloc, especially whether it intends to remain a member of the single market. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that the European Union was in a "critical situation" as EU leaders met Mr Tusk spoke from the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, where Europe's 27 other leaders are gathered for an informal summit without the UK. Speaking about a meeting with the British PM in London last week, Mr Tusk said: "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me. "She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker insisted that the UK could not get access to the single market without accepting the free movement of workers. Mrs May has indicated that in any negotiations, her government would insist on placing curbs on EU citizens entering the UK. 'High-wire act' Our correspondent says invoking Article 50 early next year may be ambitious, as the prime minister has made clear she she wants time to prepare the best deal for Britain. During the Bratislava summit, the 27 remaining members states unveiled a six-month "road map" of measures designed to restore public confidence in the EU. But rifts over the record influx of refugees and migrants were on display as soon as the meeting ended. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, said: "I'm not satisfied with the conclusions on growth or on immigration. "To define as a step forward today's document on migrants would require a form of fantasy, a verbal high-wire act."[SEP]PM could start formal Brexit process by February, Donald Tusk says Theresa May has declared that she wants to begin the formal process of leaving the European Union early next year, according to one of Brussels' leading figures. European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister told him during their meeting at Downing Street last week that she would be ready to trigger Article 50 to begin Brexit by February 2017. Formal negotiations between the UK and the EU cannot begin until she starts the two year process, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted will be triggered without a parliamentary vote. With Britain's withdrawal clouded in confusion and no clear signal on whether the country intends to stay in the single market or not, Europe's 27 other leaders gathered for an informal summit in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, without the Prime Minister. Speaking about his meeting with the PM, Mr Tusk told a summit press conference: "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me. "She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year." Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to block any proposals for an EU army while Britain remains a member of the union in a move likely to anger European leaders. In his state of the union address on Wednesday, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker called for EU countries "to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation", and proposed a European Defence Fund by the end of the year. But Sir Michael said the UK would veto plans for any EU army that may rival Nato. "That is not going to happen," he told The Times. "We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato. "We have always been concerned about unnecessarily duplicating what we already have in Nato." In Bratislava, Mr Juncker insisted Britain cannot get access to the European single market without accepting the free movement of workers. The conundrum has become central to the Brexit debate and has caused friction within the Government as ministers weigh up how to maintain the benefits of the trading bloc while regaining full control of the UK's borders - a goal deemed by Mrs May as essential to properly implement the referendum result. The PM slapped down Mr Davis for saying it was "very improbable" that the UK could be in the single market and end free movement, and then insisted the Government would not offer a "running commentary" on negotiations. Commenting on the issue, Mr Juncker told the press conference: "There's a clear interlink as we made clear since the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market, mainly the one of the freedom of movement of workers. "We are sticking to that position and this is not a game between prime ministers leaving and prime ministers remaining, this is about people in Europe. "It's about the rights of ordinary people and workers, of those living in Europe, and so I can't see any possibility of compromising on that very issue."[SEP]The UK is expected to launch formal talks to leave the European Union in January or February next year, one of Europe’s top leaders said after a special summit without Britain, aimed at rallying the bloc battered by Brexit and the migration crisis. The European council president, Donald Tusk, said British prime minister Theresa May had told him article 50 was “likely” to be triggered in January or February next year, dashing remain voters’ hopes of delaying the UK’s EU exit. The British government was also sent a stark warning not to expect any compromise on the EU’s cherished principle of free movement of people, if it wants access to the single market. Speaking of his meeting with May in London last week, Tusk said the prime minister had been “open and honest” about her difficulties in launching EU exit talks this year. “She declared that it was almost impossible to trigger article 50 this year but it’s quite likely that they will be ready, maybe in January, maybe in February, next year.” He said the rest of the EU was ready to start negotiations tomorrow. Standing at his side, Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European commission, vowed there would be no compromise on free movement of workers. “This is not a game,” he said. “It is about the rights of ordinary people, of workers in Europe, so I can’t see any possibility of compromising on that very issue.” Brexit was not top of the agenda at the one-day summit in Bratislava, as European leaders concentrated on charting a way forward for a bloc that has stumbled from crisis to crisis in recent years. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the EU was in “a critical situation” not only because of the Brexit referendum but also “because of other difficulties that we have”. This was only the second time in 43 years EU leaders have met without the UK and the mood was solemn. At an earlier gathering the week after Brexit, EU leaders “were still shellshocked, but now it has sunk in”, one EU source said. Nevertheless there was determination to show a united front – for a few hours at least. In a lunchtime cruise along the Danube on a German-registered luxury boat, steered by a German captain, EU leaders quickly agreed to reassert their earlier pledge not to negotiate with the UK until the government invokes article 50. Earlier in the day in the gilded halls of Bratislava castle, EU leaders discussed what had gone wrong with the EU. One EU source described the discussion as polite, with no recriminations, a sharp change in tone following a ferocious war of words between Hungary and Luxembourg over asylum seekers. But the friendly tone partly dissipated once leaders had left the castle walls. Italy’s leader, Matteo Renzi, refused to appear at a press conference with his French and German counterparts, declaring that he “was not satisfied with the conclusions on growth and immigration”. Renzi, who faces a difficult referendum vote in October, said the EU was still far from meeting its post-Brexit challenges. On migration “the usual things were said again,” he said. The same splits were on display, as Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, slammed the EU’s migration policy as “self-destructive and naive”. Unless Germany imposed a firm ceiling on the number of immigrants it is willing to take in, a “suction effect” would continue to draw masses to Europe. “Something must happen,” he said. The Visegrád group of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia reaffirmed their hostility to refugee quotas. In a surprise paper sent to EU leaders on the morning of the summit, the central European quartet also mounted a robust defence of free movement of labour, with implicit critique of “intra-EU protectionism”, following debates in France on foreign workers undercutting locals and the Brexit vote centred on immigration. These countries will be staunch defenders of the principle of free movement of people in any talks with the UK. Brexit must avoid “the risk of creating second-rate citizens in the United Kingdom,” said Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister. Brexit negotiations should “not damage our interests” and must show “it is worth being a member of the EU,” he said. In an effort to avoid confrontation, Tusk had steered the meeting to focus on areas the 27 leaders could agree on: a mix of plans on security, counter-terrorism and moves to take more control of globalisation, against a backdrop of stubbornly-high youth unemployment in southern Europe. Countries pledged to send border guards and more equipment to the secure the EU’s external border in Bulgaria, although exact numbers have yet to be finalised. Earlier this week, Juncker called for an extra 200 border guards and 50 vehicles to be stationed at the Bulgarian frontier by next month. On paper, leaders also promised immediate implementation of a joint declaration with Nato, after signing a cooperation pact in July aimed at overcoming decades of debate about securing Europe’s borders. France and Germany have swung behind plans for a common European defence headquarters and shared military hardware, and EU leaders have now promised to agree a common plan by December. Big questions remain unresolved, kicked down the road to further summits in 2017. Tusk said the Bratislava meeting had paved the way for agreeing a range of economic and security measures in March 2017, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the European project. But few observers expect serious changes, such as far-reaching reform of the eurozone, until French and German elections are completed later that year.[SEP]The UK could begin the formal process of leaving the European Union early next year, European Council President Donald Tusk said. Following the referendum result in June, no specific date has yet been given for when the government will trigger article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin the withdrawal from the bloc. But at an informal EU summit in Bratislava, Mr Tusk said Prime Minister Theresa May had told him she expects to begin the process in early 2017. He said: “Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me. “She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year, but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February, next year.” He admitted Britain’s vote to leave was a “sad moment” for Europe, but said Brexit negotiations must prioritise the interests of the countries that remain members of the EU and “not the leaving country”, Sky News reported. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker also set out his position on the forthcoming Brexit talks at the summit. He said there was no possibility of the UK gaining access to the single market without accepting the free movement of people. “There is a clear interlink as we made clear at the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market – namely the free movement of workers and we are sticking to that position," he said. “This is not a game between prime ministers leaving and prime ministers remaining, this is about people in Europe. So I cannot see any possibility of compromising on that very issue. “We want to have very good, very close relation with the UK. At the same time, it is not possible for these negotiations to damage our interests.” Speaking earlier, Mr Tusk told European leaders the UK’s referendum result was due to “failures” of British politicians. He said national leaders had a responsibility to the EU, saying: “It also means refraining from the constant accusations aimed at the Union, which sometimes are justified, but more often than not they serve as an easy excuse for one's own failures. “This was also one of the reasons behind the Brexit vote.”[SEP]Britain is expected to start formal talks to leave the European Union in January or February next year, one of Europe’s top leaders said after a special summit without Britain, aimed at rallying the bloc battered by Brexit and the migration crisis. European council president Donald Tusk said British prime minister Theresa May had told him article 50 was “likely” to be triggered in January or February next year, dashing remain voters’ hopes of delaying the UK’s EU exit. The British government was also sent a stark warning not to expect any compromise on the EU’s cherished principle of free movement of people, if it wants access to the single market. Speaking of his meeting with Ms May in London last week, Mr Tusk said the prime minister had been “open and honest” about her difficulties in launching EU exit talks this year. “She declared that it was almost impossible to trigger article 50 this year but it’s quite likely that they will be ready, maybe in January, maybe in February, next year.” He said the rest of the EU was ready to start negotiations tomorrow. Standing at his side, Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European commission, vowed there would be no compromise on free movement of workers. “This is not a game,” he said. “It is about the rights of ordinary people, of workers in Europe, so I can’t see any possibility of compromising on that very issue.” Brexit was not top of the agenda at the one-day summit in Bratislava, as European leaders concentrated on charting a way forward for a bloc that has stumbled from crisis to crisis in recent years. German chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU was in “a critical situation” not only because of the Brexit referendum but also “because of other difficulties that we have”. This was only the second time in 43 years EU leaders have met without the UK and the mood was solemn. At an earlier gathering the week after Brexit, EU leaders “were still shellshocked, but now it has sunk in”, one EU source said. Nevertheless there was determination to show a united front – for a few hours at least. In a lunchtime cruise along the Danube on a German-registered luxury boat, steered by a German captain, EU leaders quickly agreed to reassert their earlier pledge not to negotiate with the UK until the government invokes article 50. Earlier in the day in the gilded halls of Bratislava castle, EU leaders discussed what had gone wrong with the EU. One EU source described the discussion as polite, with no recriminations, a sharp change in tone following a ferocious war of words between Hungary and Luxembourg over asylum seekers. But the friendly tone partly dissipated once leaders had left the castle walls. Italy’s leader, Matteo Renzi, refused to appear at a press conference with his French and German counterparts, declaring that he “was not satisfied with the conclusions on growth and immigration”. Renzi, who faces a difficult referendum vote in October, said the EU was still far from meeting its post-Brexit challenges. On migration “the usual things were said again,” he said. The same splits were on display, as Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, slammed the EU’s migration policy as “self-destructive and naive”. Unless Germany imposed a firm ceiling on the number of immigrants it is willing to take in, a “suction effect” would continue to draw masses to Europe. “Something must happen,” he said.[SEP]Claims that Theresa May told one of Brussels' most senior figures she wants to trigger the formal process to pull Britain out of the European Union early next year are an “interpretation” of their conversation, a Downing Street source has said. The European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister had told him during talks at No 10 last week that it was “quite likely” she would be ready to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty “maybe in January, maybe in February” 2017. But a Downing Street source said Mrs May did not specifically mention January or February at the meeting and that Mr Tusk's comments were an interpretation of their conversation. The PM “recognises the need to deliver on the public verdict without delay”, the source added. With Britain's withdrawal clouded in confusion and no clear signal on whether the country intends to stay in the single market or not, Europe's 27 other leaders gathered on Friday for an informal summit in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, without the PM. Speaking about his meeting with Mrs May, Mr Tusk told a summit press conference: “Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me. “She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year.” Formal negotiations between the UK and the EU cannot begin until she starts the two-year process, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted will be triggered without a parliamentary vote. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to block any proposals for an EU army while Britain remains a member of the union, in a move likely to anger European leaders. In his state of the union address on Wednesday, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker called for EU countries “to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation”, and proposed a European Defence Fund by the end of the year. But Sir Michael said the UK would veto plans for any EU army that may rival Nato, as long as the country remained a member of the union. “That is not going to happen,” he told The Times. “We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato. “We have always been concerned about unnecessarily duplicating what we already have in Nato.” But former Liberal Democrat leader Lord (Menzies) Campbell said there was nothing the UK can do after Brexit to protect Nato from the potentially damaging effect of an EU army because it will not be able to veto its creation from outside the union. The peer, who is a member of the UK parliamentary delegation to the Nato Assembly, said: “Even as a fervent European, I regard the creation of a European army as a deeply damaging, long-term threat to Nato. “The cornerstone of European defence is Nato, of which the United States is the most senior partner contributing 75% of the budget of the alliance. “The creation of a European army will only encourage isolationists in the United States to argue that Europe should be responsible for its own defence. “At a time when few of the Nato countries can meet the minimum requirement of 2% of GDP defence expenditure, parallel headquarters and staff make no sense whatsoever. ” In Bratislava, Mr Juncker insisted Britain cannot get access to the European single market without accepting the free movement of workers. The conundrum has become central to the Brexit debate and has caused friction within the Government as ministers weigh up how to maintain the benefits of the trading bloc while regaining full control of the UK's borders - a goal deemed by Mrs May as essential to properly implement the referendum result. Mr Juncker said: “There's a clear interlink as we made clear since the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market, mainly the one of the freedom of movement of workers. “We are sticking to that position and this is not a game between prime ministers leaving and prime ministers remaining, this is about people in Europe. “It's about the rights of ordinary people and workers, of those living in Europe, and so I can't see any possibility of compromising on that very issue.”[SEP]Theresa May will start Brexit negotiations with Brussels at the start of next year, EU leaders were told today. The Prime Minister has informed EU leaders it is 'quite likely' she will be ready to begin the talks in either January or February. It would pave the way for Britain to have left by 2019. European Council president Donald Tusk revealed the timetable for Brexit at a meeting in Bratislava of the leaders of the 27 countries that will remain EU members. He said Mrs May, who was not at the summit, had informed him of her desire to start the two-year formal exit process in the new year when he met her in Downing Street a week ago. Today, at the end of the day of talks in the Slovak capital, Mr Tusk stressed that they would 'protect the interests of the 27, not the leaving country' in negotiations. 'I hope we will be effective and maybe even stronger than before the British referendum,' he added. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he could not 'see any possibility of compromising' on the issue of not allowing Britain to restrict immigration from the EU if it wants to retain membership of the single market. The meeting was supposed to be a show of unity, but it ended in farce with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi breaking ranks to admit behind closed doors that the leaders were at loggerheads over how to move forward without Britain. 'I can't give joint press conference with Merkel and Hollande as I won't follow a script to make people believe we all agree,' he said. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban rebuked the other leaders whom he said had failed to change their 'self-destructive and naive' immigration policies. He said that without Germany imposing a firm ceiling on the number of immigrants it is willing to take in, a 'suction effect' would continue to draw masses to Europe. 'Something must happen in that respect,' he said. Mr Orban led a charge of those leaders wanting Brexit to be a turning point with Brussels forced to hand back some powers to member states. Mr Tusk, who chaired the meeting, said: 'It was a sad moment for Europe when the British people decided to leave. 'Our assessment is sober but not defeatist. While the EU is not perfect it is what we have best. That is why we are determined to correct the past mistakes and move on as an EU as 27.'[SEP]An influential group of Eastern European countries will veto any Brexit deal that diminishes the rights of their citizens who live and work in Britain. The Visegrad Four (V4) - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - want a guarantee that their nationals 'are equal' before agreeing to any Brexit deal. Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said: 'Unless we feel a guarantee that these people are equal, we will veto any agreement between the EU and Britain.' Theresa May has so far refused to guarantee the status of EU nationals in the UK. But the Prime Minister insisted she wants them to stay after Brexit - if the rights of Britons overseas are respected. 'Unless we feel a guarantee that these people (living and working in Britain) are equal, we will veto any agreement between the EU and Britain. 'I think Britain knows this is an issue for us where there's no room for compromise.' EU officials on Friday also underlined that there could be no granting Britain access to the EU's single market unless London accepts the freedom of movement of workers that lies at the heart of European Union accords. Mr Fico reiterated that he was opposed to any 'cherry-picking' in negotiations, saying EU freedoms must remain. His comments come after Downing Street poured cold water on claims that Mrs May told one of Brussels' most senior figures that she wants to trigger the formal process to pull Britain out of the EU early next year. European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister told him during talks at Number 10 last week it was 'quite likely' she would be ready to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty 'maybe in January, maybe in February' 2017. But a Downing Street source said Mrs May did not specifically mention January or February at the meeting and that Mr Tusk's comments were an 'interpretation' of their conversation. The PM 'recognises the need to deliver on the public verdict without delay', the source added. Formal negotiations between the UK and the EU cannot begin until she starts the two-year process, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted will be triggered without a parliamentary vote. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to block any proposals for an EU army while Britain remains a member of the union, in a move likely to anger European leaders. In his state of the union address on Wednesday, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker called for EU countries 'to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation', and proposed a European Defence Fund by the end of the year. But Sir Michael said the UK would veto plans for any EU army that may rival Nato, as long as the country remained a member of the union. 'That is not going to happen,' he told The Times. 'We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato. 'We have always been concerned about unnecessarily duplicating what we already have in Nato.' But former Liberal Democrat leader Lord (Menzies) Campbell said there was nothing the UK can do after Brexit to protect Nato from the potentially damaging effect of an EU army because it will not be able to veto its creation from outside the union. The peer, who is a member of the UK parliamentary delegation to the Nato Assembly, said: 'Even as a fervent European, I regard the creation of a European army as a deeply damaging, long-term threat to Nato. 'The cornerstone of European defence is Nato, of which the United States is the most senior partner, contributing 75% of the budget of the alliance. 'The creation of a European army will only encourage isolationists in the United States to argue that Europe should be responsible for its own defence. 'At a time when few of the Nato countries can meet the minimum requirement of 2% of GDP defence expenditure, parallel headquarters and staff make no sense whatsoever. '[SEP]EU's Tusk: May indicated could trigger Brexit talks in Jan-Feb BRATISLAVA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has signalled that she could be ready to launch formal Brexit negotiations in January or February next year, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday, citing a recent talk with May. The prime minister herself has ruled out giving formal notification this year of Britain's intention to leave the European Union under Article 50 of the EU treaty. But beyond that, she has been vague about when her government might trigger the process, which would set in motion a two-year countdown to Britain's exit. "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me," Tusk said of his visit to London on Sept. 8. "She declared it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year." The remarks in English by the former Polish premier left open whether May had indicated she would launch the process then or would simply be in a position to do so, having secured agreement in her cabinet on what Britain wants to achieve and having set up the negotiating teams London will need to deal with Brussels. Tusk said the other 27 EU leaders, whose summit he chaired on Friday in Bratislava to plot a course ahead for the bloc after the shock of Britain's June referendum to quit were being patient for now: "Our British colleagues need more time to prepare themselves for these negotiations," he told reporters. "We are well prepared for these negotiations and we could in fact start these procedures even tomorrow," he added, saying that the EU's goal was "the closest possible future relations" with Britain while negotiating in the interests of the bloc. Senior officials in Brussels and national capitals say they are very anxious that Britain complete its divorce by mid-2019. Failure to hit that deadline would complicate elections to the European Parliament and the appointment of a new EU executive, the Commission, that year as well as hobble negotiations on a new seven-year EU budget. However, Britain is wary of triggering Article 50 because this could weaken its leverage. It would then be at the mercy of an extremely tight two-year timeline to negotiate the divorce, risking a loss of preferential access to its main export market. Although the summit was called in the wake of the June 23 vote in Britain, the forthcoming negotiations with London were "not a major topic" for the leaders in Bratislava, Tusk said. EU leaders are waiting to hear from May on what she wants and Tusk repeated the mantra that there could be "no negotiations before notification". Some governments, notably among London's traditional northern allies appear more willing to offer May some guidance on what new relations they might accept before she triggers Article 50, whereas France and others are reluctant to engage until Britain commits itself to a deadline. The government in Paris, facing elections next spring in which the anti-EU National Front is leading in opinion polls, does not want to given voters the impression that leaving the bloc might be beneficial. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the same news conference that Britain could not achieve full access to the EU market that it would ideally like if it closed off free immigration for EU citizens: "I cannot see any possibility of compromising on that very issue," he said. Summit host Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, also underlined that he and other east European leaders whose citizens make up much of the EU immigrant population in Britain would not let those people become "second class citizens". (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; @macdonaldrtr; Editing by Noah Barkin)[SEP]EU chief says start of Brexit talks "likely" early next year BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — European Union President Donald Tusk is predicting that Britain will trigger the start of its exit negotiations from the bloc early next year. Tusk said following an EU summit held without Britain that he had met recently with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who told him it was not going to happen as soon as many EU leaders had hoped after the June 23 referendum to leave the EU. Tusk said Friday that "she declared that it is almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year," referring to the rule that covers exit negotiations. "But it is quite likely that they will ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year." The 27 other EU leaders started talks on Friday on how to revamp the EU.
President of the European Council Donald Tusk states that the UK could begin its formal process of withdrawing from the European Union early next year, after a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May last week.
Only a handful of leaders have travelled to a meeting of a large Cold War-era bloc in Venezuela in an embarrassment for the crisis-hit socialist government. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has touted the 17th meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement as one that would "be remembered for centuries", as the unpopular leftist seeks to bolster his international legitimacy. Yet the turnout from the 120-nation Cold War-era bloc has paled compared with past meetings, including the previous summit in Iran in 2012, attended by some 35 heads of state. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Iran's Hassan Rouhani and Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas, as well as regional allies from Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia are among the few heads of states who have landed on the Caribbean island of Margarita. Study says Venezuelans world's most miserable The half-century old movement formed by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union has dwindled in relevance over the years. But it appears that heads of states' attendance at the summit in recession-stricken Venezuela is particularly low, possibly even in single digits, although the government did not respond to a request for a list of attendees. Venezuela's opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation. "Millions of dollars of Venezuelans' money spent for the government's ego," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles. "Many of the countries didn't come to the show!" In one glaring absence, cofounder and key member India did not send Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only the second time the country's head of state has missed a summit since its 1961 founding. Al Jazeera's John Holman, reporting from Isla Margarita, said topics discussed on Saturday included the plight of the Palestinians, Cuba's raprochement with the United States, and Maduro's political woes. Venezuela is undergoing a major economic crisis that has sparked worsening food shortages and triple-digit inflation. "President Maduro is having a bit of a hard time at the moment. The Venezuelan economy is pretty near in ruins. He's dealing with security problems. So he sees this as a splash on the international stage as the domestic stuff isn't going so well," Holman said. Venezuela: Anti-Maduro protesters flood Caracas Margarita was once known as the "Pearl of the Caribbean", a tourist haven that drew visitors from around the world, but hotel occupancy is under half what it was last year and some islanders recently humiliated Maduro by chasing him in a poor neighbourhood, banging pots and pans. The delegates who did come complained privately of a lack of organisation, delays and shabby hotels, despite Venezuela's efforts to make Margarita shine by repainting roads, stocking supermarket shelves and boosting security on the crime-ridden island. Venezuela unveiled a statue of Chavez near the summit on Friday, took over the group's presidency on Saturday, and the summit's final document was set to express solidarity with Maduro. "The Venezuelan people are full of emotion and pride," Maduro said in a speech on Saturday.[SEP]Venezuela summit draws few leaders in blow to Maduro MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Only a handful of leaders have traveled to a meeting of a large Cold War-era bloc in Venezuela this week, in an embarrassment for the crisis-hit socialist government. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has touted the 17th meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement as one that would "be remembered for centuries," as the unpopular leftist seeks to bolster his international legitimacy. Yet turnout has paled compared to past meetings, including the previous summit in Iran in 2012, attended by some 35 heads of state. The half-century old movement formed by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union has dwindled in relevance over the years. But it appears that heads of states' attendance at the summit in recession-stricken Venezuela is particularly low, perhaps even in single figures, although the government did not respond to a request for a list of attendees. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Iran's Hassan Rouhani and Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas, as well as regional allies from Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia are among the few heads of states who have landed on the Caribbean island. Venezuela's opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation. "Millions of dollars of Venezuelans' money spent for the government's ego," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles. "Many of the countries didn't come to the show!" In one glaring absence, co-founder and key member India did not send Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only the second time the country's head of state has missed a summit since its 1961 founding. Venezuela is undergoing a major economic crisis that has sparked worsening food shortages and triple-digit inflation. Margarita was once known as the 'Pearl of the Caribbean,' a tourist hub that drew visitors from around the world, but hotel occupancy is under half what it was last year and some islanders recently humiliated Maduro by chasing him in a poor neighborhood, banging pots and pans. The delegates who did come complained privately of a lack of organization, delays and shabby hotels, despite Venezuela's efforts to make Margarita shine by repainting roads, stocking supermarket shelves and boosting security on the crime-ridden island. ] Venezuela will take over the group's presidency on Saturday, with Maduro due to speak before formal adoption of the summit's final document. A draft seen by Reuters showed it would express solidarity with Maduro. "In the face of these critics who say Venezuela is isolated, has no cachet, well, here are international leaders," said Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. (Additional reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by Alexandra Ulmer and Nick Zieminski)[SEP]Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has touted the 17th meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement as one that would "be remembered for centuries," as the unpopular leftist seeks to bolster his international legitimacy. Yet the turnout from the 120-nation Cold War-era bloc has paled compared to past meetings, including the previous summit in Iran in 2012, attended by some 35 heads of state. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Iran's Hassan Rouhani and Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas, as well as regional allies from Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia are among the few heads of states who have landed on the Caribbean island of Margarita. The half-century old movement formed by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union has dwindled in relevance over the years. But it appears that heads of states' attendance at the summit in recession-stricken Venezuela is particularly low, possibly even in single digits, although the government did not respond to a request for a list of attendees. Venezuela's opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation. "Millions of dollars of Venezuelans' money spent for the government's ego," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles. "Many of the countries didn't come to the show!" In one glaring absence, co-founder and key member India did not send Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only the second time the country's head of state has missed a summit since its 1961 founding. Venezuela is undergoing a major economic crisis that has sparked worsening food shortages and triple-digit inflation. Margarita was once known as the 'Pearl of the Caribbean,' a tourist hub that drew visitors from around the world, but hotel occupancy is under half what it was last year and some islanders recently humiliated Maduro by chasing him in a poor neighborhood, banging pots and pans. The delegates who did come complained privately of a lack of organization, delays and shabby hotels, despite Venezuela's efforts to make Margarita shine by repainting roads, stocking supermarket shelves and boosting security on the crime-ridden island. [L2N1BR1XV]] Venezuela unveiled a statue of Chavez near the summit on Friday, took over the group's presidency on Saturday, and the summit's final document was set to express solidarity with Maduro. "The Venezuelan people are full of emotion and pride," Maduro said in a speech on Saturday.[SEP]Venezuela, Cuba warn of US intervention, at Non-Aligned meet Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro opened a Non-Aligned Summit Saturday, warning world leaders that his country is being lashed by a US economic war aimed at toppling him. His closest regional ally, Cuban President Raul Castro, echoed the charges despite renewed relations with the United States. “Venezuela is facing an onslaught… that is against all of Latin America and the Caribbean — that is trying to re-impose and recolonize, the politics, economy, culture and life of our countries,” Maduro — a socialist who has made the economy increasingly state-run — charged in his speech after taking over the movement’s rotating presidency from Iran. Leaders from the 120-nation group including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gathered for two days on Venezuela’s Caribbean island of Margarita. Venezuela, an OPEC member and home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, will seek backing for its campaign to slash abundant global crude production in a bid to raise prices. While sounding the alarm about a purported international campaign to topple him is not new, Maduro looks keen to recast the Non-Aligned movement — a Cold War relic that has consistently less support — as a bulwark against re-colonization, analysts say. Founded in 1961 to represent countries resentful of being squeezed in the power-struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Non-Aligned Movement has struggled in recent years to remain relevant in a post-Cold War world. The Venezuelan opposition is seeking to oust Maduro at the ballot box with a referendum. The president maintains the United States allied with conservative local interests, want to oust him. Castro, who backs Maduro’s allegations, voiced dismay at the US failure to end its embargo on Havana. He said regional allies would derail “subversive and meddling” US plans on which he did not elaborate. And Castro, Maduro, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa and Bolivian President Evo Morales all slammed the recent impeachment and removal of Brazil’s ex-president Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff, convicted in the Senate for budget irregularities, was replaced on August 31 by center-right President Michel Temer, her vice president-turned-nemesis. The oil crunch has triggered an economic crisis in Venezuela, causing food shortages, outbreaks of looting and riots. The crisis is the biggest threat yet to Maduro and the socialist “revolution” launched in 1999 by his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez. But as crude prices have plunged since mid-2014, Venezuela’s economy has tanked, and its international influence along with it. Embattled and unpopular at home, Maduro has nowhere near the international clout once enjoyed by Chavez. The opposition is pushing for a referendum on removing him from power by the end of the year. Polls indicate Maduro would lose by a hefty margin. But his opponents say electoral officials are dragging their feet to protect him. They held fresh protests Friday after the authorities delayed announcing the timeline for the next step in the process for a second time. Venezuelans spend long hours lining up outside supermarkets and pharmacies only to find bare shelves and soaring prices inside. Shortages have triggered outbreaks of looting and riots. The country is facing its third year of deep recession this year, with inflation set to top 700 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.[SEP]Maduro revels in support from Zimbabwe, Iran as critics decry failed summit MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reveled in support from leftist allies during a summit of a Cold War-era bloc that wrapped up on Sunday, but critics pilloried him for hosting unpopular leaders such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and for failing to draw many world leaders. It appears only around a dozen heads of state from the 120-nation Non-Aligned Movement made it to the meeting held on the Caribbean island of Margarita, just off Venezuela's coast, in a blow for a government keen to bolster its international legitimacy. Authorities did not supply a list of attendees. Maduro, hit by low popularity amid a deep economic crisis, hailed the meeting as a triumph. "This summit, we can say, has been a total success, a victory of Bolivarian diplomacy," Maduro told a news conference minutes after closing the six-day event, referring to Simon Bolivar, Latin American independence hero and idol of the socialist revolution in Venezuela. The movement was formed in 1961 by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union though has dwindled in relevance over the years. The most high-profile heads of states in attendance at Margarita were Mugabe, Cuba's Raul Castro, and Iran's Hassan Rouhani, who passed on the presidency of the group to Venezuela on Saturday. Venezuelan authorities promoted the hashtag #TheWorldWithVenezuela on state broadcasts in a bid to show a domestic audience that Caracas had international support, as Venezuela suffers a severe economic crisis with shortages of basic goods, many complaining of hunger and a high murder rate. The opposition decried spending state funds on a lavish summit during the crisis and many expressed outrage that Mugabe - called a dictator by rights groups - was welcomed with open arms. "This so-called summit  is a devastating failure," read a statement from Venezuela's opposition coalition. "It ratifies (Maduro's) international isolation, his diplomatic ineptitude and the world's rejection of a regime that is a global symbol of corruption and incompetence." Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, used the forum to denounce U.S.-led air strikes he said had killed 83 Syrian soldiers, saying they were aimed at sinking a fragile U.S.-Russia ceasefire plan. Others leaders lambasted imperialism and pledged their support to Maduro. Many also called for a reform of the United Nations. Delegates complained privately of a lack of organization, delays and shabby hotels, despite Venezuela's efforts to make Margarita shine by repainting roads, stocking supermarket shelves and boosting security. (Writing by Girish Gupta; Editing by Alexandra Ulmer)[SEP]Venezuela to use Non-Aligned summit to push oil consensus CARACAS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Venezuela will use this weekend's Non-Aligned Summit to meet fellow oil producers and gather support for a global deal to strengthen oil prices at a gathering in Algeria this month, Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino said. "Obviously we are going to use this meeting to build consensus," Del Pino told reporters, saying leaders from OPEC nations from the Gulf to Ecuador would be present at the 120-nation bloc's meeting on Margarita island. "The focus for the consensus is Algeria, where we hope to reach important stabilization accords to obtain a fair price for hydrocarbons that all producer countries are seeking," he said in comments at a pro-government march carried on state television. Algeria is hosting meetings of the International Energy Forum and OPEC on Sept. 26-28. Price hawk Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world, has been one of the worst-hit countries by the fall in crude prices, which has left its economy is in crisis. Del Pino said he had visited Margarita and seen that opposition hopes the Non-Aligned Movement summit would be a failure, making President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government look weak and isolated, were being dashed. "It's another failure for the opposition, who were trying to present a non-existing image of the country, aided by unpatriotic international media trying to create a view of Venezuela like they did in Libya, in Iraq," he said. "And we know what happened there." Despite the government's upbeat projection of the summit, only one head of state - Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe - had arrived by midday Friday for the leaders' meetings scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was expected to fly into Margarita, along with Latin American leftist leaders from Bolivia and Ecuador, but overall turnout could be a record low for the Cold War-era group. (Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Billl Trott)[SEP]Venezuela to use Non-Aligned summit to push oil consensus CARACAS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Venezuela will use this weekend's Non-Aligned Movement summit to meet fellow oil producers and gather support for a global deal to strengthen oil prices at a gathering in Algeria this month, Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino said on Friday. "Obviously we are going to use this meeting to build consensus," Del Pino told reporters, saying leaders from OPEC nations from the Gulf to Ecuador would be present at the 120-nation bloc's meeting on Margarita island. "The focus for the consensus is Algeria, where we hope to reach important stabilization accords to obtain a fair price for hydrocarbons that all producer countries are seeking," he said in comments at a pro-government march carried on state television. Algeria is hosting meetings of the International Energy Forum and OPEC on Sept. 26-28. Price hawk Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world, has been one of the countries worst hit by the fall in crude prices, which has left its economy in crisis. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has flown into Margarita for the meeting on Saturday on Sunday, where Latin American leftist leaders from Bolivia and Ecuador are also expected. But overall turnout could be a record low for the Cold War-era group. Before departing from Quito, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa ratified the planned oil producers' discussion, saying delegates from his country, Iran, Algeria, Nigeria and Venezuela would be talking. "The oil price keeps falling ... this hurts us all," he told reporters. "So we are going to talk in Margarita with bilateral and multilateral meetings between OPEC members and non-OPEC members who are important producers and exporters." (Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Jose Llangari in Quito; editing by Bill Trott and Mary Milliken)[SEP]MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela (AP) — Crisis-hit Venezuela’s economic and political problems are keeping world leaders away from a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement that was supposed to hit its full stride on Saturday. Only eight heads of state have confirmed their presence for the two days of meetings taking place on the Caribbean island of Margarita, including the leaders of Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe. More than 30 heads of state attended the last summit of the Cold War-era group in Iran in 2012. President Nicolas Maduro had been touting the meeting as an opportunity to solidify his international credentials. But the low turnout after months of shuttle diplomacy handing out invitations is likely to embolden Maduro’s opponents, who are pushing for a recall referendum to remove him from office before his term ends in 2019.[SEP]MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela (AP) — Crisis-hit Venezuela's economic and political problems are keeping world leaders away from a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement that was supposed to hit its full stride on Saturday. Only eight heads of state have confirmed their presence for the two days of meetings taking place on the Caribbean island of Margarita, including the leaders of Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe. More than 30 heads of state attended the last summit of the Cold War-era group in Iran in 2012. President Nicolas Maduro had been touting the meeting as an opportunity to solidify his international credentials. Youth jump on a trampoline set up on the beach at a pro-government camp in Porlamar on Margarita Island, Venezuela, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Hundreds of teenage activists are sleeping in tents and enjoying free concerts on the beach as foreign delegates arrive to attend the non-aligned summit held by a Cold War-era group of 120 nations. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) But the low turnout after months of shuttle diplomacy handing out invitations is likely to embolden Maduro's opponents, who are pushing for a recall referendum to remove him from office before his term ends in 2019. A statue of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is unveiled during the 17th Non Aligned Summit, a meeting held by a Cold War-era group of 120 nations, in Porlamar on Margarita Island, Venezuela, Friday, Sept 16, 2016. The statue is made of bronze and measures just over three meters. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) A couple sit in a tent at a camp set up by government supporters in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, Friday, Sept 16, 2016. Hundreds of activists are sleeping in tents and enjoying free concerts on the beach as foreign delegates arrive to attend the non-aligned summit held by a Cold War-era group of 120 nations. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)[SEP]VILLA ROSA, Venezuela, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Twenty minutes from the site of a global summit where Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is proudly welcoming international dignitaries, a poor district of Margarita island has become a microcosm of the tumult the socialist leader is facing at home. Convoys carrying visiting presidents like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe or Iran's Hassan Rouhani zoomed by Villa Rosa, where two weeks ago the unpopular Maduro experienced the most embarrassing episode of his three-year presidency. Hoping to walk through crowds of supporters, Maduro was instead chased by dozens of protesters banging pots and pans, blaming him for the country's major economic crisis that has people skipping meals due to food shortages and spiraling inflation. "People screamed, 'We don't want you,' 'You're the devil.' They shouted in chorus like a song!" recalled Yalitza Moya, 39, speaking outside her shop where Maduro had first gotten out of his car to walk next to a basketball court. Grainy cell phone videos from that night show crowds shouting obscenities at the 53-year-old former bus driver and union driver, banging kitchenware in a rare show of public ire against the usually closely-protected president. The images went viral just as the opposition is pushing to remove Maduro in a recall referendum. Moya and many others were excited to see their grievances in the spotlight but authorities briefly detained over 30 people after the protest, including prominent journalist Braulio Jatar, who remains in jail on charges of money laundering. Various Villa Rosa residents said they were too scared to be interviewed but anger continues to run deep here and the lavish summit down the road has further touched a nerve. Of course, Maduro is still supported among some who fondly recall his predecessor Hugo Chavez's charisma and oil-fuelled largesse. "I don't agree with aggression against the president," said ardent Maduro supporter Carolina Gomez, 58, who sells coffee on a muddy side street in Villa Rosa, which is dotted with murals of Chavez. "The summit is fantastic," she said as she sought shade from the Caribbean sun, adding she was proud the island was hosting over 100 delegations. But Villa Rosa suffers from the same problems afflicting the rest of the country: shortages of basic goods, lines at shops of hundreds or thousands of people, and violent crime. Many say Villa Rosa is symbolic of Venezuela's shift away from 'Chavismo,' as well as the government's disconnect from angry streets. "Maduro doesn't know what Villa Rosa is," added Moya, the shopkeeper. "Villa Rosa was once 'Chavista,' but not any more." (Editing by Alexandra Ulmer and Marguerita Choy)
Around ten heads of state attend the 17th Non-aligned Movement summit in Isla Margarita, Venezuela, including Evo Morales of Bolivia, Raúl Castro of Cuba, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Hassan Rouhani of Iran, Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.
“IT ain’t no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don’t break any.” That was how the Sandiganbayan concluded its decision junking the remaining corruption case against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) project involving the Chinese multinational company ZTE Corporation. The court’s fourth division quoted the 1937 American movie “Every Day’s A Holiday” in granting two demurrers to evidence in the graft and ethics cases lodged against Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos. The former leader’s lawyer Lawrence Arroyo said Arroyo was deeply grateful for the decision that was filed against her in 2011, a year into the adminisration of former President Benigno Aquino III. “[Mrs. Arroyo] has always kept her faith in the judiciary and our courts have not failed to fearlessly render justice. Our courts have not allowed themselves to be swayed by public opinion or perception,” the lawyer said in a statement. He said the courts’ decisions to grant their demurrers in the NBN-ZTE case, PCSO case, and the P5.4-million civil suit filed against her by a religious group proves the charges she faced were all weak. In its decision, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution failed to prove that Arroyo was interested in personal gain from the NBN project, which required the discretionary approval of the National Economic and Development Authority board which Mrs. Arroyo chaired when she was President. The Sandiganbayan said the cancellation of the contract on Oct. 2, 2007 proved that Arroyo was not interested in seeing the implementation of the project because she was looking forward to personal gain. Even the fact that Arroyo met with officials of ZTE Corp. in Shenzhen, China in November 2006 did not prove that she accepted favors or gifts from foreign officials.“There was no clear and indubitable proof presented by the prosecution that accused PGMA was the recipient. As a matter of fact, there was no evidence introduced on who made the payment,” the ruling read. The court said the prosecution failed to prove that the NBN-ZTE contract was “grossly and manifestly disadvantageous” to the government. The Sandiganbayan likewise took the prosecution to task for failing to establish the supposed conspiracy between the three officials and then-transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza for the contract to be signed. “This failure to specify the circumstances establishing conspiracy among the four accused is violative of their right to be informed of the accusations hurled against them,” the court said. With the project cancelled during the Arroyo administration, the Sandiganbayan said there was no longer any contract to refer to when the Ombudsman filed the cases against the former President in 2011. Arroyo was charged with one count each of violation of Section 3 (g) and 3 (i) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 7 (d) of RA 6713 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees in connection with the NBN deal, which was allegedly overpriced by more than 50 percent of its actual cost of $130 million. The dismissal of the graft case against Mrs. Arroyo came barely two months after the Supreme Court junked the plunder case filed against her in connection with the alleged misuse of the P366-million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.[SEP]The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division dismissed what is left of the graft charges against former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in connection with the anomalous National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with ZTE. The decision made by the anti-graft court to grant Arroyo demurrer to evidence officially dismissed all of the cases she is facing for her nine-year term as president. Arroyo, together with her husband former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and former Commission on Election chair Benjamin Abalos, was charged with two counts of graft for allowing the NBN-ZTE deal to push through despite not going through the proper process. Arroyo and company were slapped with charges of violation of Section 3(g) of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for reportedly taking advantage of their positions and fast-tracking the deal to the prejudice of the government.[SEP]With the Sandiganbayan decision to junk the graft case against her, former president and now House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may take a longer holiday abroad for her medical treatment. The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division issued the ruling a few days after it granted Arroyo and husband, former Mike Arroyo, their respective motions to travel to Germany, France and Hong Kong starting Sunday. However, sources from the Arroyo camp said that the couple is not expected to go beyond the October 3 limit for their return to the Philippines. The former chief executive will go to Munich, Germany and Paris, France to consult medical experts on a serious spine condition. She has also been allowed to go on vacation to Hong kong not earlier than October 29. Close family members will accompany her. Meanwhile, lawyer Laurence Arroyo lauded the Sandiganbayan for granting the demurrers to the evidence on graft charges filed by the Aquino administration in connection with the ZTE broadband case. “It’s a well reasoned decision. I encourage the public to read it,” Arroyo said.[SEP]The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has dismissed the graft complaint filed against former president and now Rep. Gloria. Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga in connection with the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal. The court granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. in the case where they were accused of violating Section 3(g) of the anti-graft law. The court also granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence in case nos. 0468 to 0469 where she was accused of violating Section 3(i) of the anti-graft law and Section 7(d) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, respectively. A demurrer to evidence is filed by an accused after the prosecution completes its presentation of evidence on the ground that the evidence presented are insufficient to convict the accused. In a statement issued on Friday, defense lawyer Laurence Arroyo thanked the court for vindicating Arroyo. “We are thankful to the Sandiganbayan for granting our demurrers in the three cases. It’s a well-reasoned decision. I encourage the public to read it. Former President Arroyo has been vindicated anew. She has always kept her faith in the judiciary and our courts have not failed to fearlessly render justice. Our courts have not allowed themselves to be swayed by public opinion or perception. They are bound by the evidence and the evidence alone,” the lawyer said. Arroyo’s camp had argued that the NBN contract dated April 21, 2007 was inadmissible because it was not authenticated and the prosecution did not present the original of the contract, among others. The defense also pointed out that the deal never became effective because Arroyo canceled it on October 2, 2007. “Even assuming arguendo [for the sake of argument]that the NBN contract is admissible, and assuming further that it became effective and was never cancelled, the prosecution failed to prove that it is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the Government,” it said. Arroyo’s lawyers said the prosecution failed to prove that the deal was overpriced at $329 million from $130 million which was supposedly the actual cost of Chinese firm ZTE’s proposal for the national broadband project. The prosecution likewise failed to prove that the NBN project covered only 30 percent of the country compared with the proposal of Amsterdam Holdings, Inc. (AHI) that would cover 80 percent at less cost, Arroyo’s lawyers argued. “It is the theory of the prosecution that the NBN contract is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the Government because AHI’s proposal is supposedly superior to it. Yet, the prosecution failed to present AHI’s written proposal,” they said. The defense added that AHI “was not qualified to undertake the NBN project” and that the deal was “in fact, advantageous to the Government.” The prosecution, it added, failed to prove that the former President was interested, for personal gain, in the approval of the project which required the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) where she served as Chairperson of the Board. The prosecution also failed to prove that Arroyo knew of Abalos’ alleged attempt to bribe former NEDA Director General Romulo Neri with P200 million for the immediate approval of the proposal and that the deal was approved with alleged haste because it “went through several layers of review,” the defense counsels argued.
The Sandiganbayan court clears former Philippines president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the national broadband corruption scandal.
Severely wounded, a Calgary police officer made a last-ditch attempt to stop an allegedly armed and violent suspect Saturday afternoon — dropping him with a bullet. It was one of two unrelated incidents in the space of about an hour Saturday where a cop made the choice to open fire. Deputy Chief Trevor Daroux said after hitting the suspect with a taser failed and the suspect had struck the officer with a large bladed weapon, the lone officer shot the suspect inside a department store at crowded Marlborough Mall in the city’s northeast. The incident started moments earlier, around 2 p.m., at a nearby LRT platform, where police were called for reports of a man with a weapon fighting with several other people. Witness Kayla Perrin told Postmedia what she saw of that part of the incident. “I was coming off the 45 (bus route), and when I went up the stairs I saw a little altercation going on,” she said. “Then, I turned around they looked like they were just fighting and arguing. He pulled out a knife and started chasing somebody.” “It was a white guy, he was wearing a Blue Jays shirt and a red hat,” she added. “It kind of looked like a machete,” she said of the weapon. The man had fled by the time officers arrived but was soon found behind a dumpster by a patrolling officer who chased him into the mall, where gunfire would soon erupt. Daroux said the officer, who’s in stable condition in hospital, was “severely wounded” in the altercation. “This officer showed extreme courage and restraint and we’re very fortunate that it isn’t more serious than it is,” Daroux said. Daroux also said the suspect was critically injured by the bullet that struck him but has since been upgraded to stable. The suspect is known to police. About an hour earlier, around 1 p.m., another officer opened fire during an incident at the BlackFoot Truck Stop in the city’s southeast although in that case nobody was hit. The incident started with a traffic stop gone sideways, Daroux said — it’s alleged the officers who pulled the vehicle over spotted a rifle on the seat beside the driver and the driver threw the vehicle into gear and tried to flee. Daroux said at that point an officer felt the danger was sufficient to open fire, and after that the vehicle drove into a gas meter, causing a gas leak, and then struck a power pole before coming to a stop. The male driver who fled was arrested after a foot chase, as was a woman also inside the vehicle. Again, Daroux praised his officer. “We train for it, we hope that it doesn’t occur but it can happen,” he said. “I can’t speak enough about the courageous efforts of our officers and the work that they did. Our officers did an amazing job and I stand behind them, as does the entire service.” The officer in the Marlborough Mall incident has been with the CPS about two years. The officer who opened fire in the Blackfoot Truck Stop incident has roughly 20 years with the CPS. Both incidents will be investigated by the provincial police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.[SEP]A member of the Calgary Police Service remained in hospital Sunday in serious but stable condition after he was severely injured in a machete attack at Marlborough Mall Saturday afternoon. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has since taken over the investigation into the officer’s role in the incident, which unfolded early Saturday afternoon. The incident started at around 2:10 p.m. MT when police were called to a complaint of a man causing a disturbance near the Marlborough LRT Station. The suspect, a 20-year-old man, was found hiding behind a dumpster. When he was approached by police, the suspect ran into the Marlborough Mall Sears store. “I was coming off the bus to go on the train and I saw an altercation and all of a sudden a guy was chasing some people with a knife and he ran into the mall and a bunch of cops showed up,” Kayla Perrin, who witnessed part of the ordeal, said Saturday. Officers followed the suspect into the mall where officers said the man pulled out a machete. Susan D. Hughson, the executive director of ASIRT, said the police officer used his Taser on the suspect but “it appeared to have no observable effect on the man.” When the officer pulled out his gun, the suspect struck him with a machete, Hughson said Sunday. The suspect was then shot by the officer. He was taken to hospital and underwent emergency surgery. He remained in hospital Sunday in serious but stable condition. The officer was taken to hospital with what Hughson called “significant and severe” injuries. READ MORE: Officer ‘severely injured’ after possible machete incident at northeast Calgary mall Saturday: Police Hughson said ASIRT has good surveillance video of the events that unfolded inside the Sears store. “Some witnesses have referenced a machete earlier,” she said. “When he’s in the store, however, you can see him pull a machete from a sheath. That’s part of the unfolding events in the Sears store. It wasn’t visible, obviously visible, when he entered the store. “It’s a very good thing that no one died in that incident,” she said Sunday. The machete was recovered by police on scene. Hughson said it was recently purchased. The blade of the weapon was 48 centimetres long, she said, adding the entire machete measured about 66 centimetres. The actions of the police officer are now under investigation by members of ASIRT, which is called in any time a person is seriously injured or killed during an incident involving police. The Calgary Police Service remains in charge of the investigation regarding the 20-year-old suspect. Watch below: Global News coverage of the machete attack at Marlborough Mall Saturday, Sept. 17[SEP]CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — A Calgary police officer was severely injured after being stabbed following a chase into a shopping mall. Acting Chief Trevor Daroux said Saturday that an officer responded to a fight on a transit LRT line and then later chased a suspect into the mall. Daroux says the officer used a Taser on the suspect who pulled out a knife. The officer then shot the suspect. He says both the officer and the suspect are hospitalized in stable condition.[SEP]At the core of its investigation, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will determine what motivated a young man to wound a police officer with a machete during a brazen attack at Marlborough Mall Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, ASIRT, which has launched two separate investigations, provided an update on two unrelated officer-involved shooting’s that occurred in Calgary on Saturday afternoon. “It’s a very good thing that no one died in that incident,” said Susan Hughson, executive director of ASIRT. Just after 2 p.m. Saturday, a Calgary police officer shot a 20-year-old, machete-wielding assailant at the Sears in Marlborough Mall, after the perpetrator slashed the officer, who endured severe and significant injury. The machete, 48 centimetres long, was purchased recently, Hughson said. Earlier that day, around 1 p.m. at Blackfoot Truck Stop at 1840 Ave SE, another Calgary police officer shot at a vehicle, after the driver drove forward in the direction of the policeman. The driver had what appeared to be a rifle in the passenger seat and wasn’t obeying the officer’s commands to not start the vehicle. A 15-year-old girl was also in the car, and was apprehended without any charges. The machete-wielding man, 20, received emergency surgery at Foothills Medical Centre on Saturday and is in serious but stable condition. The officer, Hughson said, is in serious but stable condition. ASIRT is asking the public to come forward if they have any information regarding the two incidents.[SEP]A Calgary police officer and another civilian have been taken to hospital after a serious incident occurred at Marlborough Mall Saturday afternoon. Around 2:15 p.m., EMS said first responders were called to treat two patients. One of the patients was a Calgary police officer, EMS said, adding the officer was taken to the Foothills Medical Centre in stable, non-life threatening condition with soft tissue injuries. EMS said the other individual was taken to the Foothills in critical, life-threatening condition.[SEP]A police officer was severely injured after a struggle with a man at a Calgary shopping mall on Saturday and used his service firearm to defend himself. Calgary police say a suspect attacked the officer with a “large bladed weapon” after police received reports of a fight at a nearby light rapid transit station. “Injuries with respect to edged weapons, it’s inches where it can be fatal and this officer showed extreme courage and restraint,” acting chief Trevor Daroux told a news conference late Saturday. A suspect fled before police arrived but an officer spotted the man hiding behind a dumpster. The suspect initially ran into the Marlborough shopping mall in the city’s northeast, but turned to confront the officer with the weapon. The officer first used his Taser, but it was ineffective so he discharged his service firearm, police said. A police news release was unclear as to whether the suspect was wounded by a bullet only saying he was taken to hospital and is in stable condition. The officer suffered severe injuries but is in stable condition, police said. Earlier Saturday Calgary EMS spokesman Nate Pike described the wounds as soft-tissue injuries and said they were not life threatening. Daroux said the suspect is known to police. Jason Qian, who works in a store at the mall, said the incident happened at a Sears outlet. He said normally the most trouble that happens at the mall is shoplifting and a violent incident was totally unexpected. “It’s a total surprise,” he said. “There were kids playing around, like 50 yards away.” Eli Kortia came after the incident to do some shopping at Sears and found it blocked off by police. “It came as a surprise, I’ve not seen this at Sears ever before.” Later Saturday afternoon, five police vehicles remained outside Sears. The store was closed off, but shopping continued in the rest of the mall. A children’s play area remained busy not far from the Sears entrance. A handful of officers were milling about the entrance to Sears into Saturday evening. Other officers were apparently gathering evidence and taking photos outside in the parking lot. The province’s police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, has been called in to review the incident.[SEP]The risk to the public was tremendous, Calgary’s police union boss said of a man allegedly armed with a 20-inch machete in the middle of a crowded department store Saturday. Howard Burns said the officer who drew the line between himself and the public as he was being slashed, gunning the suspect down before he could hurt anybody else, was the right thing to do. “He wasn’t acting in a rational manner and he was armed with that,” Burns said. “He was a tremendous danger to the public. “Our officer obviously did the right thing because if somebody like that goes unchecked somebody else is probably going to be killed. “That’s why the police are out there — to protect the public from situations just like that.” Sunday the officer was doing well following surgery — the relatively junior member of the police force took blows from the blade to the shoulder and arm. The suspect is stable following surgery as well, though he was in critical condition in the immediate aftermath of being shot. Most of the battle between the Calgary cop and the 20-year-old suspect at the Marlborough Mall Sears store was captured by video surveillance cameras. Alberta Serious Incident Response Team executive director Susan Hughson said the amount of video her people have is considerable, and of good quality. Hughson said Sunday the lone officer chased the suspect through the store, hitting him with a Taser to no avail before it came down to a pistol versus the suspect’s machete. There’s been no word yet on potential charges against the suspect. Hughson has Edmonton investigators in Calgary helping out the local ASIRT team as the province’s police watchdog has a look at the Marlborough Mall incident as well as another unrelated incident occurred just an hour earlier. In that incident, Hughson said, an officer opened fire as a truck was driving toward him in the Blackfoot Truck Stop parking lot. Before that the officer had approached a suspicious vehicle, Hughson said, and spotted a rifle in the front with the 23-year-old driver. It’s then alleged the driver threw the truck in reverse and slammed into another vehicle before taking a run at the officer. Unharmed by the gunfire, the driver struck metal posts and a gas metre, triggering a gas leak, Hughson said, and then got out and tried to flee on foot before being hit with a Taser and taken into custody — he’ll face charges and was also wanted on an outstanding warrant. Police pulled a 15-year-old girl from the truck as well. “She had very little involvement in the incident,” Hughson said, adding it’s not clear what her relationship with the suspect is. Hughson said it’s difficult to say just how long the investigations will take. “How the officers conducted themselves is the very subject of our investigation — our job is to determine, through the evidence, whether the officers’ conduct was reasonable and justified, or whether there was an unreasonable level of force used,” she said. “And it’s equally as important to find that the force used was reasonable as it is to hold an officer accountable when the force used is not.”[SEP]Calgary EMS spokesman Nate Pike says first responders were called to the Marlborough Mall in the city's northeast. Pike says a Calgary police officer was taken to hospital in what is described as stable, non life threatening condition with soft-tissue injuries. He says a second patient was also taken to hospital in critical, life-threatening condition. Jason Qian, who works in a store at the mall, said the incident happened at a Sears outlet. He said normally the most trouble that happens at the mall is shoplifting and a violent incident was totally unexpected. "It's a total surprise," he said. "There were kids playing around, like 50 yards away." Police could not immediately be reached for comment. Pike said he doesn't believe the officer's injuries were the result of a firearm, but he said he didn't know what caused the injuries for the other patient. Later Saturday afternoon, five police vehicles remained outside Sears. The store was closed off, but shopping continued in the rest of the mall. A children's play area remained busy not far from the Sears entrance.[SEP]A witness told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that she saw a confrontation involving three men and a woman unfold outside at the Marlborough Mall. One of the men was brandishing a large knife, chasing the others, but he ran into the shopping center when police arrived. Shoppers later told the CBC that they saw paramedics taking a man out of the complex on a stretcher. Nate Pike, a spokesman for Calgary EMS, told reporters that the officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries while the second individual was in critical condition. Pike declined to comment on the nature of the wounds or provide any further information about the incident. Representatives of the Calgary Police Service could not be reached immediately for comment. Pike, seen on a video posted on media websites, spoke from the parking lot of the mall, which houses more than 100 stores. Photographs posted on the internet showed multiple squad cars and mounted officers gathered outside the entrance to a Sears store, one of the shopping center's anchor tenants. A Calgary EMS duty officer later declined further comment, referring to all inquiries to police.[SEP]A Calgary Police Service member and one other person were taken to Foothills hospital after shots were fired at Marlborough Mall Saturday. Details remain scarce, but officials on scene were able to confirm that shots were fired, and subsequently, that two people were taken to hospital. An unidentified person in serious, potentially life-threatening condition, while one cop was sent to hospital in stable condition. Witness Kayla Perrin told Postmedia the incident began near the adjacent C-Train station. "I was coming off the 45 (bus route), and went I went up the stairs I saw a little altercation going on," she said. "Then, I turned around they looked like they were just fighting and arguing. He pulled out a knife and started chasing somebody and then ran into the mall." Perrin said she caught a glimpse of the suspect. "It was a white guy, he was wearing a Blue Jays shirt and a red hat," she added. More to come...
An unidentified suspect chases people with a machete outside the Malborough CTrain station in Calgary, Alberta and injures 2 inside the nearby Marlborough Mall, including a police officer. The injured officer shoots the suspect who remains in critical condition.
Image copyright AFP Image caption Belgium is the only country that permits euthanasia without age restrictions A terminally ill 17-year-old has become the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium since age restrictions on euthanasia requests were removed two years ago, officials say. The head of the federal euthanasia commission said the teenager was "suffering unbearable physical pain". Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age to choose euthanasia. They must have rational decision-making capacity and be in the final stages of a terminal illness. The parents of those under 18 must also give their consent. Euthanasia commission head Wim Distelmans said the teenager was "nearly 18". He said doctors used "palliative sedation", which involves putting patients into an induced coma, as part of the process, Assisted dying around the world Belgian Paralympian 'not ready' for euthanasia "Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia] but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death," he told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper. Mr Distelmans told Reuters news agency the case had been reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. The case involved a Dutch-speaking patient, reports public broadcaster RTBF. The Netherlands also allows euthanasia for minors, but they must be aged over 12 years old. Belgium lifted the age restrictions in 2014. The law passed by parliament said the child would have to be terminally ill, face "unbearable physical suffering" and make repeated requests to die before euthanasia is considered. Image copyright AFP Image caption Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort, who suffers from an incurable degenerative muscle disease, says she will choose euthanasia, but not yet. Many people, including church leaders and some paediatricians, questioned whether children would be able to make such a difficult choice. Senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht said he was proud the legislation had passed. He said having the possibility to ask about euthanasia "makes a big difference to many people". Where is assisted dying permitted? The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg permit euthanasia and assisted suicide Switzerland permits assisted suicide if the person assisting acts unselfishly Colombia permits euthanasia California last year joined the US states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana in permitting assisted dying Canada passed laws allowing doctor-assisted dying in June of this year How old must the patient be? Only the Netherlands and Belgium permit euthanasia for patients under the age of 18. In the Netherlands, a competent patient between the ages of 16 and 18 may request euthanasia or assisted suicide. The parent or guardian does not have a veto, but must be consulted. Competent patients aged between 12 and 16 may also qualify, but only if their parent or guardian consents. In Belgium, a competent patient under the age of 18 may request euthanasia with parental consent. Additional scrutiny of the child's competence is required, and suffering based on a psychiatric disorder is excluded. How many people take this option? The rate of euthanasia in the Netherlands has remained fairly stable at 2.8% of all deaths (in 2010), according to Penney Lewis, Professor of Law at King's College London. The most recent survey of doctors in the UK was in 2007-08. The rate of euthanasia was reported to be 0.21% of all deaths, and a similar rate has been reported in France (in 2009), even though euthanasia remains illegal in both countries. In contrast, research carried out in Flanders, Belgium found the rate prior to legalisation was unclear, with separate surveys reporting rates of 0.3% of all deaths in the region (in 2001-02) and 1.1% (in 1998). The rate has risen steadily since legalisation in 2002 to 4.6% of all deaths in the most recent survey in 2013. What do the different terms mean? Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK[SEP]Terminally-ill minor in Belgium helped to die for first time PARIS (AP) — A terminally-ill minor has become the first juvenile who has been helped to die in Belgium since it removed age restrictions on euthanasia two years ago. Senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht confirmed Saturday that the minor who died was from Belgium's Flemish region and was in the "final stages" of an illness. Du Gucht, who wrote the country's euthanasia law, wouldn't reveal any details about the patient to protect the grieving family's privacy. He said it's "terrible when a youngster suffers" and "it's important that society doesn't neglect people in such pain." De Gucht said Belgium is the only country that allows minors of any age assistance in dying.[SEP]Belgium reports first case of euthanasia for a minor BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A minor has been euthanised in Belgium in what is the first application of rules adopted by the country in 2014 allowing doctor-assisted death for children of all ages, the head of the national committee for euthanasia said on Saturday. Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium's Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, said in an emailed statement that the first case was reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. The underage person was reported as being critically ill but no other information was given. Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002, and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for minors in a hopeless medical situation. It is the only country in the world allowing euthanasia on minors of all ages. In the neighbouring Netherlands the practice is possible for children aged at least 12. Between 2003 and 2013, the number of patients being euthanised in Belgium rose nearly eight-fold to a total number of 8,752 cases, according to records of the national euthanasia control committee. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)[SEP]A terminally ill child has become the first minor to be helped to die since Belgium became the first country to allow voluntary euthanasia for children in 2014. No details were given by the head of Belgium’s federal euthanasia commission other than it was an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness. Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium’s federal control and evaluation committee on euthanasia, said that the case was reported by a local doctor last week. “Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia], but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death,” Distelmans told a Belgium newspaper. Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002 and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for terminally ill minors. Since that change, Belgium has been the only country in the world that allows children of any age to choose to end their suffering, as long as they are able to make rational decisions and are in the final stages of an incurable disease. The Belgian amendment, which was passed after much debate – notably over the meaning of a required “capacity of discernment” – offers the possibility of euthanasia to children “in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term”. Any request for euthanasia must be made by the minor, be studied by a team of doctors and an independent psychiatrist or psychologist, and have parental consent. In the neighbouring Netherlands the practice is possible for children aged at least 12. Between 2003 and 2013, the number of patients being euthanised in Belgium rose nearly eight-fold to 8,752 cases, according to records of the national euthanasia control committee.[SEP]A minor with a terminal disease has become the first patient to undergo euthanasia in Belgium since age limits on the procedure were lifted two years ago, according to authorities. The head of the country’s federal euthanasia commission confirmed the incidents but did not disclose details, reports the BBC. Belgium is the only country in the world that allows minors, not matter what age, to choose if they want to have euthanasia. The conditions are that the minor must have the capacity to make rational decisions and must be in the last stage of a terminal condition. Parents of patients under 18 who choose euthanasia must also give their consent for it to push through. Wim Distelmans of the federal euthanasia committee said, He told Reuters that a local doctor made the report to the agency last week. The patient’s age was not been made public. The Netherlands likewise lets euthanasia proceed for minors, but the age limit is 12. Belgium, which previously had similar restrictions, erased them in 2014. The law, passed by parliament, sets the parameters for euthanasia in minors as: must be terminally ill, must be facing “unbearable physical suffering” and must have made repeated requests for euthanasia. Opponents of the measure, including church leaders and some doctors, have questioned on whether children and adolescents were capable of making such a complex decision. Belgium and The Netherlands are the only two countries where euthanasia is permitted for patients under 18 years old. Luxembourg and Colombia are the only other countries that allow euthanasia, but only for adults. Elsewhere, Switzerland allows assisted suicide if the motive is unselfish, and California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont permit assisted dying. In Canada, doctor-assisted dying was passed only this year. Euthanasia is when an intervention is done to end a life, in order to ease suffering, mostly in the form of a lethal injection given by a doctor. Assisted suicide is when a person is intentionally given the means to end their life, usually through prescribed medications, and assisted dying is used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide or those with terminal illnesses.[SEP]It is the only country that allows children of any age to undergo euthanasia, as long as they are able to make rational decisions and are in the last stages of an incurable disease A terminally ill child has become the first minor to be euthanised in Belgium since age restrictions on such mercy killings in the country were lifted in 2014, a newspaper reported on Saturday. The head of the federal euthanasia commission gave no details of the minor beyond saying it was an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness, the Het Nieuwsblad reported. “Fortunately there are very few children who are considered [for euthanasia] but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death,” Wim Distelmans told the newspaper. Since its euthanasia legislation was amended in 2014, Belgium has been the only country in the world that allows children of any age, as long as they are able to make rational decisions and are in the last stages of an incurable disease, to choose to end their suffering. The Netherlands also allows mercy killings for children, but only for those aged over 12. The Belgian amendment, which was passed after heated debate — notably over the meaning of a required “capacity of discernment” — offers the possibility of euthanasia to children “in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term“. Any request for euthanasia must be made by the minor, be studied by a team of doctors and an independent psychiatrist or psychologist and have parental consent.[SEP]A 17-year-old has been euthanised in Belgium in what is the first application of rules adopted by the country in 2014 allowing doctor-assisted death for minors of all ages, the head of the national committee for euthanasia said on Saturday. Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium’s Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, said in an emailed statement that the first case was reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. He told Reuters the minor was 17, but gave no other details. Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002, and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for minors in a hopeless medical situation and with their explicit consent. It is the only country in the world allowing euthanasia on minors of all ages. In the neighboring Netherlands the practice is legal for children aged at least 12. The Belgian law allows euthanasia for minors under strict conditions. Minors have to be conscious and able to make rationale decisions when they request assisted death. Psychologists or psychiatrists must be consulted and the authorisation of the parents is required. To undergo euthanasia, the minor must also be in a “terminal medical situation with constant and unbearable physical pain which cannot be assuaged and that will cause death in the short term,” the law says. Between 2003 and 2013, the number of patients being euthanized in Belgium rose nearly eight-fold to a total number of 8,752 cases, according to records of the national euthanasia control committee.[SEP]17-year-old is first minor to be granted euthanasia in Belgium BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A 17-year-old has committed doctor-assisted suicide in Belgium, the first minor to do so under rules adopted in 2014 allowing euthanasia for people of all ages, the head of the national committee for euthanasia said on Saturday. Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium's Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, told Reuters that the minor was 17 and that a local doctor had reported the case to his committee last week, but he gave no other details. Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002, and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for minors in a hopeless medical situation and with their explicit consent. It is the only country in the world that allows euthanasia for minors of all ages. In the neighbouring Netherlands the practice is legal for children aged 12 or over. Distelmans said in an emailed statement that the Belgian law defines euthanasia very strictly. Minors must be conscious and able to make rational decisions when they request assisted death. Psychologists or psychiatrists must be consulted and the parents must give their permission. To undergo euthanasia, the minor must also be in a "terminal medical situation with constant and unbearable physical pain which cannot be assuaged and that will cause death in the short term", the law says. In the ten years to 2013, the number of euthanasia cases in Belgium rose from about 1,000 to 8,752, according to official records. Euthanasia laws vary by country. Laws in Belgium, the Netherlands, Colombia and Luxemburg allow mercy deaths for adults, which usually means a doctor administering lethal doses of barbiturates. In Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Canada, doctor-assisted suicide, where people take the final action themselves, is legal. (Editing by Louise Ireland)[SEP]A terminally ill minor has become the first minor to be euthanised in Belgium since age restrictions on such mercy killings in the country were lifted in 2014, a newspaper reported Saturday. The head of the federal euthanasia commission gave no details of the minor beyond saying it was an exceptional case of a child with a terminal illness, the Het Nieuwsblad reported. VRT public television said the incident involved an adolescent who was about to turn 18. “Fortunately, there are very few children who are considered (for euthanasia) but that does not mean we should refuse them the right to a dignified death,” Wim Distelmans told the newspaper. Since 2014, when its euthanasia legislation was amended, Belgium has been the only country in the world that allows terminally-ill children of any age to choose to end their suffering — as long as they are conscious and capable of making rational decisions. The Netherlands also allows mercy killings for children, but only for those aged over 12. The Belgian amendment, which was passed after heated debate -notably over the meaning of a “capacity of discernment” -offers the possibility of euthanasia to children “in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term”. Any request for euthanasia must be made by the minor, be studied by a team of doctors and an independent psychiatrist or psychologist, and have parental consent. Jacqueline Herremans, head of the Belgian Association for the Right to Die with Dignity and a member of Belgium’s federal euthanasia commission, confirmed to RTBF television that such a statement had been made. “It was a declaration and not a request, and the intervention was carried out,” she told the Belgian press.[SEP]A teenager has ended their life through voluntary euthanasia in Belgium, in the first European case of doctor-assisted suicide involving a child. The unnamed 17-year-old is the first minor to be allowed to die under new ruled adopted in 2014, allowing voluntary euthanasia for people of all ages. Wim Distelmans, who chairs Belgium’s Federal Control and Evaluation Committee on Euthanasia, said in an emailed statement that the first case was reported to his committee by a local doctor last week. The underage person was reported as being critically ill but no other information was given. Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002, and two years ago amended the rules to permit doctor-assisted death for minors in a hopeless medical situation. It is the only country in the world allowing euthanasia on minors of all ages. In the neighbouring Netherlands the practice is possible for children aged at least 12. Between 2003 and 2013, the number of patients being euthanised in Belgium rose nearly eight-fold to a total number of 8,752 cases, according to records of the national euthanasia control committee. In the UK, euthanasia is illegal under English law and is regarded as either manslaughter or murder, with a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment.
A local doctor in Belgium grants euthanasia to a terminally-ill minor, marking the first case of such procedure performed since the 2014 removal of age restrictions.
RIO DE JANEIRO — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. "This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran," IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. "The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games," Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men's sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday's closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. "This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement." Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his teammates and all the people of Iran." A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn't medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]An Iranian cyclist has died after a crash in a men's road race at the Rio Paralympics. Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, was competing in the C4-5 event for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. The cyclist was descending a steep hill on a mountainous stretch of the course when he crashed at around 10:40am local time, according to the International Paralympics Committee. Mr Golbarnezhad received emergency treatment on the course and suffered cardiac arrest while he was being transported to a Rio hospital, where he died. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics and officials said the cause of the crash, which remains unclear, was being investigated. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games.” The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the athletes' village and Mr Golbarnezhad's family, who are in Iran, were informed this afternoon, according to the IPC. A moment of silence will be held for the cyclist during Sunday night's closing ceremony. According to a Paralympic biography, Mr Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran's sixth most populous city. This was his second race in Rio, where he was the only cyclist on the Iranian team. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. He also competed in the 2012 London Paralympics, but didn't win a medal. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement," Rio 2016 Organising Committee President Carlos Nuzman told Associated Press. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran.” Saturday's race was won by Daniel Abraham of Holland, with Brazil's Lauro Chaman second and Andrea Tarlao of Italy third. The road races began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit incorporated in the Rio Olympics cycling road races.[SEP]An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]The cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad has died following a crash in the men’s C4/C5 road race at the Rio Paralympics, Iran’s national Paralympic committee has announced. Golbarnezhad, from Shiraz, was treated at the scene of the accident before being taken to a local hospital. Iran’s NPC later announced he had died. He was 48. The road races began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit incorporated in the Rio Olympics road races. The Vista Chinesa circuit – which included a treacherous descent where Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands crashed into the curb, sustaining heavy concussion during the Olympics in August – was not part of the Paralympic course. Golbarnezhad was 14th in the time-trial on Wednesday and also competed at the London 2012 Paralympics. He was Iran’s sole cyclist at the Rio Games. Iran’s NPC said in a statement: “Regretfully, IR IRAN NPC announces that Mr Bahman Golbarnezhad, passed away because of his accident during the competition.”[SEP]Rio de Janeiro (AP) — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]Rio de Janeiro (AP) — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]Bahman Golbarnezhad was competing at his second Paralympics An Iranian Para-cyclist has died after a crash during the men's C4-5 road race at the Rio Paralympics. The International Paralympic Committee said Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, suffered cardiac arrest after the incident on a "mountainous stretch" of circuit. "The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival," a statement added. Golbarnezhad also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012. An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched. "We're looking to gather as much information as we can and as quickly as possible - it should take a matter of days," said Piers Jones, sports director of cycling's governing body UCI. The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village and a period of silence will be observed during Sunday's closing ceremony. Masoud Ashrafi, the secretary general of Iran's National Paralympic Committee, said it had requested the body of Golbarnezhad be flown to Iran on Sunday. The Committee also asked for a full report of the incident from the IPC. Ashrafi added: "He had been cycling for 12 years and he was our best cyclist. He was married and has a wife and one son. "He was the kind of man who was a family man. He loved his family." Golbarnezhad's death is the first in competition at a summer Olympics or Paralympics since Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen in the 100km team time trial at the 1960 Rome Olympics. What details are known about the accident? Saturday's race began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit used in the Rio Olympics road races. The Vista Chinesa circuit, which included a treacherous descent where Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands crashed and sustained concussion during the Olympics, was not part of the Paralympic course. According to the IPC, Golbarnezhad was involved in a crash at around 10:35 local time on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course, on a curved descent. The BBC's South America Correspondent Wyre Davies said reporters were told Golbarnezhad suffered "catastrophic head injuries after falling from his bike at speed on a steep, tight part" of the course. He received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered cardiac arrest. Bahman Golbarnezhad (left, chasing South Africa's Dane Wilson) in action earlier in Saturday's race IPC president Sir Philip Craven said: "This is truly heartbreaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and team-mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran. "The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio." The race was Golbarnezhad's second at the Rio Paralympics, after he finished 14th in the C4 time-trial race on Wednesday. Golbarnezhad, from the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, also participated in the London 2012 Paralympics. He lost his left leg in a land mine explosion and took up the sport in 2002, competing in events for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. Tributes paid to 'exemplary sportsman' Iranian Paralympic Committee: "He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this. "All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics." Carlos Nuzman, president of Rio 2016: "This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran." Brian Cookson, president of the UCI, cycling's governing body: "I am devastated to hear about the death of Iranian rider Bahman Golbarnezhad. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most sincere condolences." ParalympicsGB: "We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran." United States Olympic Team: "Our thoughts are with the friends, family and team-mates of Team Iran's inspirational cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad." 'I was sat opposite him in the pits this morning' Dame Sarah Storey, Britain's most decorated female Paralympian, also paid tribute to Golbarnezhad in an interview with BBC Sport. "I'm absolutely devastated to hear of a colleague who hasn't made it home from the Games," said Storey, who had earlier won Britain's 60th gold medal in Rio. "Everyone expects to come home from a Games and it's no real condolence that he died doing something he loved. "It's just an horrendous thing. It couldn't be any worse. There are no words that can make it feel better. "When you lose someone you don't even know but they are in the same world... I was sat opposite him in the pits this morning. I know who he is but I've never spoken to him. It still hits you really, really hard."[SEP]An Iranian cyclist has died after a crash in a men's road race at the Rio Paralympics. Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, was competing in the C4-5 event for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. The cyclist was descending a steep hill on a mountainous stretch of the course when he crashed at around 10:40am local time, according to the International Paralympics Committee. Mr Golbarnezhad received emergency treatment on the course and suffered cardiac arrest while he was being transported to a Rio hospital, where he died. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics and officials said the cause of the crash, which remains unclear, was being investigated. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games.” The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the athletes' village and Mr Golbarnezhad's family, who are in Iran, were informed this afternoon, according to the IPC. A moment of silence will be held for the cyclist during Sunday night's closing ceremony. According to a Paralympic biography, Mr Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran's sixth most populous city. This was his second race in Rio, where he was the only cyclist on the Iranian team. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. He also competed in the 2012 London Paralympics, but didn't win a medal. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement," Rio 2016 Organising Committee President Carlos Nuzman told Associated Press. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran.” Saturday's race was won by Daniel Abraham of Holland, with Brazil's Lauro Chaman second and Andrea Tarlao of Italy third. The road races began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit incorporated in the Rio Olympics cycling road races.
Iranian Para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad dies after being involved in a crash during the men's C4-5 road race.
Several heavily armed militants stormed an Indian army headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir starting an intense gunfight with forces on Sunday (18 September). At least 17 soldiers have been reportedly killed at the military installation, which is located near the border with Pakistan. Four of the attackers were shot dead and security forces continued to search for their accomplices. At least 20 soldiers sustained injuries in the ambush. The wounded personnel were being airlifted to hospitals as counter-terror measures were underway. The facility, about 70kms from state capital Srinagar, is the headquarters of 12th Army Brigade in Uri, just near the area known as Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir has been kept on high alert post the attack. Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag is heading to the attack site to deal with the situation. The intruders, believed to be members of a "suicide squad", entered the military installation at about 4am local time (11.30pm BST on Saturday) and entered the administrative area. As soon as gunfire was heard, Indian army's special unit was airdropped at the site to tackle the militants. Keeping the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in mind and in the wake of terror attack in Uri, I have postponed my visits to Russia and the USA — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 18, 2016 "We suspect the presence of three terrorists and they are suspected to be on a suicide mission. Our officers are retaliating and trying to neutralise them," a military personnel was quoted as saying. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a high-level emergency meeting following the attack. He has cancelled his scheduled trip to the US and Russia. In a similar incident in January 2016, six militants had attacked the Pathankot airbase in Punjab province. The attack lasted for three days before all of the attackers were killed.[SEP]Image copyright AP Image caption A curfew is already being enforced in the entire Kashmir Valley Militants have attacked an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least 17 soldiers, the army says. All four of the attackers were killed. Carrying guns and grenades they stormed a base in Uri, close to the Line of Control with Pakistan in a pre-dawn ambush. Indian Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh reacted by calling Pakistan a "terrorist state". It is the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades. It comes as violent protests against Indian rule in the disputed region continue, with a strict curfew imposed. More than 80 people, nearly all anti-government protesters, have died in more than two months of violence. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and Pakistan denied any role. "This is an old tactic of India. They immediately put the blame on Pakistan without investigation," foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told the BBC. Image copyright @narendramodi Image caption Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attacks on Twitter But Mr Singh said on Twitter that "there are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped". "I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups," he said. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the attack and said the UK "stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, and in bringing the perpetrators to justice". Both India and Pakistan claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir but only control parts of it. Indian army military operations head Lieutenant-General Ranbir Singh said there was evidence the attackers were members of an Islamist militant group in Pakistan. The terrorists had some items which had Pakistani markings on," he said. Kashmir profile The militants infiltrated across the Line of Control from Pakistan before attacking the base, west of Srinagar, an army officer told the BBC. Gunfire and explosions were heard for several hours. Image copyright EPA Image caption An India army helicopter flies above the base after the attack Image copyright EPA Image caption Activists from the Hindu hardline nationalist Shiv Sena group vent their anger Image copyright AP Image caption Street demonstrations were sparked in July after a popular militant leader was killed Many tents and temporary shelters caught fire during the attack, according to the army's Northern Command. Twelve soldiers were killed by fires and the others died in gun battles, the Hindustan Times reports, citing army sources. Disputed Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for more than 60 years, causing two wars between the neighbours. A militant attack on an army camp in Uri in December 2014 saw at least nine members of the security forces killed. The last attack of this scale on the Indian army was in June 2015 in Manipur, north-east India, when at least 20 soldiers were killed in an attack on a troop convoy. Dangerous impasse - Justin Rowlatt, South Asia correspondent With the Indian Home Ministry talking about a "cross-border terror attack", there is no doubt the raid will make the already fraught relations between India and Pakistan even frostier. But the truth is this latest upsurge in violence has a distinctly home-grown flavour. The huge wave of protests against Indian rule that were prompted by the killing of a popular young militant on 8 July have been overwhelmingly by people from Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir. The attack is likely to mean normal life in the province will continue to be paralysed by the curfew imposed by the security forces for some time to come. The Indian government says it wants to discuss how to end the violence with local leaders, but so far its overtures have been rejected by separatists who insist that the issue of Kashmiri independence must be on the table.[SEP]Suspected rebels using guns and grenades sneaked into a crucial army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir early Sunday and killed at least 17 soldiers in the deadliest attack on a military base in the disputed Himalayan region in recent years, the army said. Four rebels were killed as the soldiers returned gunfire after the surprise assault before dawn on the base, located near the highly militarized Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Loud explosions were heard and several barracks caught fire in the initial hours of the attack. Afterward, military helicopters hovered over the base as the army conducted what it described as "mopping up" operations. Officials said at least 30 soldiers were wounded in the attack, including about a dozen who were in critical condition. The casualties were high because a large number of soldiers were turning over the base to new units and were stationed in tents and temporary shelters that caught fire in the attack, the army said in a statement. The base, located in the town of Uri, west of the region's main city of Srinagar, houses the Indian army's regional brigade headquarters along the de facto border separating Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Soldiers were conducting searches in the area, but army officials said it appeared that they had killed all four rebels involved in the attack. Army officials said the rebels had infiltrated into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled part. Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, the army's director general of military operations, said that all four gunmen killed were "foreign terrorists," and that initial investigations suggested that they belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group that has been active in Kashmir for more than 15 years. India blames the outlawed group, which is based in Pakistan, for a series of attacks in the Himalayan region and Indian cities, including the attack on India's Parliament in 2001 that brought nuclear rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of war. Singh said the gunmen were carrying "some items that had Pakistani markings." He said he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India's "serious concerns." The army officials said the rebels entered the sprawling camp after crossing a stream and breaching the fencing Saturday night. What made Sunday's attack different from earlier attacks in the region was that instead of storming into the camp, the rebels quietly entered the base and later launched their attack, said a senior army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and tweeted, "I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished." Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh called an emergency meeting of top defense officials and blamed Pakistan for the attack. "I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups," he tweeted. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed by both in its entirety. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. A militant uprising and subsequent army crackdown since 1989 have killed more than 68,000 people. India accuses Pakistan of training the militants in its territory then helping them to infiltrate into the Indian side. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only gives political and diplomatic support to the rebels. The attack came with Kashmir in the midst of its largest anti-India protests against Indian rule in recent years, sparked by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander by Indian troops. A sweeping military crackdown and near-constant curfew have been in effect since the protests began. Rock-throwing protesters have clashed with troops firing live ammunition and shotgun pellets, and more than 80 people have been killed in the violence. Amid the protests, India's military has had to halt its operations against militants because Kashmiri civilians have hurled rocks at the troops trying to go after the rebels in neighborhoods. However, several suspected militants have been killed along the de facto border. The last major attack on an Indian military installation was in January, when six gunmen entered an air force base in the town of Pathankot in the state of Punjab. The rebels managed to paralyze the massive base for nearly four days, killing seven soldiers. That base also is close to India's border with Pakistan.[SEP]SRINAGAR, India -- Suspected rebels using guns and grenades sneaked into an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir early Sunday and killed at least 17 soldiers in the deadliest attack on a military base in the disputed Himalayan region in recent years, the army said. Four rebels were killed as the soldiers returned gunfire after the pre-dawn attack on the base, near the highly militarized Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Loud explosions were heard and several barracks caught fire in the initial hours of the attack. Afterward, military helicopters hovered over the base as the army conducted what it described as "mopping up" operations. Officials said at least 30 soldiers were wounded, including about a dozen who were in critical condition. At the time of the attack, the army base in the heavily forested garrison town of Uri had a large number of troops because soldiers were handing over duties to a new battalion, the Indian army said in a statement. The base houses the Indian army's regional brigade headquarters along the de facto border separating Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Soldiers were conducting searches in the area, but army officials said it appeared that they had killed all four rebels involved in the attack. Army officials said the rebels had entered into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled part. S.P. Vaid, a senior police officer in Kashmir, said a "state of high alert" has been declared in the state after the attack. Vaid described Uri as "an active infiltration route for militants." Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, the army's director general of military operations, said that all four gunmen killed were "foreign terrorists" and that initial investigations suggested that they belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group that has been active in Kashmir for more than 15 years. India blames the outlawed group, which is based in Pakistan, for a series of attacks in the Himalayan region and Indian cities, including the attack on India's Parliament in 2001 that brought nuclear rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of war. Singh said the gunmen were carrying "some items that had Pakistani markings." He said he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India's "serious concerns." The army officials said the rebels entered the sprawling camp after crossing a stream and breaching the fencing Saturday night. What made Sunday's attack different from earlier attacks in the region was that instead of storming into the camp, the rebels quietly entered the base and later began their attack, said a senior army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. "I woke up early to the sound of gunfire. We could not go back to sleep after that," said Irfan Wadoo, a 28-year-old student in Uri who lives close to the army base. "The rattle of gunshots lasted for over four hours." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and tweeted, "I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished." Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh called an emergency meeting of top defense officials and blamed Pakistan for the attack. "I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups," he tweeted. Pakistan's army said in a statement that the allegations were "unfounded and premature," reiterating Islamabad's stance that no infiltration is allowed from Pakistani soil. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed by both in its entirety. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. A militant uprising and subsequent army crackdown since 1989 have killed more than 68,000 people. India accuses Pakistan of training the militants in its territory, then helping them to infiltrate the Indian side. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only gives political and diplomatic support to the rebels. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the United States "strongly" condemns the attack. "The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism," he said in a statement. The attack came with Kashmir in the midst of its largest protests against Indian rule in recent years, sparked by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander by Indian troops. A sweeping military crackdown and near-constant curfew have been in effect since the protests began. Rock-throwing protesters have clashed with troops firing live ammunition and shotgun pellets, and more than 80 people have been killed in the violence. Amid the protests, India's military has had to halt its operations against militants because Kashmiri civilians have hurled rocks at the troops trying to go after the rebels in neighborhoods. However, several suspected militants have been killed along the de facto border. The last major attack on an Indian military installation was in January, when six gunmen entered an air force base in the town of Pathankot in the state of Punjab. The rebels managed to paralyze the base for nearly four days, killing seven soldiers. That base also is close to India's border with Pakistan. Information for this article was contributed by Asif Shahzad of The Associated Press and by Rama Lakshmi of The Washington Post.[SEP]Suspected rebels using guns and grenades sneaked into a crucial army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir early Sunday and killed at least 17 soldiers in the deadliest attack on a military base in the disputed Himalayan region in recent years, the army said. Four rebels were killed as the soldiers returned gunfire after the surprise assault before dawn on the base close to the highly militarized Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Loud explosions were heard and several barracks caught fire in the initial hours of the attack. Afterward, military helicopters hovered over the base as the army conducted what it described as "mopping up" operations. The casualties were high because a large number of soldiers were turning over the base to new units and were stationed in tents and temporary shelters that caught fire in the attack, the army said in a statement. The base, located in the town of Uri, west of Indian-controlled Kashmir's main city of Srinagar, houses the Indian army's brigade headquarters in the region along the de facto border. Soldiers were conducting searches in the area, but army officials said it appeared that no more than four rebels were involved in the attack. Army officials said the rebels had infiltrated into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistani-controlled part. The officials said the rebels entered the sprawling camp after crossing a stream and breaching the fencing Saturday night. What made Sunday's attack different from other attacks in the region was that instead of storming into the camp, the rebels quietly entered the base and later launched their attack, said a senior army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. Officials said at least 30 soldiers were wounded in the attack, including about a dozen who were in critical condition. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and tweeted, "I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished." Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh called an emergency meeting of top defense officials and blamed Pakistan for the attack. "I am deeply disappointed with Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups," he tweeted. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed by both in its entirety. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. A militant uprising and subsequent army crackdown since 1989 have killed more than 68,000 people. India accuses Pakistan of training the militants in its territory then helping them to infiltrate into the Indian side. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only gives political and diplomatic support to the rebels. The attack came with Kashmir in middle of the largest anti-India protests against Indian rule in recent years since the July 8 killing of a popular rebel commander by Indian troops. A sweeping military crackdown and near-constant curfew have followed. Protesters throwing rocks have clashed with troops firing live ammunition and shotgun pellets, and more than 80 people have been killed. The last major attack on an Indian military installation was in January, when six gunmen entered an air force base in the town of Pathankot in the state of Punjab. The rebels managed to paralyze the massive base for nearly four days, killing seven soldiers. That base also is close to India's border with Pakistan.[SEP]In the deadliest attack against Indian forces in more than a decade, militants sneaked into an army encampment in the disputed territory of Kashmir early Sunday and opened fire on sleeping soldiers, killing at least 17 and wounding dozens. The four assailants, who also threw grenades that caused tents and temporary shelters to catch fire at the army brigade headquarters at Uri, were killed in a gun battle with security forces that lasted six hours, authorities said. Indian officials blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed for the attack, saying it had recovered weapons from the assailants that carried Pakistani markings. Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, the director of military operations, said he contacted his Pakistani counterpart to convey “serious concerns.” Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh was more pointed, saying on Twitter: “Pakistan is a terrorist state, and it should be identified and isolated as such.” Pakistan denied involvement in the attack, which came amid escalating violence in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Since Indian security forces killed Burhan Wani, a young Kashmiri militant, on July 8, the Himalayan territory — which both countries claim in its entirety — has erupted in protests. More than 80 civilians have been killed in clashes with Indian forces and hundreds more have been grievously wounded with pellet guns. Ahead of this week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting, the countries have traded accusations, with Pakistan criticizing India for using excessive force in the majority-Muslim territory. The U.N. human rights chief last week requested permission to visit Kashmir to probe the allegations, but India denied the request. India has stepped up allegations that Pakistan supports terrorism, and it vowed on Sunday to respond to the attack. “We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished.” The attack on Sunday appeared to have been well-timed. The brigade headquarters was in the middle of an operational handover, with one infantry battalion moving in as another was about to leave. The troops “were stationed in tents/temporary shelters which caught fire, and resulted in heavy casualties,” the Indian army said in a statement. Injured soldiers were transported about 25 miles away to Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-ruled Kashmir. At least 14 of the wounded had suffered serious burns, officials said. Indian security experts said the timing and planning of the attack suggested complicity or at least support from elements of the Pakistani security establishment, including the Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, the military spy agency. The agency is believed to support anti-India militant groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, a charge the spy agency denies. “Reconnaissance of the target would have been inevitable, and use of unarmed [drones] for the purpose is most likely,” Rahul Bhonsle, a retired Indian general and security analyst, wrote in a commentary. “Alternately there could be information supplied from informers in the general area of Uri as well. “Thus complicity of the Pakistan Army and the ISI is apparent.” Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary, said it was unclear how India would respond. Some analysts said New Delhi was wary of launching an aggressive operation with world leaders gathering for the U.N. meeting and civilians still protesting in the Kashmir valley. “The fact is there cannot be such a potent attack by terrorists causing so many casualties unless there is a huge amount of training and guidance and support,” Sibal said. “And our position is a little more difficult this time because of the uprising in the valley.” India and Pakistan — nuclear-armed rivals that have fought three wars over Kashmir since 1947 — have seen relations plummet to their lowest point in years. Just last Christmas, Modi visited Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at his home in Pakistan in what was seen as a confidence-building move ahead of negotiations between the country’s top diplomats. Those hopes were shattered days later, following a raid by militants against a high-security Indian air base in Pathankot, in Punjab state, in which seven soldiers were killed. Indian officials blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed, but Pakistan said it found no evidence the group was involved. Since then, six minor cross-border attacks have occurred inside India, showing serious lapses in Indian security, said Sibal. “This camp is in a very exposed area, a vulnerable area,” he said. “And that this has happened is inexcusable.” Special correspondent Parth M.N. reported from Mumbai and staff writer Bengali from Jalalabad, Afghanistan. India swiftly rejects U.N. request for a visit to the disputed territory of Kashmir Why millions of Indian workers just staged one of the biggest labor strikes in history Friday isn't just for prayers in Iran. For car enthusiasts, it's also race day[SEP]Gunmen hurling grenades killed 17 soldiers in a raid on an army base in Indian Kashmir Sunday, with India blaming Pakistan-based militants for the worst such attack in the disputed region for over a decade. The militants broke into the base near the de facto border with Pakistan before dawn and lobbed grenades at tents and barracks housing soldiers, before opening fire with automatic weapons, the army said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish those behind the "cowardly" and "despicable" hours-long attack near the town of Uri that also left four militants dead and scores of soldiers injured. "We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished," Modi said in a series of tweets. No one has so far claimed responsibility, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was disappointed with "Pakistan's continued and direct support to terrorism and terrorist groups". "Pakistan is a terrorist state and it should be identified and isolated as such," Singh said on Twitter, adding that the militants "were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped". The raid was likely to further sour ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours given the high death toll and heightened tensions in the Indian-administered region following weeks of deadly clashes between residents and security forces. India regularly accuses its arch-rival Pakistan of arming and sending rebels across the heavily militarised border that divides Kashmir between the two countries, to launch attacks on its forces. Islamabad denies the claims. Sunday's attack was one of the bloodiest on soldiers since an armed rebellion against Indian rule erupted in 1989. Militants killed 30 soldiers and their families in a suicide attack in Kaluchak in the Himalayan region in 2002. Most of the soldiers died Sunday after their tents and other housing caught fire during the raid on the brigade headquarters near the border known as the Line of Control (LoC), said Ranbir Singh, the army's director-general of military operations. Lieutenant-General Singh blamed Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, saying he had already expressed "serious concerns" to his Pakistani counterpart. "The killed terrorists, they were all foreign terrorists and as per the initial reports, they belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad," Singh told a briefing. India blamed the same group for an audacious attack in January on an Indian air force base in the northern state of Punjab that left seven soldiers dead. The Muslim-majority region is currently in the grip of deadly civilian unrest that has lasted for more than two months. Protesting residents are clashing almost daily with security forces in the worst crowd violence since 2010. At least 87 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the protests against Indian rule, sparked by the killing of a popular rebel leader in a gunbattle with soldiers on July 8. The government has been coming under growing pressure over the level of casualties and over the security forces' use of shotguns loaded with pellets which can blind demonstrators. Thousands of angry demonstrators defied a curfew on Saturday in Kashmir to attend the funeral of a schoolboy whose body was found riddled with pellets, sparking fresh clashes. The Indian government accuses Pakistan of stoking the unrest in the region. On Sunday residents of Uri town saw smoke billowing from the nearby base and heard continuous rounds of heavy gunfire that lasted several hours, while army helicopters circled overhead. Twenty-eight injured soldiers were airlifted to a military hospital in the region's main city of Srinagar, four of them in critical condition, an army officer said. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the region. Rebel groups which have been fighting Indian troops in Kashmir since 1989 seek either independence for the region or its merger with Pakistan. Soldiers have been deployed in Kashmir for decades and currently number around 500,000. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting.[SEP]Militants killed 17 soldiers during a pre-dawn ambush on an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir Sunday, in a major attack in the Himalayan region already reeling from weeks of deadly unrest. The heavily armed militants snuck across the defacto border with Pakistan before launching the raid on the infantry base housing hundreds of soldiers in Uri, west of the region’s main city of Srinagar, officials said. Four militants were killed in the attack that saw tents and other temporary shelters accommodating the soldiers catch fire, the army said in a statement. The encounter resulted in “heavy casualties. We salute the sacrifice of 17 soldiers who were martyred in the operation,” the army said in the statement. “In the counter action, four terrorists have been eliminated and combing operations are in progress,” the statement said. Large numbers of soldiers are stationed at Uri after finishing their tour of duty in the volatile region, where several rebel groups have been fighting troops for decades for independence of the region or its merger with Pakistan. Residents of nearby Uri town saw smoke billowing from the base after dawn and heard continuous rounds of heavy gunfire, while army helicopters circled the base overhead. The region has been in the grip of deadly unrest for more than two months, with protesting residents clashing almost daily with security forces, in the worst violence since 2010. At least 87 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the protests against Indian rule, sparked by the killing of a popular rebel leader in a gun battle with soldiers on July 8. Kashmir has been divided between India and its arch rival Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Sunday’s raid comes after militants launched an audacious attack on an Indian airforce base that left seven soldiers dead in January. India blamed that attack in the northern state of Punjab on a Pakistani-based militant group and it came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a landmark visit to Pakistan, raising hopes of improved ties. On Sunday, the militants first attacked a frontline base close to the border known as the Line of Control or LoC before moving onto the headquarters, army spokesman Colonel S. D. Goswami said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a series of tweets that he had spoken to the region’s military and political leaders about the attack and he cancelled planned trips to Russia and the United States. Several rebel groups have for decades fought Indian soldiers — currently numbering around 500,000 — deployed in Kashmir. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting.[SEP]Rebels sneaked into an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir early Sunday and killed at least 17 soldiers in the deadliest attack on a military base in the disputed Himalayan region in recent years, the army said. Four rebels were killed as the soldiers returned gunfire after the surprise assault before dawn on the base, near the highly militarised Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Loud explosions were heard and several barracks caught fire in the initial hours of the attack. Afterwards, military helicopters hovered over the base as the army conducted what it described as "mopping up" operations. Officials said at least 30 soldiers were wounded in the attack, including about a dozen who were in a critical condition. The casualties were high because a large number of soldiers were turning over the base to new units and were stationed in tents and temporary shelters that caught fire in the attack, the army said in a statement. The base, in the town of Uri, west of the region's main city of Srinagar, houses the Indian army's regional brigade headquarters along the de facto border separating Indian and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Soldiers were conducting searches in the area, but army officials said it appeared that they had killed all four rebels involved in the attack. Army officials said the rebels had infiltrated into the Indian side of Kashmir from the Pakistan-controlled part. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the army's director general of military operations, said all four gunmen killed were "foreign terrorists" and that initial investigations suggested they belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group that has been active inKashmir for more than 15 years. India blames the outlawed group, which is based in Pakistan, for a series of attacks in the Himalayan region and Indian cities, including the attack on India's parliament in 2001 that brought nuclear rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of war. Lt Gen Singh said the gunmen were carrying "some items that had Pakistani markings". He said he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart and conveyed India's "serious concerns". Indian prime minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and tweeted: "I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished." Pakistan's army said in a statement that the allegations were "unfounded and premature", reiterating Islamabad's stance that no infiltration is allowed from Pakistani soil. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed by both in its entirety.[SEP]India accused Pakistan of being behind Sunday’s separatist attack on an army base near their disputed frontier that killed 17 soldiers, in one of the most deadly attacks in Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency.Four commando-style gunmen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and grenades, burst into the brigade headquarters in Uri at 5:30 a.m. (midnight GMT) and were killed after a three-hour gunfight, a senior Indian army officer said. The incident sharply increased tensions between the bitter, nuclear-armed rivals and will raise fears of a potential military escalation. Indian and Pakistani troops are in close proximity in many places along one of the world’s most heavily militarised frontiers, and exchanges of fire are not uncommon. Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh told reporters in New Delhi that Sunday’s attack bore the hallmarks of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Evidence gathered at the scene indicated the attackers were foreign and their equipment bore Pakistani markings, he added. “Our men are ready to give a befitting response,” Singh said in response to a reporter’s question. He did not elaborate. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned what he called the “cowardly terror attack”. “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” Modi said in a series of Twitter posts. The raid came as tensions were already running high in India’s only Muslim-majority region, which has faced more than two months of protests following the July 8 killing of the commander of another Pakistan-based separatist group. At least 78 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in street clashes with Indian security forces, who have been criticised by human rights groups for using excessive force. In an even stronger response, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: “Pakistan is a terrorist state and should be identified and isolated as such.” Pakistan rejected allegations that it was involved. “India immediately puts blame on Pakistan without doing any investigation. We reject this,” foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told Reuters. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 over Kashmir, which is divided between them. Both claim the former princely state in full. Most of the fatalities happened in a tent that caught fire, Singh, the Indian army’s director general of military operations, told the briefing in New Delhi. He had informed his Pakistani counterpart of his findings, which linked the attack on Uri to a similar raid in January on an Indian Air Force base in Punjab that India also blames on Jaish-e-Mohammed. Reuters television footage showed helicopters flying in to evacuate the injured as an operation continued to secure the area. Smoke rose from the compound, set in mountainous terrain. The Defence Ministry earlier put the number of wounded at 35. Singh, the home minister, chaired a crisis meeting in New Delhi and cancelled trips to Russia and the United States. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the army chief of staff headed to Uri, roughly halfway between Indian Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar and Islamabad, to investigate the attack. “There are definite and conclusive indications that the perpetrators of Uri attack were highly trained, heavily armed and specially equipped,” Singh said in a series of strongly-worded tweets that were confirmed as genuine by his office. U.S. ambassador to India, Richard Verma, also “strongly condemned” the Uri attack, which comes weeks after Secretary of State John Kerry visited New Delhi. After that meeting Kerry urged Pakistan to do more to combat terrorism, while also announcing the resumption of trilateral talks with India and Afghanistan this month in New York, leaving Islamabad looking isolated. The military death toll was one of the worst it has suffered in a single incident during years of conflict in Indian-ruled Kashmir. Before this attack, 102 people had been killed in separatist attacks in India’s part of the Himalayan region this year. Among them were 30 security personnel, 71 militants and one civilian, according to a tally by the New Delhi-based South Asia Terrorism Portal. Modi recently raised the stakes in the neighbours’ decades-old feud by expressing support for separatists in Pakistan’s resource-rich Baluchistan province. Pakistan has, meanwhile, called on the United Nations and the international community to investigate atrocities it alleges have been committed by Indian security forces in Kashmir. The UN is preparing to hold its annual general assembly in New York, where Kashmir is likely to come onto the agenda amid concerns that India’s tough rhetoric could herald a military escalation between the old foes. Senior Indian journalist and commentator Shekhar Gupta said Pakistan would be “delusional” to think that India would not respond. “This India has moved on from old strategic restraint,” he said. Relations between India and Pakistan have been on edge since the New-Year attack on the Pathankot air force base in Punjab, near the border with Pakistan, that killed seven uniformed men. India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for that and a string of other attacks - including one on Mumbai in 2008 that killed 166 people. After initial progress, an attempt to conduct a joint investigation into the air base attack lost momentum and a tentative peace dialogue has stalled.
Four Jaish-e-Mohammed militants attack an Indian Army base near the Pakistan border with at least 17 soldiers and four militants killed.
[SEP]PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- Two gunmen on a motorcycle killed three soldiers Sunday near the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. The gunmen struck in Garhi Sohbat Khan on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, attacking a private vehicle carrying the three soldiers. The attackers used handguns to target the soldiers, who were returning from a military dairy farm after fetching milk for officers, Khan said. No one claimed responsibility, but Islamic militants have been involved in multiple such attacks in and around the provincial capital surrounded by lawless tribal regions. Dad Mohammad, another area police officer, said the incident was second of the nature in this area - which is close to Mohmand tribal region. Last week gunmen shot and killed a prominent physician who was instrumental in anti-polio campaigns, he said. The Mohmand tribal region had been a longtime hotbed for Islamic militants and the Pakistani army has carried out several operations to eliminate militant hideouts. But the militants have repeatedly struck back. Last Friday, a suicide bomber killed 36 worshippers during Friday prayers in the Ambar area of Mohmand. Jamaatul Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for that attack.[SEP]PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two gunmen on a motorcycle killed three soldiers Sunday near the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. The gunmen struck in Garhi Sohbat Khan on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, attacking a private vehicle carrying the three soldiers. The attackers used handguns to target the soldiers, who were returning from a military dairy farm after fetching milk for officers, Khan said. No one claimed responsibility, but Islamic militants have been involved in multiple such attacks in and around the provincial capital surrounded by lawless tribal regions. Dad Mohammad, another area police officer, said the incident was second of the nature in this area — which is close to Mohmand tribal region. Last week gunmen shot and killed a prominent physician who was instrumental in anti-polio campaigns, he said. The Mohmand tribal region had been a longtime hotbed for Islamic militants and the Pakistani army has carried out several operations to eliminate militant hideouts. But the militants have repeatedly struck back. Last Friday, a suicide bomber killed 36 worshippers during Friday prayers in the Ambar area of Mohmand. Jamaatul Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for that attack.[SEP]PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two gunmen on a motorcycle killed three soldiers Sunday near the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. The gunmen struck in Garhi Sohbat Khan on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, attacking a private vehicle carrying the three soldiers. The attackers used handguns to target the soldiers, who were returning from a military dairy farm after fetching milk for officers, Khan said. No one claimed responsibility, but Islamic militants have been involved in multiple such attacks in and around the provincial capital surrounded by lawless tribal regions. Dad Mohammad, another area police officer, said the incident was second of the nature in this area — which is close to Mohmand tribal region. Last week gunmen shot and killed a prominent physician who was instrumental in anti-polio campaigns, he said. The Mohmand tribal region had been a longtime hotbed for Islamic militants and the Pakistani army has carried out several operations to eliminate militant hideouts. But the militants have repeatedly struck back. Last Friday, a suicide bomber killed 36 worshippers during Friday prayers in the Ambar area of Mohmand. Jamaatul Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for that attack.[SEP]PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say unknown gunmen have killed three soldiers in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Police officer Shaukat Khan said gunmen struck Sunday morning, attacking a private vehicle carrying the three soldiers. Khan said attackers fled the scene on a motorcycle and a search operation was underway. No one claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic militants have been involved in multipole such attacks in and around the provincial capital surrounded by lawless tribal regions.[SEP]PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two gunmen on a motorcycle killed three soldiers Sunday near the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said. The gunmen struck in Garhi Sohbat Khan on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, attacking a private vehicle carrying the three soldiers, said Shaukat Khan, a senior police officer. The attackers used handguns to target the soldiers, who were returning from a military dairy farm after fetching milk for officers, Khan said. Jamaatul Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. Ahsanullah Ahsan, spokesman for the group, said in a statement that the three soldiers were targeted by the group to avenge the “military’s animosity with mosques.” Islamic militants have been involved in multiple such attacks in and around the provincial capital surrounded by lawless tribal regions. Dad Mohammad, another area police officer, said the incident was second such attack in this area — which is close to Mohmand tribal region. Last week gunmen shot and killed a prominent physician who was instrumental in anti-polio campaigns, he said. The Mohmand tribal region had been a longtime hotbed for Islamic militants and the Pakistani army has carried out several operations to eliminate militant hideouts. But the militants have repeatedly struck back. Last Friday, a suicide bomber killed 36 worshippers in a mosque during weekly prayers in the Ambar area of Mohmand. Jamaatul Ahrar claimed responsibility for that attack too. Associated Press writer Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan contributed to this report.[SEP]Islamic State, Pakistani Taliban faction say kill three soldiers in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three Pakistani soldiers were killed in an ambush in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Sunday, militants said, in an attack for which both Islamic State and a Pakistani Taliban faction claimed responsibility. Militants said they ambushed an unmarked vehicle ferrying soldiers on Sunday morning near the congested Daudzai area of Peshawar. Military sources confirmed the attack but said the killed men were army employees and not soldiers. The Pakistan army often uses unmarked vehicles for transportation of soldiers and other employees in volatile areas around Peshawar to avoid being identified and attacked. "They were travelling in a civil van when unknown armed men opened fire at them," said a security official who declined to be named. "Three of them died on the spot." Pakistan's military this month declared that it had foiled Islamic State's attempts to establish operations in the country. But the group's Amaq news agency said Islamic State was behind the ambush, also claimed by Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Islamist militant Pakistani Taliban group. Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, which carried out the Easter Sunday bombing in Lahore in which 70 people were killed, at one time swore fealty to Islamic State's Middle East leadership, but later switched back to the Taliban. The two groups also both claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a hospital in the Pakistani city of Quetta that killed 74 people last month. Pakistan's military said on Sept. 1 it had arrested more than 300 Islamic State militants and sympathizers, thwarting the ultra-hardline group's attempts to expand there. But concern has been growing that Islamic State - which controls parts of Iraq and Syria and is known for especially brutal treatment of religious minorities - might replicate their model in Pakistan, especially after Islamic State loyalists seized small pieces of territory in neighboring Afghanistan. On Friday, Pakistani authorities said they arrested four Islamic State militants plotting attacks in the city of Lahore. The four men had 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) of explosives as well as fuses and detonators, officials said. Most Islamic State recruits in the region are believed to be Pakistani or Afghan defectors from other Islamist movements. Pakistan is home to several militant groups including the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, giving Islamic State both a rich pool of potential recruits but also fierce competition. Islamic State last year declared Afghanistan and Pakistan as the state of "Khorasan", part of its self-declared global caliphate, and appointed longtime militant Hafiz Saeed Khan as its regional leader. A U.S. drone strike killed Khan last month in eastern Afghanistan. (Writing by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; editing by Drazen Jorgic and Ros Russell)[SEP]PESHAWAR: At least three policemen were killed by unknown gunmen when their vehicle was ambushed here Sunday, police said. The police van was targetted by three armed assailants in Khazana area, an outskirt of Peshawar District. The gunmen fired 12 bullets from 9 mm rifle killing the three policemen and escaped from the scene.
Two gunmen kill three Pakistani Army soldiers near the city of Peshawar.
Islamic State shot down a Syrian military plane in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, the Islamic State-affiliated news agency Amaq said on Sunday. “A Syrian warplane belonging to the Syrian regime was brought down when targeted by fighters from the Islamic State in the city of Deir al-Zor,” Amaq said in an online statement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, said the pilot of the MIG Syrian warplane was killed.[SEP]BEIRUT, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Islamic State shot down a Syrian military plane in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, the Islamic State-affiliated news agency Amaq said on Sunday. "A Syrian warplane belonging to the Syrian regime was brought down when targeted by fighters from the Islamic State in the city of Deir al-Zor," Amaq said in an online statement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, said the pilot of the MIG Syrian warplane was killed. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut and Mohamed el Sherif in Cairo; Editing by Toby Chopra)[SEP]Islamic State shot down a Syrian military plane in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, the Islamic State-affiliated news agency Amaq said on Sunday. “A Syrian warplane belonging to the Syrian regime was brought down when targeted by fighters from the Islamic State in the city of Deir al-Zor,” Amaq said in an online statement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, said the pilot of the MIG Syrian warplane was killed.[SEP](IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – ISIS confirmed on Sunday about shooting down a Syrian warplane in Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria. Media reports, quoting ISIS news affiliate al-Amaq, said, “A fighter jet belonging to the Syrian forces was downed by ISIS in Deir al-Zour.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, “The pilot of the Syrian fighter jet died, indicating that the plane was shot down in Tharde Mount area southern Deir Ezzor air base.” The Observatory had earlier reported of intense air strikes during the last 24 near Deir ez-Zor.[SEP]ISIL fighters shot down a Syrian military plane in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Az Zor, the group's Amaq news agency reported on Sunday. "A Syrian warplane belonging to the Syrian regime was brought down when targeted by fighters from the Islamic State in the city of Deir al-Zor," Amaq said in an online statement. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, said the pilot of the MiG Syrian warplane was killed. US air raid on Syrian army post sparks Russia tension Earlier in the day, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that government troops had regained territory in the eastern province lost to fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) "as a result of the American aircraft aggression". The US military said it may have unintentionally struck Syrian troops while carrying out a raid against ISIL in Deir Az Zor on Saturday. Russia's military said it was told by the Syrian army that at least 62 soldiers were killed and more than 100 wounded in the raid in the Jabal Tharda area of Deir Az Zor. The Observatory said on Sunday the plane came down in the same area, which overlooks the government's Deir Az Zor military airport. The city's airport and some government-held districts have been entirely surrounded by ISIL since last year, with the airport providing the only external access. Heavy air strikes over the past 24 hours have hit ISIL-controlled areas near Deir Az Zor city, according to the Observatory and Syrian state media.
Amaq News Agency claims ISIL is responsible for shooting down a Syrian Air Force fighter jet over Deir ez-Zor. The London-based SOHR says the MiG pilot was killed.
SYDNEY, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Australian Department of Defence has offered its condolences to the families of Syrian soldiers killed or wounded in a U.S.-led bombing campaign on Saturday, in which Australia participated and Russia said hit Syrian military personnel and vehicles. Australian aircraft were among the warplanes that struck what were believed to be Islamic State fighting positions around Deir al-Zor in Eastern Syria. However, shortly after the bombing started Russian officials advised the multinational Combined Air Operations Centre that the targets may have been Syrian military personnel. The Australian Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that it would fully cooperate with a Coalition review of the incident. "While Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (also known as ISIL)," the ministry said in a statement. "Defence offers its condolences to the families of any Syrian personnel killed or wounded in this incident," the ministry said on Sunday. (Reporting by Harry Pearl; Editing by Eric Meijer)[SEP]Australian jets involved in US-led air strike which killed dozens of Syrian soldiers, Defence confirms Updated Australian aircraft were involved in a US-led coalition operation which killed dozens of Syrian soldiers who were apparently mistaken for Islamic State fighters, the Defence Department has confirmed. Key points: Dozens of Syrian soldiers dead in US-led strike Defence Department says Australian jets were involved but would never intentionally target Syrian military UN Security Council holds emergency meeting at Russia's request, US criticises "grandstanding" Between 62 and 83 Syrian soldiers who had been fighting IS militants were reportedly killed in the air strikes around the Deir al-Zor military airport in Syria's east. "Australian aircraft were among a number of international aircraft taking part in this Coalition operation," the Defence Department said in a statement. "Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (IS). Defence offers its condolences to the families of any Syrian personnel killed or wounded in this incident." The Russian military earlier said two F-16s and two A-10 jets that flew into Syrian airspace from neighbouring Iraq carried out the actual attack. Neither type is listed as being in operation with the RAAF. The strikes came less than a week into a fragile ceasefire aimed at stopping the bloodshed in Syria's five-year civil war, as Russia accused what it termed "moderate rebels" of causing the truce to fail. 'Russia needs to stop cheap point-scoring': US The US military and Australia's Defence Department said the attack was called off after Russia informed the coalition that Syrian military personnel and vehicles may have been hit. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in an emailed statement that Russian officials did not voice concerns earlier on Saturday when informed that coalition aircraft would be operating in the strike area. The 15-member United Nations Security Council met after Russia demanded an emergency session to discuss the incident and accused the US-led coalition of jeopardising the Syria deal and helping Islamic State. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, chastised Russia for the move. "Russia really needs to stop the cheap point-scoring and the grandstanding and the stunts and focus on what matters, which is implementation of something we negotiated in good faith with them," Ms Power said. When asked if the incident spelled the end of the Syria deal between Moscow and Washington, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said: "This is a very big question mark." "I would be very interested to see how Washington is going to react. If what Ambassador Power has done today (Sunday) is any indication of their possible reaction then we are in serious trouble," Mr Churkin said. Russia says attack helped Islamic State Russia said the attacks, which allowed Islamic State fighters to briefly overrun a Syrian army position near Deir al-Zor, were evidence that the US was helping the jihadist militants. "We are reaching a really terrifying conclusion for the whole world —that the White House is defending Islamic State. Now there can be no doubts about that," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying. "Warplanes from the international anti-jihadist coalition carried out four air strikes today (Sunday) against Syrian forces surrounded by IS in the Deir Ezzor air base," a Russian army statement said. "Sixty-two Syrian soldiers were killed and a hundred others were injured in these strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group gave a toll of 83 soldiers killed, and said the strikes were US-led coalition raids. Military airport has been scene of fierce fighting Coordination between the US, which backs some Syrian rebels, and the Russian military, which backs the Syrian government, is a controversial issue. Russia has long insisted on it and, if the ceasefire brokered by the two nations holds, the two nations are supposed to start coordinating attacks on Islamic State. Russia says the incident is evidence the US has stubbornly refused to coordinate so far. But the US says the coalition did inform Russia of the forthcoming strike. Syria's army has been fighting off a fierce Islamic State offensive around the Deir al-Zor airport since last year. The IS-linked Amaq news agency said coalition strikes also hit Islamic State positions around the airport, while there were also reports of Russian planes bombing Islamic State targets.. Situation worsening, says Russian general Russian military officials meanwhile lashed out at both the United States and mainstream rebels over the ceasefire struck last week in Geneva. "The situation in Syria is worsening," said Russian General Vladimir Savchenko in a briefing. The ceasefire has so far lasted five days. Under the US-Russia deal, if the truce lasts seven days and humanitarian access is granted, Moscow and Washington are to work together to target jihadists including IS. "Russia is exerting all possible effort to restrain (Syrian) government troops from returning fire," Senior Army General Viktor Poznikhir said. "If the American side does not take the necessary measures to carry out its obligations... a breakdown of the ceasefire will be on the United States." In a statement, the Russian defence ministry accused what it termed "moderate rebels" of causing the ceasefire to fail. Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, terrorism, territorial-disputes, syrian-arab-republic First posted[SEP]The Australian Department of Defence has offered its condolences to the families of Syrian soldiers killed or wounded in a U.S.-led bombing campaign on Saturday, in which Australia participated and Russia said hit Syrian military personnel and vehicles. Australian aircraft were among the warplanes that struck what were believed to be Islamic State fighting positions around Deir al-Zor in Eastern Syria. However, shortly after the bombing started Russian officials advised the multinational Combined Air Operations Centre that the targets may have been Syrian military personnel. The Australian Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that it would fully cooperate with a Coalition review of the incident. “While Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (also known as ISIL),” the ministry said in a statement. “Defence offers its condolences to the families of any Syrian personnel killed or wounded in this incident,” the ministry said on Sunday.[SEP]Sydney, SANA – Australia acknowledged that its aircrafts participated alongside the US alliance aircrafts in the aggression that targeted Syrian Arab Army positions in Deir Ezzor. The Australian Department of Defense said in a statement on Sunday that it will cooperate fully with the review of the incident by the alliance, asserting that while Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit, nor would it provide support for ISIS, offering condolences to the families of the victims of the attack. The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces had reported that US alliance aircrafts targeted at 5 PM on Saturday a Syrian Arab Army position in al-Tharda Mountain in the surroundings of Deir Ezzor Airport, causing losses in lives and equipment. The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry sent two letters to the UN Secretary-General and the head of the Security Council in which it said that the US aggression was premeditated and paved the way for ISIS to seize the position. Hazem Sabbagh[SEP]Australian Defence aircraft were part of a bombing raid in Syria that may have hit that country's military instead of Islamic State targets. Officials have offered condolences to the families of Syrian soldiers who may have been killed during a bombing raid on what was believed to be Islamic State targets. Australian aircraft were among a group of international planes taking part in an operation near Dayr Az Zawr when Russian officials advised the targets may have been Syrian military personnel, a statement said on Sunday. 'While Syria remains a dynamic and complex operating environment, Australia would never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (also known as ISIL),' a defence spokesperson said. The Syrian military said the airstrike hit a base in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour that is surrounded by ISIS, allowing the extremists to advance. The apparently errant strike could deal a blow to a fragile US and Russian-brokered cease-fire that has largely held for five days despite dozens of alleged violations on both sides. The Syrian military said the airstrikes enabled an ISIS advance on a hill overlooking the air base. A Russian Defense Ministry official said Syria informed them that 62 of its soldiers were killed in the airstrike. Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the airstrike near Deir el-Zour airport was conducted by two F-16s and two A-10s. He did not identify the planes' country affiliation, but said they were part of the international coalition. Konashenkov said Syrian authorities reported another 100 wounded. The planes came from the direction of the Iraqi border.
Australia's Department of Defence acknowledges its participation "among a number of international aircraft" in the Deir ez-Zor air raid. It says it would "never intentionally target a known Syrian military unit or actively support Daesh (ISIS)" and offers its condolences.
Game Of Thrones had a record-breaking night at the Emmys, where the stars of The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story were honoured with a host of acting awards. The Sky Atlantic fantasy was named best drama series and picked up gongs for outstanding writing and directing to become the most-awarded narrative show in Emmy history. The show, based on George RR Martin's novels, took its tally to 38 Emmy wins, beating Frasier's record of 37. The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, the television drama based on the murder trial of OJ Simpson, was named outstanding limited series, while Sarah Paulson, Courtney B Vance and Sterling K Brown won awards for their roles in the show. There was also British success at the ceremony in Los Angeles, with Emmys for Dame Maggie Smith, comedian John Oliver and BBC drama Sherlock. Dame Maggie, who did not attend the show, was named best supporting actress in a drama series for her role in Downton Abbey, while Oliver's Last Week Tonight won outstanding variety talk show. Sherlock The Abominable Bride received the television movie award, with writer Steven Moffat referring on stage to The Great British Bake Off's move from the BBC to Channel Four. He told the audience: "Thank you to the BBC who we love above all bakery. British people will get that." Julia Louis-Dreyfus paid a heartfelt tribute to her father who died on Friday as she won an Emmy for her role in the political satire Veep, which was named best comedy series. The American fought back tears as she collected the outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award. "I'd like to dedicate this to my father William Louis-Dreyfus who passed away on Friday," she said. "I'm so glad that he liked Veep because his opinion was the one that really mattered." It is the fifth time in a row Louis-Dreyfus has won the award for her role in the US version of BBC comedy The Thick Of It. Jeffrey Tambor won best lead actor in a comedy series for his role in the Amazon series Transparent and urged the television industry to provide more opportunities for transgender actors. "Please give transgender talent a chance," he said. "Give them auditions. Give them their stories." Paulson was joined at the Emmys by Marcia Clark, the prosecutor she portrayed in the People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story. The pair hugged after Paulson was named outstanding lead actress in a limited series for her performance. On stage, she said described Clark as a "complicated, whip smart, giant-hearted mother of two" who dedicated herself to "righting an unconscionable wrong". Brown, who played prosecutor Christopher Darden in The People v OJ Simpson, beat his co-stars John Travolta and David Schwimmer to win best supporting actor in a limited series or movie. Meanwhile, Courtney B Vance was named outstanding actor in a limited series for his portrayal of defence lawyer Johnnie Cochrane, beating co-star Cuba Gooding Jr who played OJ Simpson. Rami Malek was named best lead actor in a drama series for his role in Mr Robot, while Tatiana Maslany won best actress in a drama series for her performance in BBC America series Orphan Black. Tom Hiddleston, who starred in The Night Manager, presented the award for outstanding directing in a limited series or movie to the show's director Susanne Bier. The 68th Emmy Awards, hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, took place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.[SEP]LOS ANGELES — “Game of Thrones” conquered the Emmy kingdom Sunday, honored as top drama for the second consecutive year and becoming the most honored prime-time TV series ever on a night of surprises and sharp political jabs. “Veep” repeated as best comedy series and its star, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, won a record-breaking sixth Emmy as best comedy actress. Jeffrey Tambor’s trophy as top comedy actor for “Transparent” also was his second. But the top drama acting trophies were far from predictable: Rami Malek of “Mr. Robot” and Tatiana Maslany of “Orphan Black” were the winners, both overcoming heavyweight competition. “Oh, my God. Please tell me you’re seeing this too,” said a stunned Malek, who plays an emotionally troubled engineer caught up in a dangerous hacking conspiracy. “Games of Thrones,” the fantasy saga based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, received a total of 12 awards Sunday and at last weekend’s technical arts ceremony for a cumulative 38, besting “Frasier” by one to claim most prime-time series awards ever. The Emmys proved more adroit than the Oscars at recognizing and honoring diversity in Hollywood’s top ranks, with trophies going to minority actors and behind-the-scenes artists including writers Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang of “Master of None.” But Viola Davis of “How to Get Away with Murder” failed to repeat her 2015 best drama actress win, the first for a woman of color. Louis-Dreyfus used her victory to take a dig at GOP contender Donald Trump in a ceremony loaded with election-year asides. Jeffrey Tambor captured his second consecutive best comedy actor trophy for “Transparent,” in which he plays a transgender character. He called for Hollywood to make him the last non-transgender actor to get such a role. A shaking Louis-Dreyfus ended her speech by dedicating the trophy to her father, who she said died Friday. Before that, she honed in on GOP contender Donald Trump’s campaign. “I’d also like to take this opportunity to personally apologize for the current political climate,” she said. “I think that ‘Veep’ has torn down the wall between comedy and politics. Our show started out as a political satire but it now feels more like a sobering documentary.” She promised to “rebuild that wall and make Mexico pay for it.” Her victory gave her six best comedy wins — five for “Veep,” one for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” — and broke her tie with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore. Maggie Smith was honored as best supporting actress in a drama series for the final season of “Downton Abbey.” It was her third win for playing the formidable dowager. As has become her custom, she didn’t attend the ceremony. And after Smith’s win Kimmel said her Emmy would not be mailed to her but would be kept in the Microsoft Theater’s Lost and Found until she shows up to claim it. Ben Mendelsohn of “Bloodline” won as best supporting drama actor and also was a no-show. John Oliver captured the best variety talk series award for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” besting competitors including Jerry Seinfeld and host Jimmy Kimmel — who received barbed consolation on stage from Matt Damon, his longtime faux nemesis. The loss “makes a lot of sense,” Damon said. “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” which earned the second-highest number of nominations, converted five to trophies Sunday. The dramatic retelling of the football star’s murder trial was honored as best limited series and writing, and earned awards for stars Courtney B. Vance, Sterling K. Brown and Sarah Paulson. “Obama out, Hillary in,” Vance said as he wrapped his victory speech. Regina King claimed the award for supporting actress in a limited series for “American Crime,” her second trophy for the program. Louie Anderson was honored as best supporting actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of a loving but tough mom in “Baskets.” “Mom, we did it!,” Anderson shouted, hoisting his trophy and dedicating the award to his late mother, Ora Zella Anderson. “I have not always been a good man but I play one hell of a woman.” “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kate McKinnon won the trophy for best supporting actress in a comedy for, officially, playing various characters. But she knew who to credit. “Thank you, Ellen DeGeneres, thank you, Hillary Clinton,” she said, naming two of the famous people she’s caricatured on the show. The Democratic presidential contender responded quickly with a tweet: “Congratulations on your Emmy, Kate! Big fan of yours, too.” The ceremony started out with a political edge. In a video bit, Jimmy Kimmel was shown trying to get to the ceremony and encountering former GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush as a limo driver. “Did you know you could make $12 an hour working for Uber?” a game Bush said, smiling. He adv Writing for a Drama Series: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss “Game of Thrones” Writing for a Comedy Series: Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari, “Master of None”[SEP]With 12 Emmy nominations in the bag - including an acting nod for Tom Hiddleston - The Night Manager appeared to be one of the productions to watch on Sunday. But the 35-year-old actor came up empty-handed as he lost out to The People vs. O.J. Simpson's Courtney B. Vance, but he did get to present his series' sole trophy. On a night that was largely disappointing for the Brits, The Night Manager director Susanne Bier was handed a coveted award by Tom at the Los Angeles ceremony. His nominated co-stars Hugh Laurie (Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie) and Olivia Colman (Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie) also failed to hear their names announced as winners on the night. And Tom wasn't the only Brit in his category to walk away disappointed, as he faced off against fellow Londoners Idris Elba (Luther) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: The Abominable Bride). After finally coming to an end following a celebrated five-year run, Downton Abbey lost out to Game Of Thrones in the Drama Series category. Yet on a night where The People v. OJ Simpson and Game Of Thrones dominated the awards haul, the period drama enjoyed a win via Dame Maggie Smith. The veteran actress, 81, came away the winner in the Supporting Actress In A Drama Series category - but she wasn't on hand to accept her coveted honours. Her win meant losses for a number of her fellow Brits, coincidentally all Game Of Thrones co-stars, Lena Heady, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams. Game Of Thrones' Kit Harington was also forced to count himself among those going home empty-handed, as he watched Bloodline's Ben Mendelsohn win big in the Supporting Actor In A Drama Series category. Benedict's Sherlock: The Abominable Bride was also a rare beacon of light on the night for the UK contingent, scooping TV Movie honours. The People vs. O.J. Simpson was a major victor on the night, taking home the Outstanding Limited Series or Movie gong. Meanwhile, Game Of Thrones earned the Outstanding Drama Series prize at the 68th annual event, held in downtown Los Angeles. Game Of Thrones also made history, winning three awards during the televised portion of the show bringing its total to 38. The trophy haul brings the show one award ahead of previous all-time record holder, Kelsey Grammer's show Frasier. The emotional high-note occurred when the People vs. OJ Simpson's Sarah Paulson apologised to Marcia Clark directly while accepting the gong for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. The 41-year-old actress portrayed the real-life prosecutor in the FX biographical drama series and addressed the crowd. She said: 'I along with the rest of the world have been superficial and careless in my judgement and I am glad to be able to stand here today in front over everyone and tell you I'm sorry.' This was her first win at the Emmys after being nominated five times previously in various American Horror Story miniseries along with a 2012 nomination for TV Movie Game Change. Sarah was not the only big winner as her co-stars Courtney B. Vance and Sterling K. Brown won the Outstanding Lead and Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, respectively. During his acceptance speech Courtney had a sweet dedication for his wife of nearly 20 years Angela Bassett. The 56-year-old actor said: 'Last but not least, to the woman who rocks my chain thank you Angela Bassett, this one's for you girl.' Sterling was very gracious in his acceptance speech as he said: 'A lot of you may not have known who I was, but you checked the box anyway. And that makes me very, very happy.' The FX series also won the biggest prize possible as they won the Outstanding Limited Series or Movie gong. They received a total of 22 nominations, good for second behind HBO series Game Of Thrones in all categories. American Crime Story had already won four gongs at the Creative Arts Emmys going into the event. Not to be forgotten Game Of Thrones received the most nominations and earned arguably the biggest prize of the night. The show concluded with the highly-popular series being presented with the Outstanding Drama Series prize. Game Of Thrones had the most total nominations but the second most at the event to the FX series with six but had the most nominations total including the creative arts, directing and writing ones with 23. Another big winner was Kate McKinnon who couldn't help but thank Hillary Clinton for helping her earn her shiny new trophy. The 32-year-old actress won the Supporting Actress in a Comedy series gong at the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards which kicked off on Sunday evening. She won the award for her various characters on Saturday Night Live with her signature one being the former New York Senator. Overcome with emotion she thanked her loved ones and even had a special shout-out for the Democratic president hopeful as she said: ' Thank you Ellen Degeneres, thank you Hillary Clinton.' Last year, the 68-year-old Democratic nominee joined Kate who was dressed up as her during a bar sketch on the live comedy show. The first gong of the night went to Louie Anderson as he won the prize for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Baskets. As he plays the mother of the main character, Christine Baskets, he joked: ' I have not always been a very good man, but I play one hell of a woman!' In the least surprising win of the night, Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her fifth consecutive gong in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category for Veep. The 55-year-old comedienne made a joke about how their comedy has influenced this presidential election before hitting an emotional high point. Her voice began to crack as she dedicated the win to her late father, William Louis-Dreyfus, who passed away on Friday. Her show Veep also received the biggest honour in comedy, Outstanding Comedic Series, as Executive Producer David Mandel had a hilarious speech and had an interesting dedication as he said: 'This is for chubby jews from the Upper Westside wherever you are' Another repeat winner with Transparent's Jeffrey Tambor who took home the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series gong for the second year in a row. The 72-year-old actor showed his respect to his fellow nominees as he said: 'There is no best actor, alright, I am so honoured to be in this category with these artistic killers.' Rami Malek was a first time winner as he took home the coveted Outstanding Actor in a Drama gong for his role in Mr. Robot. The 35-year-old actor channelled his character Elliot Anderson as the first thing he said at the podium was: 'Please tell me you are seeing this too.' The annual gala was hosted by ABC late night chat show host Jimmy Kimmel.[SEP]LOS ANGELES — “Game of Thrones” conquered the Emmy kingdom Sunday, honored as top drama for the second consecutive year and becoming the most honored prime-time TV series ever on a night of surprises and sharp political jabs. “Veep” repeated as best comedy series and its star, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, won a record-breaking sixth Emmy as best comedy actress. Jeffrey Tambor’s trophy as top comedy actor for “Transparent” also was his second. But the top drama acting trophies were far from predictable: Rami Malek of “Mr. Robot” and Tatiana Maslany of “Orphan Black” were the winners, both overcoming heavyweight competition. “Oh, my God. Please tell me you’re seeing this too,” said a stunned Malek, who plays an emotionally troubled engineer caught up in a dangerous hacking conspiracy. “Games of Thrones,” the fantasy saga based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, received a total of 12 awards Sunday and at last weekend’s technical arts ceremony for a cumulative 38, besting “Frasier” by one to claim most prime-time series awards ever. The Emmys proved more adroit than the Oscars at recognizing and honoring diversity in Hollywood’s top ranks, with trophies going to minority actors and behind-the-scenes artists including writers Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang of “Master of None.” But Viola Davis of “How to Get Away with Murder” failed to repeat her 2015 best drama actress win, the first for a woman of color. Louis-Dreyfus used her victory to take a dig at GOP contender Donald Trump in a ceremony loaded with election-year asides. Jeffrey Tambor captured his second consecutive best comedy actor trophy for “Transparent,” in which he plays a transgender character. He called for Hollywood to make him the last non-transgender actor to get such a role. A shaking Louis-Dreyfus ended her speech by dedicating the trophy to her father, who she said died Friday. Before that, she honed in on GOP contender Donald Trump’s campaign. “I’d also like to take this opportunity to personally apologize for the current political climate,” she said. “I think that ‘Veep’ has torn down the wall between comedy and politics. Our show started out as a political satire but it now feels more like a sobering documentary.” She promised to “rebuild that wall and make Mexico pay for it.” Her victory gave her six best comedy wins — five for “Veep,” one for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” — and broke her tie with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore. Maggie Smith was honored as best supporting actress in a drama series for the final season of “Downton Abbey.” It was her third win for playing the formidable dowager. As has become her custom, she didn’t attend the ceremony. And after Smith’s win Kimmel said her Emmy would not be mailed to her but would be kept in the Microsoft Theater’s Lost and Found until she shows up to claim it. Ben Mendelsohn of “Bloodline” won as best supporting drama actor and also was a no-show. John Oliver captured the best variety talk series award for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” besting competitors including Jerry Seinfeld and host Jimmy Kimmel — who received barbed consolation on stage from Matt Damon, his longtime faux nemesis. The loss “makes a lot of sense,” Damon said. “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” which earned the second-highest number of nominations, converted five to trophies Sunday. The dramatic retelling of the football star’s murder trial was honored as best limited series and writing, and earned awards for stars Courtney B. Vance, Sterling K. Brown and Sarah Paulson. “Obama out, Hillary in,” Vance said as he wrapped his victory speech. Regina King claimed the award for supporting actress in a limited series for “American Crime,” her second trophy for the program. Louie Anderson was honored as best supporting actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of a loving but tough mom in “Baskets.” “Mom, we did it!,” Anderson shouted, hoisting his trophy and dedicating the award to his late mother, Ora Zella Anderson. “I have not always been a good man but I play one hell of a woman.” “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kate McKinnon won the trophy for best supporting actress in a comedy for, officially, playing various characters. But she knew who to credit. “Thank you, Ellen DeGeneres, thank you, Hillary Clinton,” she said, naming two of the famous people she’s caricatured on the show. The Democratic presidential contender responded quickly with a tweet: “Congratulations on your Emmy, Kate! Big fan of yours, too.” The ceremony started out with a political edge. In a video bit, Jimmy Kimmel was shown trying to get to the ceremony and encountering former GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush as a limo driver. “Did you know you could make $12 an hour working for Uber?” a game Bush said, smiling. He adv Writing for a Drama Series: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss “Game of Thrones” Writing for a Comedy Series: Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari, “Master of None”[SEP]LOS ANGELES: Fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” made television history at the 68th Emmy Awards on Sunday, becoming the most decorated fictional show since the awards began nearly seven decades ago. The HBO series picked up 12 total Emmys this season — nine awards in technical categories and three top prizes at the glitzy ceremony in downtown Los Angeles — television’s equivalent of the Oscars. The blood-spattered, sex-filled saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne took home the most coveted prize of the night, the best drama Emmy — along with statuettes for writing and directing. That gives it a total haul over the years of 38 — more than any other narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949, overtaking the haul of 37 won by long-running comedy “Frasier.” But it went down to the wire, as “Thrones” drew a blank in the acting categories, despite being a hot favorite and having multiple nominees, and only set the record with the last prize of the night. Three of its stars — Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams — dominated the betting in the supporting actress category, but the statuette went to Maggie Smith of “Downton Abbey.” Peter Dinklage missed out on a supporting actor trophy, as did co-star Kit Harington, the category’s favorite, with Ben Mendelsohn picking up the prize for “Bloodline.” “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” also glittered, picking up a total of nine awards this season, including the prize for best limited series. “If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a white Bronco in it, go home right now,” host Jimmy Kimmel joked at the start of the three-hour broadcast, a reference to “Thrones” and the infamous car Simpson was in when he went on a wild ride through Los Angeles before his arrest. The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes nonfiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 45 awards, one of them handed out Sunday to Kate McKinnon for best supporting actress. It was a night of recognition for old hands in the comedy categories, while the drama awards went to relative newcomers. In the best actress in a comedy category, Julia Louis-Dreyfus won a fifth consecutive Emmy for her role as the hapless acting president on HBO’s “Veep.” “I would like to dedicate this to my father who passed away on Friday, and I’m so glad that he liked ‘Veep’ because his opinion was the one that really mattered,” she said in an emotional tribute, her voice breaking. “Veep” later picked up the Emmy for outstanding comedy series. The award for best actor in a comedy went for the second year in a row to Jeffrey Tambor for “Transparent,” who pleaded with producers and directors to give transgender talent a chance in television. In the tightest race of the night, lead actress in a drama, Tatiana Maslany won for “Orphan Black,” pipping favorite Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) and last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”). Kevin Spacey, who has never won an Emmy, missed out again in for outstanding actor in a drama, which went to Rami Malek, the start of cyberspace security thriller “Mr. Robot.” Ex-presidential hopeful Jeb Bush made a surprise appearance as a limo driver in a televised opening joke sequence, asking host Jimmy Kimmel what it’s like to be nominated. Several stars took aim at divisive Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, either in prepared jokes or in acceptance speeches. “I want everyone to know that after careful consideration, I decided I’m going with Trump — which is why I’m saying we should get rid of all Hispanic and Muslim actors,” said award-winning comedian and writer Aziz Ansari. The win for FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson” for best limited series was the most widely predicted victory of the night, and the show — a scripted drama recounting the American football star’s shocking fall from grace — swept up acting prizes. Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance were rewarded in the lead acting categories for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran. Sterling K. Brown took home a statuette for his supporting actor role, while D.V. DeVincentis was recognized for the show’s writing. “Playing a real person, you want to get it right for them,” said Paulson. “And the more I learned about Marcia Clark, who dedicated herself to righting an unconscionable wrong, I’m glad to be able to stand here today in front of everyone and tell you, I’m sorry,” she said, apologizing for having initially misjudged the prosecutor. In the battle of the networks, perennial leader HBO finished top with 22 Emmys — six on Sunday to add to its 16 from the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony last weekend. FX, which scored the most nominations in history for a basic cable network, ended the night on 18 in total — twice as many as third-placed Netflix. – AFP[SEP]The kids from Netflix’s Stranger Things were cute, cool and adorable. There’s that. The sizzle that surrounded them when they appeared on the red carpet and were interviewed was a testament to the continuing power of contemporary television to seduce everyone. There’s that. But there’s this: The Television Academy and the vast army of people who vote in such things summoned up the courage to nominate new and deserving talent and shows for Emmy awards, and then delivered, mostly. Diversity and excellence – the Emmy Awards have it over the Oscars already. If you said that TV’s biggest night, as they call it in Los Angeles, was a routine acknowledgment of the usual suspects, you would not win an award for outstanding statement of the obvious. You would be wrong. The Emmy Awards on Sunday night was a fun, zippy broadcast for the most part, and the establishment won a handful of awards, but the strength, artistic superiority and strangeness of TV was on full, glaring display. Even Canadian Tatiana Maslany finally won for Orphan Black an overdue acknowledgment of extraordinary work playing multiple characters on a show that is, really about her, not the tangled story she inhabits. Read more: Game of Thrones, Veep take honours at Emmys Read more: Canadian Tatiana Maslany wins Emmy for best lead actress in a drama There was some expectation that many of the deserving recent performances and new nominees would be left looking on as Game of Thrones, Veep and Modern Family took home tons of awards. That didn’t happen. Instead The People vs O.J. Simpson took a ton of Emmys and deservedly. The series and its baroque style of dramatizing a key event in recent American history won and won again, emphatically sending a message about the innovation and artistry that resides in cable TV now. It also delivered a message about the channel FX challenging HBO for superiority in programming. There was also an unexpected nod to the utterly new as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series went to Rami Malek for his extraordinary work, anchoring the excellent Mr. Robot. It was good TV, unusually so for an awards show, and that was mainly thanks to host Jimmy Kimmel, who took the show this way and that, sometimes into the outer limits of taste but always funny. At one point there was an announcement that multiple Emmy winner Dr. Bill Cosby would appear next. And Kimmel strolled back on-stage to say, “Don’t worry, he’s not really here, I just wanted to see what you guys would do.” Nobody had applauded, to the relief of a watching world. In truth there aren’t enough Emmys to reward all the excellence across network, cable and streaming platforms. Somebody has to be snubbed and that somebody might have done excellent work. There were some categories in which it was truly hard to pick a deserving winner. But the important thing is that the energy of television as a storytelling medium was on full display. For years the Emmys amounted to a hard-to-watch, insider awards show because the same-old, same-old was rewarded each year. The knock against the Emmy Awards was that only older voters actually paid attention, and then only paid attention to old favourites. That’s not the case now. Television is now so vast and expansive in the amount of great productions. British TV was everywhere at the Emmy Awards – there were Brit contenders in many categories, including the John le Carré adaptation The Night Manager, Luther, Sherlock, War and Peace, Downton Abbey and Catastrophe, and it was a very big night for the BBC, which had 22 nominations, but the old principle that prestigious wards in acting and writing went to British productions did not hold up. The fact that Dame Maggie Smith won again for Downton Abbey was, in fact, am enduring source of comedy for Kimmel for much of the broadcast. It’s true that HBO’s Game of Thrones and Veep repeated their wins as best drama and comedy respectively. The two wins had been predicted, yet there was little that was predictable about this awards show. There were signals throughout that there is a change that is ongoing even in the stuffy traditions of the Television Academy. It was large-scale and small-scale, from Tatiana Maslany’s win to the fact that Last Week Tonight With John Oliver won best variety talk show, a category that has almost automatically been won by The Daily Show for years. The Daily Show failed to get a nomination this year. Things change and what changed this year was that the Emmy Awards was not only fun to watch but an accurate reflection of the superbness of television as it exists now.[SEP]LOS ANGELES: Blood and guts fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television’s equivalent of the Oscars. The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 — more than any other drama series. When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom “Frasier.” HBO’s saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts’ awards predictions. It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller “Mr Robot.” If the prize-giving goes as expected, “Game of Thrones” would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949. “I think ‘Game of Thrones’ will be a big winner on Emmy night,” Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told AFP. “With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it’s going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record.” The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes non-fiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 44 awards. FX’s hotly-tipped “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” has 13 nominations — more than any other show — in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys. Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran. Sterling K. Brown is odds on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszeski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” “We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively so we said, ‘Oh that’s cool,'” Alexander told AFP. “But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar.” FX’s acclaimed spy drama “The Americans” could pull some surprises at Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama. Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) expected to just about pip last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”). “There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor,” said Gold Derby editor Tom O’Neil. “Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through — 7/2. However, ‘Mr. Robot’ star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds.” In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year. But the biggest early success story has been Fox’s FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company. ABC’s four-hour telecast begins with “Countdown to the Emmy Awards: Red Carpet Live” at 4:00 pm (2300 GMT), with the ceremony due to begin about an hour later. – AFP[SEP]LOS ANGELES: Blood and guts fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television’s equivalent of the Oscars. The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 — more than any other drama series. When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom “Frasier.” HBO’s saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts’ awards predictions. It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller “Mr. Robot.” If the prize-giving goes as expected, “Game of Thrones” would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949. “I think ‘Game of Thrones’ will be a big winner on Emmy night,” Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told Agence France-Presse. “With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it’s going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record.” The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes nonfiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show “Saturday Night Live,” with 44 awards. FX’s hotly tipped “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” has 13 nominations — more than any other show — in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys. Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran. Sterling K. Brown is odds-on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” “We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively, so we said, ‘Oh, that’s cool,'” Alexander told AFP. “But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar.” FX’s acclaimed spy drama “The Americans” could pull some surprises at Sunday’s ceremony, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama. “They are geniuses. They are unbelievable, incredible together,” show creator Joe Weisberg said at a discussion panel for Emmy-nominated writers in Beverly Hills on Thursday. “We are always talking about the fact that no matter what we write for them, they do something with it that we hadn’t expected.” Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) expected possibly to squeak past last year’s victor Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”). “There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor,” said Gold Derby editor Tom O’Neil. “Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through — 7/2. However, ‘Mr. Robot’ star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds.” And in the best actress in a comedy category, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is going for her fifth consecutive Emmy for her role as the hapless acting president on HBO’s “Veep.” In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year. But the biggest early success story has been Fox’s FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company. The festivities will begin in the late afternoon — under clear, sunny skies — with the usual red-carpet parade by the stars. The ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, starts roughly at 5:00 pm (0000 GMT Monday). AFP[SEP]The 68th Emmy Awards are underway, with “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” already picking up several awards, while Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won her fifth consecutive Emmy in the comedy actress category. The night’s biggest awards are still to come.[SEP]Blood and guts fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" is tipped to triumph on Sunday as the most successful show ever at the coveted Emmy Awards, television's equivalent of the Oscars. The HBO series already has nine statuettes from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 -- more than any other drama series. When Emmys in top categories are handed out at a glitzy evening ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, experts predict the show will pass the 37 won by long-running sitcom "Frasier." HBO's saga about noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne is the odds-on favorite in the coveted best drama category according to Gold Derby, a website pooling experts' awards predictions. It is also ahead in the supporting actor, supporting actress and directing categories, and is running a close second in drama writing behind cyber-security thriller "Mr Robot." If the prize-giving goes as expected, "Game of Thrones" would be the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949. "I think 'Game of Thrones' will be a big winner on Emmy night," Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for TV at entertainment industry magazine Variety, told AFP. "With all the nominations it has in those five categories, it's going to take home at least three trophies, and break the record." The all-time Emmy list of winners -- which includes non-fiction -- is topped by NBC comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live," with 44 awards. FX's hotly-tipped "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" has 13 nominations -- more than any other show -- in multiple categories on Sunday, having already won four technical Emmys. Its victory for best limited series is seen as the surest thing of the night while Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance are expected to be rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran. Sterling K. Brown is odds on for his supporting actor role while Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszeski lead a writing category in which three of the six episodes nominated are from "The People v. O.J. Simpson." "We gave the script to a few people. Our producing partners and the studio were responding really positively so we said, 'Oh that's cool,'" Alexander told AFP. "But you never know if something is going to be a hit. Anyone who says that is a liar." FX's acclaimed spy drama "The Americans" could pull some surprises at Sunday's ceremony, hosted by funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, with Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell seen as popular outside bets for best actor and actress in a drama. Russell is running third in the betting for tightest race of the night, with Robin Wright ("House of Cards") expected to just about pip last year's victor Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder"). "There is almost as much drama in the race for best drama actor," said Gold Derby editor Tom O'Neil. "Like Robin Wright, her co-star Kevin Spacey has never won an Emmy, but now he has decent odds to break through -- 7/2. However, 'Mr. Robot' star Rami Malek leads with 8/11 odds." In the battle of the networks, perennial favorite HBO leads the nominations, though with a reduced tally from last year. But the biggest early success story has been Fox's FX subsidiary, which got 56 nominations, a new record for a basic cable company. ABC's four-hour telecast begins with "Countdown to the Emmy Awards: Red Carpet Live" at 4:00 pm (2300 GMT), with the ceremony due to begin about an hour later.
The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards is held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with Game of Thrones winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Veep winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story winning the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series.
Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke looked stunning in a strapless champagne Atelier Versace gown at the 2016 Emmy Awards. Looking as if she had been sewn into the floor-length dress with ruched detail at the bust. Emilia, 29, spoke on the red carpet with E! News' Giuliana Rancic about what's going to happen when hit HBO show Game of Thrones comes to an end. The British actress, who stars as Daeynerys Targaryen in the show, said: "It will be really intense saying goodbye to the show. It will be really, really intense. But it's still a little ways away, so I kinda have time to have it sink in.” Game of Thrones is expected to dominate the awards, and its stars reigned on the red carpet. While Gwendoline Christie also wore black, but opted for a short dress that showed off her height. The show scooped nine awards at the Creative Arts Emmys last week and made it the biggest-winning drama series of all time. Depending on how many awards it picks up tonight, the HBO series could pass Frasier's record of 37 for the highest number of Emmy awards.[SEP]"Game of Thrones" led the pack in Emmy nominations this year by earning 23 nods overall, ahead of "The People v. O.J. Simpson" and "Fargo" (which earned 22 and 18 nominations, respectively). HBO’s fantasy epic also has an early lead in total wins going into the night having scored nine wins in the Creative Arts Emmy categories that were awarded earlier. "The People v. O.J. Simpson" also already has four awards. This brings "Game of Thrones’" Emmy haul to 35 overall wins, officially crowning the gang from Westeros with the title of most overall Emmy wins for a drama series. And tonight their reign may stretch even further. The show only trails "Frasier" and "Saturday Night Live" in overall wins. The Seattle-set sitcom earned 37 Emmys during its run, and "SNL" has racked up 44 wins so far in its 41 seasons and has a couple of chances to add to its collection tonight as well. If "Game of Thrones" takes home five or more awards tonight (of its remaining nine nominations) it will best its 2015 Emmy Awards total of 12 wins.[SEP]Emmys: Game of Thrones becomes the most-awarded narrative series of all time Updated Game of Thrones has become the most successful narrative series ever at television's night of nights, the Emmy Awards. Key points: Game of Thrones has won 38 Emmy Awards, surpassing Frasier HBO series won this year in three categories The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story won five awards, nominated in 13 categories The show broke the record after winning Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series. The HBO series already had nine statuettes from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, which mainly reward behind-the-scenes personnel, giving it a total haul over the years of 35 heading into the 2016 ceremony — more than any other drama series. Before the 2016 Emmy Awards, the record for the most-awarded narrative series belonged to long-running sitcom Frasier, which won 37 Emmys. The all-time Emmy list of winners — which includes non-fiction — is topped by NBC comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, with 44 awards. Game of Thrones is now the most-awarded narrative series since the first Television Academy prize-giving in 1949. Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Bloodline. The most nominated show of 2016, The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, picked up five wins to add to its four technical Emmys. Actors Sarah Paulson and Courtney B Vance were rewarded for their acclaimed portrayals of sparring attorneys Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran. Sterling K Brown took home a statuette for his supporting actor role, while DV DeVincentis was recognised for the show's writing. "Playing a real person, you want to get it right for them," Paulson said. "The more I learned about Marcia Clark ... the more I had to recognise that I, along with the rest of the world, had been superficial and careless in my judgment [of her]." Wins for Orphan Black, Mr Robot and Veep Tatiana Maslany won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Orphan Black, and Rami Malek won Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Mr Robot. Veep took home the most Outstanding Comedy Series award and its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus claimed the Lead Actress in a Comedy award. Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Veep's acting US president Selina Meyer, apologised during her acceptance speech for what she called "the current political climate". "I think that Veep has torn down the wall between comedy and politics. Our show started out as a political satire but it now feels like a sobering documentary," she said. Jeffrey Tambor won Lead Actor in a Comedy for his role in Transparent. During his speech, Tambor urged producers and directors to give transgender talent a chance in television. AFP/Reuters Topics: television, arts-and-entertainment, popular-culture, united-states First posted[SEP]The Game of Thrones showrunners have ruled themselves out of returning for a spinoff or prequel series. David Benioff and DB Weiss were quizzed about the hit HBO fantasy shows’s future at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, where the series became the most decorated drama in the ceremony’s history. Its trophy total now stands at an impressive 38. When asked by reporters about plans for further Westeros series, the pair directed attention towards A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin, upon whose books Game of Thrones is based. “You might want to ask George about that,” said Benioff, according to Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a great world that George created. I think it’s a very rich world and I’m sure there will be other series set in Westeros but for us, this is it. That’s really a question for George.” Game of Thrones is expected to end after eight seasons in 2018, but Martin has strongly hinted that he has more up his sleeve. “I do have thousands of pages of fake history of everything that led up to Game of Thrones,” he said backstage at the Emmys. “So there’s a lot of material there and I’m writing more.” Fortunately for fans of the novels, Martin added that he “still has two books to finish” and is focusing on that gargantuan task at the moment. Stay tuned and we’ll make sure you don’t miss any further updates.[SEP]Considering it earned a total of 23 nominations, Game of Thrones is being represented very well at the 2016 Emmy Awards. Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in the HBO fantasy series, is one of several cast members who is attending tonight's ceremony and she's taken the opportunity to tease the upcoming season of the show. Speaking to E! on the red carpet, Turner was asked what she felt when she first read through the season 7 scripts. "I was actually speechless," she said. "This season is unbelievable and I think fans are going to be really satisfied. It's crazy." Game of Thrones could well make history at this year's Emmy awards by becoming the biggest award-winning show since the awards ceremony began; the show has so far clocked up 35 wins over six series - picking up nine wins at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, which encompasses many of the technical awards - already making it the biggest-winning dramas series of all time. However, only three more wins would see Thrones surpass the overall record for highest number of wins, beating sitcom Frasier's total of 35. The show is nominated in several of the acting categories as well as for Oustanding Drama Series where it faces competition from The Americans, Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Homeland, House of Cards, and Mr Robot. It was announced earlier this year that season 8 would be the popular series' last.[SEP]The sixth season of the amazingly successful HBO series ‘Game Of Thrones’ killed all before it at the 2016 Awards, becoming the most awarded tv show in the Emmys history! They were up for 24 total awards and walked away with 12 at Sunday night’s 2016 Emmy awards in Los Angeles for a total of 38 now, breaking a record set by the also very past successful sitcom Frasier with a total haul of 37 Emmys. The Battle of the Bastards episode was singled out for praise, and won awards for best drama writing (David Benihoff and DB Weiss) and directing (Miguel Sapotchnik). This was the episode that had one of the highest ratings for the show ever, and in our opinion was one of the best episodes of anything we have ever seen. The series already became the most-honored drama series after picking up nine Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremony last weekend, surpassing longtime title holders Hill Street Blues and The West Wing. By scoring another three awards Sunday, Thrones becomes the only prime-time scripted series to ever have won this many awards. There has been a ton of controversy most recently about the series, but hopefully everything will work out and we will see GOT only get bigger. Is that even possible? lol Below is talk about the Battle Of The Bastards episode that had people watching, gasping for air:
Game of Thrones wins three Emmy Awards to become the most successful narrative series of all time beating the record previously held by Frasier.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - An overcrowded tourist boat carrying Muslim pilgrims was being piloted recklessly before it capsized, killing at least 15 Thai people, officials said on Monday as divers and other rescuers searched for 11 people still missing. People stand near a boat which according to officials, capsized on the Chao Phraya river while carrying 150 Thai Muslims, in the ancient tourist city of Ayutthaya, Thailand September 18, 2016. Dailynews/via REUTERS The accident happened on Sunday on the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site located some 80 km (50 miles) north of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The double-decker tourist boat carrying around 100 Thai Muslims on a pilgrimage tried to overtake a sand barge and ran into a barrier, police said, causing the boat to capsize. Eleven people are still missing and police divers resumed their search early on Monday. No foreigners were believed to be among the dead. The boat was 50 passengers over its capacity at the time of the accident, police commander Surapong Thampitak told Reuters on Monday. The boat’s driver will be charged with reckless driving causing loss of life and overloading the boat beyond its safety limit, said Surapong. The driver was detained on Sunday night and was being questioned by police, he said. “We are searching for around 11 missing people today,” Ayutthaya Deputy Governor Rewat Prasong told reporters. The accident came as Thailand expects to welcome a record 33 million visitors this year. Road and boat accidents involving tourists are common in Thailand, where safety standards are sometimes well below international norms. However, accidents barely make a dent on Thailand’s tourism industry, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lackluster economy. A series of bomb blasts in southern Thailand have also had little impact. One of those attacks on Aug. 11-12 killed four Thais and wounded dozens, including foreigners. Police have blamed the bombings on Malay Muslim insurgents operating in Thailand’s far south.[SEP]At least 12 dead in Thailand as tourist boat capsizes, dozens missing BANGKOK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - At least 12 people have died and dozens are missing in Thailand after a boat carrying 150 Thai Muslims capsized in the ancient tourist city of Ayutthaya, officials said on Sunday. The accident took place on the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site located some 80 kms (43 miles) north of the Thai capital Bangkok. At least 37 were injured and many are still missing as rescue workers continue to search for survivors into the night. The dead include seven women, four men and one boy, Rewat Prasong, deputy governor of Ayutthaya province, told Reuters. The passengers were on their way back from a religious activity when the double-decker boat hit the bank of the river before sinking, district chief Suchon Phaitirat told Reuters. The accident on Sunday comes as Thailand expects to welcome some 33 million visitors this year, a record. Road and boat accidents involving tourists are common in Thailand where safety standards are sometimes well below international norms. But such accidents barely make a dent on Thailand's tourism industry, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lacklustre economy, nor have a series of bomb blasts in southern Thailand had an impact. One of the attacks on August 11 and 12 left four Thai people dead and dozens injured, including foreigners. Police have blamed the bombings on Malay Muslim insurgents operating in Thailand's far south.[SEP]At least 13 people have died and dozens are missing in Thailand after a boat carrying 150 Thai Muslims capsized in the ancient tourist city of Ayutthaya, officials said on Sunday. The accident took place on the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya, a Unesco World Heritage site located some 80km (43 miles) north of the Thai capital Bangkok. At least 37 were injured and many are still missing as rescue workers continue to search for survivors. The dead include seven women, four men and at least one child. The passengers were on their way back from a religious activity when the double-decker boat hit the bank of the river before sinking, said district chief Suchon Phaitirat.[SEP]A boat carrying 150 passengers has crashed into a bridge in Thailand with reports of at least 13 people dead, including a child. The boat full of tourists returning from a new mosque in the city of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok, according to a report by The Independent. The double storey boat is believed to have crashed into a pillar on the Chao Praya River at 4pm local time, in a report by The Sun. Video of the crash shows people in yellow shirts frantically trying to get off the sinking boat as people on the banks try to help by throwing a safety rope and life jackets to them. There are fears that up to a dozen people are missing. Rescuers are currently at the scene.[SEP]BANGKOK (AP) — Searchers in Thailand have recovered 18 bodies and are continuing to look for 12 people missing from a heavily loaded boat that sank in a river over the weekend, officials said. The two-deck boat was carrying more than 100 Muslims on a holiday excursion when it sank Sunday afternoon on the Chao Phraya river 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Bangkok. The boat evidently ran up a riverbank then took on water, sinking in less than two minutes just a few meters offshore. Bodies were still being retrieved Monday afternoon, with 18 recovered so far, a Marine Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to release information. Some bodies were found in the partially overturned boat, while others had drifted downstream. In addition to the dead and missing, 44 people were injured. Thai rescue teams search for victims after a boat capsized at Chao Phraya River in Ayuthaya Province, Thailand, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Thai news reports say at least 13 people were killed when a double-decker passenger boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok. Some people were still missing after the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how many. (Dailynews via AP) A Harbor Department official, Surasak Sansombat, was quoted earlier by ThaiPBS television as saying that the boat's listed capacity was 50 passengers and it probably capsized from overloading. "Many passengers tried to jump out of the boat and scrambled toward the shore, which was about three to five meters away," Annop Kudeephan, a 50-year-old survivor, was quoted as saying in The Nation newspaper. Thai rescue teams search for victims after a boat capsized at Chao Phraya River in Ayuthaya Province, Thailand, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Thai news reports say at least 13 people were killed when a double-decker passenger boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok. Some people were still missing after the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how many. (Dailynews via AP) Thai rescue teams search for victims after a boat capsized at Chao Phraya River in Ayuthaya Province, Thailand, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Thai news reports say at least 13 people were killed when a double-decker passenger boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok. Some people were still missing after the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how many. (Dailynews via AP)[SEP]Thai rescue teams search for victims after a boat capsized at Chao Phraya River in Ayuthaya Province, Thailand, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Thai news reports say at least 13 people were killed when a double-decker passenger boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok. Some people were still missing after the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how many. (Dailynews via AP)[SEP]At least 13 reported to be killed in Thailand boat accident BANGKOK (AP) — Thai news reports say at least 13 people were killed when a double-decker passenger boat carrying more than 100 people capsized in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok. Some people were still missing after the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon, but it was not immediately clear how many. TV Channel 7 and other stations reported that more than 30 people were injured in the accident. Channel 7 said 13 people were killed. No foreigners were reported to be among the victims. Rescue efforts were continuing Sunday evening, but were being hampered by rain and darkness.[SEP]At least 10 people are feared dead after a boat carrying around 150 passengers capsized in a river. Dozens more are thought to still be missing in the Chao Praya River in the southern province of Ayutthaya after the boat reportedly hit the pillar of a bridge. Reoprts suggest hundreds are trapped under the water. Video footage posted on Twitter shows the boat half-submerged as people in yellow T-shirts, who appear to be a tourist group on board, struggle to escape the sinking vessel. Divers and rescue workers are currently searching for those who are missing. Local media has reported that those killed were Muslim tourists returning from a visit to a new mosque in the city of Ayutthaya. The group are said to have just boarded the boat to leave when the vessel is said to have hit a bridge pillar before capsizing in front of hundreds of fellow vistors stood on the pier. One of the dead is said to be a child.[SEP]The accident happened on Sunday on the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site located some 80 km (50 miles) north of the Thai capital of Bangkok. The double-decker tourist boat carrying around 100 Thai Muslims on a pilgrimage tried to overtake a sand barge and ran into a barrier, police said, causing the boat to capsize. Eleven people are still missing and police divers resumed their search early on Monday. No foreigners were believed to be among the dead. The boat was 50 passengers over its capacity at the time of the accident, police commander Surapong Thampitak told Reuters on Monday. The boat's driver will be charged with reckless driving causing loss of life and overloading the boat beyond its safety limit, said Surapong. The driver was detained on Sunday night and was being questioned by police, he said. "We are searching for around 11 missing people today," Ayutthaya Deputy Governor Rewat Prasong told reporters. The accident came as Thailand expects to welcome a record 33 million visitors this year. Road and boat accidents involving tourists are common in Thailand, where safety standards are sometimes well below international norms. However, accidents barely make a dent on Thailand's tourism industry, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lackluster economy. A series of bomb blasts in southern Thailand have also had little impact. One of those attacks on Aug. 11-12 killed four Thais and wounded dozens, including foreigners. Police have blamed the bombings on Malay Muslim insurgents operating in Thailand's far south.[SEP]BANGKOK: The search for several missing passengers continued Monday after a boat carrying Muslim pilgrims sank on Thailand’s Chao Phraya River leaving at least 15 people dead, a provincial governor said. The accident happened on Sunday afternoon near the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a popular tourist attraction, when a boat packed with pilgrims returning from a mosque hit a concrete bank in strong tides. “The death toll is now confirmed at 15, with 11 people still missing,” Ayutthaya deputy governor Rewat Prasong told media, updating the overnight toll from 13 dead. “Fourteen people are still in hospital,” he said, adding “the rescue operation resumed this morning to find those missing.” No foreigners were believed to be among the dead. Local television stations showed graphic footage of the aftermath of the accident as passengers were pulled from the water while rescuers attempted to resuscitate stricken people on the bank. Passengers were trapped on the lower deck of the pleasure boat, which was submerged in the swollen, brown waters agonizingly close to the bank.
A tourist boat carrying about 150 people capsizes on the Chao Phraya River in Thailand, killing at least 12 people with dozens missing.
With polling stations closing the first exit polls from the Russian parliamentary elections give the government party United Russia a comfortable lead. The exit poll results from FOM are: United Russia 48.7%, Liberal Democratic Party (Zhirinovsky’s party) 14.2%, Communist Party of the Russian Federation 16.3%, A Just Russia 7.6%. A different exit poll from VCIOM gives similar but slightly different figures, with United Russia party winning 44.5%, with the LDPR second with 15.3%, and the Communist Party third with 14.9%. If these exit polls are correct then it would suggest that the balance of forces in the new Duma will be very similar to that of the outgoing Duma, though the nationalist Liberal Democrat party of Vladimir Zhirinovsky seem to have gained ground at the expense of the two left wing parties, the Communist Party and A Just Russia. Exit polls are not always reliable whether in Russia or anywhere else. Moreover in these elections there is a wild card in that only half the seats in the Duma are being allocated according to proportional representation, with the other half being allocated in first past the post voting in single member constituencies. Whilst that is expected to work to United Russia’s further advantage, it might throw up a few mavericks in odd places. Though there are no final figures, it seems turnout is well down and may be as low as 40%.[SEP]Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sarah Rainsford reports from a Moscow polling station where there is a festive mood Voting is ending in Russia's parliamentary elections dominated by President Vladimir Putin's supporters. The last poll in 2011 was followed by mass protests as evidence of fraud emerged. This time serious violations were reported in one Siberian region. For the first time, people are voting in Crimea, annexed from Ukraine in 2014 in a move condemned internationally. There were reports of scuffles with Ukrainian nationalists as people voted at the Russian embassy in Kiev. Voters will choose 450 MPs in the State Duma (lower house), for the next five years. The outgoing Duma had just a handful of MPs opposed to Mr Putin. Image copyright AFP Image caption A woman votes at home in Moscow during the elections Despite Russia's economic malaise and tensions with the West over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, some observers called the election campaign the dullest in recent memory. Widespread voter apathy suggests that turnout could be low. Violations: By Oleg Boldyrev, BBC News, Moscow As election day started across Russia's vast territory, the first turnout figures started coming in. In the Far Eastern region of Kamchatka only 34% of voters went to the polls. It's too early to say whether this trend is going to hold across Russia. In Moscow early voting was mostly sluggish, although some polling stations were filled with dozens of voters at once, prompting suspicion of an organised vote. The first reports of violations are also coming in from across the country, although so far not as numerous as in the 2011 campaign. In one case, in Altai region, notorious "carousel" voting - people being bussed round polling stations and voting several times - was witnessed. Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russian Central Election Committee, threatened to cancel the results of the vote there and said a criminal case will follow. Independent monitors say the influx of absentee votes is a major complaint, despite Mrs Pamfilova saying that the total number of absentees registered this time was half that of 2011. She has brushed off reports of such irregularities, calling them "hysteria". Two days ago, summing up the pre-election campaign, Mrs Pamfilova acknowledged some violations were inevitable, but said she would do everything possible to fight fraud. Among irregularities reported so far: Monitoring group Golos says it had received more than 1,300 complaints by late afternoon, AP reports Reports of "carousel" voting in the city of Barnaul, in the central Siberian Altai region, prompt officials to threaten to annul the election there Two men detained in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on suspicion of organising carousel voting Mr Putin voted at around lunchtime in southern Moscow Questioned by journalists, the president said, quoted by Russian media: "I know who I'm voting for. Don't you have an idea?" The first exit polls are expected on Sunday evening. Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Putin voted at the Academy of Sciences building in southern Moscow Some critics of President Putin got a rare chance to put their case to a mass audience on TV but significant opposition figures like Alexei Navalny were barred from campaigning. Ukrainian protests Tensions are running high in Ukraine, with reports that right-wing Ukrainian activists were blocking the entrance to Russia's embassy in the capital Kiev. Image copyright AP Image caption Voting in Crimea - annexed by Russia in 2014 - has angered Ukraine Image copyright EPA Image caption Nationalist activists have been trying to blockade the Russian embassy in Kiev One demonstrator was arrested during scuffles with police, AP news agency reported. Ukraine's government is furious about Russia's plans to hold elections in Crimea, annexed after an unrecognised referendum on self-determination. A Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mariana Betsa, said voting in the Russian election could not take place in her country. Ukraine refused to provide extra security at Russian consular buildings for the poll, but Russia insisted that polling stations would be set up in them anyway. About 80,000 Russian voters live in Ukraine, Russian electoral officials say. Ukraine's parliament, the Rada, has urged countries not to send observers to the Russian elections in Crimea and not to recognise the results there. Any such visits will be treated as criminal violations of Ukraine's borders, the parliament warned. President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered that Russia did "not plan to discuss the electoral process on its territory with any other country". Russian election battle[SEP]The polls have closed for Russia's 2016 parliamentary elections, with the first exit polls showing no real surprises: President Vladimir Putin's party of power, United Russia, stands to remain the dominant force in Russian parliamentary politics. According to exit polls, the party looks to claim up to 49.4 percent of Sunday's vote, according to the Public Opinion Fund (FOM), a state-funded pollster. According to another state pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), United Russia took 44.7 percent of the vote. Support for the party appears to have been strongest in regions with high voter turnout. The two state pollsters differed on which sanctioned opposition party took second place in the election. According to FOM, Russia's Communist Party held onto its second-place spot with 16.3 percent of the vote. However, VTsIOM has the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) in second with 15.3 percent to the Communist party's 14.9 percent. FOM had LDPR at 14.3 percent. Meanwhile, efforts by Russia's fractious opposition parties were mired by low turnout in urban centers like Moscow and St. Petersburg, where support for liberal-minded or otherwise opposition-focused movements was at least measurable. Yabloko, the leading liberal opposition party, pulled in just 2.6 percent of the vote, according to FOM. (The party managed to rake in 3.4 percent of the vote, according to VTsIOM.) By failing to pass the five-percent threshold, Yabloko will not gain representation in the Duma, unless one of its candidates can win a seat in a single-mandate contest. A source close to the Kremlin told The Moscow Times that officials expect United Russia to win more than 300 seats in the Duma (in both the proportional voting and winner-take-all races), giving the party a majority large enough to amend the Russian Constitution. “This is possible,” the source said. The only other party to pass the five percent threshold was A Just Russia, which won 7.6 percent of the vote according to FOM, and 8.1 percent according to VTsIOM. Numbers published by the Central Election Commission at 6 p.m., Moscow time (two hours before polls in the capital closed), indicated a sharp drop in voter participation. National turnout is estimated to have been just 40 percent this year — ten percent lower than five years ago, when Russians last voted for parliament.[SEP]President remains the favourite, despite the longest economic crisis the country is reeling under. Russia’s ruling United Russia party on Sunday cruised to an easy victory in parliamentary polls that could pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to glide to a fourth term in 2018 elections, partial results showed. The ballot for the 450-seat State Duma was smooth sailing for authorities desperate to avoid a repeat of mass protests last time round and eager to increase their dominance as Russia faces the longest economic crisis of Mr. Putin’s rule. But indications of a low turnout suggested that many Russians may be turned off by a system in which the Kremlin wields near-total power, which could raise questions over legitimacy. “We can announce already with certainty that the party secured a good result, that it won,” Mr. Putin said after the vote. “The situation is tough and difficult but the people still voted for United Russia,” he said on state television. After 30 per cent of the ballots in the party-list vote had been counted, Mr. Putin’s United Russia had received 52 per cent of the vote, far ahead of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party on 14.7 per cent, the Communists on 14.6 and A Just Russia on 6.3, results published by the election commission showed. Those four parties — which made up the last parliament and all back the Kremlin — were the only ones to clear the five per cent threshold needed to claim a share of the one-half of seats up for grabs. The vote comes as Mr. Putin's approval ratings remain high at around 80 per cent and authorities appear to be banking on trouble-free presidential elections in two years. Preliminary results from Sunday’s polls indicated that liberal opposition groups are unlikely to make it to parliament, with the Yabloko party garnering 1.5 per cent. The Parnas opposition party, headed by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, meanwhile received a mere 0.6 per cent of the vote, early results showed. The other half of the deputies are being elected on a constituency basis after a change to the election law. So far United Russia is leading in 191 constituencies, the electoral commission said. Even before the 52 per cent result was announced, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev confidently said that the party would end up with an “absolute majority” in the Duma. Though the overall tally for United Russia was higher than the 49 per cent it claimed in 2011, participation was low, particularly in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. There was no final turnout figure but just a few hours ahead of the polls closing less than 40 per cent of voters had cast their ballots. Sunday’s election follows a tumultuous few years that have seen Russia seize the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, plunge into its worst standoff with the West since the Cold War and start a military campaign in Syria. But the Kremlin exerts almost complete control over the media and public discourse, and this year's election campaign was dubbed the dullest in recent memory. Looming large was the spectre of mass protests over vote rigging that followed the last legislative polls five years ago and grew into the biggest challenge to Putin since he took charge in 2000. Since then, the Kremlin has cracked down on the right to protest while making a show of stamping out electoral manipulation. The former scandal-tainted election chief was removed in favour of a human rights advocate who allowed more genuine opposition candidates to take part. Despite the authorities pledging to crack down on vote-rigging, observers around the country made claims of violations including “cruise-voting” — where people are bussed to vote at multiple polling stations — and ballot stuffing. Electoral Commission chief Ella Pamfilova admitted that there had been problems in certain regions but officials said the number of violations was way down on the last vote. “In any case, there already is full confidence that the elections are nonetheless quite legitimate,” Ms. Pamfilova said. “And we did a lot for that.” For the first time since Moscow seized the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, residents there voted for Russia’s parliament, in a poll slammed by Ukraine as illegal. Voters in some areas of the vast country were also electing regional leaders. In the North Caucasus region of Chechnya, strongman Ramzan Kadyrov looked set to win a crushing victory in the first electoral test of his rule after rights groups said that criticism was ruthlessly silenced during the campaign.[SEP]MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Russia's parliamentary election (all times local): Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the ruling United Russia party, which early results show is winning in the parliamentary election, has produced a good result. Putin, who was speaking at United Russia's election headquarters shortly after the polls closed, told party members that he views the early results as a vote of confidence. Putin admitted that "things are tough" in the Russian economy, but said people see that United Russia lawmakers "are really working hard even though it does not always work." The popularity ratings of United Russia are far lower than those that Putin enjoys. Putin isn't a member of the party nor has he formally campaigned for it. Exit polling by a state-run survey agency suggests the pro-Kremlin United Russia party will win a strong majority of the nationally chosen seats in the lower house of parliament. The poll by the VTsIOM agency was shown on state television Sunday evening as the final voting stations closed in western Russia. It showed United Russia receiving 44.5 percent of the vote for the State Duma seats chosen by part-list. Half the 450 seats are being chosen that way. The other 225 were contested in specific districts. The Communists and the nationalist Liberal Democrats were shown with about 15 percent of the vote each and the A Just Russia Party with 8 percent — roughly the same proportion as in the old parliament. No other party cleared the 5-percent mark need to win party-list seats. The chief of the Russian Election Commission says that she sees no reason to nullify results in any location in the country's parliamentary election. Ella Pamfilova said in a televised briefing as the polls closed in Russia that she saw no reason to invalidate the vote in any district despite the reports of election fraud. Pamfilova conceded, however, that the election "wasn't sterile" and added that reports of ballot stuffing were confirmed in three polling stations. Russia's Central Election Commission says the very first results show the ruling United Russia party winning in the parliamentary election. Polls closed at 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) in Russia's westernmost region while Russia's regions in the Far East and Siberia have been counting the ballots for several hours now. Less than 7 percent of the ballots counted show United Russia getting about 44 percent of the vote, with the Liberal Democrat Party trailing behind with 18 percent of the vote. The results are likely to change as votes in the west of Russia are counted. Complaints of election violations have been increasing as Russians vote for a new national parliament. The voting for the 450 seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, wasn't expected to substantially change the distribution of power, in which the pro-Kremlin United Russia party holds an absolute majority. But the perceived honesty of the election could be a critical factor in whether protests arise following the voting. Massive demonstrations broke out in Moscow after the last Duma election in 2011, unsettling authorities with their size and persistence. Russia's elections commission head says results from voting for parliament in a Siberian region could be annulled if allegations of vote fraud there are confirmed. Ella Pamfilova's statement came Sunday as Russians cast ballots for the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The pro-Kremlin United Russia party is expected to retain its dominance and the three other largely cooperative parties in the current parliament are also expected to win seats. Russian officials are concerned that widespread allegations of vote fraud could spark protests similar to the massive demonstrations after elections in 2011. A candidate from the liberal Yabloko party in the Altai region of Siberia told state news agency Tass that young people were voting in the name of elderly people unlikely to come to polling stations.[SEP]The ruling United Russia party is expected to win even greater dominance over Russia’s lower house in a parliamentary election on Sunday, showing that support for President Vladimir Putin is holding up despite sanctions and a deep economic slowdown. The election for the Duma, or lower house, is being seen as a dry run for Mr. Putin’s expected presidential campaign in 2018. It is also a test of how well the Kremlin can oversee trouble-free elections. It will be the first parliamentary vote since 2011, when allegations of ballot-rigging sparked big protests against Mr. Putin in the capital. Voting got under way at 2000 GMT on Saturday on the Chukotka Peninsula opposite Alaska and was to wrap up in Kaliningrad, Russia’s most westerly point, where people can cast their vote until 1800 GMT on Sunday. United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin loyalist, has 238 of 450 Duma seats, dominates the more than 80 regional Parliaments, and is routinely depicted in a favourable light by state television. The liberal opposition hopes it can break through to win about two dozen seats. Pollsters say it will be lucky to snag a handful and may end up with none. Anxious to avoid a repeat of 2011’s street protests, Kremlin officials have tried to assure Russians that the vote will be the cleanest in the country’s modern history. First vote in Crimea Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe are being allowed to monitor the vote. The election is the first time that voters in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, are helping decide the makeup of the Duma. That has angered the Ukrainian government and there were scuffles between Ukrainian nationalists and police outside the Russian embassy in Kiev on Sunday after a few nationalists tried to stop Russian citizens from voting there.[SEP]The ruling United Russia party won 44.5 per cent in a parliamentary election on Sunday, an exit poll showed, slightly down on the last election but still enough to preserve the dominance of President Vladimir Putin’s allies in parliament. The nationalist LDPR party was in second place with 15.3 per cent, according to the exit poll by state-run pollster VTsIOM. The Communists were in third on 14.9 per cent and the Just Russia party was fourth with 8.1 per cent. Liberal opposition parties, the only grouping openly critical of Putin, failed to get over the 5 per cent threshold needed for party representation, the exit poll showed. Some of their candidates could still make it into parliament in constituency races. In the last election for the Duma, or lower house of parliament, in 2011, United Russia won 49 per cent of the vote. The vote this time around is being seen as a dry run for Putin’s expected presidential campaign in 2018. It is also a test of how well the Kremlin can oversee trouble-free elections. After the 2011 election, allegations of ballot-rigging sparked big protests against Putin in the capital. Voting got under way at 8pm GMT on Saturday on Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula across the Bering Strait from Alaska. By 6pm GMT on Sunday all polling stations in Russia were scheduled to close. Yevgeny Korsak, a 65-year-old pensioner in the city of Saransk, 600 km (375 miles) south-east of Moscow, said he had voted for United Russia “because it is strong and powerful”. A middle-aged man in the town of Velikiye Luki in western Russia, who declined to give his name, told Reuters: “Of course I voted for United Russia . . . We don’t need other parties here. At least they [United Russia] have done their stealing.” United Russia, led by prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin loyalist, has 238 of 450 Duma seats, dominates the more than 80 regional parliaments, and is routinely depicted in a favourable light by state television, where most Russians get their news. The party is able to draw on the support of the other three parties in parliament, and benefits from its association with 63-year-old Putin, who after 17 years in power as either president or prime minister, enjoys a personal approval rating of about 80 per cent. Putin does not belong to any party. By contrast, liberal opposition politicians, who currently have just one sympathetic member in the Duma, complain they are starved of air time, vilified by state media, and their campaigns systematically disrupted by pro-Kremlin provocateurs. Pro-Kremlin politicians deny that charge.
Russian voters head to the polls to elect all 450 MPs to the 7th State Duma of the Russian Federation. Exit polls show the governing United Russia party with a comfortable lead.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party suffered its second electoral blow in two weeks on Sunday, slumping to its lowest level since 1990 in a Berlin state vote that rejected her open-door refugee policy. Voters turned to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which with 12.9 percent of the vote will enter its 10th regional assembly among the country’s 16 states. A year before a national election, the result is set to raise pressure on Merkel and deepen rifts in her conservative camp, with more sniping expected from her CSU allies in Bavaria. The CSU’s Bavarian finance minister Markus Soeder was quick to call it the “second massive wake-up call” in two weeks. “A long-term and massive loss in trust among traditional voters threatens the conservative bloc,” he told the Bild daily, adding Merkel’s right-left national coalition had to win back support by changing course on its immigration policy. Merkel’s Christian Democrats were routed in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern two weeks ago, triggering calls from the CSU for her to toughen up her migrant policy. In particular, they want a cap of 200,000 refugees per year, which Merkel rejects. The secretary general of Merkel’s CDU, Peter Tauber, partly blamed the CSU for the losses in Berlin, which only 27 years ago was the front line of the Cold War. “If there is a dispute within the conservative bloc, it doesn’t help us on the ground - especially if this dispute is carried out in the way it is being done from Munich,” he said. A backlash against her migrant policy has raised questions about whether Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, will stand for a fourth term next year. Given a dearth of options in her party, however, she is still the most likely candidate. SPD KEEP CONTROL BUT SUPPORT DOWN Projections from broadcaster ZDF put Merkel’s Christian Democrats on 18 percent, down from 23.3 percent in the last election in Berlin in 2011. The Social Democrats (SPD) also lost support, falling to 22.4 percent from 28.3 percent, but remained the biggest party and are likely to ditch the CDU from their current coalition. The losses for both the biggest parties point to the further fragmentation of Germany’s political landscape, raising the possibility of different coalitions in future. The SPD, Merkel’s junior coalition partner at the national level, wants to form a coalition with the Greens and possibly the radical Left party in the city-state of Berlin. The Greens won 15.9 percent of the Berlin vote, down 1.7 percentage points from 2011, while the Left party was up 4 points at 15.7 percent, according to ZDF. The AfD, founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, was the big winner. It has in the last year played to voters’ fears about the integration of the roughly one million migrants who entered Germany last year. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a meeting at the lower house of parliament in Berlin, Germany, September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Stefanie Loos “From zero to double digits, that’s unique for Berlin. The grand coalition has been voted out - not yet at the national level, but that will happen next year,” said AfD candidate Georg Pazderski to cheering supporters after the results. Commentators said the result indicated that the party looked poised to enter the lower house of parliament in 2017. “With the Berlin result, the AfD has consolidated its position and shown it can appeal to voters across the board - it is now represented in a big city, eastern German states and in more affluent western states like Baden-Wuerttemberg,” said Thomas Jaeger, political scientist at Cologne University.[SEP]Berliners will go to the polls on Sunday to vote in a state parliamentary election that could deal another blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The voting in Berlin, the last state election this year, will elect members to the 149-seat state parliament of Berlin. Incumbent Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will lead to the polls his "grand coalition" of SPD and the local branch of Merkel’s CDU. The most recent polls, published by ZDF and the Berliner Zeitung on Thursday, put the center-left SPD in the lead with 23-24 percent of votes. Merkel’s center-right CDU is expected to poll 17-18 percent of votes, followed by the Greens with 15-17 percent and the far-left Linke with 14.5-15 percent. The ruling Christian Democrats suffered a humiliating defeat in the chancellor’s home state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in early September when they were beaten into third place by the far-right Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD). The anti-migrant AfD gained prominence across the country amid concerns over the federal government’s open-arms policy on refugees. It is expected to gain 13-14 percent in the Berlin legislature. According to the Berliner Zeitung, Berlin’s SPD-CDU coalition looks set to lose its majority in the parliament. The next legislature will likely be a so-called red-red-green coalition of SPD, Linke and the Greens.[SEP]BERLIN (AP) — The Latest on state elections in Berlin (all times local): Exit polls show the Social Democrats and Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party emerged from Berlin state elections as the strongest two parties, but lost enough support they won't be able to continue a coalition government together. ARD public television reported Sunday that the SPD won 23 percent of the vote, dropping 5.3 percent, while the CDU won 18 percent, down 5.4 percent. The anti-immigrant nationalist Alternative for Germany party won 11.5 percent of the vote, behind the Greens and the Left party, each with 16.5 percent, but with more than enough to enter Berlin's state parliament, its 10th nationwide. Without enough support for the governing SPD-CDU "grand coalition" to continue, the most likely new governing alliance appeared to be a combination of the SPD, Greens and Left party. Voters in the German state of Berlin are casting ballots in a state election predicted to result in a fresh setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel's party. Her Christian Democratic Union has been the junior coalition partner to the center-left Social Democrats in the capital for the past five years. The city of 3.5 million has experienced a population boom during that time, putting pressure on housing, schools and its transport infrastructure. The influx of tens of thousands of migrants over the past year has also become a campaign issue, though to a lesser degree than in other, less cosmopolitan parts of the country. Pollsters forecast that the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany will easily pass the 5-percent threshold to enter the Berlin state assembly for the first time, its 10th nationwide.[SEP]BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party suffered a historic loss in Berlin state elections on Sunday (Monday in Manila) while the right-wing populist AfD gained fresh support, riding a wave of popular anger over her open-door refugee policy. The anti-Islam Alternative for Germany party won around 14 percent, according to public broadcasters’ projections, in the capital that has long prided itself on being a hip, diverse and multicultural city. The strong AfD result, thanks to support especially in the vast tower block districts in Berlin’s former communist east, meant it has now won opposition seats in ten of Germany’s 16 states, a year ahead of national elections. Merkel’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won only 17.5 percent — its worst post-war result in the city, before or after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall — likely spelling the end of its term as junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats (SPD), who won around 22 percent. The election in the chronically indebted city-state of 3.5 million people was dominated by local issues including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late trains and a housing shortage, as well as problems in coping with the migrant influx. The biggest European Union economy took in one million asylum seekers last year, and over 70,000 of them came to Berlin, with thousands still housed in the cavernous hangars of the Nazi-built former Tempelhof airport, once the hub for the Cold War-era Berlin airlift. Berlin’s SPD Mayor Michael Mueller had dramatically warned before the polls that a strong AfD result would be “seen throughout the world as a sign of the resurgence of the right and of Nazis in Germany.” ‘Zero to double-digits’ The vote marked another milestone for the upstart AfD, which has campaigned on a xenophobic platform, similar to France’s National Front or far-right populists in Austria and the Netherlands. “From zero to double-digits, that’s a first for Berlin,” cheered the AfD’s top Berlin candidate, Georg Pazderski, predicting that the electorate would next year kick out Merkel’s national right-left grand coalition. “We’ve arrived in the capital,” said the party’s co-leader Beatrix von Storch, hailing the “huge success.” Merkel’s CDU, which has a national majority, in Berlin has served as junior coalition partner to Mueller’s SPD, traditionally the strongest party in the city . Mueller has rejected a new coalition with the CDU and was seen likely to team up with the ecologist Greens and the far-left Die Linke party, each of whom scored around 15 percent. Such a “red-red-green” coalition, its members hope, could one day be replicated at the national level. Merkel meanwhile—after suffering a stinging loss to the AfD in another regional poll two weeks ago—will face further pressure “to explain her political strategy,” Gero Neugebauer of Berlin’s Free University told the Handelsblatt business daily. Another analyst, Kai Arzheimer of Mainz University, also predicted tensions would rise between the CDU and its Bavarian sister party the CSU, but he stressed the alliance was unlikely to change its top candidate, Merkel. “To ask this question one year before federal elections would be suicidal, especially since in the CDU there is no credible successor,” he said. The CSU’s Bavarian Finance Minister Markus Soeder nonetheless launched a broadside, charging that Merkel’s government must “regain citizens’ support in the refugee question and finally strictly limit immigration and get a handle on the security problems.”[SEP]BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party suffered a historic loss in Berlin state elections Sunday while the right-wing populist AfD gained fresh support, riding a wave of popular anger over her open-door refugee policy. The anti-Islam Alternative for Germany party won around 14 percent, according to public broadcasters’ projections, in the capital which has long prided itself on being a hip, diverse and multicultural city. The strong AfD result, thanks to support especially in the vast tower block districts in Berlin’s former communist east, meant it has now won opposition seats in ten of Germany’s 16 states, a year ahead of national elections. Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won only 17.5 percent — its worst post-war result in the city, before or after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall — likely spelling the end of its term as junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats (SPD), who won around 22 percent. The election in the chronically indebted city-state of 3.5 million people was dominated by local issues including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late trains and a housing shortage, as well as problems in coping with the migrant influx. The biggest EU economy took in one million asylum seekers last year, and over 70,000 of them came to Berlin, with thousands still housed in the cavernous hangars of the Nazi-built former Tempelhof airport, once the hub for the Cold War-era Berlin airlift. Berlin’s SPD Mayor Michael Mueller had dramatically warned before the polls that a strong AfD result would be “seen throughout the world as a sign of the resurgence of the right and of Nazis in Germany”. The vote marked another milestone for the upstart AfD, which has campaigned on a xenophobic platform, similar to France’s National Front or far-right populists in Austria and the Netherlands. “From zero to double-digits, that’s a first for Berlin,” cheered the AfD’s top Berlin candidate, Georg Pazderski, predicting that the electorate would next year kick out Merkel’s national right-left grand coalition. “We’ve arrived in the capital,” said the party’s co-leader Beatrix von Storch, hailing the “huge success”. Merkel’s CDU, which has a national majority, in Berlin has served as junior coalition partner to Mueller’s SPD, traditionally the strongest party in the city . Mueller has rejected a new coalition with the CDU and was seen likely to team up with the ecologist Greens and the far-left Die Linke party, each of whom scored around 15 percent. Such a “red-red-green” coalition, its members hope, could one day be replicated at the national level. Merkel meanwhile — after suffering a stinging loss to the AfD in another regional poll two weeks ago — will face further pressure “to explain her political strategy”, Gero Neugebauer of Berlin’s Free University told the Handelsblatt business daily. Another analyst, Kai Arzheimer of Mainz University, also predicted tensions would rise between the CDU and its Bavarian sister party the CSU, but he stressed the alliance was unlikely to change its top candidate, Merkel. “To ask this question one year before federal elections would be suicidal, especially since in the CDU there is no credible successor,” he said. The CSU’s Bavarian Finance Minister Markus Soeder nonetheless launched a broadside, charging that Merkel’s government must “regain citizens’ support in the refugee question and finally strictly limit immigration and get a handle on the security problems.” In Berlin — a city famously dubbed “poor but sexy” by its previous mayor, bon vivant Klaus Wowereit — the election campaign was dominated not just by migrant policies but also widespread frustration over poor public services. With little industry and an above-national average jobless rate of 10 percent, Europe’s techno party capital is often seen as an amusingly chaotic exception in otherwise orderly and punctual Germany. Berlin became a national laughing stock for a grand airport project that is now five years behind schedule and three times over budget. In another debacle, thousands of refugees were left waiting for days and weeks last year at Berlin’s then hopelessly overwhelmed Lageso central migrant registration centre, with many forced to sleep in the dirt outside. All the problems have helped fuel voter distrust of Germany’s mainstream “people’s parties” who have governed Berlin in an unhappy coalition, the SPD and CDU. The CDU’s top Berlin candidate, Frank Henkel, called the vote result “a black day for the people’s parties” and said “it is very alarming when fringe parties like the AfD or Die Linke between them attract a quarter of the vote.” “Berlin is becoming ever more fragmented,” said Lothar Probst of Bremen University, speaking on Phoenix TV, as the SPD, despite winning, also booked its worst post-war result. “The parties at the centre, the mainstream parties, have lost a lot of ground, spelling a shifting dynamic in the political landscape … What we’re seeing is the erosion of support for the big ‘people’s parties’.” AFP[SEP]German voters delivered another slap in the face to Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday, handing her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) its worst-ever result in Berlin’s city-state election. With the migration crisis dominating German politics, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) enjoyed its 10th consecutive state election win, entering the Berlin city-state parliament with 15 per cent support, according to exit polls. The result means the outgoing Social Democratic Party (SPD) mayor Michael Müller is likely to form a three-way centre-left coalition with Green and Linke (left) parties. The Berlin poll, Germany’s last state election for 2016, saw a high turnout of 66 per cent, leading to an hour-long wait at some polling stations. After a campaign dominated by social issues, in particular a squeeze on housing and public services, the German capital’s struggle with the migration crisis was the dominant theme. “We managed it, we have a mandate to form a new government,” said Mr Müller. In truth it was a bad evening for Germany’s two big parties, with SPD and CDU losing some 5 per cent support each to finish with 23 and 18 per cent, according to exit polls. SPD federal leader Sigmar Gabriel said the most important signal was that the German capital would remain a city of social inclusion and that the “vast majority were not receptive to far-right rallying cries”. But jubilant AfD leaders, including the party’s top candidate for Berlin Georg Pazderski, said they were confident they had found a winning election formula – tapping into public concern over migration and the consequences for German domestic security. “The trend is clear: the CDU and SPD are losing and falling to historic levels, while we are winning,” said Dr Beatrix von Storch, AfD head in Berlin. The other big winner in the capital was the Linke Party, gaining almost 5 percentage points to about 16 per cent, finishing neck and neck with the Greens. With 3.6 million citizens and 2.5 million voters, the Berlin capital carries little political weight in the grander scheme of German federal politics. But Sunday’s result had symbolic value with the likely ejection of the CDU from power as the far-right AfD entered yet another state parliament with double-digit support. Second, Berlin voters may have triggered a political premiere in Germany if the AfD-related election arithmetic forces outgoing SPD mayor Müller to seek a three-way alliance with the Greens and Linke. The Berlin poll ends this year’s regional polls – and a bad run for Dr Merkel’s CDU. Two weeks ago it finished third behind the AfD in her eastern political homeland. Worryingly for her: the largest bloc of defecting CDU voters – roughly 32,000 – departed to the far-right AfD. “The AfD is not a party with a programme but one that pushes protest, and all parties are suffering as a result,” said Prof Monika Grütters, a CDU politician in Berlin and federal culture minister in Dr Merkel’s government. At Monday morning postmortem sessions, the Berlin result will step up pressure on Dr Merkel to win back public confidence over her migration strategy. But the election calendar for Germany’s 16 federal states means she has only a short window of opportunity in which to do so. Three further state elections loom in 2017, including a crucial poll in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). That poll is due in May, four months before federal elections, but NRW’s population of 18 million means it is unlikely much political business will be done from then on in the last month’s of Dr Merkel’s third term. While the chancellor has, until recently, been a highly popular federal leader, her party has been squeezed in the last three years since the foundation of the AfD. The CDU and its Bavarian CSU allies have finished first in just half of Germany’s last cycle of 16 federal state polls. If the CDU is ejected as junior grand coalition partner in the Berlin city-state government, Dr Merkel’s alliance holds power in just six of 16 federal states. On paper, the Berlin result changes nothing for Dr Merkel’s own grand coalition in the Bundestag. But it tips the law-making balance of power even further away from the German chancellor and her CDU in the upper house, the Bundesrat, where the federal states meet.[SEP]German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party was reeling on Monday after another stinging poll loss, as an upstart populist party poached votes in a Berlin State election by railing against her liberal refugee policy. It was the fifth regional poll in a row showing losses for the Christian Democrats (CDU). Analysts said the drubbing would force Ms. Merkel, widely seen as Europe’s most influential leader, to focus on German affairs at a time when the EU is facing sluggish economic growth, growing divisions over its migration policy and Britain’s impending exit. The Berlin vote continued a trend of a fracturing of the electorate and surging support for fringe parties, with both the far Left and the Right wing the winners of the day. It also mirrored the march of anti-migrant parties in France, Austria and the Netherlands and Republican maverick Donald Trump in the United States. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) harnessed a wave of anger over the refugee influx to claim around 14 per cent of the vote in a city that has long prided itself on its diversity and international appeal. The strong AfD result, thanks to support especially in the vast tower block districts in Berlin’s former communist east, meant it has now won opposition seats in 10 of Germany’s 16 States. Its string of victories indicates that for the first time since World War II, a party to the right of the CDU has established a foothold in German politics. Berlin’s SPD Mayor Michael Mueller had dramatically warned before the polls that a strong AfD result would be “seen throughout the world as a sign of the resurgence of the right and of Nazis in Germany”. Ms. Merkel’s CDU won just 17.6 per cent — its worst post-war result in the city, before or after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall —likely spelling the end of its term as junior coalition partner to the Social Democrats (SPD), who won just under 22 per cent. The German leader was expected to acknowledge the defeat at a news conference later on Monday but also emphasise the specific, local aspects of the race. ”The CDU lost, but this time it is not primarily a defeat for the Chancellor,” news website Spiegel Online wrote. — AFP[SEP]Three-way coalition likely in Berlin after state elections BERLIN (AP) — A three-way coalition of Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Left Party seems likely in Berlin, after Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party endured a set-back in state elections in the German capital. While the Social Democrats (SPD) and Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU) emerged from the Berlin election as the two strongest parties, both lost some support which means they won't be able to continue a coalition government, official results showed Monday. The SPD received 21.6 percent, dropping 6.7 points, while the CDU received 17.6 percent, down 5.7 points. Many voters drifted further to the left and right, with the Left Party climbing 3.9 points to 15.6 percent. The nationalist anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany, known as AfD, easily entered its 10th state parliament with 14.2 percent of the vote. Top candidate for the Social Democrats and governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Mueller arrives at the party's main election event after first results announced in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Exit polls show the Social Democrats and Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party emerged from Berlin state elections as the strongest two parties, but lost enough support they won't be able to continue a coalition government together. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) The top candidate for the Social Democrats and governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Mueller, center, speaks to supporters at the party's main election event after first results announced in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Exit polls show the Social Democrats and Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party emerged from Berlin state elections as the strongest two parties, but lost enough support they won't be able to continue a coalition government together. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)[SEP]He’s a 51-year-old high school dropout with the charisma of a cheap can opener — looking and sounding like a shy bookkeeper. Yet Michael Mueller is mayor of Berlin, Germany’s biggest and most dynamic metropolis. To non-Germans, it might look like an odd match, but so far it’s worked. Dare to be dull. Pollsters and political scientists, who note that Germans prefer bland over blazing leaders, are predicting Mueller and his center-left Social Democrats will prevail in a close race against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats in Berlin. Candidates from four other parties with chances of winning the mayor’s office are competing in Sunday’s elections. A trained printer who worked for 14 years in his father’s small shop producing wedding invitations, business cards, beer coasters and pamphlets before jumping into politics, Mueller lives in a rental apartment in the same unfashionable Tempelhof section of Berlin he grew up in — with his wife, who works in a bank, and their two teenage children. Aside from those details and his passion for the Berlin working-class dish of spicy currywurst sausages, little is known about Mueller’s private life. The mild-mannered man who rarely smiles insists on keeping that out of the public eye, in sharp contrast to his flamboyant predecessor, Klaus Wowereit. Mueller, embracing his image as a square, has yet to win an election on his own after being handed the mayor’s job on a silver platter two years ago by Wowereit, who suddenly got bored with the nitty-gritty of Berlin’s increasingly complicated politics and quit after 13 years of running Berlin with its piles of debt and mountains of problems. Many troubles result from the never-ending struggles of trying to merge East and West Berlin after the wall fell in 1989 and Germany reunited in 1990. When Berlin came back together, it had two of everything — two city halls, two police departments and even two zoos. Its once-mighty industrial base had all but disappeared after the war, leaving it as one of Europe’s poorest and most indebted capital cities at the turn of the millennium. Enter Wowereit. By labeling Berlin “poor but sexy” and acquiring the richly deserved moniker as “Partymeister” instead of “Buergermeister” (mayor), he helped turn the city-state of 3.5 million into one of the world’s most exciting destinations — a popular spot filled with Internet start-ups, trendy clubs and low rents that attracted countless thousands of artists and others in creative industries from around the world. The population of “Cool Berlin” is now growing by 40,000 a year and the jobless rate, once in double digits, has steadily fallen. Wowereit, Germany’s first openly gay political leader, was even once considered a potential candidate for chancellor. But at some point the glamour grew old. Berliners, as if feeling a hangover, yearned for someone new who could fix their roads and bridges, and get their new international airport finally finished after four years of embarrassing delays, for which Wowereit was blamed. Mueller was long a fiercely loyal lieutenant to Wowereit among the Berlin Social Democrats. Wowereit made Mueller his handpicked successor by promoting him to deputy mayor in 2011 and then turned over the reins in the middle of his term to give Mueller a chance to raise his profile and a running start at election — a common practice in Germany when elected leaders are eager to keep their party in power. The no-nonsense Mueller seemed like the perfect antidote to the swashbuckling Wowereit. “Maybe things will become a bit duller now!” said Mueller in a rare outburst of enthusiasm in his acceptance speech upon taking over. Wowereit echoed Mueller’s comments. “I’m looking forward to being bored,” he said. In a recent interview with the Berlin magazine Zitty, an introspective Mueller revealed that he never loses his temper. He also acknowledged having regrets that he didn’t follow his parents’ advice to stay in school as a teenager: “A lot of things in life would have been a lot easier with the high school diploma. I had to fight harder because of that and failed to recognize at the time that I should have done more when I was in school.” But he added: “I like to keep my private life private.” Once in the mayor’s office, Mueller quickly lifted the Social Democrats back over the 30% threshold in opinion polls after they had fallen precariously to the low 20s. The party has since slipped back down in polls and is expected to win about 24% on Sunday, yet still come in first just ahead of the Christian Democrats, the former communist Left Party, the Greens and the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party. Mueller wants to ditch the Christian Democrats as his junior coalition partner after five years of a frosty partnership and form a three-way, left-leaning coalition with the Greens and Left Party — which could serve as a template for the federal elections next September that could challenge Merkel. Mueller faced widespread criticism for the city government’s inept handling the initial flood of refugees from Syria and elsewhere last year, about 80,000 of whom arrived within a few short weeks in Berlin and were at first poorly sheltered and cared for. He blamed the Christian Democrats for those chaotic scenes and implemented sweeping organizational changes that fixed many of those problems. Mueller’s proudest accomplishment as mayor? “We added 4,500 jobs in the city bureaucracy since I took office,” he said in all sincerity. “It’s hard for me to say anything good or bad about Mueller because he’s just so incredibly dull and no one knows what he stands for,” said Michael Lemke, a Berlin real estate agent. “It was all a bit too much with Wowereit. He was a party-gangster. Berlin needed a correction after that.” Gero Neugebauer, political scientist at Berlin’s Free University, put Mueller’s odd appeal this way: “He comes across like an undertaker. He’s such an average, ordinary guy. But it’s exactly what Berliners were craving. They were tired of the parties and limelight.”[SEP]BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she would turn back time if she could to better prepare Germany for last year’s migrant influx, striking a conciliatory tone and taking some blame for her party’s drubbing in a Berlin city vote on Sunday. Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) suffered their second electoral blow in two weeks in Sunday’s vote in the capital, slumping to their lowest level since 1990 in the state election in which voters rejected her open-door refugee policy. “I take my share of the responsibility that lies with me as party chairwoman and chancellor,” Merkel, sounding the most conciliatory she has in over a decade in office, told a news conference. In prepared remarks, Merkel said she would do things differently if she could go back again and prepare better to cope with the influx of around one million migrants who flooded into Germany last year. “If I could, I would turn back the time by many, many years,” Merkel said, sounding particularly somber. Commenting on a recent poll showing 82 percent of voters wanted a change in her migrant policy, she added, “If I knew what change in policy people wanted, I would be ready to consider it and talk about it.” “But the poll does not give any advice on that,” she added. A backlash against her migrant policy has raised questions about whether Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, will stand for a fourth term next year. Given a dearth of options in her party, however, she is still the most likely candidate. Asked whether she will run again next year, Merkel smiled and declined to comment. She said she was still motivated. A year before the national election, the Berlin result has deepened rifts in her conservative camp, with her CDU and their Bavarian allies – the Christian Social Union (CSU) – blaming each other within minutes of Sunday’s results. The CSU wants to cap the number of migrants coming into Germany at 200,000 a year. Merkel has so far rejected such a ceiling, but sounded ready for compromise. She said that if the wish of the German people was for the country not to be swamped with uncontrolled and unregulated migration, “then that is exactly what I am fighting for.” Merkel is pushing for a European solution to the migration challenge by securing the continent’s external borders, coming to an agreement on migration deals with countries like Turkey and distributing refugees across Europe. The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which with 14 percent of the vote will enter its 10th of the country’s 16 regional assemblies, said it would target a double digit score in next year’s national vote after the “terrific” Berlin result. “More and more people are convinced and recognizing that we are a real alternative, not just for Berlin but for Germany,” AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen told a news conference in the capital.
Voters head to the polls in Berlin, Germany, to elect members to the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin. Latest polling indicates the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) are expected to make strong gains.
RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Iranian cyclist Sarafraz Bahman Golbarnezhad has died after crashing in the C4-5 event at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, the first such death at the games since they began in 1960, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said. “The IPC confirm that Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 1040 on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course,” the International Paralympic Committee said. “The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. “The ambulance diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra da Tijuca where he passed away soon after arrival.” An investigation into the accident has been launched. “As far as we’re aware it is the first fatal accident in a Paralympics,” the IPC’s director of communications Craig Spence told Reuters in an emailed response. It was Golbarnezhad’s second race in Rio. He finished 14th in the C4 time trial on Wednesday. The cyclist took up the sport in 2002 and also participated at the London 2012 Paralympics. “He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this,” said Golbarnezhad’s national Paralympic Committee. “All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics.” The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Athletes Village. The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the village and at the Riocentro venue where Iran play Bosnia in the sitting volleyball final today. “This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman’s family, friends and team mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” said IPC president Philip Craven. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what has been a great Paralympic Games here in Rio.” A moment of silence will be held during Sunday’s closing ceremony.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday. He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said. It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died. “This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement. The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics. The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated. “The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added. The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday. A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium. “This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.” A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations. This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.[SEP]Rio 2016: Paralympics come to an end with festive closing ceremony Updated Rio de Janeiro has closed the first Paralympics on South American soil in a blaze of fireworks and Samba for what will be remembered as the people's Games. The closing ceremony took place at Rio's famed Maracana stadium on Monday (AEST), with festivities highlighted by a giant conga-line of athletes snaking its way around to the cheers of thousands of fans, who danced in the stands to Brazilian funk music. Retiring Australian co-captain Kurt Fearnley took centre stage as his election to the International Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council was announced. Fearnley had ended his Paralympics career earlier in the day, with the wheelchair racing veteran finishing second in the men's marathon, missing out on a fairytale gold-medal finish by one second. Curtis McGrath, who won gold in the KL3 canoe sprint last week, was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag into the stadium, while Ricardinho, who scored the winning goal for Brazil in the five-a-side football final, did the same for the host nation. After being booed in his brief appearance at the opening ceremony, Brazil's interim President Michel Temer did not attend. And Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike took the Paralympic flag in a symbolic handover to the next host city. A minute's silence was observed to mark the death of Iranian para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad in the men's road race, the first tragedy of its kind in Paralympic Games history. It overshadowed a Paralympics that dealt with both a funding and doping crisis to be a success, saving the Games experience for the Brazilian public after the scandal-marred Olympics. Four weeks ago ticket sales stood at 12 per cent, but a late surge made Rio the second-best attended Games in history, behind London with 2.1 million tickets sold. Affordable prices for a recession-battered country and the #FillTheSeats social media campaign to buy tickets for local disadvantaged children that even Prince Harry got behind has made Rio a Paralympics for the people. Organisers shrugged off a doping controversy that left Russia banned from competition on the eve of the Games, and last minute private sponsors also ensured the cash-strapped event could go ahead. Australia achieves another top-five finish Snapping up 22 gold medals, 30 silver and 29 bronze, Australia has now achieved a top five finish at every Games since Barcelona 1992. Australia's gold medal effort was fifth behind China's tally of 107, Great Britain's 64 gold medals, Ukraine's 41 and USA's 40. Fearnley was not the only Australian athlete to be making their Paralympics farewell, with Evan O'Hanlon hanging up his spikes after he was denied a hat-trick of sprint gold medals. O'Hanlon passed the baton on to young bucks like Scott Reardon, Isis Holt and James Turner. Teenagers carved up the Rio pool, with rookies Tiffany Thomas Kane and Lakeisha Patterson and 17-year-old London Paralympian Maddison Elliot all clinching gold. Wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott became one of a handful of Australians to win gold medals in two sports after switching from wheelchair basketball. And sport-hopping para-cyclist Jessica Gallagher became Australia's first athlete to win a medal at both a summer and winter Games. Australia's men's wheelchair rugby team extended their golden Paralympic reign when they beat world number one America by a single point, 59-58, in a double overtime thriller final. The Steelers flew the flag for team sports after the Rollers, the widely fancied men's wheelchair basketball team, crashed out in a shock quarter-final loss to Great Britain. Australia won gold medals in the Games' two debut sports para-canoe and para-triathlon, and took the final two titles in sailing's Paralympics farewell. Legally blind Katie Kelly and her sighted guide and Sydney 2000 Olympics silver medallist, Michellie Jones, teamed up to take victory in the inaugural women's para-triathlon on Rio's iconic Copacabana beach. Veteran sailors Liesl Tesch and Dan Fitzgibbon became the first sailors to win back-to-back gold medals and sonar trio Russell Boaden, Jonathan Harris and Colin Harrison also secured a final victory before the sport is dropped from the Paralympics program ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games. AAP/ABC Topics: paralympics, sport, brazil First posted[SEP]An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Rio Games, officials said. Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries despite an attempt to take him to the hospital for treatment, officials said. "He unfortunately passed away," International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence told AFP. Golbarnezhad's accident occurred during the more than two-hour C4-5 road race for athletes with varying disabilities but still able to bicycle. He was in the first section of a mountainous descent when he fell. "The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest," the IPC said in a statement. "The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival." Paralympic officials said Golbarnezhad's family in Iran had been informed and the Iranian team was also told the news during a meeting at the Athletes' Village. The cyclist, who wore a prosthesis on his left leg, took up the sport in 2002 and competed at the London 2012 Paralympics. "This is truly heart-breaking news," IPC president Philip Craven said. "The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio." Brazil's top official for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, Carlos Nuzman, called it "very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran." The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village, while the Paralympic flag was to be at half mast during Sunday's sitting volleyball gold-medal match between Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina. A minute of silence will be held during Sunday's closing ceremony. Iranian Paralympic officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The British Paralympic team tweeted: "We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran."[SEP]A Paralympic cyclist has died after he crashed during a mountainous road race in Rio today. Iranian Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, reportedly broke his neck after losing control on a downhill section of the course during the C4/C5 event. He suffered a heart attack as he was being transferred to hospital and later died in intensive care. 'It is with deep sadness and regret that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirms the death of the Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad,' a spokesman said. 'Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 10.40am on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course.' The 48-year-old, from Shiraz, was initially treated on the scene and was then taken to Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra. 'He unfortunately passed away,' IPC spokesman Craig Spence told AFP. The athlete's family, who are in Iran, have been informed and the Iranian team was brought together in the Athlete Village to be told the news. Officials are now investigating the crash which occurred during the event for athletes with upper or lower limb impairments. The race began at Pontal and used many of the same roads as the Olympic event earlier in the year. But it did not include the Vista Chinesa circuit and its treacherous descent where Holland's Annemiek van Vleuten crashed into the curb and suffered concussion. The race also ended in controversial fashion when two competitors collided just yards from the finish line. Australia's Alistair Donohoe and Ukranian Yahor Dementyev jostled and nudged each other as they fought for the gold. But the resulting crash saw them both fall on the tarmac. This left the race wide open for Daniel Abraham from Holland to claim gold. Brazil's Lauro Chaman came in second and Italy's Andrea Tarlao finished third. It was Golbarnezhad's second race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He took part in the time trial C4 race and finished 14th on Wednesday. Officials and hundreds of fans have paid tribute to the Iranian athlete. Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: 'This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran. 'The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio.' Carlos Nuzman, President of Rio 2016, said: 'This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.' Brian Cookson, UCI President, said: 'I am devastated to hear about the death of Iranian rider Bahman Golbarnezhad. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most sincere condolences.' The British Paralympic team tweeted: 'We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran.' Following Golbarnezhad's passing the Iranian Flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village. The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and at the Rio Centro venue where Iran on Sunday will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sitting volleyball gold medal match. During tomorrow's Closing Ceremony a moment of silence will be held.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO: An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday in Rio after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Games, a Paralympic official said. Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries after being taken to hospital, officials said.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO: An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday in Rio after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Games, a Paralympic official said. Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries after being taken to hospital, officials said.[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -- (Marketwired) -- 09/18/16 -- As the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games draw to a close this evening, and our athletes enter the stadium with Aurelie Rivard (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) proudly carrying our flag, I join more than 35 million Canadians in congratulating all the members of Team Canada on their accomplishments and contributions to sport. Over the past 11 days, Team Canada has personified the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality. They have represented Canada with integrity and passion. They have shown us unforgettable moments of perseverance and triumph. Every athlete who qualified for the Canadian Paralympic Team did so with some help. Our Government is proud to support our Paralympic athletes, and we stand with their coaches, support staff, families, friends and communities to help them on their journey. Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the Closing of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Contacts: Ashley Michnowski Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities 613-697-8016 ashley.michnowski@canada.ca[SEP]The best images from day 10 of the Paralympic Games, featuring all the action, reaction and emotion from the penultimate day in Rio[SEP]RIO DE JANEIRO — Man’s best friends and their owners have embraced the Olympic spirit by taking part in Brazil’s first Dog Olympic Games. Dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes competed for medals in diving, jumping, swimming and running at Toto’s Park Club in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca. A 9-month-old beagle named Mima took home the gold medal in aquatic jumping. Mima’s owner, Aura Stella, said, “I didn’t even know she had all this talent.” Sunday’s event coincided with the final day of the Paralympic Games in Rio.
The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games close in Rio de Janeiro.
The man who the police said sowed terror across two states, setting off bombs in Manhattan and on the Jersey Shore and touching off a furious manhunt, was tracked down on Monday morning sleeping in the dank doorway of a neighborhood bar and taken into custody after being wounded in a gun battle with officers. The frenzied end came on a rain-soaked street in Linden, N.J., four hours after the police issued an unprecedented cellphone alert to millions of people in the area telling them to be on the lookout for Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, who was described as “armed and dangerous.” Even as the remarkably swift arrest eased fears across the region, investigators were still in the earliest stages of trying to determine what provoked the attacks, why a street in Chelsea was one of the targets and whether the bomber was aided by others. While investigators have been focused on Mr. Rahami’s actions immediately before and after the bombings, they were also working on Monday to trace his activities and travel in both recent months and years. One law enforcement official said that the bomb technicians involved in the investigation believed that Mr. Rahami constructed all the devices and that his handiwork raised the possibility that he had received training from someone with experience building improvised explosive devices.[SEP](CNN) Just under four hours. That's how long it took authorities to apprehend bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami after he was publicly identified by the New York Police Department on Monday. It was a whirlwind mission that started with a mugshot and ended in a shootout on the streets of Linden, New Jersey. Here's a breakdown of those four hours: The New York Police Department tweets a mugshot of Ahmad Khan Rahami and states he is wanted in connection to Saturday night's explosion in New York. A search in Elizabeth, New Jersey is underway, and Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage tells CNN it is "definitely related to the Chelsea incident." The New Jersey State Police says they believe Rahami is also connected to the pipe bombs found near an Elizabeth train station. First reports that Rahami is in custody begin to surface. His capture is confirmed minutes later. Rahami was captured during a shootout with law enforcement in Linden, New Jersey. A witness told CNN Rahami looked "dazed" and was "down and out." Rahami was seen on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance.[SEP]Federal prosecutors have charged Ahmad Khan Rahami with planting a series of bombs in New York and New Jersey, including one that injured 31 people when it blew up on a busy street. The criminal complaint was unsealed Tuesday at a federal court in Manhattan. Rahami was captured Monday after being wounded in a gunfight with police in Linden, New Jersey. He remains hospitalized. Rahami is already facing state charges in connection with the shootout. Investigators say Rahami planted two bombs in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood Saturday night. One didn't go off. Another bomb exploded harmlessly in a New Jersey seaside town earlier the same day. The complaint also accuses him of leaving another set of explosives in a trash bin by a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[SEP]POLICE have arrested the man suspected of carrying out the weekend bombings in New York that injured 29 people after a shoot-out in nearby New Jersey. Cops had earlier released the name of an Afghanistan-born American citizen, Ahmad Khan Rahami, who they wanted to question in connection with an explosion in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the Saturday bombing in New York. Rahami was cornered by local police and federal agents in Linden, New Jersey. He was discovered asleep in the doorway of a bar. TV footage later showed the 28-year-old being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher after being shot by cops. Linden mayor Derek Armstead said that the owner of a bar reported someone asleep in the doorway of his business. A police officer went to investigate and recognised the man as Rahami. The suspect, a New Jersey resident, was shot by police before being taken into custody. Two police officers were also hit during the shoot-out. One was shot in his bullet-proof vest and was uninjured and the other cop was hit in the hand. The explosion in Elizabeth occurred in the early hours of Monday morning. It appears that a device detonated as a police robot was attempting to defuse it and cut a wire. The device was one of five discovered late Sunday night in a backpack stashed in a trashcan near the railway station. "That was not a controlled explosion," Elizabeth mayor Christian Bollwage told local media. The FBI confirmed the discovery of devices and the explosion. The incident followed an explosion Saturday in New York's Chelsea district that injured 29 people and the discovery of a second device nearby. Three pipe bomb devices were also found later in another part of New Jersey. The devices in Elizabeth were discovered by two men scavenging for valuables in the bin. When they saw wires and pipes they left the bag and walked to a police station to report it, according to Bollwage. • Police in America release picture of Ahmad Rahami who is wanted in connection with explosion in New York Police described the explosion on Saturday in New York and a stabbing attack in Minnesota on Saturday that injured nine people as acts of terrorism. Rahami was identified on surveillance video planting both the bomb that exploded in a trash can in Chelsea and the second device that didn't detonate only four blocks away. The FBI described him as a naturalized United States citizen who was born in Afghanistan and had been living with his family in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The FBI raided his Elizabeth home this morning. Police also said that they were unlikely to have been organized by an international group, despite a claim by Islamic State that it was responsible for the stabbings in a Minnesota shopping mall. President Barack Obama said investigators are focusing on a "person of interest" in the New York and New Jersey bombings but see no connection to the stabbings in Minnesota. • Video shows 'thunderous' New Jersey explosion as police fear terror cell could be behind horror blasts Obama said America is "extremely fortunate" nobody was killed in the bombings. He said he has spoken to the governors of New Jersey and New York and pledged all needed federal assistance. • ISIS claim responsibility for Minnesota shopping centre rampage that injured eight[SEP]New York bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami has been captured after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey. The 28-year-old fugitive was captured after a barman reported him to the police. He was wanted in connection with bombings in Elizabeth, New Jersey and the Chelsea district of Manhattan. Two police officers and the suspect suffered gunshot injuries during the arrest. Two officers were reported injured by gunfire, after they responded to a call in Linden, a city just south of Elizabeth. The owner of a local bar spotted a man sleeping in his doorway and alerted the police, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead told NBC News. As officers approached the man, he opened fire and tried to escape. Sources told NBC News the suspect was identified as Rahami, a 28-year-old Elizabeth, NJ resident suspected in a series of explosions in New Jersey and New York over the weekend. Rahami was reported “alive but injured“. His injuries were not life-threatening, law enforcement officials told local media, who showed images of Rahami being loaded into an ambulance. “We are very fortunate the suspect was apprehended,” the newly appointed New York police commissioner James O’Neill told reporters at a press conference Monday, adding that NYPD is very vigilant about terrorism because “we are the number one target in the world.“ While the authorities were looking into possible accomplices, the FBI said there was “no indication” a terror cell was operating in New York. Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage confirmed Rahami’s arrest and clarified that two officers were actually shot during the encounter, one in the chest and another in the hand. Officers also found a “suspicious package.” The bomb squad and explosive-sniffing dogs have been called in. Police identified the Afghanistan-born Rahami on Monday as a person of interest in the series of bombing incidents over the weekend in New Jersey and New York City. One improvised explosive device detonated just minutes before a US Marine Corps charity race on Saturday, in Seaside Park. Another bomb, also located in a trash bin, went off in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea, injuring 29 people. An unexploded pressure-cooker bomb was found several blocks away. A fourth device detonated at the Elizabeth, New Jersey train station as police were trying to disarm it. Rahami was identified as a person of interest based on the fingerprint on the unexploded pressure-cooker, Bloomberg reported. For the first time ever, the authorities sent out a mobile alert to the general public with the description of Rahami and his vehicle. On Monday, Federal agents searched Rahami’s apartment in Elizabeth, located above the First American Fried Chicken restaurant that is owned by his family. According to multiple reports, surveillance led the FBI to stop the car with Rahami’s relatives on Sunday night, while on their way to New York’s JFK airport. They were detained for questioning, but not arrested. “No one in that car is under arrest,” the FBI clarified at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Speaking to the press, Special Agent William Sweeney would not disclose what sort of surveillance tools the Bureau used, but called them “fabulous.” After the description of Rahami’s car was made public, one report placed it at West Point, some 50 miles north of New York City, prompting a brief lockdown of the US Military Academy. It turned out to be a false alarm.[SEP]Two days after explosions in New York and New Jersey, investigators in both cases say they want to talk with one man: Ahmad Khan Rahami. Soon, they could have a chance. Rahami is in custody after a shootout Monday morning with police in Linden, New Jersey, sources said. Authorities haven't publicly detailed why they believe he's connected to the bombings. Here's what we know so far about Rahami: • According to multiple officials, investigators want to question Rahami because they believe he's the man seen on surveillance video dragging a duffel bag near the site of the New York explosion, and the location where police eventually found a suspicious device four blocks away. This image apparently taken from surveillance footage shows Rahami, says New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn. • The 28-year-old was born in Afghanistan and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, according to the FBI. • His last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the FBI says. That's the same city where a backpack with multiple bombs inside was found Sunday night , but so far authorities haven't publicly said whether they believe Rahami has any connection to those explosives. Sources say they believe Rahami also is connected to those bombs. • Authorities had warned earlier Monday that Rahami should be considered armed and dangerous.[SEP](CNN) After bombings in New York and New Jersey, investigators say they want to talk with one man: Ahmad Khan Rahami. Soon, they could have the chance. Police captured Rahami after a shootout with the bombing suspect in Linden, New Jersey, on Monday morning. Authorities haven't publicly detailed how they believe he's connected to the bombings. But they've said they're not looking for any other suspects. "Now that we have this suspect in custody, the investigation can focus on other aspects," New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said, "such as whether this individual acted alone, and what his motivations may have been." Here's what we've learned so far about Rahami: What's his alleged connection to the bombings? • Investigators "directly linked" Rahami to devices from New York and from Saturday's explosion in New Jersey, FBI Assistant Director in Charge William Sweeney said Monday. He declined to provide details about the evidence, citing the ongoing investigation. • According to multiple officials, investigators also believe Rahami is the man seen on surveillance video dragging a duffel bag near the site of the New York explosion, and the location where police eventually found a suspicious pressure cooker four blocks away. • Rahami's last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the FBI says. That's the same city where a backpack with multiple bombs inside was found Sunday night , but so far authorities haven't publicly said whether they believe Rahami is linked to those explosives. Sources say they believe he is. • The 28-year-old was born in Afghanistan and is a naturalized US citizen, according to the FBI. • He traveled to Afghanistan multiple times in the past, according to law enforcement sources. He was questioned every time he returned to the United States, as is standard procedure, but was not on the radar for possible radicalization, one official said. Another official said Rahami traveled overseas a good bit, also visiting countries not in the Middle East. • He majored in criminal justice at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey, school spokesman Tom Peterson said. Rahami attended the college from 2010-2012 but did not graduate. • Rahami's family lives above First American Fried Chicken in Elizabeth, the city's mayor says. The family has a history of clashes with the community over the restaurant, which used to be open 24 hours a day, Mayor Chris Bollwage said. Investigators searched the building Monday, Bollwage said. • The Rahami family alleged discrimination and harassment in a lawsuit filed against the city and its police department in 2011, arguing that officials conspired against them by subjecting them to citations for allegedly violating a city ordinance on hours of operation. The suit alleged that police officers and city representatives had said "the restaurant presented a danger to the community." It also accused a neighboring business owner of saying, "Muslims make too much trouble in this country" and "Muslims don't belong here." The defendants, including police officers and city officials, denied the allegations. "I would like people to respect my family's privacy and let us have our peace after this tragic time," wrote Zobyedh Rahami, who's believed to be Ahmad Rahami's sister. How did authorities find him? • Investigators first identified Rahami Sunday afternoon through a fingerprint, according to a senior law enforcement official. A cell phone connected to the pressure cooker also provided some clues, the official said.[SEP]Suspected Bomber, Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, has been arrested and taken into custody in Linden, New Jersey, police say. The picture shows a man on the ground with his shirt riding up above his waist with cops surrounding him and his arms restrained by his back. The suspect who is originally from Afghanistan lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with his dad and two brothers above a restaurant. He reportedly opened fire on police as they approached his vehicle. Rahami sustained gunshot wound in the right shoulder and was taken from the scene in an ambulance. Two officers have reportedly been injured in the shootout with Rahami.[SEP]Federal authorities have filed charges against the man suspected in the series of executed and attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey. Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, faces four charges, including use of weapons of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, destruction of property by means of fire or explosive, and use of a destructive device during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. The charges were filed late Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan. Rahami was apprehended Monday afternoon following a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey, two days after a bomb went off and injured 29 people in New York's Chelsea neighbourhood. Court documents layout a timeline of incidents, beginning at 9.35 am in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and expanding to the Chelsea explosion, and the device found Monday morning at an Elizabeth train station. Rahami also faces attempted charges in connection to his shootout with police. The federal charges come after Rahami's father, Mohammad Rahami, told the press about his 2014 suspicions about his son. “Two years ago I go to the FBI because my son was doing really bad, O.K.?” Mr Rahami said. “But they check almost two months, they say, ‘He’s OK, he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say 'OK'." "Now they say he is a terrorist," he added. "I say 'OK'.”[SEP]Ahmad Khan Rahami, the suspect wanted in connection with the Manhattan bombing, has been arrested in Linden, New Jersey, according to police sources.
Linden, New Jersey police shoot and arrest Ahmad Khan Rahami, the suspected perpetrator. Two police officers are reportedly injured.
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S. air strike killed as many as eight Afghan policemen outside the embattled provincial capital of Uruzgan province, Afghan officials said on Monday, as security forces, supported by U.S. strikes, battle resurgent Taliban militants. An initial air strike late on Sunday killed one policeman, while a follow up strike targeted first responders, killing at least seven, said Rahimullah Khan, commander of the reserve police unit in Uruzgan. Another official, Uruzgan deputy police chief Mohammed Qawi Omari, put the death toll at six but also reported the police were killed by a foreign air strike. The U.S. military command in Kabul confirmed its warplanes had conducted an air strike in the area, but said they targeted “individuals firing on, and posing a threat to” Afghan national security forces. “We don’t have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking ANDSF (Afghan national defense and security forces),” U.S. military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said in a statement. “U.S., coalition, and Afghan forces have the right to self-defense and in this case were responding to an immediate threat.” Afghan officials said they were investigating the attack and were in contact with the U.S.-led coalition. Afghan security forces, supported by American air strikes and international military advisers, are battling Taliban militants who have fought a 15-year insurgency against the Western-backed government in Kabul. Taliban fighters briefly entered Uruzgan’s capital city, Tarin Kot, in early September, according to provincial officials, before being pushed back by security forces.[SEP]A member of the Afghan police departs a military checkpoint in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, in March 2012. U.S. airstrikes in Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan killed eight Afghan police officers, an Afghan official said Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. U.S. officials said strikes were carried out in response to an “immediate threat.” Matthew Leistikow/U.S. Navy KABUL, Afghanistan — U.S. airstrikes in Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan killed eight Afghan police officers, an Afghan official said Monday. U.S. officials said strikes were carried out in response to an “immediate threat.” Two strikes were conducted Sunday on a checkpoint in the Saki area of Tirin Kot, the provincial capital, along the Uruzgan-Kandahar highway, said highway police commander Haji Rahimullah. The first attack killed a police officer, he said. “When we sent more police to investigate the issue, the outpost was bombed again and it killed seven more,” Rahimullah said. The Taliban had raised their signature white flags “everywhere in nearby areas,” he said, but the positions targeted belonged to the Afghan police. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, said the strikes targeted “individuals firing on, and posing a threat to, our Afghan partners.” “We don’t have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking ANDSF (Afghan national defense and security forces),” Cleveland said. “U.S., coalition and Afghan forces have the right to self-defense, and in this case were responding to an immediate threat.” The Afghan forces have taken on the primary responsibility for fighting the Taliban, who have waged a 15-year war against the Western-backed Kabul government. U.S. and international military advisers provide training, advice and assistance, and U.S forces are authorized to conduct strikes to prevent strategic losses as well as to protect Afghan and coalition forces. Online, the Taliban appeared to be playing the strikes for their own propaganda, claiming they were called by Gen. Abdul Raziq. Raziq, the police chief of neighboring Kandahar province, has led a brutal campaign against the Taliban.The police chief has been lauded by U.S. and Afghan officials for his campaign against the Taliban. Earlier this month, he and some of his troops had deployed to Tirin Kot to help push out Taliban fighters who had besieged the police headquarters and governor’s compound there. Elsewhere in southern Afghanistan, special units of the National Directorate of Security raided an al-Qaida hideout in a village in Zabul province’s Mizan district, killing five Pakistani fighters and capturing two others, the government said in a statement Monday. Among the items seized were two suicide vests, a number of firearms, five grenades, communications equipment and computers, two Pakistani ID cards and three motorcycles, the government said.[SEP]Afghan official: US airstrikes kill 8 policemen in south KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan official says at least eight Afghan police officers have been killed in two U.S. airstrikes in southern Uruzgan province in what was apparently a friendly-fire incident. Rahimullah Khan, a provincial operational commander, says the first airstrike killed one policeman at a checkpoint outside the provincial capital of Tirin Kot, while the second, which struck the same area, killed seven others. Khan says the airstrikes took place on Sunday afternoon around Tirin Kot. The Taliban have been advancing on the city in recent weeks. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed that U.S. forces carried out an airstrike, saying they sought to assist Afghan troops who were fired on by the Taliban. Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland says he doesn't "have any further information" on who the casualties may have been.[SEP]Up to eight policemen have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of US airstrikes, officials told media. The US has confirmed one airstrike, but insists the assault was in response to a threat. An initial airstrike killed one policeman late Sunday, while a follow-up strike targeting first responders killed at least seven others, said Rahimullah Khan, commander of the reserve police unit in Uruzgan, according to Reuters. Afghanistan’s ToloNews also reported that the eight Afghan National Police (ANP) officers were killed at their checkpoint in central Uruzgan province. “The enemies were far, about 800 meters from our check posts and their flags were up and they were coming and bombing the police. It seems that it was ordered or they made a mistake. Anyone who was involved in this should be punished,” an anonymous official told the news outlet. One of the soldiers who survived the attack, identified as Torjan, said: “I was at my check post. The first attack killed our colleagues and while we were trying to pull-out our colleagues from the check post than another attack happened.” The US military command in Kabul has confirmed its warplanes conducted an airstrike in the area, but said those targeted were “individuals firing on, and posing a threat to” Afghan national security forces. “We don’t have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking ANDSF [Afghan national defense and security forces],” US military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said in a statement. “US, coalition, and Afghan forces have the right to self defense and in this case were responding to an immediate threat,” Cleveland added as quoted by Reuters. Afghan officials said they are investigating the attack and communicating with the US-led coalition. Afghan security forces, with the support of US airstrikes and international advisers, continue to battle Taliban militants in the country. The group has been fighting a 15-year insurgency against the Western-backed government. This comes after an airstrike by the US-led coalition in Syria killed 62 government soldiers and injured 100 others amid a fragile ceasefire on Saturday. The US military admitted it may have unintentionally struck Syrian troops while carrying out a raid against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants. Russia has Exposed Cabal Support of the Islamic State in Syria — 17 Select Headlines[SEP]At least 8 Afghan policemen lost their lives in an airstrike conducted by the foreign forces in southern parts of the country, local officials said Monday. The provincial security officials in Uruzgan said the airstrike was conducted late on Saturday night on Kandahar-Uruzgan highway. Gen. Rahimullah Khan, commander of the Kandahar-Uruzgan highway, said the airstrike targeted a security check post on the highway late on Saturday night. He said the dead body of a policeman is still missing following the airstrike and all three rooms in the check post were destroyed in the raid. The main circumstances surrounding the strike have not been ascertained so far. The highway located between Kandahar and Uruzgan is one of the most volatile highways in southern parts of the country where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating. The US forces based in Afghanistan are regularly conducting counter-terrorism operations, mainly by conducting airstrikes to suppress the growing insurgency activities by the anti-government armed militant groups. The Obama administration granted broader role to the US forces in Afghanistan earlier this year amid rampant Taliban-led insurgency in the country. Follow Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS[SEP]Afghanistan has launched an investigation into the alleged airstrike by the US forces on Afghan policemen that left at least 8 policemen dead. The Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan (MoI) said an investigation is underway regarding the alleged airstrike that took place in southern Uruzgan province. The Ministry further added that the circumstances surrounding the alleged airstrike will be ascertained once the investigation concludes. MoI also added that the findings of the Ministry will be shared with the people once it is completed. The investigation has been launched a day after the commander of the highway forces on Kandahar-Uruzgan highway said the airstrike by US forces left at least 8 policemen dead. The airstrike was launched amid deteriorating security situation in Uruzgan province. The Taliban militants earlier launched a coordinated attack on the provincial capital Tarinkot and put the strategic city on the verge of collapse. In the meantime the US forces in Afghanistan have resumed airstrikes against the Taliban insurgents under the new broader role granted by the Obama administration earlier this year. Follow Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS[SEP]A US air raid has killed eight Afghan policemen who were battling the Taliban, officials said Monday, the first apparent "friendly fire" incident since American forces were given greater powers to strike at insurgents. The incident happened on Sunday in the Tali area of Uruzgan province. The Taliban recently attempted to overrun the provincial capital Tarin Kot in a major security breach. "The first air strike killed one policeman. When other policemen came to help, they came under a second air strike, killing seven of them," Rahimullah Khan, highway police commander in the southern province, told AFP. Mohammad Sediq, a policeman who survived the attack, said their forces were "engaged in close fighting" with the Taliban when they were bombed. The NATO command centre in Kabul confirmed US warplanes had conducted an air strike in the area, but said they targeted individuals posing a threat to Afghan forces. "US forces conducted two air strikes against individuals firing on... our Afghan partners in Tarin Kot on 18 September," NATO spokesman Charles Cleveland said in a statement. "We don't have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking (Afghan) forces. US, coalition, and Afghan forces have the right to self-defense, and in this case were responding to an immediate threat." The policemen "were inside their checkpoint" when they came under US bombardment, Mohammad Karim Khadimzai, the head of Uruzgan's provincial council, told AFP. Civilian and military casualties caused by NATO forces have been one of the most contentious issues in the 15-year campaign against Taliban insurgents, prompting harsh public and government criticism. A US air strike killed up to 10 Afghan soldiers in July last year at an army checkpoint in Logar province south of Kabul, one of the deadliest episodes of "friendly fire" by foreign forces in recent years. NATO officially ended its combat mission in December 2014. But US forces in June were given more power to strike at the insurgents as President Barack Obama vowed a more aggressive campaign. The new authority gave the US-led NATO troops greater latitude to order air strikes in support of Afghan troops. Earlier this month Afghan forces backed by US air strikes mounted an offensive to flush out Taliban insurgents encircling Tarin Kot. Afghan forces repelled the attack hours later, bolstered by reinforcements. Uruzgan, a remote province with a huge opium industry, is one of the biggest flashpoints in the Taliban insurgency that erupted after a US-led invasion brought down their regime in 2001. While "friendly fire" incidents involving foreign coalition forces are a volatile issue in Afghanistan, UN statistics show that the Taliban are responsible for most deaths.[SEP]An Afghan official says at least eight Afghan police officers have been killed in two U.S. airstrikes in southern Uruzgan province in what was apparently a friendly-fire incident. Rahimullah Khan, a provincial operational commander, says the first airstrike killed one policeman at a security outpost outside the provincial capital of Tirin Kot, while the second, which struck the same area, killed seven others. 'An airstrike killed one police officer and when seven others returned to the security post, foreign aircraft carried out another raid, killing all of them,' he told VOA. Khan says the airstrikes took place on Sunday afternoon around Tirin Kot. The Taliban have been advancing on the city in recent weeks. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed that U.S. forces carried out an airstrike, saying they sought to assist Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) who have been in combat with Taliban assailants in the area. 'We don't have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking ANDSF forces. U.S., Coalition, and Afghan forces have the right to self-defense, and in this case were responding to an immediate threat,' Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said. Tarin Kot is one of several provincial capitals in Afghanistan who have faced Taliban attacks in recent weeks as the assailants attempt to take control of the city. Insurgents managed to break through into the city earlier this month but were pushed back by Afghan forces-backed by US air power-shortly after. In June President Barack Obama gave further authorization to the U.S. military in Afghanistan to mobilize its air and ground support when needed to assist Afghan forces in its struggle against the Taliban. Last year Afghan officials claimed a US airstrike killed 11 counter-narcotics police officers on patrol in Garmsir district in the volatile Helmand province in a friendly fire incident. While in July 2015 a US helicopter airstrike killed eight Afghan soldiers and wounded five others in Logar, sources in Afghanistan say.[SEP]Flags fly on top of homes in Uruzgan, Afghanistan, signaling that Afghan National Security Forces have cleared the area of insurgents and weapons during Operation Chamtoo in December 2013. The Afghan government will investigate a series of U.S. airstrikes that apparently killed eight people in the region over the weekend, officials said Tuesday. Courtesy 205th Corps Public Affairs KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government will investigate a series of U.S. airstrikes that apparently killed eight people over the weekend, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday. A committee has been appointed to lead the investigation, the ministry said in a statement. A spokesman said the names of the committee members were being withheld for security reasons, as they will be traveling to the embattled province of Uruzgan where the strikes occurred. Two strikes were carried out Sunday in response to an “immediate threat,” Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement Monday. U.S. forces, in coordination with Afghans, called in the air raids in self-defense against “individuals firing on, and posing a threat to, our Afghan partners,” Cleveland had said, but it was unclear who the individuals were or why they were firing on the Afghans. Local highway police commander Haji Rahimullah said the attacks hit a police checkpoint on the main highway near Uruzgan’s provincial capital of Tirin Kot, killing a police officer in the first strike and, in a second run, at least seven more officers who responded to the scene. Some reports Monday said the people killed were reserve police officers in civilian clothing carrying weapons, which may have been why they were struck. The Interior Ministry statement said eight people had been killed, but it did not say they were police. The ministry spokesman said more details on the strikes would be released after its investigation was completed, including the names of the committee members and whether all eight killed were police officers. Afghan forces have primary responsibility for their country’s security in the fight against the 15-year Taliban insurgency, but U.S forces are authorized to conduct strikes to prevent strategic losses as well as to protect the Afghans and their allies, such as international advisers. U.S. officials in Kabul did not have any further comment Tuesday.[SEP]A U.S. air strike killed as many as eight Afghan policemen outside the embattled Provincial capital of Uruzgan province, Afghan officials said on Monday, as security forces, supported by U.S. strikes, battle resurgent Taliban militants. An initial air strike late on Sunday killed one policeman, while a follow up strike targeted first responders, killing at least seven, said Rahimullah Khan, commander of the reserve police unit in Uruzgan. Another official, Uruzgan deputy police chief Mohammed Qawi Omari, put the death toll at six but also reported the police were killed by a foreign air strike. The U.S. military command in Kabul confirmed its warplanes had conducted an air strike in the area, but said they targeted “individuals firing on, and posing a threat to” Afghan national security forces. — Reuters
Afghan officials say yesterday's U.S. airstrikes killed up to eight Afghan policemen in Lashkar Gah, Uruzgan.
KINSHASA: More than 50 people were killed on Monday in clashes between protesters and security forces in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, opposition groups said, calling for further anti-government demonstrations. The government earlier said that at least 17 had died in the violence in Kinshasa ahead of a planned opposition rally, but had warned that the death toll could rise. “The coalition (of opposition groups) deplores the number of victims, more than 50 dead at this point, victims of the firing of real bullets by the police and the republican guard,” it said in a statement. It also called on people to gather on Tuesday “to keep up without hesitation the demands made today.” The rally, which the authorities cancelled, had been called to demand the resignation of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001. Opponents fear he is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. The clashes Monday were the worst violence in the capital since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. Interior Minister Evariste Boshab described the violence as an attempted “uprising” and said the victims included three police officers. The main opposition parties had called for a nationwide demonstration to “give notice” to Kabila, whose mandate expires on December 20. Although Kabila is banned by the constitution from running again, he has not made any move to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will seek to extend his stay in office. In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. France on Monday described the unrest as “very dangerous and extremely worrying” and urged Kabila to lay out a clear timetable for a vote. “What matters is the date of elections,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “If they’re delayed endlessly, that means that Kabila intends to stay in power,” he said. “That’s a situation that is not acceptable.” Former colonial power Belgium called in a foreign ministry statement for “restraint” and urged all political groups to “quickly” organise elections. So far, there has been no move to schedule elections and at this stage, it appears practically impossible to organise a poll before the end of the year. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. Last week, Amnesty International accused Kinshasa of the “systematic repression” of those seeking Kabila’s departure. Monday’s rally had been due to start in Kinshasa in the early afternoon, but during the morning, scuffles broke out between stone-throwing youths and anti-riot police. Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of stone-throwers as they tried to march on parliament ahead of the demonstration, which was promptly cancelled by the authorities. “Kinshasa just experienced an uprising which ended in failure,” Boshab said, accusing demonstrators of “deliberately” ignoring a schedule which had been agreed with the authorities. Government spokesman Lambert Mende had earlier told AFP that two policemen were killed in violence against the ruling party’s offices in the volatile Limete district. A Catholic nun said one of the policemen had been “burnt alive”. Government officials also accused the opposition of “targeted looting”, while private security officials said there had been several looting incidents involving banks and Chinese-run shops in the south of the city, which is home to some 10 million people. Earlier, youths were seen hurling stones at police on the city’s main avenue as plumes of smoke rose into the air from burning tyres and from a car and a minibus that had been set alight. “Kabila, get out!” they shouted as they waved the blue-and-white flags of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), which is headed by Tshisekedi, 83. Party spokesman Bruno Tshibala told AFP he had seen four bodies in the office of an allied party. Activists were also seen burning a giant poster of Kabila in which he appealed for the two sides to resolve the crisis through “dialogue”. And a diplomatic source reported clashes in several places along the road to the capital’s airport. An AFP photographer and a journalist working for French radio station RFI were briefly detained by the security forces while they covered the clashes. They were beaten several times and eventually released. However, the AFP photographer’s confiscated memory cards were not returned. – AFP[SEP]At least 17 dead amid opposition protests in Congo's capital KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Street clashes between security forces and demonstrators opposed to President Joseph Kabila left at least 17 dead in Congo's capital Monday in a dramatic sign of mounting tensions after officials sought to delay the upcoming election until next year. Protesters threw stones and set tires and vehicles ablaze, according to witnesses. Interior Minister Evariste Boshab confirmed that three police officers were among the dead, including one who was burned alive. An Associated Press photographer saw at least four civilian bodies with gunshot wounds in the streets. "This wasn't a demonstration at all but an attempt to unleash civil war in the city of Kinshasa," he said. "The authorities decided to put an end to the protest and disperse it." Eva Mwakasa, a member of the opposition coalition La Dynamique, said it was difficult to give a death toll as protesters had been dispersed by tear gas. For months, observers have questioned whether Congo could hold the presidential vote as scheduled on Nov. 27. The country's electoral commission had indicated that the voter list would not be formalized before July 2017. Over the weekend, the commission made an official request to the country's constitutional court for a delay of the vote. The violence comes amid growing fears that the delay could lead to prolonged unrest in Congo, a nation as vast in size as Western Europe. The mineral-rich but largely impoverished country suffered back-to-back civil wars until 2003, and previous instability has drawn in armies from neighboring countries. Kabila, who came to power after his father's assassination in 2001, has yet to announce whether he will pursue another term in office, though the constitution prohibits it. Some view the election delay as a way for him to prolong his rule beyond the end of his mandate in late December, as he is able to stay in power in the event there is no election to choose a successor. While the ruling party has held talks as part of a national dialogue, many of the top opposition figures have not taken part. In recent days, the ruling party has floated the idea of a unity government with opposition members until the next elections, though the proposal would keep Kabila in charge during that period. Demonstrations also have erupted outside the capital. Human Rights Watch said police fired live bullets Friday in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi. Their report released Sunday also described a series of arrests targeting members of the opposition in recent days. "The decisions President Kabila and his government will make in the coming weeks can make all the difference for Congo's future," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "This is a critical opportunity for the country to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and human rights for its own future and for the entire region." Associated Press writers John Bompengo in Kinshasa and Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed to this report.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The United Nations says at least two people have been killed after attacks on the headquarters of five opposition political parties in Congo late Monday. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights statement also says riots erupted early Tuesday, with shots fired. Congo's government has said at least 17 were killed Monday in clashes between security forces and demonstrators opposed to President Joseph Kabila. The U.N. says about 200 have been arrested. People stand near burning debris during election protests in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Witnesses say at least four people are dead after opposition protests against a delayed presidential election turned violent in Congo's capital. The protests were organized by activists who are opposed to longtime President Joseph Kabila, who is now expected to stay in office after his mandate ends in December. (AP Photo/John Bompengo) Congo has seen rising tensions as Kabila is expected to stay in office after his mandate ends in December. The electoral commission says November's scheduled presidential vote won't be possible. A court has determined Kabila can stay in power until another vote is organized. The U.N. notes reports of "excessive use of force" by security forces and demonstrators.[SEP]NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - European nations will discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo given the repeated postponement of elections, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday. Congolese police and anti-government protesters clashed in the capital Kinshasa on Monday, killing at least 17 people including three policemen, during a march against President Joseph Kabila's perceived bid to extend his mandate. "What counts is the date of the elections. If the elections keep getting postponed it means that Mr Kabila wants to stay in power by all means," Ayrault told reporters in New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. Ayrault called the situation unacceptable. A senior adviser to Democratic Republic of Congo President Kabila said on Friday he was on a "pleading mission" to Washington to press U.S. officials to support talks between the government and opposition on setting up new elections and not to impose sanctions that could hurt the process. Asked whether France wanted sanctions such as those Washington has imposed for what it described as the violent suppression of opposition to Kabila's government, Ayrault told reporters: "it's a question we will discuss (among) Europeans, but it's true the situation is very worrying, extremely dangerous and has potential for even more violence." The vast, mineral-rich central African state has never experienced a peaceful transition of power. Donors fear that growing political instability could turn into armed conflict in a country plagued by militias, especially in its lawless eastern regions. Millions of people died in regional wars in Congo between 1996 and 2003 that drew in armies from half a dozen countries. (Reporting By John Irish; editing by Grant McCool)[SEP]The government earlier said that at least 17 had died in the violence in Kinshasa ahead of a planned opposition rally, but had warned that the death toll could rise. "The coalition (of opposition groups) deplores the number of victims, more than 50 dead at this point, victims of the firing of real bullets by the police and the republican guard," it said in a statement. The rally, which the authorities cancelled, had been called to demand the resignation of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001. Opponents fear he is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. Although Kabila is banned by the constitution from running again, he has not made any move to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will seek to extend his stay in office. So far, there has been no move to schedule elections and at this stage, it appears practically impossible to organise a poll before the end of the year. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. Government officials also accused the opposition of "targeted looting", while private security officials said there had been several looting incidents involving banks and Chinese-run shops in the south of the city, which is home to some 10 million people. Earlier, youths were seen hurling stones at police on the city's main avenue as plumes of smoke rose into the air from burning tyres and from a car and a minibus that had been set alight. Activists were also seen burning a giant poster of Kabila in which he appealed for the two sides to resolve the crisis through "dialogue". And a diplomatic source reported clashes in several places along the road to the capital's airport.[SEP]Flares are launched by Democratic Republic of Congo police during a demonstration in Goma on September 19, 2016. By Mustafa Mulopwe (AFP) Kinshasa (AFP) - The headquarters of three DR Congo opposition parties were torched overnight and early Tuesday, a day after deadly clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila, AFP journalists said. One person was injured at the offices of the main opposition, while by 8:30 am (0730 GMT) flames were dying down at the headquarters of the Forces of Union and Solidarity (FONUS) and the MLP in the north of the capital Kinshasa.[SEP]Au moins 31 personnes ont été tuées, lundi 19 septembre, dans des violences et pillages survenus à Kinshasa avant une manifestation hostile à Joseph Kabila, le président de la République démocratique du Congo. La manifestation a été annulée par les autorités congolaises après le début des débordements. Un policier « brûlé vif » En faisant un premier bilan provisoire, Lambert Mende, porte-parole du gouvernement congolais a déclaré que « deux policiers ont été tués » dans l'attaque d'une permanence du parti présidentiel à Limete, au centre-ouest de la capitale de la République démocratique du Congo, raison pour laquelle « on a annulé la manifestation ». Un peu plus tard dans la journée, le ministre de l'Intérieur, Évariste Boshab, est revenu sur ce premier bilan pour préciser que les émeutes avaient fait « 17 morts » parmi les forces de l'ordre, « dont un policier brûlé vif » et « 14 civils [tués] parmi les pillards ». Du côté de l'opposition, le porte-parole de l'Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social, Bruno Tshibala assure que « nous enregistrons plusieurs morts », affirmant avoir vu quatre cadavres « amenés au siège » d'une formation alliée. « Kabila doit partir » Réuni autour d'Étienne Tshisekedi, le fondateur de l'UDPS, un « rassemblement » des principaux partis d'opposition a appelé à manifester lundi dans tout le Congo pour signifier au président Joseph Kabila son « préavis », trois mois avant l'expiration de son mandat, le 20 décembre. Ses opposants exigent également la convocation de la présidentielle avant cette date. À Kinshasa, la manifestation devait commencer à 13 heures, mais plusieurs heurts ont opposé des jeunes armés de pierres à la police antiémeute dans la matinée à Limete, quartier où l'UDPS a son siège. Très véhéments, des groupes de quelques dizaines à plusieurs centaines de jeunes ont affronté des policiers antiémeutes en lançant en français ou en lingala des « Kabila akende » (Kabila dégage !) ou « Kabila doit partir ». À Limete et près du Palais du peuple, la police a répliqué aux jets de pierre à coup de grenades lacrymogènes. Les autorités dénoncent « des pillages ciblés » Selon des sources de sécurité privées, il y a eu quelques pillages épars dans des quartiers sud de la capitale ayant visé des agences bancaires ou des magasins tenus par des Chinois. De source diplomatique, on signalait des échauffourées en « divers endroits » dans ces zones. Les autorités ont dénoncé plusieurs pillages et incendies criminels ayant visé des permanences de formations politiques de la majorité. « Il y a eu des pillages ciblés, il y a des gens qui se sont préparés pour faire tout ce désordre », a déclaré Lambert Mende, accusant l'UDPS, principal parti de l'opposition, d'être à l'origine de la violence. Le calme semblait revenir en milieu d'après-midi, mais la capitale avait tout d'une ville morte. Dans plusieurs quartiers, les écoles étaient désertées par les élèves, les parents préférant les garder à la maison. De nombreuses boutiques étaient fermées, la circulation était presque inexistante. Une atmosphère semblable régnait à Lubumbashi, la deuxième ville du pays, dans le sud-est, où des soldats sont venus renforcer en masse la police autour des principaux bâtiments publics et dans les quartiers réputés acquis à l'opposition. Lors de ces événements, un photographe de l'Agence France Presse et une journaliste de RFI qui couvraient les manifestations ont été interpellés par la police militaire. Les autorités congolaises ont assuré qu'ils seraient libérés rapidement, mais les deux reporters n'avaient pas recouvré leur liberté à 15 h 30.[SEP]Kinshasa (AFP) - The headquarters of three DR Congo opposition parties were torched overnight and early Tuesday, a day after deadly clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila, AFP journalists said. At least two burnt bodies could be seen in the fire-ravaged offices of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), while two other people were burnt alive and one person injured, they said. By 8:30 am (0730 GMT) flames were dying down at the headquarters of the Forces of Union and Solidarity (FONUS) and the Lumumbist Progressive Movement (MLP) in the north of the capital Kinshasa. Fire was still raging at the UDPS building where a tearful woman in her 40s said that her husband had been there when unidentified assailants attacked the building. "I've just put my husband's body in the morgue. He was killed in the clashes," she told AFP. The fresh violence came after a bloody day on Monday during which opposition groups said more than 50 people had died. For its part, the government said that at least 17 had perished in the clashes but warned that the toll could rise further. The opposition said that security forces fired live ammunition into protesters and urged supporters to pour onto the streets again to demand Kabila step down. Monday's violence started just before an opposition rally by demonstrators who fear Kabila -- who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001 -- is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. The clashes were the worst violence in the capital since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. Kabila's mandate ends on December 20 and although the constitution bans him from running again, he has made no effort to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will attempt to cling on to power. In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. France and former colonial power Belgium have voiced concern over the unrest and urged political forces to organise an election quickly. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. Last week, Amnesty International accused Kinshasa of the "systematic repression" of those seeking Kabila's departure. An AFP photographer and a journalist working for French radio station RFI were briefly detained by the security forces while they covered the clashes. They were beaten several times and eventually released. However, the AFP photographer's confiscated memory cards were not returned.[SEP]SOCIAL Retraite à l'âge pivot : qui seraient les gagnants et les perdants ?[SEP]Demonstrators point to a broken billboard showing the face of Congolese President Joseph Kabila during an opposition rally in Kinshasa on September 19, 2016. By Eduardo Soteras (AFP) Kinshasa (AFP) - More than 50 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital of the DR Congo on Monday, opposition groups said in a statement which also called for further demonstrations. The government had earlier said that at least 17 had died in the violence in Kinshasa, but had warned that the death toll could rise.
A Democratic Republic of the Congo protest calling for the resignation of President Joseph Kabila turns violent in Kinshasa, leaving at least 17 people dead, including three police officers. Opposition groups say that 50 people died.
ALEPPO, Syria -- A convoy delivering aid to Syrians in Aleppo province was hit by a deadly air strike hours after the Syrian military declared an end to a week-long ceasefire, with an outraged UN warning it could amount to a war crime. The UN said at least 18 trucks in the 31-vehicle convoy were destroyed late Monday en route to deliver humanitarian assistance to the hard-to-reach town of Orum al-Kubra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 Red Crescent volunteers and drivers had died in the strike while UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said initial reports indicated "many people" were killed or seriously wounded. "Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime," O'Brien said. The Observatory was unable to confirm if the planes responsible were Syrian or Russian. The UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian mission had sought to take advantage of the ceasefire, which collapsed on Monday night as shells and bombs rained down on Aleppo city and the surrounding province. The Observatory said a total of 36 people had died in the violence across the battleground region. An AFP correspondent inside Aleppo city reported almost non-stop bombardment and constant sirens. Syria's military announced the end to the truce earlier Monday, accusing rebels of more than 300 violations and failing to "commit to a single element" of the US-Russia deal. The ceasefire, which came into force on September 12, saw an initial drop in fighting but violence began to escalate late last week and the deal came under severe strain over the weekend. US Secretary of State John Kerry had warned that the truce could be the "last chance" to save the country. The attack on the convoy is likely to provoke anger at the UN General Assembly in New York, with the delivery of aid to desperate Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas stressed as a key condition of the deal by Washington. The US, Russia and other key players are set to gather there on Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict that has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced millions.[SEP]Aleppo — A convoy delivering aid to Syrians in Aleppo province was hit by a deadly air strike hours after the Syrian military declared an end to a week-long ceasefire, with an outraged UN warning it could amount to a war crime. The UN said at least 18 trucks in the 31-vehicle convoy were destroyed late on Monday en route to deliver humanitarian assistance to the hard-to-reach town of Orum al-Kubra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 Red Crescent volunteers and drivers had died in the strike while UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien said initial reports indicated “many people” were killed or seriously wounded. “Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime,” O’Brien said. The Observatory was unable to confirm if the planes responsible were Syrian or Russian. The UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian mission had sought to take advantage of the ceasefire, which collapsed on Monday night as shells and bombs rained down on Aleppo city and the surrounding province. The Observatory said a total of 36 people had died in the violence across the battleground region. An AFP correspondent inside Aleppo city reported almost non-stop bombardment and constant sirens. Syria’s military announced the end to the truce earlier on Monday, accusing rebels of more than 300 violations and failing to “commit to a single element” of the US-Russia deal. The ceasefire, which came into force on September 12, saw an initial drop in fighting but violence began to escalate late last week and the deal came under severe strain over the weekend. US Secretary of State John Kerry had warned that the truce could be the “last chance” to save the country. The attack on the convoy is likely to provoke anger at the UN General Assembly in New York, with the delivery of aid to desperate Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas stressed as a key condition of the deal by Washington. The US, Russia and other key players were set to gather there yesterday for talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict that has killed more than 300 000 people and displaced millions. “Our outrage at this attack is enormous,” the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters. “The convoy was the outcome of a long process of permission and preparations to assist isolated civilians.” The US said it was outraged at the attack and stressed that the destination of the convoy was known to the Syrian regime and its ally, Russia. Aid distribution to Syrian civilians caught up in the conflict had already faced severe difficulties. The UN held back deliveries destined for Aleppo city because it was unable to obtain security guarantees. Jan Egeland, head of the UN humanitarian task force for Syria, said the convoy was bombed despite aid agencies coordinating their movements with all sides on the ground. A Syrian Arab Red Crescent warehouse was also hit, a UN spokesperson said. Inside Aleppo, residents in rebel-held areas hunkered down after the end of the ceasefire which had brought only temporary relief to the population of up to 275 000 people trapped there. Sirens wailed as ambulances zipped through the eastern half of the divided city, an AFP correspondent reported. The Observatory said that military planes had carried out more than 40 strikes since the Syrian army announced the end of the truce. Chief US diplomat Kerry will try to speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York before yesterday’s meeting of the International Syria Support Group but statements from Syrian and Russian military officials on the ground appeared to bury the deal. “Considering that the conditions of the ceasefire are not being respected by the rebels, we consider it pointless for the Syrian government forces to respect it unilaterally,” said Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy. The ceasefire deal had three key components: fighting between government and rebel forces across Syria would halt, although strikes on Islamic State and other jihadists could continue. Humanitarian aid would reach desperate civilians, particularly in devastated eastern Aleppo. And if the ceasefire held, the US was to have set up a joint military cell with Russia to target jihadists. It came under massive strain on Saturday when a US-led coalition strike hit a Syrian army post near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where government forces are battling the Islamic State jihadist group. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday blasted the air strikes, which he said showed world powers supported “terrorist organisations” like IS. His adviser Buthaina Shaaban went further, telling AFP that Damascus believed the raid which killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers had been intentional. The bloodiest day for civilians was on Sunday, when a barrel bomb attack killed 10 in a southern rebel-held town and one woman died in the first raids on Aleppo since the truce started. — AFP.[SEP]Syrian or Russian warplanes bombed aid trucks near Aleppo late on Monday after a week-long ceasefire ended, killing 12 people, including Red Crescent workers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and opposition activists said. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment about the attack in a rebel-held area west of Aleppo near the town of Urm al-Kubra. An opposition activist who witnessed the attack said at least eight vehicles were destroyed together with the Red Crescent’s regional aid depot where they were parked. ‘As I speak to you, the brothers were trying to put out the flames, and we were subjected to four more raids … in exactly the same place,’ said the activist, giving his name as Abu Shahoud. ‘They are still in the air,’ he told Reuters from the area, sending footage that showed several trailers ablaze. A local resident told Reuters by phone that the trucks had been hit by around five missiles while parked at the centre belonging to the Syrian Red Crescent, and that the head of the centre and several others were badly injured. The United Nations had said earlier on Monday that aid including wheat flour and health supplies for 78,000 people was to be delivered to Urm al-Kubra. The United Nations and Red Cross confirmed the convoy had been hit. The British-based Observatory said the trucks had made a routine aid delivery organised by an international organisation to an area west of Aleppo city. ‘We are deeply shocked that humanitarian workers and missions have yet again suffered from the brutality of this conflict,’ the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement emailed to Reuters. The Observatory reported at least 40 strikes in and around Aleppo since the truce ended, and said some 32 people had been killed in all.[SEP]ALEPPO, Syria: A convoy delivering aid to Syrians in Aleppo province was hit by a deadly air strike hours after the Syrian military declared an end to a week-long cease-fire, with an outraged UN warning it could amount to a war crime. The UN said at least 18 trucks in the 31-vehicle convoy were destroyed late Monday en route to deliver humanitarian assistance to the hard-to-reach town of Orum Al-Kubra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 Red Crescent volunteers and drivers had died in the strike while UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien said initial reports indicated “many people” were killed or seriously wounded. “Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime,” O’Brien said. The Observatory was unable to confirm if the planes responsible were Syrian or Russian. The UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian mission had sought to take advantage of the cease-fire, which collapsed on Monday night as shells and bombs rained down on Aleppo city and the surrounding province. The Observatory said a total of 36 people had died in the violence across the battleground region. An AFP correspondent inside Aleppo city reported almost non-stop bombardment and constant sirens. Syria’s military announced the end to the truce earlier Monday, accusing rebels of more than 300 violations and failing to “commit to a single element” of the US-Russia deal. The cease-fire, which came into force on September 12, saw an initial drop in fighting but violence began to escalate late last week and the deal came under severe strain over the weekend. US Secretary of State John Kerry had warned that the truce could be the “last chance” to save the country. 'Enormous outrage' The attack on the convoy is likely to provoke anger at the UN General Assembly in New York, with the delivery of aid to desperate Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas stressed as a key condition of the deal by Washington. The US, Russia and other key players are set to gather there on Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict that has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced millions. “Our outrage at this attack is enormous,” the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters. “The convoy was the outcome of a long process of permission and preparations to assist isolated civilians.” The United States said it was outraged at the attack and stressed that the destination of the convoy was known to the Syrian regime and its ally, Russia. Aid distribution to Syrian civilians caught up in the conflict had already faced severe difficulties. The UN held back deliveries destined for Aleppo city because it was unable to obtain security guarantees. Jan Egeland, head of the UN humanitarian task force for Syria, said the convoy was bombed despite aid agencies coordinating their movements with all sides on the ground. A Syrian Arab Red Crescent warehouse was also hit, a UN spokesman said. 'Temporary relief' Inside Aleppo, residents in rebel-held areas hunkered down after the end of the cease-fire which had brought only temporary relief to the population of up to 275,000 people trapped there. Sirens wailed as ambulances zipped through the eastern half of the divided city, an AFP correspondent reported. The Observatory said that military planes had carried out more than 40 strikes since the Syrian army announced the end of the truce. Chief US diplomat Kerry will try to speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York before Tuesday’s meeting of the International Syria Support Group but statements from Syrian and Russian military officials on the ground appeared to bury the deal. “Considering that the conditions of the cease-fire are not being respected by the rebels, we consider it pointless for the Syrian government forces to respect it unilaterally,” said Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy. The cease-fire deal had three key components: fighting between government and rebel forces across Syria would halt, although strikes on Islamic State and other jihadists could continue. Humanitarian aid would reach desperate civilians, particularly in devastated eastern Aleppo. And if the cease-fire held, the US was to have set up a joint military cell with Russia to target jihadists. It came under massive strain on Saturday when a US-led coalition strike hit a Syrian army post near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where government forces are battling the Islamic State jihadist group. Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday blasted the air strikes, which he said showed world powers supported “terrorist organizations” like IS. His adviser Buthaina Shaaban went further, telling AFP that Damascus believed the raid which killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers had been intentional. The bloodiest day for civilians was Sunday, when a barrel bomb attack killed 10 in a southern rebel-held town and one woman died in the first raids on Aleppo since the truce started.[SEP]ALEPPO, Syria: A convoy delivering aid to Syrians in Aleppo province was hit by a deadly air strike hours after the Syrian military declared an end to a week-long cease-fire, with an outraged UN warning it could amount to a war crime. The UN said at least 18 trucks in the 31-vehicle convoy were destroyed late Monday en route to deliver humanitarian assistance to the hard-to-reach town of Orum Al-Kubra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 Red Crescent volunteers and drivers had died in the strike while UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien said initial reports indicated “many people” were killed or seriously wounded. “Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime,” O’Brien said. The Observatory was unable to confirm if the planes responsible were Syrian or Russian. The UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian mission had sought to take advantage of the cease-fire, which collapsed on Monday night as shells and bombs rained down on Aleppo city and the surrounding province. The Observatory said a total of 36 people had died in the violence across the battleground region. An AFP correspondent inside Aleppo city reported almost non-stop bombardment and constant sirens. Syria’s military announced the end to the truce earlier Monday, accusing rebels of more than 300 violations and failing to “commit to a single element” of the US-Russia deal. The cease-fire, which came into force on September 12, saw an initial drop in fighting but violence began to escalate late last week and the deal came under severe strain over the weekend. US Secretary of State John Kerry had warned that the truce could be the “last chance” to save the country. 'Enormous outrage' The attack on the convoy is likely to provoke anger at the UN General Assembly in New York, with the delivery of aid to desperate Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas stressed as a key condition of the deal by Washington. The US, Russia and other key players are set to gather there on Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict that has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced millions. “Our outrage at this attack is enormous,” the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters. “The convoy was the outcome of a long process of permission and preparations to assist isolated civilians.” The United States said it was outraged at the attack and stressed that the destination of the convoy was known to the Syrian regime and its ally, Russia. Aid distribution to Syrian civilians caught up in the conflict had already faced severe difficulties. The UN held back deliveries destined for Aleppo city because it was unable to obtain security guarantees. Jan Egeland, head of the UN humanitarian task force for Syria, said the convoy was bombed despite aid agencies coordinating their movements with all sides on the ground. A Syrian Arab Red Crescent warehouse was also hit, a UN spokesman said. 'Temporary relief' Inside Aleppo, residents in rebel-held areas hunkered down after the end of the cease-fire which had brought only temporary relief to the population of up to 275,000 people trapped there. Sirens wailed as ambulances zipped through the eastern half of the divided city, an AFP correspondent reported. The Observatory said that military planes had carried out more than 40 strikes since the Syrian army announced the end of the truce. Chief US diplomat Kerry will try to speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York before Tuesday’s meeting of the International Syria Support Group but statements from Syrian and Russian military officials on the ground appeared to bury the deal. “Considering that the conditions of the cease-fire are not being respected by the rebels, we consider it pointless for the Syrian government forces to respect it unilaterally,” said Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy. The cease-fire deal had three key components: fighting between government and rebel forces across Syria would halt, although strikes on Islamic State and other jihadists could continue. Humanitarian aid would reach desperate civilians, particularly in devastated eastern Aleppo. And if the cease-fire held, the US was to have set up a joint military cell with Russia to target jihadists. It came under massive strain on Saturday when a US-led coalition strike hit a Syrian army post near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where government forces are battling the Islamic State jihadist group. Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday blasted the air strikes, which he said showed world powers supported “terrorist organizations” like IS. His adviser Buthaina Shaaban went further, telling AFP that Damascus believed the raid which killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers had been intentional. The bloodiest day for civilians was Sunday, when a barrel bomb attack killed 10 in a southern rebel-held town and one woman died in the first raids on Aleppo since the truce started.[SEP]Image copyright EPA/SYRIAN RED CRESENT Image caption The 31 trucks were pictured earlier preparing to set off to deliver aid A convoy of aid trucks has been hit by an air strike near the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports say, hours after the military declared the current cessation of violence was over. One unconfirmed report said 12 people were killed in the attack near the town of Urum al-Kubra. A UN spokesman said at least 18 of 31 trucks had been hit but could not confirm it was by an air strike. UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said it was an "outrage". "The convoy was the outcome of a long process of permission and preparations to assist isolated civilians," he said in a statement emailed to Reuters. The Syrian Red Crescent said the convoy had been making a routine delivery from Aleppo to rural rebel-held areas. Images posted online showed lorries and trailers engulfed by flames. Activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said 12 people - aid workers and truck drivers - had died in a strike by Syrian or Russian warplanes. The Syrian government has not commented. A witness told Reuters by phone that about five missile strikes had hit the lorries, which were parked at a centre belonging to the Syrian Red Crescent in Urum al-Kubra. Mr de Mistura's humanitarian adviser, Jan Egeland, said the convoy had been "bombarded" while offloading at warehouses. About 78,000 people are in need of aid around Urum al-Kubra. Ingy Sedky, of the International Committee of the Red Cross, described the situation at the scene as "very chaotic". "We are deeply shocked that humanitarian workers and missions have yet again suffered from the brutality of this conflict," she told AFP. Aid deliveries to besieged areas were a key part of the cessation of hostilities deal brokered by the US and Russia seven days ago. But the Syrian military and rebels have accused each other of violating the truce. Earlier, air strikes were reported to have resumed on Aleppo and other cities after the Syrian military declared the seven-day "regime of calm" at an end. It said rebel groups, which it referred to as "terrorists", had failed to commit to any provisions of the truce deal. Image copyright EPA/SYRIAN RED CRESENT Image caption Red Crescent workers were reported to be among the casualties Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Large parts of Aleppo have been destroyed by years of fighting The US, which brokered the cessation of violence along with Russia, said it was working to extend the agreement, but called on Russia to clarify the Syrian statement. "Our arrangement is with Russia, which is responsible for the Syrian regime's compliance, so we expect Russia to clarify their position," state department spokesman John Kirby said. US Secretary of State John Kerry criticised the Syrian declaration, saying: "It would be good if they didn't talk first to the press but if they talked to the people who are actually negotiating this." He had earlier described the truce as "holding but fragile". The US and Russia are to hold further talks on the Syrian situation in New York on Tuesday, the state department added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said air strikes had hit rebel-held areas in Aleppo and villages to the west. A correspondent with the AFP news agency in the city said artillery shelling and air strikes hit Sukkari and Amiriyah, two eastern districts. Government-backed air strikes were also reported in the city of Homs and in the cities of Hama and Idlib. 'Pained and disappointed' The cessation agreement included deliveries of humanitarian aid for the worst hit areas, but by Monday most shipments had yet to go in. The stalled convoys include 20 lorries due to supply rebel-held eastern Aleppo where about 275,000 civilians are trapped without access to food or medical supplies. UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien said he was "pained and disappointed" that the convoy had yet to cross into Syria from Turkey. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Most of the humanitarian aid agree under the deal has yet to be delivered Some aid was delivered to the besieged town of Talbiseh in Homs province on Monday, the Red Cross said. The truce was dealt a blow on Saturday when warplanes from the US-led coalition against so-called Islamic State (IS) bombed Syrian troops in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, apparently unintentionally. Officials said the strikes killed more than 60 soldiers. President Bashar al-Assad called them the "latest example of flagrant American aggression against Syrian army positions in the interests of the terrorist organisation Daesh [IS]". On Monday, the UK confirmed that British aircraft - believed to be unmanned, remotely-piloted Reaper drones - had been involved in the strike, along with jets from Australia and Denmark.[SEP]BEIRUT, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Syrian or Russian warplanes bombed aid trucks near Aleppo late on Monday after a fragile week-long ceasefire ended, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. It said the trucks had made a routine aid delivery organised by an international organisation to an area west of Aleppo city, and were hit near the town of Urm al-Kubra. The United Nations and Red Cross said they were investigating the reports, and did not say whether the aid convoy belonged to them. The Observatory reported 35 strikes in and around Aleppo since the truce ended. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Kevin Liffey)[SEP]BEIRUT, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Syrian or Russian warplanes bombed aid trucks near Aleppo late on Monday after a fragile week-long ceasefire ended, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. It said the trucks had made a routine aid delivery organised by an international organisation to an area west of Aleppo city, and had been hit near the town of Urm al-Kubra. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment. A local resident told Reuters by phone that the trucks had been hit by around five missiles while parked in a centre belonging to the Syrian Red Crescent in Urm al-Kubra. The head of the centre and several others were badly injured, they said. The aid convoys had been arriving regularly from Turkey and their contents were mostly supplied by various regional and international charities. The United Nations had said earlier on Monday that aid including wheat flour and health supplies for 78,000 people was to be delivered to Urm al-Kubra. The United Nations and Red Cross said they were investigating the reports. The Observatory reported 35 strikes in and around Aleppo since the truce ended. (Reporting by John Davison and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman; Editing by Kevin Liffey)[SEP]It said the trucks had made a routine aid delivery organized by an international organization to an area west of Aleppo city, and were hit near the town of Urm al-Kubra. The United Nations and Red Cross said they were investigating the reports, and did not say whether the aid convoy belonged to them. The Observatory reported 35 strikes in and around Aleppo since the truce ended.[SEP]Twelve people involved in the aid delivery were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based organzation that monitors the conflict in Syria. At least 32 people in total were killed in strikes that hit Aleppo and its western suburbs, SOHR said. The UN is working with the Syrian humanitarian organization to deliver aid to 78,000 people in the town of Urum al-Kubra, just west of Aleppo. The UN estimates that 18 of 31 trucks in the aid convoy were hit. The violence comes just hours after Syrian authorities declared that a fragile ceasefire in the war-torn country is over. #BREAKING:Today, @SYRedCrescent #Aleppo delivering aid convoy of 31 trucks will reach the western rural side of Aleppo pic.twitter.com/fqGiCUyc3t — SARC | Aleppo (@SARC_Aleppo) September 19, 2016 "We need to see what the Russians say, but the important thing is the Russians need to control Assad who is evidently indiscriminately bombing, including on humanitarian convoys, so let's wait-and-see and collect the facts," US Secretary of State John Kerry said. "We don't have all the facts at this point." Although the ceasefire appeared to initially reduce the amount of violence in hard-hit areas like Aleppo, the delivery of humanitarian aid was delayed for security reasons. The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Monday that its team had reached the city of Homs in western Syria.
Hours after the Syrian military declares the end of the ceasefire, an airstrike hits a convoy of United Nations OCHA aid trucks near the town of Urum al-Kubra, in the Aleppo Governorate, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting that at least 12 people have been killed.
Commuters pass by the front of the Bangladesh central bank building in Dhaka March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Ashikur Rahman/File Photo MANILA (Reuters) - A Philippine regional trial court has ordered the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to return to the Bangladesh central bank a recovered portion of the $81 million that was stolen from the bank earlier this year, a government lawyer said on Monday. The court has declared Bangladesh as the rightful owner of the funds, totaling $15 million, Ricardo Paras III, chief state counsel of the Philippines’ Department of Justice, said while reading a copy of the court’s ruling to a Reuters reporter. Unknown hackers tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh central bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in early February, and succeeded in transferring $81 million to four accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp in Manila. During a Philippine Senate hearing into the heist which ended in May, a casino junket operator claimed to have received $35 million of the stolen funds but only returned $15 million. It is not clear what happened to the remainder of the money. Bangladesh had to file a petition staking its claim to the money before it could be turned over to them. “(The) court ordered the release of the cash now in the BSP vault in favor of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” Paras told Reuters. Bangladesh is also seeking to recover another $2.7 million frozen by the Philippines’ casino regulator.[SEP]The court has declared Bangladesh as the rightful owner of the funds, totaling $15 million, Ricardo Paras III, chief state counsel of the Philippines' Department of Justice, said while reading a copy of the court's ruling to a Reuters reporter. Unknown hackers tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh central bank's account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in early February, and succeeded in transferring $81 million to four accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp in Manila. During a Philippine Senate hearing into the heist which ended in May, a casino junket operator claimed to have received $35 million of the stolen funds but only returned $15 million. It is not clear what happened to the remainder of the money. Bangladesh had to file a petition staking its claim to the money before it could be turned over to them. "(The) court ordered the release of the cash now in the BSP vault in favor of the People's Republic of Bangladesh," Paras told Reuters. Bangladesh is also seeking to recover another $2.7 million frozen by the Philippines' casino regulator.[SEP]A Chinese EXIM Bank delegation is due in the capital soon to negotiate the financing of some important projects, including purchase of six vessels, ahead of President Xi Jinping's October tour. The President of China is scheduled to visit Bangladesh in mid-October before or after attending a BRICS summit in India. Sources said the EXIM Bank delegation, during its visit in the first week of October, would sit with ministries concerned to complete the negotiations as some deals are expected during the presidential tour of Bangladesh. Earlier in April, another delegation of the Chinese government's loan-providing bank, had visited some project sites, including that of Karnaphuli tunnel in Chittagong, to find potential of the projects in funding. They also sat with the officials concerned in doing the spadework. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority, which is implementing the Karnaphuli Tunnel project, signed a commercial agreement with a Chinese company last year. However, a letter received by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) indicated negotiations on two projects during the Exim Bank delegation's visit. These are six vessel purchases and a water-treatment project. It was reported earlier that a deal of US$ 6.0 billion is likely to be signed for implementing six mega projects in rail, road, port and power sectors during the upcoming visit of the Chinese head of state. A source said though the Karnaphuli Tunnel was one of the potential projects for getting Chinese government funds, confirmation in this regard was not yet received. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese firm CCCC during the Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to China in June 2014. Mr Xi Jinping is due in Dhaka before or after the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Summit which will be held in India on October 15-16 as the Chinese president is also scheduled to attend the summit meet of the Beijing-sponsored bloc based on a new global bank. Under the deals to be negotiated in early October, China is to provide US$184.50 million in concessional loan to Bangladesh for the procurement of six new vessels for Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). The Bangladesh government has cleared the project to procure the six vessels-three oil tankers and another three bulk carriers, each with 39,000DWT capacity—in a bid to enhance the BSC fleet capacity. Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is to finance the construction of Dasherkandi sewerage-treatment plant. The agency estimates a cost of around Tk 3,317 crore in building the plant, on 60 acres of land in Dasherkandi, Khilgaon. The project is expected to be completed by 2019. smunima@yahoo.com [Read More] —– Source: The Financial Express
A court in the Philippines orders the central bank to return US$15 million back to Bangladesh.
Please enable Javascript to watch this video Drivers in the Southeast are feeling the effects of the region's big pipeline problem. Commuters risk sticker shock at the pump, and some may have a headache finding any gas at all. A leak earlier this month caused the closure of a key pipeline that carries gas to the eastern United States, a disruption that's already causing inconveniences for consumers in the region. On Sunday night, a number of service stations in Metro-Atlanta and north Georgia had run out of gas. At others that still had some left, cars were lined up -- even for premium. Click here for our gas price tracker Gas prices are up on average 16 cents in Georgia and 10 cents in Tennessee since last weekend, according to AAA. In North Carolina, the Department of Public Safety said the state was experiencing "spotty" shortages. Similar issues were reported in parts of Tennessee. And authorities in South Carolina said they had heard of "isolated cases" of gas stations running out of fuel. Six states across the region -- Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -- have declared states of emergency, relaxing limits on fuel transportation to try to stave off shortages and price spikes. The problems so far don't appear too severe, however. Authorities in Tennessee and South Carolina said there have been no widespread fuel shortages. Officials in other states were unable to provide more details on the situation Sunday. A section of the Colonial Pipeline, which runs from Houston to New York, has been closed since Sept. 9 after a spill of roughly 250,000 gallons was discovered in rural Shelby County, Ala. The Colonial Pipeline provides gasoline for an estimated 50 million people on the East Coast each day, according to company estimates. The cause of the leak has yet to be determined. The company has been scrambling to get the pipeline back online. On Saturday night, it said it was building a bypass line to get fuel flowing again. The closure has set off an industry-wide scramble as suppliers seek alternative ways to transport gasoline to the East Coast. State Emergency Response Team activates JIC re: impacts to NC from #ColonialPipeline leak https://t.co/FywdSjP5un pic.twitter.com/OkzhcgYikP — NC Emergency Managem (@NCEmergency) September 19, 2016 The North Carolina Emergency Response Team activated a Joint Information Center to coordinate release of information regarding impacts from the leak. Follow @NCEmergency and @WTKR3 on Twitter for the latest. Please enable Javascript to watch this video[SEP]Drivers in the Southeast are feeling the effects of the region's big pipeline problem. Commuters risk sticker shock at the pump on Monday, and some may have a headache finding any gas at all. A leak earlier this month caused the closure of a key pipeline that carries gas to the eastern United States, a disruption that's already causing inconveniences for consumers in the region. On Sunday night, a number of service stations in Metro-Atlanta and north Georgia had run out of gas. At others that still had some left, cars were lined up -- even for premium. Gas prices are up on average 16 cents in Georgia and 10 cents in Tennessee since last weekend, according to AAA. In North Carolina, the Department of Public Safety said the state was experiencing "spotty" shortages. Similar issues were reported in parts of Tennessee. And authorities in South Carolina said they had heard of "isolated cases" of gas stations running out of fuel. Six states across the region -- Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -- have declared states of emergency, relaxing limits on fuel transportation to try to stave off shortages and price spikes. Related: Why you shouldn't panic about the coming increase in gas prices The problems so far don't appear too severe, however. Authorities in Tennessee and South Carolina said there have been no widespread fuel shortages. Officials in other states were unable to provide more details on the situation Sunday. A section of the Colonial Pipeline, which runs from Houston to New York, has been closed since Sept. 9 after a spill of roughly 250,000 gallons was discovered in rural Shelby County, Ala. The Colonial Pipeline provides gasoline for an estimated 50 million people on the East Coast each day, according to company estimates. The cause of the leak has yet to be determined. The company has been scrambling to get the pipeline back online. On Saturday night, it said it was building a bypass line to get fuel flowing again. The closure has set off an industry-wide scramble as suppliers seek alternative ways to transport gasoline to the East Coast. -- Richard Griffiths, Jethro Mullen, Charles Riley and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.[SEP]LAURINBURG — Scotland County drivers could see gasoline prices rise anywhere between five and 20 cents over the coming days following a pipeline leak in Alabama that carries gas to states up and down the east coast. The Colonial Pipeline Company said it will need to build a bypass line. The company gave no timetable as to when that line would be completed or what path it would take — until then, prices could soar and supplies could run out. There have already been some spikes in fuel cost around the area. Monday morning gasoline prices for regular unleaded was at $2.10 at the Community Stop gas station on U.S. 401 across from St. Andrews University — by 2 p.m. the price had increased to $2.39, according to Caitlyn Graham, a clerk at Community Stop. “I have noticed a lot more people than usual coming to fuel up,” Graham said. The Kangaroo Express gas station on South Main Street ran out of premium gasoline on Monday, but that shortage was not related to the pipeline spill, a store official said. Jody Parrish of Laurinburg, who was at the gas station on Monday, said he planned to fill up. “My wife just called me and told I better top off my tank before the prices go up,” he said. “I commute 60 miles for work, so this shortage could really effect me.” Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina. “We are working with state and national officials to make sure North Carolina is not impacted by this leak,” said McCrory in a press release issued Friday evening. “This executive order will help protect our motorists from excessive gas prices and ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel that is essential for the health, safety and economic well-being of businesses, consumers and visitors in North Carolina.” Officials believe six states — North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and Alabama — are all facing possible shortages due to the spill. The Colonial Pipeline runs from Texas to New York and supplies gas to an estimated 50 million people a day on the East Coast. On Sept. 9, a 36-inch pipeline near Birmingham, Alabama began leaking gasoline at least 252,000 gallons into a nearby pond. The pipeline was shut down after the leak was discovered. The pipeline company has two main lines and said Monday that it is shipping “significant volumes” on the second of the two lines to mitigate the impact of the interruption on the other line. Colonial Pipeline also said it was working “around the clock” to repair the break and supplies have either been delivered or are on their way to locations in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. State officials are reminding North Carolina residents that there is a price gouging law in effect. Price gouging is the act of charging excessive prices in a time of crisis. As of 11 a.m. on Monday, more than 400 consumers had filed complaints of potential gas price gouging to the state’s Consumer Protection Division. “Consumers are our eyes and ears on the ground and we want to know if you spot potential gas price gouging,” state Attorney General Roy Cooper said. If you plan to file a report, the AG’s office said it is helpful to provide receipts of purchased gasoline or photos of gas station price signs. The Consumer Protection Division then follows up on complaints to determine if the law has been violated.[SEP]The roughly 500-foot (152- meter) section of pipe that will serve as the bypass is now complete, and the company expects that will allow it to restart the main gasoline line, Colonial Pipeline spokesman Steve Baker told The Associated Press. “Tomorrow’s restart of the main gasoline line is a key milestone,” Baker said. “However, it will take a few days for the fuel supply chain to fully recover.” The bypass was needed to move fuel around the leak of its main gasoline pipeline in Shelby County, Alabama. The leak, which spilled between 252,000 gallons and 336,000 gallons of gasoline into a detention pond, was detected Sept. 9. The leak has led to some gas shortages and higher prices at the pumps in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. On Tuesday, gas prices continued to climb in several southern states, the auto club AAA reported. In Georgia, Tuesday’s average price for regular gas rose about 5 cents from Monday, to an average $2.36 statewide — up nearly 27 cents over the past week. Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia also saw prices climb since Monday, AAA reported Tuesday. In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley said gas prices in parts of the state rose 20 cents over the weekend after the pipeline leak, but said he didn’t consider that price gouging. “It changes overnight sometimes that much,” he said. Bentley toured Colonial Pipeline’s emergency response center, in a luxury resort hotel about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the pipeline breach, and spent much of a news conference Monday praising the company’s response. A disaster drill was held coincidentally last year near the scene of the spill, he said, and that helped the company plan and execute a response that included about 700 people so far. “Oh, yeah, I’ve noticed that the prices have just gone up — I mean, through the roof!” Tom Wargo said at a gas station northeast of Atlanta. Wargo runs a nonprofit organization that supplies pet food to people in need and spends much of his time on the road. He just returned from a road trip to Louisiana, where he helped people after the floods there, he said. “I tried getting gas yesterday and a lot of the stations had no gas at all, except diesel,” Wargo said Monday. “We certainly expect the gas prices to increase, certainly while this line is under repair and not at full capacity,” AAA spokesman Garrett Townsend said Monday. In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order Monday aimed at preventing price gouging. “There have been recent reports that wholesale and retail gas prices have substantially increased in some markets,” he said. According to a preliminary report, it wasn’t possible to immediately pinpoint the leak, partly because highly flammable benzene and gasoline vapors hung in the air and prevented firefighters, company officials and anyone else from being near the site for more than three days. State workers discovered the leak when they noticed a strong gasoline odor and sheen on a man-made retention pond, along with dead vegetation nearby, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said in the report. The report does not identify the cause of the leak. The agency, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is investigating the leak in a section of the pipeline constructed in 1963, it said. Governors across the South issued executive orders last week to suspend limitations on trucking hours, allowing drivers to stay on the road longer to bring fuel to gas stations.[SEP]The number of eggs in one basket with this thing is insane. Six states — Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and North Carolina — are facing possible gas shortages after a pipeline spill, officials said. The states have all declared states of emergency, citing concerns about “fuel supply disruptions” and “disruptions of gasoline” in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline spill. The governor of North Carolina declared the state of emergency to “help ensure that there will be adequate supplies of fuel across the state and prevent excessive fuel pricing.” Prices on futures contracts for wholesale gasoline rose about 2 percent Friday to $1.46 a gallon after rising 5 percent on Thursday. Long lines have quickly amassed at gas stations in the six states, and social media users took to their accounts to document the chaos and dwindling gasoline supply, in some cases. Below, images from Tennessee.[SEP]“It changes overnight sometimes that much,” he said. Bentley toured Colonial Pipeline’s emergency response center, in a luxury resort hotel about 12 miles from the pipeline breach, and spent much of a news conference Monday praising the company’s response. A disaster drill was held coincidentally last year near the scene of the spill, he said, and that helped the company plan and execute a response that included about 700 people so far. Colonial said it was working “around the clock” to repair the break and supplies have been delivered or are on their way to locations in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. Colonial said Monday evening in a statement that it expects the temporary pipeline to be running by the end of the week but gave no specific day. On Tuesday, gas prices continued to climb in several southern states, the auto club AAA reported. In Georgia, Tuesday’s average price for regular gas rose about 5 cents since Monday, to an average $2.36 statewide — up nearly 27 cents over the past week. Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia also saw prices climb since Monday, AAA reported Tuesday. “Oh, yeah, I’ve noticed that the prices have just gone up — I mean, through the roof!” Tom Wargo said at a gas station northeast of Atlanta. Wargo runs a nonprofit organization that supplies pet food to people in need and spends much of his time on the road. He just returned from a road trip to Louisiana, where he helped people after the floods there, he said. “I tried getting gas yesterday and a lot of the stations had no gas at all, except diesel,” Wargo said Monday. “We certainly expect the gas prices to increase, certainly while this line is under repair and not at full capacity,” AAA spokesman Garrett Townsend said Monday. “There have been recent reports that wholesale and retail gas prices have substantially increased in some markets,” he said. The shortage is blamed on a pipeline rupture and leak of at least 252,000 gallons of gas in Alabama. The pipeline company has two main lines and said Monday that it is shipping “significant volumes” on the second of the two lines to limit the effect of the interruption on the other line. Lindsey Paluka, 28, stopped at a Shell gas station in the East Atlanta neighborhood only to find a gas pump handle covered by a black garbage bag. “I’m definitely on empty, so I’m going to have to figure something out,” she said. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Colonial has acknowledged that between 252,000 gallons and 336,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from a pipeline near Helena, Alabama, since the spill was first detected Sept. 9. It’s unclear when the spill actually began. According to a preliminary report, it wasn’t possible to immediately pinpoint the leak, partly because highly flammable benzene and gasoline vapors hung in the air and prevented firefighters, company officials and anyone else from being near the site for more than three days. State workers discovered the leak when they noticed a strong gasoline odor and sheen on a man-made retention pond, along with dead vegetation nearby, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said in the report. The report does not identify the cause of the leak. The agency, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is investigating the leak in a section of the pipeline constructed in 1963, it said. Governors across the South issued executive orders last week to suspend limitations on trucking hours, allowing drivers to stay on the road longer to bring fuel to gas stations.[SEP]LUMBERTON — Robeson County residents looking to keep their cars fed may have a tough time this week as a damaged pipeline in Alabama has North Carolina’s gasoline supply drying up and prices rising. With the Colonial Pipeline damaged, the supply of gasoline throughout the Southeastern United States has been interrupted. The pipeline, which runs from Houston to New York, has spilled more than 250,000 gallons since the leak was discovered on Sept. 9. The shutdown for repairs is causing delays in the arrival of fuel trucks, though Colonial says that deliveries are on their way. “We are out in our locations,” Bucky Miller, who purchases gas for four local stations, said Monday. “I was told yesterday that the terminals in Fayetteville, Greensboro and Wilmington would be out for two more weeks.” The effects of the leak were evident throughout Lumberton Tuesday morning. Many gas stations had bags or “Out of Order” signs on some or all of their pumps. Other gas stations were limiting the amount of fuel each customer could purchase, and some had signs stating that they were out of regular. With the supply short and demand the same, prices rose quickly throughout the Southeast. Before the weekend, the average gallon of gasoline was $2.05, according to AAA Carolinas. The average on Monday, throughout the state, was $2.16. While most gas station prices in Lumberton jumped over the weekend, they stayed steady at around $2.20 a gallon on Tuesday. Colonial Pipeline Company remained buoyant Monday, hopeful that the interruption to supply would be minimal. “In an effort to minimize supply disruptions, last week Colonial Pipeline gathered gasoline from Gulf Coast refiners in order to ship supplies on its distillate line to markets throughout the affected region,” a statement read. “… As a result, following around-the-clock operations to effect this contingency plan, supplies of gasoline have been delivered and/or are in route to terminal locations in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.” As of Monday morning, more than 400 consumers had filed complaints online or via a toll-free hotline to report potential gasoline price gouging to Attorney General Roy Cooper’s Consumer Protection Division. Price gouging — or over-charging in times of crisis — is against North Carolina law when a disaster, an emergency or an abnormal market disruption for critical goods and services is declared or proclaimed by the governor. The law applies to all levels of the supply chain, from the manufacturer to the distributor to the retailer. Cooper spokeswoman Noelle Talley said investigators are checking reports of gasoline being sold at $5.89 a gallon and another offered at more than $4 a gallon. Violators can be fined up to $5,000. Gov. Pat McCrory on Monday activated North Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team to coordinate with counties regarding fuel needs. “Based on our ongoing updates from Colonial, the construction of a bypass pipeline is moving forward which will soon allow fuel supply operations to return to normal,” McCrory said. “In the meantime my executive orders remain in effect to protect motorists from excessive gas prices and minimize any interruption in the supply of fuel.” McCrory was briefed by state energy and emergency officials Tuesday and discussed short-term conservation measures until normal fuel flows are completely restored. The governor said the state’s first priority continues to be ensuring that adequate fuel is available for first responders and emergency officials. He said that he has instructed state agencies to consider options to limit fuel use, including curtailing non-essential travel for state employees. Reach Mike Gellatly at 910-816-1989 or on Twitter @MikeGellatly. The Associated Press contributed to this report.[SEP]States across the Southeast are experiencing sharp jumps in gas prices after a major gasoline pipeline ruptured in central Alabama, spilling as many as 336,000 gallons of fuel upstream from a national wildlife refuge. But thanks to a few strokes of luck, the environmental damage is minimal. The pipeline breached near an old coal mine pit, and much of the fuel flowed into a water retention pond. With local streams dry -- much of central Alabama is suffering from moderate to severe drought -- the gasoline did not find its way down into the Cahaba River, home to 64 rare and endangered plant and animal species, including the Cahaba lily. “We really did bypass the bullet,” said Myra Crawford, executive director at Cahaba Riverkeeper, which has been monitoring the area by canoe and foot.“It could have been horrible. If the oil had flowed into the river, where our lilies grow, it would have contaminated one of our state treasures. It could have flowed down through Alabama and into the Mobile Bay.” The leak was discovered Friday when a mining inspector detected a strong odor of gasoline at a mining property in a remote area of Shelby County, about 30 miles south of Birmingham. It came from Colonial Pipeline's Line 1, a 3-foot-wide pipe that typically transports 1.3 million barrels of gasoline a day from Houston refineries to distribution centers across the Southeast and all the way up to Linden, N.J. Built in 1964, the pipeline provides the East Coast with up to 40% of its gasoline supply. The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company immediately shut down the pipeline. Last week, crews began removing gasoline and water from the retention pond to temporary storage tanks. Underflow dams were constructed and a boom was installed to ensure that no fuel traveled into a dry creek bed that runs from the pond to Peel Creek, which flows into the Cahaba River. More than 700 people are now working at the site, attempting to excavate and repair the damaged section of pipe as well as construct a temporary line to bypass the leaked section. So far, hardly any wildlife seems to have have perished as a result of fuel exposure: “A few very small mammals, one bird, a snake,” Crawford said. “Most of the damage has been to the pipeline itself and to the people who need gas for their cars.” Over the weekend, drivers in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas faced longer lines at the gas pumps and, in some cases, dry pumps. In Georgia, the average price of a gallon of regular gas jumped from $2.09 on Tuesday to $2.31 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy.com, a consumer-driven website that helps drivers find cheap gas. Over the weekend, GasBuddy customers reported a Super Express gas station in Evans, Ga., charging $3.49 and an Exxon station in McLean, Va., charging $3.19. Colonial is still transporting gasoline from Houston to western Alabama. In an effort to minimize gas shortages farther north, the company is moving gasoline through a second pipeline that runs alongside the burst line and usually carries diesel and jet fuel. Last week, the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia issued executive orders that temporarily suspended various state and federal regulations to allow truck drivers to work longer shifts to deliver gasoline. “The uninterrupted supply” of gas is an “essential need for the public and any perceived shortage threatens the public welfare,” Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said in his order. As consumers in many parts of the Southeast rushed to fill up their tanks, some gas stations ran out of fuel. Emergency management officials in some states urged consumers not to panic. “Tennessee’s consumers need to maintain their normal driving and fuel buying habits,” Tennessee Emergency Management Agency director Patrick Sheehan urged in a statement Saturday. “If consumers fill up unnecessarily, top off their tanks when they aren’t close to empty, and fill multiple containers at the pumps, then our petroleum retailers will not be able to keep up with the demand of the fuel supply.” The spill comes at a crucial time for the oil industry. Thousands of Native American protesters have gathered in North Dakota in recent weeks to block construction of the new Dakota Access pipeline. They argue that the pipeline would pass through sacred sites and burial ground, and that any future spills could be culturally and economically catastrophic. In Alabama, Cahaba Riverkeeper praised Colonial for its transparency, noting that within an hour of hearing of the leak the company invited the group to monitor the damage. “That’s very unusual,” Crawford said, noting that her group had begun to forge a relationship with the oil company in the last year. “I keep thinking this is a good time where oil and water mixed.” New York bomb that injured 29 was 'obviously an act of terrorism,' governor says Islamic State says Minnesota mall attacker was its soldier; his father IDs slain man as college student Hanjin bankruptcy is the tip of the iceberg for flailing shippers[SEP]NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Gasoline prices in the southeastern United States kept rising on Monday as Colonial Pipeline Co continued to fix a more-than-week long disruption on a key gasoline line that has led to complaints of long waits and price gouging at the pump. The leak, which was discovered on Sept. 9, released about 6,000 to 8,000 barrels (252,000-336,000 gallons) of gasoline in Shelby County, Alabama. The partial shutdown of the damaged Line 1, which carries about 1.3 million barrels per day of gasoline from the refining hub on the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, also roiled the markets. Benchmark gasoline futures gained 9 percent in the week following the leak, although futures pared losses on Monday, falling 2 percent to $1.4318 a gallon. Retail gasoline prices in Georgia, one of the hardest hit states, jumped nearly 6 cents overnight to Monday, or more than 20 cents higher than a week ago, to $2.316 a gallon on average, according to motorists' advocacy group AAA. Richard Parks, 32, an electrician in Atlanta, said he saw the price of regular gas jump at a Shell Station in East Atlanta to $2.69 on Monday from $2.51 on Sunday. "I didn't think it would get worse overnight, but it just did," Parks said while waiting in a line to refuel on Monday. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed an executive order on Monday preventing gas stations from significantly raising their fuel prices. In North Carolina, more than 400 consumers had filed complaints to report potential gas price gouging to Cooper's Consumer Protection Division, as of 11 a.m. ET (1500 GMT) on Monday, State Attorney General Roy Cooper said in a statement. Many states have also allowed for an extension of the maximum number of hours truck drivers are allowed to drive in order to deliver gas products to the state. Availability of fuel has varied across the region, with long lines seen throughout Atlanta, as well as in Nashville, Tennessee. Patrick Sheehan of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said over the weekend that central and eastern Tennessee have had spotty unavailability of fuel. "There's a very emotional response to the headlines," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData. "So you see false indicators to demand when people fill up tanks due to shortage fears and that adds another layer of complexity." Pump prices in Alabama ticked up to $2.01 on Monday while prices in Tennessee rose nearly 3 cents to $2.13 from $2.10 on Sunday, according to the AAA. Colonial, which has not said what caused the leak, resumed repairs on Friday after vapors delayed work and it projects a full restart by this week. The company is constructing a bypass that circumvents the damaged line. Colonial, the largest U.S. refined products pipeline system of about 2.6 million bpd, said on Monday it gathered gasoline from Gulf Coast refiners last week to transport the fuel on its distillate line to markets throughout the affected region. Shippers are also increasing waterborne shipments of fuel in order to make up for lost batches on Colonial and delays, sources said. Larry Carr, 44, an Atlanta private contractor, was filling gasoline containers and piling them into the back of his Ford Explorer van just after topping up his tank at a Mobile station in the Grant Park neighborhood where it cost $2.49 for regular self-serve. "Normally it would cost me $40 to fill her up, but today it cost $60 and I wasn't even near empty," he said. Of the gasoline cans, he said: "I'm going to take some of this to a friend who ran out of gas and get her going again." (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York and Richard McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Bill Trott and Marguerita Choy)[SEP]The broken gasoline pipeline that's caused shortages and price spikes in the Southeast is just days away from resuming normal operations. The company, Colonial Pipeline, said Tuesday it's completed a 500-foot bypass to carry gasoline around the broken portion of the pipeline. It's currently conducting tests to make sure that the repair will work. If it does, Colonial expects to start sending gasoline through the pipeline by Wednesday. It will then take several days for the fuel delivery supply chain to return to normal. The company said it has 700 employees and contractors working on the site. The pipeline carries gas and other refined products such as jet fuel from refineries in the Houston area all the way to New Jersey. The leak's impact has been particularly severe in six Southeastern states that rely on the pipeline for a significant portion of their gasoline. Prices in those states - Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -- have spiked by as much as 20 cents since the weekend. Those states have have declared emergencies and relaxed restrictions on fuel transportation due to shortage. The leak occurred on Sept. 9 in a rural area south of Birmingham, Alabama, on a portion of the pipeline that's 53 years old. Most of the pipeline was built in either the 1960s or 1970s, according to federal records.
The U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia declare a state of emergency over gas shortages as a result of the Colonial pipeline leak in Shelby County, Alabama.
Cambodia's Government threatens to crush protests as acting Opposition leader Kem Sokha vows to stay Updated For almost four months, Cambodia's acting Opposition leader has chosen to stay within the relative safety of his party's headquarters in Phnom Penh, rather than risk arrest outside on charges many consider politically-motivated. Key points: Cambodia's acting Opposition leader has been stuck living in a four-storey building in Phnom Penh since May Kem Sokha was convicted in absentia and sentenced to five months in jail for not attending court A spokesman for the ruling party says Mr Kem "refuses to accept his own mistakes" Only a few unusual items have been added to Kem Sokha's room since May — a mattress instead of a desk and a treadmill for exercise. "This used to be my office, now it's my bedroom," he says, forcing a smile. Kem Sokha is surrounded by a few private security staff and dozens of supporters, with many thousand more likely to turn up at the four-storey building if police try to arrest the human rights activist-turned-politician. On September 5, Kem Sokha was convicted in absentia and sentenced to five months in jail for not attending court as a witness in a case against two fellow Opposition MPs. Their case relates to charges of prostitution against a hairdresser with whom Kem Sokha's had an alleged affair, in what one observer called "a legal fiction that legitimises [the ruling party's] heavy-handed actions". The sentence is the latest in a long string of legal and physical attacks against the Opposition — the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). CNRP president Sam Rainsy has fled the country on several occasions and currently lives in self-imposed exile. But Kem Sokha said he will not be running away. "I already made my decision, not just recently, I must stay here with the people," Kem Sokha said. When asked about the similarities between his case and that of Julian Assange, Kem Sokha pointed instead to other notable agitators — presumably thinking of Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. "Yes, I've thought about that [Assange], however some are not just under house arrest but spend 20 or 30 years struggling in jail to achieve democracy and freedom," Kem Sokha said. The Opposition made significant gains in the 2013 election and stands a real chance of winning the vote in 2018, but few observers believe Cambodia's ruler of 31 years, Hun Sen, will yield power. 'To kill a snake, hit the head' Kem Sokha is in a tough place politically — trapped between Cambodia's notoriously pliant courts and the accusation he is acting above the law. He plans to appeal against the charges but that could tie him up in the courts for months, or even years, effectively neutralising him as a political leader. One option Kem Sokha has floated is mass protests but this was immediately criticised by the ruling party. "I think his announcement of a mass demonstration is a very poisonous tactic," spokesman for the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Sok Ey San said. "He refuses to accept his own mistake and uses the people to shield him." The prospect of protests appeared to hit a nerve with Prime Minister Hun Sen, who used his newfound love of social media to issue dark warnings. "I order all competent forces to be ready to get rid of all illegal activities in order to protect the happiness of the people, no matter the cost," Hun Sen wrote on Facebook, according to The Cambodia Daily. "Hit the snake, hit it right on the head first." About two hours later, troops mobilised with an estimated 30-40 trucks filled with heavily armed soldiers — including the Prime Minister's feared bodyguard unit — driving slowly past CNRP headquarters. Some soldiers reportedly stopped to urinate outside the Opposition Party building. In a similar "exercise" two weeks earlier, several military helicopters circled low over the building, while navy speedboats with mounted machine guns patrolled the Bassac River, which backs on to the property. "This is a threat, an obvious and grave threat against me," Kem Sokha said. The Government denied it was trying to intimidate the Opposition. "It's not necessary for those of us in power to threaten him, if any problem arises with Kem Sokha, we can simply arrest him," Sok Ey San said. Kem Sokha told the ABC the best way out of this impasse is a "political settlement … between the leaders". Hun Sen has made similar deals before with Sam Rainsy and former opposition leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, always at the cost of their political leverage and public esteem. Concerns raised about escalating 'political tensions' in Cambodia Australia was once a key player in Cambodia's peace process, as it emerged from the Khmer Rouge and civil war, but now it keeps a lower profile. While more than a dozen diplomatic leaders have visited Kem Sokha at party headquarters, a planned visit from Australia's Ambassador on September 8 was cancelled. The embassy said there was a scheduling problem, but the Opposition believes Canberra does not want to upset Cambodia, the only country to accept refugees from Nauru. However, Australia did join 38 nations in a statement on the political situation in Cambodia addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council this week. "We are deeply concerned about the current escalation of political tensions in Cambodia, which threatens legitimate activities by opposition parties and human rights NGOs," the statement said. "There is particular concern about the appearance that legal action is being disproportionately pursued against critics of the Government." The statement also noted the assassination of political analyst and rights activist Kem Lay, who was shot dead in July by a man who appeared to get on and then off an undercover policeman's motorcycle, before he was arrested further along the street. "We note the chilling effect this crime has had upon civil society and independent voices in Cambodia," the UN statement said. In response, Cambodia's representative suggested it might sever ties with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR). "We are negotiating to continue the [memorandum of understanding] with the OHCHR, but we do not welcome interference in our political situation," permanent representative of Cambodia to the UN Ney Sam Ol wrote. Last month, Hong Lim, a Cambodian refugee who is now a Victorian MP, was blacklisted from entering his birth country after he made critical remarks about the Government. Topics: human, world-politics, government-and-politics, cambodia, asia First posted[SEP]PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s leader responded angrily Monday to the opposition’s threat to hold nationwide demonstrations, saying such protests could sink any chances of resolving political differences through negotiations. Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech to graduating students that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party should speak politely and make a positive gesture if they want to ease tensions. “To be clear about that, don’t threaten to stage a demonstration for the reason of seeking to resume negotiations. That is no way,” Hun Sen said. “I would be a dog if I were to negotiate (with you).” He said the opposition should be speaking out in parliament, whose sessions it has stopped attending in protest at the ruling Cambodian People’s Party majority voting to lift the parliamentary immunity of its leaders, a move the opposition considers illegal. The opposition complains of being harassed by politically influenced courts, after legal cases have forced party leader Sam Rainsy to stay in exile to avoid jail and his deputy Kem Sokha to take refuge behind supporters at party headquarters, where state security forces have gathered in armed shows of strength. Critics of the government have seen its actions as an attempt to disrupt the opposition’s organizing efforts ahead of local elections next June. The next general election is not until mid-2018, but holding power at the local level is an advantage when national polls are held. Hun Sen has led Cambodia for three decades. In response to the government actions, Kem Sokha said last week that the party is considering calling for nationwide protests. The opposition has strong support in the capital, and street demonstrations have traditionally been an effective form of push-back, but recent efforts to take to the streets have generally fizzled. Hun Sen said that if talks were resumed with the opposition, the topics would exclude the legal cases of opposition members. He and his government insist these are criminal matters and not political issues. A statement issued earlier this month by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern “about the escalating atmosphere of intimidation of opposition politicians, their supporters, civil society, and peaceful demonstrators in Cambodia.” A joint statement issued by several foreign embassies expressed similar concern. Activists and non-governmental organizations, which are generally critical of the government, have faced similar legal pressures. The murder in July of a prominent social critic, Kem Ley, allegedly by a man to whom he owed money, is widely regarded with suspicion. On Monday, four prominent land activists were convicted and sentenced to six months each in prison for a protest they held five years ago. The four women — Tep Vanny, Heng Mom, Bou Chhovy and Kong Chantha — are well known for protesting the eviction of residents from Phnom Penh’s Boeung Kak lake community, which was to be turned into a luxury commercial development. They were convicted of insulting and obstructing civil servants. The Boeung Kak protesters are among the most tireless of the government’s critics.[SEP]PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s leader has responded angrily to threats of nationwide demonstrations by the opposition, saying they could sink any chances of resolving political differences through negotiations. Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech to graduating students Monday that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party should speak politely and make a positive gesture if they want to ease tensions. The opposition complains that it is being harassed by politically influenced courts, forcing party leader Sam Rainsy to stay in exile to avoid jail and his deputy Kem Sokha to take refuge behind supporters at party headquarters, where armed state security forces have been staging shows of strength. Kem Sokha says the party is considering calling for nationwide protests to force the government to ease the pressure.[SEP]Cambodia's strongman premier vowed on Monday to "eliminate" his opponents if they push ahead with plans for nationwide protests against an ongoing government crackdown that has sparked international alarm. The latest rhetoric, some of Prime Minister Hun Sen's strongest in recent months, ratchets up worsening political tensions in the kingdom, which will hold national elections in 2018. Rights groups have accused long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen's administration of arresting scores of critics and tying up other opponents in legal cases. The main opposition party's deputy leader Kem Sokha has been holed up for weeks in his office, sleeping on a makeshift bed. He was handed a jail sentence earlier this month for refusing to appear in court over an alleged sex scandal prosecution that the opposition say is politically motivated. His party has threatened to hold nationwide demonstrations if moves are made to arrest him or if the crackdown continues. "Don't threaten (me) with demonstrations in exchange for talks. No way, youngest brother!," Hun Sen said at a university graduation ceremony Monday, in a characteristically lengthy speech. "This is not just a warning, it is more serious than a warning because it is an order to eliminate those who destroy security and social order," he said, adding that foreign countries had no right to criticise his administration. Last week a group of 36 states -- including the European Union and the United States -- issued a joint statement saying they were "deeply concerned" about escalating political tensions in Cambodia. Hun Sen, a former army commander who defected from the Khmer Rouge, has dominated Cambodian politics for the past 31 years. His administration claims it has brought much needed peace and stability to a nation ravaged by civil war. But opposition groups have gained ground in recent years amid growing disillusionment with endemic corruption, rights abuses and political repression. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) accuses Hun Sen of denying it a majority by rigging the 2013 election in his favour, a charge the premier denies. CNRP's top leader and Hun Sen's chief rival, Sam Rainsy, has spent nearly one year in self-imposed exile to avoid arrest warrants he claims are politically-motivated. More than a dozen of opposition figures, including two MPs, are currently in prison facing charges, while more than 20 political activists and rights workers have faced legal action over the past year. Four land activists were sentenced on Monday to six months in jail each for allegedly insulting public officials during a protest in 2011.[SEP]Cambodian court gives 2 Chinese life in prison for drugs PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian court has sentenced two Chinese nationals to life in prison after convicting them of production and trafficking of heroin and methamphetamine in one of the country's biggest drug trafficking cases. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found the two men guilty Tuesday of smuggling 55 kilograms (121 pounds) of methamphetamine and heroin worth an estimated $3 million from Laos in June last year. The drugs were believed destined for both Cambodia and third countries. Two Cambodian men involved in the case also received life sentences, one in absentia as police are still seeking him. A report earlier this year from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime described Cambodia as an increasingly important hub for smuggling heroin and methamphetamine as well as chemicals used in their manufacture.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen says that he will continue his campaign against protests from the Cambodian opposition while Kem Sokha of the Cambodian National Rescue Party vows to remain as their leader.
The uniformed attackers struck the morning after security forces had clashed with party members and other opposition activists protesting against what they say is a bid by President Joseph Kabila to extend his rule over Africa's top copper producer. Two charred bodies could be seen inside the offices of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Kinshasa on Tuesday, next to empty gasoline cans strewn across the floor, a Reuters witness said. "We were sleeping when men came and forced in the door ... I saw men in military uniform," said Jean Toumba, a UDPS member who had been sleeping in the building. "They threw petrol and set fire to the office. I ran out to hide," he told Reuters. The armed men burst in to the office in the capital's Limete neighborhood at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), he added. Witnesses had initially said three bodies were inside the building. However one was found to be alive, though he was badly burnt. Another person was also injured in the fire. The UDPS is led by Etienne Tshisekedi, an opposition stalwart who lost against Kabila in a 2011 presidential run-off. The party is one of the main political groupings calling for Kabila to step down when his term expires in December[SEP]At least 44 people were killed in protests against Congolese President Joseph Kabila, including 37 killed by security forces and six police officers killed by demonstrators. The protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo started on Monday after the election commission decided to try to postpone the next presidential vote, due in November. Kabila's opponents say the proposed delay is a manoeuvre to keep the president in power although ruling party politicians deny this. Kabila is barred constitutionally from running for a third term and his allies say he will respect the constitution. With the unrest forcing schools to close and halting public transport in the sprawling riverside capital, the United Nations expressed fears the situation could worsen. READ MORE: * DR Congo clashes leave 17 dead * Nigeria gripped with 'catastrophic' famine * At least 21 Hutus killed in 'alarming' east Congo violence * UN warns Congo campaign against Rwandan rebels will take time * Up to 80 people killed by rebels in Congo Overnight, several people were killed when security forces burned down the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), and attacked buildings of other opposition parties, HRW Africa researcher for the New York-based group, Ida Sawyer, said. 17 people had been killed overnight and on Tuesday, while 20 had been killed on Monday, she said. "Most were killed when security forces fired on crowds of protesters," she said. "We've also received credible reports that protesters have killed at least six police officers and a [ruling party] PPRD supporter and they have also burned and looted several shops and police stations," Sawyer said. The fire - a criminal act - started between 2am and 4am on Monday (1200-1300 NZ time), said opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, a UDPS official and son of veteran opposition figure Etienne Tshisekedi, who lost to Kabila in a 2011 presidential run-off after five decades of active involvement in Congolese politics. Congo has not had a peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. "We have on our hands seven dead and two people who were amputated: one at the arm and another at the leg, in the fire at our headquarters in Limete. There are also multiple people wounded at the hospital," Felix Tshisekedi told Reuters. Tshisekedi, who has called for further protests, said: "We won't live with this barbarity. The people are angry." Witnesses said calm has returned to central Kinshasa by Tuesday afternoon, though there were reports of clashes in the suburbs. Government spokesman Lambert Mende condemned the attack on the UDPS but denied security forces were involved. Interior ministry spokesman Claude Pero Luwara told Reuters the death toll stood at 17 and said Human Rights Watch's statement was a "typical" exaggeration by the group. The ministry had earlier said three of those killed were policemen. Kabila took power in 2001 when his father was assassinated but must step down in December. His opponents fear he may follow the example of leaders in other African countries such as Burundi and Rwanda and change the constitution to extend his rule. Tom Perriello, U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, said Washington would hold all sides accountable for their actions during the latest violence and that the government could easily have taken steps to defuse tension. "Unfortunately, the pattern over the last year has been to dramatically reduce that open political space ... We have seen a crackdown on the rights and freedoms of Congolese people," he told a news conference in New York. "We remain ready to impose additional targeted sanctions on individuals who have been involved in abuses or violence," said Perriello, who was verbally harassed and obstructed at Kinshasa airport as he left on Sunday. Adding to the mix of disapproval, Congo's powerful Catholic church temporarily suspend its participation in talks between the government, some opposition parties and civil society groups over the election timetable, local media said. Nearly 200 people were believed to have been arrested on Monday and the UN received reports of excessive use of force by security forces, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva. Congo is Africa's top copper producer but many Congolese people have yet to benefit from the country's mineral wealth.[SEP]KINSHASA, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Armed men set fire to the headquarters of one of Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition parties early on Tuesday, a day after violent protests, the organisation said, leaving at least two people dead inside. The uniformed attackers struck the morning after security forces had clashed with party members and other opposition activists protesting against what they say is a bid by President Joseph Kabila to extend his rule over Africa's top copper producer. Two charred bodies could be seen inside the offices of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Kinshasa on Tuesday, next to empty gasoline cans strewn across the floor, a Reuters witness said. "We were sleeping when men came and forced in the door ... I saw men in military uniform," said Jean Toumba, a UDPS member who had been sleeping in the building. "They threw petrol and set fire to the office. I ran out to hide," he told Reuters. The armed men burst in to the office in the capital's Limete neighbourhood at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), he added. Witnesses had initially said three bodies were inside the building. However one was found to be alive, though he was badly burnt. Another person was also injured in the fire. The UDPS is led by Etienne Tshisekedi, an opposition stalwart who lost against Kabila in a 2011 presidential run-off. The party is one of the main political groupings calling for Kabila to step down when his term expires in December (Reporting by Kenny Katombe and Benoit Nyemba; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Andrew Heavens)[SEP]Kinshasa. The headquarters of three DR Congo opposition parties were torched overnight and early Tuesday, a day after deadly clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila, AFP journalists said. At least two burnt bodies could be seen in the fire-ravaged offices of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), while two other people were burnt alive and one person injured, they said. By 8:30 am flames were dying down at the headquarters of the Forces of Union and Solidarity (FONUS) and the Lumumbist Progressive Movement (MLP) in the north of the capital Kinshasa. Fire was still raging at the UDPS building where a tearful woman in her 40s said that her husband had been there when unidentified assailants attacked the building. “I’ve just put my husband’s body in the morgue. He was killed in the clashes,” she told AFP. The fresh violence came after a bloody day on Monday during which opposition groups said more than 50 people had died. For its part, the government said that at least 17 had perished in the clashes but warned that the toll could rise further. The opposition said that security forces fired live ammunition into protesters and urged supporters to pour onto the streets again to demand Kabila step down. Monday’s violence started just before an opposition rally by demonstrators who fear Kabila -- who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001 -- is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. The clashes were the worst violence in the capital since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. Kabila’s mandate ends on December 20 and although the constitution bans him from running again, he has made no effort to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will attempt to cling on to power. In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. France and former colonial power Belgium have voiced concern over the unrest and urged political forces to organise an election quickly. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. (AFP)[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo — More than 25 people have been killed in attacks on Congo opposition party headquarters and in street clashes between security forces and demonstrators against a delayed presidential election, an opposition leader said Tuesday. Hundreds took to the streets of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, on Monday to oppose an election delay which they call an effort by President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate in late December. A high court has determined Kabila can stay in office until a new leader is elected. The electoral commission has filed for a delay in elections that were scheduled for November, saying voter registration lists will not be ready. The U.N. human rights office noted reports of "excessive use of force" by both security forces and demonstrators. Both sides denied responsibility for the violence. More than 25 people have been killed, said Joseph Olengankoy, an organizer of Monday's protests. Interior minister Evariste Boshab has said 17 were killed, including at least three police officers. At least two people were killed after attacks on the headquarters of five opposition parties late Monday, the U.N. and an opposition party said. Bruno Tshibala, spokesman for the largest opposition party, said five were wounded in raids on four party headquarters. Congo's government spokesman, Lambert Mende, condemned the burning of opposition party buildings as well as attacks on other buildings, including two ruling party buildings and a school, by opposition protesters. Mende called on Congolese to regain their composure and let justice do its work. "The government can only condemn this mob justice mentality," he said. Kabila, who came to power after his father's assassination in 2001, has yet to announce whether he will pursue another term in office, though the constitution prohibits it. The violence comes amid growing fears that the election delay could lead to prolonged unrest in Congo, a nation as vast in size as Western Europe. The mineral-rich but largely impoverished country suffered back-to-back civil wars until 2003, and previous instability has drawn in armies from countries. Appeals for calm and restraint have been launched by the United Nations, Belgium, the U.S., France and the European Union, which also have called for a rapid organization of presidential elections.[SEP]A man shows his injuries on September 20, 2016 near the offices of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress party which were torched overnight in Kinshasa. By Junior D. Kannah (AFP) Kinshasa (AFP) - Several people died in a second day of violence in DR Congo Tuesday, with three opposition HQ buildings torched in clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila. The fresh violence came after a bloody day on Monday during which opposition groups said more than 50 people had died in protests calling for Kabila's resignation. The government put the toll from the first day of clashes at 17 -- three policemen and 14 "looters". Protesters attacked several police outposts for a second day running on Tuesday amid reports of looting. The national secretary of the main opposition group blamed a regime "commando" unit for torching their offices after ruling party buildings were set ablaze on Monday. "Does a normal state respond with reprisals?" said Felix Tshisekedi from the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). "We are facing a rogue state." Gunfire was heard on Tuesday morning near the UDPS headquarters. At least two burnt bodies could be seen in the fire-ravaged building. Two others were burned alive and another injured. A tearful woman in her 40s said that her husband had been there when unidentified assailants attacked the building. "I've just put my husband's body in the morgue," she told AFP. Two other opposition parties -- the Forces of Union and Solidarity (FONUS) and the Lumumbist Progressive Movement (MLP) -- also saw arson attacks at their offices. A FONUS member said that armed men in civilian clothes arrived at the office in a jeep, sprayed petrol and set the building on fire. Jose Maria Arnaz, the director of the Joint Office of the United Nations for Human Rights in DR Congo, inspected the UDPS office to "investigate" the fire. "We are seeing what we can do to reduce the political tensions and bring those responsible for deaths to justice," he told AFP. Diplomatic and security sources as well as residents reported clashes between the police and youths in the central and southern districts of Kinshasa, a teeming city of some 10 million. Most residents stayed home, accustomed to violence in the streets. Shops and schools were closed. By Tuesday evening, calm seemed to be restored in most of the capital. The violence broke out just before an opposition rally on Monday by demonstrators who fear Kabila -- who has ruled the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001 -- is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. Kabila's mandate ends on December 20 and although the constitution bans him from running for a third term, he has made no effort to schedule elections which would be practically impossible to organise in the vast country before the year is up. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise an elections schedule, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate. On Tuesday, Catholic Church leaders vowed to stay away from the negotiating table in protest against the violence, "out of respect" for the victims. And the African Union, which is mediating the so-called "national dialogue", said the talks would be suspended until Friday. Church leaders also took a clear-cut position on Kabila's fate. "It must be clearly stated and stipulated that the current president of the republic will not be a candidate in the next election, which must be held as soon as possible," the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo said in a statement. The opposition said security forces had fired live ammunition at protesters and urged supporters to pour onto the streets again to demand Kabila step down on schedule. Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said the monitor "received credible reports that security forces shot dead at least 20 people (on Monday) during Kinshasa protests against election delays". The clashes were the worst violence in the capital since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. French President Francois Hollande, speaking in New York on Tuesday, urged DR Congo to hold elections on schedule, deploring the growing political violence. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks. A former Belgian colony, DR Congo has been wracked by unrest since independence in 1960 and has never known a peaceful transition of power.[SEP]KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — More than 44 people have been killed in Congo in two days of street clashes between security forces and protesters against a delayed presidential election, a senior Human Rights Watch researcher said Tuesday, and several opposition party buildings were burned. Thousands took to the streets of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, on Monday to oppose an election delay which they call an effort by President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate in late December. A high court has determined Kabila can stay in office until a new leader is elected. The electoral commission has filed for a delay in elections that were scheduled for November, saying voter registration lists will not be ready. Gunshots could be heard Tuesday in Kinshasa as tensions rose. Human Rights Watch has received credible reports from witnesses that security forces have killed at least 37 civilian, said senior Africa researcher Ida Sawyer. “Most were killed when the security forces fired on crowds of protesters. Others were killed when the security forces burned down opposition party headquarters last night,” she said in an email. Protesters killed at least six police officers and a supporter of Kabila’s party, she said, adding that demonstrators also burned and looted several shops and police stations. The U.N. human rights office noted reports of “excessive use of force” by both security forces and demonstrators. Both sides denied responsibility for the violence. An organizer of the opposition protests, Joseph Olengankoy, earlier had put the toll at more than 25 people killed. Interior minister Evariste Boshab had said 17 were killed, including at least three police officers. At least two people were killed after attacks on the headquarters of five opposition parties late Monday, the U.N. and an opposition party said. Bruno Tshibala, spokesman for the largest opposition party, said five were wounded in raids on four party headquarters. “We will seek international justice,” he said. Congo’s government spokesman, Lambert Mende, condemned the burning of opposition party buildings as well as attacks on other buildings, including two ruling party buildings and a school, by opposition protesters. Mende called on Congolese to regain their composure and let justice do its work. “The government can only condemn this mob justice mentality,” he said. Kabila, who came to power after his father’s assassination in 2001, has yet to announce whether he will pursue another term in office, though the constitution prohibits it. The violence comes amid growing fears that the election delay could lead to prolonged unrest in Congo, a nation as vast in size as Western Europe. The mineral-rich but largely impoverished country suffered back-to-back civil wars until 2003, and previous instability has drawn in armies from neighboring countries. Appeals for calm and restraint have been launched by the United Nations, Belgium, the U.S., France and the European Union, which also have called for a rapid organization of presidential elections. Amnesty International called on authorities to “take immediate steps to halt this escalating tension.”[SEP]Kinshasa. The headquarters of three DR Congo opposition parties were torched overnight and early Tuesday, a day after deadly clashes between police and opponents of President Joseph Kabila, AFP journalists said. At least two burnt bodies could be seen in the fire-ravaged offices of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), while two other people were burnt alive and one person injured, they said. By 8:30 am flames were dying down at the headquarters of the Forces of Union and Solidarity (FONUS) and the Lumumbist Progressive Movement (MLP) in the north of the capital Kinshasa. Fire was still raging at the UDPS building where a tearful woman in her 40s said that her husband had been there when unidentified assailants attacked the building. “I’ve just put my husband’s body in the morgue. He was killed in the clashes,” she told AFP. The fresh violence came after a bloody day on Monday during which opposition groups said more than 50 people had died. For its part, the government said that at least 17 had perished in the clashes but warned that the toll could rise further. The opposition said that security forces fired live ammunition into protesters and urged supporters to pour onto the streets again to demand Kabila step down. Monday’s violence started just before an opposition rally by demonstrators who fear Kabila -- who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001 -- is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally. The clashes were the worst violence in the capital since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. Kabila’s mandate ends on December 20 and although the constitution bans him from running again, he has made no effort to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will attempt to cling on to power. In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. France and former colonial power Belgium have voiced concern over the unrest and urged political forces to organise an election quickly. A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. (AFP)[SEP]Human Rights Watch senior researcher Ida Sawyer said that at least 44 people have died as political demonstrations turned violent. Opponents of the government took to the streets earlier this week to protest the national electoral commission's failure to announce a timetable for the presidential election, due to take place in November. Citing "credible reports," Sawyer said that 37 protesters have been killed since the protests began, six police officers and one supporter of ruling leader Joseph Kabila's party. CNN cannot independently verify the figure. In a follow-up email, Sawyer said that "at least 37 (civilians have been killed) since the protests began, including 20 who were killed yesterday (September 19) and 17 who were killed last night and today (September 20)." Opposition party headquarters were torched overnight Monday in retaliation over the protests, a government spokesman said. Lambert Mende Omalanga, minister of communication, told CNN: "We condemn revenge attacks as a manner of justice. We need calm from everyone." Opposition leader Martin Fayulu had called on the government to abide by the constitution and for President Joseph Kabila to step down on December 19. Fayulu posted a message on Twitter last week saying protesters should stage a sit-in in front of the elections commission Monday. A delay in the elections would allow Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his second term. But Omalanga dismissed calls from the opposition for Kabila to resign then, saying, "President Kabila will step down only when a new president is elected. "I don't think it is something credible. We are meeting in a national dialogue in order to organize free and fair elections," he told CNN. "Those who launched these so-called protests may be afraid of the outcome of any election that may be held," Omalanga said, adding that the situation was currently calm in Kinshasa. Opinion: Bandi Mbubi says only democracy can end violence The head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or MONUSCO, urged everyone "to exercise maximum restraint." "I call on the Congolese authorities to ensure that national security forces respect fundamental freedoms, and for the use of nonlethal force in crowd control in their response to protests. I also call on all concerned political leaders and their supporters to desist from undertaking any further acts that could continue to exacerbate the situation and heighten tensions," said MONUSCO's Maman Sambo Sidikou. #MONUSCO calls on all political actors in the #DRC to act with restraint https://t.co/3EueBf4CEd #RDC #19Septembre pic.twitter.com/4EFu49eRtq — MONUSCO (@MONUSCO) September 19, 2016 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the United States, France, former colonial power Belgium and the African Union also condemned the violence and called on the government to set an election date. "The timetable must be made available as swiftly as possible and the elections held with as little delay as possible," the French Foreign Ministry said. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said, "Today's events underscore the need for a truly inclusive dialogue process aimed at reaching consensus on holding presidential elections as soon as technically feasible and guaranteeing the country's first democratic transition of power." Kabila succeeded his father, Laurent Kabila, after his assassination in 2001. The central African nation hasn't had a peaceful transition of power since gaining independence in 1960.[SEP]At least two people were killed when armed men in uniform torched the headquarters of the main opposition party in Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, witnesses said, beginning a second day of violent protests. Four other opposition party officies were set alight overnight, the United Nations said, after a day of street violence in which at least 17 people were killed. A Reuters witness saw two charred bodies inside the burnt-out offices of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Congo’s main opposition party, next to empty gasoline cans. Two other people were badly injured, witnesses said. The government, which is facing down protests against President Joseph Kabila, denied its forces were involved. “We were sleeping when men came and forced in the door … I saw men in military uniform,” said UDPS member Jean Toumba, describing the attack on the Kinshasa office at around 3 am (0200 GMT). “They threw petrol and set fire to the office. I ran out to hide.” Protesters erected barricades and burned tyres for a second day after 17 people, including three policemen, were killed on Monday, according to the interior minister. The opposition said up to 53 people died. Monday’s protest followed a decision by the election commission to seek to postpone the next presidential election, which was due to be held in November. Kabila is barred by constitutional term limits for running again and his opponents say the election delay is a manoeuvre to keep him in power. The president’s allies deny this and say he will respect the constitution. Government spokesman Lambert Mende condemned the attack on the UDPS but denied security forces were involved. “It is completely false to say that the army was involved. That is propaganda and that sort of discourse increases the risk of civil war,” he said. Felix Tshisekedi, the son of UDPS leader Etienne Tshisekedi who lost against Kabila in a 2011 presidential run-off and who has called for further protests, said: “We won’t live with this barbarity. The people are angry.” With the unrest forcing schools to close and halting public transport in the sprawling riverside capital, the United Nations expressed fears the situation would worsen. “I see this as a pivotal moment, there’s the possibility that the current political uncertainty could lead to serious political crisis. Well, that appears to be what’s happening now,” UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said. Nearly 200 people were believed to have been arrested on Monday and the UN received reports of excessive use of force by security forces, Colville told reporters in Geneva. Congo, Africa’s top copper producer, has never had a peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. Diplomats and donors fear a repeat of civil wars that killed millions of people between 1996 and 2003 and drew in armies from half a dozen countries.
A day after street violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between protesters opposed to President Joseph Kabila and security forces left at least 44 dead, armed men in military uniforms burn down the headquarters of the main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Kinshasa, DR Congo, killing at least two people.
(CNN) One of Hollywood's highest profile marriages is over. Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from husband Brad Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences. According to the court documents, the pair separated on September 15, two years and one month after they married in August 2014. Jolie is seeking physical custody of their six children and asking the court to grant Pitt visitation. She is also asking to keep "miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects" as well as any earnings from after the date of their separation and other separate assets to be determined later. Already there is speculation that a tabloid-friendly, child-unfriendly custody battle may ensue over their six children. But a source close to them asserted that both sides want a cordial breakup. "Other than the fame of the people involved, this is like so many other divorces," the source said. JUST WATCHED Brangelina is no more...and the internet goes crazy Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Brangelina is no more...and the internet goes crazy 01:13 "I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the wellbeing of our kids," Pitt said Tuesday in a statement to CNN. "I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time." Jolie's camp is also focused on the children. "This decision was made for the health of the family," Robert Offer, an attorney for Jolie told CNN in a statement Tuesday. "She will not be commenting at this time, and asks that the family be given their privacy during this difficult time." While Pitt and Jolie married in 2014, their relationship became the subject of speculation in 2004, when they co-starred in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." At the time, Pitt was married to actress Jennifer Aniston. In January 2005, Pitt and Aniston announced they were splitting and Aniston filed for divorce a few months later. In April 2005, photos surfaced of Pitt, Jolie and her adopted son Maddox in Kenya. Jolie later adopted daughter Zahara from Ethiopia and in early 2006 she announced that she and Pitt were expecting a baby. Shortly thereafter, Pitt was granted the right to legally adopt Maddox and Zahara. Their daughter Shiloh was born in May 2006 and son Pax was adopted from Vietnam in March 2007. Jolie gave birth to twins Vivienne and Knox in July 2008. The couple announced their engagement in 2012. Pitt was there to support Jolie in 2013 when she underwent a preventive double mastectomy. Jolie said at the time that she underwent the surgery following the discovery she carried a mutation of the BRCA1 gene which greatly increased her risk for cancer "My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman," Jolie wrote in an article for the New York Times. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy." In 2014 they were married in a small, private ceremony in a chapel at Château Miraval in the village of Correns. The following year, Jolie once again made headlines for her health when she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to guard against cancer. JUST WATCHED Empowered patient: Angelina Jolie Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Empowered patient: Angelina Jolie 02:41 The couple talked to NBC's Tom Brokaw in 2015 about their marriage, her health struggles and working together as they promoted their film "By the Sea." Jolie also wrote and directed the film about a couple in a troubled marriage. Jolie said the characters' relationship was far from hers and Pitt's. "I'm counting on the audience to know that if it was close to us at all we could never make this film," Jolie said. "It's because we are actually very, very stable and these aren't our issues." The pair have also been partners in giving. Pitt has worked for years to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Jolie is a United Nations special envoy for refugee issues, a critical topic at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week.[SEP]It was a grand Hollywood romance that made its presence felt far and wide, from the red carpet to refugee camps in the world’s trouble spots. It was chronicled in lavish photo spreads in high-end fashion magazines and in paparazzi shots that appeared in the tabloids and on the gossip sites, as if to undercut the couple’s mythic status. Now, with a lawyer’s blandly worded press statement on Tuesday morning, the love story of Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt, who were married in 2014, has come to an unhappy end. “This decision was made for the health of the family,” Robert Offer, a lawyer for Ms. Jolie Pitt, said in the statement. “She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time.”[SEP]Angelina Jolie is filing for divorce from Brad Pitt, according to a US showbiz website. TMZ is reporting that the Hollywood actress filed divorce papers yesterday citing irreconcilable differences. The pair have been together since 2004 and married in 2014.[SEP]Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. TMZ reports that the actress filed papers on Monday citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asking for physical custody of the couple's six children. The pair began dating in 2004 and were married in August 2014. Jolie, who is being repped by Laura Wasser, is not asking for spousal support in the divorce. Wasser most recently represented Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard. Jolie has listed the separation date as September 15, 2016 , just last Thursday. The couple had not been seen together in months and were last photographed together in November of last year while promoting their film By the Sea. This will be the third divorce for Jolie, who was previously married to Sherlock star Johnny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. Pitt's first marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston ended in 2005 as a result of his relationship with Jolie, who he met when the two worked on the 2005 film Mr. and Mrs. Smith.[SEP]Angelina Jolie has reportedly filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in a move which will leave Hollywood stunned. According to US website TMZ, Jolie filed legal documents on Monday citing "irreconcilable differences". The couple have been together since 2004 after falling for each other on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith while Brad was still married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston. They went public with their relationship a year later but only tied the knot on August 23, 2014 in a surprise ceremony at the their French estate. Ang and Brad have six children together - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8. Their report claims she does not want Brad to have joint physical custody of their children, only joint legal custody. Sources insist there is no "third person" involved and the decision was in relation to disagreements over parenting. Angelina is being represented by Laura Wasser and is not asking for spousal support. Jolie lists the date of separation as Sept. 15, 2016. They married in August, 2014. They've been together since 2004.[SEP]Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. TMZ reports that the actress filed papers on Monday citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asking for physical custody of the couple’s six children. A source close to the couple said Jolie, 41, made the decision to file because of the way ‘Brad was parenting the children,’ adding that ‘she was extremely upset with his methods.’ That same source claims Jolie became ‘fed up’ with Pitt’s consumption of ‘weed and possibly alcohol’ mixed with his ‘anger problem.’ The pair began dating in 2004 and were married in August 2014. Jolie, who is being repped by Laura Wasser, is not asking for spousal support in the divorce. Wasser most recently represented Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard. Jolie has listed the separation date as September 15, 2016 , just last Thursday. The couple had not been seen together in months and were last photographed at a event together in November of last year while promoting their film By the Sea. This will be the third divorce for Jolie, who was previously married to Sherlock star Johnny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. Pitt’s first marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston ended in 2005 as a result of his relationship with Jolie, who he met when the two worked on the 2005 film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The split comes less than a year after the two released By the Sea, which told the story of an unhappily married couple. Jolie directed and starred in the film alongside Pitt, and admitted how difficult the shoot was at times. ‘It was our way of testing ourselves. We knew that if we could get through this, we’d come out even stronger and happier. And we did,’ she said of making the film. ‘We’ve always liked putting ourselves through challenges, even though it was maybe a little more dangerous for us as a couple.’ She then added: ‘I don’t think we want to go through it again though.’ Jolie adopted her first son Maddox in March 2002, two years before she met Pitt on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith back in 2004. The film was originally set to star Nicole Kidman, but the actress dropped out at the last second. The couple denied that they were together, even after US Weekly ran photos in August 2005 of the two playing with Maddox at their rented villa on Diani Beach, Kenya. It was later revealed that Pitt, 52, had been by Jolie’s side one month prior when she adopted daughter Zahara from a orphanage Ethiopia. Soon after this is when Pitt formally adopted Jolie’s son Maddox, with the children changing their surname to Jolie-Pitt. The pair finally announced they were together in 2006 after Jolie became pregnant with Pitt’s child. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born in May 2006 in Namibia, with the couple choosing to give birth in Africa to avoid a press frenzy. The following March the couple adopted again, this time travelling to Vietnam and adding 3-year-old Pax Thien as the newest member of the family. Jolie then became pregnant once more, confirming in May 2008 that the couple was expecting twins. Knox and Vivienne were born in July of that year, with the first photos of the two selling for an astounding $14 million in a deal between Hello and People.[SEP]Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. The couple, known collectively as Brangelina, married in 2014 after 10 years together. Robert Offer, Jolie's lawyer, said she has filed for the dissolution of the marriage "for the health of the family". Jolie cited irreconcilable differences in legal documents filed on Monday, the celebrity news website TMZ said. They first met when they played married spies in Mr And Mrs Smith, when Pitt was still married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston. Jolie is asking for physical custody of the couple's six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne, t he website claimed. The Maleficent star is apparently being represented by divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who helped in her divorce from Billy Bob Thornton and is representing Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard. The couple married in private at their chateau in France in 2014. They had waited for gay marriage to become legal, with Pitt telling Esquire magazine in 2006: "Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able to." Their ceremony included all their children, including adopted offspring Maddox, Pax and Zahara and their daughter Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie's Atelier Versace gown featured dozens of designs from her children's drawings sewn into the dress and veil and the children served as ring bearers and threw flower petals. Jolie was previously married to Thornton and British actor Jonny Lee Miller. Since Mr And Mrs Smith, the couple have appeared on screen together in By The Sea, a film written and directed by Jolie and produced by Pitt, in which they played a glamorous couple whose marriage is in crisis. Before they began filming, Jolie told the Radio Times: "It feels a little daunting. We haven't worked together for 10 years. But all of the reasons why people say we should be scared of it, we feel that's exactly why we have to do this - because we can. So we're going to go boldly." She added: "He's a pretty strong actor. It's going to be interesting. He's a really great artist, such an interesting artist, and of course he's the man I love, so I think we're going to have a great time." In May 2013 Jolie had a preventative double mastectomy after tests showed that she carries the BRCA1 cancer gene, and she later told the American show Today: " I knew through the surgeries that he was on my side and that this wasn't something where I was going to feel less of a woman because my husband wasn't going to let that happen. "To face these issues together and speak about them and talk about what it is to be human, I think can be a beautiful thing."[SEP]Is love dead? Unclear. But Brangelina is through. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whose coupling nearly caused a tabloid meltdown when they started dating more than a decade ago, are headed for a divorce. Jolie filed for a dissolution of their marriage, her attorney told the Associated Press. It was a decision she made "for the health of the family," attorney Robert Offer said. The actress listed Sept. 15 as the date of their separation and cited irreconcilable differences, according to TMZ. She is seeking physical custody of the couple's six children while granting Pitt visitation, the outlet reported. Rumors of a potential split or divorce have swirled around the couple for some time now. Jolie and Pitt have been romantically linked for years but did not marry until 2014. Only close family and friends attended the private ceremony, including their six children, who at the time ranged in age from 6 to 13. The infatuation between Pitt and Jolie (or "Brangelina," as they were better known) famously began on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" in 2004. Jolie once told the New York Times she was excited about eventually showing the film to their kids because "not a lot of people get to see a movie where their parents fell in love." This comment drew backlash because Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston during filming. Pitt and Aniston — known as Hollywood's golden couple — shocked the entertainment industry when they split in early 2005. Speculation swirled about Pitt and Jolie; a couple months later, rumors were confirmed when the two were photographed on a beach in Kenya playing with Jolie's 3-year-old son, Maddox. Thus began one of the most controversial couplings in Hollywood history, as people took sides of "Team Aniston" or "Team Jolie." At first, Pitt and Jolie refused to comment on their relationship, instead doing things like posing as a happy family in a W magazine photoshoot in July 2005. "There's a sensitivity chip that's missing," Aniston told Vanity Fair about her ex, after the photos published. But observers could fill in the gaps, such as when Pitt went to Ethiopia with Jolie in the summer of 2005 to adopt her daughter, Zahara. ("People are going to try to say it's about their relationship. It's not. Angelina's adopting as a single mother, and she wants that emphasized," a source told People at the time.) However, they finally confirmed what the world knew in winter 2006, when Pitt filed to legally adopt Jolie's kids, Maddox and Zahara. Shortly after, they dropped the bombshell that not only were they officially a couple, but Jolie was pregnant with Pitt's baby. The first pictures of little Shiloh Jolie-Pitt reportedly went to People magazine and the British press for nearly $8 million combined; the proceeds went to charity. About a year later, the couple adopted Pax, a 3-year-old from Vietnam. In summer 2008, Jolie gave birth to twins, Vivienne and Knox, and the tabloid obsession over the family continued to rise: People magazine and London's Hello! split a $14 million price tag for the first photos. The glamorous family captured headlines as they traveled around the world together, as the children would follow their parents wherever they filmed, from Los Angeles to France to Australia. Speculation about their marital status followed them for years, though Pitt said they would not get married until gay marriage was legal. Eventually, they got engaged in 2012. Pitt told CBS News that they were receiving increased pressure from their kids, who said, "Get Mommy a ring!" About two years later, the couple finally tied the knot at a small ceremony in France. In true quirky-Jolie style, the actress incorporated her children's artwork into her Donatella Versace wedding dress. In 2013, Jolie wrote a New York Times op-ed about deciding to have a double mastectomy after discovering she carried a gene that sharply increased her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The piece sparked a larger conversation about the preventative procedure. "I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive," she wrote. "So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has." More recently, Jolie has taken up directing, including 2014's "Unbroken" and 2015's "By The Sea," the latter of which starred Pitt and Jolie as a troubled married couple. "We were joking at one point," Jolie said during a 2015 "Today Show" interview. "We were saying, like … 'See, this is the beginning. And then this is 10 years later. This is what 10 years of marriage will do to you."'[SEP]Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, bringing an end to one of the world's most star-studded, tabloid-generating romances. The couple has six children. NEW YORK (AP) — Brangelina is no more. Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, bringing an end to one of the world’s most star-studded, tabloid-generating romances. An attorney for Jolie Pitt, Robert Offer, said Tuesday that she has filed for the dissolution of the marriage. Offer said the decision to divorce was made “for the health of the family.” The couple has six children together: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Though together for 12 years, Pitt and Jolie Pitt only wed in August 2014. They married privately in the French hamlet of Correns in Provence with their children serving as ring bearers and throwing flower petals. They announced the ceremony days later. This is the second marriage for Pitt, who previously wed Jennifer Aniston. It’s the third for Jolie Pitt, who was previously married to Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller. Though their initial romance — begun after the pair starred together in 2005’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” — sparked an avalanche of interest, Jolie Pitt and Pitt settled into their own unique kind of domesticity. The pair adopted children from Cambodia, Vietnam and Ethiopia. And they sought to direct the glare of their celebrity toward other causes. Jolie Pitt, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, became an outspoken voice for refugees and various causes in Africa, as well as for breast cancer treatment after undergoing a double mastectomy. Jolie Pitt also launched herself as a film director. Last year, the couple starred together in her “By the Sea,” playing a glamorous couple vacationing together in France while their marriage was on the rocks.[SEP]NEW YORK — Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, bringing an end to one of the world's most star-studded, tabloid-generating romances. An attorney for Jolie Pitt, Robert Offer, said Tuesday that she has filed for the dissolution of the marriage. Offer said the decision was made "for the health of the family." The couple has six children together: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Though together for 12 years, Pitt and Jolie only wed in August 2014. They married privately in the French hamlet of Correns in Provence with their children serving as ring bearers and throwing flower petals. They announced the ceremony days later.
Citing irreconcilable differences, Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt and seeks full custody of their six children. The couple married in 2014 and had been in a relationship since 2005.
Libyan medics say a helicopter crashed near the eastern city where the internationally-recognized parliament is based, killing all six people on board, including the military adviser of a powerful general. Tobruk Medical Center says in a statement Tuesday that the son of the adviser to Gen. Khalifa Hifter was also on board the helicopter, which crashed the night before. The Libyan news portal al-Wasat quoted Col. Al-Safi al-Sanini as saying that the MI8 helicopter was on an official mission to Ras Lanuf oil terminal, once of three such facilities captured by Hifter's forces last week. The debris was found 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Tobruk, where the parliament is based. Hifter is allied with the parliament, which has rejected a U.N.-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli.[SEP]BENGHAZI, Libya — A spokesman for Libyan forces based in the east accused a rival militia allied with the U.N.-backed government of carrying out an airstrike Tuesday that killed at least six women and a child. Ahmed al-Mesmari, the spokesman for forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hifter, told the LANA news agency that fighter jets bombed families near the central district of Jufra. He accused the "militias of Misrata" of killing civilians while targeting Hifter's forces. He said no fighters were killed. Reda Eissa, a media official with the Misrata forces, denied the reports, saying that his forces did not launch airstrikes in that area on Tuesday. Jufra is a three-hour drive south of Sirte, where forces from the western city of Misrata are battling the Islamic State group. Libya was plunged into chaos by the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Gadhafi, and is now split between rival authorities. The Misrata militia is allied with a U.N.-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli. Hifter's forces are allied with the Libyan parliament, which meets in the eastern city of Tobruk and has rejected the U.N.-brokered government. A helicopter crashed near Tobruk late Monday, killing all six people on board, including Hifter's military adviser. The Tobruk Medical Center said the adviser's son was also on board the helicopter. The Libyan news portal al-Wasat quoted Col. Al-Safi al-Sanini as saying that the MI8 helicopter was on an official mission to Ras Lanuf oil terminal, once of three such facilities captured by Hifter's forces last week. The debris was found 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Tobruk.[SEP]A military helicopter crashed in eastern Libya on Tuesday, killing five people including officers loyal to authorities that have refused to cede power to a unity government, parliament said. It was not immediately clear why the aircraft came down. The victims included General Idris Yunis al-Dressi, chief of staff for Aguila Saleh, speaker of the internationally recognised parliament based in Tobruk in eastern Libya. His son Ahmed Idris al-Dressi, who worked in the parliament, was also killed along with two air force colonels and one lieutenant. The four officers belonged to the forces under the command of military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has refused to get behind a UN-backed unity government and supports the parallel authority based in eastern Libya near the border with Egypt aligned with the Tobruk parliament. According to a statement posted on parliament's website, the helicopter was returning from an official visit to Ras Lanuf, a key oil export terminal. Last week, forces led by Haftar seized Ras Lanuf and three other ports in the so-called "oil crescent". They later handed them over to the National Oil Corporation. On Sunday fighters loyal to the unity government launched an attack aimed at retaking two of the ports but were repelled.[SEP]Six killed in military helicopter crash in east Libya - source BENGHAZI, Libya Sept 20 (Reuters) - Six people were killed when a military helicopter operated by armed forces loyal to Libya's eastern government crashed late on Monday, a military source said. Among those killed was Colonel Idris Younes, an adviser to the head of Libya's eastern parliament, the source said, adding that two passengers survived. He said the crash occurred about 65 km (40 miles) from Tobruk, where the eastern parliament is based. The cause of the crash was not clear. The parliament moved to the east in 2014 after rival factions seized control of the capital, Tripoli, setting up parallel institutions. A U.N.-backed government is now trying to establish itself from Tripoli, but it has failed to win endorsement from the east. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
An Mi-8 transport helicopter crashes near the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, killing at least six people.
One pilot was killed and another injured when a U-2 spy plane crashed in Northern California shortly after takeoff Tuesday morning, according to a U.S. Air Force official. The pilots ejected shortly after takeoff from Beale Air Force Base and moments before the aircraft crashed into a rural area north of Sacramento, according to the Air Force. Initially, the Air Force reported the crew members had “safely ejected” and were awaiting recovery. Almost four hours after the crash, however, air combat command tweeted, “There is no official confirmation of status of U-2 pilots.” Advertisement Shortly before 1 p.m., Sgt. Charity Barrett of Beale Air Force Base confirmed one pilot’s death. The extent of injuries suffered by the second pilot was unclear. “There’s always inherent dangers in an ejection. The technology is fantastic, but it’s not foolproof,” Col. Larry Broadwell, the base commander, said at an afternoon news conference. “I would match the safety and maintenance record of the U-2 with any of the apparatus the Air Force flies.” The crash occurred about 9 a.m., and the pilots were participating in a training mission, according to the Air Force. Advertisement “Everything about the flight today was routine — nothing out of the ordinary as I was told,” Broadwell said. The single-engine, high-altitude surveillance jet is from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base and was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron. Photographs from the scene showed the tail of the aircraft sticking out of a scorched hillside with wreckage scattered around it. According to the base website, the wing is “responsible for providing ... timely, reliable, high-quality, high-altitude reconnaissance products.” The wing is equipped with U-2 planes as well as RQ-4 and MC-12 reconnaissance aircraft. The last time a U-2 Dragon Lady crashed in the area was Aug. 7, 1996, in Oroville. The spy plane crashed into a parking lot outside the offices of the Oroville Mercury Register, killing the pilot and a woman on the ground. Capt. Randy Roby, an instructor assigned to Beale Air Force Base, was piloting the plane over the city on a routine mission when it burst into flames, then crashed. Jerri Vering of Oroville was leaving the newspaper’s office when the plane’s wreckage hit and killed her. Advertisement The Beale air base is home to America’s fleet of high-altitude spy planes, and its motto is emblazoned on signs: “In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.” The U-2 flies to 70,000 feet — higher than any other U.S. military aircraft. It’s also among the oldest. The spy plane was first designed during the Eisenhower administration to breach the Iron Curtain and, as engineers said, snap “picture postcards for Ike” of hidden military strongholds in the Soviet Union. There have been 33 updated versions of the jet that still flies today. The U-2 is perhaps best known for the plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 and the subsequent capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers. He was traded for a Soviet spy nearly two years later, but the embarrassing incident convinced U.S. officials that manned spy planes posed too many risks. The military now relies more heavily on drones for reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. The U-2 is set to be retired by 2019. Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan contributed to this article. The article will be updated as new information becomes available. veronica.rocha@latimes.com For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. Advertisement ALSO Mother of woman who died after being found unconscious in LAPD jail files legal claim Wildfire near Vandenberg Air Force Base swells to over 10,000 acres; Soberanes fire sets cost record Camp Pendleton Marine dies three days after he was mysteriously shot and left for dead in South L.A. UPDATES: 4:25 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the base commander about the aircraft and training mission. 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with an official confirming the death of a pilot. 12:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information on the pilots’ condition. 12:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information on the aircraft’s unit and timing of the crash. 11:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the air base and aircraft. 11:05 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the crash. This article was originally published at 10:40 a.m.[SEP]YUBA CITY, Calif. — One American pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from a U-2 spy plane shortly before it crashed in Northern California on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Air Force said. The plane crashed shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force Base on a training mission around 9 a.m., military officials said. They did not release the pilots' names or any information about the condition of the surviving airman. The aircraft, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, crashed in the Sutter Buttes, a mountain range about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Sacramento. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" is a surveillance and reconnaissance plane capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,336 meters), an extremely high altitude that's twice as high as a typical commercial airliner flies. The U-2 is known as one of the most difficult aircraft to fly at low altitudes due to the characteristics that allow it to travel near space, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Beale Air Force Base is home to the Air Force's fleet of single-seat U-2s and a double-seat variant used for training pilots to fly the specialized aircraft. It also is the base for the T-38 Talon, a training aircraft, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance drone. It houses 4,500 military personnel.[SEP]YUBA CITY, Calif. (AP) — One American pilot was killed and another injured when they ejected from a U-2 spy plane shortly before it crashed in Northern California on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Air Force said. The plane crashed shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force Base on a training mission around 9 a.m., military officials said. They did not release the pilots' names or any information about the condition of the surviving airman. The aircraft, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, crashed in the Sutter Buttes, a mountain range about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Sacramento. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" is a surveillance and reconnaissance plane capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,336 meters), an extremely high altitude that's twice as high as a typical commercial airliner flies. The U-2 is known as one of the most difficult aircraft to fly at low altitudes due to the characteristics that allow it to travel near space, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Beale Air Force Base is home to the Air Force's fleet of single-seat U-2s and a double-seat variant used for training pilots to fly the specialized aircraft. It also is the base for the T-38 Talon, a training aircraft, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance drone. It houses 4,500 military personnel. "We are saddened by our Airman's death & offer condolences to the family & all who are mourning this tremendous loss," Gen. Dave Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, said on Twitter. Ejection seats allow military pilots to get out of a stricken plane and parachute safely to the ground. After the death in this instance, military investigators will look into whether the chute properly deployed and whether the pilot hit debris after ejecting, said Michael Barr, an aviation safety instructor at University of Southern California who flew fighter missions in Vietnam. "If the chute didn't properly deploy, that would be fatal," Barr said. The U-2 is slated for retirement in 2019 as the military relies increasingly on unmanned aircraft for intelligence gathering, though senior U.S. lawmakers from California are pressuring the Air Force to delay the retirement. A U-2 based at Beale crashed in 1996 and slammed into the parking lot of a newspaper in Oroville, California. The pilot and a woman who had just renewed her newspaper subscription were killed.[SEP]BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the crash of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane in California (all times local): A senior officer at Beale Air Force Base says military personnel recovering the two pilots who ejected from a stricken U-2 spy plane found that both their parachutes had deployed. But Col. Danielle Barnes said Wednesday she could not discuss what caused one pilot to die in Tuesday's incident. The Air Force has not released the identity of the pilot or information about the condition of a comrade who survived. Barnes says military investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, but there's no timeline for them to conclude their probe. They ejected from a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shortly after a routine takeoff from the base north of Sacramento, California. The plane slammed into a mountainous area and caught fire about 20 miles west of the runway. Commanders at Beale Air Force Base are scheduled to hold a news conference on the fatal crash of a U-2 spy plane in Northern California. One pilot was killed and another injured Monday when they ejected from the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shortly after a routine takeoff from the base north of Sacramento. The plane slammed into the side of the Sutter Butte mountains and caught fire about 20 miles west of the runway. The pilots landed a short distance away. Officials have not released the identity of the pilot who died or information about the condition of the surviving airman. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" flies at extremely high altitudes to capture images, radio signals and other information useful to intelligence officers and battlefield commanders. ADDS CONDITION OF PILOTS - An Air Force officer stands guard in front of the burnt U-2 spy plane assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 in Sutter County, Calif. The aircraft crashed during a training mission and went down on the lower slopes of the Sutter Buttes. The U.S. Air Force says one pilot killed, and one was injured after they ejected from the plane. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP)[SEP]The pilot who died after ejecting from a U2 spy plane that crashed in northern California was identified Wednesday as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie. Eadie was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. U.S. Air Force photo BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The pilot who died after ejecting from a U2 spy plane that crashed in northern California was identified Wednesday as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie. Eadie was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. The Air Force did not release his age or hometown. Another pilot who survived sustained injuries that are not life-threatening and is now recovering in good condition at a local medical facility, base officials said. The surviving pilot was not identified. Col. Danielle Barnes, a senior officer who oversees base operations, said military personnel recovering the two pilots found that both their parachutes had deployed. She said she could not discuss what went caused the plane to crash or Eadie's death. There's no timeline for investigators to conclude their probe. "They will take as long as they need to execute a thorough and detailed investigation," Barnes said. The Air Force said the plane was conducting a training mission on a routine flight path before something went wrong and the high-flying aircraft slammed into a mountainous area about 20 miles west of the runway. Photos from the scene showed sections of the tail and wing splayed on the mountainside, with much of the aircraft charred and disintegrated. The crash sparked a fire on the grassy terrain, which was quickly extinguished. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" is a surveillance and reconnaissance plane capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,336 meters), an extremely high altitude that's twice as high as a typical commercial airliner flies. Developed during the Cold War to spy on the Soviet Union, the single-engine aircraft now carries high-resolution cameras and sensors to gather radio signals and other information useful to intelligence agencies and battlefield commanders. Pilots wear pressurized suits like those used by astronauts to survive in the low-pressure, low-oxygen environment in the upper reaches of the atmosphere. Before the crash, the Air Force said it had 33 U-2s. Most are a single-seat aircraft, but five — including the one that crashed Tuesday —were a two-seat version used for training pilots to fly the specialized plane. Built by the defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp, the U-2 fleet is based at Beale, with some planes flying missions from air bases around the world. There have been a handful of crashes since the U-2 began flying in the 1950s. The Soviet Union shot down a U-2 and captured pilot Frances Gary Powers in 1960. Powers was imprisoned for two years before being released in a prisoner exchange. The U-2 is slated for retirement in 2019 as the military relies increasingly on unmanned aircraft such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk for intelligence gathering, though senior U.S. lawmakers from California are pressuring the Air Force to delay the retirement.[SEP]The wreckage of a U-2 aircraft on the lower slopes of the Sutter Buttes in California on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Two pilots ejected, but one was killed and the other hurt, military officials said. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee/TNS SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Tribune News Service) — A pilot from Beale Air Force Base was killed and a second was injured Tuesday after a U-2 spy plane, one of the most famous aircraft of the Cold War era, crashed Tuesday morning near the Sutter Buttes. The pilots, participating in a training mission, ejected from the aircraft before it plunged into grassy hills in Sutter County. The crash set off a 250-acre wildfire. Fire crews raced to put out the blaze as search and rescue teams searched for the pilots in remote terrain. “We are still working to make access to the patients to (determine) how we are going to get them out of the area they are in,” Sutter County Fire Chief John Shalowitz said early Tuesday afternoon. The Air Force confirmed shortly afterward that one pilot was dead. Shalowitz said 20 engine units responded to battle the fire, which was set off in hot conditions with a 20 mph breeze. Near the crash site, a smoldering wing, fuselage and tail of the aircraft were visible on the horizon. The fire was extinguished Tuesday afternoon. The names of the pilots were not released. “The incident is currently under investigation,” said the statement from the Air Force’s 9th Reconnaissance Wing. “Additional details will be provided as they become available.” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein posted on Facebook that he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the pilot. “We offer our deepest condolences to the airman’s family and to all who are mourning this tremendous loss,” he said. The aircraft was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, where the U-2 fleet is based and its 33 planes are deployed to military detachments around the world. Over 1,000 personnel work on the U-2 program at the base near Marysville. The U-2, a sleek black jet known as the Dragon Lady, became known for an international incident in 1960 when American Capt. Francis Gary Powers was shot down and taken prisoner after flying surveillance aircraft over the Soviet Union. The U-2 also gained fame for uncovering a secret Soviet launch site in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Since that time, the U-2 has continued to play a critical military role, collecting imagery and electronic measurements on surveillance flights targeting terrorist networks in the Middle East. While the military says the cost of a U-2 is classified, the military information site GlobalSecurity.org puts the price tag of the current model at $400 million. In 2012, the Air Force said it had spent $1.7 billion over eight years to modernize the aircraft with new flight and surveillance technology. The Air Force has long planned to replace the U-2, normally flown with one pilot, with unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawks, remotely controlled aircraft first deployed by the Air Force in 2001. The Global Hawks are also stationed at Beale, from which they fly thousands of miles to pinpoint human targets for armed Predator and Reaper drones. The U-2, celebrated in the movie “Bridge of Spies,” has been a point of pride for the Beale community, with the long-standing program also seen as an important economic resource for the region. This spring, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, offered a budget amendment to keep the U-2 operating at Beale through 2017. “We want to make sure it stays there … It’s important for Northern California with the number of people employed at Beale Air Force Base,” LaMalfa said in a May interview with KNCO radio in Grass Valley. Col. Larry Broadwell, Commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale, gave tribute to the U-2 program at a news conference at the base Tuesday afternoon. He described the day as an emotional one. “I would match the safety and maintenance records of a U-2 with any other aircraft the Air Force flies. In fact, we are going to continue flying U-2 missions around the world and around the clock,” Broadwell said. He said Air Force officials were reaching out to family members of the pilots, who were not identified. It was not the first time that a Beale U-2 has crashed in Northern California. Pilot Randy Roby’s U-2 spy plane fell from the sky in 1996, crashing into a parking lot next to the Mercury-Register newspaper in Oroville. Roby ejected from the plane but was found dead in his seat at the end of the parachute. Geraldine Marie “Jerri” Vering, 49, of Oroville, a customer who had just finished renewing a subscription at the newspaper office, was killed on the ground. The last fatal accident involving a U-2 pilot took place in 2005, when one of the aircraft crashed near an air base in United Arab Emirates. That accident killed Maj. Duane Dively, a pilot from Beale who was deployed to the Middle East. He was returning from a mission over Afghanistan when he crashed. More recently, the Air Force had expensive U-2 mishaps in both 2014 and 2015. Those “class A” accidents are those that cause more than $2 million in damage or cause a permanent injury to an airman. One class A accident took place in each of those years, according to records kept by the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Those two accidents broke a five-year run in which the U-2 aircraft did not experience any serious mishaps. Keith Wright, a spokesman for Air Force Safety Center, said Tuesday’s accident would trigger an investigation seeking to identify “the root cause” of the crash. The board is expected to consist of officers from Beale Air Force Base and from the Air Force Safety Center, which oversee all inspection and safety functions for the Air Force. ©2016 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.[SEP]The wreckage of a U-2 aircraft on the lower slopes of the Sutter Buttes in California on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Two pilots ejected, but one was killed and the other hurt, military officials said. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee/TNS One pilot was killed, and another injured when a U-2 spy plane crashed in Northern California shortly after takeoff Tuesday morning, according to a U.S. Air Force official. The pilots ejected shortly after takeoff from Beale Air Force Base and moments before the aircraft crashed into a rural area north of Sacramento, according to the Air Force. Initially, the Air Force reported the crew members had “safely ejected” and were awaiting recovery. Almost four hours after the crash, however, air combat command tweeted, “There is no official confirmation of status of U-2 pilots.” Shortly before 1 p.m., Sgt. Charity Barrett of Beale Air Force Base confirmed one pilot’s death. The extent of injuries suffered by the second pilot was unclear. The crash occurred around 9 a.m., and the pilots were participating in a training mission, according to the Air Force. The single-engine, high-altitude surveillance jet is from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base and was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron. According to the base’s website, the wing is “responsible for providing … timely, reliable, high-quality, high-altitude reconnaissance products.” The wing is equipped with U-2 planes as well as RQ-4 and MC-12 reconnaissance aircraft. The last time a U-2 Dragon Lady crashed in the area was on Aug. 7, 1996, in Oroville. The spy plane crashed into a parking lot outside the offices of the Oroville Mercury Register, killing the pilot and a woman on the ground. Capt. Randy Roby, an instructor assigned to Beale Air Force Base, was piloting the plane over the city on a routine mission when it burst into flames, then crashed. Jerri Vering, of Oroville, was leaving the newspaper’s office, and the plane’s wreckage hit and killed her. The Beale air base is home to America’s fleet of high-altitude spy planes, and its motto is emblazoned on signs: “In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.” The U-2 flies to 70,000 feet — higher than any U.S. military aircraft. It’s also among the oldest. The spy plane was first designed during the Eisenhower administration to breach the Iron Curtain and, as engineers said, snap “picture postcards for Ike” of hidden military strongholds in the Soviet Union. There have been 33 updated versions of the jet that still flies today. The U-2 is perhaps best known for the plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 and the subsequent capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers. He was traded for a Soviet spy nearly two years later, but the embarrassing incident convinced U.S. officials that manned spy planes posed too many risks. The military now relies more heavily on drones for reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. The U-2 is set to be retired by 2019. Staff writer W.J. Hennigan of the Tribune Washington Bureau contributed to this report. ©2016 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.[SEP]BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The Latest on the crash of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane in California (all times local): Commanders at Beale Air Force Base are scheduled to hold a news conference on the fatal crash of a U-2 spy plane in Northern California. One pilot was killed and another injured Monday when they ejected from the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shortly after a routine takeoff from the base north of Sacramento. The plane slammed into the side of the Sutter Butte mountains and caught fire about 20 miles west of the runway. The pilots landed a short distance away. Officials have not released the identity of the pilot who died or information about the condition of the surviving airman. The U-2 "Dragon Lady" flies at extremely high altitudes to capture images, radio signals and other information useful to intelligence officers and battlefield commanders.[SEP]The pilot who died after a U-2 spy plane crashed in Northern California was identified Wednesday as Lt. Col Ira S. Eadie, military officials said. Eadie, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, was on a training mission Tuesday with another pilot in the two-person aircraft, according to the U.S. Air Force. The two pilots ejected just after takeoff, and the plane smashed into a rural area north of Sacramento, officials said. The other pilot suffered injuries that were not life-threatening; on Wednesday, the Air Force said the pilot remains hospitalized in stable condition. The second pilot’s identity as well as Eadie’s age and hometown were not released. The crash occurred about 9 a.m. Tuesday. Air Force officials had initially reported the pair had safely ejected from the plane but later confirmed Eadie’s death. The extent of the second pilot’s injuries was not disclosed. Col. Danielle Barnes told the Associated Press that both pilots had deployed their parachutes. But Barnes, who oversees base operations, did not provide details on what caused the plane to go down, citing the ongoing investigation. The site of the crash will remain under monitoring by security personnel, Barnes said. "We want to maintain the integrity of the crash site,” Barnes said. Photographs from the scene showed the tail of the aircraft sticking out of a scorched hillside with wreckage scattered around it. “There’s always inherent dangers in an ejection. The technology is fantastic, but it’s not foolproof,” Col. Larry Broadwell, the base commander, said in a news conference. “I would match the safety and maintenance record of the U-2 with any of the apparatus the Air Force flies.” The Beale air base, about 45 miles north of Sacramento, is home to America's fleet of high-altitude spy planes. The base’s motto is emblazoned on signs: “In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.” The U-2 flies to 70,000 feet — higher than any other U.S. military aircraft. It’s also among the oldest. The spy plane was first designed during the Eisenhower administration to breach the Iron Curtain. There have been 33 updated versions of the jet that still flies today. A handful are equipped with two seats to allow for training missions, like the aircraft involved in Tuesday’s incident. The U-2 is perhaps best known as the plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960. Pilot Francis Gary Powers was captured and traded for a Soviet spy nearly two years later, but the embarrassing incident convinced U.S. officials that manned spy planes posed too many risks. The military now relies more heavily on drones for reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. The U-2 is set to be retired by 2019. The last time a U-2 Dragon Lady crashed in the area was Aug. 7, 1996, in Oroville, about 40 miles north of Beale Air Force Base. The spy plane crashed into a parking lot outside the offices of an Oroville newspaper, killing the pilot. The plane’s wreckage also struck and killed a woman as she left the newspaper’s office.[SEP]SUTTER, Calif. (AP) — A U-2 spy plane’s flight path was routine before something went wrong and the high-flying aircraft slammed into a mountain range in Northern California, the military said. The two pilots ejected, leaving one dead and another injured. The U.S. Air Force is investigating what caused the plane, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, to go down shortly after taking off from Beale Air Force Base around 9 a.m. PDT Tuesday. Military officials have not released the pilots’ names or any information about the condition of the surviving airman. The pilots had ejected from the aircraft before it plunged in the Sutter Buttes, a mountain range about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Sacramento. Officers from Beale Air Force Base and from the Air Force Safety Center, which oversee all inspection and safety functions for the Air Force, will seek to identify “the root cause” of the crash, Keith Wright, a spokesman for the safety center, told The Sacramento Bee. Col. Larry Broadwell, the base commander, said the flight, including its flight path was routine before the crash. He pledged to support the family of the deceased pilot and said surveillance pilots will mourn the loss. “These incidents, while extremely tragic and hard for us to overcome, they’re incidents that we do overcome,” Broadwell said. “I am confident that the U-2 squadrons here and the U-2 squadrons around the world are going to come off the mat stronger than they were before.” The U-2 “Dragon Lady” is a surveillance and reconnaissance plane capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,336 meters), an extremely high altitude that’s twice as high as a typical commercial airliner flies. The U-2 is known as one of the most difficult aircraft to fly at low altitudes due to the characteristics that allow it to travel near space, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Beale Air Force Base is home to the Air Force’s fleet of single-seat U-2s and a double-seat variant used for training pilots to fly the specialized aircraft. It also is the base for the T-38 Talon, a training aircraft, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance drone. It houses 4,500 military personnel. “We are saddened by our Airman’s death & offer condolences to the family & all who are mourning this tremendous loss,” Gen. Dave Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, said on Twitter. Ejection seats allow military pilots to get out of a stricken plane and parachute safely to the ground. After the death in this instance, military investigators will look into whether the chute properly deployed and whether the pilot hit debris after ejecting, said Michael Barr, an aviation safety instructor at University of Southern California who flew fighter missions in Vietnam. “If the chute didn’t properly deploy, that would be fatal,” Barr said. The U-2 is slated for retirement in 2019 as the military relies increasingly on unmanned aircraft for intelligence gathering, though senior U.S. lawmakers from California are pressuring the Air Force to delay the retirement. A U-2 based at Beale crashed in 1996 and slammed into the parking lot of a newspaper in Oroville, California. The pilot and a woman who had just renewed her newspaper subscription were killed.
A United States Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft crashes in Northern California, shortly after takeoff from Beale Air Force Base, killing one pilot and injuring another.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Health (DOH) said six more cases of Zika were reported this month. This brings the total number of Zika cases in the country to nine--with the virus spreading across three provinces. Seven patients are from Iloilo City, one from Cebu City, and one from Laguna province. The ages of the patients range from 9 to 49 years old. Health Spokesperson Eric Tayag said all these patients are expected to recover soon. Early this month, the DOH reported the first locally transmitted Zika infection for the year-- a 45 year old woman from Iloilo. Two more cases were later reported, both from the same household as the index case. Tayag said the additional four cases in Iloilo live 10 kilometers away from the previously reported cases. The DOH expects more infections to be recorded in the coming days. Also read: DOH investigating origin of Zika virus in the Philippines Tayag explained that the aedes aegypti mosquito - the carrier of Zika virus - is found throughout the country. Tayag however clarified, there is no active transmission of the Zika virus in the country--an "active transmission" means infection is widespread and the mode of transmission is unclear. All reported cases of Zika so far were infected through mosquito bites. The virus can also be transmitted sexually. "Halimbawa may kaso dito, 'di ba 'yung unang tatlo, the same household yun. Hindi masabing active transmission. Parehong household eh. Ngayon, more than 10 kilometers, merong kaso, pero alam naming kagat din ng lamok yun. Eh isa isa. So hindi rin masabing active, kasi isa lang eh," Tayag explained. [Translation: For example, the case of the first three patients came from the same household. We can't say it's active transmission as it's the same household. Now, there are cases more than 10 kilometers away but we know it's from mosquito bites. We can't say it's active because these are isolated cases.] Tayag said a national Zika action plan is in the works where the DOH is intensifying the capability of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for testing. The DOH released ₱48M to buy 8,000 Zika testing kits. Only those who show Zika symptoms -- rashes, red eyes, joint pains and fever-- will be tested for the virus. Related: DOH rolls out measures against Zika virus Tayag said pregnant women should consult with their doctors to ensure a safe pregnancy. The Zika virus is linked with birth defects which includes microcephaly--which shrinks the unborn's head and brain, leading to developmental disorders. "Ang mga buntis na gusto magpa-test-- sa prenatal visit ninyo magtanong kayo sa doctor kung kailangan ba ninyong magpa-test. Otherwise, use safe insect repellents at sa gayon mabawasan ang paglagay sa panganib," advised Tayag. [Translation: Pregnant women who want to get tested should ask their doctors during their prenatal visit if they really need to get tested. Otherwise, use safe insect repellents in order to reduce the risk of getting infected.] Watch: Preventing Zika virus spread WHO: Zika in PH not a surprise The World Health Organization (WHO) meanwhile assured the DOH of its full support in preventing the spread of the Zika virus. WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler said there are now 19 out of 37 countries in the Western Pacific Region found with Zika virus. Weiler said it was only a matter of time before cases were found in the Philippines. "The fact that we see Zika in the Philippines and we detect more is not a surprise. We know there is a competent vector in the country, we know there is a lot of travel. We were assuming there is a likelihood Zika will appear in the country and spread to a certain extent," said Weiler. Weiler commended the proactive testing of the DOH against Zika. He said the increase in the number of cases reflects the efforts of the DOH to crackdown on the virus. He said this is a welcome development at a time when countries are on alert against the spread of Zika. "We will see more Zika being picked up so that, per se, is a development which is welcome because we will understand better in the future the circulation of the Zika in the country is," Weiler said. Watch: Zika virus 101[SEP]THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has intensified its campaign in disseminating information on how to prevent the spread of Zika virus in the country. According to a recent report from the Department of Health (DOH), six people have tested positive for the virus. Four of the patients are from IloIlo province while the other two came from the provinces of Cebu and Laguna. This brings to nine the total number of confirmed cases in the Philippines this year. It was also reported that the four new recently confirmed Zika virus cases in Iloilo are more than 10 kilometers away from the three cases earlier recorded in the city. “As the World Health Organization (WHO) considered Zika as a global health threat, I immediately advised all our staff and the Red Cross’ 143 volunteers nationwide to lead the campaign to prevent the spread of the virus by closely monitoring affected areas and providing all necessary information and preventive measures to the public,” Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon said. He added that they have mobilized all its chapters nationwide to make available helpful guides on how to prevent and deal with the disease through social media sites and other information sources, especially in Central Visayas where the recently confirmed cases were recorded. Zika virus infection is characterized by mild symptoms such as mild fever, skin rashes, joint pain, fatigue, headache and red eyes. So far, there is no vaccine yet against the virus. Zika virus is transmitted directly by Aedes aegypti, the same mosquito species that transmits dengue and chikungunya. It can also be passed on through blood transfusion and sexual intercourse with an infected person. The Zika virus may cause a severe birth defect called microcephaly where babies are born with abnormally small heads. The Red Cross urged the public to be more vigilant by protecting themselves against mosquito bites. Wearing light-colored clothes and using mosquito nets at home and insect repellents authorized by health authorities are highly advised. The public is enjoined to eliminate all possible mosquito-breeding sites such as flower pots, old tires, bottles and any other containers where water can accumulate. Soon after a Zika infection case was first monitored in the country in 2012, the Red Cross initiated various preventive activities like clean-up drives and public-health campaigns. It also advised blood donors to defer their blood donations for one month if they are at risk of Zika virus exposure or have traveled to Zika-affected areas, to lessen the risk of passing the virus in the locality.[SEP]Red Cross mobilizes chapters to help in Zika virus drive The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) mobilized its chapters nationwide to help in the information campaign on how to prevent and deal with the Zika virus in the country. PRC Chairperson Richard Gordon tasked the PRC chapters to post in social media sites information about the Zika virus, especially in Central Visayas where recently confirmed cases were recorded. “As the World Health Organization (WHO) considered Zika as a global health threat, I immediately advised all our staff and Red Cross 143 volunteers nationwide to lead the campaign to prevent the spread of the virus by closely monitoring affected area and providing all necessary information and preventive measures to the public,” PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon said in a statement. The Department of Health (DOH) said six people have already been tested positive for Zika virus – four of them from IloIlo and one from Cebu city and another one in Laguna. There are already nine Zika virus cases in the Philippines this year.[SEP]Forty members of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminals on Wednesday assured the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) of their full support to help prevent the entry into the country of mosquitoes carrying Zika virus through their aircraft. Joanne Doromal, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines station manager and AOC treasurer, said their aircraft and those of the other AOC members are spraying insecticides approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) before taking off from their respective terminals or minutes before landing at the Naia terminals, as she assured the insecticides they use are safe to humans. The AOC’s assurance came after a reported increase of patients afflicted with the virus in Iloilo, which reported seven cases, one in Cebu City and one in Laguna province. The ages of the patients range from 9 years old to 49. “On our part, we assure our clients, passengers that we are doing everything to keep our airplanes safe from mosquitoes or any flying or crawling insect,” Doromal said, adding that part of their service was to surrender the empty canisters to officials of BOQ upon landing at the airport as “proof” that they did their obligation. Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) hired a pest control service provider to spray once a week all enclosed areas, from the ground floor up to the fourth level, where the airline offices are located. They use water-based chemicals for “misting” to protect passengers and airport users from mosquito bites. BOQ doctor on duty Noel Ramirez said that women who are pregnant should not travel to Singapore. “If you like to travel you must consult your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your flight,” he said. “If you have a partner who lives in or has traveled to Singapore, either use condom or other barriers to prevent infection or do not have sex,” he added. According to WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler, there are now 19 out of 37 countries in the Western Pacific region found with Zika virus. Weiler said it was only a matter of time before cases were found in the Philippines. “The fact that we see Zika in the Philippines and we detect more is not surprising. We know there is a competent vector in the country; we know there’s a lot of travel. We were assuming there is a likelihood Zika will appear in the country and spread to a certain extent,” Weiler said. Weiler commended the proactive testing of the department of health (DOH) against Zika. He said the increase in the number of cases reflects the efforts of the DOH to crack down on the virus. He said this is a welcome development at a time when countries are on alert against the spread of the virus-carrying mosquitoes.[SEP]Three more cases of local transmissions of the Zika virus have been confirmed through laboratory testing, bringing the total number of Zika cases transmitted locally to 12, according to the Cayman Islands Public Health Department. An additional seven cases of the Zika virus were confirmed as having been imported to Cayman, the department said, bringing the total number of Zika cases in the islands to 19. Aside from the confirmed Zika cases, another eight instances were placed “under investigation” by the health department, but have not been confirmed. All of the locally transmitted Zika cases involve residents in George Town district. Cayman has investigated 200 reported cases of Zika since January.[SEP](CNN) The mosquito-borne Zika virus is spreading around the globe. Researchers are learning new information about the virus every day. Here is the latest news and research. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Centers for Disease Control announce the lifting of a ban on travel to the small Miami neighborhood of Wynwood, saying that aggressive mosquito-control efforts have been successful in reducing the population of Zika-carrying mosquitoes. Wynwood was the subject of a historic ban on travel when, on August 1, the CDC told pregnant women not to travel to the 1-square-mile area of active Zika transmission. However, just two days earlier, on September 17, Florida officials warned that a Zika transmission zone in Miami Beach has tripled in size The Puerto Rico Department of Health announces that there have been 10,690 cases of the Zika virus confirmed, including 1,035 pregnant women. The Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency there at the request of the governor. Secretary Sylvia Burwell said efforts are underway to fight the virus with a priority on protecting pregnant women. Burwell is redirecting $81 million from elsewhere in the department to continue efforts to fight the Zika virus. She said in a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi that she was exercising her authority to transfer $34 million from within the National Institutes of Health and $47 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to keep "Zika-related activities" going. Without that, she said, the unused Ebola money they have been using since April will run out by the end of August and prohibit phase II of the Zika vaccine trial. August 10, 2016: Virus found in semen six months after exposure August 9, 2016: Zika may cause joint problems in babies The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases begins infecting healthy volunteers with an experimental DNA-based Zika vaccine. The research team hopes to enroll 80 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35 at three locations. Participants will be followed for 44 weeks after receiving the vaccine at various intervals for 20 weeks. In an unprecedented move, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned pregnant women to steer clear of the Wynwood neighborhood in downtown Miami. This is the area where at least 15 people have been infected with the Zika virus by local mosquitoes carrying the disease. July 29, 2016: Health officials confirm local mosquito transmission in the US Florida health officials say four individuals in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were infected with the Zika virus by local mosquitoes. These are the first known cases of the virus being transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States. "As we anticipated, Zika is here," said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC. Officials believe that the local transmission is confined to a small area north of downtown Miami and that transmission occurred in early July. Researchers at Brazil's Fiocruz research institute announce that they have found the Zika virus in some Culex mosquitoes in Recife, a coastal city that has been labeled as the "hot zone" for the virus. Culex mosquitoes are sometimes called common house mosquitoes. The presence of the virus in these mosquitoes alone does not mean they can transmit the virus. Experts maintain that Aedes mosquitoes are the known vector. July 18, 2016: Health officials investigate how family member of person who died of Zika became infected The CDC reports the first known case of a female with the Zika virus infecting her male sexual partner with the virus after they had unprotected vaginal intercourse. "This is the first documented case of sexual transmission of Zika from a woman to her sex partner and adds to the growing body of knowledge about the sexual transmission of Zika," the agency said in a news release. All previous reported cases of sexual transmission of Zika have been transmitted by a man to his sexual partner. The CDC said it was updating recommendations to protect against sexual transmission of the virus after travel to those who could become infected by a female. July 8, 2016: Health officials report first Zika-related death in the continental US Utah health officials report an elderly patient who died in June was the first Zika-related death in the continental United States. Lab results confirming the unidentified individual was infected with the virus were not available until after the person died. The Utah resident had traveled to a country where the virus is circulating and had an undisclosed underlying medical condition. June 16, 2016: CDC reports six Zika-infected babies in the US June 15, 2016: Babies born to women with Zika late in pregnancy fare better June 2, 2016: Case report questions whether Zika can be transmitted by kissing May 31, 2016: Baby born in N.J. with Zika-related microcephaly A baby girl was born with "significant microcephaly" at Hackensack University Medical Center. The mother, who does not want to be identified, is from Honduras. Doctors believe she contracted the virus during her second trimester of pregnancy. She traveled to New Jersey, where she has relatives, in search of better medical care, knowing that her baby was at risk for having Zika-related problems. May 31, 2016: WHO updates guidelines for sex after travel to Zika areas May 26, 2016: Stronger evidence of eye problems among babies born with Zika-related birth defects May 25, 2016: Report estimates pregnant women with Zika have up to 13% risk of have an affected baby May 23, 2016: Researcher accidentally infects herself with the Zika virus A researcher at the University of Pittsburgh accidentally infected herself with the Zika virus while conducting an experiment in a lab, the university and local health officials later said. She developed symptoms nine days later. She has since recovered and returned to work. May 17, 2016: Zika virus is cloned, paving way for vaccine May 13, 2016: First US case of microcephaly from locally transmitted Zika A baby is born in Puerto Rico with microcephaly, the first case in the United States or a territory linked to local transmission of the virus. Previously, a Hawaiian woman had given birth to a child with the condition, but she had gotten the virus while traveling abroad. April 29, 2016: First US death from Zika complications April 7, 2016: Zika definitely causes microcephaly and Guillain-Barré April 6, 2016: Zika is transmitted by sex in Texas February 26, 2016: CDC to pregnant women: Don't go at all The CDC hardens its advisory on travel, telling pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant not to travel to any of the countries where Zika is circulating, including Brazil for the August 5-21 Olympic Games and the September 7-18 Paralympic Games. February 17, 2016: No link between pesticides and Zika February 5, 2016: CDC to men: Use a condom, or don't have sex January 15, 2016: CDC warns pregnant women to think twice Brazil declares a national public health emergency as numbers of infants born with microcephaly continue to rise. Nine months after the first cases of Zika, women begin to give birth to babies with an unusual birth defect, microcephaly, in which the baby's head and brain do not develop normally. February 2015: Brazil sees first cases of Zika but doesn't know what it is From February through April, Brazil sees 7,000 cases of a mild viral reaction, characterized by rash, fever and red eyes. Zika isn't identified in the blood samples until May. By July 2015, doctors begin seeing a few cases of Guillain-Barré. In addition, 1,505 blood donors who had no symptoms of the virus test positive for Zika, alerting authorities that the virus could be transmitted via transfusion. Throughout the year, Zika spreads among more islands in French Polynesia and the South Pacific. In December, an elderly man returns to the hospital after recovering from the illness, complaining of bloody sperm. Doctors find alarming amounts of the virus in his semen, providing the first evidence that the virus can hide and grow in the immune-privileged area of the testes. Researchers find two geographically distinct lineages of the Zika virus, one from Africa and another from Asia, showing that the virus has mutated. The Yap Island outbreak came from the Asian strain. September 2008: First case of sexually transmitted Zika in US The first large outbreak of Zika in people is documented in the Federated States of Micronesia on the island of Yap. Nearly 73% of the island's residents get the virus. Before this, according to the WHO, there had been only 14 cases of Zika in humans anywhere in the world. Tracking the virus via mosquito, researchers find that Zika is spreading across Africa toward Cape Verde while making its way to India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. While researchers had found antibodies in the blood of people in both Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania as far back as 1952, this is the first known case of active virus in humans. The infected man developed a pinkish rash over most of his body but reported the illness as "mild," with none of the pain associated with dengue and chikungunya.[SEP]The total number of locally transmitted laboratory confirmed cases of the Zika virus reached 12, as of 19 September 2016. Laboratory diagnosed imported cases remain at seven. The total number of all laboratory confirmed cases, local and imported, is 19. • Since the last update on 13 September 2016, eight new cases were placed under investigation during the week of 11 September 2016. These are suspected cases and are not yet confirmed cases.The blood samples for four cases were sent for testing at Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad. • In addition, since the last update, five results have been received from CARPHA. Three tested positive: one male and two females. One pregnant female tested negative and one female is pending further investigation. • None of the positive local transmissions have reported travel history, which indicates continued local transmission. All are from the district of George Town but are not related. • The onset of symptoms for all positive cases was between 16 and 20 August 2016. • Total number of cases investigated for the Zika virus since January 2016 is 200 as of 19 September 2016. Further information can be obtained through www.hsa.ky. Regional perspectives on the Zika virus can be accessed by visiting the CARPHA website on http://carpha.org/zika. In addition, the global perspective can be accessed by visiting http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/[SEP]Justin Julander, a research professor at Utah State University, said he believes he’s discovered a vaccination to put an end to the spread of Zika virus. In December 2015 Julander received funding from the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to research and find a cure for Zika virus. Nine months later he believes he has done just that. “We’ve identified several anti-viral agents and a few vaccines that are effective in treatment and prevention of Zika,” Julander said. Julander will submit a paper about his discoveries for publication this week. Up to this point, these vaccinations have only been tested on mice and still need to be tested in clinical trials before they can be distributed to those infected or at risk of infection. Zika virus has been around since the early 1800s and was first discovered in South Africa. Since the time of the discovery Zika mutated and spread throughout Central and Southern America. One of the new symptoms of the mutated virus is it causes infants to be born with microcephaly — a birth defect that causes infants to be born with shrunken heads. Even with the discovery of these vaccinations, Julander and the other scientists on his team are concerned there are other undiscovered dangers that Zika virus holds. “With Zika, we still really don’t know much about it,” said Skot Neilson, the team’s lab supervisor. Neilson and his colleagues, specifically, are concerned about some of the long-term effects Zika might have on males. Once his paper is submitted, Julander plans to request a grant that will allow him to look into some of these long-term effects, including the possibility of Zika being transmitted to another person through intercourse. One of Julander’s interns, Chad Clancy, who specializes in anatomic pathology, theorizes that Zika virus can infect reproductive tissues in males, and when infected males engage in intercourse the virus will be able to spread to their partner. Clancy will not be able to test his theory until he receives a grant from USU, which he believes won’t be difficult. Julander’s team has been surprised and grateful for how much funding they have received for their research with Zika, but also expressed concern that the reason for the increase in funding is due to the public’s lack of understanding about the virus. “There is so much disconnect between where the science actually is and what the public sees,” Clancy said. Until more can be discovered about the virus, this is Julander’s advice for the public: “If you go to areas where Zika is found, make sure you wear your mosquito repellent. It’s not something to be scared of,” he said. “Just be aware of it and educated and take the proper steps to keep yourself safe.”[SEP]Total number of Zika infections in Singapore rises to 381 SINGAPORE — Singapore confirmed 12 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection over the weekend, bringing the total number of Zika infections in the city state to 381, according to the update of National Environment Agency (NEA) on Monday. The update on the website of NEA showed no new cases were reported on Monday. There are now nine Zika clusters in Singapore, as two cases emerged in a new cluster at Hougang Avenue 7 over the weekend. Three new cases were in the initial cluster in Aljunied/Sims Drive, which has reported 286 cases so far. Another two cases were detected in Elite Terrace cluster, bringing the total number of cases there to 13. The first case of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore was detected on Aug. 27, and the first case of pregnant woman with Zika was reported on August 31.[SEP]JOHOR BAHRU: A married couple who was infected with the Zika virus in the state has been confirmed free of the virus, said Chairman of the State Health and Environment Committee, Datuk Ayub Rahmat. He added that blood and urine tests conducted on them proved negative for the virus. Earlier, Head of the Vector-Borne Disease Control Unit in the State Health Department, Dr Roslinda A Rahman said the couple was allowed to go home last week. “In the case of the woman who was pregnant, the midwifery experts will monitor her condition and that of her baby. She has also been advised to go for fortnightly checks to monitor the development of her baby,” she told reporters after a briefing on the search-and-destroy operations, here today. Dr Roslinda said to date, 62 of the 64 cases examined for suspected Zika virus infection has been found to be negative. “At present, those who go to health clinics and hospitals with rashes, conjunctivitis, and fever, we will suspect them of being a Zika case even though they had not gone to Singapore. “We will observe, analyse and send their blood and urine samples to determine the presence of the Zika virus, and they will be warded for observation, until we find them negative, then we will discharge them,” said Dr Roslinda. Meanwhile, the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) will conduct the search-and-destroy 2.0 operation with the help of the State Health Department on Sept 24, in an effort to control the spread of the Aedes mosquito. MBJB Health Director Dr Rahim Tumin said the operation which would be carried out simultaneously throughout the MBJB district, covering an area of 330 square kilometres with about 700,000 residents, would involve about 100 personnel from the council and health department. As of Sept 10, there have been 3,512 dengue fever cases in MBJB district compared to 3,542 during the same period last year.-BERNAMA
Authorities diagnose six more cases of the Zika virus in the provinces of Cebu and Iloilo in the Visayas and Laguna province near Metro Manila, Philippines.
The European Union's 28 member states on Tuesday accepted Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership application and ordered the bloc's executive to prepare an assessment of the Balkan country's readiness to join the bloc. The European Commission will now determine whether Bosnia meets criteria to become a candidate country, a process that could take a year. The Commission will outline what conditions Bosnia would need to meet before reaching full membership, which is likely to be a drawn-out and complicated process for Sarajevo. Bosnia submitted the application in February. A senior Slovak foreign ministry official, Ivan Korcok, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said "this is a good day for Bosnia, but for us as well. We are showing that the enlargement strategy and approach to the aspiring countries works." The Commission will send a questionnaire asking for answers to thousands of queries on the country's suitability to join the EU. It will assess Bosnia's economy, compliance with human rights and the rule of law and other obligations of a member state. Bosnia's membership process is particularly complicated given the legacy of the 1990s war during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. The Dayton accords that ended the war divided the country into two autonomous zones, one controlled by Bosniaks and Croats and another by Serbs. Each ethnic group is also granted a seat on the country's tripartite presidency. The governance structure makes passing reforms and getting anything done complicated and slow, which in turn has hampered economic growth. Over the last 14 months, Bosnia has been working to pass reforms to improve the country's economic prospects. The EU member states said Bosnia should maintain its reform agenda, including "socio-economic reforms, reforms in the area of rule of law and public administration." Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic said the acceptance of the country's application constituted a "historic moment for the European path and European future of Bosnia-Herzegovina." "This is really some of the most positive news for Bosnia-Herzegovina ... especially for young people," he said. cw/jil (AP, Reuters)[SEP]BRUSSELS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The European Union's 28 member states on Tuesday accepted Bosnia's membership application, taking a step forward in what is certain to be a long process that Sarajevo hopes will eventually give it a place in the bloc. The EU said Bosnia, which applied to join in February, had made progress on necessary reforms, so it had accepted the application. It asked the European Commission, the EU's executive, for an assessment of Sarajevo's readiness. In doing so, Brussels will lay out for Sarajevo what conditions remain to be met before it is granted membership. There is no time limit for the process. While it accepted the application, the EU states called on Bosnia to continue "socio-economic reforms (and) reforms in the area of rule of law and public administration." They asked the Commission to monitor the implementation of a 2009 European Court of Human Rights ruling that ordered Bosnia to allow ethnic minorities, such as Jews and Roma, to run for high office. Bosnia has yet to implement that ruling. Only Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats can run for high office, and the issue continues to be an obstacle to Bosnia's EU plans. But the issue is complicated. A country of 3.5 million people, Bosnia is still split along ethnic lines, after a war in the 1990s that killed some 100,000 people during the breakup of Yugoslavia. The Dayton peace accords that ended the war in 1995 gave Bosnia three governments. Two are autonomous entities, one representing Bosniaks and Croats, the second representing Bosnian Serbs. The third is a central government with a three-member presidency consisting of one Serb, one Bosniak and one Croat; hence the limit on who can run for office. Bosnia has, however, made progress on two other key conditions: setting up a body to deal with the EU and adjusting a 2008 agreement with Croatia after the neighbouring ex-Yugoslav republic became an EU member in 2013, the EU said. "Today is really a historic moment for the European path and European future of Bosnia-Herzegovina," said Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic. "This is really some of the most positive news for Bosnia-Herzegovina ... especially for young people." (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, additional reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, editing by Larry King)[SEP]BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union will examine whether Bosnia has what it takes to become a member, continuing with enlargement just months after Britain decided to leave. EU nations on Tuesday ordered the European Commission to establish whether Bosnia has earned candidate status, a process that could take a year. A senior Slovak foreign ministry official, Ivan Korcok, says "this is a good day for Bosnia, but for us as well. We are showing that the enlargement strategy and approach to the aspiring countries works." The Commission will now send a questionnaire to Bosnia seeking thousands of answers about its suitability to join. It will assess Bosnia's economy, the state of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and it ability to respect the obligations of membership.[SEP]The European Union said Tuesday it will examine whether Bosnia has what it takes to become a member as the bloc continues with plans to expand just months after Britain decided to leave. EU nations ordered the European Commission to establish whether Bosnia has earned candidate status, a process that could take a year. A senior Slovak foreign ministry official, Ivan Korcok, said "this is a good day for Bosnia, but for us as well. We are showing that the enlargement strategy and approach to the aspiring countries works." The Commission will now send a questionnaire to Bosnia seeking thousands of answers about its suitability to join. It will assess Bosnia's economy, the state of democracy in the country, its adherence to the rule of law and human rights, and its ability to respect the obligations of membership. "It is truly a historic moment" for Bosnia, Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic said, adding it was "particularly good news for the youth." Bosnia has a brain drain problem as more than half of its young people dream of a better life in EU countries. To stop them from leaving, Bosnia's leaders have been working hard in the past 14 months on reforms that would create jobs and improve the standard of living. "It is clear that these reforms are starting to show results," the EU envoy to Bosnia, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said Monday. "We have seen the reduction of the level of unemployment and an increased growth," he said. Bosnia's complex political system and the on-going quarrels between its Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats have prevented the country from moving faster and catching up with neighbouring countries on the EU path. The country's economy was completely devastated by the 1992-95 war that took over 100,000 lives and turned nearly half of the population into refugees.[SEP]The European Court has turned down a civil action filed by private bank depositors and businesses against the Eurogroup which met on 25 March 2013, saying the lawsuit was targeting the wrong body. The court held a hearing on Tuesday to examine a civil action brought against the European Commission, whose decisions in 2013 were followed by a banking haircut in Cyprus where individuals and businesses lost a portion of their savings. The legal recourse was based on the argument that the decision violated a charter that enshrines certain political, social, and economic rights for EU citizens and residents into EU law. But the court did not accept the basis of the argument. “The European Commission did not contribute to violating property rights, as provided for in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,” the decision read. The ruling essentially backs the logic of the European Commission that decision in the Eurogroup did not constitute executive action on behalf of the Commission or the European Central Bank. In 2013, the then newly elected President Nicos Anastasiades accepted a haircut on deposits of over €100,000 in Laiki and Bank of Cyprus, and consequently Laiki Bank was dissolved. Depositors have been fighting for what they view as a violation of their rights to their own property, basically their money in the bank, after they were affected by the haircut.
The European Union's 28 member states formally accept Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership application. The European Commission (EC) will now determine whether Bosnia meets the criteria to join the union, a process that is expected to take a year.
“In a place like Syria, where there’s no ultimate military victory to be won,” Mr. Obama said, “we’re going have to pursue the hard work of diplomacy that aims to stop the violence and deliver aid to those in need and support those who pursue a political settlement and can see those who are not like themselves as worthy of dignity and respect.” There are a couple of explanations for Mr. Obama’s circumspect tone. The obvious one is that he has only four months left in office, which means that intractable problems like Syria are not going to be fixed on his watch. Mr. Obama also finds himself in a political bind: He does not want to saddle Mrs. Clinton with policies that could backfire with voters, like a new plan to push Israel and the Palestinians back to the bargaining table. Mr. Obama was reticent even about his diplomatic achievements. The nuclear agreement with Iran, for example, consumed him and Mr. Kerry for months, requiring a titanic battle against opponents on Capitol Hill and months of diplomatic repair work with allies in the Persian Gulf. Yet on Tuesday Mr. Obama described the deal’s benefits in the blandest terms, saying that it “enhances global security and enhances Iran’s ability to work with other nations.” He coupled this unenthusiastic boast with a warning about another major proliferation threat, North Korea, which recently tested another bomb. Whatever its long-term risks and payoffs, the Iran nuclear deal remains a source of political static in the United States. To the extent that Mrs. Clinton refers to it on the campaign trail, which is not often, she mostly promotes her credentials to police Tehran aggressively. For his part, Mr. Obama saved his activism for what would otherwise be a less controversial issue: the plight of refugees. He led a meeting of fellow leaders to nail down commitments from countries to take in more displaced people, and to spend more to integrate them. But even here, in an election year in which fears of terrorism loom large, the constraints on Mr. Obama were clear. In noting that the United States had agreed to admit 110,000 refugees in 2017, up from 85,000 this year, he said that “refugees are subject to more vigorous screening than the average tourist.” Mr. Obama’s annual speeches to the United Nations are a good way to track the evolution of his foreign policy. The soaring ambition of 2009 gave way to a more restrained tone in 2013, when Mr. Obama acknowledged the limits of American military force. A year later, however, the president struck a more hawkish tone, trying to enlist the world in the fight against the Islamic State and promising to resist Mr. Putin’s aggression in Central Europe with sanctions — and force, if necessary.[SEP]President Barack Obama speaks during a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Carolyn Kaster/AP UNITED NATIONS — Standing before the United Nations for the last time as president, Barack Obama will reassure foreign leaders that the world is better equipped to tackle its challenges than at almost any point in history despite a cascade of harrowing crises that seem devoid of viable solutions. Obama's speech is always a focal point of the annual U.N. General Assembly, but his address Tuesday also marks Obama's swan song on the international stage. He stepped into his role eight years ago with sky-high expectations and has struggled to deliver when it comes to solving global problems partially beyond America's control. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said the president was cognizant of the fact that bright spots such as economic growth and climate change cooperation are offset by the "great deal of unease" in the world, including Syria's civil war and concerns about Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. "The way the president will approach this is trying to apply what we have done that's worked in the last eight years as a template for how we deal with other crises," Rhodes said. He cited diplomatic achievements on Iran and global warming and outreach to former U.S adversaries Cuba and Myanmar as illustrative of the approach Obama hoped would continue after he leaves office. Yet it will be hard for world leaders to look beyond the pressing problems that are shadowing this year's U.N. confab. Just as Obama and fellow heads of state were gathering Monday, Syria's military declared the week-old cease-fire over following numerous breaches and airstrikes hitting an aid convoy to a distressed part of Syria, which the U.S. blamed on Syria or Russia. The setbacks were fresh indicators that even the most hard-fought diplomatic gambles have failed to lessen the violence in Syria for any lasting stretch of time. And hanging over the U.N. gathering was a weekend bombing a short subway ride away that New York's mayor has declared an act of terror. Security in Manhattan, already high in light of the U.N. summit, was further tightened. Despite these concerns, the White House has cast Obama's address as one of his final opportunities to define how his leadership has made the planet safer and more prosperous. Obama's aides have focused on how the U.S. has a fraction of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than it had when Obama took office and how nations are finally poised to act in concert to reduce greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Obama's other major priority at the U.N. this year is to force more aggressive action to mitigate the worst refugee crisis since World War II, stemming in large part from the Syria war. In addition to his speech, Obama on Tuesday planned to host a summit on refugees. The idea is for nations to show up with concrete commitments to accept and support more refugees, and Obama's U.N. ambassador, Samantha Power, said the U.S. told several nations that their initial offers were insufficient. The Obama administration has emphasized that a half-dozen other countries including Germany and Jordan are co-hosting the summit, but it's largely been a U.S.-driven endeavor. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in New York contributed to this report.[SEP]President Barack Obama speaks during a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Carolyn Kaster/AP UNITED NATIONS — Standing before the United Nations for the last time as president, Barack Obama will reassure foreign leaders that the world is better equipped to tackle its challenges than at almost any point in history despite a cascade of harrowing crises that seem devoid of viable solutions. Obama's speech is always a focal point of the annual U.N. General Assembly, but his address Tuesday also marks Obama's swan song on the international stage. He stepped into his role eight years ago with sky-high expectations and has struggled to deliver when it comes to solving global problems partially beyond America's control. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said the president was cognizant of the fact that bright spots such as economic growth and climate change cooperation are offset by the "great deal of unease" in the world, including Syria's civil war and concerns about Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. "The way the president will approach this is trying to apply what we have done that's worked in the last eight years as a template for how we deal with other crises," Rhodes said. He cited diplomatic achievements on Iran and global warming and outreach to former U.S adversaries Cuba and Myanmar as illustrative of the approach Obama hoped would continue after he leaves office. Yet it will be hard for world leaders to look beyond the pressing problems that are shadowing this year's U.N. confab. Just as Obama and fellow heads of state were gathering Monday, Syria's military declared the week-old cease-fire over following numerous breaches and airstrikes hitting an aid convoy to a distressed part of Syria, which the U.S. blamed on Syria or Russia. The setbacks were fresh indicators that even the most hard-fought diplomatic gambles have failed to lessen the violence in Syria for any lasting stretch of time. And hanging over the U.N. gathering was a weekend bombing a short subway ride away that New York's mayor has declared an act of terror. Security in Manhattan, already high in light of the U.N. summit, was further tightened. Despite these concerns, the White House has cast Obama's address as one of his final opportunities to define how his leadership has made the planet safer and more prosperous. Obama's aides have focused on how the U.S. has a fraction of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than it had when Obama took office and how nations are finally poised to act in concert to reduce greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Obama's other major priority at the U.N. this year is to force more aggressive action to mitigate the worst refugee crisis since World War II, stemming in large part from the Syria war. In addition to his speech, Obama on Tuesday planned to host a summit on refugees. The idea is for nations to show up with concrete commitments to accept and support more refugees, and Obama's U.N. ambassador, Samantha Power, said the U.S. told several nations that their initial offers were insufficient. The Obama administration has emphasized that a half-dozen other countries including Germany and Jordan are co-hosting the summit, but it's largely been a U.S.-driven endeavor. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in New York contributed to this report.[SEP]While the world was digesting news that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are to divorce, Barack Obama was addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the last time as president. During his address he urged the world to reject authoritarianism even as he said he understood why so many people felt anxious and insecure. In many ways it was part of his effort to define his legacy to the world, as he watches an increasingly caustic election unfold at home. Here's what he had to say: Mr President; Mr Secretary General; fellow delegates; ladies and gentlemen: As I address this hall as President for the final time, let me recount the progress that we’ve made these last eight years. From the depths of the greatest financial crisis of our time, we coordinated our response to avoid further catastrophe and return the global economy to growth. We’ve taken away terrorist safe havens, strengthened the nonproliferation regime, resolved the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomacy. We opened relations with Cuba, helped Colombia end Latin America’s longest warm, and we welcome a democratically elected leader of Myanmar to this Assembly. Our assistance is helping people feed themselves, care for the sick, power communities across Africa, and promote models of development rather than dependence. And we have made international institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund more representative, while establishing a framework to protect our planet from the ravages of climate change. This is important work. It has made a real difference in the lives of our people. And it could not have happened had we not worked together. And yet, around the globe we are seeing the same forces of global integration that have made us interdependent also expose deep fault lines in the existing international order. We see it in the headlines every day. Around the world, refugees flow across borders in flight from brutal conflict. Financial disruptions continue to weigh upon our workers and entire communities. Across vast swaths of the Middle East, basic security, basic order has broken down. We see too many governments muzzling journalists, and quashing dissent, and censoring the flow of information. Terrorist networks use social media to prey upon the minds of our youth, endangering open societies and spurring anger against innocent immigrants and Muslims. Powerful nations contest the constraints placed on them by international law. This is the paradox that defines our world today. A quarter century after the end of the Cold War, the world is by many measures less violent and more prosperous than ever before, and yet our societies are filled with uncertainty, and unease, and strife. Despite enormous progress, as people lose trust in institutions, governing becomes more difficult and tensions between nations become more quick to surface. And so I believe that at this moment we all face a choice. We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration. Or we can retreat into a world sharply divided, and ultimately in conflict, along age-old lines of nation and tribe and race and religion. I want to suggest to you today that we must go forward, and not backward. I believe that as imperfect as they are, the principles of open markets and accountable governance, of democracy and human rights and international law that we have forged remain the firmest foundation for human progress in this century. I make this argument not based on theory or ideology, but on facts — facts that all too often, we forget in the immediacy of current events. Here’s the most important fact: The integration of our global economy has made life better for billions of men, women and children. Over the last 25 years, the number of people living in extreme poverty has been cut from nearly 40 percent of humanity to under 10 percent. That's unprecedented. And it's not an abstraction. It means children have enough to eat; mothers don’t die in childbirth. Meanwhile, cracking the genetic code promises to cure diseases that have plagued us for centuries. The Internet can deliver the entirety of human knowledge to a young girl in a remote village on a single hand-held device. In medicine and in manufacturing, in education and communications, we’re experiencing a transformation of how human beings live on a scale that recalls the revolutions in agriculture and industry. And as a result, a person born today is more likely to be healthy, to live longer, and to have access to opportunity than at any time in human history. Moreover, the collapse of colonialism and communism has allowed more people than ever before to live with the freedom to choose their leaders. Despite the real and troubling areas where freedom appears in retreat, the fact remains that the number of democracies around the world has nearly doubled in the last 25 years. In remote corners of the world, citizens are demanding respect for the dignity of all people no matter their gender, or race, or religion, or disability, or sexual orientation, and those who deny others dignity are subject to public reproach. An explosion of social media has given ordinary people more ways to express themselves, and has raised people’s expectations for those of us in power. Indeed, our international order has been so successful that we take it as a given that great powers no longer fight world wars; that the end of the Cold War lifted the shadow of nuclear Armageddon; that the battlefields of Europe have been replaced by peaceful union; that China and India remain on a path of remarkable growth. I say all this not to whitewash the challenges we face, or to suggest complacency. Rather, I believe that we need to acknowledge these achievements in order to summon the confidence to carry this progress forward and to make sure that we do not abandon those very things that have delivered this progress. In order to move forward, though, we do have to acknowledge that the existing path to global integration requires a course correction. As too often, those trumpeting the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality within and among nations; have ignored the enduring appeal of ethnic and sectarian identities; have left international institutions ill-equipped, underfunded, under-resourced, in order to handle transnational challenges. And as these real problems have been neglected, alternative visions of the world have pressed forward both in the wealthiest countries and in the poorest: Religious fundamentalism; the politics of ethnicity, or tribe, or sect; aggressive nationalism; a crude populism — sometimes from the far left, but more often from the far right — which seeks to restore what they believe was a better, simpler age free of outside contamination. We cannot dismiss these visions. They are powerful. They reflect dissatisfaction among too many of our citizens. I do not believe those visions can deliver security or prosperity over the long term, but I do believe that these visions fail to recognize, at a very basic level, our common humanity. Moreover, I believe that the acceleration of travel and technology and telecommunications — together with a global economy that depends on a global supply chain — makes it self-defeating ultimately for those who seek to reverse this progress. Today, a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself. So the answer cannot be a simple rejection of global integration. Instead, we must work together to make sure the benefits of such integration are broadly shared, and that the disruptions — economic, political, and cultural — that are caused by integration are squarely addressed. This is not the place for a detailed policy blueprint, but let me offer in broad strokes those areas where I believe we must do better together. It starts with making the global economy work better for all people and not just for those at the top. While open markets, capitalism have raised standards of living around the globe, globalization combined with rapid progress and technology has also weakened the position of workers and their ability to secure a decent wage. In advanced economies like my own, unions have been undermined, and many manufacturing jobs have disappeared. Often, those who benefit most from globalization have used their political power to further undermine the position of workers. In developing countries, labor organizations have often been suppressed, and the growth of the middle class has been held back by corruption and underinvestment. Mercantilist policies pursued by governments with export-driven models threaten to undermine the consensus that underpins global trade. And meanwhile, global capital is too often unaccountable — nearly $8 trillion stashed away in tax havens, a shadow banking system that grows beyond the reach of effective oversight. A world in which one percent of humanity controls as much wealth as the other 99 percent will never be stable. I understand that the gaps between rich and poor are not new, but just as the child in a slum today can see the skyscraper nearby, technology now allows any person with a smartphone to see how the most privileged among us live and the contrast between their own lives and others. Expectations rise, then, faster than governments can deliver, and a pervasive sense of injustice undermine people’s faith in the system. So how do we fix this imbalance? We cannot unwind integration any more than we can stuff technology back into a box. Nor can we look to failed models of the past. If we start resorting to trade wars, market distorting subsidies, beggar thy neighbor policies, an overreliance on natural resources instead of innovation — these approaches will make us poorer, collectively, and they are more like to lead to conflict. And the stark contrast between, say, the success of the Republic of Korea and the wasteland of North Korea shows that central, planned control of the economy is a dead end. But I do believe there’s another path — one that fuels growth and innovation, and offers the clearest route to individual opportunity and national success. It does not require succumbing to a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few, but rather recognizes that economies are more successful when we close the gap between rich and poor, and growth is broadly based. And that means respecting the rights of workers so they can organize into independent unions and earn a living wage. It means investing in our people — their skills, their education, their capacity to take an idea and turn it into a business. It means strengthening the safety net that protects our people from hardship and allows them to take more risks — to look for a new job, or start a new venture. These are the policies that I’ve pursued here in the United States, and with clear results. American businesses have created now 15 million new jobs. After the recession, the top one percent of Americans were capturing more than 90 percent of income growth. But today, that's down to about half. Last year, poverty in this country fell at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. And with further investment in infrastructure and early childhood education and basic research, I’m confident that such progress will continue. So just as I’ve pursued these measures here at home, so has the United States worked with many nations to curb the excesses of capitalism — not to punish wealth, but to prevent repeated crises that can destroy it. That’s why we’ve worked with other nations to create higher and clearer standards for banking and taxation — because a society that asks less of oligarchs than ordinary citizens will rot from within. That’s why we’ve pushed for transparency and cooperation in rooting out corruption, and tracking illicit dollars, because markets create more jobs when they're fueled by hard work, and not the capacity to extort a bribe. That’s why we’ve worked to reach trade agreements that raise labor standards and raise environmental standards, as we've done with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, so that the benefits are more broadly shared. And just as we benefit by combatting inequality within our countries, I believe advanced economies still need to do more to close the gap between rich and poor nations around the globe. This is difficult politically. It's difficult to spend on foreign assistance. But I do not believe this is charity. For the small fraction of what we spent at war in Iraq we could support institutions so that fragile states don’t collapse in the first place, and invest in emerging economies that become markets for our goods. It's not just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. And that’s why we need to follow through on our efforts to combat climate change. If we don't act boldly, the bill that could come due will be mass migrations, and cities submerged and nations displaced, and food supplies decimated, and conflicts born of despair. The Paris Agreement gives us a framework to act, but only if we scale up our ambition. And there must be a sense of urgency about bringing the agreement into force, and helping poorer countries leapfrog destructive forms of energy. So, for the wealthiest countries, a Green Climate Fund should only be the beginning. We need to invest in research and provide market incentives to develop new technologies, and then make these technologies accessible and affordable for poorer countries. And only then can we continue lifting all people up from poverty without condemning our children to a planet beyond their capacity to repair. So we need new models for the global marketplace, models that are inclusive and sustainable. And in the same way, we need models of governance that are inclusive and accountable to ordinary people. I recognize not every country in this hall is going to follow the same model of governance. I do not think that America can — or should — impose our system of government on other countries. But there appears to be growing contest between authoritarianism and liberalism right now. And I want everybody to understand, I am not neutral in that contest. I believe in a liberal political order — an order built not just through elections and representative government, but also through respect for human rights and civil society, and independent judiciaries and the rule of law. I know that some countries, which now recognize the power of free markets, still reject the model of free societies. And perhaps those of us who have been promoting democracy feel somewhat discouraged since the end of the Cold War, because we've learned that liberal democracy will not just wash across the globe in a single wave. It turns out building accountable institutions is hard work — the work of generations. The gains are often fragile. Sometimes we take one step forward and then two steps back. In countries held together by borders drawn by colonial powers, with ethnic enclaves and tribal divisions, politics and elections can sometimes appear to be a zero-sum game. And so, given the difficulty in forging true democracy in the face of these pressures, it’s no surprise that some argue the future favors the strongman, a top-down model, rather than strong, democratic institutions. But I believe this thinking is wrong. I believe the road of true democracy remains the better path. I believe that in the 21st century, economies can only grow to a certain point until they need to open up — because entrepreneurs need to access information in order to invent; young people need a global education in order to thrive; independent media needs to check the abuses of power. Without this evolution, ultimately expectations of people will not be met; suppression and stagnation will set in. And history shows that strongmen are then left with two paths — permanent crackdown, which sparks strife at home, or scapegoating enemies abroad, which can lead to war. Now, I will admit, my belief that governments serve the individual, and not the other way around, is shaped by America’s story. Our nation began with a promise of freedom that applied only to the few. But because of our democratic Constitution, because of our Bill of Rights, because of our ideals, ordinary people were able to organize, and march, and protest, and ultimately, those ideals won out — opened doors for women and minorities and workers in ways that made our economy more productive and turned our diversity into a strength; that gave innovators the chance to transform every area of human endeavor; that made it possible for someone like me to be elected President of the United States. So, yes, my views are shaped by the specific experiences of America, but I do not think this story is unique to America. Look at the transformation that's taken place in countries as different as Japan and Chile, Indonesia, Botswana. The countries that have succeeded are ones in which people feel they have a stake. In Europe, the progress of those countries in the former Soviet bloc that embraced democracy stand in clear contrast to those that did not. After all, the people of Ukraine did not take to the streets because of some plot imposed from abroad. They took to the streets because their leadership was for sale and they had no recourse. They demanded change because they saw life get better for people in the Baltics and in Poland, societies that were more liberal, and democratic, and open than their own. So those of us who believe in democracy, we need to speak out forcefully, because both the facts and history, I believe, are on our side. That doesn’t mean democracies are without flaws. It does mean that the cure for what ails our democracies is greater engagement by our citizens — not less. Yes, in America, there is too much money in politics; too much entrenched partisanship; too little participation by citizens, in part because of a patchwork of laws that makes it harder to vote. In Europe, a well-intentioned Brussels often became too isolated from the normal push and pull of national politics. Too often, in capitals, decision-makers have forgotten that democracy needs to be driven by civic engagement from the bottom up, not governance by experts from the top down. And so these are real problems, and as leaders of democratic governments make the case for democracy abroad, we better strive harder to set a better example at home. Moreover, every country will organize its government informed by centuries of history, and the circumstances of geography, and the deeply held beliefs of its people. So I recognize a traditional society may value unity and cohesion more than a diverse country like my own, which was founded upon what, at the time, was a radical idea — the idea of the liberty of individual human beings endowed with certain God-given rights. But that does not mean that ordinary people in Asia, or Africa, or the Middle East somehow prefer arbitrary rule that denies them a voice in the decisions that can shape their lives. I believe that spirit is universal. And if any of you doubt the universality of that desire, listen to the voices of young people everywhere who call out for freedom, and dignity, and the opportunity to control their own lives. This leads me to the third thing we need to do: We must reject any forms of fundamentalism, or racism, or a belief in ethnic superiority that makes our traditional identities irreconcilable with modernity. Instead we need to embrace the tolerance that results from respect of all human beings. It’s a truism that global integration has led to a collision of cultures; trade, migration, the Internet, all these things can challenge and unsettle our most cherished identities. We see liberal societies express opposition when women choose to cover themselves. We see protests responding to Western newspaper cartoons that caricature the Prophet Muhammad. In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force. Asian powers debate competing claims of history. And in Europe and the United States, you see people wrestle with concerns about immigration and changing demographics, and suggesting that somehow people who look different are corrupting the character of our countries. Now, there’s no easy answer for resolving all these social forces, and we must respect the meaning that people draw from their own traditions — from their religion, from their ethnicity, from their sense of nationhood. But I do not believe progress is possible if our desire to preserve our identities gives way to an impulse to dehumanize or dominate another group. If our religion leads us to persecute those of another faith, if we jail or beat people who are gay, if our traditions lead us to prevent girls from going to school, if we discriminate on the basis of race or tribe or ethnicity, then the fragile bonds of civilization will fray. The world is too small, we are too packed together, for us to be able to resort to those old ways of thinking. We see this mindset in too many parts of the Middle East. There, so much of the collapse in order has been fueled because leaders sought legitimacy not because of policies or programs but by resorting to persecuting political opposition, or demonizing other religious sects, by narrowing the public space to the mosque, where in too many places perversions of a great faith were tolerated. These forces built up for years, and are now at work helping to fuel both Syria’s tragic civil war and the mindless, medieval menace of ISIL. The mindset of sectarianism, and extremism, and bloodletting, and retribution that has been taking place will not be quickly reversed. And if we are honest, we understand that no external power is going to be able to force different religious communities or ethnic communities to co-exist for long. But I do believe we have to be honest about the nature of these conflicts, and our international community must continue to work with those who seek to build rather than to destroy. And there is a military component to that. It means being united and relentless in destroying networks like ISIL, which show no respect for human life. But it also means that in a place like Syria, where there’s no ultimate military victory to be won, we’re going to have to pursue the hard work of diplomacy that aims to stop the violence, and deliver aid to those in need, and support those who pursue a political settlement and can see those who are not like themselves as worthy of dignity and respect. Across the region’s conflicts, we have to insist that all parties recognize a common humanity and that nations end proxy wars that fuel disorder. Because until basic questions are answered about how communities co-exist, the embers of extremism will continue to burn, countless human beings will suffer — most of all in that region — but extremism will continue to be exported overseas. And the world is too small for us to simply be able to build a wall and prevent it from affecting our own societies. And what is true in the Middle East is true for all of us. Surely, religious traditions can be honored and upheld while teaching young people science and math, rather than intolerance. Surely, we can sustain our unique traditions while giving women their full and rightful role in the politics and economics of a nation. Surely, we can rally our nations to solidarity while recognizing equal treatment for all communities — whether it’s a religious minority in Myanmar, or an ethnic minority in Burundi, or a racial minority right here in the United States. And surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land. We all have to do better as leaders in tamping down, rather than encouraging, a notion of identity that leads us to diminish others. And this leads me to the fourth and final thing we need to do, and that is sustain our commitment to international cooperation rooted in the rights and responsibilities of nations. As President of the United States, I know that for most of human history, power has not been unipolar. The end of the Cold War may have led too many to forget this truth. I’ve noticed as President that at times, both America’s adversaries and some of our allies believe that all problems were either caused by Washington or could be solved by Washington — and perhaps too many in Washington believed that as well. (Laughter.) But I believe America has been a rare superpower in human history insofar as it has been willing to think beyond narrow self-interest; that while we’ve made our share of mistakes over these last 25 years —and I’ve acknowledged some — we have strived, sometimes at great sacrifice, to align better our actions with our ideals. And as a consequence, I believe we have been a force for good. We have secured allies. We’ve acted to protect the vulnerable. We supported human rights and welcomed scrutiny of our own actions. We’ve bound our power to international laws and institutions. When we've made mistakes, we've tried to acknowledge them. We have worked to roll back poverty and hunger and disease beyond our borders, not just within our borders. I'm proud of that. But I also know that we can't do this alone. And I believe that if we're to meet the challenges of this century, we are all going to have to do more to build up international capacity. We cannot escape the prospect of nuclear war unless we all commit to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and pursuing a world without them. When Iran agrees to accept constraints on its nuclear program that enhances global security and enhances Iran's ability to work with other nations. On the other hand, when North Korea tests a bomb that endangers all of us. And any country that breaks this basic bargain must face consequences. And those nations with these weapons, like the United States, have a unique responsibility to pursue the path of reducing our stockpiles, and reaffirming basic norms like the commitment to never test them again. We can't combat a disease like Zika that recognizes no borders — mosquitos don't respect walls — unless we make permanent the same urgency that we brought to bear against Ebola — by strengthening our own systems of public health, by investing in cures and rolling back the root causes of disease, and helping poorer countries develop a public health infrastructure. We can only eliminate extreme poverty if the sustainable development goals that we have set are more than words on paper. Human ingenuity now gives us the capacity to feed the hungry and give all of our children — including our girls — the education that is the foundation for opportunity in our world. But we have to put our money where our mouths are. And we can only realize the promise of this institution’s founding — to replace the ravages of war with cooperation — if powerful nations like my own accept constraints. Sometimes I'm criticized in my own country for professing a belief in international norms and multilateral institutions. But I am convinced that in the long run, giving up some freedom of action — not giving up our ability to protect ourselves or pursue our core interests, but binding ourselves to international rules over the long term — enhances our security. And I think that's not just true for us. If Russia continues to interfere in the affairs of its neighbors, it may be popular at home, it may fuel nationalist fervor for a time, but over time it is also going to diminish its stature and make its borders less secure. In the South China Sea, a peaceful resolution of disputes offered by law will mean far greater stability than the militarization of a few rocks and reefs. We are all stakeholders in this international system, and it calls upon all of us to invest in the success of institutions to which we belong. And the good news is, is that many nations have shown what kind of progress is possible when we make those commitments. Consider what we’ve accomplished here over the past few years. Together, we mobilized some 50,000 additional troops for U.N. peacekeeping, making them nimble, better equipped, better prepared to deal with emergencies. Together, we established an Open Government Partnership so that, increasingly, transparency empowers more and more people around the globe. And together, now, we have to open our hearts and do more to help refugees who are desperate for a home. We should all welcome the pledges of increased assistance that have been made at this General Assembly gathering. I'll be discussing that more this afternoon. But we have to follow through, even when the politics are hard. Because in the eyes of innocent men and women and children who, through no fault of their own, have had to flee everything that they know, everything that they love, we have to have the empathy to see ourselves. We have to imagine what it would be like for our family, for our children, if the unspeakable happened to us. And we should all understand that, ultimately, our world will be more secure if we are prepared to help those in need and the nations who are carrying the largest burden with respect to accommodating these refugees. There are a lot of nations right now that are doing the right thing. But many nations —particularly those blessed with wealth and the benefits of geography — that can do more to offer a hand, even if they also insist that refugees who come to our countries have to do more to adapt to the customs and conventions of the communities that are now providing them a home. Let me conclude by saying that I recognize history tells a different story than the one that I've talked about here today. There's a much darker and more cynical view of history that we can adopt. Human beings are too often motivated by greed and by power. Big countries for most of history have pushed smaller ones around. Tribes and ethnic groups and nation states have very often found it most convenient to define themselves by what they hate and not just those ideas that bind them together. Time and again, human beings have believed that they finally arrived at a period of enlightenment only to repeat, then, cycles of conflict and suffering. Perhaps that's our fate. We have to remember that the choices of individual human beings led to repeated world war. But we also have to remember that the choices of individual human beings created a United Nations, so that a war like that would never happen again. Each of us as leaders, each nation can choose to reject those who appeal to our worst impulses and embrace those who appeal to our best. For we have shown that we can choose a better history. Sitting in a prison cell, a young Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that, “Human progress never rolls on the wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God.” And during the course of these eight years, as I've traveled to many of your nations, I have seen that spirit in our young people, who are more educated and more tolerant, and more inclusive and more diverse, and more creative than our generation; who are more empathetic and compassionate towards their fellow human beings than previous generations. And, yes, some of that comes with the idealism of youth. But it also comes with young people’s access to information about other peoples and places — an understanding unique in human history that their future is bound with the fates of other human beings on the other side of the world. I think of the thousands of health care workers from around the world who volunteered to fight Ebola. I remember the young entrepreneurs I met who are now starting new businesses in Cuba, the parliamentarians who used to be just a few years ago political prisoners in Myanmar. I think of the girls who have braved taunts or violence just to go to school in Afghanistan, and the university students who started programs online to reject the extremism of organizations like ISIL. I draw strength from the young Americans — entrepreneurs, activists, soldiers, new citizens — who are remaking our nation once again, who are unconstrained by old habits and old conventions, and unencumbered by what is, but are instead ready to seize what ought to be. My own family is a made up of the flesh and blood and traditions and cultures and faiths from a lot of different parts of the world — just as America has been built by immigrants from every shore. And in my own life, in this country, and as President, I have learned that our identities do not have to be defined by putting someone else down, but can be enhanced by lifting somebody else up. They don’t have to be defined in opposition to others, but rather by a belief in liberty and equality and justice and fairness. And the embrace of these principles as universal doesn't weaken my particular pride, my particular love for America — it strengthens it. My belief that these ideals apply everywhere doesn’t lessen my commitment to help those who look like me, or pray as I do, or pledge allegiance to my flag. But my faith in those principles does force me to expand my moral imagination and to recognize that I can best serve my own people, I can best look after my own daughters, by making sure that my actions seek what is right for all people and all children, and your daughters and your sons. This is what I believe: that all of us can be co-workers with God. And our leadership, and our governments, and this United Nations should reflect this irreducible truth. Thank you very much.[SEP]Obama, in final UN speech, calls for world course correction UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Barack Obama conceded Tuesday that the United States and other world powers have limited ability to solve the most profound challenges facing the world, while calling for a "course correction" for globalization to ensure that nations don't retreat into a more sharply divided world. Obama, in his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly, acknowledged that the extremist and sectarian violence wreaking havoc in the Middle East and elsewhere "will not be quickly reversed." Still, he stuck faithfully to his insistence that diplomatic efforts and not military solutions are the key to resolving Syria's civil war and other conflicts. "If we are honest, we know that no external power is going to be able to force different religious communities or ethnic communities to co-exist for long," Obama said. "Until basic questions are answered about how communities co-exist, the embers of extremism will continue to burn. Countless human beings will suffer." In a less-than-subtle jab at Donald Trump, the Republican running to replace him, Obama said, "The world is too small for us to simply be able to build a wall and prevent (extremism) from affecting our own societies." The president was unabashed in his critique of Russia as he laid out his diagnosis of the world's ills. Obama's longstanding differences with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his actions in Ukraine have accompanied intense disagreement over Syria's future and a series of failed attempts by Russia and the U.S. to resolve the civil war there together. "In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force," Obama said. The tough talk about Russia illustrated how little progress has been made in reconciling the diverging interests among the two powers that has allowed the Syria crisis to continue to fester. A year ago, Obama stood at the same podium and declared anew that Syrian President Bashar Assad must leave power, while Putin gave a dueling speech warning it would be a mistake to abandon Assad. In the year since, Moscow's leverage in the conflict has strengthened significantly. Russia's military intervention in Syria has helped bolster Assad's standing without pulling it into the military "quagmire" that Obama had predicted. Obama sought to use his last appearance before the global body to define how his leadership had put the world on a better trajectory over the last eight years. At the heart of that approach, Obama said, is the notion that the biggest conflicts are best solved when nations cooperate rather than tackle them individually. It's a theme that Democrat Hillary Clinton has put at the forefront of her campaign for president, casting herself as the natural continuation of Obama's legacy. In another apparent reference to Trump, Obama bemoaned how terrorist networks had spread their ideology on social media, spurring anger toward "innocent immigrants and Muslims." Obama lamented that the world has become safer and more prosperous as nations are struggling with a devastating refugee crisis, terrorism and a breakdown in basic order in the Middle East. He said governing had become more difficult as people lose faith in public institutions and tensions among nations spiral out of control more rapidly. "This is the paradox that defines the world today," Obama said. "We must go forward, and not backward." The president cited his administration's outreach to former adversaries Cuba and Myanmar as key examples of progress, along with global cooperation to cut emissions blamed for global warming. At the same time, he said he sought not to "whitewash" challenges across the globe, some of which he attributed to deepening anxieties about the profound shifts inflicted by technology and growing international interdependence. "In order to move forward though, we do have to acknowledge that the existing path to global integration requires a course correction," Obama said. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in New York contributed to this report.[SEP]UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama conceded Tuesday that the United States and other world powers have limited ability to solve the most profound challenges facing the world, while calling for a "course correction" for globalization to ensure that nations don't retreat into a more sharply divided world. Obama, in his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly, acknowledged that the extremist and sectarian violence wreaking havoc in the Middle East and elsewhere "will not be quickly reversed." Still, he stuck faithfully to his insistence that diplomatic efforts and not military solutions are the key to resolving Syria's civil war and other conflicts. "If we are honest, we know that no external power is going to be able to force different religious communities or ethnic communities to co-exist for long," Obama said. "Until basic questions are answered about how communities co-exist, the embers of extremism will continue to burn. Countless human beings will suffer." Obama said: "The world is too small for us to simply be able to build a wall and prevent [extremism] from affecting our own societies." The president was unabashed in his critique of Russia as he laid out his diagnosis of the world's ills. Obama's longstanding differences with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his actions in Ukraine have accompanied intense disagreement over Syria's future and a series of failed attempts by Russia and the U.S. to resolve the civil war there together. "In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force," Obama said.[SEP]It was his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly. Barack Obama took the opportunity to call for greater international cooperation, not less, and to ensure the benefits of globalisation were spread more fairly. In a delivery that was a rejection of the world view of Republican candidate Donald Trump, the US president said there was a danger of countries retreating into nativist isolationism – a sentiment that might be popular with some voters, but that he said ultimately offered no long-term prospects. “A quarter of a century after the end of the Cold War, the world is is many ways less violent,” he said. “And yet our society is filled with anxiety and unease.” In an address that will have heartened supporters of the UN and angered its critics, the President said the world confronted a choice: it could either push forward towards greater cooperation or else retreat and withdraw. “I’m going to suggest to you that we must go forward and not backwards,” he said. The US election campaign has been punctuated by a sharp debate about America’s role in the world, and various free trade deals that have been passed over the last 20 years. Mr Obama was a strong supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which both Mr Trump and Hillary Clinton now oppose. Mr Obama did not mention Mr Trump by name, but he cited populist movements, “some on the left, mostly on the right”, that wanted to return to some imagined golden past. He said it was wrong to ignore the pain and anguish of individuals who, because of economic hardship or other reasons, were attached to such populism. Yet he added: “The answer cannot be a simple rejection of global integration. But we must work to make sure the benefits of integration are widely shared.”[SEP]In a closing dispatch to the world he's tried to shape, President Barack Obama conceded Tuesday that the United States and other major powers have only limited ability to solve the world's most profound problems, including Syria's civil war. He lamented the "cycles of conflict and suffering" that seem to kick in every time humanity finally seems to be getting it right. "Perhaps that's our fate," Obama said in his last speech to the U.N. General Assembly. Four months before leaving office, Obama called for a "course correction" to ensure that the unstoppable forces of globalization don't lead nations to entrench behind their borders and ignore the most vulnerable. He chided foreign leaders for stoking ethnic and religious divisions while faulting Russia for a brutish approach to its role on the world stage. Still, Obama insisted it was critical not to gloss over "enormous progress" on economics and global cooperation that he said formed a template for tackling the problems of the future. In a less-than-subtle jab at Donald Trump, the Republican running to replace him, Obama said, "A nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself." Obama's parting words to the global body contained a grim assessment of the challenges he's leaving behind: a devastating refugee crisis, terrorism, financial inequality and a tendency to make immigrants and Muslims scapegoats. Across the Middle East, he said, "basic security, basic order has broken down." "This is the paradox that defines our world today," Obama said. "A quarter-century after the end of the Cold War, the world is by many measures less violent and more prosperous than ever before. And yet our societies are filled with uncertainty and unease and strife." This year's U.N. gathering has played out against the harrowing backdrop of the deepening civil war in Syria and the renewed failure of U.S. and Russian diplomatic efforts to stem the violence for any meaningful period of time. With no better alternatives, the U.S., Russia and others clung unconvincingly Tuesday to the notion that a week-old cease-fire was not moribund, even as Syria declared it over and the U.N. suspended all convoys of aid. Obama acknowledged that the extremist and sectarian violence wreaking havoc in the Middle East and elsewhere "will not be quickly reversed." Still, he stuck faithfully to his insistence that diplomatic efforts and not military solutions are the key to resolving Syria's war and other conflicts. "If we are honest, we know that no external power is going to be able to force different religious communities or ethnic communities to co-exist for long," Obama said. "Until basic questions are answered about how communities co-exist, the embers of extremism will continue to burn. Countless human beings will suffer." The president was unabashed in his critique of Russia as he laid out his diagnosis of the world's ills. His tough talk illustrated how little progress has been made in reconciling the two powers' diverging interests that have allowed the Syria crisis to continue to fester. "In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force," Obama said. A year ago, Obama stood at the same podium and declared anew that Syrian President Bashar Assad must leave power, while Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a dueling speech warning it would be a mistake to abandon Assad. Since then, Moscow's leverage in the conflict has strengthened significantly, buoyed by a Russian military intervention that bolstered Assad's standing without pulling it into the military "quagmire" that Obama had predicted. White House officials said Obama had been mindful of the fact that his U.N. speech was one of his final opportunities to define his leadership on the world stage. At the heart of his approach, Obama said, is a belief that conflicts are best solved when nations cooperate and a willingness to engage with erstwhile adversaries like Cuba and Myanmar. It's a theme that Democrat Hillary Clinton has put at the forefront of her presidential campaign — her slogan is "Stronger Together" — as she casts herself as the natural heir to Obama's legacy. The president peppered his speech with subtle references to Trump, his calls for building a wall on the Mexican border and his denigration of Muslims and immigrants. Standing before the 193-member U.N. body, Obama sought in broad strokes to lay out a blueprint for addressing other unresolved conflicts. He called for the world to impose "consequences" on North Korea for its latest nuclear test and, in less direct terms, for China to abide by a recent U.N. tribunal ruling against its territorial designs in the South China Sea. A day before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he drew a parallel between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need to respect racial minorities in the U.S. "Surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land," Obama said.[SEP]President Barack Obama warned Tuesday that the forces of globalization have exposed “deep fault lines” across the globe, calling for a “course correction” to ensure that nations and their peoples don’t retreat into a more sharply divided world. Obama, in his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly, lamented that the world has become safer and more prosperous at the same time that nations are struggling with a devastating refugee crisis, terrorism and a breakdown in basic order in the Middle East. He said governing had become more difficult as people lose faith in public institutions and tensions among nations spiral out of control more rapidly. “This is the paradox that defines the world today,” Obama said. “We must go forward, and not backward.” Obama sought to use his last appearance before the global body to define how his leadership had put the world on a better trajectory over the last eight years. At the heart of that approach, Obama said, is the notion that the biggest conflicts are best solved when nations co-operate rather than tackle them individually. It’s a theme that Democrat Hillary Clinton has put at the forefront of her campaign for president, casting herself as the natural continuation of Obama’s legacy. In a subtle reference to her opponent, Donald Trump, Obama bemoaned how terrorist networks had spread their ideology on social media, spurring anger toward “innocent immigrants and Muslims.” The president cited his administration’s outreach to former adversaries Cuba and Myanmar as key examples of progress, along with global co-operation to cut emissions blamed for global warming. At the same time, he said he sought not to “whitewash” challenges across the globe, some of which he attributed to deepening anxieties about the profound shifts inflicted by technology and growing international interdependence. “In order to move forward though, we do have to acknowledge that the existing path to global integration requires a course correction,” Obama said.[SEP]UNITED NATIONS — President Obama on Tuesday urged the world to do more to help refugees and migrants. “We have to open our hearts and do more to help refugees who are desperate for a home,” he said in his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly. The U.N. Refugee Agency says that more than 65 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes around the world. The International Organization for Migration notes 3,212 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of the year. National Security Advisor Susan Rice announced on Aug. 29 the administration had met its goal of allowing 10,000 Syrians to resettle in the U.S. during the 2016 fiscal year. The White House has pledged to allow an additional 85,000 Syrians to resettle in the U.S. during the 2017 fiscal year. It remains unclear whether any of these slots have been specifically set aside to LGBT Syrians who have fled the so-called Islamic State and other Islamic militant groups. Obama on Tuesday is scheduled to host a refugee summit on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. “We must reject any forms of fundamentalism or racism or a belief in ethnic superiority that makes our traditional identities irreconcilable with modernity,” he said during his speech. Obama makes no mention of Trump in speech Donald Trump in the wake of the June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., reiterated his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. He also said he would suspend immigration “when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe and our allies.” Trump said in a speech he gave at an Ohio university last month that his administration would require potential immigrants to the U.S. to pass an “ideological test” that would include LGBT-specific questions. He also called for banning immigrants “from some of the most dangerous and most volatile regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism.” Obama spoke to the U.N. General Assembly less than 24 hours after authorities arrested Ahmad Khan Rahami in connection with bombings in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and in New Jersey over the weekend. Hillary Clinton on Monday criticized Trump over his “irresponsible” and “reckless rhetoric” in response to the bombings and an attack at a Minnesota mall for which ISIS has claimed responsibility as “demagogic.” Obama did not specifically mention the Republican billionaire by name in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly. “Our identities do not have to be defined by putting someone else down,” said Obama. Outgoing U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that refugees and migrants “face hatred” and Muslims “are being targeted by stereotyping and suspicion that have haunting echoes of the past.” He did not specifically reference Trump during his speech. “I say to political leaders and candidates: Do not engage in the cynical and dangerous political math that says you add votes by dividing people and multiplying fear,” said Ban. “The world must stand up to lies and distortions of truth and reject all forms of discrimination.” Both Ban and Obama made broad references to gay rights during their respective speeches. “I have been a proud defender of the rights of all people, regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation,” said Ban. This year’s U.N. General Assembly took place less than three months after the U.N. Human Rights Council approved a resolution that calls for the creation of the organization’s first-ever position to combat anti-LGBT discrimination around the world. Ban and Obama spoke hours after the Botswana government announced that it had deported Steven Anderson, an anti-LGBT pastor from Tempe, Ariz., from the country. “In remote corners of the world citizens are demanding respect for the dignity of all people, no matter their gender or race or religion or disability or sexual orientation,” said Obama. “Those who deny others dignity are subject to public reproach.”
In his final speech as President of the United States to the United Nations General Assembly, Barack Obama calls for a renewed commitment to collaborative efforts in facing many of the challenges confronting “an integrated world” community.