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Malaysia expects more Zika cases as virus spreads in Southeast Asia KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Malaysia is bracing for more Zika cases, officials said on Sunday, after detecting the first locally infected patient, which could further stretch a health system struggling with dengue, another mosquito-borne virus that can be fatal. As Singapore grapples with rising number of the mosquito-borne disease, Indian High Commission here said they are in regular contact with Singapore Health Ministry which has confirmed 26 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus as of yesterday noon, bringing the total cases to 215. Most people who are infected with Zika have mild symptoms but 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 fall in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly. The IMA has also asked people to be aware about the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis for a few weeks to several months. 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. Another factor for reviewing the practice of isolating patients is that “there are people in the community who are infected but do not know they are”, so isolating the infected ones may not be effective, she added.</s>Twenty new patients in four provinces in Thailand have contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus, but the situation remains under control, according to the public health ministry. The new patients have prompted health authorities to keep Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Bung Kan and Chanthaburi—where new confirmed cases were reported to the ministry over the past week—under close watch, said permanent secretary for public health Sopon Mekthon on Monday. On average, four or five patients were found in each of the four provinces. He said health officials were aware of the situation although people should not be too concerned about the number of new cases. “I don’t want the cases to spark panic because they are sparse,” he added. More patients have been found due to better procedures to identify and screen those infected with Zika, according to Dr. Sopon. In the case of Zika, patients usually suffer mild effects and will recover within one week, he said. However, pregnant women who develop Zika have a chance of giving birth to babies with microcephaly and other brain defects. In Chiang Mai’s San Sai district, two infected women, who are six and eight months pregnant, are being closely monitored by medical staff, Chiang Mai public health official Phaisan Thanyawinitchakun said. Health officials are monitoring some 30 pregnant women living in high-risk Zika areas but who are not infected. Six of them have already delivered strong and healthy babies, Dr. Sopon said. Many Zika-control measures are being carried out in San Sai district, where several Zika patients have been found. Provincial officials have implemented steps to eradicate mosquitoes within a designated radius of the homes of Zika-infected patients and will follow up on the health of people who came in contact with the patients for at least 14 days. Health authorities in Malaysia and Singapore have also reported Zika patients with confirmed cases in Singapore already reaching 242.

The Zika virus outbreak in Singapore which has infected over 200 people likely evolved from Southeast Asia.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Richmond-Times Dispatch is endorsing Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson for president. In a lengthy editorial posted late Saturday night, the newspaper said the former New Mexico governor is a man of “good integrity, apparently normal ego and sound ideas.” Johnson met with the newspaper’s editorial board last week. The Times-Dispatch added that Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton fail to meet the moral and professional standards Americans should expect. The editorial calls for the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Johnson to join Trump and Clinton on stage. The debates are scheduled to begin Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Johnson served as New Mexico’s governor for two terms. He also owned a construction company that had more than 1,000 employees.</s>A prominent Virginia newspaper has endorsed Libertarian Gary Johnson for president, giving a rebuke to the deeply unpopular major party candidates while trying to boost the third party contender's long-shot bid just weeks before the first presidential debate. "Neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton meets the fundamental moral and professional standards we have every right to expect of an American president," the paper's editorial board wrote. In Arizona, where the Republican nominee has carried the state in 11 of the past 12 presidential elections, Johnson could play the spoiler, potentially putting 11 electoral votes in Clinton's column. Still, Johnson must reach an average of 15 percent support in major polling in order to make the debate stage -- a threshold that Johnson himself has framed as make-or-break for landing his third-party candidacy in the White House.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch of Virginia is first to endorse Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson for president and the first newspaper media endorsement of a third-party nominee in this election cycle.

A nationalist, anti-immigration party performed strongly in a German state election Sunday in the region where Chancellor Angela Merkel has her political base, overtaking her conservatives to take second place amid discontent with her migrant policies, projections indicated. The three-year-old Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won 21 to 22 percent of votes in the election for the state legislature in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to projections for ARD and ZDF television based on exit polls and partial counting. They put support for Merkel's Christian Democrats between 19 and 20 percent, their worst result yet in the state. The center-left Social Democrats, who led the outgoing state government in a coalition with the conservatives, remained the strongest party, with 30.6 percent support. Economically weak Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in Germany's northeastern corner, is home to 1.6 million of the country's 80 million people and is a relative political lightweight. It is, however, the state where Merkel has her parliamentary constituency, and Sunday's regional vote was the first of five before a national election expected next September. National Alternative for Germany leader Frauke Petry celebrated "a blow to Angela Merkel." Local party leader, Leif-Erik Holm told supporters: "Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of Angela Merkel's chancellorship today." Merkel's refugee policies were a prominent issue in the campaign for Sunday's election, which came a year to the day after she decided to let migrants who were waiting in Hungary to travel to Germany — setting off the peak of last year's influx. Germany registered more than 1 million people as asylum seekers last year. New arrivals in Germany have slowed drastically this year, policies have been tightened and Mecklenburg is home to few foreigners. Still, New Year's Eve robberies and sexual assaults in Germany blamed largely on foreigners, as well as two attacks in July carried out by asylum-seekers and claimed by the Islamic State group, have fed tensions. Merkel has stuck to her insistence that "we will manage" the refugee crisis, and has also said that "sometimes you have to endure such controversies." "This result, and the strong performance of AfD, is bitter for many, for everyone in our party," said Peter Tauber, her Christian Democrats' general secretary. He said the state government's positive record took a back seat for many voters, "because among a recognizable part, there was an explicit wish to voice displeasure and protest, and we saw that particularly strongly in the discussion about refugees." Merkel has yet to say whether she will seek a fourth term next year, as is widely expected. "She is, in people's perception, personally responsible for the border opening, and she has to deal with that," political science professor Karl-Rudolf Korte told ZDF television. The state has been run for the past decade by the parties that currently run Germany. Popular Social Democratic governor Erwin Sellering has governed with Merkel's party as his junior partner. Both parties lost support compared with the last state election in 2011, when they polled 35.6 and 23 percent, respectively. Mecklenburg was the only one of Germany's 16 states where the far-right National Democratic Party was represented in a state legislature, but it appeared to have lost its seats on Sunday. Still, it fell well short Sunday of its aim of becoming the strongest party in Mecklenburg, and also didn't match the 24.3 percent support it won in another eastern state, Saxony-Anhalt, in March. The next regional election is Sept. 18 in Berlin, where local issues are likely to play a stronger role.</s>BERLIN, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The anti-immigrant Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party is expected by polls to make huge gains in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election on Sunday, reflecting a growing discontent with Chancellor Angela Merkel and her open-door refugee policy. In a stinging defeat for Merkel in her home district that could weaken her chances of a fourth term in next year’s federal elections, the upstart AfD took 21.9 percent of the vote behind the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) in their first election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by campaigning hard against the chancellor’s policies on refugees, according to a projection by ARD TV at 1.15 p.m. Voters already punished Merkel in three state elections in March, voting in droves for the AfD and rejecting Merkel’s Christian Democrats. All my congratulations!” The SPD, which has ruled the rural state on the Baltic coast with the CDU as junior coalition partners since 2006, won 30.2 percent of the vote, down from 35.6 percent in the last election in 2011. If the national election were held next week, The AfD would win 12 percent of the vote, making it the third-largest party in Germany according to a new poll conducted by the Emnid institute for the Bild newspaper and published on Sunday. Merkel, mulling a bid for a fourth term as chancellor, made a last-minute campaign appearance on Saturday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, her home state, warning against the politics of "angst" offered by AfD with its virulent anti-refugee stance. “This is a slap in the face for Merkel — not only in Berlin but also in her home state,” said Frauke Petry, co-leader of the AfD. “This election is about the future of this state.” She urged voters to look beyond divisive campaign slogans and consider the policies of the current coalition that had halved unemployment and pumped up tourism in the northeastern coastal state. “Those who voted for the AfD were sending a message of protest.” Merkel’s approval rating has plunged to a five-year low of 45 percent, down from 67 percent a year ago, due to spreading disenchantment with her open-door policies on refugees. This put her in her place.” The AfD’s win was cheered by the leader of France’s far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, who posted on Twitter: “What was impossible yesterday has become possible: the patriots of AfD sweep up the party of Ms Merkel.

Voters in the federal German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern head to the polls in a regional election to elect members to the Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The latest polling indicates the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) are expected to gain strongly.

Student Nathan Law (centre) who helped lead the 2014 protests, celebrates after winning a seat at the legislative council elections in Hong Kong, on Monday (AP photo) HONG KONG — Several pro-independence candidates won seats in Hong Kong's first major election since pro-democracy protests in 2014, prompting a robust warning from China that any independence would damage the city's security and prosperity. "We firmly oppose any activity relating to Hong Kong independence in any form, inside or outside the Legislative Council, and firmly support the Hong Kong government to impose punishment in accordance with the law," state news agency Xinhua cited a spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council -- China's cabinet -- as saying. When we can’t trust ‘one country, two systems’ and the Basic Law to maintain the distinction between Hong Kong’s system and Beijing, then the next step, the answer is to cut things off.” Under the principle of “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law constitution, Beijing is supposed to let Hong Kong keep its capitalist economic and political system separate from mainland China’s until 2047. HONG KONG: A new generation of young Hong Kong politicians advocating a break from Beijing looked set to become lawmakers for the first time Monday in the biggest poll since mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014. “We inherit some spirit from the movement and I hope that can continue in the future... We still have to unite in order to have stronger power to fight the Chinese Communist Party.” “PEOPLE WANT CHANGE” Sunday’s vote was the first major election since the 2014 student-led “Umbrella Revolution” protests that blocked roads for 79 days. “Hopefully this will not be their main objective.” Slideshow (13 Images) Voters flocked to cast ballots in record numbers with some having to wait several hours after polls closed, leading to some delays in vote counting on Monday. “It’s to help the next generation and to help myself.” The Electoral Affairs Commission said 58 percent of an eligible 3.8 million voters had cast their ballot, up from 53 percent in 2012 and the highest legislative election turnout since 1997.</s>Voters turn out in force for crucial Hong Kong election HONG KONG (AP) — Voters turned out in force Sunday for Hong Kong's most crucial election since the handover from Britain in 1997, the outcome of which could pave the way for a fresh round of political confrontations over Beijing's control of the city. The vote for Legislative Council lawmakers will test the unity of Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp, with a new generation of radical activists joining the race after emerging in the wake of 2014 pro-democracy street protests. They're hoping to ride a rising tide of anti-China sentiment as they challenge formidably resourced pro-Beijing rivals for seats. Many of the newcomers back the previously unthinkable idea of independence for Hong Kong, which has added to divisions with the broader pro-democracy movement and overshadowed the election. Last month, officials disqualified six pro-independence candidates in an attempt to tamp down the debate, though other candidates with similar views made the cut. Hong Kongers feel they have few other negotiating tactics left in their battle for genuine democracy as Beijing takes an increasingly hard-line stance. "It's bleak, but I think if China doesn't leave us to do what we want, I think the only way is to fight for independence," Aron Yuen, a 34-year-old college lecturer, said as he stood in line with about 100 other people to cast their ballots. "You can't negotiate with somebody who doesn't keep their promise." Yuen planned to vote for 23-year-old Nathan Law, who, along with teen activist Joshua Wong, helped lead the 2014 protests. Their party, Demosisto, advocates a referendum on "self-determination" of Hong Kong's future. Voters were choosing from among 84 lists of candidates to fill 35 seats in a complex system of geographic constituencies that makes results, expected Monday, hard to predict. At stake is the power to keep the city's widely unpopular Beijing-backed leader, Leung Chun-ying, and his government in check. "Pan-democrat" lawmakers currently control 27 of 70 seats, compared with 43 held by lawmakers friendly to Beijing. The democrats are fighting to keep control of at least a third of the seats, which gives them veto power to block government attempts to enact unpopular legislation, including a renewed attempt to enact Beijing's controversial election revamp that triggered the 2014 street protests. The risk is that the pro-democracy vote will be split, allowing pro-Beijing candidates to take more seats and removing a major hurdle for the government's proposals, which in turn could lead to a new round of political confrontations. Turnout appeared to be higher than average, with long lines of people still waiting to cast ballots at some polling stations by the time voting was supposed to end. Some 52.6 percent of nearly 3.8 million registered voters had turned out an hour before polls closed, matching the total turnout for the previous election four years ago. Turnout in the 2008 election was 45.2 percent, according to the government's website. Earlier Sunday, a small group of protesters demanded Leung step down outside a polling station where he cast his vote. "The democracy in the election is reflected by the free choice of voters, they do not need to be told who to vote (for)," he said when asked his thoughts on how results would be affected after seven candidates with low support, most of them pro-democracy, suspended their campaigns at the last minute in a bid to consolidate votes for others. Hong Kong has been the scene of increasingly bitter political turmoil since the last legislative election in 2012. The growing calls for independence highlight frustration among residents, especially young people, who are chafing under Beijing's tightening hold. A spate of incidents, including the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers who later resurfaced in detention in mainland China, has aroused fears that Beijing is reneging on its promise of wide autonomy for Hong Kong under a "one country, two systems" framework. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/kelvin-chan

Voters in Hong Kong go to the polls for a Legislative Council election, the first major election since the 2014 pro-democracy street protests. Several young pro-independence candidates win seats in the election.

KABUL， Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power have claimed responsibility for twin blasts that went off near the fortified defense ministry on Monday claiming 24 lives besides injuring 91 others including security personnel and civilians. In the deadly incidents， according to the spokesman for Public Health Ministry， Ismael Kawusi， two dozen people have lost their lives and more than 90 injured who have been taken to hospitals for medical treatment. "Based on the latest information collected from concerned sources and hospitals， 24 people including civilians and security personnel were killed and 91 others injured in the twin blasts that hit near defense ministry today afternoon，" Kawusi told Xinhua. However， eyewitnesses believed that the casualties might go higher than reported by officials. Meantime， Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi in talks with media has confirmed that one police officer is also among those killed in the deadly attacks. According to Sediqi， an explosive device went off in front of the second police district， which is next to defense ministry， causing casualties， and when security personnel rushed to the site of the blast to rescue the injured people， a suicide bomber blew himself up killing and injuring people at nearby. The twin blasts occurred at 03:30 p.m. local time when the employees of defense ministry were coming out from the gate after their duties. Defense Ministry is located next to the Finance Ministry， the Presidential Palace， and the Petroleum and Mines Ministry among other government buildings. A busy road is located in front of the Defense Ministry， where hundreds of civilian vehicles and pedestrians travel to the downtown city. This is the third terrorist attack conducted by militant groups on the same road against defense ministry over the past couple of years. Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit， in contact with media claimed responsibility for the twin attacks， insisting huge casualties inflicted to the personnel of defense ministry. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in a statement released by his office blamed the "enemies of Afghanistan" for organizing the deadly bombings and condemned it with strongest term. Meantime， local observers blamed security lapse for the deadly double bombings， saying that security slips would enable Taliban and associated groups to conduct subversive activities even in the fortified capital city Kabul.

Two successive suicide bombers on foot kill at least 24 people and injure 91 others, including senior security and police officials, after striking close to the Afghan Ministry of Defence in Kabul. The Taliban claims responsibility by disclosing the death of 58 officers and commanders. Another bombing took place not long after.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama have so far failed to reach a deal to ease fighting in Syria Mr Obama said he and Mr Putin had had "productive" discussions and had agreed to continue the search for a comprehensive truce. Monday's bombings came in rapid succession during the morning rush hour, targeting the central city of Homs; a highly guarded Damascus suburb; the government stronghold of Tartus, where Russia has a major naval base; and Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption IS claims wave of bombings that kills dozens At least 40 people have been killed in bombings in mainly government-held areas of Syria, state media report. The blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, 'the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded,' according to state television. Government troops withdrew from Hasakeh in August after street battles with Kurdish forces, which took control of the city, although the police force stayed in place. Image copyright EPA Image caption The bomb in Homs targeted a military checkpoint, according to the provincial governor The governor of Homs province said the car bomb targeted a military checkpoint and that the casualties were soldiers. An additional attack hit the Al-Sabura road west of the capital Damascus, with state media saying one person had been killed and three wounded. Image copyright EPA Image caption The area targeted in Saboura is home to security officers and their families The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of sources, said three of the dead were Kurdish security personnel, known as the Asayish. The ISIS-affiliated Amaq agency carried a statement saying the jihadist group was behind a 'string of simultaneous suicide attacks'.</s>Blasts kill dozens in Syria as U.S.-Russia truce talks make little progress BEIRUT/HANGZHOU, China, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Explosions in government-controlled areas of Syria and a province held by Kurdish militia killed dozens on Monday, while the United States and Russia failed to make concrete progress towards a ceasefire. It was not immediately clear if there was any link between the blasts reported along a road outside Damascus, in the state-held cities of Homs and Tartous - which hosts a Russian military base - and in northeastern city of Hasaka, which is controlled by Kurdish YPG fighters. More than five years of civil war have cut Syria into a patchwork of territories held by the government and an often competing array of armed factions, including Kurdish militia fighters, a loose coalition of rebels groups, and Islamic State. Two of the explosions on Monday hit the Arzouna bridge area at the entrance to the Mediterranean city of Tartous, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and state news agency Sana said. The observatory and a city hospital put the death toll at 35, including members of the Syrian military, and said the number was likely to rise. Those explosions killed at least 11 people and wounded 45, a source in the Tartous police told SANA. Syrian state television said the first explosion was a car bomb and the second was a suicide belt detonated as rescue workers came to the scene of the first incident. Its beaches recently featured in a government tourism video circulated on social media inviting people to visit Syria's Mediterranean coastline. A car bomb struck the city of Homs at the Bab Tadmur roundabout at the entrance to the al-Zahra neighbourhood, killing three people, state media said. State media said three people were killed, while the observatory said the explosion hit an army checkpoint and four officers were killed. There was an explosion near the town of al Saboura, along a road which leads onto the Beirut-Damascus highway, killing one person and injuring three, according to a police commander quoted on state television. A motor bike also exploded in the center of the northeastern city of Hasaka, which is controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia. The Observatory said the blast killed three members of the YPG-affiliated security force known as the Asayish, and injured others. The announcement came some 10 days after Turkey launched its first major military incursion into Syria since the start of the war in 2011, an operation aimed as much at preventing further Kurdish territorial gains as at driving back Islamic State.

Several bombings kill at least 40 people in government and Kurdish held territory across Syria, including Tartus, Homs, Al-Hasakah and Damascus. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility.

Philippines' Duterte says "plenty will be killed" in anti-drugs drive DAVAO CITY, Philippines, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday "plenty will be killed" before the end of his campaign against illegal drugs that has led to the death of about 2,400 people since he became president two months ago. "Until the (last) drug manufacturer is killed we will continue," Duterte told reporters before leaving for a regional summit in Laos, where he is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday.</s>(CNN) It's not uncommon for Filipinos to have nicknames: sometimes holdovers from childhood; sometimes affectionately acquired as young adults. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa's moniker -- "Bato," which translates to "the Rock," is one of the more apt -- an immovable, unbreakable object. Dela Rosa has shot to fame thanks to his close relationship with the country's new strongman leader Rodrigo Duterte. He's also made a name for himself as the man behind the President's controversial war on drugs, which has seen hundreds of alleged dealers killed in a matter of weeks. Ronald Dela Rosa was appointed head of the Philippines' national police in June. Dela Rosa got his nickname back in the early days of his career, just after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy. After completing his ranger training he was transferred to his hometown of Davao. "When I was (first) seen by my senior officers, my body was like a rock... rock solid. So they told me, 'Bato!' They start calling me 'Bato' because of my build. With his gleaming bald head and barrel chest, the well-built former military man even resembles one. "Later on they realized that I was born and raised in Barangay Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao Del Sur -- that's my birthplace, Barangay Bato." "So that was reinforced until now. They keep calling me 'Bato.' I cannot change it anymore," he laughs. It's been a long journey from that childhood neighborhood to the highest echelon of law enforcement in the country, and it's one that he's taken, in part, with Duterte. Bato was his police chief when the pair were in Davao, prior to their swift rise to national prominence. He says he doesn't like life in Manila -- "Davao is very disciplined; we have a low crime rate." He's enjoyed a stratospheric rise, from a one-star general as chief of police in Davao to the national top job in one fell swoop. Critics say that he's only achieved his position thanks to his long association with Duterte, but he counters naysayers, arguing it's within the President's remit to choose any general for the role. He's known Duterte for three decades, he says. He remains remarkably close to the tough-talking leader, and jokes to CNN that he has a telepathic connection with the man they call "the Punisher." "We trust each other, in a very long time association. He knows what I'm capable of doing and I know what he wants to be done. "So without saying any word we can communicate with each other, through mental telepathy," he says, mimicking their thoughts passing through the ether, before bursting into laughter. "He's the best leader in the universe for me. He's a no-nonsense leader." Tasked with transforming the Philippines, one of the poorest countries in Asia into a "drugless society," he's approached the task with an admirable zeal, if somewhat questionable methods. He's expanded his "tokhan," or "knock and plead" operations, from a local experiment to national -- if unofficial -- police policy. The operations, his "brainchild," see heavy-handed groups of police tour local neighborhoods and politely ask suspected drug users to voluntarily surrender. The tactic has seen over 700,000 such surrenders in two months. But when confronted with a phalanx of heavily armed officers, it is hard to see who would refuse to comply. The President instructed him to replicate his successes from Davao across the country, but so far he hasn't issued any written guidelines for how local forces should proceed. "We don't need" a national strategy, he says. "We've been doing this for a long time." In 6,000 police operations, he said drugs worth 2.38 billion pesos ($51 million) had been seized. CNN could not independently verify the figures the government provided. But the impressive numbers have come at a very visible human cost. There have been 756 suspects killed in police operations since the war on drugs began, alongside 1,160 drug-related killings that have occurred, many of which have been attributed to vigilantes. In one breath he says he "hates extrajudical killings," but in the next he says there are benefits to the spate of deaths. He admits to "mixed emotions," when he sees images of suspected drug dealers gunned down. "I pity the guy for losing his life but at the same time I see that there is one less pusher." But what would he say to family members who have been killed? "Please do not be afraid of police. I guarantee we will protect you." He's given himself six months to prove his mettle -- "If I fail, I will surrender. I will tell (Duterte) to please relieve me from my post. (I'll tell him) I cannot win this war." Is ridding a country such as the Philippines of drugs in just six months a realistic goal? But if you aim high you can achieve acceptable levels." But Bato says he's ordered his officers to investigate and make arrests. But he denies that he tolerated the gangs while police chief in his hometown. "Maybe. Maybe a coincidence. But please don't accuse me. I'm not the one bringing these death squads here in the Philippines," he says. "I have been challenging this death squads in Davao City to come and get me. Instead of killing these helpless people... they can face me in a gun duel. I am challenging these vigilantes. You can fight it out with me if you want to kill somebody." He points to the president's sky-high approval ratings as proof that the country is desperate for tough measures. "A lot of support. This is borne out of frustration," he says. "The past situation where drugs were being sold on the street like candies and innocent people are being killed, being raped by these drug crazed people, by the drug addicts... we are delivering his promise." But is it worth the bodies piling up in the trash-strewn streets of poor neighborhoods across the country? These aren't desperate measures, he says. "We just have to do our job."

With 2,400 people dead so far, Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines, says that "plenty will be killed" in the war against drugs.

Brian May announces the news that an asteroid is to be named after his former Queen bandmate Freddie Mercury to mark the occasion of his 70th birthday on 5 September. The space rock, previously named Asteroid 17473 upon its discovery in 1991, will now be known as Asteroid Freddiemercury 17473, Queen guitarist Brian May has announced . Mercury was only 45 when he died from bronchial pneumonia, a complication from his battle with AIDS. Asteroid 17473 - which was discovered in 1991, the same year that Mercury died - has been renamed Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury to honour the late Queen frontman. May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College, London, says the newly-named asteroid is "just a dot of light, but it's a very special dot of light" and recognises Mercury's "outstanding influence in the world". Queen guitarist Brian May says an asteroid in Jupiter's orbit has been named after the band's late frontman Freddie Mercury (pictured) on what would have been his 70th birthday. “I’m happy to be able to announce that the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center has today designated Asteroid 17473, discovered 1991, in Freddie’s name, timed to honour his 70th birthday," he said.</s>Celebrations to mark Freddie Mercury’s 70th birthday received a cosmic boost on Sunday night as Brian May, Queen’s lead guitarist, announced that an asteroid nearly half a billion kilometres away had been named after the late singer. “In celebration of his 70th birthday, an asteroid has been named Freddiemercury in honor of the charismatic singer for the band Queen.” Asteroid names are governed by the International Astronomical Union and published by the Minor Planet Center. In a move that links one of the most dazzling stars in history to one of the darker rocks in the solar system the International Astronomical Union confirmed that asteroid 17473, a 3.5km-wide ball of black rubble on the other side of Mars, shall henceforth be known as “Freddiemercury” May, who has a PhD in astrophysics and an asteroid named after him already, revealed the name by video message to more than 1200 guests at the “Freddie for a Day” party at the Montreux Casino on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. “We have a nice certificate of ‘adoption’ issued by the International Astronomical Union and the Minor Planet Center, which says ‘This name is in honor of Freddie Mercury, with the following citation: “Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946-1991) was a British songwriter, and the lead singer for the legendary rock group Queen. This announcement is to recognise Freddie’s outstanding influence in the world.” May said the object, which has been awarded a formal certificate of adoption, could be found in “the main Asteroid Belt, out between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is about 3 and a half km across.” The musician added: “It has an albedo (measure of reflectivity) of about 0.3 – which means it only reflects about 30 per cent of the light that falls on it; like many asteroids, it’s a dark object – rather like a cinder in space. Viewed from the Earth, it is more than 10,000 times fainter than you can see by eye, so you need a fairly-sized telescope to see it… and that’s why it wasn’t discovered until 1991. May says the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Centre has designated an asteroid discovered in 1991, the year of Mercury’s death, as “Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury.” May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College, London, says the newly named asteroid is “just a dot of light, but it’s a very special dot of light” and recognizes Mercury’s musical and performing talents. “Viewed from the Earth it is more than 10,000 times fainter than you can see by eye, so you need a fair-sized telescope to see it and that’s why it wasn’t discovered until 1991.” Issuing the Certificate of Designation, Joel Parker of the Southwest Research Institute, said: “Singer Freddie Mercury sang, ‘I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky’ – and now that is even more true than ever before.

An asteroid is named in honour of Freddie Mercury on what would have been his 70th birthday.

Phyllis Schlafly is interviewed while attending the Conservative Political Action Conference, in Washington, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. Associated Press

American Conservative icon Phyllis Schafly dies at the age of 92.

Oil prices hit a one-week high on Monday after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to cooperate on stabilising the oil market, but they have since fallen due to the mounting uncertainty over a deal. Russia says discussing with S.Arabia parameters of output freeze deal MOSCOW, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Russia and Saudi Arabia are currently discussing concrete parameters of an oil output freeze deal, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a statement on Monday after talks with his Saudi Arabia counterpart. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)</s>Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Saudi Arabia Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (left) meet during the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China on Sunday (Anadolu photo) HANGZHOU, China — The world's two biggest oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia said Monday they had agreed to "act together" to try to stabilise oil prices, but failed to make headway on a production freeze. MOSCOW (AP) — The world's two largest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia, on Monday agreed to act together to stabilize global oil output, though it's unclear what that might entail. Russia, Saudi Arabia to set up task force to secure oil market stability BEIJING, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to set up a task force to review oil market fundamentals and to recommend measures and actions that will secure oil market stability, according to a joint statement issued on the sideline of G20 summit on Monday. "To this end the ministers agreed to act together or in cooperation with other oil producers," the statement said, adding they had agreed to set up a "joint monitoring group" to offer recommendations aimed at preventing price fluctuations. The lack of cooperation in the face of a two-year price collapse reflects a schism within OPEC between its biggest member -- Saudi Arabia -- and Iran, which is increasing production after years of international sanctions.

Russia and Saudi Arabia agree on a plan to manipulate oil output.

The Southeast Asian nation, the world's top nickel ore supplier, launched a review of the country's 40 metallic mines on July 8 and has so far suspended 10, eight of them producing nickel ore. The closures and the risk of more mines being shuttered lifted nickel prices to a one-year high last month. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez declined to say how many more mines will be suspended but told Reuters that "there will absolutely be more suspensions". "All the suspensions are absolutely due to environmental reasons, and my particular interest is the wellbeing of the community, that's my benchmark," Lopez said in a text message. Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange was trading just above $10,000 a tonne on Monday. "We have had mining in this country for over a hundred years. And until now we don't even have one rehabilitated mine site, not one," Lopez said in the text message. "Just gaping open holes, destroyed rivers, children with brain disease, so very sad," she said, referring to sick children in the province of Marinduque where a 1996 tailings leak at Canadian-owned Marcopper Mining Corp's copper mine contaminated rivers. Her stance on mining is backed by President Rodrigo Duterte who has previously warned miners to strictly follow tighter environmental rules or shut down, saying the nation could survive without a mining industry. Miners have claimed that the government's environmental crackdown is a "demolition campaign" against them and have sought a meeting with Duterte. The Philippines is the top nickel ore supplier to China, shipping 34 million tonnes in 2015.</s>MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines will suspend more of the country’s mines for violating environmental regulations after already halting operations at 10 sites, the mining minister said on Monday, as the government wrapped up a seven-week review. The Southeast Asian nation, the world’s top nickel ore supplier, launched a review of the country’s 40 metallic mines on July 8. Eight of the 10 suspended so far produced nickel ore, and the closures and the risk of more mines being shuttered lifted nickel prices to a one-year high last month. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez declined to say how many more mines will be suspended but told Reuters that “there will absolutely be more suspensions”. “All the suspensions are absolutely due to environmental reasons, and my particular interest is the wellbeing of the community, that’s my benchmark,” Lopez said in a text message. “There will be large-scale mines to be suspended,” she told reporters later at a congressional hearing, without disclosing any names. Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange was trading just above $10,000 a tonne on Monday, up about a third from February’s $7,550, its lowest since 2003. Instead of this week as she had said earlier, Lopez said the additional mine suspensions will be announced next week. “The audit is done. And it’s important to say that even as we suspend mines, we have put up an area development program. The commitment is in any suspended mines the people there will not lose work,” she said at the congressional hearing. ‘GAPING OPEN HOLES’ Lopez’s stance on mining is backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, who has previously warned miners to strictly follow tighter environmental rules or shut down, saying the nation could survive without a mining industry. “We have had mining in this country for over a hundred years. And until now we don’t even have one rehabilitated mine site, not one,” Lopez said in the text message. “Just gaping open holes, destroyed rivers, children with brain disease, so very sad,” she said, referring to sick children in the province of Marinduque, where a 1996 tailings leak at Canadian-owned Marcopper Mining Corp’s copper mine contaminated rivers. Miners have claimed that the government’s environmental crackdown is a “demolition campaign” against them and have sought a meeting with Duterte. The Philippines is the top nickel ore supplier to China, shipping 34 million tonnes in 2015.

The Duterte administration suspends more Philippine mines for violating environmental regulations.

About five to seven people are still trapped in the debris hours after the collapse, Israeli emergency services said. The four-story, underground parking garage was still under construction when it collapsed in a high-tech area of northern Tel Aviv. As rescue teams tried to find trapped construction workers, authorities feared another collapse of the incomplete, unstable structure.</s>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A multilevel parking garage under construction in the city of Tel Aviv collapsed on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring about 17 others, Israeli police and rescuers said, as rescue teams worked all day and into the night to locate several people believed trapped under the rubble. Up to 30 people are missing and feared dead after a building under construction in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv collapsed sending a large plume of dust over the area. Officials are trying to determine the cause of the collapse as rescue crews and medical workers converged on the scene, fearing there were people trapped in the ruins. The Israeli military later said soldiers and rescue forces managed to extract five civilians from the rubble and that efforts were underway to rescue another five. Lior Teherani, a fire official, told Channel 10 TV that the incident began with the collapse of a multi-level underground parking garage that was under construction. It is believed that the building came down after a crane fell on top of it following the collapse of a underground parking garage. Israeli TV broadcast footage showing a large, crater-like hole in the ground, and twisted support beams as rescue teams, accompanied by search dogs, dug through the rubble. Earlier in the day, Col. Golan Vach, a commander in the unit, said seven people were believed to be trapped in the rubble at several different locations. Israeli police said 18 people were injured, and Eli Bin, director of the national rescue service, said one was in serious condition with head injuries. Images of the scene showed an underground car park that had caved in and dozens of rescue workers and security forces at the site in Tel Aviv's Ramat Hahayal neighbourhood. Ramat Hahayal is home to a number of high-tech offices in Israel's booming technology industry.

A Tel Aviv, Israel, four story parking lot under construction collapses and kills at least two people and injures 18 others.

Another two prisoners were shot dead as they tried to escape the compound on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, the government added in a brief statement two days after the fire, again stopping short of identifying them. Local media reported that two buildings as well as recreational and other facilities that inmates used were damaged by the fire. State media, quoting an exclusive statement sent to it from the Government Communications Affairs Office (GCAO), said that 23 inmates had died, among which 21 from a stampede, burns and suffocation, while two were shot dead as they were apparently trying to escape. The latest government statement gives no details on how the fire began. This East African country has seen months of sometimes deadly protests calling for wider freedoms, while the government has been accused by opposition activists and rights groups of killings, beatings and internet blockages. Dissidents say most recent inmates are ethnic Oromos held for taking part in demonstrations over land rights and alleged rights abuses that have rocked one of Africa's fastest growing economies since last year. The Ethiopian government, which is a close ally of many Western nations because of its strategic geographical location in the region, last month rejected a United Nations request that it send observers, saying it alone was responsible for the security of its citizens. On Sunday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said her country has raised "grave concerns" about what it calls excessive use of force against protesters in Ethiopia.</s>Image copyright Reuters Image caption Political activists from the Oromo ethnic group are believed to be held in the jail At least 23 inmates have died after a fire at an Ethiopian prison where anti-government protesters are reportedly being held, the government has said. A government statement says 21 died of suffocation after a stampede while two others were killed as they tried to escape. Some local media have disputed the account, citing unnamed witnesses who say prisoners were shot by the wardens. There has been an unprecedented wave of protests in Ethiopia in recent months. The identity of the prisoners has not been made public. Sustained gunfire could be heard coming from Qilinto prison, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, after the fire broke out on Saturday, local media reported. TV footage and photos posted on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the prison compound. Image copyright ESAT Image caption A TV station based outside Ethiopia broadcast footage of the fire Reports that the fire was started deliberately as part of an attempted jailbreak have not been independently verified. There have been numerous protests in the Oromia region by members of the country's largest ethnic group since November 2015. Inside Qilinto prison by Tesfalem Waldyes Qilinto is a remand prison, where people can be held for three years or more as they await trial. The prison is divided in four zones made up of brick walls and tin-roofed cells. The prison hosts around 3,000 inmates at a time who are held in cells measuring 24m by 12m. Each cell holds between 90 and 130 inmates. It is a highly secured prison with surveillance cameras installed on many corners. All types of prisoners are held there but it is where political prisoners including bloggers, journalists and activists are usually sent. Political prisoners usually mix with other criminals but they are usually locked up in a designated "Kitat Bet" (punishment house) or "dark house" if they complain about mistreatment. Inmates can be exposed to communicable diseases due to overcrowding and get poor medical attention. Due to the bad quality of food provided by the prison administration, prisoners mainly depend on food brought by their families. Tesfalem Waldyes is an Ethiopian journalist who was held in Qilinto prison for a year before being released in July 2015. Many Oromo activists are being held at the Qilinto facility, according to pro-opposition media. New York-based Human Rights Watch says that more than 400 people have been killed in clashes with the security forces in Oromia, although the government disputes this figure. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has blamed "anti-peace forces" for the violence.

At least 23 inmates are killed in a fire and stampede at Kaliti Prison near Addis Ababa in Ethiopia during an attempted jailbreak.

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday failed to force a breakthrough in negotiations over a cease-fire for Syria, but agreed to keep looking for a path to provide humanitarian relief to thousands of besieged civilians in the civil war-ravaged country. State Department officials have declined to elaborate on what the sticking points are preventing a deal, though the U.S. official said the remaining differences revolved around how the plan would be implemented. In the same way, Obama’s White House aides maintained a sense of reserve as Secretary of State John F. Kerry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an effort to work out a ceasefire between Syria’s government and at least some rebel groups as well as possible enhanced military cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in Syria. “Given the previous failures of cessations of hostilities to hold, we approach it with some skepticism,” Obama said, “but it is worth trying.” Hours later, Obama engaged in delicate talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose military has recently clashed with U.S.-backed fighters in Syria, complicating the American strategy there and in Iraq. Obama and Putin also discussed the conflict in Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the government, and the implementation of the agreement to stop the violence, the official said.</s>Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin have met for 'pull-aside' meetings at the G20 summit in China but failed to agree on a solution to the Syrian civil war. Washington and Moscow support opposing sides in the bloody five-year conflict, which has left 300,000 people dead and forced millions to flee. The two leaders discussed Syria at closed multilateral meetings but could not reach a deal to ease fighting in the war-torn region. But in their final face-to-face meeting before Obama leaves office in January next year, they agreed to keep up negotiations over a cease-fire agreement. It comes as Syrian government troops - backed by Russia - resumed their siege of the city of Aleppo. A deal to provide aid to Aleppo's ravaged civilians and at least partially stop Russian and Syrian bombardments had looked likely on Sunday, before talks collapsed. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov had been trying to broker a deal for weeks that would curb the violence between Assad's government forces and rebel forces backed by the US. The agreement hinged on the two sides agreeing to closer militarily coordination against extremist groups operating in Syria. But Obama expressed skepticism that Russia would hold to its agreement and talks were overtaken by developments on the ground. State media said Syrian government troops had taken an area south of Aleppo, severing the last opposition-held route into its eastern neighbourhoods. Washington has repeatedly said that Assad must step down in order for a lasting peace deal. Turning up the heat in recent weeks, the White House has gone as far as to suggest Moscow is complicit in war crimes. 'You have the Assad regime which has been killing its own citizens with impunity, supported by the Russians and the Iranians,' Obama said on Sunday. He added: 'Our conversations with the Russians are key because if it were not for the Russians, then Assad and the regime would not be able to sustain its offensive. 'But it is worth trying. To the extent that there are children and women and innocent civilians who can get food and medical supplies and get some relief from the constant terror of bombings, that's worth the effort.' The failure to reach a deal is likely to heap pressure on Obama over his handling of the war in Syria. Obama came to office vowing not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor George Bush, who launched disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as he prepares to leave office, critics claim Obama's failure to intervene in Syria has had similarly bloody results, allowing the conflict to fester for years.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin fail to agree on a peace deal regarding the Syrian civil war.

The U.S. State Department and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday stressed the need for ties with the Philippines to be based on mutual respect, after Manila's new leader raised worries about the future of the key alliance by calling President Barack Obama a "son of a bitch." Duterte made the remark about Obama while explaining that he would not be lectured over extrajudicial killings in the war against drugs he has launched since taking two months ago and which has killed about 2,400 people. Duterte had previously also branded the U.S. ambassador to Manila a “gay son of a whore,” and sought to taint the reputation of Pope Francis’s mother in similar fashion. Duterte's volatile nature threatens to complicate Washington's ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia as it tries to forge a united front in the region in response to China's extensive claims in the strategic South China Sea.</s>VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defiantly reaffirmed his controversial campaign against illegal substances Tuesday and called for a redoubling of crime-fighting efforts across Southeast Asia as he prepared to face two prominent critics of his policy: President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “We shall not be cowed. We must press on,” he declared in a speech at a business and investment conference on the sidelines of a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which he is attending. He called for increased use of intelligence gathering and more arrests. Duterte also threatened earlier to pull the Philippines out of the United Nations over criticism of his crackdown on illegal substances that has led to a wave of extrajudicial killings. More than 2,000 people have been killed since June 30, when he took office after winning election on a promise to fight crime and corruption. The summit has been overshadowed by Obama’s canceling of a meeting with Duterte after the latter warned him not to ask about the killings and used profane language when discussing Obama. On Wednesday, Duterte is to attend a gala dinner with both Obama and Ban, as well as join a meeting that the two leaders will have with ASEAN heads of state and government. Earlier Tuesday, Duterte expressed regret over his remarks about Obama.

U.S. President Barack Obama cancels a scheduled meeting with the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, after Duterte referred to Obama as a "son of a whore", while adding "I am no American puppet", in response to Obama's recent criticism of his war on drugs.

VIENTIANE, Laos (Tribune Washington Bureau/TNS) - President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to toughen international sanctions against North Korea after its government conducted a test missile launch as world leaders gathered for summits in Asia. Speaking with reporters after a meeting here with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Obama said that the two agreed to work “diligently together” on the most recent United Nations sanctions against North Korea to close loopholes “and make them even more effective.” “The entire international community needs to implement these sanctions fully and hold North Korea accountable,” Obama said on the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in his last presidential trip to the continent. On Monday, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles – a test widely believed to be an effort to garner attention from international summits in Beijing and Vientiane. Park told reporters that North Korea’s acts were “fundamentally threatening” and that she and Obama had agreed to “respond resolutely” to the defiance of international demands that North Korea end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. In March, the U.N. Security Council imposed the toughest sanctions in decades on North Korea after it began a round of nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions subject all cargo in and out of North Korea to inspections, bans exports of natural resources including coal and gold, tightens a weapons embargo and ends relationships with outside banks. Obama believes the U.S. and Korea have to be vigilant in sanctions enforcement, aides said. “We want to make sure we’re cutting off all the lifelines that North Korea tries to grab onto,” said Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. Obama also said the U.S. was still open to the possibility of talks with North Korea if it were to recognize its international obligations and work to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. “The opportunities for us to dialogue with them are there,” Obama said. The U.S. has no interest in an “offensive approach” to North Korea, he said. Obama had originally been scheduled to meet on Tuesday afternoon with the controversial new Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, but he canceled that meeting when Duterte threatened to curse at him if he raised questions about Duterte’s human rights record. Obama insisted he would raise that issue, and thus canceled the meeting.</s>It also comes at a potentially embarrassing time for North Korea's only real ally , China, which is currently hosting the Group of Nations summit in Hangzhou At the G20, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart on Monday that Beijing opposes the deployment of the United States' THAAD missile defense system to South Korea, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency. North Korea regularly engages in missile and rocket tests, especially when international attention is turned to Northeast Asia. The missiles were launched from a region called Hwangju and came just hours after the leaders of South Korea and China met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders' meeting in Hangzhou, China. “North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and ballistic missile provocations this year have gravely damaged peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region and posed a challenge to the development of South Korea-China ties,” Park told Xi, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Key points: Pyongyang's latest missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions Seoul has told Beijing Pyongyang's actions harm South Korea-China ties Beijing says it is committed to a denuclearised Korean peninsula The missiles were fired from a western region south of the capital Pyongyang, just after noon local time, South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. South Korean President Park Geun-hye told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the North's fourth nuclear test and its ballistic missile launches this year threatened regional peace and posed a challenge to South Korea's ties with China, Yonhap news agency reported earlier. The launch comes four days before the 68th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s government, and days after South Korean and U.S. troops ended annual joint summertime military drills, which North Korea regularly describes as a dress rehearsal for invasion. Last month, worries about the North’s weapons programs deepened after a missile from a North Korean submarine flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon. The missile launches were the latest in a series of launches by the isolated North this year in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. It called them “grave violations” of a ban on all ballistic missile activity.

South Korea reports that North Korea has fired three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.

Ahead of summit, Philippines shows images of Chinese boats at disputed shoal VIENTIANE, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The Philippines' defence ministry released pictures on Wednesday showing what it said were Chinese boats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, just hours before Southeast Asian nations were due to meet China's premier at a summit in Laos. Abe intended to build a relationship of trust with the Philippines during talks with Duterte on Tuesday and express again the need for cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Philippines. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled a plan to provide the patrol vessels to the Philippines during his first talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Laos on Tuesday afternoon. The United States says it has no position on the territorial dispute, but has conducted freedom of navigation patrols close to Chinese-held islands, to Beijing's anger, while China has been bolstering its military presence there. He said he will respect the ruling handed down by an arbitration court that rejected China's claims over the South China Sea, but at the same time Duterte indicated his willingness to have bilateral negotiations with China. According to a Japanese government official, Japan will extend yen loans to the Philippines as part of its official development assistance.</s>VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — The Philippine government on Wednesday released what it says are surveillance pictures of Chinese coast guard ships and barges at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, in an apparent diplomatic gambit to publicize its concerns at a regional summit being attended by China’s premier and Southeast Asian leaders. Officials say Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to ask Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the summit in the Laotian capital on Wednesday whether the vessels were on another island-making mission on the Scarborough Shoal. China has built many such islands in the disputed, resource-rich sea, much to the alarm of governments in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China hadn't done anything to alter the circumstances in the waters surrounding the shoal. "What I can tell you is that the situation in waters near Huangyan Island remains unchanged and China hasn't made any new moves," Hua said in Beijing, using the shoal's Chinese name. "We should be highly alert against the mischief-making intentions of people who spread such groundless information in such situations." Asked how disturbed the Philippines was by the presence of the Chinese ships, Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella told a news conference: "Enough to announce it." He said that China and the Philippines were discussing the issue, but gave no details. "There are talks at this stage," Abella said. He refused to comment if the Philippine policy was to prevent any country from constructing at or transforming Scarborough, a coral reef, into an island. If the Chinese government confirms the suspicion, the Philippines would lodge an official protest, according to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Duterte has taken a more reconciliatory track to rebuild relations with the Asian economic powerhouse and has said he would not raise the long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea in an adversarial manner that might upset the Chinese government. Relations were severely strained under Duterte's predecessor because of the conflict. However, he expressed alarm after a Philippine surveillance plane recently spotted four Chinese coast guard ships, four suspected barges, including one equipped with what appeared to be a crane, and two people-carrying ferries at the Scarborough Shoal off his country’s northwestern coast. Duterte’s government released surveillance photos of the Chinese ships and barges along with a diagram showing the vessels’ exact locations at the Scarborough Shoal, which the Chinese coast guard seized after a tense standoff with Philippine vessels in 2012. Hours after the Philippines released the pictures, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, met with Li and his aides. The South China Sea dispute was tackled at the closed-door meeting with some of the leaders, including Duterte, who reiterated calls for the conflicts to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said. He quoted the Chinese premier as saying that there was now a "positive direction" in Beijing's relations with ASEAN and that the disputes should not affect overall relations. The U.S. military has also expressed concerns over the possibility that China might turn Scarborough into another island, something that would give Beijing’s forces control over a swathe of the South China Sea used as a passageway to the Taiwan Strait. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own, citing historical reasons. It has rejected a July 12 international arbitration ruling that called its claims illegal. The tribunal ruling also rebuked China for its land reclamation activities in the resource-rich sea, where it has conflicting claims with Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei besides the Philippines.

Chinese vessels are seen positioned near the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the coast of the Philippines.

Nearly two years ago, young students boycotted classes and began a mass civil disobedience movement in downtown Hong Kong to protest against a controversial electoral reform bill. For 79 days, thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets blocking roads and shutting down key areas of one of the world’s major financial centres. Protesters were beaten, pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed by police during what is known as Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution, named after the way demonstrators used umbrellas to protect themselves from police pepper spray. The pro-democracy movement fizzled after the Hong Kong government and China refused to allow any real concessions for a full election in 2017. READ MORE: Hong Kong - At the heart of Occupy Central Nathan Law Kwun-chung, 23, was one of the student leaders of the Umbrella Revolution and a key figure in the 2014 pro-democracy movement. In April, he founded the Demosisto party with another prominent former protest leader Joshua Wong. His party is calling for independence from China and a referendum on Hong Kong's sovereignty in 2047. On Monday, in the first major, city-wide, legislative council election since the Umbrella Movement, several young, pro-independence candidates were elected. Law was one of them. Al Jazeera spoke to Law who has become the youngest legislator in Hong Kong's history. Al Jazeera: Tell us about your campaign and why you think you won? Law: I believe the people of Hong Kong were looking for a new voice in the electoral system who can uphold the different voices of the democratic movement. I think the elections reflect that. WATCH our three part series Hong Kong: Occupy Central Al Jazeera: You are Hong Kong's youngest politician. Do you think you have the experience to carry that voice? Law: For the past few months and few weeks during the campaigning I have performed well and have proved myself to those who were questioning my abilities. I have convinced them of what I can do. Age is a factor that is not affecting my performance. For the past two years, I have been fighting against the Communist Party as part of the Umbrella Movement. I was the core organiser of that protest. I will be one of the few in the legislative council with that kind of experience in terms of that framework. I am perfect for that. Al Jazeera: What will be your agenda? Law: The problem with the Hong Kong situation ... it is completely different to talk about it in daily life or during campaigning and putting it on the agenda. Talking about Hong Kong's self-determination is one of the main things I want to talk about and that will be at the core of my job. Al Jazeera: How are you going to be different from others? What can you bring to your constituency and the people? Law: For the past two years I have been involved in the citizen's movement. I am keen on continuing that. I would sacrifice myself to make my target happen. It is with that experience that I would bring changes to the system. I think ... during this election, because of our movement, people came to us and supported us, and that influence will continue in the future. READ MORE: Hong Kong votes in first major election since protests Al Jazeera: What does the road ahead for you and your party hold? Law: We need time to digest and assess first and see how we can bring changes and push for the self-determination movement. How can we arouse public debate and discussion? Al Jazeera: Is this a fantasy? Law: No, we have to accumulate our power. It is not difficult to understand what we want. There is always hope. People need to realise the desire for Hong Kong's residents to decide their own future. Al Jazeera: Will you be pushing for change in the current electoral system, and how? Law: Definitely, we want electoral change in our system. That is the basis of democracy. We want to change that and we should do it together. Al Jazeera: What kind of message do you think these elections have sent to Beijing? Law: I think Beijing is worried about what happened today, that we have a new voice of resistance. They are worried about that. Al Jazeera: How will you unite the fractured democratic camp? Law: I know there is a lot of fragmentation in the camp but I believe as individuals we need to search for cooperation. That is what I want to do. We recognise that there have been ups and downs in the movement. We understood that we need to have representation in the electoral system. We need to have steady political influence on the society. That is why we needed to involve ourselves in politics.</s>Kerry Brown is professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London, and an Associate Fellow of the Asia programme at Chatham House. The opinions expressed in this article belong to the author. (CNN) The Hong Kong elections for the city's Legislative Council held Sunday -- the parliament for Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region -- were always going to be significant: they are the first to have been held since the anti-Beijing Occupy Central protests that attracted international attention in 2014. Several members of the Umbrella Movement have been elected, including Nathan Law from the Demosisto Party , set up by activists as a direct result of the Occupy Central movement. Having formal representation by people previously regarded as anathema to the mainstream electorate in Hong Kong even a few years ago is a clear sign of how much confidence towards Beijing -- and the government it supports in Hong Kong -- has eroded in the last few years. But before predicting imminent revolution, a couple of things need to be considered. Hong Kong's politics has always been volatile. There were riots by sympathizers to the radical Maoist leadership during the Cultural Revolution half a century ago. In the final years of the British colonial era, strong divisions against the 1997 handover deal with Beijing appeared. That pro- and anti-mainland fault line exists to this day. All that's changed is that it has become deeper. Throughout the last 20 years, there have been massive protests against issues running from Chinese attempts to introduce patriotic education, to the attempts to impose anti-secession legislation a decade ago. What happened on Sunday is simply a further manifestation of this often contrarian local political atmosphere. The element that is new is the deeper role of Beijing and its ideas in local politics. The leadership of Xi Jinping has shown a hard edge towards the city. Officials in his administration have made it clear that the only option in Hong Kong is to work within the framework they supply. There can be dabbling around the edges, and some compromise. But on the main issues, Beijing's fiat rules. Activists in Hong Kong would be naïve in the extreme to believe that moves towards unilateral independence would ever be permitted by Beijing. It has reacted with extreme harshness to any such talk in Tibet and Xinjiang. Even over Taiwan, which enjoys de facto independence, it makes loud and intolerant noises when anyone so much as mentions the possibility of the island being a separate sovereign entity. For Hong Kong, therefore, the context in which it exists is set in stone. It is, and will remain part of the People's Republic. The question is under what terms. This is not to be dismissive of the clear sign offered by these elections that many people living in Hong Kong are frustrated, angry, and want a better political deal. For these people, the same challenges of stagnant wages, rising living costs, and constant economic pressure are shared with communities across the planet. So, too, is real anger at the very poor quality of leadership they have seen in the city's political elite in the last few years. They don't feel they have been represented well -- and they are probably right. C Y Leung has proved a weak and often ineffective chief executive. The possibility of his standing for a second term next year will only create even more frustration. The simple fact is that the people of Hong Kong have sent a message in supporting more radical parties. The authorities can either dismiss that, or try to work out a way of solving it. For Hong Kong's future, there are two stark issues that need to be addressed by the parties involved. Pursuing a more confrontational stance towards Beijing by local politicians creates the kind of uncertainty that risks weakening the principle assets the city has: a strong, global finance and services-based economy. But that does not mean that the government can simply ignore the clear evidence these elections give of a divided, unhappy electorate and do nothing about the underlying causes. The brutal fact remains that unless the government, which has a key role in all of this, can find a constructive way out of the current impasse, there is a real possibility that Hong Kong's best days will be behind it. And that is a lose-lose scenario for everyone.

Nathan Law becomes the youngest-ever Hong Kong legislator at age 23.

The headlines you want – delivered to your inbox daily.</s>Despite unprecedented discomfort with the Republican nominee, Johnson, the Libertarian candidate and a former Republican governor of New Mexico, has so far failed to sufficiently consolidate the support of Republicans opposed to Donald Trump. The poll found Johnson is preferred by 13 percent of Indiana voters, compared with 46 percent of Hoosier voters who favor Republican Donald Trump, 30 percent who favor Democrat Hillary Clinton, 5 percent who favor Green Party nominee Jill Stein and 6 percent who have no opinion.

Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson qualifies in Connecticut giving him ballot access to 48 states.

Europe’s Rosetta space probe has located its lost Philae lander, wedged in a “dark crack” on a comet, the European Space Agency said Monday.Rosetta’s camera finally captured images on Friday of the lander on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, weeks before the probe’s own mission ends, the agency said. “This wonderful news means that we now have the missing ‘ground-truth’ information needed to put Philae’s three days of science into proper context, now that we know where that ground actually is,” ESA’s Rosetta project scientist, Matt Taylor, said in a statement.</s>The photo released by European Space Agency ESA on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 shows a photo of the comet lander Philae in a crack on the right side of a photo taken by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on Sept. 2, 2016 from a distance of 2.7 km of the Comet 67P/Churyumov¿Gerasimenko. "Now that the lander search is finished we feel ready for Rosetta's landing, and look forward to capturing even closer images of Rosetta's touchdown site," said Holger Sierks, principal investigator of the Osiris camera. The pictures showing the lander's body and two of its three legs were taken as Rosetta passed within 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles) of the surface. Hide Caption 28 of 40 Photos: Rosetta: The comet chaser Rosetta's mission started on March 2, 2004, when it was launched on a European Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. Hide Caption 16 of 40 Photos: Rosetta: The comet chaser The Rosetta spacecraft's Philae lander is shown sitting on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko after becoming the first space probe to land on a comet on November 12, 2014. (ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS via AP) Philae bounced after its initial touchdown and its precise location on the comet couldn't be pinned down until now, though its general vicinity was known. After sending data to Earth for three days its battery ran out and it went into hibernation, only to recharge enough as the comet came closer to the sun to communicate briefly with Rosetta in mid-2015. ESA plans to crash Rosetta into the comet Sept. 30, because the probe is unlikely to survive lengthy hibernation in orbit as the comet heads away from the sun. pic.twitter.com/ErB0ROrgP6 — ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) September 5, 2016 Patrick Martin, ESA's Rosetta Mission Manager, said: "This remarkable discovery comes at the end of a long, painstaking search. "It is incredible we have captured this at the final hour." "This wonderful news means that we now have the missing 'ground-truth' information needed to put Philae's three days of science into proper context, now that we know where that ground actually is," ESA's Rosetta project scientist, Matt Taylor, said in a statement.

The European Space Agency's robotic lander Philae is discovered wedged in a crack between some rocks in the shadow of a cliff on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko by the Rosetta space probe after being lost since 2014.

VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — As bodies continue to pile up in his war on illegal drugs, the Philippine president is making waves at his first summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations where he joins a diverse cast of leaders, including some who have found themselves in the crosshairs of human rights watchdogs. “I’m very happy that it happened.” In a terse statement, the White House said only that “Obama had a brief discussion with President Duterte before the ASEAN Gala Dinner in the leaders’ hold space.” “The exchange consisted of pleasantries between the two.” Obama cancelled Tuesday’s planned meeting with Duterte on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-hosted summit after the notoriously acid-tongued Philippine president launched a barrage of insults the previous day. “You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. I can’t say how long they met,” Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, travelling with Duterte, told reporters shortly afterwards. "I don't take these comments personally because it seems as if this is a phrase he's used repeatedly including directed at the pope and others," adding that such choice words were "a habit, a way of speaking for him". He added that such choice words were “a habit, a way of speaking for him.” Duterte has branded Pope Francis, the US ambassador to Manila and the United Nations as “sons of whores.” However Obama cancelled a meeting with Duterte scheduled for Tuesday because of the outburst. They met briefly on Wednesday night before a leaders' dinner, but only exchanged "pleasantries", according to the White House. Duterte has said the Philippines is in danger of becoming a "narco state", and eliminating drugs in society is the top priority of his administrations. Since he took office as president on June 30, his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users has left more than 2,000 people dead.</s>Duterte, Obama shake hands and chat after rift over insult VIENTIANE, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shook hands and had a brief chat on Wednesday, officials said, easing a standoff after Duterte called Obama a "son of a bitch" ahead of a summit of Asian leaders in Laos. Duterte, who has launched a war on crime that has claimed more than 2,400 lives, warns Obama not to raise human rights issues with him in Laos. The President said the list is so thick and he has not finished validating all the names.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte declares a state of emergency in the whole country. In a warning to Abu Sayyaf, Duterte says "I will eat you alive."

Global charity attacked in wave of violence in Kabul KABUL: Explosions rang out yesterday during an hours-long attack on an international charity in Kabul, the latest assault in a wave of violence in the Afghan capital that has killed at least 24 people and wounded dozens. At least one person died in the assault on a charity called Pamlarena, which means care in Pashto, but it was unclear if the target was the international charity CARE. A plume of smoke rose over the upscale neighborhood of Shar-e Naw after the raid on the charity, located next to the office of Afghanistan’s former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid on the charity, but it comes as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide offensive against the US-backed government. "We believe two attackers have entered the building. Unfortunately one civilian has been killed and six others wounded," Sediqqi told AFP. CARE International was not immediately reachable for comment. That blast came just hours after high-level officials, including an army general, were killed in the twin blasts near the defence ministry, as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide offensive against the US-backed government. The second of the two explosions struck just as soldiers, policemen and civilians hurried to help the victims of the first blast, which occurred on a bridge near the ministry. “She lost two other sons before him.” Ambulances rushed to the scene, littered with disfigured bodies and charred debris. But there were so many bodies that some had to be taken to hospitals in car boots and the back of police pickup trucks. Firemen, meanwhile, raced to retrieve some bodies thrown into the Kabul River by the intensity of the first blast on the bridge. The attack on a charity called Pamlarena began late Monday, hours after a Taliban double bombing killed at least 24 people and left 91 others wounded, said ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. The violence highlights the deteriorating security situation in the country, which has taken a heavy toll on civilians. "The enemies of Afghanistan have lost their ability to fight the security and defence forces of the country," President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday, condemning the twin blasts. “That is why they are attacking highways, cities, mosques, schools and common people.” Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the defense ministry was the object of the first attack, while police were targeted in the second. The violence comes more than a week after 16 people were killed when militants stormed the American University in Kabul, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students. Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus in that attack, which came just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions. The uptick in violence in the capital comes as the Taleban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation and the heavy price paid by civilians since NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand. The Taleban have also recently closed in on Kunduz-the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory since the 2001 US invasion-leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts._ AFP</s>Image copyright EPA Image caption Smoke could be seen coming from the area of the attack in Shar-e-Naw An attack on the offices of an international charity in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, has left at least one civilian dead, officials say. Gunfire erupted when four armed men stormed the building of the aid group Care in the Shar-e-Naw area following a car bomb explosion. All attackers were killed. No group has admitted carrying out the attack, the fifth to hit the city in 24 hours. Taliban militants have increased their attacks in Kabul recently. On Monday, a series of blasts claimed by the group hit a busy part of the city, close to the defence ministry building. Officials now say 41 people were killed, including an army general and four senior police officers. Some 103 others were wounded, they added. Image copyright AFP Image caption Security forces blocked streets next to the building attacked in Kabul Image copyright AFP Image caption Explosion broke glasses in hotel next to charity hit by explosion The latest incident struck a prosperous business and residential area of Kabul, home to several guest houses and where many foreigners and diplomats live. A government spokesman told the BBC that six other civilians were injured in the hours-long standoff. Some 42 people were rescued during the operation, including 10 foreigners, he added. Traffic was blocked in several parts of the city and schools were closed. The recent attacks highlight the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, which has left dozens of civilians dead.

A suicide bomber attacks a charity in the Kabul suburb of Shāre Naw with the Taliban claiming responsibility.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A motorcycle bomb killed a father and daughter in front of a Thai elementary school as parents were dropping off their children on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a series of attacks in the troubled south. The bomb went off in Narathiwat province, one of three Muslim-majority provinces in predominantly Buddhist Thailand where a separatist insurgency has been raging since 2004. The blast killed a man and his five year-old daughter, the army’s Internal Security Operations Command said. The motorcycle was parked opposite the school entrance. Eight people were wounded. “We suspect this to be the work of people who want to destabilize the situation and cause chaos,” the deputy spokesman of the ISOC, Yuthanam Petchmuang, told Reuters. The attack occurred less than a month after a wave of bombings in tourist towns, including Hua Hin, Phuket and Surat Thani, killed four people and injured dozens. Police say the tourist-town bombings were linked to the southern insurgency and arrested a suspect over the weekend in connection with the attacks. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters on Tuesday that the military government, which took power in May 2014, were making security preparations ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha on September 12. More than 6,500 people have been killed in insurgency-related violence in the Muslim-majority provinces Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani Province since the conflict began, according to Deep South Watch, which monitors the conflict. While the conflict has been largely confined to the three southern provinces, analysts say that the spread of violence to other provinces could affect Thailand’s tourism industry.</s>BANGKOK (AP) — Police say a bomb has exploded outside a school in southern Thailand, killing a man and his 4-year-old daughter. Eight people were also injured. Police Lieutenant Col. Noppadon Kingthong said the bombing happened early Tuesday in Tak Bai town of Narathiwat province. He said Mayeng Waba and his daughter, Mitra Waba, died of their injuries while being taken to a hospital. Mayeng was dropping his daughter off at the kindergarten in the Baan Ta Baa School when they were caught in the explosion. Among the injured, three were police personnel and one was from the military, Noppadon said. Southern Thailand is in the grip of a separatist insurgency led by Muslim militants, who complain of discrimination by the country’s Buddhist majority. They often attack government targets.

A motorcycle bomb kills a father and daughter outside an elementary school in Narathiwat province.

"In total there are less than a handful of URLs out of millions of proven piracy URLs reported for taking down by error," Wang said in an email. "None of the four URLs on legitimate sites were ever removed because it's an obvious error."</s>Warner Brothers has taken its piracy policing to the extreme by reporting its own website. The famously litigious movie studio put in requests for Google to remove its own website from search results, citing copyright law violation as the reason, reports copyright new site Torrent Freak. Warner also asked Google to remove links to film streaming sites run by Amazon and Sky, as well online film reference site IMDB. Warner regularly reports pirated content to the search engine company, but the latest round of take-down requests appears to be full of legitimate websites, including its own. The requests were made on behalf of Warner Bros by Vobile, a company that uses video tracking technology to help companies enforce copyright on their content. The official Warner Bros web page for 2008's The Dark Knight was among the URLs that Google was asked to remove. Several requests were also made in relation to the 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix, again including Warner's official site for the movie. 'Warner is inadvertently trying to make it harder for the public to find links to legitimate content, which runs counter to its intentions,' said Ernesto van der Sar from Torrent Freak. Google spotted the mistakes and decided not to remove links to Amazon, IMDB and Sky Cinema, though the Warner URLs still remain under review, reports Torrent Freak. A Google transparency report shows that Vobile has submitted more than 13 million requests for URLs to be removed . Along with Warner Bros., the company also works on behalf of Netflix, Paramount and MTV owner Viacom.

Warner Brothers is accused of self-censorship after it tagged its own websites for copyright infringement through the search engine Google.

Monsanto (MON) shot down Bayer's two previous offers, but now the companies are in advanced talks, the German firm said. Bayer AG BAYRY 1.19% raised its offer to buy Monsanto Co. and create a new global leader in seeds and pesticides, though the German firm said the higher price depended on achieving a “negotiated transaction.” Bayer, which has been discussing a deal with Monsanto since mid-May, said it would pay $127.50 a share for the St. Louis-based biotech seed giant, up from its previous offer of $125 a share. That would bring the deal's total value to almost $66 billion including debt. Monsanto acknowledged the improved offer, and called the discussions with Bayer “constructive.” “Monsanto is continuing these conversations as it evaluates this proposal, as well as proposals from other parties and other strategic alternatives to enable its Board of Directors to determine if a transaction in the best interests of its shareowners can be realized,” officials for the company said. Bayer said Monday that there was no assurance a deal would be struck, and if one was, it would remain subject to regulatory approvals.</s>Policy: Bhutan’s annual debt service obligations of total external debt will not exceed 25 percent of total exports of goods and services, according to the new public debt policy launched yesterday. The thresholds for non-hydro power debt stock is fixed at 35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) during the Five Year Plan period, while the general government debt should be less than 22 percent of domestic revenue in any given financial year. The policy stipulates that short-term external debt, including debt contracted by the Royal Monetary Authority shall not exceed 30 percent of surplus reserves in any given financial year. Sovereign guarantee issuance for public corporation borrowing is limited to five percent of the country’s GDP each year. The thresholds can be breached only in times of economic crisis and other times when the government has no means to raise additional debt to maintain socio-economic stability. It will have three years to stabilise the economy under such conditions. The hydropower related external debt has to maintain a ratio of debt service to hydropower export revenue of less than 40 percent. The debt to equity ratio of hydropower projects cannot exceed 70:30. The thresholds are to reduce the undue debt burden that might arise from indiscriminate borrowing for social projects, which do not necessarily generate financial returns. Other considerations are aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline and avoiding ad-hoc, short-term borrowing which are generally costly. The recent economic growth was coupled with increasing public debt, comprising largely of external debt for hydropower development. If the country continues with similar growth rates, it is expected to graduate to a middle-income country status in the next decade. If so, Bhutan will not be eligible to avail low-cost finance that has fuelled growth till date. With the increased GDP per capita, the present concessionary lending terms offered by the multilateral agencies are expected to change. This will mean that the government will have to seek new sources of finance for its capital expenditures. In view of the dwindling grants, external borrowing is expected to increase hereafter. The absence of a clear policy guideline on public debt management and borrowing poses risks due to unsustainable borrowings. From this perspective, a prudent debt management policy assumes high importance. Finance minister Namgay Dorji said that a well-articulated debt management policy will help to ensure that the government’s financing needs and that debt obligations are met at the lowest possible cost with a prudent degree of risk. “The policy leaves no opportunity in future to avail excessive borrowings, harming the long-term interests of the nation to meet their short-term party pledges,” he said. Effective debt management will be of paramount importantance in ensuring that debt financing is sustainable and contributes to the economic growth of the country, and ultimately in achieving the overarching development objective of Gross National Happiness, the minister said. The public debt policy provides a broad framework to guide decisions that will ensure sustainable debt levels and efficient portfolio management. It extends to all public and publicly guaranteed external and domestic debt of Bhutan. However, given the nascent stage of development of the domestic debt market, the thresholds in this policy shall apply only to external debt, until such time the thresholds for domestic debt can be determined to compliment this policy. “This policy will enable the government to proactively guide its investment plans and ensure that financing decisions are prudent and public debt is maintained at a sustainable level,” Lyonpo Namgay Dorji said. The debt management division of the finance ministry will be upgraded to a department. Until then a public debt advisory committee will be formed. The policy is governed by the Constitution, the Public Finance Act of Bhutan 2007, the Audit Act of Bhutan 2006 and the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan Act 2010, and amendments thereof. The Cabinet approved the policy, formulated by a committee from the National Statistical Bureau, Gross National Happiness Commission, finance ministry, Royal Monetary Authority, and hydropower and power systems department, in the past two years, in its 109th session on August 2 this year. The policy is effective from August 18.

Bayer reproposes to buy Monsanto at a new exchange of US$65 billion including debt.

Brit Hume, a veteran journalist who spent more than a decade as a senior news executive in Fox News' Washington bureau, will take over her 7 p.m. slot on the 21st Century Fox-owned cable-news network at least through the election. "It didn't appear it was getting better" after Ailes left, one of the sources said, so she looked to the exit. Her husband, John Coale, an attorney who has worked as her agent in the past, could also not be reached for immediate comment." In a statement released on Twitter, Van Susteren said "Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years now, and I took advantage of a clause in my contract which allows me to leave now. The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait." 'On Thursday night, I made my decision and informed Fox News of my decision that I was leaving Fox News Channel per my contract. Van Susteren's abrupt departure is the result of a 'financial disagreement', Variety reports. Her departure takes place as speculation rises that 21st Century Fox, the network's parent, is eager to distance the outlet from the culture instilled there by Roger Ailes, its former chief, who departed in the wake of an internal investigation spurred by charges of sexual harassment levied in a lawsuit by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. A Fox News report says the host tried to renegotiate her contract with the network after disgraced former president Richard Ailes left the network, however they were deadlocked so van Susteren decided to depart. Van Susteren is the only host known to have exercised the "key man clause" in her contract that allowed her to follow Ailes out the door. FOX News Channel's (FNC) senior political analyst Brit Hume will take over as anchor of On the Record (7PM/ET) starting Tuesday, September 6th and running through the election, announced the network's co-presidents Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine. Van Susteren, who hosted shows for the network across different time-slots since 2002, will be replaced by senior political analyst Brit Hume immediately on On the Record, a statement read. In 2013, her Washington D.C., based primetime program was moved to 7 p.m. in the wake of a primetime shuffle that welcomed the launch of Megyn Kelly's program in Van Susteren's original time slot. The network's co-presidents Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine said in the statement: 'We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success.' Hume previously served as the anchor of "Special Report," and stepped down in December 2008 after more than 10 years anchoring the program. As FNC's senior political analyst, Hume has provided in-depth coverage and analysis of all major political events and covered every presidential election since assuming the role in 2008. Van Susteren said on Facebook that she hopes "to continue my career in broadcasting."</s>NEW YORK (AP) — Greta Van Susteren is out as a nighttime host on Fox News Channel, replaced temporarily by Brit Hume starting Tuesday. Fox did not publicly explain Van Susteren's abrupt exit after 14 years, although a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as a financial disagreement. Van Susteren was not immediately available for comment, and the news wasn't reflected on her popular blog or Twitter feed. The Washington-based lawyer came to Fox from CNN 14 years ago. For several years, her "On the Record" program aired at 10 p.m. ET, but moved to 7 p.m. when Fox gave a prime-time show to Megyn Kelly. Hume is a senior political commentator for Fox. He said he's taking on Van Susteren's show through the election.

Fox News On The Record host Greta Van Susteren leaves the channel after 14 years.

(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Authorities in the southern portion of Mexico's Baja California peninsula ordered schools closed and set up emergency shelters as Hurricane Newton gained strength while bearing down on the twin resorts of Los Cabos for a predicted arrival Tuesday morning. Newton made landfall as a Category 1 storm with winds of 90 mph (150 kph), pelting the area near Cabo San Lucas with heavy rain and blowing down at least half a dozen palm trees along the coastal boulevard. Mexico extended hurricane warnings for the peninsula and also a stretch of the mainland coast across the Gulf of California, also called the Sea of Cortez. The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted Newton could cross the peninsula as a hurricane and re-enter the Gulf of California with hurricane force winds. Newton could even reach the U.S. border at Arizona as a tropical storm, according tot he latest forecasts, which put the center of the storm just south of Cabo San Lucas. Boat owners pulled fishing craft in from the water ahead of the storm’s arrival and business owners nailed boards and sheets of plywood over windows in Cabo San Lucas, which was hammered by Category 3 Hurricane Odile in 2014. About 14,000 tourists had remained in Los Cabos as of Monday night as airlines cancelled flights out as the storm approached, said Genaro Ruiz, the state tourism secretary. He said the hotel's windows and balconies had been sufficiently protected from the storm and tourists were fine in the morning, although without cellphone or internet service. “The most important thing is to stay at home,” said Carlos Godinez, a civil defense official for Baja California Sur state. “If there is nothing that requires you to be outside, take shelter with your family.” Newton’s maximum sustained winds increased to 90 mph (150 kph) by Monday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The Category 1 storm was centered about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and was moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph) on a forecast path that would bring it near or over the area Tuesday morning. “If there is nothing that requires you to be outside, take shelter with your family.” Officials evacuated low-lying areas and opened 18 shelters at schools in the two resorts and 38 more in other parts of the state, while warning people against panic buying. “There is no need for mass buying,” Los Cabos Mayor Arturo de la Rosa Escalante said. “There is enough food and fuel for the next 20 days.” Los Cabos police were stationed at shopping malls to guard against the kind of looting that occurred after Hurricane Odile. Foreign tourists were still strolling around in Cabo San Lucas on Monday as workers began boarding over windows of businesses. Earlier Monday, as a tropical storm, Newton dumped torrential rains that prompted some 100 people to evacuate their homes and damaged residences in Uruapan in the Pacific coast state of Michoacan, the city government reported. Some roads were blocked by flooding and mudslides in the neighboring state of Guerrero, where some people were evacuated by helicopter. No deaths were reported in either state. Newton was forecast to dump 8 to 12 inches of rain on Baja California Sur state with isolated maximums up to 18 inches, and heavy rains were also expected for five other states. Newton was expected to move up the peninsula and enter the Gulf of California by Tuesday night.</s>Hurricane Newton on path toward Mexico's border with Arizona CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Newton swept onto the Gulf of California after slamming the resorts of southern Baja and headed on a path expected to take it to the Mexican mainland by Wednesday morning and then on to the U.S. border with potentially dangerous rains for Arizona and New Mexico. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Newton's winds Tuesday morning were around 90 mph (150 kph) and the storm is expected to still be a hurricane when it makes its second landfall on the northwest coast of mainland Mexico early Wednesday. State Tourism Secretary Genaro Ruiz said about 14,000 tourists remained in Los Cabos as of Monday night as airlines canceled flights out as the storm approached. After passing over relatively little populated areas in Sonora, Newton could push into southeastern Arizona as a tropical storm at midday Wednesday, and drop 1 to 3 inches of rain over parts of Arizona and New Mexico through Thursday, forecasters said.

Hurricane Newton makes its way towards the resort town of Los Cabos, Mexico.

Flooding following heavy rain has killed 60 people and left over 44,000 homeless in North Korea, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after the country reported that a northeastern river suffered its worst-ever flood. Advertising Pyongyang said the Tumen river, which partially marks the border with China and Russia, experienced the biggest flood ever recorded due to a rainstorm that began four days earlier. Nearby areas including Musan and Hoeryong were hard hit, with 60 dead and five percent of the population homeless, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement. It cited data from the North’s government. “Communication with and access to affected areas remains a challenge… immediate needs have been identified as emergency shelter, food, medication, water and sanitary items,” it said. Advertising Nearly 9,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged with 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres) of farmland flooded, it said, adding joint relief efforts involving the UN and the North were underway. The North’s state media said Friday that 15 people were missing after over 17,000 houses were destroyed or damaged. The impoverished nation 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 deforested 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 death toll rises to at least 114 as 60 more people are killed in floods after the typhoon hits North Korea, displacing over 44,000 people. Fifteen people are also missing.

Benign in most people, Zika has been linked to a form of severe birth defect called microcephaly which causes newborns’ heads to be abnormally small.</s>With The Bahamas having eight confirmed cases of Zika Virus and 83 suspected cases pending, officials from the Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Department of Environment Health Services held an informational session yesterday at the British Colonial Hilton. Key stakeholders, as well as members of the public, were present at the session and posed questions to the officials from the various ministries. The government’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Glen Beneby spoke to reporters after the meeting and revealed how much the government is spending to combat this issue. “The current budget is $2.5 million a month, so an annual budget of $30 million a year; the dynamics of public health require you to have a budget to deal with whatever changes occur. “In addition when situations like this occur, they go beyond what you expect, after it was made known to the Ministry of Health that we would have potential Zika cases we began to look at upgrading our services in the public health sector, once we got our first case, we realized that we would have to do additional spending,” Dr. Beneby said. Zika is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. One of the more concerning aspects around the Zika virus is the fact that samples have to be flown out of the country to a reference lab and then officials have to wait two to three weeks for these results to be confirmed. However, Dr. Beneby did confirm that plans are in progress to rectify the lab situation here in the country. “It’s going to cost us in the region of $50,000 to $100,000 to modify the lab situation and have the lab ready. Fortunately, we have people in the country who could do the testing, so we had to purchase the equipment and upgrade the space which will be done very soon. “I’m very optimistic at this pivotal moment as we look towards universal healthcare coverage it becomes very clear to the Bahamian people how important it is to work together as a community. Testing time should be reduced by more than 50 percent but that turnaround time will be determine by the number of tests but it will be less than a week. “We have decided that we will have weekly updates and I see that remaining for the time being but if it’s an increasing number of cases we will make it more frequent,” Dr. Beneby said. A question posed by a citizen at the session was concerning the screening process surrounding blood donors seeing that the lab tests take two to three weeks. Dr. Beneby said that an in depth questionnaire is currently the primary screening process. “The Bahamas has been for many years compliant to the international standard for blood testing obviously this Zika requirement is something that has occurred to us fairly quickly, now that the CDC is recommending a similar screening process in testing for blood donation we will fall in line. In regards to the disease and prevention itself, Dr. Beneby lamented on the fact that over 80 per cent of persons with Zika do not display any clinical symptoms. “This is a significant point because there is always the real possibility that somebody can get the virus and don’t know they have the virus and this is why we recommend that if you go to an area where the virus in endemic, where it’s actually happening that you pay particular attention when you return to The Bahamas,” Dr. Beneby said. Health officials are also stressing the importance of safe sex practices and the use of condoms, particularly married couples as the virus lives in semen for up to 60 days.

A new infection of the Zika virus spreads to the Philippines.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption In 2006, Isabelle Dinoire described the moment she saw her disfigured face The first-ever person to have a face transplant, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, has died, French doctors say. It was announced yesterday that Isabelle Dinoire, 49, who underwent the historic operation in 2005 after being maimed by her dog, had died in April following a long illness that was thought to be linked to the medication. Lille (France) (AFP) - The world's first face transplant recipient, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, died in April "after a long illness", a hospital said Tuesday. News of her death, announced by a hospital in Amiens, was delayed to respect her family's privacy. These were designed to prevent her body rejecting new tissues, but they always threatened to make Ms Dinoire seriously ill. Miss Dinoire, from Valenciennes, northern France, captured the imagination of the world in November 2005 when she was given a new nose, mouth and chin at the nearby Amiens Hospital. Le Figaro newspaper, which first reported Dinoire's death Tuesday, said she had suffered two cancers linked to the transplant and lost partial use of her transplanted lips last year. 'I was convinced something had to be done for this patient.' 'Before the operation, I expected my new face would look like me but it turned out after the operation that it was half me and half her.'</s>In this February 6, 2006 file photo, Isabelle Dinoire, the woman who received the world's first partial face transplant with a new nose, chin and mouth, in an operation on Nov. 27, 2005, addresses reporters during her first press conference since the transplant at the Amiens hospital, northern France. The hospital did not release any further details and it was not clear if her illness was related to the transplant. In announcing her death on Tuesday, the Amiens University Hospital in northern France said Dinoire’s experience “illustrates perfectly the high stakes of face transplants”. The hospital said Dinoire died in April, but they did not announce the news until Tuesday because the family wanted to mourn privately. After being severely disfigured by her pet Labrador, Dinoire was given a new nose, chin and lips in a ground-breaking, 15-hour operation in 2005 led by doctors Bernard Devauchelle and Jean-Michel Dubernard in the Amiens hospital. When she first appeared in public with her new face four months later, her speech was slurred and a scar clearly visible – but the fact that she could speak to reporters of having a “face like everyone else” and almost smile was seen as a medical breakthrough. However, despite what the hospital described as a “remarkable” transplant, Dinoire had health issues for years linked to the medication she took to keep her body from rejecting the new face, and she underwent further surgery in January. Soon afterward, doctors discovered a malign tumour, according to Tuesday’s statement. Independent doctors who followed her case said she had lung cancer that might have been linked to her treatment, or to her lifetime of smoking. The operation changed Ms Dinoire’s life and drew international attention. There have been nearly 40 face transplant surgeries around the world since 2005, including one last year in New York that was the first to include a scalp and functioning eyelids. Of the 36 patients, six have died, the Amiens hospital noted. “Facial transplants remain extremely complex surgery with high risk,” it said. “It’s important to remember that face transplants are still in the evaluation stage. They ... cannot be considered a routine activity.” Dinoire, a divorced mother of two teenage daughters, said she was wrestling with personal problems at the time of the 2005 dog attack and “took some drugs to forget.” She said she was passed out when the dog bit her. She said she was unconscious when the dog bit her. Disabled by her disfigurement, she welcomed the opportunity for a transplant from a brain-dead woman. Her doctors said they repeatedly warned her of the risks involved. Her operation was “an unquestionable surgical success” and the medical community learned from her experience, said Dr Jean-Paul Meningaud, who heads the reconstructive surgery department at the Henri Mondor Hospital south of Paris and was not involved in treating Ms Dinoire. Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, director of plastic surgery transplantation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, met with Dinoire in 2008 as his team was preparing its first face transplant, and called it a “really profound experience.” “She seemed to be speaking perfectly fine, she ate with us. Like a normal person,” he said. Dr Pomahac noted that face transplant recipients are about twice as likely to reject the new tissue as hand transplant patients. But he remains convinced that transplants are right for some patients who “have no other options.” Dr. Vijay Gorantla, administrative medical director of the Reconstructive Transplant Program at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said Dinoire never regretted the transplant publicly, and her quality of life improved. “She didn’t want to be a recluse… or a monster in public,” he said, Dr Gorantla said surgeons should not be in a race to perform transplants but should carefully weigh the risks and benefits. “We are still learning” with each new case, he said. Dr Meningaud, who has been involved in seven of France’s ten face transplants, is now arguing for suspending the procedures altogether so that the medical community can take stock of whether the long-term benefits are worth the physical and psychological toll they take on patients. In Ms Dinoire’s case, “the results were very good in the medium term, but the long-term results were not so good,” Dr Meningaud said. He said that face transplant recipients are having more difficulty with anti-rejection medication than doctors initially predicted, and are requiring more follow-up surgery. “It’s a rather high price to pay for the patient. It’s time to mark a pause,” he said. A year after the surgery, doctors said Dinoire was gaining more and more sensitivity and facial mobility, and she had even got herself a new dog. “I can open my mouth and eat. I feel my lips, my nose and my mouth,” Ms Dinoire said at a news conference in 2006. “I have a face like everyone else,” she said. “A door to the future is opening.” – PA

Isabelle Dinoire, who received the world's first face transplant, is reported to have died from cancer at the age of 49 in April 2016.

The Prime Minister has urged investors to be confident in his government’s commitment to supporting trade and business on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, in Vientiane of Lao PDR for the 28th and 29th ASEAN Leader Summits being hosted by the Laotian government, has met with his Lao counterpart Thonglun Sisoulith to congratulate him on his country’s work as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He affirmed to the Lao premier that Thailand is ready to support its neighbor in all areas both bilaterally and multilaterally. Gen Prayuth also used the opportunity of their meeting to invite PM Thonglun to the Asia Cooperation Dialogue taking place in Bangkok on October 9-10. The Thai prime minister then jointed in witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Lao PDR on joint energy development, which will see Thailand increase its purchase of power from Lao from 7,000 Megawatts to 9,000. He affirmed to PM Thonglun that he would support infrastructural developments such as more connecting bridges in the future. After the ceremony, the premier joined his fellow ASEAN leaders in meeting with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to exchange views on trade and investment in the region. At the discussion, Gen Prayuth assured Thailand is ready to support public-private connections and exchanges of electronic information. He played up the Kingdom’s focus on small and medium enterprises and start-ups and its Thailand 4.0 model. He affirmed to the council that Thailand is ready to facilitate trade and investment to help drive the region’s economy.

Laos prepares to host the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit.

Aiming for closer ties to Laos, Obama honors its culture LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Aiming to cement closer ties to Laos and its people, President Barack Obama toured a Buddhist temple Wednesday and paid tribute to Lao culture after pledging the U.S. would fulfill its "profound moral and humanitarian obligation" to clean up millions of unexploded bombs. Obama is one of several world leaders going to Laos, where the one-party communist state tightly controls public expression among the country's nearly 7 million people and is using its moment in the spotlight as host of the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to open up to outsiders.</s>U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, the White House said on Wednesday. “In the afternoon, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,” the White House said in its daily guidance released to the press. The two leaders are expected to make brief remarks at the top of the meeting. This would be the eighth meeting between Mr. Modi and Mr. Obama in two years. They met for the first time at the White House in September 2014, when Mr. Modi travelled to Washington DC at the invitation of Mr. Obama. Prime Minister Mr. Modi exchanged views with Mr. Obama on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China’s Hangzhou on Sunday, with the U.S. president praising the “bold policy” move on GST reform in a “difficult” global economic scenario. Mr. Obama is scheduled to address a news conference in Laos immediately after his meeting with Mr. Modi. He would depart for the U.S. via Yokota, Japan for fuelling, soon after his news conference.

Barack Obama pledges US$90 million to clear Laos of unexploded ordnance dropped by the United States during the Vietnam War.

Heinrich was instructed to describe during the court hearing what happened the night of Oct. 22, 1989, the last night Wetterling was seen alive. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man confessed Tuesday to abducting and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling nearly 27 years ago, recounting a crime that long haunted the state in chilling detail that included a handcuffed Jacob asking him: “What did I do wrong?” Danny Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, made the admission as he pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge that will likely keep him locked up for 20 years, with civil commitment possible after that, meaning he could spend the rest of his life in custody. Heinrich had been charged with 25 counts of possessing and receiving child pornography; he pleaded not guilty to those charges in February and was set to go to trial in October. With Patty and Jacob’s father, Jerry Wetterling, in a packed courtroom, Heinrich described seeing Jacob, Jacob’s brother, and a friend bicycling down a rural road near Jacob’s central Minnesota home in St. Joseph the night of Oct. 22, 1989. Danny Heinrich admitted in federal court Tuesday that he killed the boy whose 1989 disappearance has transfixed Minnesota in the years since. Heinrich had been under increasing scrutiny as authorities have revisited Jacob’s abduction and investigated a string of sexual assaults on preteen and teen boys near Paynesville, Minn., in the mid- to late 1980s; Jacob was taken less than a mile from his home in St. Joseph, which is about 20 miles from Paynesville. Heinrich lived in Paynesville with his father at the time of the abduction. Last Wednesday, Heinrich led a team of FBI agents and state and county investigators to a pasture near Paynesville where Wetterling's skeletal remains were buried, according to a source with direct knowledge of the search. Investigators revisited the site again Friday for crime-scene purposes. When he returned to the grave site a year later, Heinrich said he could see Jacob’s red jacket. Heinrich led authorities to Jacob’s buried remains in a central Minnesota field last week.</s>Danny Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, made the admission as he pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge that could keep him locked up for at least 20 years, with civil commitment possible after that. A timeline of events related to the abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling of St. Joseph, Minnesota: Oct. 22, 1989: Jacob Wetterling is abducted from a rural road by a masked gunman as he rides bikes with his brother and a friend near his home about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. But that long-running investigation found a break recently, when a "person of interest in Jacob's abduction took authorities to a field in central Minnesota," according to The Associated Press. The remains were identified as Wetterling's by the Ramsey County Medical examiner and a forensic odontologist, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said in a news release Saturday evening. "It has long been believed that the Cold Spring and Wetterling abductions were likely to have been committed by the same person," according to the memorandum, which was filed in U.S. District Court. When Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, was arrested in October on charges of child pornography, law enforcement officials called him a "person of interest" in Jacob's kidnapping. New testing of DNA evidence last year linked Heinrich to the 1989 kidnapping and sexual assault of Jared Scheierl in Cold Spring, nine months before Wetterling's abduction. She became a national advocate for missing children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act was passed in 1994.

About 27 years after his abduction, the remains of Jacob Wetterling are discovered.

In a statement, Fox parent company 21st Century Fox said, “We regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.” Carlson was paid $20 million, according to a person familiar with the settlement who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms of the agreement were confidential. Fox News has reached a $20 million (€18 million) settlement of former anchor Gretchen Carlson’s sexual harassment lawsuit against the network’s former chief Roger Ailes, Vanity Fair said on Tuesday, citing three people familiar with the settlement. A statement offered no details on the settlement, but the magazine Vanity Fair, citing sources familiar with the case, said Fox would pay the multi-million-dollar sum to the journalist and former Miss America. According to the lawsuit, Ailes "unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment."</s>21st Century Fox has reached a $20 million settlement deal with Gretchen Carlson, the anchorwoman who sued Roger Ailes alleging harassment and retaliation in July. The eight-figure deal is likely to have consequences across corporate America. Fox also apologized to Carlson in a highly unusual public statement on Tuesday morning. "We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect that she and all our colleagues deserve," 21st Century Fox said. Vanity Fair magazine was the first to report the settlement on Tuesday. A source close to Fox confirmed the $20 million total to CNNMoney. Ailes will pay an unknown portion of the settlement. Ailes, the powerful Fox News CEO and chairman, resigned in the wake of the harassment allegations, which he has continuously denied. Now out of his Fox job, Ailes is informally advising GOP nominee Donald Trump ahead of the presidential debates this fall. Lawyers for Ailes had no immediate comment on the Carlson settlement. According to Vanity Fair, Fox has also reached settlements with two other women who alleged harassment by the executive. After Carlson sued, 21st Century Fox -- which is run by Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan -- brought in an outside law firm to investigate the allegations. More than 20 women reportedly spoke with the lawyers about inappropriate behavior by Ailes. Ex-host Andrea Tantaros filed suit against Ailes and Fox last month. It is unclear whether Fox is vulnerable to any other lawsuits at the present time. Settling with Carlson, at least, is part of the Murdochs' effort to move past the scandal. Related: Gabriel Sherman: Murdochs looked the other way at Roger Ailes' behavior The settlement means that Carlson will not testify against Ailes or share any evidence of harassment. Several news outlets have reported that Carlson recorded some of her meetings with Ailes. "I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my complaint," Carlson said Tuesday. "I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace." She also expressed thanks to the people who supported her when she filed the suit. "I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen," she said. "All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded." Separately, Fox News announced the departure of 7 p.m. host Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday morning. Van Susteren reportedly tried to renegotiate her contract after Ailes resigned, and opted to leave when the negotiations failed.

21st Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News, settles a sexual harassment case by Gretchen Carlson for US$20 million.

The criminal case against the 79-year-old entertainer involves a single 2004 encounter at his home near Philadelphia with former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. She says she was introduced to the comedian by her then-manager, had dinner with Cosby and was later served a soft drink by Cosby at an apartment. After refusing "he kept offering me the pills," she alleged, and it made her feel uncomfortable. As O'Neill pushed for a trial date, lead defense lawyer Brian McMonagle of Philadelphia said he has other trials booked until June. They have asked O'Neill to bar the district attorney's office from introducing a telephone conversation between Cosby and Constand's mother that was secretly recorded, as well as a deposition from Constand's civil lawsuit against Cosby in which the comedian admitted giving Quaaludes to women before sexual encounters.</s>Cosby, who is free on $1 million bail, could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Judge Steven O’Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian made multiple attempts to head off the possibility of a trial stemming from one alleged incident at his Philadelphia home in 2004. Up to 13 other women may testify at the trial if Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele gets his way, although Cosby’s legal team will likely put up fierce resistance to any such attempt. In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said Cosby plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch, where the actor allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect penis. The 79-year-old entertainer is accused of drugging and then assaulting Andrea Constand, a former basketball coach at his alma mater Temple University, at his home in 2004. Cosby’s legal team said Tuesday their client was “not giving up the fight for his rights” and accused a lawyer representing other alleged sexual assault victims of waging a campaign built “on racial bias and prejudice.” “When the media repeats her accusations — with no evidence, no trial and no jury — we are moved backwards as a country and away from the America that our civil rights leaders sacrificed so much to create,” they said. Those allegations have seen celebrity pals and millions more malign the legend who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s television sitcom “The Cosby Show.” The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against Cosby. The comedian known as America’s Dad for the top-rated “The Cosby Show” — which captured the amusing travails of fatherhood and painted a warm picture of black family life during its 1984 to 1992 run — now finds himself spending his time and fortune defending tawdry accusations. But the question should be asked — who is the victim?” his wife, Camille, asked as more accusers came forward in 2014.

A judge in Pennsylvania schedules the dates for the trial of accused U.S. comedian Bill Cosby.

It is important to put Sunday’s result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – where Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came third behind the centre-left Social Democrats and rightwing populists Alternative für Deutschland – into perspective. In a swipe at her conservative partners in Bavaria who have criticised her for failing to respond to voters’ worries about migrants, she said politicians should tone down their rhetoric. Ms Merkel, who is expected to stand for a fourth term in next year’s federal election, said much had already been achieved since the height of the migrant crisis a year ago. They just didn’t explain their policies.” “This ignorance is exemplary,” she said.</s>FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2011 file picture Bavarian State Governor and Chairman of German Christian Social Union party, CSU, Horst Seehofer, looks on during a party convention of the German Christian Social Union, CSU, in Nuremberg, southern Germany. Merkel, whose conservative party lost significant ground to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a regional election on Sunday, struck a defiant tone in a speech to parliament, denying that the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants would cut benefits for Germans as some have feared. The state is home to few migrants, but Merkel after the election conceded that the result was more about dissatisfaction with national issues rather than local matters. The Social Democrats (SPD), junior partner in Merkel's right-left coalition, have seized on speculation about whether she may decide not to run in next year's election, although there are no obvious rival conservative candidates. She said that voters' concerns "whether founded or unfounded, should be taken seriously" by "all of us in this house," noting that the party had taken away support from all other main parties.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends her stance regarding the European migrant crisis despite her party losing in the key election.

Doncaster MP Caroline Flint has announced she will be standing to replace Keith Vaz as Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, after the Leicester East MP was forced to step down from the role in the wake of a male escort sex scandal. Vaz has faced a string of claims against him after a Sunday Mirror sting accused him of paying for male prostitutes, discussing the use of recreational drugs, such as cocaine, and encouraging others to use poppers. Speaking at the G20 summit in China, the prime minister said: “What has been clear throughout my political career, and what is important for people, is that they feel they are able to have confidence in their politicians, and that is what we have a duty to apply for those who elect us. Speaking during a visit to China, Mrs May said: “What Keith does is for Keith and any decisions he wishes to make are for him.” But she added: “I have always been clear throughout my political career that what is important for people is that they feel that they are able to have confidence in their politicians. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has said he would refer the matter to the Commons Standards commissioner and may also report Mr Vaz to police. At the weekend, the Sunday Mirror published pictures which it said showed Mr Vaz with male sex workers in a flat in north London that he owns. According to the paper, the tape showed Mr Vaz telling one of the men to treat the other as his “bitch” and discussing having sex. Vaz had argued in parliament that poppers should not be included in a list of substances banned by the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act. READ MORE: Keith Vaz returns to work a day after male escort scandal Following reports in the Sunday Mirror at the weekend that he had paid escorts and discussed the use of legal and illegal drugs, the Leicester East MP initially told reporters he planned to stand aside as chairman “with immediate effect”. Following claims by Vaz’s friends that the MP may have been drugged during the sting, the Daily Mirror released new details on Monday night of the alleged encounter, which the paper claims was the second meeting between Vaz and the two sex workers.</s>British Labour MP Keith Vaz is to quit as head of one of the most influential House of Commons committees after he was embroiled in rent boy revelations. Announcing his resignation, the Labour MP said: “Those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable.” Mr Vaz’s departure as chairman of the home affairs committee comes days after reports emerged claiming that he paid two male escorts he met at a flat he owns near his family home in north London last month. Keith Vaz biography Born in 1956 to Goan parents in Aden in what is now Yemen, he went to Cambridge University where he studied law and then became a solicitor The Labour Party politician has been MP for Leicester East since 1987 He is Parliament's longest-serving British Asian MP and has chaired the influential Home Affairs Select Committee since 2007 He was Britain's Minister for Europe under Tony Blair and said the vote to leave the EU was a "catastrophe" His sister Valerie is Labour MP for Walsall South Keith Vaz - the 'Teflon politician' In his statement announcing his resignation from the chairman role he has held for nine years, Mr Vaz said: "The integrity of the select committee system matters to me. “He has clearly acted in the best interests of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the important work that we do and with sadness we all accepted that was the appropriate course of action that he has taken and we also appreciate the many challenges facing him personally and his family. Standing down from his high-profile role, Mr Vaz moaned how he was “genuinely sorry that recent events make it impossible for this to happen if I remain chair”, whining: “It is in the best interest of the Home Affairs Select Committee that its important work can be conducted without any distractions whatsoever.” He boasted about the number of reports pumped out during his tenure. Mr Umunna added: “I don’t think now is the appropriate time to start talking about who is going to be the new chair of the select committee.” “He apologised to the committee for the trouble this has caused and obviously acknowledges that, and these are private matters he will have to deal with. He said: “Those who hold others to account, must themselves be accountable.” But his resignation statement only said sorry for “recent events” - and failed to mention the behaviour which triggered his spectacular downfall, making no apology for the shame he has brought on his family, the committee and the House of Commons. “I’m pleased he’s done what I think we all expected he would do and has stood down.” Asked whether Prime Minister Theresa May backed his resignation, a spokeswoman said: “It is a decision for him.” A new chairman is set to be elected next month, with Labour’s Chuka Umunna tipped to take over. Mr Loughton, who is currently the longest serving Conservative on the committee, said: “Keith Vaz came to the meeting of the select committee. Mr Vaz thanked fellow committee members past and present “for their tremendous support”, as well as Commons and committee clerks. “And on that basis he has taken that decision and the committee agreed with him that that was the rightful selection for him to take with regret.” The Conservative MP said: “I think he has done the right and honourable thing. “It was the inevitable thing, I think, given the nature of the allegations and his role as chairman of the committee.” Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith told the BBC: “I don’t think he could have continued in that role. It would have been a cross-party view that would have been given to Keith and he has taken the right view for the good of the committee.” Mr Burrowes said Mr Vaz was “an excellent chair” but his position was “untenable”. “But absolutely what was paramount to him, characteristically, is the reputation and the work of the committee going forward.” The acting chairman said the attention focused on Mr Vaz could jeopardise the integrity of the committee’s work if he tried to struggle on. • Sex shame politician Keith Vaz told quit now: 'He's not fit to be an MP, call in cops' But Mr Bridgen warned that creating Sir Keith Vaz was “completely out of the question”, saying: “It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so serious.” It is understood Mr Vaz hopes to carry on serving on Labour’s ruling national executive committee. He said: “He’s made his decision because he felt that to carry on in the circumstances that he is now involved in would detract from the work of the Home Affairs Committee and so he has made that decision for himself.” – PA

British MP Keith Vaz quits the Home Affairs Select Committee following allegations that he had engaged in sexual activity with male prostitutes.

Here, we apply cluster analysis to bias-corrected data and show that, over the past 37 years, typhoons that strike East and Southeast Asia have intensified by 12–15%, with the proportion of storms of categories 4 and 5 having doubled or even tripled. Additional warming is expected to intensify the storms, particularly in some of east Asia's main economic centres, Mei said: "The typhoons striking mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea will intensify further because of the faster warming of waters of 20 degrees north." Last week typhoon Lionrock left 11 people dead in northern Japan and caused power blackouts and property damage, while in July typhoon Nepartak hit Taiwan and China, killing at least nine people and leaving a trail of destruction.</s>Study: Typhoons that slam Asia getting much stronger WASHINGTON (AP) — Typhoons that slam into land in the northwestern Pacific — especially the biggest tropical cyclones of the bunch — have gotten considerably stronger since the 1970s, a new study concludes. Overall, landfalling Asian typhoon intensity has increased by about 12 percent in nearly four decades. But the change is most noticeable for storms with winds of 209 kilometers per hour or more (130 mph), those in categories 4 and 5. Since 1977, they've gone from a once-a-year occurrence to four times a year, according to a study Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience. These are storms like Lionrock that in August killed at least 17 people, about half of them elderly residents of a Japanese nursing home, and Haiyan — one of the strongest storms on record, killing more than 6,000 people in the Philippines in 2013. Study lead author Wei Mei, a climate scientist at the University of North Carolina, connects the strengthening of these storms to warmer seawater near the coasts. That provides more fuel for the typhoons. Along much of the Asian coast, water has warmed by nearly 0.8 degrees (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1970s. Mei didn't study why the water is warming, but says it is probably due to a combination of natural local weather phenomena and warming from the burning of fossil fuels. Mei and two other outside scientists say it is too early to say precisely that the increased intensity is from man-made climate change. But as the world warms more in the future, stronger storms are likely to get even more intense, especially north of 10 degrees North latitude, where China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan are located, Mei says. Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach says the study makes sense and raises interesting questions, but adds that some of the storms before 1987 might have had their wind speeds under-estimated. Mei said he thinks that time period actually had better measurements because planes were then flying into storms to gauge their strength. Mei didn't study tropical cyclone intensification in other parts of the world. Follow Seth Borenstein at http://twitter.com/borenbears and his work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/seth-borenstein

A study concludes that typhoons in Asia are becoming stronger.

“If we downgrade their conservation status, or neglect or relax our conservation work, the populations and habitats of giant pandas could still suffer irreversible loss and our achievements would be quickly lost,” China’s State Forestry Administration, which spearheads the giant panda survey, said in a statement to the Associated Press on Monday.</s>(CNN) There's mixed news in the animal kingdom, as one beloved species celebrates increased numbers and another slips closer to extinction. These developments come from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species , which assesses a species' conservation status. First, the good news: The giant panda is no longer an endangered species Thanks to an increase in available habitat, the population of the giant panda rose 17% from 2004 to 2014, leading the IUCN to downgrade it from endangered to vulnerable. A nationwide census in 2014 found 1,864 giant pandas in the wild in China, up from 1,596 in 2004, the IUCN said in its report on the animal. Revered in Chinese culture, the giant panda was once widespread throughout southern China. Since the 1970s, it has been the focus of one of the most intensive, high-profile campaigns to recover an endangered species, after a census by the Chinese government found around 2,459 pandas in the world -- proof of its precarious position, according to the World Wildlife Fund Giant panda cub Nuan Nuan lives at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur. China banned trading panda skins in 1981, and the enactment of the 1988 Wildlife Protection Law banned poaching and conferred the highest protected status to the animal. The creation of a panda reserve system in 1992 increased available habitats; today, there are 67 reserves in the country that protect 67% of the population and nearly 1.4 million hectares of habitat. Meanwhile, partnerships between the Chinese government and international conservation nongovernmental organizations and zoos have spread research, conservation and breeding efforts. Zoo Atlanta announced Saturday that 19-year-old Lun Lun, originally from China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, had given birth to twins The improved status confirms that the Chinese government's reforestation and forest protection efforts are working, the IUCN said. But climate change still threatens to eliminate more than 35% of the panda's bamboo habitat in the next 80 years; hence the "vulnerable" designation, which means it's still at risk of extinction. "The recovery of the panda shows that when science, political will and engagement of local communities come together, we can save wildlife and also improve biodiversity," said WWF Director General Marco Lambertini. Now, the bad news: The eastern gorilla is critically endangered Eastern gorillas populate the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, northwest Rwanda and southwest Uganda, making them another victim of the region's civil wars. Hunting of eastern gorillas, fueled by the spread of firearms, has led to a population decline of more than 70% in the past 20 years for the world's largest living primate, the IUCN said. The eastern gorilla population, made up of two subspecies, is estimated to be fewer than 5,000, bumping it from endangered to critically endangered. One of those subspecies, Grauer's gorilla, lost 77% of its population since 1994, declining from 16,900 individuals to just 3,800 in 2015, the IUCN said. The second subspecies, the mountain gorilla, is faring better, increasing its number to around 880 individuals, reversing a decline that began in 1996. The mountain gorilla, seen here, is doing better than its counterpart, the Grauer's gorilla. The change in status means four of six great apes are critically endangered, the eastern gorilla, western gorilla, Bornean orangutan and Sumatran orangutan. The chimpanzee and bonobo are considered endangered. In the past 20 years, Grauer's gorillas have been severely affected by human activities, the victim of poaching for bushmeat for those working in mining camps and for commercial trade, the IUCN said. "This illegal hunting has been facilitated by a proliferation of firearms resulting from widespread insecurity in the region," said the IUCN in a report on the animal . "This rate of population loss is almost three times above that which qualifies a species as critically endangered." Additional threats include habitat loss and degradation through agricultural and pastoral activities in DRC, along with extraction of resources, which puts added stress on natural habitats. Illegal mining has decimated the lowlands of Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a Grauer's gorilla habitat. Destruction of forest for timber, charcoal production and agriculture continues to threaten isolated gorilla populations in North Kivu and the Itombwe Massif.

The giant panda is removed from IUCN's endangered species list but is replaced by the Eastern gorilla.

Ex 49er was in sandwich fight before later assault arrest SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Hours before former 49er Bruce Miller was arrested for assault, a manager at a San Francisco restaurant says he had to kick him out after the player got in a fight over a sandwich. Later Monday police were called to a hotel after Miller tried to enter the room of an elderly couple, attacking the 70-year-old man who was staying there and his son, who came to his father's aid. Police said the tight end went to the Fisherman's Wharf Marriott on Columbus Avenue about 2:45 a.m. and tried to get a room, but when he was told there were none available he knocked on a random room. He knocked on the door of a guest and was told that he had the wrong room before he proceeded to attack the guest. Officials say that after Miller hit the 29-year-old man in the room, the victim's 70-year-old father came to his aid, but was also attacked by Miller. The guest's father tried to help his son, but was also punched by Miller. Miller was charged with aggravated assault, elder abuse, threats and battery after an early-morning fight at a San Francisco hotel, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The San Francisco 49ers released Miller on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, just hours after reports emerged he was arrested for assaulting two men. However, even before he was released, the San Francisco 49ers announced they were cutting ties with the five-year veteran. In 2015, Miller underwent a court-mandated course on domestic violence after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor disturbing the peace. Miller was drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft.</s>Sept 5 (The Sports Xchange) - The San Francisco 49ers released fullback Bruce Miller on Monday just hours after he was arrested on suspicion of assault charges. Miller was charged with aggravated assault, elder abuse, threats and battery after an early-morning fight at a San Francisco hotel, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The police said they were called to the hotel at approximately 2:45 a.m. after Miller tried to enter a hotel room occupied by an elderly couple. When the guest told him he had the wrong room, Miller allegedly punched him and also punched the man’s 70-year-old father. The father was punched by Miller and both men were taken to the hospital for their injuries, police said. The Niners initially said they were investigating the situation, then released Miller. Harris had 27 carries for 140 yards and nine catches for 97 yards in two games with San Francisco last season.

San Francisco 49ers football player Bruce Miller is charged with assault.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists and rescue workers in the rebel-held part of the contested city of Aleppo are saying that government warplanes have dropped suspected chlorine bombs on a crowded neighborhood, injuring dozens. The report could not be independently verified and it was not clear how the activists determined that chlorine gas was released. Accusations involving use of chlorine and other poisonous gases are not uncommon in Syria's civil war, and both sides have denied using them while blaming the other for using it as a weapon of war. Ibrahem Alhaj, a member of the Syria Civil Defense first responders' team, also known as the White Helmets, said he got to the scene in the crowded al-Sukkari neighborhood shortly after a helicopter dropped barrels containing what he said were four chlorine cylinders. He says the cylinders fell in the crowded al-Sukkari neighborhood on Tuesday and that at least 80 civilians were transported to hospitals and treated for breathing difficulties. It posted a video showing wheezing children doused in water using oxygen masks to breathe. “It is a crowded neighbourhood.” The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 70 people suffered from breathing difficulties after a barrel bomb attack in al-Sukkari on Tuesday. A United Nations and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons inquiry seen by Reuters last month found that Syrian government forces were responsible for two toxic gas attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving chlorine. On Tuesday, a Turkish spokesman said Turkey was pushing for a ceasefire in Aleppo that would extend through the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, due to begin on Monday.</s>(CNN) Fresh airstrikes rained down Wednesday on a rebel-held neighborhood in Syria's east Aleppo, killing two people at a market where an alleged chlorine gas attack injured more than 100 people a day earlier, an activist told CNN. The US-based Syrian American Medical Society, which supports one of three hospitals in Aleppo where the victims were taken, said one person was killed by the barrel bombs dropped during the alleged chemical attack on the Sukkari neighborhood Tuesday. Children injured in alleged chlorine attack Chlorine gas allegedly was dropped about 1 p.m. local time Tuesday in barrel bombs from a helicopter, according to another Aleppo Media Center activist who attended the aftermath of the blast. "From 300 meters from the center of the barrel bomb, I started smelling chlorine, and I realized it was a chlorine bomb," he said. At least 37 children and 10 women were among those hospitalized, the Aleppo Free Doctors Committee said in a statement. The victims were struggling to breathe, coughing harshly and had the smell of chlorine on their clothes, the Aleppo Free Doctor's Committee said. Most were discharged after several hours, but ten people remained in intensive care, including a pregnant woman in her last trimester whose unborn child was showing a weak pulse, the committee claimed. CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of these reports. pic.twitter.com/HTQ2jcL0kJ — SAMS (@sams_usa) September 6, 2016 Medical sources point to regime Harrowing footage distributed by the Syrian Civil Defense -- a volunteer group also known as the White Helmets -- showed young children and others being rushed to the hospital in the arms of rescuers, gasping desperately for air while being given oxygen masks. Footage purporting to be of the blast site moments after the attack showed barrels lying on top of what's left of destroyed buildings. The video also shows a boy being washed with a hose by rescuers after being pulled from the rubble as the sirens of ambulances wail around him. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the attack, saying that medical sources accused regime warplanes of pounding the Sukkari neighborhood with barrel bombs "laden with poison gas." The use of the widely available chemical in warfare was a war crime, he said. When inhaled, it reacts with water in the body to produce corrosive hydrochloric acid that damages human cells. That's one of the reasons you see much more child casualties than adults." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was stripped of the majority of his chemical arsenal in 2013 after the U.S. threatened an attack due to their alleged use in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, leading to a multinational deal under which the weapons were removed. However the deal did not remove stocks of chlorine, a dual-use chemical which has industrial applications, but can also be used as a crude chemical weapon, delivered by improvised barrel bomb. "The barrel bombs are basically liquid cylinders of chlorine that they throw out a helicopter," de Bretton-Gordon said. But why would the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- which is backed by Russian air power and has an extensive conventional arsenal -- turn to such crude and outlawed weapons? JUST WATCHED Chemical weapons, 'the poor man's atom bomb' Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Chemical weapons, 'the poor man's atom bomb' 01:18 Syria and its ally Russia have accused Islamist militants of using chlorine in the past. UN investigators also said last month that it had found that ISIS had used mustard gas in the battlefield. "The systematic use of chemical weapons in Syria with impunity for perpetrators has become the 'new normal,'" the Syrian American Medical Society said in a statement Tuesday. Aleppo, pre-war Syria's largest city and commercial hub, has been divided for years into areas under rebel and regime control. The city has been heavily hit by intensifying violence in recent months following the failure of a American- and Russian-brokered "cessation of hostilities" earlier this year.

A chlorine attack in Aleppo on Tuesday injures more than 100 people. The blast from barrel bombs dropped kills one person.

MEXICO CITY, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Suspected gang members shot down a helicopter in a clash with police in the dangerous western Mexico state of Sinaloa on Tuesday, killing four people, the state's governor said. Silvano Aureoles, the governor of Michoacan state, said on Twitter that the operation took place near the violent city of Apatzingan, and was aimed at detaining "leaders of criminal cells". It was not immediately clear which gang was responsible. "During the operation, an official helicopter which was supporting the patrol in area of difficult access was shot down," he said. "We lament the death of the pilot, three police officers and a police officer who was injured." Last year, members of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which operates in Michoacan and in the neighboring state of Jalisco, shot down an army helicopter, killing six soldiers. Michoacan has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico after being overrun with drug gangs and armed vigilante groups. (Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter, Adriana Barrera and Lizbeth Diaz; Editing by Simon Gardner)</s>A gang brought down a helicopter during a police operation in Mexico's troubled western state of Michoacan on Tuesday, killing the pilot and three officers, the governor said. The aircraft was backing an operation to arrest leaders of criminal groups when the "official helicopter was downed" in an area with rough terrain, Governor Silvano Aureoles wrote on Twitter. Another officer was injured in the crash. Mr Aureoles did not say how the helicopter was shot down in the region of Apatzingan, a city located in Tierra Caliente (Hot Land), a region that has been beset by drug violence and vigilante justice for years. "In accordance to the responsibility to protect citizens, the state and federation won't give up in the frontal fight against crime," the governor wrote.

A gang shoots down a police helicopter near Apatzingán, Michoacán, killing four people. The police had been conducting an operation against criminal groups and drug cartels.

• Madonna's son Rocco can't stop smiling after mum 'makes deal with Guy Ritchie in custody dispute' TMZ reports that terms of the settlement are confidential, but it's likely that Rocco will return to school in London and see his mother frequently. NEW YORK — Singer Madonna and her ex-husband, director Guy Ritchie, have settled a custody dispute over their 16-year-old son Rocco, a court official in New York said on Wednesday. The custody agreement reached Wednesday stipulates that the 16-year-old is to remain with his British father, according to US media reports citing Ritchie's lawyer, Peter Bronstein. In December a judge ruled that Rocco should be returned to his mother’s custody, but decided not to issue a warrant to enforce the order. She captioned the snap: "Because sometimes soccer Mom's need to be a ..." Madonna and former husband Guy have been locked in a legal battle since December, after Rocco defied a court order to fly to New York to be with his mother. Madonna and Guy - who is now remarried to English model Jacqui Ainsley with three of their own children under five - divorced in 2008 after eight years of marriage.</s>NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Singer Madonna and her ex-husband, director Guy Ritchie, have settled a custody dispute over their 16-year-old son Rocco, a court official in New York said on Wednesday. It was not immediately announced with which parent the teenager would live. Madonna, 58, and Ritchie, 47, have been in a legal battle over their son since December, when the teenager ignored a court order to fly back from Ritchie's London home to live with his mother in New York. The "Material Girl" singer, who concluded her worldwide "Rebel Heart" tour in March, and Ritchie, director of 2009 film "Sherlock Holmes," married in 2000. After they divorced in 2008, they agreed that Rocco would live with Madonna. In March, a New York judge and a British judge both separately urged the former spouses to find an amicable resolution for Rocco's sake. Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the New York State court system, confirmed the case was officially settled on Wednesday but did not immediately provide further information. Details of the settlement also were not revealed in online court records. Attorneys for Ritchie did not immediately return calls for comment and a representative for Madonna's lawyers said they do not comment on cases involving children. Madonna and Ritchie also have an adopted son who was born in Malawi. Ritchie is now married to British model Jacqui Ainsley, with whom he has three children. (Reporting by Laila Kearney and Joseph Ax; Editing by Bill Trott)

The American pop star Madonna agrees on a settlement with her former husband Guy Ritchie over their son.

MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES (AP) — The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its temporary ban on the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at a heroes’ cemetery after a hearing during which some justices questioned whether President Rodrigo Duterte abused his executive power and violated laws by allowing the entombment, which is opposed by the Marcos regime’s human rights victims. On Wednesday, the parties were ordered to submit their respective memoranda to the court within 20 days, following a second round of oral arguments. This means there will be no interment at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Taguig this month as planned by the late strongman’s family with the permission of President Rodrigo Duterte, who promised to allow the burial during the election campaign to put an end to a lingering issue. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Lawyers for the Philippine government and heirs of Ferdinand Marcos say the late dictator is qualified to be buried at a heroes' cemetery as a former president and war veteran despite opposition from his regime's victims. Burying a dictator accused of massive rights violations and corruption at the Heroes’ Cemetery has long been an emotional and divisive issue in the Philippines, where Marcos was ousted by a “people power” revolt in 1986. He flew to Hawaii, where he lived with his wife and children in exile until he died in 1989.</s>Through the initiative of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance headed by its national chair Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis, the global protest against burial of Philippines dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos at Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (heroes cemetery) will be held today, Sept. 7, 2016, from 5pm to 6pm at the San Jose Intersection, Beach Road. This according to Dr. Celia Lamkin, chairperson of USPGG CNMI, Guam, Hawaii ,and American Samoa. There will be similar protests in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other U.S. cities, Tokyo, Italy, France , Canada, and other countries on Sept. 7 from 12 noon to 1pm. “Please wear white T-shirts. If you know of friends, relatives, classmates, or colleagues who were victims of Martial Law, please bring their photos. We will display those pictures during the global protest rally,” said Lamkin. (PR)

The Duterte administration defends its decision to bury the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippine heroes' cemetery.

Image copyright Mbl.is/Hallur Mar Hallsson Image caption The sword was handed over to heritage officials on Monday A group of Icelandic goose hunters got more than they bargained for during a recent outing - they didn't catch a single bird, but stumbled upon a Viking sword thought to be more than 1,000 years old. The five men were in Skaftarhreppur in southern Iceland when they found the sword, which they think may have washed up during a recent flood, the Visir news website reports. One of the men, Arni Bjorn Valdimarsson, shared a photo of it on his Facebook page and swiftly received a call from Iceland's Cultural Heritage Agency, which took possession of the artefact on Monday morning. Image copyright Arni Bjorn Valdimarsson Image caption The sword is largely intact The agency's director, Kristin Huld Sigurdardottir, says only 20 swords of this age have been discovered in Iceland before, making it a significant find. It didn't take much effort on the hunters' part, though. "It was just lying there, waiting to be picked up - it was obvious and just lying there on the ground," one of them, Runar Stanley Sighvatsson, tells Iceland Monitor. It's believed the sword dates back to at least the 10th Century, and may have been placed in a pagan grave, the website says. The exact area where the sword was found hasn't been revealed, as the agency wants to do a little digging of its own to see what else is lying around there. Next story: Tokyo quake drill focuses on tourist language barrier Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter.</s>THE 2016 SP Papua New Guinea Hunters’ presentation night takes place tomorrow at Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby. Hunters chief executive officer Bob Cutmore said the event would be similar to last year’s edition and would have the usual awards and accolades given out to the season’s best performers. “The Hunters are having their presentation night on Saturday and it’ll be the last engagement for the team before they start their eight-week break on Monday,” Cutmore said. Cutmore would not confirm the special guests who were on the schedule but said the venue had seating for up to 300 guests including the Hunters team and management and board as well as the PNGRFL executive. He confirmed that Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko was one of the dignitaries expected at the function. Among the acknowledgements to be handed out, the coveted Player of the Year award sits on top of the pile. Israel Eliab picked up the 2015 gong with this year’s award believed to be a close three-way tussle between star back Justin Olam, hooker cum halfback Wartovo Puara Jr and five-eighth Ase Boas. Olam looks set to scoop the awards night with the 22-year-old in the running for the Top Tryscorer, Best Back and Rookie of the Year awards. The other awards to be given out are the People’s Choice award, Players’ Player, Coach’s award, Man of Steel award and the PNGRFL Chairman’s Bow and Arrow award. Captain Noel Zeming looks set to take out the top point scorer (120 points) award despite missing 10 games during the season. Olam’s 14 tries, while not as impressive as Eilab’s 22 last year or Gary Lo’s 24 from 2014, is well ahead of nearest challenger in Adex Wera’s 11 for the season. Competing for the Best Forward’s gong are probably only two men: Brandy Peter’s evolution into an elite forward was stamped this season with the burly Southern Highlander among the best in the Hunters pack week in week out; Timothy Lomai’s season has also been noteworthy after a stint out of the Hunters fold earlier in the year – both he and Peter surprised many with their consistency and quality. Olam will have some competition for the Best Back award with Wera, Bland Abavu and Thompson Teteh strong contenders. Puara’s stellar form at dummy half and his seamless transition to first reciever mid-way through the season marks him as a club great in the making and he could well add another Man of Steel award to the one he picked up last year. The club’s other stand outs in 2016 have been Warren Glare ( best tackler), Adam Korave (leadership and aggression), Gahuna Silas (impact), Esau Siune (best metre-gainer) and Benjamin Hetra (best bench forward).

Hunters discover a 1000-year-old sword in Iceland.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Robin Wainwright could have cashed-in on pristine grassland and forest he owned along the border with Yosemite National Park — building an upscale resort for a few fortunate guests. The addition to the park in California features wetlands and a grassy meadow surrounded by tall pine trees on rolling hills that are home to endangered wildlife. Ackerson Meadow is located along Yosemite's western boundary. The area was purchased from private owners by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit conservation group, for $2.3 million and donated to the park. (Robb Hirsch/The Trust for Public Land via AP) Officials told The Associated Press that Yosemite will preserve the land — historically used for logging and cattle grazing — as habitat for wildlife such as the great grey owl, the largest owl in North American and listed as endangered by California wildlife officials. Wainwright and his wife Nancy, however, decided to take a slight loss on their investment and sold it to a land trust, which donated it Wednesday to Yosemite. Robin Wainwright said they lost a "few hundred thousand dollars" selling to the trust, and the couple also passed up a lucrative offer from a developer to build a resort. He said he often saw bears strolling through the meadow and owls soaring over fields of vibrant wildflowers blooming in the springtime. Image copyright AP Image caption The land was historically used for logging and grazing cattle Mr Wainwright said he hadn't wanted that experience to be available only to visitors who could afford to stay in a resort. "To have that accessible by everyone to me is just a great thing," Robin Wainwright said. It was worth losing a little bit of money for that," he added. “It was worth losing a little bit of money for that.” The park’s boundary has seen some minor changes over the years, but this expansion is the largest since 1949 to the park of nearly 750,000 acres total, park spokesman Scott Gediman said. More than 4.5 million people are expected to visit Yosemite this year, which spokesman Scott Gediman said would set a record for the park, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2015. Visitors pass Ackerson Meadow on their way to Hetch Hetchy reservoir, which provides drinking water to San Francisco. The land was bought with $1.53 million from the Trust for Public Land and $520,000 from the Yosemite Conservancy, which supports a variety of projects in the park. He said the Trust for Public Land had put up $1.53m for the purchase with the Yosemite Conservancy and anonymous donors making up the rest. "We are delighted and proud to make this gift to Yosemite and the people of America," said Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land. The land completes the park’s original plans from 1890, which included Ackerson Meadow, said the Yosemite Conservancy’s president, Frank Dean. “It’s a stunning open meadow surrounded by forest habitat, which supports a wide variety of flora and fauna,” said the park superintendent, Don Neubacher.</s>The first U.S. national park sites – As the National Park Service commemorates its centennial in 2016, CNN celebrates the nation's oldest national parks and monuments, which were established before the agency that now oversees them. Click through the gallery to see some of our favorite first park sites. The first U.S. national park sites – Yellowstone claims the honor of the nation's first national park, created on March 1, 1872. The U.S. Army ran the park for its first 32 years, and many park rangers were veterans. Protected primarily because of geothermal areas containing about half the world's active geysers, the 2.2 million-acre park is home to grizzly bears, wolves, elk, bison and dozens of other mammal species, birds, fish and reptiles. The first U.S. national park sites – Even during a time in American history when "manifest destiny" called prospectors to use the country's natural resources, California's stunning sequoias called out for protection from the logging industry. On September 25, 1890, Sequoia National Park became the second national park, and the first national park formed to protect a living organism. The first U.S. national park sites – The park was named General Grant National Park when it was created on October 1, 1890, but it didn't keep that moniker for long. When a new national park to protect Kings Canyon was established in 1940, General Grant National Park was rolled into it. Vestiges of the honor given Grant remain: The enormous General Grant Tree was designated as the nation's Christmas tree in 1926. The first U.S. national park sites – The heart of Washington state's first national park, Mount Rainier towers above the surrounding landscape at 14,410 feet. The park was created on March 2, 1899, after a five-year campaign by conservation and scientific groups. The mountain is actually an active volcano, and there are more than two dozen major glaciers on its slopes. The first U.S. national park sites – While there's no evidence that Native Americans lived at Crater Lake, they did treat it as a holy site before the eruption of Mount Mazama, which occurred some 7,000 years ago and created the deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet). Some Native Americans still consider the lake holy. The eye-catching site became Crater Lake National Park on May 22, 1902. The first U.S. national park sites – The Devils Tower rock formation is a sacred site to more than 20 surrounding Native American tribes, who call it "Bear's Lodge," "Bear's House," "Bear's Tipi" and other names. The site was protected under the 1906 Antiquities Act. More recently, a spiritual leader from the Lakota Nation in Wyoming has petitioned the federal government to change the name to Bear Lodge National Monument. The first U.S. national park sites – El Morro is home to the ancestral Atsinna pueblo, which was built around 1275 by ancestors to the Zuni tribe. It's estimated that the pueblo had about 857 rooms. Take the half-mile Inscription Trail to see the 2,000 petroglyphs and inscriptions dating back to the 17th century, when the Spanish were traveling through what is now New Mexico. It was named a national monument on December 8, 1906. The first U.S. national park sites – On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created this national monument, now Petrified Forest National Park, to protect the area's beautiful petrified wood. The main attraction is the fossilized wood, yet there is much more at this significant national park, including more than 13,000 years of human history dating back to the end of the last Ice Age. The first U.S. national park sites – When conservationist John Muir heard that William and Elizabeth Kent had purchased a redwood forest north of San Francisco to protect it and named it after him, Muir said, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world." President Theodore Roosevelt created Muir Woods National Monument on land donated to the federal government by the Kents on January 9, 1908. The first U.S. national park sites – The Anasazi, also called Ancestral Puebloans, started settling down in the Four Corners region about 2,000 years ago. Keet Seel, Betatakin and Inscription House -- the three cliff dwellings protected by Navajo National Monument -- date to around 1250 to 1300. On March 20, 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt established Navajo National Monument, named for the people who live on Navajo Nation land now, to protect those ancient homes. The first U.S. national park sites – People have walked the land now called Zion National Park since 6000 B.C., yet it wasn't until a 1908 federal land survey that the stunning beauty of Zion was broadcast to outsiders. The surveyors immediately recommended that President William Taft protect the lands, which he did on July 31, 1909, calling it Mukuntuweap National Monument. It became Zion National Monument in 1918 and Zion National Park in 1919. The first U.S. national park sites – Glaciers have been carving their way through Glacier National Park for millennia, and humans have been in the area for about 10,000 years. There are still reservations abutting and near the national park site, and the park land is spiritually important to local tribes. In the late 1800s, "Forest & Stream" editor George Bird Grinnell started lobbying for Glacier to become a national park. He succeeded on May 11, 1910. The first U.S. national park sites – Sacred to the Native American nations who live near it, Rainbow Bridge in Utah is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. While visitors can see the bridge and hike the trails at the national monument, which was created on May 30, 1910, it's still used as a spiritual site. Since 1995, the park service has been working with neighboring tribes to ensure the spirituality of the space is respected. The first U.S. national park sites – The land in the Colorado Plateau's northeast corner, designated the Colorado National Monument on May 24, 1911, had a fervent protector in John Otto, the park's first custodian and fiercest advocate. Otto first discovered the red-rock canyons south of Grand Junction in 1906, and he built the first trails to reach the canyons. The first U.S. national park sites – Glaciers have carved out the landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park, where more than 60 peaks stand higher than 12,000 feet. The land became U.S. territory with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and attracted hunters, ranchers, miners and homesteaders. Local naturalists started agitating for conservation, and President Woodrow Wilson created the national park on January 26, 1915. The first U.S. national park sites – It was 149 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the land now protected by the monument named for them. They became extinct about 59 million years ago, but their legacy lives on in the fossils left behind. Paleontologist Earl Douglass found the Carnegie Quarry in 1909, and President Woodrow Wilson protected the site only six years later, on October 4, 1915. The first U.S. national park sites – Now called Acadia National Park, the park once known as Sieur de Monts National Monument and Lafayette National Park celebrates its centennial on July 8, 1916. The first national park east of the Mississippi owes its existence to an elite group who loved Maine -- including Harvard University President Charles W. Eliot, John D. Rockefeller Jr. and textile heir George B. Dorr. The first U.S. national park sites – Early Native Hawaiians revered Pele, goddess of volcanoes, and believed that the Halema'uma'u Crater at the summit of Kilauea was the deity's home. Created on August 1, 1916, Hawaii National Park only included the summits of Kilauea and Mauna Loa on Hawai'i (the Big Island) and Haleakala on Maui with other volcanic sites added later. Haleakala was made a separate national park in 1961. Today, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park covers 520 square miles.

The U.S. Yosemite National Park expands by 400 acres.

At Apple's iPhone 7 unveiling in San Francisco on Wednesday, the tech powerhouse revealed a host of new and updated hardware and software, including a new type of headphone jack and souped-up camera. “We are taking the headphones in iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to lightning, and including them in the box with the device.” Apple will also include an adaptor to allow consumers to use existing headphones with the iPhone. Apple said the camera software would be updated later this year, allowing the iPhone 7 Plus camera to capture depth-of-field, and separate the background from the foreground to achieve amazing portraits once possible only with DSLR cameras. The Apple Watch 2 will be available in gold, rose gold, silver or space grey aluminium, or silver or space black stainless steel cases paired with a wide variety of bands starting at £369. Apple senior VP Jeff Williams specifically said this watch would be “swim-proof.” The original Apple watch was just “splash-proof.” The new watch will also of much more robust graphics performance, with a display that will be two times brighter than the original.</s>James Titcomb has filed his latest dispatch live from San Fransisco, and it's a hands on with the new iPhone 7 Plus. Here's what he thinks: I’ve been able to barge my way through the throngs to have a quick play with the new iPhone 7 Plus, and collected some initial thoughts. The first thing to say is that to the untrained eye, there is little difference from either the 6 or 6s, both visually and in holding the phone - the very nice jet black shade notwithstanding. Many will feel that this alone doesn’t make the 7 much of an upgrade. But play around with it for a while and it’s clear that a lot has changed. The stereo speakers sound very impressive, and the redesigned camera in the 7 Plus is a significant upgrade. While it’s difficult to judge picture quality in a packed showroom, it’s clear that zoomed-in photos are a lot crisper and clearer, and the tweaked software, which replaces pinch to zoom, makes it much easier to take a long-distance shot. The wireless AirPods are also nicely thought out: take one earphone out, for example, and the music will stop. And contrary to my fears, they didn’t immediately fall out of my ears. Many of the under-the-hood features - water resistance, battery life improvements and better performance - won’t become clear until several weeks of use, but at first glance, there is enough here to get fans excited.

Apple announces the release of the iPhone 7 along with the Apple Watch 2.

China says it opposes all discrimination after Air China London warning SHANGHAI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - China said on Thursday it opposes all racial discrimination after state-owned Air China withdrew an in-flight magazine that warned visitors to be careful in parts of London populated by members of ethnic minorities. The warning appeared in the September issue of the airline's "Wings of China" magazine as part of a promotional feature about the British capital. "After discovering this problem, Air China immediately removed this magazine from all flights and demanded that the publishers of 'Wings of China' seriously learn from this lesson, strengthen their content review and avoid making similar mistakes," the airline said. "Precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people," the state-owned airline's Wings of China magazine said in an article offering advice to visitors to London, according to a photo of the text seen by Reuters. Advertisement "We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling." Virendra Sharma , Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said on Wednesday that he has written to the Chinese ambassador to the UK demanding an apology for what he described as blatant racism . "I am shocked and appalled that even today some people would see it as acceptable to write such blatantly untrue and racist statements," said Virendra Sharma, the member of parliament for an ethnically diverse district in western London. "I have invited representatives of Air China to visit my constituency of Ealing Southall to see that a very multi-cultural area is safe, and would be of great value for those visiting London to see. Air China is the country's flagship carrier, with 98 international routes and two flights per day from Beijing to London Heathrow. Figures from VisitBritain show the number of trips to the UK from China rose by 46% last year to 270,000.</s>The main article in the Wings of China in-flight magazine hails Britons’ fondness for hats, before a sidebar offers tips for visiting the English capital, with the paragraph: “London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people.” The article also warns: “We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.” Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing, Southall, which has a large Indian population, complained of Air China’s “blatantly untrue and racist statements ” . The text, tweeted by Beijing-based producer Haze Fan of US news channel CNBC, added: “We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.” Two MPs have urged Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, to secure an apology to their London constituents. “I have raised this issue with the Chinese ambassador, and requested that he ensures an apology is swiftly forthcoming from Air China, and the magazine is removed from circulation immediately,” Sharma said. “I will await their response, and if an appropriate one is not forthcoming I shall feel forced to question whether Air China is a fit company to operate in the UK.” Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, which has one of the largest south Asian populations in London, said: “I think it is offensive to all Londoners, not just the ethnic minorities mentioned.” Speaking to the Evening Standard she said: “I am going to be writing to the Chinese ambassador to invite him to visit Tooting in London, where all races live side by side. She said this would show him “what an international city London is”. LONDON — Air China has come under fire in Britain for an article in its in-flight magazine that tells visitors to take precautions in areas of London with large ethnic-minority populations.

Air China receives criticism in the United Kingdom after it releases an advertisement warning passengers from visiting areas of London populated by blacks, Indians and Pakistanis.

Bernie Ecclestone insisted he will carry on as chief executive of Formula One for at least three years as the £6billion takeover of the sport ploughed on. John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp. agreed to buy the company that controls Formula One from private-equity firm CVC Capital Partners Ltd. for $4.4 billion in cash, stock and convertible debt. “The transaction price represents an enterprise value for Formula One of $8bn and an equity value of $4.4bn,” Liberty Media confirmed in a statement. * Agreed to acquire Formula One from a consortium of sellers led by CVC capital partners * Transaction price represents enterprise value for Formula One of $8.0 billion * Initial sale of 18.7 percent minority stake in Formula One, with 100 percent sale subject to satisfaction of conditions * Acquisition will be effected by liberty media acquiring 100 percent of shares of Delta Topco, parent company of Formula One * Transaction price represents an equity value of $4.4 billion * Liberty Media Corp says Bernie Ecclestone will remain formula one's CEO * Prior to completion, CVC funds will continue to be controlling shareholder of Formula One * Upon completion of acquisition, Liberty Media Group will be renamed Formula One Group * Formula One will remain based in London * Liberty Media Corp says funding for cash component of acquisition is expected to come from cash on hand at Liberty Media Group * Ticker symbols for series A, series B and series C Liberty Media Group tracking stocks will be changed from LMC (A/B/K) respectively * Selling stockholders will get $1.1 billion in cash, 138 million newly issued shares of LMCK and a $351 million exchangeable debt instrument Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Bernie Ecclestone will remain Formula One’s CEO.” The new owners have also included the option for allowing the F1 teams to participate in the new investment in the sport and said they will discuss the idea further with several that have expressed interest already. I see great opportunity to help Formula One continue to develop and prosper for the benefit of the sport, fans, teams and investors alike.” Ecclestone added: “I would like to welcome Liberty Media and Chase Carey to Formula One and I look forward to working with them.” The statement also confirms that the deal is subject to consent from third parties including the FIA, F1’s governing body.</s>The deal, which has an enterprise value of $8 billion US according to a company statement, heralds a new era for Formula One, a European-dominated sport that has long sought to break into the US market and win fresh audiences. The American entertainment and media giant is buying 100 per cent of the shares of F1's parent company Delta Topco from the British private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. Ecclestone, who has been part of Formula One ever since the 1950s, will remain as chief executive for three years but 21st Century Fox vice-chairman Chase Carey will become the new chairman. Liberty Media, which is owned by American media mogul John Malone, and its sister companies have interests that span from baseball's Atlanta Braves to Virgin Media, and Malone owns shares in ITV, Eurosport and Formula E. Liberty Media president and chief executive Greg Maffei said: "We are excited to become part of Formula One. We think our long-term perspective and expertise with media and sports assets will allow us to be good stewards of Formula One and benefit fans, teams and our shareholders. "We look forward to working closely with Chase Carey and Bernie Ecclestone to support the next phase of growth for this hugely popular global sport." Ecclestone added: "I would like to welcome Liberty Media and Chase Carey to Formula One and I look forward to working with them." Liberty Media will initially acquire an 18.7 per cent minority stake before completing a full takeover if the deal is approved by regulators and the FIA. Carey said: "I am thrilled to take up the role of Chairman of Formula One and have the opportunity to work alongside Bernie Ecclestone, CVC, and the Liberty Media team. "I greatly admire Formula One as a unique global sports entertainment franchise attracting hundreds of millions of fans each season from all around the world. "I see great opportunity to help Formula One continue to develop and prosper for the benefit of the sport, fans, teams and investors alike." As a major investor in the internet, many observers expect Malone to move F1 more in that direction, which would not be difficult as Ecclestone has made no apologies about ignoring the digital revolution. Liberty Media will also want to grow F1's presence in the United States, where it has traditionally struggled against home-grown alternatives, although the US Grand Prix in Austin has been a relative success. And F1 fans should expect more innovations with gaming technology and virtual reality, as well as a much more coherent marketing effort with the drivers and teams. But the days of terrestrial broadcasters like the BBC, ITV or current domestic home Channel 4 providing free-to-air coverage on Sunday afternoons might be numbered.

Liberty Media confirms it is buying Formula One for US$4.4 billion; however, Bernie Ecclestone will remain as chief executive.

A new armed group has threatened to launch attacks in the uranium-rich west African country of Niger to protest against the marginalisation of the minority Toubou population. The arid country, one of the world’s poorest, is facing attacks from Nigeria-based Boko Haram jihadists and other groups near its rich uranium mines. “The Movement for Justice and the Rehabilitation of Niger wishes to inform… that we will take up an armed fight to obtain our fundamental rights,” said a statement signed by Adam Tcheke Koudigan who described himself as interim president of the group. “The government of Niger has remained completely indifferent to our more than legitimate demands,” he said, accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to environmental degradation near oil sites. It accused the China National Petroleum Corporation of “making millions of dollars” while ravaging the environment and ignoring the welfare of locals. “We are on the ground, ready… and when the time comes we will attack Niger,” he said in a video, surrounded by armed men, one of whom held a rocket launcher. The pastoral Toubous are spread across Chad, Libya, Niger and Sudan. But a government source dismissed the video as a “media stunt”, adding: that Koudigan was “insignificant and has no one behind him.”</s>PTI By NIAMEY: At least 38 people have been killed and more than 92,000 left homeless since June in disastrous floods in Niger, the United Nations have said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the deaths, up from a previous government toll of 14, followed torrential rains in August. More than 26,000 livestock have been lost and more than 9,000 homes destroyed, the UN said, citing government figures. Authorities and NGOs have already given out aid to more than 50,000 people, the UN added, with many of the homeless sheltering in schools and public buildings. Despite being in the middle of the desert, Agadez in the north and Tahoua to the west are among the worst hit regions, along with Maradi in the south. Niger is in the midst of its annual rainy season, having struggled to overcome a severe food crisis caused by drought. One of the poorest countries on the planet, its authorities are also struggling with 300,000 refugees and internally displaced people who have fled the Boko Haram insurgency in Niger's southeast and in neighbouring Nigeria.

Flooding in Niger kills at least 38 people and leaves more than 92,000 people displaced.

The elderly man died in July after contracting Zika from travel abroad, but his son did not leave the country and the mosquitoes known to spread the disease are not found in their area. In a study published Tuesday in Cell Reports, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describe the effect of Zika virus infections in the eyes of mouse fetuses, newborns and adults. The symptoms of Zika infection are generally mild, although in pregnant women it can cause brain malformations and other defects in unborn children. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies.</s>(CNN) The pictures from Brazil are heartbreaking: baby after baby born with a small head and damaged brain after an attack by the Zika virus during pregnancy. The official numbers are equally disturbing: The rate of birth defects involving the nervous system nearly doubled across Brazil after Zika arrived. This stark statistical reality was discovered by a team of researchers from Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, which analyzed hospital records across Brazil from 2008, well before Zika arrived, until the end of February 2016. The researchers also looked for data on rare, potentially deadly inflammations of the brain and spinal cord such as encephalitis, myelitis, and encephalomyelitis, as well as Guillain-Barré syndrome , a disorder where the body's immune system attacks its own nerve cells, causing pain, paralysis and even death. The results, published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention journal Emerging Infectious Diseases , found "an unprecedented and significant rise in the hospitalization rate for congenital malformations of the nervous system, Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis" beginning in mid-2014. That's more than a year before the world became aware of the outbreak in October 2015, and stories of Zika's terrible consequences began to appear in the news. The numbers show the northeast region of Brazil, often considered the epicenter of the Zika outbreak, was indeed the hardest hit. Historical averages of congenital malformations were stable at about 40/100,000 live births until November of 2015. Then the number jumped to 170/100,000 births, four times higher. Then, in the four months between November 2015 and February 2016, "a total of 1,027 hospitalizations for congenital malformations of the nervous system were recorded nationwide," the researchers said. Almost half, 448, occurred in the Northeast. Rates of Guillain-Barré and encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis showed a similar increase in the Northeast. Hospitalizations for Guillain-Barré increased by nearly 3% until the outbreak peaked in July of last year, while the Northeast was the only area of the country to see an increase in CNS. No one really knows why this section of Brazil was so unfortunate. "It might be the economic environment," one researcher told CNN's Chief Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, during his visit to the northeastern city of Salvador just before the Olympic Games in Rio. "Because of the poverty, we have a more closely packed population, and sanitary conditions are worse in this part of the country," said Dr. Jamary Oliveira Filho, a Harvard-trained neurologist who is studying the Zika outbreak. "It's the perfect setup for epidemic to occur, where there's already inadequate social conditions." In their study, researchers from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation mention additional theories. One is that co-infection with dengue or chikungunya, two other viruses passed by the same mosquito that carries Zika, might be contributing to the devastating consequences of the virus. Another is that a drought, malnutrition and contamination of drinking water might be a contributing factor. "The concentration of neuropathies in the northeast states remains a mystery for researchers and health surveillance services," said the researchers. "New detection tools for outbreaks should be pursued to identify real trends and, at the same time, minimize false alarms and panic that could be provoked in populations potentially affected by the Zika epidemic."

Malaysia reports its first pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus.

An artificial island at Scarborough Shoal could be a game changer in China’s quest to control the sea and raises the risk of armed confrontation with the United States, according to security analysts. Beijing this week insisted it had not started building at the shoal -- a move that could lead to a military outpost just 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the main Philippine island, where US forces are stationed. On Wednesday, the Philippines released what it says are surveillance pictures of Chinese coast guard ships and barges at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, an apparent attempt to publicize its concerns before ASEAN leaders met with Chinese Premier Li Kequiang in Vientiane. “I recognize this raises tensions but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and stability.” The verdict by an international tribunal in The Hague said China’s claims to most of the waters—through which $5 trillion in global shipping trade passes annually—had no legal basis. Photo courtesy Philippine Department of Defense Tensions have escalated sharply in recent years as China has built islands on reefs and islets in the Spratlys archipelago – another strategically important location – that are capable of supporting military operations. The dispute has raised fears of military confrontation between the world’s superpowers, with China determined to cement control of the strategically vital waters despite a July verdict that its claims have no legal basis. VIENTIANE: US President Barack Obama warned Beijing Thursday it could not ignore a tribunal’s ruling rejecting its sweeping claims to the South China Sea, driving tensions higher in a territorial row that threatens regional security. But, hours before the meeting, the Philippines' defence ministry released photographs and a map showing what it said was an increased number of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal, which China seized after a standoff in 2012. It would also be a major step in China's quest to control the sea, giving it the ability to enforce an air defence identification zone across the waters. US President Barack Obama reportedly directly warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during a meeting in March not to push ahead with any artificial island building there. Photo courtesy Philippine Department of Defense The United States, which is a treaty ally of the Philippines, has repeatedly said it does not want to fight a war over the shoal. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had said he did not want to anger China by highlighting the territorial row at the summit of regional leaders in Laos this week. Officials said talks between Southeast Asian leaders and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang went smoothly and there was no tension over a recent ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated China's claims to the waterway. Obama was right to respond to Duterte's intemperate babbling at an Asian summit in Laos by canceling a bilateral meeting with the Philippine leader, who now says he regretted what he said. Duterte launched a tirade against Obama on Monday after being told the US president planned to raise concerns about a war on crime in the Philippines that has claimed 3,000 lives in just over two months.</s>With a successful Group of 20 summit under its belt and the run-up to November’s presidential election occupying Washington, Beijing appears to be testing the waters for a potential move on a hotly disputed site in the South China Sea that would further extend its grip there — and significantly ratchet up tensions in the region. China has in recent days and weeks ramped up its activity around the Scarborough Shoal, with Philippines’ Defense Ministry releasing pictures Wednesday showing what it said were Chinese boats near the chain of rocks and reefs just 230 km (140 miles) from the Philippine coast. The release came just hours before Southeast Asian nations were due to meet China’s premier at a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Laos. The moves have stoked fears in Manila that Beijing could be laying the groundwork for an eventual land-reclamation project at the contentious collection of rocky outcroppings that barely jut above water at high tide. China’s focus in the contentious waters has shifted since the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling in July that invalidated its claims to the South China Sea, a decision Beijing has lambasted as “waste paper.” Starting in 2014, China began employing an army of dredging vessels to create seven man-made islands in the South China Sea’s Spratly chain, building military-grade airstrips, radar facilities and hangers for Chinese fighter jets on a number of the reclaimed islets, including Mischief Reef, located 250 km west of the Philippines’ Palawan Island. It has also beefed-up the defense capabilities on Woody Island, its main outpost in the Paracel archipelago further west, deploying surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets there in February. But experts say Scarborough Shoal would be the crowning jewel in a bid to solidify an iron grip over the South China Sea. Building at Scarborough would create a large “strategic triangle” comprising Woody Island and its Spratly outposts, giving Beijing the ability to police an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea. The impact of such a strategic triangle would be tremendous for both the United States’ and Japan’s strategic planning, some experts say, and could be a game-changer in regional power relations. “If China is successful in militarizing the Scarborough Shoal, this would represent a significant change in the status quo,” said Jeffrey Hornung, a security and foreign affairs expert with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA in Washington. “Should China build up the shoal with radars, missiles and an airstrip, it would enhance China’s anti-access, area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities as well as improve its power-projection capabilities in the region, particularly vis-a-vis the U.S.” Hornung said this matters because a new base that forms a strategic triangle with its facilities and runways in the Paracels and Spratlys would bring the entire region under Chinese radar, missile and air coverage — effectively creating a “Chinese lake.” “This would enable China to control the sea lines of communication, monitor foreign naval and air activities, enforce a South China Sea air defense identification zone and could work to blunt America’s freedom of action in times of conflict. Hornung also said Japan, like the U.S. and others, is concerned about this because this gives China a significant edge not just in a wartime situation, but in peacetime as well, and will enable it to better monitor what the U.S. and its allies are doing in the region. China was prepared to initiate land-reclamation at Scarborough in March, according to a Financial Times report citing current and former U.S. officials, but backed down after U.S. President Barack Obama warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping of serious consequences if it began dredging work there. Another report, this one coming just last month by the South China Morning Post, reignited concern over the issue. It quoted an unidentified source familiar with the Scarborough matter as saying that reclamation work there would not start until after the Group of 20 summit, which wrapped up Monday in the Chinese host city of Hangzhou, but potentially before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3. “U.S. President Barack Obama will focus on domestic issues ahead of the election as he needs to pass down legacies before leaving office. That might make him busy and he might not have time to take care of regional security issues,” the source was quoted as saying. The Hong Kong-based daily had earlier reported in late April that Chinese work at the shoal would begin within the year. The Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, first said last week that it had spotted Chinese barges and numerous other vessels — including Chinese coast guard ships — at Scarborough. It said these sightings could presage a move to turn the shoal into another man-made island. State Department spokesperson Katina Adams told The Japan Times this week that it was aware of reports that the Philippines has raised concerns about the number of Chinese vessels near Scarborough. “We continue to closely monitor the situation around Scarborough Reef, and we encourage all sides to exercise restraint and take practical steps to lower tensions,” Adams said. Jay Batongbacal, who heads the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the state-run University of the Philippines, said the vessels seen last week could allow China to make a lightning advance on Scarborough. “Rather than barges as widely reported, they do appear to be at least one dredging ship and a cable-laying ship,” Batongbacal told The Japan Times. “These could be for preparatory work. the dredger could be used to create deeper channels into/within the reef for subsequent construction activities. The cable laying ship could be intended to lay communications cables that would be more secure than satellite/radio links. “Both could allow sudden massive reclamation in a single burst of activity, as soon as the weather permits,” he said, adding that a cable-laying ship could also be used to lay a series of listening devices across the seafloor all the way up to the mainland that would be effective against submarines and surface ships. Regional security experts also said some of the vessels spotted by Manila were likely part of China’s “maritime militia,” or “little blue men,” the sea equivalent of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s “little green men” that were deployed during Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. The nominally civilian maritime militia — which China also used last month to swarm the waters near the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea — is one of Beijing’s most important tools. Often masked as innocuous fishing vessels, the militia is employed in “gray zone” activities as a tool of asymmetric warfare, offering major rewards while threatening the U.S., Japan and other potential opponents with major risks if engaged, observers say. “It is very likely that at least a portion of these vessels (near Scarborough) are maritime militia, given that they do not seem to be engaged on purely private economic activities,” said Alex Calvo a guest professor at Nagoya University focusing on security issues. He said the vessels in the area of Scarborough could either be manned by militia members and formally affiliated with the organization or simply one with all or some crew belonging to it, perhaps sporting high-tech equipment provided by Chinese authorities. China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that there had been no change to the situation around Scarborough. “I can tell you that there has not been any change to the Huangyan Island situation. China has also not taken new actions,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing in Beijing, using China’s name for the shoal. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was set to ask Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at Wednesday’s summit whether the vessels were on another island-making mission on the Scarborough, just a few hundred kilometers from Philippine military bases hosting U.S. troops. Bonnie Glaser, a regional security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, said the distance from Scarborough to the bases was a top concern for the U.S. and the Philippines. Manila is a U.S. treaty ally and a deal between the two countries allowing an increased American military presence in the former U.S. colony was greenlighted in January. “I think the main concern is the proximity of Scarborough Shoal to the Philippines main island,” Glaser said. “The U.S. will be rotating forces out of bases in the Philippines and a Chinese military outpost on Scarborough will pose a threat to these assets.” According to retired U.S. Marine Col. Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, China would effectively have a permanent presence there under such a scenario. “This is a huge military advantage,” Newsham said. ships and aircraft may be able to operate in and transit the South China Sea, but it is an ephemeral presence — here today, gone tomorrow. The Chinese will be there regardless — and that is what matters.” While major Chinese dredging operations in the South China Sea have apparently been halted since the end of last year, a number of observers described a move on Scarborough as seemingly imminent. “Right now it is still unclear, but I would not really be surprised,” said Nagoya University’s Calvo. “China is indeed ready to cross that ‘red line,’ among other reasons because it is not much of a red line. It is not backed by any explicit threat to use force.” Philippine Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a vocal defender of Manila’s territorial claims in its dispute with Beijing, offered a more clear-cut view. “My personal assessment is that China will start the dredging after the G-20 meeting and before the November elections in the U.S.,” Carpio told The Japan Times. He said Beijing has long planned to militarize the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal so as to enforce its so-called “nine-dash line” claim to most of the South China Sea. “The Chinese have built islands on all the seven reefs that China occupies in the Spratlys,” Carpio said. “There is no reason why Scarborough Shoal, strategically located near the Bashi Channel — the shortest outlet of China’s Hainan-based nuclear missile submarines to the Pacific Ocean, will be an exception.” Abhijit Singh, head of the Maritime Policy Initiative Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi, said for the Chinese, the only issue was the timing. “My sense is that it may not happen in the next few weeks, but at an opportune moment in days following, when China can justify its reclamation by pointing to a U.S. provocation,” Singh said. “But I have little doubt that the Chinese will ultimately build a structure on Scarborough, because it’s the last link in the regional maritime strategy.” With ramped-up military activity in the waters recently, including U.S. “freedom of navigation” patrols near Chinese-held islands and regular Chinese air force “combat patrols” in the area, the potential for an unintended clash — something that could be seen as an “opportune moment” — is high. But regardless of any Chinese move on Scarborough, the mere psychological effects of the issue could also prove destabilizing. “The psychological threat of China dominating such a strategic area has many worried that China will control the South China Sea, and all the trade that transits through it,” said Sasakawa’s Hornung. “This, in turn, has led regional countries like Japan to look with concerned eyes to the U.S. should the dredging start. To date, the U.S. has opposed Chinese actions in the South China Sea. But beyond the occasional patrol or limited efforts to bolster regional nations maritime capabilities, the U.S. response has essentially been limited to diplomatic protests and the building of a coalition opposed to Chinese actions. “Because the Philippines is a treaty ally of the U.S., if China can act freely with no U.S. response beyond a diplomatic protest, its credibility as an ally will be under severe stress,” said Hornung. “In particular, a non-U.S. response would send shock waves through Tokyo, given that concerns over U.S. commitment to the defense of the Senkaku Islands continues to lurk among officialdom in Tokyo.” “If China starts to dredge, it behooves the U.S. to act firmly, knowing that its response will be under close scrutiny from its regional allies.”

The Duterte administration accuses China of building a "secret island" on the Scarborough Shoal.

WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The United States voiced concern on Tuesday about the detention of leading Bahraini democracy campaigner Nabeel Rajab and called on the Manama government to release him immediately. The call by the U.S. State Department came just two days after The New York Times published a letter by Rajab that said he was facing prosecution for his work exposing human rights abuses in Bahrain and criticizing the war in Yemen. Prosecutors in Bahrain filed new charges on Monday against an unidentified man, believed by rights activists to be Rajab, for "publishing a column in a foreign newspaper in which he deliberately broadcast news, statements and false rumors that undermine the kingdom's prestige and stature." Asked about the new charges, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States was "very concerned" about Rajab's "ongoing detention and the new charges filed against him." "We call on the government of Bahrain to release him immediately," Toner said. "We have concerns about the state of human rights in general in Bahrain and we're engaging with the government ... on all these issues." Rajab said in his letter to the Times that he had been detained, mostly in isolation, in Bahrain since the beginning of the summer. He said Bahrain had some 4,000 political prisoners and the highest prison population per capita in the Middle East. "This is a country that has subjected its people to imprisonment, torture and even death for daring to desire democracy," Rajab wrote. He said he also was accused of "insulting a neighboring country," Saudi Arabia, by sending notes on Twitter calling for an end to the war in Yemen. Rajab, who met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this year, was critical of the United States for selling billions of dollars worth of arms to Saudi Arabia for the Yemen conflict. Rajab said recent strong U.S. statements on Bahrain's human rights problems were good "but unless the United States is willing to use its leverage, fine words have little effect." He urged U.S. President Barack Obama to use American influence to resolve the Yemen conflict. Opposition political groups in Bahrain staged large protests during the Arab Spring of 2011, when demonstrators across the Arab world took to the streets calling for greater democracy. The protests in Bahrain were put down when neighboring Saudi Arabia sent troops to restore order. Political tensions have continued since then in Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet. (Reporting by David Alexander and Arshad Mohammed)</s>Image copyright AP Image caption Nabeel Rajab says he has been detained since the beginning of the summer The US State Department has urged Bahrain to immediately release the prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. A spokesman said the US was "very concerned" about Mr Rajab's detention and charges filed against him. Mr Rajab is reported to be facing fresh charges for writing a letter to the New York Times. He has served several prison sentences since setting up the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights in 2002. In his letter published in the New York Times on Sunday, Mr Rajab said he had been detained, mostly in isolation, in Bahrain since the beginning of the summer. He said Bahrain had some 4,000 political prisoners and the highest prison population per capita in the Middle East. "This is a country that has subjected its people to imprisonment, torture and even death for daring to desire democracy," he wrote. Following the article, Bahraini prosecutors filed new charges against an unnamed man, who rights activists say is Mr Rajab, for "publishing a column in a foreign newspaper in which he deliberately broadcast news, statements and false rumours that undermine the kingdom's prestige and stature". US State Department Mark Toner said in Washington: "We call on the government of Bahrain to release him [Mr Rajab] immediately. "We have concerns about the state of human rights in general in Bahrain and we're engaging with the government... on all these issues." Image copyright AFP Image caption Anti-government protests in Bahrain often feature images of Nabeel Rajab Bahrain is home to the US Navy Fifth Fleet. Mr Rajab has been a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities and helped to lead anti-government protests which erupted in March 2011. Demonstrators took to the streets, demanding more democracy and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni Muslim royal family. The protests were quelled by security forces after the authorities brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni-led Gulf states to restore order.

The Obama administration urges Bahrain to free Nabeel Rajab, a human rights activist.

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the highest religious authority in the country, said in remarks published on Wednesday that the leaders of regional rival Iran were not Muslims and saw Sunni Muslims as their enemy. He said this on Wednesday in Riyadh in reaction to comments by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticizing Saudi management of the hajj and suggesting Muslim countries think about ending Saudi control of the annual pilgrimage. Responding to a question about Monday’s comments by Khamenei, Al al-Sheikh said he was not surprised by them. Referring to the Iranian leadership, the English-language Arab News website quoted him as saying: "We have to understand that they are not Muslims ... Their enmity toward Muslims is old and their main enemies are the followers of Sunnah (Sunnis).” He said Iranian leaders were "followers of magus", a term that refers to Zoroastrianism, the dominant belief in Persia until the Muslim Arab invasion of today's Iran thirteen centuries ago.</s>This story is from September 7, 2016 the annual haj pilgrimage logistics fell apart war of words 'Evil' Saudi royals don't deserve to manage holy sites criticised Saudi Arabia crush last year Sons of "magus" "Bigotry" DUBAI: The bitter war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia intensified on Wednesday ahead offrom which Iranians have been excluded for the first time in decades.Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted the "incompetence" of the Saudi royal family as he met with the families of victims of a deadly stampede during last year's haj Iranians have been blocked from the event after talks on safety andin May.Theon the eve of the mass pilgrimage will deepen a long-running rift between the Sunni kingdom and the Shia revolutionary power. They back opposing sides in Syria's civil war and a list of other conflicts across the Middle East.Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiover how it runs the haj after akilled hundreds of pilgrims. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit out at the "bigoted extremism" of the Saudi authorities, responding to claims by Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric, Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, that Iranians were "not Muslims". "We have to understand that they are not Muslims ... Their main enemies are the followers of Sunnah (Sunnis)," Al al-Sheikh was quoted as saying, remarks republished by the Arab News.He described Iranian leaders as sons of "magus", a reference to Zoroastrianism, the dominant belief in Persia until the Muslim Arab invasion of the region that is now Iran 13 centuries ago.Al al-Sheikh's remarks drew an acerbic retort from Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said they were evidence of bigotry among Saudi leaders. "Indeed; no resemblance between Islam of Iranians & most Muslims & bigoted extremism that Wahhabi top cleric & Saudi terror masters preach," Zarif wrote on his Twitter account.Saudi authorities normally seek to avoid public discussion of whether Shias are Muslims, but implicitly recognise them as such by welcoming them to the haj, and by accepting Iranian visits to the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.Tensions between the two countries have been rising since Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January following the storming of its embassy in Tehran, itself a response to the Saudi execution of dissident Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.Custodian of Islam's most revered places in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia stakes its reputation on organising haj, one of the five pillars of Islam which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to is obliged to undertake at least once.Riyadh said 769 pilgrims were killed in the 2015 disaster, the highest haj death toll since a crush in 1990. Pilgrims from Iran will be unable to attend haj, which officially starts on September 11, this year after talks between the two countries on arrangements broke down in May.The split between Islam's main sects dates to a dispute among Muslims over who would rule their community after the death of the Prophet Mohammad, and Shias still regard his descendents as a line of imams blessed with divine guidance.Today such disagreements over history remain emotive points of tension between the sects, but they are also divided over day -to-day issues including differing interpretations of Islamic law and the role and organisation of the clergy.In the Wahhabi teaching of Sunni Islam followed by the Saudi clergy and government, Shia doctrine about imams is seen as incompatible with the concept of a monotheistic God.

The top cleric of Saudi Arabia says Iranians "are not Muslims."

Russian jet came within 10 feet of U.S. spy plane: U.S. officials WASHINGTON/BERLIN, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A Russian fighter jet carried out an "unsafe and unprofessional" intercept of a U.S. spy plane flying a regular patrol over the Black Sea, coming within 10 feet (3.05 meters) of the American aircraft, two U.S. defense officials told Reuters on Wednesday. "During the intercept, which lasted approximately 19 minutes, the SU-27 (Flanker jet) initially maintained a 30-foot separation distance, then closed to within 10 feet (3 meters) of the P-8A (Poseidon), which is considered unsafe and unprofessional," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a Pentagon announcement. These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident, which results in serious injury or death." Wednesday's incident over the Black Sea is one of several between Russian and U.S. warplanes this year.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — A Russian fighter jet flew within 10 feet of a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft, in what American officials called an unsafe intercept over the Black Sea, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, says the Russian SU-27 Flanker fighter made the unsafe maneuver Wednesday near a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft that was conducting routine operations in international airspace. According to the U.S., the Russian jet conducted four intercepts of the Poseidon, and the one that was considered unsafe lasted about 19 minutes. Davis said that U.S. Navy aircraft and ships routinely interact with Russian units in the area and most interactions are safe and professional. In one more dramatic incident earlier this year, Russian jets buzzed over the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea, coming within 30 feet of the warship.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet makes an "unsafe close-range intercept" of a United States Navy P-8A Poseidon over the Black Sea in international airspace, coming within 10 feet (3.3 m) of the U.S. aircraft.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein says she's working with North Dakota authorities to arrange a court date on charges related to her participation in a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Activists invited Stein to leave a message at the protest site near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation on Tuesday, Figueroa said, and Stein sprayed "I approve this message" in red paint on the blade of a bulldozer. In this photo provided by LaDonna Allard, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, second from right, participates in an oil pipeline protest, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 in Morton County, N.D. North Dakota authorities plan to pursue charges against Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for spray-painting construction equipment at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Before the charges were filed, Stein said in a statement said she hoped North Dakota authorities "press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: the bulldozing of sacred burial sites and the unleashing of vicious attack dogs." (LaDonna Allard via AP) As of late Tuesday, Stein was not arrested or charged in the incident. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is trying to stop construction of a section of the $3.8 billion four-state pipeline that tribal leaders say would violate sacred and culturally sensitive grounds and possibly pollute water.</s>MANDAN, N.D. – Morton County authorities issued warrants Wednesday for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and her running mate after video showed them spray painting graffiti on a bulldozer as they joined protesters at a Dakota Access Pipeline site Tuesday. MORTON COUNTY, N.D. – More than 100 protesters gathered at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site Tuesday where two people bound themselves to bulldozers and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was meeting with pipeline opponents. No arrests were made, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in excerpts of a news conference posted to the department's Facebook page. Stein has a history of environmental activism, and was arrested in 2012 when she was running for president in that cycle during her protest outside a presidential debate she was not invited to.

The sheriff's department of Morton County, North Dakota, issues arrest warrants for United States Green Party presidential candidate, Jill Stein, and her running-mate, Ajamu Baraka on charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. The county sheriff's department says that Stein and Baraka vandalized equipment at a controversial pipeline construction site.

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Denmark's government plans to buy the leaked Panama Papers containing Danish citizens.

Post election violence in Gabon has killed between 50 and 100 people, the opposition presidential candidate said Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, a toll much higher than the government's count of three in days of violent demonstrations against the president's re-election. Bongo has rejected accusations that results were altered to ensure his victory but has come under increasing international pressure to back a recount of votes, including from former colonial power France, which has a military base in Gabon. International criticism of the election has focused on the results from Bongo's stronghold, the province of Haut-Ogooue, where the participation rate was more than double that of other regions and showed that 95.46 percent of voters backed Bongo. Whether outside mediation can help resolve a situation where two men, Mr Bongo and Mr Ping, both claim to be the legally elected president will now be put to the test: the African Union announced this week that it would send a delegation to Gabon. He now describes Gabon as “a dictatorship pure and simple, run by a clan” – a “dynastic regime” that must be ended.</s>Gabon's Bongo says for Constitutional Court to rule on vote recount PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Gabon's re-elected President Ali Bongo said he would be a leader for all Gabonese people and that it was for the Constitutional Court to decide whether there should be a recount of last week's disputed vote result. The European Union has questioned the validity of the result which saw Bongo win by a wafer-thin margin and France has said a recount would be wise. France, the former colonial ruler of the central African oil producer, has said a recount would be wise Asked in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on Wednesday whether he would permit a recount, Bongo told France's RTL radio: "What people should be asking me to do is apply the law. I cannot violate the law. As far as a recount is concerned ... that's done at the level of the Constitutional Court." Opposition leader Jean Ping, who has said the election was stolen, called on Tuesday for help from the international community. (Reporting by Richard Lough; Editing by Astrid Wendlandt and Andrew Heavens)

Ali Bongo Ondimba rejects calls for a recount.

Alt-rock legends Dinosaur Jr. will visit New Zealand for a one-off show. The band, who have been shredding on and off since they formed in Massachusetts, USA, in 1984, will play The Studio in Auckland. It's the first time the band has visited these shores since 2013, when they played to a sold out crowd at the Powerstation. Since the original trio of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunited in 2007, Dinosaur Jr has produced four albums, taking their career total to 11. READ MORE: * Dinosaur Jr get better with every album * Dinosaur Jr. far from extinction * Dinosaur Jr rock like it's 1988 * J Mascis: The Godfather of grunge Their latest, Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not, has been called "as thrillingly noisy, focused and as concisely realised as anything in that vast back-catalogue" by Graham Reid of Elsewhere. Dinosaur Jr. play The Studio in Auckland on January 23 2017. Tickets on sale from 9am, September 14 from Ticketmaster.co.nz and UnderTheRadar.co.nz.

A beachgoer in Australia discovers dinosaur footprints believed to be around 130 million years old while combing the shore for shells.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach will not attend any of the Paralympic Games which start in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said. "He is no longer attending at all and we fully understand how difficult it can be to reschedule a busy diary," said Craig Spence, the IPC's Director of media and communications. The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday and the Games run from Sept. 7-18. (Reporting by Andrew Downie)</s>All you need to know as Team GB prepare for Rio 2016 games Paralympic fact: Paralympic archer Zahra Nemati was Iran's flag bearer at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The All-Russian Paralympic Sports Competitions will take place on September 8-9 on major sports venues in the Moscow region. Later, Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko told reporters that he was feeling guilty for the fact that the Russian athletes were excluded from the Paralympic Games in Rio. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has decided to revoke the accreditation from the member of the Belarusian delegation, who carried the Russian flag at the opening of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Noteworthy, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee Vladimir Lukin, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko and President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed their support and gratitude to the Belarusian official, who had the courage to appear on the stadium in Rio carrying a Russian flag.

The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games, i.e., (parallel Olympic Games), open in Rio de Janeiro.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban pushed into the capital of Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province on Thursday, triggering fierce clashes and sending all government officials fleeing from the city, an Afghan official said. Afghan officials deployed reinforcements to Tarin Kot, in Uruzgan province, and Afghan and U.S.-led NATO warplanes were carrying out airstrikes in an attempt to deter the latest Taliban advance against a strategic city. The police chief in Uruzgan, Mohammad Wais Samimi, said by phone from Tarin Kot: “Our forces have been trying to push back the Taliban as fighting is going on in three parts of the city.” One of the areas under attack was Sarchakhlai, just a few hundred yards from the provincial police headquarters. The spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, Sediq Sediqqi, said Afghan special forces soldiers were sent to Tarin Kot on Wednesday night. Tirin Kot is the third Afghan provincial capital that has come under Taliban threat recently, along with the city of Kunduz in the north and Lashkar Gah in southern Helmand province. The uptick in Taliban attacks against Afghan security forces has prompted the United States to send additional troops to the southern Helmand province, where its capital, Lashkar Gah, is also under heavy pressure from the insurgents. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia UPDATES: 9:05 a.m.: This article was updated with casualty figures and other details.</s>Afghan forces encircled by Taliban in provincial capital, officials say KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Exhausted Afghan security forces were surrounded on Friday by Taliban fighters in the capital of Afghanistan's south-central province of Uruzgan, a day after fighting off a concerted push by the militants, officials said. Militants had fought their way to within a few hundred metres of the governor's compound and police headquarters while gun battles spread in the provincial capital of Tarin Kot, a city of about 70,000 people, said provincial police chief Wais Samim. "All the surrounding areas of the capital are under tight siege and attacks of mujahideen," the group said. “Our forces are exhausted and are running short of ammunition.” Overnight clashes left at least seven dead on the government side and 30 among the Taliban, said Abdul Karim, head of the Uruzgan provincial council. Despite the Taliban offensives in Uruzgan, the NATO-led coalition, which declared its combat mission over at the end of 2014, said it had no advisers in the province, nor had U.S. warplanes conducted any air strikes in recent days. (Reporting by Sayed Sarwar Amani; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Taliban militants storm the city of Tarinkot, the provincial capital of Afghanistan's Urozgan Province, with fighting reported on multiple fronts throughout the city. Local officials flee to the nearby Tarinkot Airport for shelter.

At the Washington State Patrol laboratory, forensic scientist William Schneck spent weeks analyzing photos, the flag's fibers and thousands of dust particles -- comparing them to a pure sample of World Trade Center dust taken from a New York City fire truck at ground zero. “In a museum that’s filled with such deeply powerful artifacts, this newest of artifacts is certainly one of the most emotionally and historically powerful,” museum President Joe Daniels said as the display was unveiled Thursday, three days before the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks. Go inside the chaos and courage of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York in "9/11: Fifteen Years Later," airing Sunday, September 11, at 8p ET (CNN) On September 11, 2001, amid the burning ashes of the World Trade Center, three New York City firefighters hoisted a small American flag removed from a nearby yacht. NEW YORK (AP) - An American flag raised at Ground Zero on Sept. 11 in a defining moment of patriotic resolve took its place at the site Thursday after disappearing for over a decade. The police investigation began in November 2014 when a man, who identified himself as “Brian,” dropped off a flag in a plastic bag that he said was given to him by a widow of a 9/11 victim at an Everett fire station.</s>U.S. returns to 1 World Trade Center 15 years after attacks NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. federal government on Friday marked its return to the rebuilt 1 World Trade Center, moving its New York City offices back to Lower Manhattan 15 years after the Sept. 11 attacks that had reduced the site to rubble. "Today is meant to be an uplifting day, a sign of our determination to move forward," said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson at an event on the 63rd floor. Also known as the Freedom Tower, the 104-story 1 World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, at 1,776 feet (541 meters). Construction began in 2006 and the building opened in 2014 when media company Conde Nast, the anchor tenant, moved in. About 67 percent of its 3 million square feet is now leased. The federal government was one of the first tenants in the original World Trade Center in the 1970s, said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Patrick Foye. The General Services Administration had leased space at 6 World Trade Center before it was destroyed in the attacks. The government became the third tenant in the new building when the General Services Administration signed the lease on its behalf in 2012. On Sept. 11, 2001, four U.S. commercial airplanes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, as well as the Pentagon building near Washington D.C. and a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people. The federal government's return to the World Trade Center sends a "message to the entire world that we will never, ever renounce our values or be afraid," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. More than 1,000 employees of the GSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol had moved into the space by March, a spokeswoman said. The lease for the approximately 220,000 square feet is $15 million per year. Still, not everyone was happy about the return of government agencies to the building. In 2015, six GSA employees sued to try to block the move, saying they feared the rebuilt tower would again be a target for possible attacks. A federal judge in Manhattan threw out the case in June. In Washington on Friday, members of the U.S. House of Representatives gathered on the exterior steps to the chamber for a remembrance ceremony and sang God Bless America. Recalling "that terrible day," House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, spoke of the first responders "who went rushing into danger when the whole world was running away from it." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, told the assembly that because of the first responders' heroic efforts, "Americans rose united" from the rubble of the attacks. For one of those first responders, Michael Byrne, a former New York City firefighter who is now a senior FEMA official, the return of federal government employees to the World Trade Center site is deeply personal. At the event in Lower Manhattan, Byrne said that as he walks past the memorial to his office each morning, he bids "hello" to friends who died in the 2001 attacks and asks for their blessing. "We feel the renewed commitment in this beautiful building to continuing the mission for which our former friends gave their life," he said. (Reporting by Hilary Russ; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

The Police Department of Everett, Washington, identifies and returns the American flag from the September 11 attacks to Ground Zero, the World Trade Center site in New York City.

More on this and other African stories Four things from South Africa election The ANC bought 10 new BMW 3 series vehicles, which are yet to be delivered, for 5 million rand ($356,000; £266,000), local reports say. NATIONAL NEWS - Questions are being asked after the Greater Tzaneen Municipality purchased vehicles worth R1.6 million for the new mayor and speaker, despite owing creditors more than R20 million.A court order has also been issued to attach the municipality’s assets.This comes a day after Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga announced that his municipality would not spend any more money on luxury cars, and employees would have join other citizens in driving similar cars.</s>It’s still early days, but new City of Tshwane executive mayor Solly Msimanga appears to be pressing the right buttons – getting to the bottom of what’s ailing the capital city. Endemic corruption, nepotism, mismanagement and wasteful expenditure are problems that have seen several municipalities crumbling to the point of being unable to deliver basic services to residents. Last week, Msimanga announced he had uncovered massive graft in Tshwane and had been given forensic reports about corruption that were “suppressed” for a long time. This week, Msimanga announced that Tshwane officials would no longer be allowed to purchase or lease luxury cars. This was part of cost-cutting measures implemented by the executive mayor since taking office last month. “I will not allow public money to be spent on luxury cars while our people struggle for services‚ houses and jobs. No more luxury cars will be bought or leased under my government. A Hyundai i20 or Toyota Corolla can do the same job for a politician as an expensive sedan‚” Msimanga said. Shortly after taking office, he revealed plans to ban blue-light convoys for politicians and city officials‚ including himself. “Tshwane officials will now travel alongside ordinary citizens. They will wait in traffic and will stop at red lights‚” he said in his inaugural address last month. Last week‚ Msimanga announced two immediate changes to cut costs: putting a stop to all inaugural parties and inaugural events with catering for Tshwane’s new executive and ending celebratory dinners and lunches that only benefit politicians. The mayor appears to be a breath of fresh air in the capital city council which was previously run by an administration with a penchant for reckless spending from the public purse. A clear example is the failed smart electricity meters deal. A few weeks ago, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria prevented the Tshwane metro from making a nearly R1-billion payment to the company responsible for rolling out the project in the city. We hope Msimanga’s bold plans are not just a publicity stunt driven by political point scoring. He must now walk the talk and ensure he and his team put Tshwane on a road to recovery that benefits all its residents.

Solly Msimanga, newly elected Democratic Alliance mayor of Tshwane, South Africa, rejects a fleet of luxury cars for himself and instead donates it to the city's police.

“Because of the severity of these violations, Wells Fargo is paying the largest penalty the CFPB has ever imposed.” The bank agreed to resolve the allegations without admitting or denying the agencies’ accusations, and said in a statement that it had set aside $5 million for customer remediation. In a statement, Wells Fargo said: “We regret and take responsibility for any instances where customers may have received a product that they did not request.” Wells Fargo said they’ve refunded $2.6 million in fees associated with any product that was opened without authorization. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said employees at Wells Fargo, the world's largest bank by market value, had illegally boosted sales figures by opening unauthorized deposit and credit accounts and then covertly funding them with customers' money, sometimes creating phony email addresses to enroll them. “Wells Fargo built an incentive-compensation program that made it possible for its employees to pursue underhanded sales practices, and it appears that the bank did not monitor the program carefully,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. Wells Fargo, which fired 5,300 employees over the improper sales practices, agreed to pay a record $100 million fine to the CFPB, $35 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and $50 million to the Los Angeles city attorney to settle the matter. The CFPB says Wells Fargo sales staff opened more than 2 million bank and credit card accounts that may have not been authorized by customers.</s>Everyone hates paying bank fees. Imagine having to pay a fee because someone took your money and moved it somewhere else! That's exactly what happened to Wells Fargo customers nationwide. On Thursday, federal regulators said Wells Fargo employees secretly created millions of unauthorized bank and credit card accounts -- without their customers knowing it -- since 2011. The phony accounts earned the bank unwarranted fees and allowed Wells Fargo employees to boost their sales figures and make more money. Wells Fargo is paying $185 million in fines after the Los Angeles City Attorney and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that Wells Fargo employees had secretly set up new fake bank and credit card accounts in order to meet sales targets. Wells Fargo confirmed to CNNMoney that it had fired 5,300 employees over the last few years related to the shady behavior. Employees went to far as to create phony PIN numbers and fake email addresses to enroll customers in online banking services, the CFPB said. His Berkshire Hathaway firm owns nearly 480 million shares of Wells Fargo, a 9.5% stake. Related: ATM and overdraft fees top $6 billion at the big 3 banks The scope of the scandal is shocking. An analysis conducted by a consulting firm hired by Wells Fargo concluded that bank employees opened up over 1.5 million deposit accounts that may not have been authorized, according to the CFPB. The way it worked was that employees moved funds from customers' existing accounts into newly-created accounts without their knowledge or consent, regulators say. The CFPB described this practice as "widespread" and led to customers being charged for insufficient funds or overdraft fees -- because the money was not in their original accounts. Additionally, Wells Fargo employees also submitted applications for 565,443 credit card accounts without their knowledge or consent, the CFPB said the analysis found. Roughly 14,000 of those accounts incurred over $400,000 in fees, including annual fees, interest charges and overdraft-protection fees. The CFPB said Wells Fargo will pay "full restitutions to all victims." Wells Fargo is being slapped with the largest penalty since the CFPB was founded in 2011. The bank agreed to pay $185 million in fines, along with $5 million to refund customers. "We regret and take responsibility for any instances where customers may have received a product that they did not request," Wells Fargo said in a statement. Wells Fargo is the most valuable bank in America, worth just north of $250 billion. You, me and Warren Buffett But Buffett's right hand man, Berkshire vice chairman Charlie Munger told me in an interview at the company's 2015 annual shareholder meeting, that "Wells Fargo behaves better than the average big bank." The $100 million fine will go toward the CFPB's Civil Penalty Fund, a $35 million penalty will go to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and another $50 million will be paid to the City and County of Los Angeles. "One wonders whether (the CFPB) penalty of $100 million is enough," said David Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor and former director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "It sounds like a big number, but for a bank the size of Wells Fargo, it isn't really." Related: Who owns Wells Fargo anyway, You, me, and Warren Buffett The spokesperson added that the firings took place between January 2011 and March of this year and that it only affected about 1% of its workforce over that timeframe. The bank listed 265,000 employees as of the end of 2015. Related: Barclays fined $109 million for trying to hide a deal with rich clients "At Wells Fargo, when we make mistakes, we are open about it, we take responsibility, and we take action," the bank said in a memo to employees on Thursday. The CFPB declined to comment on when the investigation began and what sparked it, citing agency policy. "We don't comment on how we uncover these matters," a spokesman said. As part of the settlement, Wells Fargo needs to make changes to its sales practices and internal oversight. "Consumers must be able to trust their banks. They should never be taken advantage of," said Mike Feuer, the Los Angeles City Attorney who joined the settlement. Feuer's office sued Wells Fargo in May 2015 over allegations of unauthorized accounts. After filing the suit, his office received more than 1,000 calls and emails from customers as well as current and former Wells Fargo employees about the allegations. It's not clear when Wells Fargo hired a consulting firm to investigate the allegations, nor what triggered the response. Even though the Wells Fargo scandal took place nationally, the settlement with L.A. requires the bank to alert all its California customers to review their accounts and shut down ones they don't recognize or want. "How does a bank that is supposed to have robust internal controls permit the creation of over a half-million dummy accounts?" asked Vladeck. "If I were a Wells Fargo customer, and fortunately I am not, I'd think seriously about finding a new bank." --To reach the author of this article email Matt.Egan@cnn.com

International banking company Wells Fargo agrees to pay $190 million, including $100 million to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (largest ever for the agency), to settle a case involving deceptive sales that pushed customers into fee-generating accounts they never requested. The bank fired 5,300 employees over "inappropriate sales conduct." The firings took place over a five-year period.

It wiped out nearly a quarter of London's population and was one of the triggers for the scientific renaissance that swept England in the 17th Century. Now the bacteria that caused the Great Plague of London between 1665 and 1666 has been definitively identified as the bug that causes bubonic plague - Yersinia pestis. Archaeologists used DNA testing on skeletons found in a mass grave in a churchyard uncovered during the construction of the new Crossrail Elizabeth that will run through the city's Liverpool Street Station. Around 42 bodies were discovered in the pit, where they had been stacked up to eight deep and once would have been in coffins and wrapped in shrouds. It is thought the pit may have contained up to 100 individuals although some of the pit had been disturbed by building work during the 19th and 20th Century. Scientists took samples from the teeth 20 of the skeletons to search for traces of the plague pathogen. They found five appear to have been exposed to it before they died and the researchers believe this is most likely to be the cause of death. Scientists now hope to sequence the whole genome of the plague bacteria in the hope of comparing it to those responsible for the Black Death epidemic in 1348. The research could help provide new insights into the evolution of the disease as it spread around Europe over several centuries. Professor Vanessa Harding, an expert in London history at Birkbeck, University of London, said: 'This is a very exciting finding, for the history of London, the history of disease, and the history of burial. 'It confirms that Yersinia pestis was present in early modern London plague epidemics, and links them epidemiologically with the 14th-Century Black Death and the 1720 Marseille plague. 'We still need, however, to understand why the disease manifested itself in so many different ways, and whether other pathogens made a significant contribution to these epidemics.' While Yersinia pestis has long been suspected as the cause of the Great Plague in the 17th Century, the new findings are the first to confirm it definitively. It was the last major bubonic plague epidemic to have hit Britain and killed around 100,000 people in London. The total death toll is likely to have been far higher, however, as many town and cities around England were hit far worse than London. An account by Thomas Vincent in God's Terrible Voice in the City by Plague and Fire, describes London in August 1665. He said: 'Now the cloud is very black, and the storm comes down upon us very sharp. 'Now Death rides triumphantly upon his pale Horse through our streets, and breaks into every house almost, where any inhabitants are to be found. 'Now people fall as thick as leaves from the Trees in Autumn, when they are shaken by a mighty wind. 'Now there is a dismal solitude in London-streets…Now we could hardly go forth, but we should meet with many Coffins, and see many with sores, and limping in the streets.' Burial registers show there was a dramatic increase in burials at the New Churchyard, also called the Bedlam burial ground, in Liverpool Street in 1665. Last year archaeologists unearthed a 7.5 feet wide pit at the site filled with bodies. Samples were taken from the teeth of some of those found there because the enamel of teeth helps to protect DNA after death. This means they can serve as time capsules, preserving genetic information that was circulating in an individual's blood stream at the time of death. The DNA was sent to experts at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany. In 2014 skeletons excavated during the construction of another part of the Elizabeth line at Farringdon were found to contain traces of DNA from Yersnia pestis. These individuals are though to have died in Europe's first major plague epidemic in 1348. Researchers hope that further analysis of the new DNA may be able to answer questions about the relationship between the 17th Century Great Plague and the 14th Century Black Death. They say it could also help to reveal whether these plague outbreaks, and other smaller ones around the same time, were part of a single wave or several as a result of trade from Asia. Previous work on victims in Germany, Spain and Russia has suggested the Black Death and the Great Plague was caused by a single strain of bacterium. Professor Harding added: 'The excavation also underlines the strength of custom and order in time of crisis, showing that plague burial, even in mass graves, could be controlled and orderly, with bodies in coffins laid neatly on each other – not quite the shambolic 'plague pit' of popular discourse.' Among the other items found at the site of the mass grave were a headstone, reused in a wall later, which belonged to a plague victim named Mary Godfrey, who died in 1665. The mass grave is one of around 3,300 burials that have been uncovered during excavations at the New Churchyard. Most of those who were found in the mass burial pit, however, were young people under the age of 17-years-old. Don Walker, senior osteologist at the Museum of London Archaeology, which as been leading the excavations, said identifying the bacteria responsible for the deaths was a major step forward in understanding the disease. He said: 'This discovery has the potential to greatly enhance scientist's understanding of the disease and coupled with detailed research of the skeletons reveal more about this devastating epidemic and the lives of its victims.' Crossrail has conducted an extensive archaeology programme during the construction of the new line. To date it has found more than 10,000 artefacts and fossils spanning 55 million years of London's past. Jay Carver, Crossrail lead archaeologist, said: 'The Crossrail project has given archaeologists a rare opportunity to study previously inaccessible areas of London. 'The discovery of the ancient DNA, which has eluded scientists for so long, is yet another piece of the jigsaw that we are piecing together to learn more about the lives and deaths of 16th to 18th Century Londoners.'</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption First look at a Great Plague skeleton DNA testing has for the first time confirmed the identity of the bacteria behind London's Great Plague. The plague of 1665-1666 was the last major outbreak of bubonic plague in Britain, killing nearly a quarter of London's population. It's taken a year to confirm initial findings from a suspected Great Plague burial pit during excavation work on the Crossrail site at Liverpool Street. About 3,500 burials have been uncovered during excavation of the site. Testing in Germany confirmed the presence of DNA from the Yersinia pestis bacterium - the agent that causes bubonic plague - rather than another pathogen. Some authors have previously questioned the identity of microbes behind historical outbreaks attributed to plague. Daniel Defoe's 18th century account of the catastrophic event in A Journal of the Plague Year described the gruesome fate of Londoners. "The plague, as I suppose all distempers do, operated in a different manner on differing constitutions; some were immediately overwhelmed with it, and it came to violent fevers, vomitings, insufferable headaches, pains in the back, and so up to ravings and ragings with those pains," Defoe wrote. Image copyright Hulton Archive Image caption The Great Plague killed about a quarter of the capital's population "Others with swellings and tumours in the neck or groin, or armpits, which till they could be broke put them into insufferable agonies and torment; while others, as I have observed, were silently infected." Evidence of the pathogen had eluded archaeologists but seemed tantalisingly close when a suspected mass grave was discovered last year during a Crossrail dig at the Bedlam burial ground, also known as the New Churchyard, in East London. Alison Telfer from Museum of London Archaeology (Mola) showed me around the area planned for one of the downward escalators going into the future Broadgate ticket hall at Liverpool Street. "We've found about three-and-a-half thousand burials on this site," she told the BBC's Today programme. "We've been working here for the last five-and-half-years on and off and we're hoping we'll be able to get positive identification of the plague on a number of the individuals. Image copyright Crossrail Image caption More than 3,500 burials have been uncovered at the site "Because of the position of the skeletons, they'd obviously been laid in coffins & put in very respectfully, nobody was thrown in anywhere in presumably what must have been quite a traumatic event." This revelation is somewhat at odds with Daniel Defoe's version of events: "Tis certain they died by heaps and were buried by heaps; that is to say, without account." Panic and disorder only came towards the end of The Great Plague. Vanessa Harding, professor of London history at Birkbeck, University of London, describes the experience of Londoners at the time. "Not many people who actually get it survive but some do. And it seems to be quite easily transferred from person to person even if we're not sure currently about the agency or way in which this actually happens," Prof Harding said. Image copyright Hulton Archive Image caption Daniel Defoe wrote that plague victims "died by heaps and were buried by heaps" "But there are also what we might consider public health measures which from their point of view include killing cats and dogs, getting rid of beggars in the streets, trying to cleanse the city in both moral and practical terms. The people who do best are those who get out of London." The search for the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which causes plague, in a selection of skeletons from the dig continued last year in the osteology department at Mola where all the Liverpool Street finds were stored and examined by Michael Henderson. "They're carefully boxed, individual elements, legs separately, arms separately, the skulls and the torsos," he explained. "We excavated in the region of three and a half thousand skeletons, one of the largest archaeologically excavated to this date. A vast data set that can give us really meaningful information." Image copyright Crossrail Image caption DNA from the London remains was analysed at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany The bones are laid out in anatomical order. Teeth are removed and sent for ancient DNA analysis at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany. "The best thing to sample for DNA is the teeth; they're like an isolated time capsule," said Mr Henderson. In Germany, molecular palaeopathologist Kirsten Bos drilled out the tooth pulp to painstakingly search for the 17th century bacteria, finally obtaining positive results from five of the 20 individuals tested from the burial pit. "We could clearly find preserved DNA signatures in the DNA extract we made from the pulp chamber and from that we were able to determine that Yersinia pestis was circulating in that individual at the time of death," she said. "We don't know why the Great Plague of London was the last major outbreak of plague in the UK and whether there were genetic differences in the past, those strains that were circulating in Europe to those circulating today; these are all things we're trying to address by assembling more genetic information from ancient organisms." Image copyright Crossrail Image caption A nearby gravestone marks the passing of Mary Godfree, a plague victim Bos and her team will now continue to sequence the full DNA genome to better understand the evolution and spread of the disease. There was nothing to identify those found in the mass grave under the Crossrail development but located a short distance away a headstone was found inscribed with the name Mary Godfree who fell victim to the plague. Her interment is recorded in the burial register of St Giles, Cripplegate, on 2 September 1665. To reassure anyone worried whether plague bacterium was released from the excavation work or scientific analysis, it doesn't survive in the ground.

German scientists confirm that the cause of the Great Plague of London from 1665–1666 was Yersinia pestis (cause of the Bubonic plague).

“Zimbabwe’s authorities must respect and obey today’s ruling and allow people to assemble and raise their grievances, as long as they are doing it within the confines of the laws that govern public protests.” Today’s ruling comes after President Robert Mugabe publicly threatened the country’s judges on 3 September accusing them of being reckless by allowing demonstrations in the country.</s>Zimbabwe court says ban on protests invalid, suspends it for 7 days HARARE, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's High Court ruled on Wednesday that a two-week ban by police on protests was illegal, saying it would suspend it for a week after a challenge by political activists who had said the move violated their rights. High Court judge Priscilla Chigumba on Wednesday ruled in favor of a group of 18 political parties challenging the ban, which affected the central business district. Over the weekend, President Robert Mugabe also declared "enough is enough" of the growing protests that reflect nationwide anger over a plummeting economy and alleged state corruption. "Forming a coalition would present the opposition with the best chance to unseat Mugabe," said Eldred Masunungure, a political analyst at the University of Zimbabwe. On Friday, a different court denied bail to 58 people arrested during protests on August 26 when riot police fired tear gas, beat up several people and blocked off the site of an opposition demonstration in Harare.

The High Court of Zimbabwe overturns bans on protests in Harare.

Image copyright Courtesy: Hindustan Times Image caption Preeti Rathi's parents grieve over a photograph of their daughter A man in the Indian city of Mumbai has been sentenced to death for a fatal acid attack on a woman at a busy railway station three years ago, in what is being seen as a legal landmark. Ankur Panwar was found guilty on Tuesday of hurling sulphuric acid on 24-year-old Preeti Rathi in a fit of jealousy outside a railway station in the financial capital Mumbai in May 2013. Special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam sought death penalty as he said the tendency of the accused may cost the lives of many other girls Preeti had secured a nursing job at the INHS Asvini Hospital and had just reached Mumbai from New Delhi when acid was thrown at her. Prosecutors said the Mumbai court sentenced Ankur Panwar on Thursday after finding him guilty of killing the 23-year-old woman, who died of serious burn injuries. However, Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam said Panwar threw the acid on Preeti as she wanted to pursue her career in Mumbai and he wanted to marry her. According to government figures, there are hundreds of such attacks a year; but campaigners say the real figures are much higher. India's Supreme Court ordered states in 2013 to enforce restrictions on the sale of acid to try and curb attacks, but Mukherjee and other campaigners claim that it remains easy to purchase. Police alleged Panwar, reportedly 26, and a hotel management graduate, had committed the crime out of jealousy after she rejected his marriage proposal and had wanted to disfigure her face to destroy her career. Special Judge Anju S. Shende said: “According to the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the facts of the case and the recent acid attack judgments by the Supreme Court, the accused is sentenced to death… , subject to confirmation by the Bombay High Court.” She said the accused could appeal against the judgment within 30 days. Panwar’s family said they will move High Court in appeal against his conviction and will also plead for the case to be shifted to the Central Bureau of Investigation. There is no second thought about it,” Apeksha Vora told Agence Fance-Presse.</s>A 18-year-old Indian acid attack victim, who lost an eye and whose face was brutally disfigured in the attack, walked the New York catwalk to whoops and cheers in what she called a life-changing experience. Reshma Qureshi, 19, brushed off nerves to stride the runway like a pro in a stunning cream and floral floor-length gown by Indian designer Archana Kochhar on the first official day of New York Fashion Week. "I feel really good and the experience was great," she told AFP afterward, speaking in Hindi through a translator. “I feel as though it has definitely changed my life.” She was invited to take part by FTL Moda, a fashion production company committed to challenging industry stereotypes of beauty and which last year invited a model with Down Syndrome to take part. Ms. Qureshi, whose ambition remains to finish the last two grades of high school and go to college, said she hoped her participation would send a powerful message to other acid attack survivors. "Why should we not enjoy our lives? What happened to us is not our fault and we've done nothing wrong and so we should also move forward in life," she told AFP the night before the show. Acid attacks, which overwhelmingly target women and children, are a particular scourge in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the West Indies and the Middle East. In India, an estimated 500 to 1,000 attacks take place each year, and while they rarely kill they leave severe physical, psychological and social scars that can see victims ostracized and hidden away. The fashion show came the same day an Indian court sentenced a man to death for murdering a 24-year-old woman by throwing acid on her face after she rejected his offer of marriage, in a landmark judgement. Since Qureshi was attacked by her brother-in-law in 2004, pinned down by his friends and her face doused in acid, she has become the face of a campaign to end the open sale of acid in India. "I want to tell the world -- do not see us in a weak light and see that even we can go out and do things," she told AFP. "People have a tendency to look at acid attack survivors from one perspective and I don't want them to look at them like that anymore," she said. Backstage she was embraced by a fellow model and then lent over the balcony watching part of the rest of the show which featured evening and daywear for men and women by a handful of different designers.

A court in the Indian city of Mumbai convicts and sentences Ankur Panwar to the death penalty for a fatal acid-throwing attack.

ALPINE, Texas (AP) — A female student died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday after shooting and injuring another female student inside a high school in West Texas, according to the local sheriff. Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson told radio station KVLF that the injured student ran outside seeking help and was taken to a hospital with injuries that weren't considered life threatening. “The shooter appears to have shot herself,” Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson told radio station KVLF. Alpine is located near Big Bend National Park, near the Mexican border, in a remote area about 30 miles from Marfa, Texas. The incident began shortly before 9 a.m. at Alpine High School in Alpine, a town of 5,900 about 220 miles southeast of El Paso. Dodson said a federal law enforcement officer who was responding to the incident was shot in the leg when another officer's gun accidentally discharged. All of the surrounding schools were placed on 'critical lockdown' in response to the shooting reports this morning. Dodson said the shooting at the high school was part of a chaotic series of events that included a bomb threat called in at nearby Sul Ross State University, which required law enforcement personnel to rush there from the high school.</s>ALPINE, Texas (AP) — Police in the West Texas town of Alpine say there's an "active shooter" situation at a high school and schools have been locked down amid the search for a suspect. Elizabeth Carter, a lieutenant with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said someone brought a gun onto the Alpine High School campus on Thursday morning. Ruth Hucke (HOOK’-ee), a spokeswoman for Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, said hospital personnel were tending to three “victims.” Hucke declined to say how the victims were injured or further identify them. When asked if the victims had been shot, Hucke said she “can’t say anything further.” Hucke said the hospital would provide a statement later Thursday. She had no additional details. Police dispatcher Scarlet Eldred said an unspecified incident took place at the high school shortly before 9 a.m. Eldred says police were seeking an “active shooter.” Eldred didn’t immediately provide additional information, other than the person being sought was a male. The school district’s website says the town of about 5,900 residents has three schools. Sul Ross State University in Alpine also was placed on lockdown.

A female student at Alpine High School in Texas, U.S., shoots herself dead in what appeared to be an "active shooter" event, resulting in a student and police officer being injured.

Turkey suspends 11,500 teachers over alleged links to Kurdish militants -official ANKARA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Turkey has suspended 11,500 teachers over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), a Turkish official said on Thursday, confirming an earlier report from broadcaster CNN Turk that cited the education ministry. TEACHERS SUSPENDED The government suspended 11,500 teachers over alleged links to the PKK, an official said on Thursday, after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said during a visit to the region over the weekend that there were an estimated 14,000 teachers with links to the militants.</s>Dozens held as teachers protest suspensions in Turkey's southeast, union says DIYARBAKIR, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Turkish police detained dozens of people and used water cannon on Friday to disperse several hundred teachers demonstrating against their suspension from classrooms in the largely Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, union sources said and TV footage showed. Brawls erupted and police pushed back crowds chanting "shoulder to shoulder against fascism" after Turkish authorities suspended more than 11,000 teachers on Thursday over alleged links with the Kurdish militants. A further 418 teachers were also suspended from duty in the predominantly Kurdish eastern province of Tunceli on Friday. Several hundred teachers gathered in front of the education ministry's provincial building to protest. "This is an attack on our unionised struggle," Suleyman Guler, the provincial head of the education union, Egitim-Sen, told Reuters. Guler was also suspended from work. "It is not possible to accept this decision. There is neither a crime here nor a criminal. We call for the immediate halt of this move," he said. The suspensions were part of the government's campaign against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the mainly Kurdish southeast. It comes as Ankara also pushes ahead with a purge of tens of thousands of supporters of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey accuses of orchestrating an attempted coup in July. Gulen denies any involvement. The scope of that crackdown has raised concern among rights groups and Turkey's Western allies, who fear President Tayyip Erdogan is using the failed coup as pretext to curtail dissent. The anti-PKK campaign is Turkey's largest ever against the group, and the removal of civil servants linked to the PKK is a key part of the fight, Erdogan said on Thursday. Demonstrations have been banned across Diyarbakir province since mid-August during the state of emergency declared after the failed coup. On Friday, the Diyarbakir governor's office also imposed a curfew in more than a dozen neighbourhoods across three districts, as security operations were planned against Kurdish militants in the region. More than 40,000 people have died since autonomy-seeking PKK launched its insurgency against the Turkish state more than 30 years ago. The PKK is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by David Dolan, Larry King)

Turkey suspends 11,500 teachers over alleged links to separatist terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a week before the start of school.

William Sharp Jr., was born Dec. 8, 1954, in Whitmore to Willie and Priscilla Sharp. He departed his earthly journey on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at his home. He was preceded in death by both of parents; his sister, Katie Sharp Walker; his uncle and aunt, Leroy and Betty Washington, who raised him, and his grandparents, Jonas and Helen Hardrick. He leaves to cherish his memories his long-time companion, Dorothy Summage; his sisters, Dorothy (Terrance) Chancellar of Greenwood, Ill., Jackie and Carolyn Sharp and Diane (Charles) Lewis, all of Robbin, Ill., Lenetta (George) Staples of Country Club, Ill.; three aunts, Irene Moore of Widener, Clara (Ulysses) Pruitt of Forrest City and Maesola (Lewis) Mason, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and a very special friend, Minister Otis Dawson. Visitation for Mr. Sharp will be held at Kincaid Funeral Services, 2615 S. Washington, on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, from 1 to 5 p.m. The funeral service will be in the chapel of Kincaid Funeral Services on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, at 11 a.m., with Minister Otis Dawson delivering the eulogy. Burial will follow at Casteel Cemetery, with arrangements under the direction of Kincaid Funeral Services, Inc. Share memories or express condolences by signing the guestbook at www.kincaidfuneralservices.com.</s>Move follows standoff in capital Yerevan between police and armed men, and could pave way for a coalition government This article is more than 3 years old This article is more than 3 years old The prime minister of Armenia has announced his resignation following weeks of civil unrest and a sharp economic downturn. Armenian prime minister resigns, says country needs new approach YEREVAN, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan tendered his resignation at a government meeting on Thursday, saying the country needed fresh policies, after an economic slowdown this year and outbreaks of violence. Last month, Armenia’s president, Serzh Sargsyan, promised to create a government of national accord after a two-week standoff at a police compound in the capital, Yerevan, which left two police officers dead and shook the nation. Several dozen armed men stormed the building and demanded the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, the leader of the New Armenia Public Salvation Front opposition group, who was arrested in June on suspicion of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities in Yerevan. The standoff triggered rallies in support of the gunmen and clashes with police in what appeared to be the biggest political crisis in this country in years. The government has also faced political challenges, including a flare-up of violence in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in April between Armenian-backed separatists and Azeri forces. It was not clear from Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan's statement on Thursday who will lead the new government. Local media reported that Abrahamyan might be replaced by 53-year-old technocrat Karen Karapetyan, the former head of national gas distributing company ArmRosGazprom and later Yerevan mayor.

Hovik Abrahamyan resigns as Prime Minister of Armenia citing civil unrest and a sharp economic downturn.

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.</s>Municipal bonds are yet to take off in India even as the Centre and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are working towards creating more awareness. According to government statistics, a cumulative amount of Rs.1,750 crore has been raised through municipal bonds in India while South Africa saw $1.8 billion being raised through such bonds in a single quarter alone. Incidentally, $304 billion was raised in the U.S. through municipal bonds in just one single year. “Requirement of funds to comprehensively address issues like solid waste management, water treatment etc is huge,” said Rajiv Gauba, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development. “But, municipal bodies have been weak in raising finances.” Speaking at a seminar on the way forward for municipal bonds he highlighted the fact that even while SEBI had framed the regulations for such bonds, municipal bodies have been weak in raising finances. “Easy availability of government funds could also be a constraint. Lack of a secondary market for the trading of such bonds was another hindrance,” Mr. Gauba said. The capital market regulator announced regulatory norms for issuance of municipal bonds in July 2015 but after that there has been no such bond issue. The last municipal bond issued was in 2010. Rating agency CARE estimates that large municipalities in India could raise Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500 crore every year through municipal bond issues. “Money raised by municipal bodies in the country is a pittance when compared to other markets,” said SEBI Chairman U.K. Sinha. As regulators, we are providing protection and comfort in terms of regulations. Municipal bodies will have to look at such bonds for raising finance.” The SEBI chairman added that regulatory bodies for pension funds and insurance should also take a proactive stance and allow their regulated entities to invest in municipal bonds. Stressing on the importance of raising money through municipal bonds, Mr Gauba said that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation – the richest municipal body of India – earned 33 per cent of its revenue in 2015-16 from octroi, which would go away once Goods and Services Tax kicks in. All cities will have to look at augmenting finance based on capital market instruments, he said. The SEBI chairman also said that investors look for transparency and clarity while investing in any securities and municipal bodies will have to review the manner in which books of accounts are maintained.

A high court in the State of Palestine suspends upcoming municipal elections.

Nearly a week after Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan's longtime autocratic president, was officially declared dead after suffering a stroke, the country's parliament appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev as acting president on Thursday, setting the stage for the experienced bureaucrat to assume the role permanently in the latest sign of consensus among the country's elites over succession. Karimov died of a stroke on Sept.2 aged 78 after ruling the resource-rich Central Asian country of 32 million people for 27 years in an authoritarian manner, brooking no dissent. Mirziyoyev, who has been Uzbekistan's prime minister since 2003, was widely considered the favorite to succeed Karimov, who was the former Soviet country's first and only president, and his appointment as the caretaker president is the clearest sign yet that Mirziyoyev is looking to make it permanent.</s>TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbek news agencies report that Uzbekistan's parliament has appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev as the country’s interim president after the death of longtime President Islam Karimov. Mirziyaev has been Uzbekistan’s prime minister since 2003, making him the longest serving prime minister in Uzbekistan's 25-year history as an independent country. Election monitors for the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the elections did not show “genuine competition” and that the “rigidly constrained media did not provide political debate.” Karimov, the country’s authoritarian ruler of 27 years, died of a brain hemorrhage last week at the age of 78. He was buried in his home city of Samarkand on September 3, a day after the Uzbek government officially announced his death. According to Uzbekistan’s Constitution, the head of the upper house of parliament, the Senate, would assume presidential authority for a period of three months if the president dies or is unable to perform duties.

Uzbekistan’s parliament appoints Shavkat Mirziyoyev as interim president after the death of President Islam Karimov.

In February, President Obama announced a Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) that takes a series of short-term and long-term actions to improve our cybersecurity posture within the Federal Government and across the country. The CNAP builds upon a comprehensive series of actions over the last nearly eight years that have fundamentally shifted the way we approach security in the digital age and raised the level of cybersecurity across the country. Over the last year alone we’ve made significant progress. For example, we’ve: established the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, consisting of top strategic, business, and technical thinkers from outside the government to make critical recommendations on actions that can be taken over the next decade to strengthen cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors while protecting privacy and public safety; proposed legislation to establish a $3.1 billion Information Technology Modernization Fund (ITMF) to modernize government IT and retire and replace legacy IT that is difficult to secure and expensive to maintain; directed implementation of a Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan (CSIP) for the Federal civilian government as well as the first-ever Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Strategy to identify, recruit, develop, retain, and expand the pipeline of the best, brightest, and most diverse cybersecurity talent for Federal service and for our Nation. While we’ve seen progress, and as the President has made clear on many occasions, there’s much more to do. That’s why today we are proud to announce Brigadier General (retired) Gregory J. Touhill as the first Federal Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). A key feature of the CNAP is creation of the first CISO to drive cybersecurity policy, planning, and implementation across the Federal Government. General Touhill is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where he focuses on the development and implementation of operational programs designed to protect our government networks and critical infrastructure. In his new role as Federal CISO, Greg will leverage his considerable experience in managing a range of complex and diverse technical solutions at scale with his strong knowledge of both civilian and military best practices, capabilities, and human capital training, development and retention strategies. Greg will lead a strong team within OMB who have been at the forefront of driving policy and implementation of leading cyber practices across federal agencies, and is the team that conducts periodic cyberstat reviews with federal agencies to insure that implementation plans are effective and achieve the desired outcomes. In addition to the naming the first Federal CISO, we are also proud to announce Grant Schneider as the Acting Deputy CISO. In creating the CISO role, and looking at successful organizational models across government, it became apparent that having a career role partnered with a senior official is not only the norm but also provides needed continuity over time. Grant currently serves as the Director for Cybersecurity Policy on the National Security Council staff at the White House where he focuses on development and oversight of cybersecurity policies to protect government data, networks, and systems, and brings over 20 years of technical skills to the role. Strong cybersecurity depends on robust policies, secure networks and systems and, importantly, a cadre of highly skilled cybersecurity talent. Building on the Cybersecurity Workforce Strategy to identify, recruit, and retain top talent, the CISO will play a central role in helping to ensure the right set of policies, strategies, and practices are adopted across agencies and keeping the Federal Government at the leading edge of 21st century cybersecurity. Tony Scott is the U.S. Chief Information Officer. J. Michael Daniel is Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday named a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general as the government’s first federal cyber security chief, a position announced eight months ago that is intended to improve defenses against hackers. Gregory Touhill’s job will be to protect government networks and critical infrastructure from cyber threats as federal chief information security officer, according to a statement. The administration of President Barack Obama has made bolstering federal cyber security a top priority in his last year in office. The issue has gained more attention because of high-profile breaches in recent years of government and private sector computers. U.S. intelligence officials suspect Russia was responsible for breaches of Democratic political organizations and state election systems to exert influence on the Nov. 8 presidential election. Russia has dismissed the allegations as absurd. Obama announced the new position in February alongside a budget proposal to Congress asking for $19 billion for cyber security across the U.S. government. The job is a political appointment, meaning Obama’s successor can choose to replace Touhill after being sworn in next January. Touhill is currently a deputy assistant secretary for cyber security and communications at the Department of Homeland Security. He will begin his new role later this month, a source familiar with the matter said. Touhill’s responsibilities will include creating and implementing policy for best security practices across federal agencies and conducting periodic audits to test for weaknesses, according to the announcement. Grant Schneider, who is the director of cyber security policy at the White House’s National Security Council, will be acting deputy to Touhill, according to the announcement.

The Obama administration chooses retired United States Air Force Brigadier General Gregory Touhill the first federal CISO chief, who reports to the CIO of the U.S. Tony Scott.

Psychiatrists urged to give the Medical Council three or four research priorities in mental health. In the coming months the Indian Council of Medical Research will come up with a programme for mental health research. Sowmya Swaminathan, director general of the Council, who inaugurated the three-day international conference on schizophrenia (ICONS) here on Thursday said psychiatrists and all those who work with people with mental illnesses would be called up on to partner in the effort. Implementation research, which involves research from the point of delivery of care, she explained, be it in the urban or rural setting, is the need of the hour. One of the issues that the Council wants to address is suicide as it is the number one cause of death among people in the 15 to 29 year age group, she said. “We will call all NGOs and academic institutions to apply and the Indian Psychiatric Association to be a partner with the government hospitals. The government needs help to deliver care,” with its existing infrastructure and human resources, Dr. Sowmya said, urging the psychiatric associations and psychiatrists to give the Council “three or four research priorities.” Research had also shown that neuropsychiatric illnesses hurt more people in the lower socioeconomic strata as they did not have access to treatment and care. President of Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) R. Seshasayee said the organisation had introduced a fellowship to work in the Department of Rehabilitation at SCARF and an oration during the biennial ICONS in the name of its founder Saradha Menon. SCARF director R. Thara made a moving presentation on Dr. Menon. Senior psychiatrists Dinesh Bhugra, Roy Abraham Kallivayalil and G. Prasad Rao, felicitated.</s>This story is from September 8, 2016 GSLV-F05 lifts off from Sriharikota on Sept 8, 2016 (TOI pic by B A Raju) INSAT-3DR Mastering cryogenic technology SRIHARIKOTA: More than two decades after the Indian cryogenic engine programme was formalised, an indigenous cryogenic engine developed by Indian Space Research Organisation successfully propelled for the first time an operational flight of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) lifting into space the country’s third exclusive meteorological satellite on Thursday evening.INSAT-3DR, an advanced weather satellite , was placed in orbit around 17 minutes after GSLV-F05 took off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 4.50pm. The launch was originally scheduled to be held at 4.10pm. However, it was delayed by 40 minutes as scientists were “rechecking observations made during propellant filling." INSAT-3DR is the second heaviest satellite placed in orbit by an indigenous cryogenic engine propelled GSLV. The 2,211kg satellite, which will provide meteorological and search and rescue data services to the country, was injected into the geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite, with the help of its propellant, will be raised to the final geostationary orbit after two days. Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, “The launch vehicle has performed extremely well.”It was GSLV’s 10th flight. It was GSLV’s fourth flight with the desi cryogenic engine CE-7.5, with the first three being developmental flights. “This is the third successful launch with the indigenous cryogenic engine in GSLV. It has demonstrated its consistent performance and proved to be an operational launch vehicle of India,” said director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre P Kunhikrishnan.Isro called the present one an operational flight as the space agency was confident about the technology and its success. GSLV is a three-staged vehicle and cryogenic engine is used in the third and final stage.“The GSLV rocket has carried the highest mass satellite into orbit. However, the biggest achievement this year will be the launch of GSLV Mark-III with indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine [CE-20] carrying the highest mass satellite,” said Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director K Sivan, director. GSLV Mark-III will be launched in December.INSAT-3DR, configured with an imager and two transponders, will continue the services rendered by previous satellites and further augment the capability to provide both meteorological and search and rescue services. A data relay transponder will provide meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote uninhabited locations through automatic weather stations, rain gauges and agro met stations. The other is a satellite aided search and rescue transponder that will pick up and relay alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land based users.The imager in the satellite will generate images of the Earth disk from an altitude of 36,000km once in every 26 minutes and provide information on various parameters including radiation, sea surface temperature, snow cover, cloud motion and fog.India has six meteorological satellites out of which three -- Kalpana-1, INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR -- are exclusively for providing weather services.Isro had conducted three developmental flights with the indigenous cryogenic engine, which it was forced to develop after it used up all the Russian-supplied engines. However, the maiden flight with the desi engine carrying a 2,220kg GSAT-4, an experimental advanced communication satellite, plunged into the Bay of Bengal minutes after it took off from Sriharikota on April 15, 2010. A study conducted later revealed that the turbo pump supplying fuel to the engine had stopped working. Since then, critical modifications were made to both the engine and the rocket before its first successful flight in 2014 and later in 2015.Isro had faced several challenges during the development of the engine. Cryogenic engines were basically essential to put satellites in geostationary orbit, but the technology was quite sophisticated. The reasons were obvious - burning a super-cooled fuel at extremely high temperatures. Isro was faced with the task of developing a material that can withstand the high temperature and pressure during combustion.Even while its first 7.5-tonne engine, capable to carrying two-tonne payload, developed in 2000, blew up during a test, Isro began a project to develop another engine that could carry double the weight.With a CE-20 engine, Isro is not just aiming at launching satellites weighing up to four tonne, but also a possible future manned mission.In Video: ISRO launches weather satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launches its meteorological satellite INSAT-3DR into a geostationary transfer orbit atop its GSLV Mk II launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Cape Canaveral, Florida (CNN) NASA on Thursday evening launched a space probe called OSIRIS-REx to chase down a dark, potentially dangerous asteroid called Bennu . Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: OSIRIS-REx will take a sample of asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth This drawing shows an artist's concept of what it will look like when the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touches asteroid Bennu with its robot arm to grab a sample of the asteroid. "NASA did it again!" Jim Green, Planetary Science Division director at NASA, said at a post-launch briefing. "Tonight is a night for celebration," said Ellen Stofan , NASA chief scientist. "We are on our way to an asteroid." Thursday's launch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: OSIRIS-REx will take a sample of asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth OSIRIS-REx sits on top of its launch vehicle, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, after it was rolled to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on September 7, 2016. NASA tweeted, "Our @OSIRISREx spacecraft is on its way, and everything is on the timeline ..." Our @OSIRISREx spacecraft is on its way, and everything is on the timeline. Keep watching: https://t.co/KX5g7zfYQe pic.twitter.com/89uZ54af0v Mission managers said the launch was flawless, the spacecraft is in excellent health and that the mission is hitting all its early milestones. "The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is happy and healthy," said Rich Kuhns, OSIRIS-REx program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: OSIRIS-REx will take a sample of asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Denver. The mission's principal investigator, Dante Lauretta, said the next big moment for him will be seeing Bennu for the first time from OSIRIS-REx. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: OSIRIS-REx will take a sample of asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth An artist's concept of what the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will look like as it orbits asteroid Bennu. Those images should start arriving in about two years as OSIRIS-REx approaches Bennu. "We are basically a space vacuum cleaner," said Lauretta NASA hopes to get at least 2 ounces (60 grams) and maybe as much as 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of asteroid dust and small rocks. The short answer is maybe. If it does, it's big enough to do some damage. This close approach will change Bennu's orbit, and scientists say that could cause it to impact Earth sometime between 2175 and 2199. The odds are small -- about 1 in 2,500. But NASA wants to get as much warning as possible for anything that threatens Earth. It's worth pointing out that while Bennu is a known threat, NASA said only about 51% of the near-Earth asteroids of Bennu's size have been found. Meaning there could be lots of unknown threats out there. NASA's Stardust mission brought back samples of dust from Comet Wild 2.• The GENESIS mission brought back samples of the solar wind, material ejected from the outer portion of the sun, in 2004.• And NASA has landed on an asteroid before: The NEAR-Shoemaker mission touched down on asteroid Eros in 2000. Right now, efforts to defend the planet from asteroids and comets are still in their infancy. He said the new office is coordinating with several agencies, the US government and other nations to help develop resources to defend Earth from asteroids of about 330 feet (100 meters) in size or larger. I can't wait to get to the asteroid," OSIRIS-REx program scientist Jeffrey Grossman told CNN. That means Bennu is one of the most dangerous space rocks we know of because it could one day collide with Earth. "We would need probably at least five years warning to 10 years warning to be able to launch an effective space mission to deflect that object," Johnson said. "Just right about now, it's on its closest approach to the Earth, passing underneath the Earth at about 21,000 miles (33,796 kilometers)," Johnson said a briefing Wednesday afternoon. "That's closer than communications satellites orbit the Earth." NASA estimated the asteroid to be between 25 and 50 feet (7 and 16 meters) in diameter and said it was not a hazard to Earth. "If it were to have impacted the Earth, it would have disintegrated in the atmosphere," Johnson said. The mission costs about $800 million excluding the rocket. In a bit of Hollywood-style drama, it will fly over Utah and drop off the capsule holding the asteroid sample. OSIRIS-REx will keep flying and will go orbit the sun. NASA said it may be repurposed, but it won't be bringing home any more samples.</s>The mission has been described as a ‘slow high-five’ with a nearby asteroid to collect material that could date back to the origins of the solar system Nasa launched a spacecraft on Thursday for a mission to slap an asteroid, capture some of the debris that shakes off, and return more interstellar samples to Earth than any mission since the Apollo era. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Littleton will monitor and operate the craft during its seven-year mission and in another Colorado connection, NASA is launching the craft on an Atlas 5 rocket built by the United Launch Alliance, which is based in Centennial. “We expect these samples will contain organic molecules from the early solar system that may give us information and clues to the origin of life.” The Lockheed Martin-made spacecraft will be carried aboard an Atlas V rocket made by United Launch Alliance, a 50-50 joint venture owned by Lockheed and Boeing. Its 1.2-year orbit around the sun brings it closer to Earth every six years at a distance similar to the moon -- although there is very little chance Bennu could collide with Earth, according to estimates by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Once it settles into orbit around Bennu in 2018, the Osiris-Rex probe will spend up to two more years mapping the asteroid's surface and taking inventory of its chemical and mineral composition. "The primary objective of the mission is to bring back 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of pristine carbon-rich material from the surface of Bennu," said Dante Lauretta, principal investigator of the mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona. If all goes as planned, the capsule containing samples from Bennu will be jettisoned from the returning Osiris-Rex spacecraft on Sept. 24, 2023, for a parachute descent and landing at the U.S. Air Force Utah Test and Training Range. Its predecessor, Hayabusa, was supposed to study the effect of a crash landing on asteroid Itokawa and recover samples to bring back to Earth, but it only managed to bring back a few micrograms of material in 2010.

The United Launch Alliance successfully launches NASA's OSIRIS-REx from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida. The mission is to study asteroid 101955 Bennu and in 2023 to return a sample to Earth for detailed analysis. If successful, OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. spacecraft to return samples from an asteroid.

There are four species of giraffe, not one: scientists There are actually four species of giraffe, not one as previously believed, researchers said Thursday in a discovery that could change conservation efforts for the world's tallest mammal. Scientists on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive genetic analysis of giraffes using DNA from 190 of the towering herbivores from across their range in Africa. The giraffe currently is not listed as endangered, although its population has declined dramatically over the past three decades from more than 150,000 to fewer than 100,000, the researchers said. Yet relatively little research has been done on giraffes, compared with other large animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, gorillas and lions, say the researchers. Until now, researchers believed there was one species of giraffe, and as many as nine subspecies. The genetic data showed that four separate species of giraffes that do not interbreed in the wild inhabit various parts of the continent. The study identified the four separate species as: the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), with a population of 52,000; the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), with 32,500; the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), with 8,700; and the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), with 4,750. It also said the genetic differences among giraffe species "are at least as great as those between polar and brown bears." "We were extremely surprised, because the morphological and coat pattern differences between giraffe are limited," says Axel Janke, a geneticist at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and Goethe University in Germany. But the low population levels of the northern giraffe and reticulated giraffe make them some of the world's most endangered large mammals and of high conservation importance, Mr. Fennessy said.</s>Image copyright Reuters It is a famous, gentle giant of the African savannah, but the giraffe's genetics have just revealed that there is not one species, but four. Giraffes have previously been recognised to be a single species divided into several sub-species. But this latest study of their DNA suggests that four groups of giraffes have not cross-bred and exchanged genetic material for millions of years. This is a clear indication that they have evolved into distinct species. The study published in the journal Current Biology has rewritten the biology of Earth's tallest mammal. The scientists say their findings could inform the conservation efforts for all four species of giraffe. Conservation was the catalyst for this genetic research; the Giraffe Conservation Foundation asked the team to carry out genetic analysis of giraffes in Namibia. The foundation wanted to understand the genetic differences between different giraffe populations, to see how the animals might be affected if different subspecies were mixed together when animals were moved into protected areas. What we found then, says Axel Janke, a geneticist at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, who led the research, "was that the sub-species were genetically very different and separate. "I'd never seen that in a population study [of a species] before." This initial study examined what is known as mitochondrial DNA - a packet of DNA within every cell's "engine". This is useful for population genetics - it can be easily isolated and contains lots of known variants that can track relatedness. But mitochondrial DNA is not part of the code that builds an animal, so Dr Janke decided to examine and compare parts of that code - the nuclear DNA. "It turned out, he told BBC News, that, for example, "the whole clade of northern giraffes was very different from reticulated giraffes." "Our findings indicated four distinct species." Those four species include: southern giraffe ( Giraffa giraffa ), ), Masai giraffe ( G. tippelskirchi ), ), reticulated giraffe ( G. reticulata ) ) northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis), which includes the Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) as a distinct but related subspecies. While giraffes had always been thought to be of one species, Dr Janke likened the difference between one species and another - in terms of their genetic code - to that of a Polar bear compared with a brown bear. Image copyright Julian Fennessy Image caption Juvenile Southern Giraffes Image copyright Julian Fennessy Image caption Reticulated giraffe This suggests that each species is adapted for a specific environment or diet - a question that is the subject of his team's next research project. Neglected by science Matthew Cobb, professor of zoology at the University of Manchester explained that the "four groups of giraffes had "been separated for 1-2 million years, with no evidence of genes being exchanged between them". Image copyright Julie Maher Image caption Masai Giraffe Image copyright Julian Fennessy (GCF) Image caption Northern Giraffe "This is an important finding that will enable conservation biologists to target their efforts and, perhaps, to come up with new conservation approaches in captivity or in the wild, based on the genetic similarities and differences between these groups," Professor Cobb told BBC News. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mike Jordan from Chester Zoo tells the BBC's Victoria Gill how a surprising discovery about giraffes could impact conservation. Dr Janke commented: "We've clearly completely forgotten what a giraffe is." He added that conservation programmes focused on specific species - understanding an animal's life, behaviour and habitat, to inform how it can be protected in the wild. In the last 15 years, the population of giraffes has declined by 40% - there are now an estimated 90,000 individuals in the wild. But, as a single species, they are classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as of Least Concern. Now, it is clear that each of these four newly classified species could be faring very differently. It's important to raise awareness for conservation, said Dr Janke, "to protect his beautiful animal of which we know so little." Follow Victoria on Twitter.

Genetic tests show that the genus giraffa, previously thought to contain one extant species, actually consists of four.

USA TODAY Sports Ryan Lochte was suspended on Thursday for 10 months by the USOC and USA Swimming. The other three swimmers with Lochte that night at the gas station — Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen — will be suspended from domestic and international USA Swimming national team competitions for four months. “The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members,” it said in a statement. “Each of the athletes has accepted responsibility for his actions and accepted the appropriate sanctions.” The USOC gives a $25,000 bonus to Olympic gold-medal winners, and USA Swimming has awarded a $75,000 gold-medal bonus at past Olympics. While the near-10-month suspension is four months longer than the one Michael Phelps received in 2014 for his second DUI, the ouster from next year’s world championships isn’t considered major, in part because those championships typically attract a lesser field in the year after the Olympics. Despite his embarrassment, Lochte has maintained a high profile, posting regularly on social media and accepting a spot on the upcoming season of “Dancing With The Stars.” Last month, Brazilian police charged Lochte with filing a false robbery report, but Lochte has not said whether he’ll return to Brazil to defend himself. “When Code of Conduct infractions occur, it’s our responsibility to take action that reflects the seriousness of what happened,” USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus said. “Unfortunately, this story line took attention away from the athletes who deserved it the most.”</s>Twelve-time Olympic swimming medalist Ryan Lochte reportedly has been suspended 10 months for his role in an embarrassing incident during last month's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, in which he embellished details of a gas station confrontation with armed security guards, setting off a week of international intrigue that threatened to overshadow the second week of the Summer Games. The US Olympic Committee and USA Swimming, in a joint release, announced the punishment against the swim superstar, as well as four-month suspensions against three other Americans. The three other swimmers with Lochte on the morning of August 14 - Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen - were suspended for four months each, but remain eligible for the world championships. USA Today also reported that the three other swimmers were suspended, although for shorter lengths of time, and that Lochte would be banned from a championship swim meet in Budapest in 2017. Late last month, it was revealed that Lochte was joining the cast of "Dancing With the Stars," a competition in which celebrities are paired with professional ballroom dancers.

American swimmer Ryan Lochte agrees to a 10-month suspension while his other colleagues get four.

U.S. attempted to rescue two hostages in Afghanistan -Pentagon WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. forces attempted to rescue two civilian hostages in Afghanistan last month, but the captives were not at the location and no U.S. personnel or civilians were harmed in the attempt, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said President Barack Obama, acting on a recommendation from Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, authorized the August mission to rescue the two civilian hostages in an unspecified area of Afghanistan. Cook said no U.S. personnel or civilians were injured and added that he would not provide any more details “in order to protect the safety of hostages and operational security.” According to defense officials, the mission was delayed one day because of questions about the intelligence and whether the hostages, an American and an Australian who worked at the American University of Afghanistan, were there. The hostages were not there, but a group of militants was, leading to a firefight in which seven militants were killed, officials said. "There was a very narrow window before the sun came up," said a defense official who like others interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. It is not the first time the U.S. military has attempted to rescue Western hostages in Afghanistan.</s>Story highlights There was a firefight on the ground in which seven enemy fighters were killed The university has become a target of Taliban-linked insurgents in recent weeks Washington (CNN) A few days after an American and Australian were kidnapped from American University in Kabul last month, US Special Operations Forces from SEAL Team 6 attempted to rescue them but failed to find them at the location they went to, according to three administration officials. There was a firefight on the ground in which seven enemy fighters were killed, according to the officials. The US was never certain the professors were at the site, or if they were, when they had been moved. Some electronic media was recovered indicating the identities of those who were holding them. SEAL Team 6 used a HALO jump, which is a high altitude jump from an aircraft, in the operation. A HALO is generally only attempted when there is no other option. The American University in Afghanistan opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit, coed university in that country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students. The school is regarded as a symbol of cooperation between Afghanistan and the United States. Read More

United States Navy SEALs, by high altitude parachuting, fail in a rescue attempt after the team does not find the American and Australian hostages who were kidnapped in Kabul last month.

Iraqi security forces clean up the site in the aftermath of car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday (AP photo) BAGHDAD — Two bomb blasts outside a shopping mall in central Baghdad claimed by the Daesh terror group killed at least 13 people, security and medical officials said on Saturday. One explosion came from a parked car and the other was caused by an explosives-laden vehicle driven by a suicide bomber outside the Nakheel mall, a police colonel said.</s>Explosions in and around Baghdad kill 12 -police, medical sources BAGHDAD, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Five explosions in and around Baghdad killed at least 12 people on Saturday and wounded 27 others, police and medical sources said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but Islamic State militants regularly attack civilian and security targets inside Iraq's capital. More than 30 people were also wounded in the bombing at Nakheel Mall across from the oil ministry, and the death toll was expected to rise. The fight against Islamic State, which seized a third of Iraq's territory in 2014, has exacerbated a long-running sectarian conflict in Iraq, mostly between the Shi'ite majority and the Sunni minority. The ultra-hardline insurgents have lost ground in the past year to U.S.-backed government forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, but such bombings show the group can still strike outside the territory its controls in northern and western Iraq.

Twin suicide bombings at the Nakheel Mall in eastern Baghdad kill 12 people and injure more than 40 others. ISIL claims responsibility.

Vietnamese-Canadian Phan Thi Kim Phuc delivers her speech before her June 8, 1972 Pulitzer-Prize-winning photograph during the Vietnam war, during a lecture meeting in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture on April 13, 2013 (AFP Photo/Jiji Press) San Francisco (AFP) - Facebook on Friday reversed its decision to censor an iconic Vietnam War photo of a naked girl escaping a napalm bombing, after the move set off a wave of outrage, including from Norway's prime minister. “An image of a naked child would normally be presumed to violate our Community Standards, and in some countries might even qualify as child pornography,” Facebook said in a statement. ALSO READ: * Facebook 'napalm girl' row mounts as Norway PM posts picture * Facebook weeds out clickbait from News Feed, says don't rely on Facebook for all your news "After hearing from our community, we looked again at how our Community Standards were applied in this case," Facebook said in a later statement, adding it recognised "the history and global importance of this image in documenting a particular moment in time." In a clash between a democratically elected leader and the social media giant over how to patrol the Internet, Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg said Facebook was editing history by erasing images of the iconic 1972 "Napalm Girl" photograph, which showed children running from a bombed village. One of them, Education Minister Torbjorn Roe Isaksen, said it was “an iconic photo, part of our history.” Many of the posts were deleted but Isaksen’s was still up Friday afternoon. The editor of Norway's largest newspaper wrote an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg on Friday earlier in which he accused the Facebook chief of "abusing your power" because of the social media firm's decision to remove an iconic, Vietnam War-era photograph of a naked girl running from a napalm attack.</s>Mark Zuckerberg is facing fierce criticism after Facebook censored one of the most famous war photographs in history. The editor of a top Norwegian newspaper on Thursday addressed an open letter to Zuckerberg saying he was "upset, disappointed -- well, in fact even afraid" about Facebook's impact on media freedom. Espen Egil Hansen said his newspaper, Aftenposten, received a demand from Facebook to remove the iconic Vietnam War photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack. "Less than 24 hours after the email was sent, and before I had time to give my response, you intervened yourselves and deleted the article as well as the image from Aftenposten's Facebook page," Hansen wrote. Related: Facebook ditches humans in favor of algorithms for trending news His complaint highlights growing concern about Facebook's vast and expanding influence over news and other content seen by more than a billion people around the world. "You create rules that don't distinguish between child pornography and famous war photographs," Hansen wrote to Zuckerberg. "Then you practice these rules without allowing space for good judgment." Facebook (FB, Tech30) said it recognizes that the photo is iconic, but stressed that it's "difficult to create a distinction between allowing a photograph of a nude child in one instance and not others." "We try to find the right balance between enabling people to express themselves while maintaining a safe and respectful experience for our global community," the company said. "Our solutions won't always be perfect, but we will continue to try to improve our policies and the ways in which we apply them." The pressure intensified on Friday when Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg accused the company of deleting the image from her own public page. "What they do in removing such pictures, whatever their reasons, is to edit our common history," Solberg said in a statement that urged Facebook to face up to its responsibilities as a major media platform. Related: The girl in the picture -- a journey from war to forgiveness The saga began when Norwegian author Tom Egeland posted a series of historic war photographs on Facebook. The social network removed one of the images -- the famous Vietnam photo of the naked girl, Kim Phuc, fleeing the napalm attack -- and later suspended Egeland's account after he posted a reaction to the deletion. When Aftenposten posted its article about what happened to Egeland on Facebook, that too fell foul of the rules. "You even censor criticism against and a discussion about the decision -- and you punish the person who dares to voice criticism," Hansen wrote. The dramatic photo, snapped by Associated Press photojournalist Nick Ut in 1972, won a Pulitzer Prize and is one of the most memorable images of the 20th Century. Despite its graphic nature, the photo has been credited with helping to turn U.S. public sentiment against the war in Vietnam. Hansen told CNNMoney's Nina Dos Santos on Friday that Zuckerberg is now "the most influential editor-in-chief in the world." "With that follows a great responsibility," Hansen said. "I ask him to think through what he is doing ... to the public debate all over the world." Rolv Erik Ryssdal, chief executive of Aftenposten's publisher, said in a statement that Facebook's position "is not acceptable" and constitutes an attack on democracy and freedom of expression. Zuckerberg has tried to fend off pressure about Facebook's role in managing what articles and images people see. "We're a technology company, we're not a media company," he said last month. "We do not produce any of the content." Facebook says it relies on users to report offensive content. Items they flag are then reviewed by teams of workers around the world who speak many languages, including Norwegian. But some media experts say the system is fatally flawed. "Whether intentional or desired or not, Facebook does now play a critical role in the distribution of news," Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor at the City University of New York, wrote earlier this year. "An editor -- or perhaps an ethicist-in-chief -- could help set the services standards and policies." Jarvis seized on Hansen's letter to Zuckerberg, tweeting that it's an example of "exactly why I keep suggesting Facebook needs a top level journalist." Facebook was engulfed by controversy in May over how news stories were chosen for its "trending topics" box. Last month, it removed the humans responsible for manually writing news descriptions and headlines for the section, turning the job over to software programs.

The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten accuses Facebook of censorship because of the website's decision to remove the iconic Vietnam War–era photo "napalm girl" as child pornography.

General Motors issued a recall notice Friday for 4.3 million cars and trucks worldwide due to a dangerous electronic fault that could prevent airbag deployment in an accident. The company said Friday that in rare cases, the car’s sensing and diagnostic module — a tiny computer that senses what the vehicle is doing and controls air-bag deployment — can go into test mode. GM says dealers already have access to the software update so they should be able to repair the vehicles quickly. The following models will be recalled; 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado HD, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and Sierra HD and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; 2014-2017 Buick Encore, GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Corvette, Trax, Caprice and Silverado; 2014-2016 Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet SS and Spark EV.</s>WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Friday it will recall nearly 4.3 million vehicles worldwide to fix a software defect that can prevent air bags from deploying during a crash, a flaw already linked to one death and three injuries. 3 automaker, said the latest recall involved trucks, cars and SUVs from the 2014 to 2017 model years, including some models of the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado HD and Cadillac Escalade. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a notice posted on Friday that "certain driving conditions may cause the airbag sensing and diagnostic module software to activate a diagnostic test" that would prevent the airbag from deploying in the event of a crash.

General Motors recalls 4.3 million vehicles after a defect in the software for the airbag led to one fatality.

A longtime Volkswagen engineer from Southern California pleaded guilty in federal court to charges he helped design and implement a software system that enabled the German automaker’s diesel engines to defeat emissions tests. James Liang, who has worked for VW since 1983 and was part of a team of engineers who developed a diesel engine, was charged in an indictment made public on Friday with conspiring to commit wire fraud and violating US clean air laws. Liang could face up to five years in prison but could get a much lighter sentence if the government finds he provided substantial assistance. The 62 year-old German citizen, who lives in Newbury Park, California, appeared in US District Court in Detroit on Friday and entered into a plea agreement that includes his cooperation with the government in its investigation. As described in a 25-page indictment unsealed Friday along with the plea deal, Liang and the other VW employees at Volkswagen knew “from almost the beginning of VW’s process to design its new ‘clean diesel’ vehicles” that the cars “would not meet U.S. emissions standards.” When they realized that they could not design an engine that would adhere to the strict U.S. standards, while also delivering solid road performance, they created and implemented so-called defeat devices — software that could recognize when cars were being tested “in order to cheat” the tests, according to court papers. In a statement released Friday, the Justice Department said Liang admitted to using the software while working on the diesel engine and “assisted in making the defeat device work.” Volkswagen said in a statement that it is “continuing to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice,” but couldn’t comment on the indictment. While working at VW’s test facility in Oxnard, he served as “leader of diesel competence.” Advertisement According to the plea agreement, Liang said he and his co-conspirators “misrepresented” that the VW diesel vehicles met U.S. emissions standards during certification meetings for new cars with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board and “hid the existence of the defeat device from regulators.” According to court papers, Liang and his fellow engineers did not stop at creating the defeat devices — they improved them.</s>DETROIT (AP) — A Volkswagen engineer has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in the company's emissions cheating scandal, advancing a criminal investigation by agreeing to testify against others. James Robert Liang, 62, of Newberry Park, California, entered the plea Friday in U.S. District Court in Detroit to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government through wire fraud. Volkswagen has admitted to installing software on about 500,000 2-liter diesel engines in VW and Audi models in the U.S. that turned pollution controls on during government tests and turned them off while on the road. The Environmental Protection Agency found that the cars emitted up to 40 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxide, which can cause human respiratory problems. Liang, who began work for VW in 1983 in Germany, and also worked in the U.S., was indicted in June on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and another count of violating the Clean Air Act. According to a plea agreement unsealed Friday, Liang admitted that he and others planned a special software function, known as a defeat device, that could cheat U.S. emissions tests after recognizing that a diesel engine they were designing could not meet customer expectations and stricter emissions standards. Using the defeat device enabled VW to obtain a certificate from the Environmental Protection Agency needed to sell the cars in the U.S. Liang pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge before Judge Sean Cox. He will be sentenced on Jan. 11. The judge said that sentencing guidelines call for Liang to serve five years in prison. The cooperation of Liang, who began work in Wolfsburg, Germany, and also worked in the U.S., is a major breakthrough in the Justice Department's investigation into the automaker's cheating scandal. His cooperation could lead to other criminal charges against VW and the unidentified co-conspirators. Volkswagen wouldn't comment on the plea but said Friday that it continues to cooperate in the investigation. According to the indictment, Liang and his co-conspirators were tasked with designing new diesel engines for the U.S. market that complied with stricter emissions standards for nitrogen oxide emissions that went into effect in 2007. "Liang knew that VW was cheating by implementing the defeat device and that he and his co-conspirators were considering deceiving EPA in this meeting," the plea agreement states. The indictment says that in May 2008 Liang transferred from Volkswagen headquarters in Germany to the U.S. to help oversee the launch of the new "clean diesel" models. Investigators uncovered internal company emails that show Liang and other VW engineers exchanged ideas about how to "effectively calibrate the defeat device" so that the cars would recognize when they were undergoing U.S. emissions testing. The software was designed to recognize when the cars were being tested on a treadmill-like device called a dynamometer. In 2013, Liang and others exchanged messages in German about software that recognized when the engine was revving but the steering wheel was not moving, an indication that the car was undergoing a dynamometer lab test. The software then calibrated the engine to run cleaner than it would in real world driving, in order to pass the test, according to the indictment. "If this goes through without problems, the function is probably truly watertight! Government documents say others were involved and point to multiple emails in German that likely came from VW employees in Wolfsburg, Germany. ____ Eric Tucker and Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.

An engineer from Volkswagen pleads guilty for his role in the emissions cheating scandal.

“Every night when we say our bedtime prayers, it’s one of the things we pray for.”</s>NEAR THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX RESERVATION, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on the legal challenge and protest of the four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline (all times local): Federal authorities say they want to review their permitting for the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota and have asked that the company “voluntarily pause” construction on a 40-mile span of land that Standing Rock Sioux officials say holds sacred sites and artifacts. Having done so, the court must nonetheless conclude that the tribe has not demonstrated that an injunction is warranted here.” Despite the ruling in its favor, the federal government said it would halt pipeline work that occurs on federal land near Lake Oahe until it “can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions”. Hasselman said that they’ll “hope that construction isn’t completed while that (appeal) process is going forward.” Officials with pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners didn’t return The Associated Press’ phone calls or emails seeking comment. We urge everyone involved in protest or pipeline activities to adhere to the principles of non-violence.” The Standing Rock Sioux tribe has waged a vociferous protest against the pipeline, which would run near its North Dakota reservation. The lawsuit from the South Dakota tribe was filed Thursday and is separate from the one filed by the Standing Rock Sioux on which a federal judge is expected to rule Friday. Judge James Boasberg of the US district court ruled that the US Army Corps of Engineers “likely complied” with National Historic Preservation Act by permitting the 1,170-mile Dakota Access pipeline, which will take oil from North Dakota to Illinois. Having done so, the Court must nonetheless conclude that the Tribe has not demonstrated that an injunction is warranted here.” The 1,172-mile project will carry nearly a half-million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota’s oil fields through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Patoka, Illinois.

A U.S. federal judge denies a request to stop construction of a pipeline that runs through the Standing Rock Reservation of the Sioux people.

By James MacPherson, The Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. — The Standing Rock Sioux’s effort to block a four-state oil pipeline got a lifeline when the federal government temporarily stopped the project, a move some say likely may forever change the way all energy infrastructure projects are reviewed in the future. Just minutes after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg denied the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s attempt to halt the construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline that skirts the reservation in southern North Dakota, three federal agencies appealed to the pipeline company to “voluntarily pause” work on a segment that tribal officials say holds sacred sites and artifacts. Tribal officials had challenged the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to grant permits for Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners’ $3.8 billion pipeline that is intended to carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois. Friday’s ruling by Boasberg, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, came amid growing protests over the pipeline, which would cross the Missouri River less than a mile upstream of the reservation. “The Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws,” the statement read. The statement from the federal departments also said the case “highlighted the need for a serious discussion” about nationwide reforms “with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects.” Troy Eid, a former U.S. attorney in Colorado who now specializes in Indian law, said the action was unprecedented and a “significant setback” for the pipeline’s builders. “Everywhere in Indian Country, people are talking about this,” said Eid, who spoke by phone Saturday while on horseback during a parade at the Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, Arizona. He said the lack of tribal consultation on the Dakota Access pipeline “is a textbook example of how not to do a project.” Eid, a Republican, said that historically, tribes only have been consulted on energy infrastructure projects, with the federal government making the actual decisions, but that the Obama administration’s action Friday likely changed that. “Tribes want to be able to influence the outcome in a substantive way,” Eid said. Industry consultant Brigham McCown, a former acting administrator for the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, said the Obama administration’s involvement has “changed the lay of the land forever” for infrastructure projects. “This could bog down or delay every single infrastructure project moving forward,” he said. “I don’t think they even realize the can of worms they’ve opened.” As a regulator during the George W. Bush administration, McCown said he oversaw safety for a million daily shipments of hazardous goods throughout the United States by air, rail, sea, land and pipeline. “We were very apolitical in the decisions we made,” he said. “Things are very different now, whether from the right wing or left wing, politics of all kinds are being injected into this.” The company plans to have the pipeline completed this year. In court papers, it said stopping the project would cost it $1.4 billion the first year, mostly due to lost revenue in hauling crude. The federal government’s action in trumping the federal judge’s ruling, however temporary, was a major victory for Native Americans in a “cultural and historical context,” said Monte Mills, an assistant professor and co-director of the Margery Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic at the University of Montana in Missoula. “The way Indian Country came together to support Standing Rock has really been powerful,” he said. “There is no question it will be much more difficult and costly for these projects to move forward in the future,” said Brian Jorde, an Omaha, Nebraska, lawyer who is working with opponents of the Keystone XL oil pipeline designed to move crude from Canada to the Gulf Coast. “The reality is (Dakota Access) likely will move forward — not that I believe it should move forward — but all the pieces are in place for it to go forward,” Jorde said. “There is too much money involved and too much influence in Washington to just give up.”</s>NEAR THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX RESERVATION, N.D. (AP) — The Standing Rock Sioux tribe's attempt to halt construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline near its North Dakota reservation failed in federal court Friday, but three federal agencies asked the pipeline company to "voluntarily pause" work on a segment that tribal officials say holds sacred sites and artifacts. Here's a look at the planned pipeline and the tribe's ongoing protest: ___ AFTER FIERY TRAIN DERAILMENTS, A MASSIVE PIPELINE PLANNED Owned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, the $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile project would carry nearly a half-million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota's oil fields through South Dakota and Iowa to an existing pipeline in Patoka, Illinois, where shippers can access Midwest and Gulf Coast markets. Announced in 2014, supporters said the pipeline would create more markets and reduce truck and oil train traffic — the latter of which has been a growing concern after a spate of fiery derailments of trains carrying North Dakota crude. The tribe, whose cause has drawn thousands to join its protest, had challenged the Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant permits at more than 200 water crossings for Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners' $3.8 billion pipeline, saying that the project violates several federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, and will harm water supplies. Filed on behalf of the tribe by environmental group Earthjustice, the suit says the project violates several federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, and will disturb sacred sites outside of the 2.3-million acre reservation. The lawsuit alleges that the pipeline, which would be placed less than a mile upstream of the tribe's reservation, could impact drinking water for more than 8,000 tribal members and millions who rely on it downstream. A separate lawsuit filed Thursday by a South Dakota tribe also challenges the decisions to grant the permits. ETP says the pipeline includes safeguards such as leak detection equipment, and workers monitoring the pipeline remotely in Texas could close block valves on it within three minutes if a breach is detected. Since April, a nonviolent tribal protest held mostly by members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe has been set up at a "spirit camp" at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers in the path of the pipeline. It's grown considerably, as they've been joined by other American Indians and other, non-Native Americans from across the country, including celebrities such as "Divergent" actress Shailene Woodley. Nearly 40 have been arrested as the protest has grown size, including Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault II. Nearly 40 people have been arrested since the protest began in April, including tribal chairman Dave Archambault II, though none stemmed from Saturday's confrontation between protesters and construction workers. ___ POLITICIANS ENTER THE FRAY, OFFICIALS PREPARE Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka have been charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal mischief stemming from their time at the protest. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka camped with protesters Monday, and her campaign spokeswoman said Stein spray-painted construction equipment Tuesday. The ruling on a Native American tribe's request for a temporary restraining order on construction comes one day after Gov. State authorities announced this week that law enforcement officers from across the state were being mobilized at the protest site, some National Guard members would work security at traffic checkpoints and another 100 would be on standby. Meanwhile, the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association has asked U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to send federal monitors to the protest, alleging racial profiling. ___ CULTURE CLASH Last weekend, tribal officials said crews bulldozed several sites of "significant cultural and historic value" on private land, which Energy Transfer Partners denies. The state's Private Investigation and Security Board received complaints about the use of dogs and will look into whether the private security personnel at the site are properly registered and licensed, board attorney Monte Rogneby said Friday, adding that he would not name the firms. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg partially granted the tribe's request to temporarily stop work near Lake Oahe to prevent the destruction of more sacred sites, but not on the private land that sparked the protest.

Following this ruling, and to head off an immediate confrontation, the Obama administration temporarily suspends further construction of the pipeline on U.S. Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe, and asks the Dakota Access construction company to voluntarily pause all work within 20 miles of the lake.

LEGAZPI CITY—The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday raised the alert level over Mt. Mayon in Albay province from zero to 1 after it observed abnormalities around the volcano. Ed Laguerta, resident volcanologist of Phivolcs here, said 146 earthquakes had been recorded in areas around the volcano from Aug. 3 to 6, with epicenter traced to Santo Domingo town. ADVERTISEMENT Laguerta also described the volcano’s base ground as “inflated.” Michael Jaucian, Inquirer Southern Luzon Read Next LATEST STORIES MOST READ</s>The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded a volcanic earthquake on the Mayon Volcano in southeastern Luzon, a day after warning locals to avoid areas close to the active dome due to "abnormal activity". The warning to the residents of Legazpi city of Albay province, located in the northern Philippines' Luzon island, came after the volcano's monitoring network detected an earthquake in the past 24 hours as well as the emission of white steam plumes and sulfur dioxide emissions indicating that magma is moving up from underneath the volcano. READ MORE: * Skiers in Chile watch as volcano spews ash, smoke * Hawaii's Kilauea volcano forms smiley face in lava lake * Iceland raises alarm after largest volcano starts to rumble "Phreatic explosion may happen anytime but a big explosion is expected in the coming days," said PHILVOCS resident volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta, who noted that a similar "period of unrest" had occurred before a previous Mayon eruption. The volcano's last eruption in September 2014 forced more than 58,000 people to flee their homes. Mayon is one of the most well known of the Philippines' 18 active volcanoes.

The alert level for the Mayon Volcano in the Philippines is increased after more than a hundred earthquakes were detected in its vicinity.

At least two dead as train derails in northern Spain MADRID, Sept 9 (Reuters) - At least two people have died after a train derailed in Galicia, in northern Spain, a spokesman for the local emergency services said on Friday. The Portuguese driver was among the dead in the accident, which saw the train hit the wall of a bridge and smash into a pillar, according to the mayor of the nearby town of O Porrino. “There are still some injured here but not very serious, the seriously injured were quickly evacuated.” The train was travelling from the Galician town of Vigo to the city of Porto in Portugal when the accident happened near O Porrino. 'Covered in blood' The front portion of the train was badly mangled, but the last two carriages were only lightly affected and Spanish media report that many people were able to walk off the damaged train. Officials say it took place on a "very straight line" in an area of good visibility. Galicia was also the scene of one of Spain’s worst rail disasters in 2013, when around 80 people were killed and another 144 injured after a train slammed into a concrete wall on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela.</s>MADRID (AP) — A passenger train derailed Friday in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region, killing at least four people and injuring 47 others who were taken to hospitals, authorities said. The accident occurred at 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) in Porrino, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) northwest of Madrid, the Galician regional government said. It said emergency services dispatched doctors on helicopters to the scene. The train left Vigo at 9:02am and was scheduled to arrive in Porto in neighbouring Portugal two hours later. Renfe also said that the train belongs to Portuguese company Comboios and that the engine driver has Portuguese citizenship. READ MORE: * Five killed in train derailment south of the Egyptian capital * Train derails after hitting truck in Australia, no one killed Adif railway infrastructure company said it has opened an investigation. The derailment occurred on a straight stretch close to Porrino station. The train which was travelling between the Spanish city of Vigo to Porto in Portugal, was carrying 63 passengers and two crew members, including the driver, state-run railway operator Renfe said. The train, which derailed just before 9.30am local time (7.30am Irish time ) had three cars. The front car came completely off the track and smashed into an electricity pylon next to the line, crushing the engineer’s cab and leaving the car leaning to one side. The back two cars were partly off the tracks.

A train derails at a station in the town of O Porriño in Galicia, Spain, killing at least four people.

After Cable Cars Got Stuck In The Alps, Dozens Spent Night Suspended In Midair Enlarge this image toggle caption Luca Bruno/AP Luca Bruno/AP On Thursday night, a series of cable cars traveling over the Mont Blanc Alpine Massif stopped working — leaving more than 100 tourists stranded, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. With the cables now straightened, the cable cars were able to resume their journey, at very slow speeds and under close surveillance, and delivered the passengers to the nearest ground stations, mayor Eric Fournier said. Enlarge this image toggle caption Luca Bruno/AP Luca Bruno/AP The cable car crosses between mountain peaks in France and Italy, near the towns of Chamonix, France, and Courmayeur, Italy. The interior minister said 65 people were rescued Thursday night, but 45 had to be left there overnight after rescue operations were halted because of rough flight conditions for helicopters and darkness. Five rescuers stayed overnight in the cable cars and provided blankets, food and water to help weather the chilly mountain nighttime conditions. Descending from the cable cars, one passenger told reporters “it ended well” despite five or six hours suspended midair in cold mountain conditions. Helicopter rescue operations soon began — but they were risky, the AP reports: " 'The extent of this rescue operation is simply unbelievable,' said Col. Frederic Labrunye, commander of the provincial gendarmerie group of Haute-Savoie. “By the volume of people to rescue – we rarely rescue 110 people at the same time in high mountain – and by the environment in which it happens in the heart of one of the largest glaciers in Europe, over a distance of 5km of cable with 36 cabins.” Helicopters had to carefully fly over the cables, which is risky itself, then lower a rescuer on to an area “not larger than a table”, strap on passengers one by one and extract them, he said, describing it as “air surgery”. The cable car, which offers spectacular up-close views of Western Europe's tallest mountains and deep valleys below, connects the Aiguille de Midi peak in France, at 3,842 meters (12,605 feet), to Pointe Helbronner in Italy, at 3,462 meters (11,358 feet).</s>More than 30 tourists who spent a dramatic night stranded in cable cars above the French Alps were brought to the ground on Friday after an 18-hour ordeal, operators said. A total of 110 people became trapped when the cable cars ground to a halt shortly before 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) Thursday at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) in the Mont Blanc region. But with darkness falling and the weather deteriorating, the rescue operation was suspended, leaving 33 tourists, one of them a 10-year-old child, forced to spend the night dangling in mid-air. “They resumed five minutes ago, the last cable (which was blocking the system) was untangled,” Mathieu Dechavanne, CEO of the Mont-Blanc Company that manages the system, told Agence France-Presse. And Frédéric Maurer, 49, one of the first passengers to be rescued along with his daughter and son after the intervention of the Mountain Rescue Service, said: 'We were in the cab for two-and-a-half hours locked under the sun. During the night, a team of five rescuers, three French and two Italian police officers also attempted to reach the trapped tourists. The French Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi connects the peak of Aiguille du Midi to the village of Chamonix, while the Italian Skyway Monte Bianco connects the peak of Pointe Helbronner to the village of La Palud, just north of Courmayeur near the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The incident was caused by cables that got crossed for “unknown reasons”, but a gust of wind is thought to have played a part, said Mathieu Dechavanne, boss of the Mont-Blanc Company which manages the system. More than 100 people were left trapped in panoramic cable cars close to Mont Blanc in the Alps this afternoon. The cars were restarted after the last cable was untangled, he told AFP.

More than a hundred tourists in the French Alps spend an evening suspended in midair inside cable cars that ceased to move.

MIAMI (AP) — Business owners are anxious for federal health officials to lift a travel advisory warning pregnant women and their partners to avoid parts of Miami and South Beach that have been identified as zones of active transmission of the Zika virus. A plane carrying the insecticide naled released the spray over the Atlantic Ocean before dawn Friday. Additional sprayings are scheduled for Sunday and the next two weekends. Miami-Dade County officials say they're delaying the aerial spraying of an insecticide called naled over South Beach following concerns voiced by residents and local officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it could lift its advisory for a 1-square-mile zone encompassing Miami's Wynwood neighborhood on Sept. 19 if no new locally contracted cases are confirmed, The Miami Herald reports (http://hrld.us/2bZrzIO). For almost six months the U.S. Congress has failed to pass a funding bill needed to speed up research and control of the Zika virus, which causes a severe brain defect in unborn children called microcephaly or “tiny head” syndrome and causes Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, which can be crippling as well as deadly. Of Florida’s 56 non-travel-related Zika cases, 11 have been traced to Miami Beach and 29 to Wynwood.</s>(CNN) Planes completed aerial spraying for mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus early Friday in the Miami area, despite concerns over possible effects that the insecticide Naled may have on health and the environment. Experts say there's no reason to be concerned over the effects of the insecticide on human health and the environment. The spraying was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was delayed for a day after concerned residents protested. So far there have been 56 locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus in Florida , which has 20.6 million residents. The state has seen 596 travel-related cases of Zika, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Aerial spraying using Naled and other insecticides has been used in many populated areas of the continental United States, including Miami, Tampa and New Orleans to help control mosquitoes," the CDC said on its website Naled breaks down swiftly in water and sunlight, and its chemicals don't cause health problems in people or pets if used in small quantities, according to the CDC. A few days later, in an unprecedented move, the CDC announced a travel warning, advising pregnant women not to visit that area. Authorities launched aggressive mosquito-control measures, including spraying in the area. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised pregnant women not to travel to an area of Miami Beach limited to 1½ square miles. Pregnant women are at greatest risk because the virus can have devastating consequences for an unborn baby, including the birth defect microcephaly and other neurological deficits, as well as miscarriage and stillbirth among women who were infected while pregnant. The chemical kills mosquitoes on contact. Sprayers produce very fine droplets that are small enough to stay airborne and intercept mosquitoes in flight. The virus can cause neurological disorders in unborn children Health officials have sprayed pesticide and larvicide on the ground in areas where they believe the mosquitoes may be, and are expanding those efforts with the aerial use of Naled. On Thursday, a Twitter user described as a backyard bee keeper wrote, "@CDCgov Please stop the use of toxic NALED, it kills pollinators and wildlife and its toxic to environment." Since the variety of mosquito that carries Zika is most active predawn and at sunset, all spraying must take place at those times.

Miami Beach authorities begin spraying for the Zika virus despite protests.

Japan to consider more sanctions on North Korea after nuclear test TOKYO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Japan's chief government spokesman said on Friday Tokyo will consider further unilateral sanctions against North Korea after the reclusive North conducted what South Korea said was a nuclear test. A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, Ned Price, says Washington is aware of seismic activity on the Korean Peninsula in the vicinity of a known North Korean nuclear test site. Image copyright AP Image caption South Korea's military said the test appeared to be the North's biggest yet Ms Park, who is cutting short an overseas visit, said the test was a "grave challenge" to the international community that would "only earn more sanctions and isolation" for North Korea. North Korea's state TV said Friday that the test elevated the country's nuclear arsenal and is part of its response to the international sanctions following its earlier nuclear test and long-range rocket launch in January and February. In recent months the North has conducted a series of ballistic missile launches - some of which reached Japanese waters - and has unleashed a rising tide of aggressive rhetoric, threatening nuclear attacks on its enemies. Earlier, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in North Korea, but later termed it an explosion. In January, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, a move that was condemned by the UN Security Council and led to punitive sanctions on the North Korean regime.</s>(The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 5.3-magnitude seismic event in North Korea on Friday, near a nuclear test site in the northeastern part of the county. The event at 9:30 a.m. local time had a zero depth. Its epicenter was 11 miles (18 km) east-northeast of Sungjibaegam, North Korea, the USGS said.

A 5.3 magnitude seismic event recorded in North Korea is confirmed to be the result of a nuclear weapons test.

Mr Beeby said sterling’s fall against the euro, sparked by the UK’s vote in June to leave the EU, had not so far hit sales nor prompted Irish vendors to send their horses to be sold at auctions in the UK. Just over €205 million worth of horses were sold that year.</s>

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says that Irish unity must be considered in Brexit talks.

Crimea cannot be returned to Ukraine, Czech president says PRAGUE, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine cannot get back the Crimea peninsula, although Russia took it by annexation, Czech President Milos Zeman was quoted as saying. “[Nikita] Khrushchev committed an unforgivable stupidity and the world’s politicians acknowledge today that Crimea cannot be given back to Ukraine,” Zeman said, referring to the Soviet leader who in 1954 made Crimea part of Ukraine, which was then a part of the Soviet Union. “It is doubtless that agreements guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity were breached,” he said, responding to a question from a reader who argued that Crimea had historically been a part of Russia and was thus just “returned,” and not “annexed.” Zeman had urged the EU to accept the Crimean Republic’s accession into the Russian Federation immediately after it took place in 2014, saying that no one should expect the region’s return to Ukraine in the foreseeable future. He has also repeatedly spoken out against the anti-Russian sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and US over Crimea and the Ukrainian crisis. Zeman was also the only Western leader who came to Russia to attend the 2015 celebrations marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.</s>Russia has formed a "self-sufficient military group" in Crimea capable of repelling attempts to seize the peninsula, Interfax news agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying on Friday. The statement was made during the final stage of the Caucasus-2016 large-scale military drills held in Crimea. Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 after months of protests in Kiev ousted pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.

Czech President Milos Zeman says in an interview that the Crimean peninsula can never be returned to Ukraine, notwithstanding the fact that it was de facto annexed by Russia.

House to vote on Sept. 11 legislation as veto threat looms WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is slated to vote on a bipartisan bill that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for a showdown with President Barack Obama on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the attacks. The House passed the legislation Friday by a voice vote, about four months after the measure cleared the Senate despite vehement objections from Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudi nationals. The bill set for a House vote Friday gives victims' families the right to sue in U.S. court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks that killed thousands in New York, the Washington, D.C., area and Pennsylvania. The White House has signaled that Obama would veto the legislation over the potential for it to backfire and apprehension about undermining a long-standing yet strained relationship with a critical U.S. ally in the Middle East. But French Parliament member Pierre Lellouche, who serves as chairman of France's equivalent of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would pursue legislation that would permit French citizens to sue the United States with cause. Votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate would be needed to override a veto. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, said the U.S. government should be more concerned about the families of the victims than “diplomatic niceties.” Poe said he doesn’t know if the Saudi government had a role in the attacks that killed more than 3,000 people. Following Friday’s vote, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the authors of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, said he was “pleased” the House had “taken this huge step forward towards justice” and said he hoped the Obama administration would not veto the bill. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia, which was preparing for the annual hajj pilgrimage beginning Saturday. "The families have been asking for this for over a decade," said Terry Strada, whose husband, Thomas Strada, was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center towers, and has long lobbied Congress on the issue. “If they’ve done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about.” Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has voiced strong objections to the legislation. Right before Friday’s vote, House members from both parties briefly adjourned to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., led a moment of silence on the Capitol steps, and lawmakers sang "God Bless America" in remembrance of 9/11, when lawmakers gathered in the same location to sing the song immediately after the attacks on New York and Washington. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act had triggered a threat from Riyadh to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy if the legislation is enacted. But Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir denied in May that the kingdom made any threats over the bill. He said Riyadh had warned that investor confidence in the U.S. would shrink if the bill became law. “In fact what they (Congress) are doing is stripping the principle of sovereign immunities, which would turn the world for international law into the law of the jungle,” Al-Jubeir said. Friday’s House vote comes two months after Congress released 28 declassified pages from a congressional report into 9/11 that reignited speculation over links at least a few of the attackers had to Saudis, including government officials. The allegations were never substantiated by later U.S. investigations into the terrorist attacks. “Selling $1.15 billion in tanks, guns, ammunition, and more to a country with a poor human rights record embroiled in a bitter war is a recipe for disaster and an escalation of an ongoing arms race in the region,” Paul said.</s>U.S. House votes to allow Sept. 11 families to sue Saudi Arabia WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation by voice vote on Friday that would allow the families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to sue Saudi Arabia's government for damages, despite the White House's threat to veto the measure. The U.S. Senate in May unanimously passed the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act," known as JASTA. "We are in the same place we were the last time," the White House official said on Friday.

The United States Congress passes a law allowing families of the victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. U.S. president Barack Obama threatens to veto it.

During Najib’s state visit to Bangkok, the Malaysian leader and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-O-Cha will discuss building a new stretch of fence along a small section of the border, according to Thailand’s defense ministry spokesman. People-trafficking and the smuggling of contraband, including drugs and petrol, have flourished along the Thai-Malay border for years until a crackdown by Thai officials on human traffickers caused some of the routes to shut down last year. "We both face security issues including the fight against terrorism, human trafficking and illegal smuggling, that is why we need to address these issues seriously," said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The Thai and Malaysian leaders will discuss ways to advance dialogue with the insurgents, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Najib’s visit follows three deadly bomb attacks in southern Thailand over the past month, including a wave of bombs in tourist towns in August that Thai police have linked to Muslim separatists operating in the country’s south. Thailand’s three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces are plagued by a bloody insurgency, and the porous 650-kilometer (400 mile) border with Malaysia is also a crime hotbed, criss-crossed by human traffickers, drug mules and weapon smugglers. Since 2004, Muslim separatists operating in the area have waged a bloody insurgency which has claimed more than 6500 lives, according to the Deep South Watch which monitors the conflict. Thailand’s three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were once part of an independent Malay Muslim sultanate until they were annexed by Thailand in 1909. “The second reason is that insurgents operating in Thailand regularly cross the border and use Malaysia as a safety base.” Yet, it remains unclear how far the wall will reduce crime.</s>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.

Elections in Malaysia are to occur in 2017 as efforts to challenge the legitimacy of Najib Razak mount.

In other reaction: Turkey welcomed the plan, and said aid needed to reach those in need "from the first day" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged the UN to "prepare a proposal for political transition" in Syria British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged Russia to "use all its influence" to ensure the Syrian government "delivers on its obligations" Aid access The announcement follows talks in Geneva between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. "We have agreed on the areas where such co-ordinated strikes would be taking place, and in those areas, on neutral agreement shared by the Syrian government as well, only the Russian and US air force will be functional," he said. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Aleppo: Key battleground in Syria's civil war Seven days after the start of the cessation of hostilities, Russia and the US will establish a "joint implementation centre" to fight IS and another main group, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.</s>But once again, the world’s top diplomats have punted on the fate of Syria’s widely reviled, Russian-backed leader, President Bashar Assad, setting no clear provisions for his removal. In a statement published late Saturday on its official media arm Al-Manar, the group’s unnamed “field commander for Syria operations” said Hezbollah “stands with the ceasefire.” “Syria’s allies are completely committed to what the Syrian leadership, government, and security and political forces have decided in terms of the ceasefire,” the statement said. Secretary of State John F. Kerry acknowledged both the make-or-break nature of the violence in Syria and efforts to decrease it, and the inherent difficulties of success. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that despite continuing mistrust, the two sides had developed five documents that would enable coordination of the fight against terrorism and a revival of Syria’s failed truce. said one U.S. official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly. Kerry said the “bedrock” of the new deal was an agreement that the Syrian government would not fly combat missions in an agreed area on the pretext of hunting fighters from the Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria which recently changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. Second, the U.S. agreed to pressure “moderate” rebel groups opposed to the Syrian government to fully distance themselves from the Front for the Conquest of Syria, formerly known as Al Nusra Front, which the U.S. considers Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria.

The U.S. Obama administration and the Russian Putin administration agree to a Syrian peace deal. The deal is intended to end combat in specified areas and create a joint center of combat to fight ISIL and Al-Nusra Front.

Earthquakes are fairly common in the Great Lakes region but are almost always of low intensity ©Tony Karumba (AFP/File) "Some people have been discharged from hospital," he told AFP. By Tony Karumba (AFP/File) Dar es Salaam (AFP) - At least 13 people were killed and 203 injured in northwest Tanzania when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit the country Saturday, local authorities told AFP.s "The toll has climbed from 11 people dead to 13 and from 192 injured to 203," said Deodatus Kinawilo, District Commissioner for Bukoba, the town close to the epicentre of the quake. "We currently have 11 people dead and more than 100 injured, several of whom have been hospitalised... rescue operations are ongoing," Augustine Ollomi, the Kagera province police chief in charge of the Bukoba district said by telephone. An earthquake measuring 5.7 hit Tanzania on Saturday and was felt in nearby Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya, the US Geological Survey said, as reports came in of collapsed homes. The epicentre of the 1227 GMT quake was about 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of the north-western town of Nsunga on the border of Lake Victoria, according to the US Geological Survey. An AFP correspondent in the Tanzanian capital whose mother's family lives in Bukoba said 10 family houses had collapsed and that the regional hospital was overwhelmed and could not handle any more patients. No damage had been reported in the economic capital, Dar es Salaam, which is located some 1,400 kilometres southeast of Bukoba.</s>Image copyright AP Image caption Major earthquakes are rare in East Africa's Great Rift Valley A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has killed at least 13 people and injured 203 in northern Tanzania, the authorities say. The U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday that there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage from the quake in the Lake Victoria region whose tremors were felt as far as western Kenya and parts of Uganda, which share the waters of the lake.

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs in northern Tanzania, near Lake Victoria, killing at least 13 people and injuring 200 others. Tanzanian authorities report significant damage in the town of Bukoba. The governments of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda report tremors.

NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr. was scheduled to be freed from a psychiatric hospital on Saturday, 35 years after he shot U.S. President Ronald Reagan in an attack prompted by a deranged obsession with the actress Jodie Foster. Hinckley was released from St. Elizabeths Hospital, the Washington Post reported, citing his lawyer Barry Levine, who had confirmed that his client would leave in the morning, and a witness on the sprawling hospital campus. A federal judge ruled in July that Hinckley, 61, no longer posed a threat to himself or others and would be permitted to live with his 90-year-old mother in her gated community in Williamsburg, Virginia — under a strict set of conditions. Hinckley, who was declared not guilty on grounds of insanity, said after the March 30, 1981 shooting outside a Washington hotel that he wanted to kill Reagan to impress actress Jodie Foster, whom he became obsessed with after watching the film “Taxi Driver.” Reagan’s family and his presidential foundation have consistently opposed Hinckley’s release. James Brady, the White House press secretary hit in the shooting , died in 2014 due to injuries from the assassination attempt.</s>The man who shot President Ronald Reagan is scheduled to leave a Washington mental hospital for good on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, more than 35 years after the shooting. A federal judge ruled in late July that the 61-year-old Hinckley is not a danger to himself or the public and can live full time at his mother's home in Williamsburg, Va. At the time of the shooting, Hinckley was a troubled 25-year-old obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and the movie Taxi Driver. (AP Photo/ Steve Helber, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan has been released from a Washington mental hospital for good, more than 35 years after the shooting. A spokeswoman for the District of Columbia's Department of Mental Health said early Saturday that all patients scheduled to leave St. Elizabeths Hospital had been discharged. John Hinckley Jr. was among those scheduled for discharge. An Associated Press reporter saw a hired car pull into the driveway of the Hinckley home at around 2:30 p.m. Officers from the Kingsmill Police Department chased reporters away. Hinckley had already been visiting Williamsburg for long stretches at a time and preparing for the full-time transition. He'll have to follow a lot of rules while in Williamsburg, but his longtime lawyer Barry Levine says he thinks Hinckley will be a "citizen about whom we can all be proud." This is what life will look like in Williamsburg for Hinckley: Hinckley will have to work or volunteer at least three days a week. He hasn't yet done paid work in Williamsburg, but he has volunteered at a church and a mental health hospital, where he has worked in the library and in food service. "It's not a matter of forgiveness but a matter of security," said Joe Mann, a vocal critic of the release who lives about a half-mile from Hinckley's mother. The unassuming home is on the 13th hole of a golf course. Hinckley's room has a king-size bed and TV and is decorated with paintings he has done of houses and cats, according to court documents. In the past, he has done chores such as cleaning, dishwashing, laundry and leaf-raking. After a year, he may live alone or with roommates. Hinckley will continue to go to therapy while in Williamsburg. For at least the first six months he'll see his psychiatrist twice a month and he'll have to attend weekly group therapy sessions. He'll also see a therapist individually. He'll return to Washington once a month to St. Elizabeths' outpatient department to discuss his mental health and compliance with the conditions of his leave. Hinckley got a driver's license in 2011. The court order in his case lets him drive within 30 miles of Williamsburg by himself, which gets him to Newport News but not Norfolk. He can go up to 50 miles from the city if accompanied by his mother, sibling or a therapist or social worker. He can also drive to and from Washington once a month for his outpatient meetings. Hinckley has long considered himself a musician and an artist. He paints and plays the guitar and has been involved in both as part of his therapy. He'll continue to see a music therapist once a month while in Williamsburg. At court hearings in the case in late 2011 and early 2012, lawyers discussed the fact that Hinckley had recently developed an interest in photography. There are limits to how Hinckley can spend his leisure time. He also can't drink or use illegal drugs. He can surf the Web, but, at least initially, he's not allowed to search for information about his crimes or victims, among other things. He can't have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn without permission. Once Hinckley lives in Virginia he can register to vote there. Hinckley has expressed an interest in voting in the past and tried unsuccessfully to get a ballot in the 1980s and 1990s. Hinckley's longtime lawyer Barry Levine told a newspaper in early August that he suspects his client will register to vote. Virginia's deadline to register for the November presidential election is Oct. 17. Don't expect to see Hinckley giving any interviews. Hinckley is barred from talking to the press. Information for this article was contributed by Jessica Gresko of The Associated Press and by Shawn Boburg and Moriah Balingit of The Washington Post.

The District Court for the District of Columbia releases John Hinckley Jr, U.S. President Ronald Reagan's March 1981 would-be assassin, from a psychiatric hospital after 35 years.

The leader of the National Federation Party, Biman Prasad, and the leader of Sodelpa, Sitiveni Rabuka, were being held, along with the general secretary of the Fiji Council of Trade Unions, Attar Singh, an academic and former politician, Tupeni Baba, and Jone Dakuvula, from the organisation Pacific Dialogue. "I think it's politically motivated," Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry told Reuters by phone shortly after he was released on Monday. The police questioning is understood to be over what was said at a public meeting organised by Pacific Dialogue this week regarding the 2013 constitution, which was held without a government permit. The National Federation Party said Professor Prasad's house and the party's headquarters in Suva had been searched by police on Saturday evening. "This is a police process conducted when information is received about possible issues that could affect the safety and security of all Fijians which is why this step is being taken merely to eliminate all doubts and concerns that could stem from speculation," she said. The country held its first elections under a new constitution in 2014, eight years after the then-military commander, Frank Bainimarama, took power in a coup. The 2013 constitution was drawn up by Mr Bainimarama's government after it scrapped a draft prepared by a constitutional committee after widespread public consultation. Amnesty International also condemned the arrests, calling for all five men to be released immediately. Fiji opposition MPs freed after what Amnesty calls "brazen crackdown" on rights SYDNEY, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Fijian police have released three opposition lawmakers detained over the weekend for criticising the constitution in what Amnesty International described as a "brazen crackdown" on freedom of expression. "It's an indication that even though we have a so-called parliament, we do not have democracy," Dakuvulua told Reuters by phone.</s>Both New Caledonia and French Polynesia, whose foreign policy and security is controlled by France, have been vying for a seat at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). So what better timing for Bainimarama than the night before the leader’s retreat - which he never planned to turn up at - to orchestrate a Cabinet reshuffle that saw his foreign minister in Pohnpei stripped of the role while he’s sat at the same table as Key and Turnbull. Bubbling away behind the scenes of the forum was the chaos breaking out in Fiji where Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has had a Cabinet reshuffle and ordered for some Opposition MPs, including the leader, to be arrested. Bainimarama isn’t at the forum in the Federated States of Micronesia after refusing to attend since he was banned in 2009 - instead he sent his foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, who he's since strippped of the role while he’s in Pohnpei.

Fiji authorities detain two opposition party leaders, a prominent trade unionist, and another opposition activist, following their participation in Wednesday's forum on the Pacific island's 2013 constitution. A police spokesperson told the Fiji Times that several people were being questioned about comments made at the forum that, "Could affect the safety and security of all Fijians."

The 28-year-old German -- who will rise from second to first in the rankings Monday, ahead of Serena Williams -- became the first female player other than Williams to win two majors in a season since Justine Henin in 2007. Indeed it has been a stellar year for Kerber, who opened her grand slam account at the Australian Open by defeating Williams, made the final at Wimbledon -- losing to Williams in a high-quality encounter -- and won silver at the Rio Olympics last month. When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and to win Grand Slams, and today's the day." 1 and win grand slams," Kerber, a breakthrough artist at the US Open five years ago in reaching the semis, said during the trophy presentation. "All the dreams came true this year and I'm just trying to enjoy every moment on court and off court. "Everything started here in 2011, and now I'm here in 2016 and I'm standing with the trophy, second grand slam trophy, and it means so much to me." Kerber won most of the big points in the first set-and-a-half against the tall, powerful Pliskova, who was appearing in a first grand slam final. But 11th-ranked Pliskova broke late in the second and then led 3-1 in the third. Kerber broke back for 3-3 before Pliskova -- who has a tennis playing twin sister -- cracked at 4-5, getting broken to love in a flood of errors. At 4-4 in the final set it came down to a test of nerve, and Kerber's was rock solid as she held impressively before Pliskova fell 0-40 behind and blazed a forehand wide on match point. She took time to reflect in her chair, weeping in joy, and later picked up a check for $3.5 million. 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪! @AngeliqueKerber is the first German woman to win the #usopen since Steffi Graf in 1996. pic.twitter.com/Bg2PyL105x — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2016 The Czech had become the first player in six years to beat Serena and Venus Williams -- who own a combined 29 singles majors -- at the same tournament but was unable to overcome the counter-punching Kerber three weeks after downing the left-hander in Cincinnati. "I was just happy that I took it to a third set and even though I couldn't get the win I'm really proud of myself, the way I was playing in the last two weeks," said Pliskova. "Hopefully many more finals to come." Prior to this fortnight, the 24-year-old had never been beyond the fourth round at a major despite being an established player the previous two seasons. Media playback is not supported on this device US Open 2016: Winning tournament is incredible - Angelique Kerber Pliskova said: "I found out I can play my best tennis on the big stages. The men's final will be decided Sunday, when world No. 1 Novak Djokovic plays No. 3 Stan Wawrinka.</s>NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) —A look at Saturday's play in the $46.3 million U.S. Open tennis championships: WEATHER: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High of 90. RESULTS: Women's Singles Final: No. 2 Angelique Kerber won her second career Grand Slam singles title, both this year, beating No. 10 Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. HIGHLIGHTS-Tennis-Day 13 at the U.S. Open Sept 10 (Reuters) - Latest news from the 13th day of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Saturday (all times GMT): Men's doubles fourth seeds Jamie Murray of Britain and Brazil's Bruno Soares beat the Spanish duo of Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-3 in the final. ON COURT SUNDAY: Men's Singles Final: No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 3 Stan Wawrinka; Women's Doubles Final: No. 1 Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic vs. No. 4 Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova. STAT OF THE DAY: 9 — The number of years since Justine Henin won two Grand Slam singles titles in one year, the last time a woman other than Serena Williams accomplished the feat until Angelique Kerber won on Saturday. Murray and Soares also triumphed in the 2016 Australian Open. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It means a lot to me. When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to one day be the No. 1 player in the world, to win Grand Slams. I mean, all the dreams came true this year, and I'm just trying to enjoy every moment on court and also off court." — Angelique Kerber ON THIS DATE (Sept. 11, 1977): Guillermo Vilas beat Jimmy Connors 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0 to win the men's singles title in the last U.S. Open match played in Forest Hills.

In tennis, German Angelique Kerber defeats Czech Karolína Plíšková in three sets to win the 2016 US Open women's singles title.

Its initial aims include allowing humanitarian access and joint targeting of jihadist groups A nationwide ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia came into effect in Syria on Monday evening, the second attempt this year by Washington and Moscow to halt the five-year-old civil war. The Syrian army, announced the truce at 7 p.m. local time, the moment it took effect, saying the seven-day "regime of calm" would be applied across Syria. It reserved the right to respond with all forms of fire-power to any violation by “armed groups”. Rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar Al-Assad did not immediately declare publicly whether they would respect the ceasefire, but rebel sources said they would do so, despite reservations about a deal they see as skewed in Mr. Assad’s favour. While the statement did not explicitly back the ceasefire, rebel sources said the groups were abiding by it. Just moments before the ceasefire came into force, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that three people were killed in regime shelling in the rebel-held town of Douma near Damascus. Russia is a major backer of Mr. Assad, while the United States supports some of the rebel groups fighting to topple him. The agreement's initial aims include allowing humanitarian access and joint U.S.-Russian targeting of jihadist groups, which are not covered by the agreement. Under the agreement, fighting will halt in areas not held by jihadists and aid deliveries to besieged areas will begin, with government and rebel forces ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access in particular to divided Aleppo city. The agreement comes at a time when Assad's position on the battlefield is stronger than it has been since the earliest months of the war, thanks to Russian and Iranian military support. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed in the conflict and 11 million made homeless in the world's worst refugee crisis. Hours before the truce took effect, an emboldened Assad vowed to take back all of Syria. In a gesture loaded with symbolism, state television showed him visiting Daraya, a Damascus suburb long held by rebels but recaptured last month after fighters surrendered in the face of a crushing siege. “The Syrian state is determined to recover every area from the terrorists,” Mr. Assad said in an interview broadcast by state media, flanked by his delegation at an otherwise deserted road junction. Earlier he performed Muslim holiday prayers alongside other officials in a bare hall in a Daraya mosque. He made no mention of the ceasefire agreement, but said the army would continue its work "without hesitation, regardless of any internal or external circumstances". The ceasefire deal is backed by foreign countries ranging from Mr. Assad’s ally Iran to Turkey, one of the main supporters of groups fighting to overthrow him. The army has also completely encircled the rebel-held half of Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, which has been divided into government and opposition-held zones for years.</s>(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – At least 90 persons were killed in airstrikes on the rebel-held areas of Idlib and Aleppo in Syria on Saturday and Sunday, hours after the US and Russia announced a new ceasefire plan. The airstrikes landed in the rebel-held areas of Idlib in the northwest and Aleppo in the north of the country, according to the monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. An activist who witnessed the bombing and its aftermath revealed, “The worst strikes were in Idlib, where at least 61 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in an attack that targeted a crowded market,” adding that, “We heard a whistling sound then the explosions, and the jets arrived around 12:30 p.m. local time.” “Two or three rockets landed in middle of the market.

Before a ceasefire takes effect tomorrow, over 100 people have been killed and over 100 injured in airstrikes on rebel-held Idlib.

Western powers call on Libyan forces that seized ports to withdraw TUNIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The United States and five European powers on Monday urged forces loyal to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to withdraw from several key oil ports seized from a rival force over the weekend. Haftar's forces met little resistance as they seized the terminals at Ras Lanuf, Es Sider, Zueitina and Brega in an operation launched on Sunday, displacing a rival armed faction aligned with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. But Tripoli may seek a deal with Haftar - similar to the agreement it struck with the armed faction he has displaced - to restart the oil exports it needs to stave off a financial crisis that could paralyse government operations.</s>This file photo taken on January 8 shows smoke billowing from a petroleum storage tank after a fire was extinguished following fighting at Al Sidra oil terminal, near Ras Lanuf in the so-called ‘oil crescent’ along Libya’s northern coast (AFP photo) BENGHAZI, Libya — Forces loyal to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on Sunday seized at least two key oil ports from a rival force loyal to the UN-backed government, risking a new conflict over the OPEC nation’s resources. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori/File Photo Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), said its fighters had full control of Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Brega and Zueitina after launching an early morning military operation on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid. The attacks on Libya’s major oil ports by Haftar, who opposes the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), pushes the North African state towards a broader battle over its oil resources and disrupts attempts to restart production. Armed conflict, political disputes and militant attacks have reduced Libya’s oil production to about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 1.6 million bpd it was producing before an uprising and fall of Muammar Qadhafi in 2011. Haftar, a former army general who has been a divisive figure in Libya since Qadhafi was toppled, has resisted attempts to integrate him into a unified armed forces and overcome divisions between the east and west regions. Many in western Libya and Tripoli criticise Haftar as a former Qadhafi ally bent on establishing a military dictatorship, but he has become a political figurehead for many in the east who feel abandoned by the capital. The National Oil Corporation in Tripoli confirmed LNA control of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, while the situation in Brega and Zueitina could not be independently verified. The attacks complicate Western attempts to bring together Libya’s rival armed factions under the GNA and stabilise a country where chaos allowed militants and migrant smugglers to operate across swathes of territory. A government and parliament based in the east still resist the GNA’s authority in Tripoli and they have in the past threatened to try to sell crude themselves. EXPORT QUESTIONS The ports targeted by the LNA were previously under the control of the Petrol Facilities Guard (PFG), whose leader, Ibrahim Jathran, struck a deal with the GNA in July to end its blockade of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider and Zueitina. A port engineer confirmed that Haftar’s forces had entered the oil ports of Ras Lanuf and El Sider, Libya’s largest, and said one of the storage tanks at Es Sider had been set alight in the clashes. Akram Buhaliqa, a second LNA spokesman, said there had been no casualties among LNA forces, although the NOC said a small fuel tank for power generation had been set ablaze in Es Sider. But although the National Oil Corporation (NOC) recently offered two cargos for export from Ras Lanuf, there had been little sign of any rapid resumption of production in recent weeks, and control by Haftar’s brigades could make the deal irrelevant. Libya’s National Oil Corporation has been removing oil stored at Zueitina because of fears it could be lost during any clashes. Ras Lanuf and Es Sider were badly damaged earlier this year in attacks by the Daesh terror group militants based in Sirte, where they are currently on the verge of defeat by forces aligned with the GNA backed by US air strikes.

Forces loyal to Libyan general and former US citizen Khalifa Haftar, commander of the elected Council of Deputies military, seize control of the ports of Sidra, Ra's Lanuf, Brega and Zuwetina.