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Donald Trump Statues Erected In NY, LA, Seattle and Cleveland

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Statues Erected In NY, LA, Seattle and Cleveland

Life-size statues of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suddenly sprang up on August 18 in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Cleveland, quickly drawing attention of crowds.

The installations of the statues are the project of the INDECLINE activist collective, and were created by an artist from Cleveland.

INDECLINE said in a statement: “It is through these sculptures that we leave behind the physical and metaphorical embodiment of the ghastly soul of one of America’s most infamous and reviled politicians.” Donald Trump San Diego rally

Many passers-by were clearly amused and delighted, with some daring to kiss the orange-tinted statues.

Overall, the project looked like a big hit with ordinary Americans.

However, employees of the New York City Parks removed the unauthorized installations.

Parks spokesman Sam Biederman said:“NYC Parks stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small.”

Donald Trump’s campaign has so far made no public comments on the statues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmchpOjJZ5c

Rio 2016: US Swimmers Fabricated Robbery Story

Clyde K. Valle
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Rio 2016: US Swimmers Fabricated Robbery Story

Four Olympic swimmers from Team USA, who said they had been robbed in Rio de Janeiro, were not victims of crime, the head of the city’s civil police has said.

Fernando Veloso told reporters that one or more of the men had committed an act of vandalism at a petrol station and then offered to pay for the damage.

The Americans paid and left after armed security guards intervened, he said.

One guard had drawn his gun after one of the swimmers began behaving erratically, Fernando Veloso added.

Three of the swimmers, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen, remain in Brazil and are being questioned by police. The fourth, gold medalist Ryan Lochte, returned to the United States on August 15.

Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were taken off a US-bound plane at Rio de Janeiro airport on August 17 and were seen entering a Rio police station for questioning on August 18.

According to police, the swimmers invented a story about a robbery to disguise a dispute over a damaged bathroom door at the petrol station.

The men, who have repeatedly changed their accounts of what happened, could “in theory” face charges of giving false testimony and vandalism, Fernando Veloso said.

“We are dealing with important public figures who influence others and should know how to comport themselves,” he told reporters during a news conference at Rio police HQ.Russia banned from Rio Olympics 2016

The people of Rio de Janeiro were unhappy to see the reputation of their city damaged, Fernando Veloso said, adding: “An apology would be welcomed.”

Video from CCTV appears to show the athletes being detained and ordered to sit on the ground.

Ryan Lochte admitted on August 17 to some inaccuracies in his original account of being robbed at gunpoint in the early hours of Sunday, but vehemently denied making the story up.

“I wouldn’t make up a story like this nor would the others – as a matter of fact we all feel it makes us look bad,” he told NBC.

Accounts of what happened to the swimmers have been confusing from the beginning.

News of the incident emerged after Ryan Lochte’s mother told US media about it.

Ryan Lochte himself gave an initial account of the events to NBC on August 14, saying he and the other swimmers had been in a cab returning from a club in the early hours when they were pulled over by men wearing police badges.

He said they had pulled a gun and told the swimmers to get on the ground. “I refused… and then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead…”

Ryan Lochte has since slightly altered his account, telling NBC on August 17 that the cab had not been asked to pull over – they had been robbed while making a stop at a petrol station – and he said the gun had not been pointed directly at his forehead.

He called the inconsistencies a “traumatic mischaracterization” caused by the stress of the incident.

Police and the judge investigating the case found inconsistencies in the men’s accounts.

CCTV footage of their return to the athletes’ village appears to show the swimmers laughing and joking, and handing over their wallets, phones and accreditation, as they go through the security screens. The judge said they had not shown signs of being affected by a robbery.

Ryan Lochte is one of the most successful swimmers in history, with 12 Olympic medals, and he once had his own reality TV show in the US. In Rio, he swam in two events, winning gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

James Feigen won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Gunnar Bentz competed in the 4x200m preliminaries, but not the final. He still received a gold medal after the US team’s win.

Medical Care Business: 10 Top Tips To Keep Your Patients Happy

Dana R
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Medical Care Business: 10 Top Tips To Keep Your Patients Happy

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Customers are the lifeblood of any business. As such, every entrepreneur should want to do their best for the client. In the medical care sector, however, this idea carries even greater significance. They aren’t just customers; they’re patients.

Even when it’s not a life or death situation, the service provided could have a huge impact on their daily lives. Therefore, it’s imperative that you take every precaution to keep them optimistic and happy. The only way to achieve this goal is to offer the best service possible – before, during, and after.

Here are 10 top tricks to ensure that you do.

Communicate Outside Of Sessions

Undergoing medical treatment can be scary for a patient. Even if it’s a routine dental checkup, some people will be worrying themselves silly ahead of the day. This is why you need to maintain great communication even before the process starts. It shows professionalism and organization that can have a very calming influence. And it could make a world of difference.

Of course, you need to express information clearly throughout any initial consultations or communications. However, it can be a lot of information to take in. Many patients can become confused. But using automated SMS reminders will ensure that they don’t miss their appointments. From a business perspective, reducing absences can only bring positive financial impacts too.

If a patient needs several sessions, maintaining the positive atmosphere between those dates is vital. Without it, they may not comply with everything they need to. Ultimately, that can only harm their recovery.

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Stay Ahead Of The Game

The health sector has evolved at an extremely rapid rate. If you want to provide the best service possible, it’s vital that you incorporate the latest and greatest procedures. After all, in some cases, improving success rates could literally save lives.

Medical science is constantly making new discoveries about the best way to handle certain health issues. Understanding the gastric balloon procedure, for example, could be key. It could allow your business to help patients overcome weight problems with far greater success. There are dozens of new ideas that could be taken on board. Ultimately, the key is to never stop learning.

Staying at the top of your game will ensure better results for both the patients and the company. What more incentive could you need?

Embrace The Best Technology

Appreciating and investing in new procedures is one thing. However, it’s arguably even more vital that you have the right tech facilities to provide the best care. Again, this is one area of the sector where huge advancements have been made over the past decade or two. Do not underestimate their significance.

Advanced machinery can aid the diagnosis process, particularly when it comes to serious illnesses. But modern tech can also increase the quality of items needed for care. Read more info about Laser Light systems and how they can produce better catheters and cannula. Those upgrades can go a long way to keeping your patients in a far more comfortable position. More importantly, it allows your team to provide a better all round level of service.

New technology can also be utilized to improve things behind the scenes, especially when it comes to organization and filing. We’re in 2016; make sure your company is too.

Be Honest

Medical processes may be a daily habit for you. For the patient, though, they are often new and daunting experiences. As such, they need to be updated through the treatment.

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There’s no point in underselling things. If the next step of the process is going to hurt, tell them. Removing the element of surprise can allow them to prepare for the pain. When dealing with children, it can be possible to distract them when going through minor issues like injections. However, it’s important that you keep the parents informed and work with them every step of the way.

Honesty is always the best policy. Providing a better service during the treatment is just the start. It will also stop patients from moaning or threatening action afterward. You know that you’re doing everything with their best interests at heart. Show them this and they’ll be far more inclined to trust you. In turn, this should create an easier process for everyone.­

Make Their Visit Comfortable

Providing quality treatments should always be at the heart of your business venture. On the other hand, it’s important to provide the patients with an all round service. The aforementioned communication links are crucial. As for the day itself, you need to ensure that the entire visit is made comfortable.

The patients already have enough to worry about. So the last thing you want to do is encourage further. The spreading of germs is a particularly concerning issue in a healthcare environment. Therefore, keeping the premises clean is crucial. Likewise, staff and patients should be using antibacterial soap when entering new areas too. After all, even a common cold could make their stay feel increasingly difficult.

It’s also advised that you make the carpark free. Let’s face it; nobody should be worrying about getting a fine while receiving treatment.

Keep Patient Details Safe

Data protection is a significant aspect for all businesses. As a healthcare company, yours holds the most sacred information of all. The thought of having those details exposed is enough to send shivers down any patients spine. As such, employing greater protection should be a top priority at all times.

Protected Health Information (PHI) covers medical history, lab results, and other patient details. One of the best ways to keep this data safe is to embrace virtual systems. If you are going to take this route, you must abide the guidelines. Not only is this crucial from a legal viewpoint. But it also has a huge impact on the patient’s trust.

data-protection

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Possessing feelings of trust is the least that your patients deserve. Apart from anything else, it’s just one less thing to worry about. In turn, this can allow them to concentrate on their treatments or procedures.

Employ Company Policies

Consistency is a key component of any customer service. As a healthcare business, it’s integral to avoiding any confusion amongst patients. Every case is unique, and patients need to be treated as humans. Nevertheless, having company protocols in place is crucial.

Likewise, staff members should follow the same blueprint from consultation to completion. Most importantly, you should know how to deal with patient complaints. Your role as the boss is to ensure that everybody knows what’s required. Show them.

In addition to those guidelines, you need the whole team to work with cohesion. Arranging regular team building activities is a must.

Appreciate Changing Demographics

In 2016, the world is smaller than ever. Society has become increasingly multicultural. As such, your healthcare business needs to cater to those changing needs.

Not all patients will speak English. While you may not be in a position to speak all languages, having bilingual staff members could be vital. After all, the patient will feel at far greater ease when speaking in their mother tongue.

On a similar note, you need to appreciate different cultures and lifestyle choices. Showing a little extra understanding can only improve the connection you share with the patient. In turn, this will make them feel more comfortable.

Focus On The Waiting Room

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Even with your best intentions, it’s impossible to serve every patient on time. It only takes one emergency or error to impact the entire day’s schedule. Patients won’t be happy, but they will understand. That is, of course, as long as you cushion the blow.

The best way to do this is by investing in a great waiting room area. First and foremost, seats should be comfortable and positioned in a suitable layout. Nobody wants to feel cramped. Meanwhile, investing in a water cooler and coffee machine will have a positive impact. Just remember that their additional waiting times are your fault, so stop charging for those basic facilities.

Don’t forget to keep kids entertained too. A few toys and storybooks should suffice. As for adults, a television, and a few magazine should do the trick.

Hire The Right Team

Last but not least, you need to realize that your input will only have a certain level of impact. Your business requires a medical care team that inspires confidence for you and the patients.

This is a specialist area, so the recruitment process needs to be perfect. Whether using an agency or posting on industry specific job boards doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you find the best candidates. Just remember that their personalities are almost as vital as their skills, and you won’t go far wrong. Especially if you continue to invest in their development with regular staff training.

Once again, in certain circumstances, the quality of your staff could be the difference between life and death. At the very least, it could be key to helping the patients enjoy a quick recovery. As far as keeping them happy is concerned, that has to be the greatest influence of all.

North Korea Air Koryo’s Flights Restricted In China

Nancy Clayson
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North Korea Air Koryo’s Flights Restricted In China

China’s Civil Aviation Administration has decided to limit the operations of North Korean airline Air Koryo, after a Beijing-bound flight made an emergency landing last month.

Air Koryo flight from Pyongyang had to land in the North-eastern Chinese city of Shenyang because of smoke in the cabin. No one was injured in the incident.

The Civil Aviation Administration announced “relevant measures to limit operations” without giving any details.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

The state-owned airline was also told to improve training and maintenance.

Most of Air Koryo’s international flights are to China, with a few scheduled flights to Russia.

The North Korean carrier has a small fleet, mostly consisting of Russian-built Tupolev aircraft, for its international flights.

The flight from Pyongyang to Beijing uses a Russian Tupolev Tu-204, a medium-range jet airliner that can carry about 140 passengers.

On domestic routes however, older Soviet-era aircraft are still used.

Air Koryo is North Korea’s only airline and was established in 1950.

According to airline ratings website Skytrax lists, Air Koryo is ranked the world’s only “one star” airline, though its rating does not measure safety standards.

Thae Yong-ho: Top North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Thae Yong-ho: Top North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea

Top North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho, who disappeared from the country’s embassy in the UK, has defected to South Korea, officials in Seoul have confirmed.

Thae Yong-ho and his family are under the government’s protection, a South Korean official said.

He was the ambassador’s deputy and is thought to be the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect.

Thae Yong-ho’s main mission in London had been to spread positive perceptions of the North Korean leadership.Kim Jong un aunt plastic surgery

He had been due to return to Pyongyang with his wife and children.

Thae Yong-ho had come under pressure from his government to quash growing criticism of North Korea’s human rights record, sources say.

In the past, Thae Yong-ho had argued the British were brainwashed by their ruling class into believing “shocking, terrifying” lies about North Korea under its leader Kim Jong-un.

“If the people in this country, or in America, knew that there is a country in the world where there is a free education, free housing, free medical care, then they’d have second thoughts,” he had said in one speech.

South Korean Unification spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said: “On his reasons for defection, Minister Thae cited disgust with Kim Jong-Un’s regime, admiration for South Korea’s free, democratic system and the future of his family.”

How Chinese Drivers Rat Proof Their Cars

Nancy Clayson
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How Chinese Drivers Rat Proof Their Cars

Residents of Chinese city of Nanning, in the Guangxi autonomous region, are covering their cars with things like bamboo mats in order to prevent rats from entering their cars.

They came up with the unusual solution after rodents were found to be clambering inside the vehicles and gnawing through the wiring. Parked cars have been spotted around Nanning sporting the makeshift, wraparound shields – dubbed “car maxi skirts” in the Chinese media – some fashioned from fabric and chicken wire, others using bamboo.Nanning rat proof car

“There are many rats in this area,” a local man tells Nanning TV, adding that it’s a particular problem during cold spells when rats like to snuggle down in warm places, like car bonnets.

“Putting these around the cars is a good thing, and it can also prevent small children from scratching them,” he says.

Many social media users are amused by the curious sight.

Regional differences are also evident in many comments. Guangxi has a reputation for using both cats and dogs for meat, and is home to the infamous Yulin dog-eating festival, widely frowned upon elsewhere in China.

“Guangxi people have eaten all the dogs and cats, that’s why there’s a rodent disaster,” reads one comment.

Handling Insurance Premiums after a Vehicle Recall

Clyde K. Valle
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Handling Insurance Premiums after a Vehicle Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalled 51 million cars and trucks in 2015.

 

The NHTSA and car manufacturers issue car recalls when it is determined that there is a safety-related defect with a specific model. A car recall can also be issued if the car model does not comply with safety standards set by federal authorities.

 

When vehicles are recalled, an alert is issued to car owners. The car owner is then required to return the car to the dealership in order for the issue to be repaired. The repair is done at no charge to the vehicle owner. In extreme and rare cases, the entire vehicle may be replaced.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

 

How Vehicle Recalls Affect Insurance Premiums

One of the many thoughts that go through a car owner’s mind when they receive a notice of a car recall is how it will affect their insurance premiums. The following are some things to keep in mind when faced with a vehicle recall.

 

  1. Your insurance rates won’t be affected

Your insurance rates shouldn’t be affected by the recall. The insurance company is not responsible for the repairs, the manufacturer is. Your insurance company therefore will have no reason to raise your insurance rates especially if the safety issue is resolved. You will however need to provide proof of paperwork showing your insurance provider that the safety issue was repaired.

 

  1. Ignoring a recall may cause insurance rates to rise

When you get a recall notice from your manufacturer, be sure to have the vehicle fixed at the dealership as soon as possible, even if it is a minor problem. Neglecting to get the vehicle repaired may result in an accident. Insurance providers will increase your rates if you ignore the recall notice.

 

  1. Insurance rates are higher for cars with repeated recall history

If you’re shopping for a car, it’s a good idea to check the recall history of the model or manufacturer. If a certain vehicle’s make and model has been consistently recalled for safety issues, your Insurance provider could issue higher insurance rates as your vehicle has proven to be unreliable.

 

  1. Not all recalls are the same

Some recalls are for small issues, such as a misplaced sticker, and can be fixed quickly. Other recalls are for major issues and could put your safety at risk. It is therefore important to have your car checked as soon as possible.

 

What to do When You Get a Vehicle Recall Notice

According to a study by J.D. Power, one in six cars on U.S. roadways are unrepaired despite an outstanding vehicle recall. This puts drivers and other road users in danger. When you receive a recall notice, make sure you:

 

  1. Contact your dealership

Your car should be returned to the dealership for repair. Don’t take it to your local repair shop. The dealer will have the car repaired at no cost to you. Depending on the issue and the size of the recall, it may take a few minutes or a few months to have your vehicle repaired.

 

  1. Contact your insurance provider

Provide your insurance agent with documentation showing that your vehicle has been repaired. This will show that you complied with the recall notice and that your vehicle is safe to drive. Your insurance provider will not increase your rates.

 

Beyond making sure that your vehicle is safe, it’s important to have insurance that you can depend on. Finally, auto insurance comparisons will help you find an auto insurer that will cover your needs at an affordable price.

Blue Cut Fire Forces 82,000 Evacuations In California

Nancy Clayson
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Blue Cut Fire Forces 82,000 Evacuations In California

Southern California authorities have order the evacuation of 82,000 people from San Bernardino County after a wildfire broke in a mountain pass.

The blaze broke out on August 16 and has already engulfed about 15,000 acres of land.

Tens of thousands of homes are at risk from the so-called Blue Cut fire. A state of emergency has been declared.

Another fire, the Clayton, which broke out on August 13 in northern California, has destroyed 175 homes.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

The Bluecut fire spread with great speed in the parched canyons around San Bernardino. At least a dozen buildings have already been engulfed.

Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet said: “It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it.”

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County to bring in federal assistance.

The wildfire forced the closure of a stretch of Interstate 15, the main road between Las Vegas and Los Angeles area.

Some 700 firefighters are battling to control the blaze in the Cajon Pass. Its cause remains unknown.

The fire is now heading into the Mojave Desert.

The main communities forced to evacuate were the ski resort of Wrightwood and the desert town of Phelan.

Further north, the Clayton Fire in Lake County was now 35% contained, California’s department of forestry and fire protection said.

The authorities announced on August 16 that Damin Pashilk, 40, was facing 17 counts of arson and was suspected of involvement in numerous other fires in the Lake County area over the past year. He will appear in court on August 17.

A third fire, the Chimney, has affected 6,900 acres since August 13 and has destroyed about 40 buildings in central California.

Donald Trump’s Campaign Overhauled for Second Time In Two Months

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump’s Campaign Overhauled for Second Time In Two Months

Donald Trump has overhauled his election campaign team for the second time in two months, bringing in a new manager and CEO.

Kellyanne Conway becomes campaign manager and Stephen Bannon of Breitbart News the CEO. Paul Manafort remains as campaign chairman.

Donald Trump told AP the new leaders were “terrific people… they’re champs”.

The Republican presidential candidate has seen his poll ratings slip since the GOP conventions last month.

Donald Trump trails rival Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton both nationally and in key battleground states.

The latest shake-up comes just 82 days before the election.

Speaking to Associated Press news agency about Stephen Bannon, executive chairman of the politically conservative news and opinion website Breitbart, and pollster Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump said: “I’ve known both of them for a long time. They’re terrific people, they’re winners, they’re champs, and we need to win it.”

AP said the details of the new hierarchy were hammered out at a lengthy senior staff meeting at Trump Tower on August 16 and that more senior appointments were expected in the coming days.

Photo AP
Photo AP

An article in Bloomberg in October 2015, described Stephen Bannon as “the most dangerous political operative in America”.

Stephen Bannon says his role at Breitbart is “virulently anti-establishment”.

Kellyanne Conway has previously worked for Republican politicians Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich.

Although Paul Manafort stays in his job, analysts say the new appointments, which come two months after campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was sacked, represent a demotion.

The Washington Post cited Donald Trump campaign aides as saying the Republican candidate respected Paul Manafort but felt “boxed in” by people “who barely knew him”.

Paul Manafort, a former adviser to George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole, only joined the Trump campaign in March.

Donald Trump has been pressed by some Republicans to tone down his fiery rhetoric in the wake of a number of controversial comments in the past two weeks and the subsequent drop in poll ratings.

However, Donald Trump appears to want to stand by the campaign style that won him the Republican nomination.

He said on August 16: “You know, I am who I am. It’s me. I don’t want to change.

“Everyone talks about, <<Oh, well you’re going to pivot, you’re going to>>. I don’t want to pivot. I mean, you have to be you. If you start pivoting, you’re not being honest with people.”

Paul Manafort has had a troubled week, following a report in the New York Times that ledgers in Ukraine showed he was earmarked for $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from the former pro-Russian government between 2007 and 2012. He denied receiving any “off-the-books cash payment”.

The Trump team’s alleged pro-Russia links have been a key issue of the campaign, and the latest allegations sparked a call from the Clinton campaign for a full disclosure.

Opinion polls since the national conventions have made grim reading for the Trump team, both nationally and in key states.

The national lead for Hillary Clinton is currently between seven and eight points, the polls suggest.

The New York Times said on August 15 that no modern candidate trailing by this much three weeks after the conventions had won the election.

An opinion poll in the state of Virginia, carried in the Washington Post on August 16, gave Hillary Clinton a 14 point lead there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mga8EPwj-M

Donald Trump Addresses Milwaukee Riots

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Addresses Milwaukee Riots

Donald Trump has said initial evidence suggests the shooting of African-American Sylville Smith by police in Milwaukee was justified.

Sylville Smith’s death led to protests in a predominantly African-American part of the city on August 13.

The Republican presidential nominee told Fox News after visiting police in the city: “We have to obey the laws or we don’t have a country.”

Donald Trump later addressed a rally there.

A string of fatal police shootings have sparked demonstrations across the United States.

Protesters say the police are too ready to use lethal force against African-Americans.Sylville Smith death Milwaukee protests

In the latest incident, Sylville Smith, 23, was stopped by police and then fled.

According to officials, Sylville Smith was shot because he was carrying an illegal handgun and had refused to drop it.

“The gun was pointed at his [a police officer’s] head supposedly ready to be fired,” said Donald Trump.

“Who can have a problem with that? That’s what the narrative is. Maybe it’s not true. If it is true, people shouldn’t be rioting.”

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has put the state’s National Guard on standby but it has not been used.

Donald Trump, who met Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke on August 16, has been vocal in his support for the police throughout his campaign.

He trails rival Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the polls, ahead of November’s presidential election, after a series of controversial remarks.

At the Milwaukee campaign rally on August 16, Donald Trump said African-American communities were hurt the most by violence in their neighborhoods.

“The war on police is a war on all peaceful citizens who want to be able to work and live and send their kids to school in safety.

“Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter or the robber or the looter or the violent disruptor, of which there are many.”

Donald Trump accused Hilalry Clinton of being indirectly responsible for the unrest in Milwaukee by supporting those who see police as a racist force in the US.

Jesus Alfredo Guzman: El Chapo Guzman’s Son Kidnapped In Puerto Vallarta

Diane A. Wade
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Jesus Alfredo Guzman: El Chapo Guzman’s Son Kidnapped In Puerto Vallarta

El Chapo Guzman’s son, Jesus Alfredo Guzman, has been kidnapped in a Mexico’s Pacific coast city on August 15.

The son of the Mexican drug lord was among suspected criminals abducted in Puerto Vallarta, officials say.

Jesus Alfredo Guzman, 29, was one of six members of the Sinaloa Cartel seized by members of a rival gang, Jalisco New Generation.Jesus Alfredo Guzman kidnapped

The incident took place at a restaurant in the resort city.

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is in jail, led the Sinaloa Cartel for years. Jesus Alfredo Guzman is suspected to be a senior member.

He is wanted on drugs charges by the US.

The US also wants El Chapo Guzman to be extradited on charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country.

The drug lord was recaptured in January, six months after escaping through a one-mile tunnel from his maximum-security prison cell.

The six suspected gang members were abducted at La Leche restaurant in the early hours of Monday in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state.

State Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer told reporters that forensic evidence collected at the scene had confirmed Jesus Alfredo Guzman’s abduction.

He added that four of the six kidnapped people had already been identified, without providing further details.

There are reports that another of El Chapo Guzman’s sons, Ivan, may have also been among the victims.

Local officials say the victims had traveled from neighboring states for a celebration in the upscale restaurant.

Jalisco New Generation and the Sinaloa Cartel have been fighting for the control of major drug routes along Mexico’s Pacific coast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBIwEErfjI0

South Korea Releases North Korean Restaurant Defectors

Diane A. Wade
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South Korea Releases North Korean Restaurant Defectors

A group of 13 North Korean restaurant workers who defected from China to South Korea earlier this year have been released.

According to South Korean officials, twelve women and one man had now begun the formal process of resettlement in South Korea.

The group defected in April from a North Korean state-run restaurant in the Chinese city of Ningbo.

At the time Seoul said the size of the defection was “unprecedented” and held them for further investigation.North Korea restaurant workers defection

Most North Korean defectors are first held at an interrogation facility to screen for potential spies and then put through a state resettlement program for three months, the AFP news agency reports.

However, in this case the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it held the workers in “protective custody” because the case was very high profile. It added that North Korea was using the case for propaganda by claiming the female workers had been abducted by Seoul’s spy agency.

The thirteen defectors left a halfway house on August 11, local media reports said. Seoul’s Unification Ministry merely confirmed they had been released but did not give more details.

The release comes just one day after a diplomat at the North Korean embassy in London was reported to have defected and fled abroad with his family.

Thae Yong Ho had served as deputy to the ambassador and was responsible for promoting the image of his country to British audiences.

The group of restaurant workers all left China by legal means on April 6, a Chinese spokesman confirmed after the defection. Unlike many defectors, they all had valid travel documents.

The restaurant was reportedly in Ningbo, in China’s north-eastern province of Zhejiang.

North Korea runs some 130 restaurants in other countries which provide a much-needed source of income.

The North Korean staff is thought to be handpicked from families loyal to the state.

Ford Announces Self-Driving Car Mass-Production by 2021

Clyde K. Valle
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Ford Announces Self-Driving Car Mass-Production by 2021

Ford has announced it will start mass-production for a fully autonomous self-driving car without a steering wheel by 2021.

The company’s president, Mark Fields, made the announcement at an event in Palo Alto, California.

The auto maker said it would double its investment in its research center in Palo Alto, as well as making sizable investments in technology companies in the autonomy industry.

Ford said the car would be in use by customers by 2021.Ford self driving car

It said this was most likely as part of an Uber-like ride-sharing service – but one that doesn’t require a human driver.

The announcement, described as “transformational” by Mark Fields, signaled an era when Ford sees itself, particularly in cities, as a company that provides an ad-hoc service rather than focusing solely on selling the cars to the general public.

In recent years Ford has described itself as a technology company rather than simply a car maker, and on Tuesday it genuinely started to sound like one.

In partnership with Chinese firm Baidu, Ford has made a joint investment of $150 million in Velodyne – a company that works on light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. LiDAR is the system used for accurately detecting objects around the car.

Ford was also part of an investment round that raised $6.6 million for Civil Maps – a digital mapping company – as well as money put towards neuroscience research.

However, there was no mention of Google or Apple in Ford’s announcement – a suggestion it has opted to compete against the Silicon Valley giants rather than try and work with them as some had originally anticipated.

Google still leads the way in self-driving technology – its cars have been out on public roads clocking up miles for several years now. It too is developing a car without a steering wheel – but regulations so far prevent that car from venturing beyond private land.

Like Google, Ford said it would be focusing on “Level 4” autonomy in reference to the standards put in place by the US-based Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

The levels represent the sophistication of self-driving technology. At Level four – “high automation” – the car is able to operate, unmonitored, in a particular use case. For Ford, the use case would be a city area. Level 5 would mean full autonomy in any driving condition.

Ford said it was not interested in offering Level 2 or 3 driving. Level 2 means some level of automation that requires the driver to monitor the car at all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBj33bOcY0o

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s Divorce Is Officially Settled

Lisa.Felice
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s Divorce Is Officially Settled

Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have reached their divorce settlement.

They said neither of them intended to cause the other any physical or emotional harm.

In a joint statement, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard acknowledged their relationship had been volatile.

“Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,” it read.

Lawyers for Amber Heard filed a motion on August 16 to dismiss a temporary restraining order against Johnny Depp.Johnny Depp and Amber Heard married

News of the divorce settlement comes just a day before a hearing regarding the restraining order was due to begin.

The temporary order had ordered Johnny Depp not to contact Amber Heard, and stay 300 feet away from her, after she accused him of striking her and throwing a mobile phone during a fight earlier this year.

Johnny Depp, 53, had always denied abuse allegations made by his former wife.

Amber Heard, 30, filed for divorce in May and obtained the temporary restraining order against Johnny Depp a few days later.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, who were married for just under 18 months, also came to a financial settlement as part of their divorce.

“Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm,” the joint statement continued.

The statement said Amber Heard would be donating proceeds from the divorce settlement to an undisclosed charity.

Neither of the actors will comment further on the case.

Johnny Depp has two children from a previous relationship with Vanessa Paradis.

Rio 2016: Shaunae Miller Dives to Win 400M Gold

Clyde K. Valle
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Rio 2016: Shaunae Miller Dives to Win 400M Gold

Bahamas runner Shaunae Miller won a dramatic gold medal in the women’s 400m final at the 2016 Rio Olympics after she stumbled and then dived across the finish line.

Shaunae Miller, 22, edged out American world champion Allyson Felix, 30, to win in 49.44 seconds.

Allyson Felix took silver in 49.51 seconds with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson third.

Photo USA Today
Photo USA Today

“I don’t know what happened,” said Shaunae Miller, who finished second to Allyson Felix at the World Championships in Beijing in 2015.

“My mind just went blank. I heard my mom screaming. When I heard her screaming, I was like, <<OK, I had to have won the race>>. “

“The only thing I was thinking was the gold medal and the next thing I know I was on the ground,” Shaunae Miller said.

“It was just a reaction.”

She added: “I’ve never done it before. I have cuts and bruises, a few burns.”

Shaunae Miller’s coach, Lance Brauman, added: “She gave everything she had and her legs gave out at the line. It was not intentional.”

Allyson Felix, who won the 200m at London 2012 and has three relay gold medals, now has seven Olympic medals in total – more than any other woman in US history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XCvgOCXzDg

Tell-Tale Signs We’re On The Cusp Of A Robot Revolution

Dana R
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Tell-Tale Signs We’re On The Cusp Of A Robot Revolution

A few months ago, great minds at Merrill Lynch put their heads together to think about the future of robotics. They ended up churning out a report that was over 300 pages long. The report drew together all the latest thinking on the subject of the upcoming robotic revolution. And their aim was to provide some sort of guidance to banks and investors looking to get into the sector.

What they concluded was nothing short of remarkable. They pitched the upcoming robotics revolution as the “fourth industrial revolution.” In other words, it was on a scale comparable to the previous three: steam power, mass production, and electronics. But arguably, the robotics revolution has the potential to outshine all of these prior advances. The reason is that those all relied on the finite human intellect and number. People are only so smart. And we can’t just grow thousands of human beings in the lab to work in Foxconn factories. (Although they’re probably working on it).

This is what makes the next revolution so exciting. Autonomous machines are going to be both vastly more intelligent in some applications, as well as more numerous. We’re going to start seeing strong positive feedback loops. Artificially intelligent robots will be able to evaluate their own systems. Then they’ll be able to suggest to engineers methods to improve them. As they improve, they’ll get better at designing better systems and so on. The potential of the technology is, therefore, truly mind-boggling.

en.wikipedia.org

But is this just a load of hot-air. Or are we really on the cusp of a robot revolution? Here are some tell-tale signs that we are.

Fewer Jobs In Finance

One of the first places that robots will make an appearance is in finance. These aren’t going to be humanoid robots, like Asimo. They’re not even going to be physical, like Amazon warehouse robots. Instead, they’re going to be in software, making decisions. Perhaps the first area that’s going to see a drop-off in jobs is finance. Right now, a lot of jobs in the financial sector are tied up in analytics. But machines are much better, even today, at doing analytical work than people.

According to the Guardian, robots could replace up to 35 percent of jobs in the UK and 47 percent in the US. And most of those will be accountants, analysts, and statistical technicians. Why? Because computer programs will be able to replicate almost all of their functions. And they won’t need six-figure salaries to boot.

Additive Manufacturing On The Rise

Right now the additive manufacturing industry is getting very excited about robotics. And it should be. It’s a monumental opportunity for the sector.

MIT announced in April that they had made the first ever 3D printed robot made from both solids and liquids. MIT’s robot literally walked out of its printer. But the cool science hid the real value of the story. What it revealed was how additive manufacturing is making robots customisable.

Now that 3D printing has gone mainstream, this is a technology that’s available to all businesses. And there are plenty of options out there. For example, it’s easy to discover Zortrax 3D printing ecosystem and put it to use in your firm.

Global Robotics Market Expanding In All Sectors

Merrill Lynch’s report then went into the different sectors all experiencing growth in the use of robots. There are markets in commercial, personal, industrial and military settings. And because these markets are so diverse, it suggests that there will be sustained demand for robots. Back in 2000, the global robotics market was worth a mere $7.4 billion. By 2015 that had shot up to $26.9 billion. And by 2025 it will hit $66.9 billion, according to the report.

That growth is expected to be driven by all sectors going forward. Companies will demand more robots to improve their customer service. Individuals will demand robots as personal assistants and vacuum cleaners. The military will demand more drones and other autonomous, weaponized vehicles. And industry will continue to automate rote tasks.

The threat to low skilled jobs is palpable. According to the data, offshoring jobs to poorer countries saves 65 percent on labor costs. But replacing labor outright with robots costs more than 90 percent less.

Medical Doctors Under Siege

Around half a million robot-surgeries were carried out in the US in 2015. That’s up from practically none a decade ago. Robots are just more accurate than people. And so it is unethical not to introduce them to the medical room. But in the future, will we need doctors at all?

Right now IBM is trialing its most advanced medical robot, Watson. Watson became famous in 2011 after beating both the Jeopardy world champions at their own game. Now it’s graduated to become a diagnostician. And it’s being used in hospitals all over the US to make more accurate diagnoses.

When Watson was first introduced, the idea was that it would replace doctors’ traditional diagnostic role. But the industry fired back and threatened not to use Watson if it undermined their jobs. IBM backed down, and now Watson is being used as a complementary tool, not a replacement. Despite this, it’s still improving doctor’s performance. With its help, they’re making far fewer errors than they did when diagnoses were made by humans alone.

Robots That Can Learn From Raw Input

Up until recently, robots have been very brittle systems. Sure, you could put them on a car production line. But the cars had to arrive in the exact position in order for the robot to be able to do its job. If a car was not where the robot expected it to be, the results were disastrous. This means that things couldn’t be changed on the fly. And it meant that robots couldn’t be more widely deployed.

Today, things are very different. Now we have working prototypes of robots that can work alongside people. Plus, they’re also able to adapt to their environment. For instance, robots like Baxter learn how to grip objects, just using the raw input from their cameras.

US Transfers 15 Guantanamo Bay Prisoners to UAE

Roy Siemens
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US Transfers 15 Guantanamo Bay Prisoners to UAE

The Pentagon has announced it has sent 15 Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This is the largest single transfer during President Barack Obama’s administration.

According to the Pentagon, the transfer of 12 Yemeni nationals and three Afghans brings the total number of prisoners down to 61 at the US facility in Cuba.

The released prisoners had been held without charge, some for over 14 years.

President Barack Obama wants to close the Guantanamo Bay prison before he leaves office.

The White House also wants to transfer the remaining detainees to the US – but has been blocked by Congress.Afghan detainees released from Guantanamo Bay prison

Barack Obama believes Guantanamo Bay fuels the recruitment of jihadists and creates stronger anti-US feelings.

In a statement on August 15, the Pentagon said: “The United States is grateful to the government of the United Arab Emirates for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing US efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”

In April, nine Yemeni prisoners were sent to Saudi Arabia.

The Guantanamo Bay prison is located on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba.

Ex-President George W. Bush opened the jail in January 2002 to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks.

The facility, which costs $445 million to run annually, one point held more than 700 detainees.

In February 2016, the White House presented a plan to Congress to close the camp.

However, many Republicans remain strongly opposed to bringing prisoners to the US, saying they are extremely dangerous and do not belong in civilian prisons.

Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the latest releases, saying: “Once again, hardened terrorists are being released to foreign countries where they will be a threat.”

Most of the inmates freed from Guantanamo Bay – a total of 532 – were released under the previous administration of George W. Bush.

The office of the director of national intelligence says 21% of those went on to re-engage in militant activities, while of those released under President Barack Obama only 5% have done so.

Donald Trump has vowed to keep the Guantanamo Bay facility open, saying he will fill it with “bad dudes” and “bring back a hell of a lot worse than water boarding”, referring to the controversial interrogation technique human rights activists regard as torture.

Naureen Shah, security and human rights program director for Amnesty International US, urged President Obama to close the Guantanamo Bay prison before he left office, saying: “We are at an extremely dangerous and pivotal point.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSteMzymixI

Duo: Google Launches Video Chatting Service

Nancy Clayson
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Duo: Google Launches Video Chatting Service

Google has launched Duo, a video chatting app competing with Apple’s FaceTime, Microsoft’s Skype and Facebook’s Messenger.

Duo is not that different from the other video chatting services, except that it gives users a glimpse at who is making the call, helping people decide whether to answer or not. Google calls the feature, “knock, knock”.

The new app, originally announced in May, is being released as a free service for phones running on Google’s Android operating system as well as Apple’s iPhones.

Calls are encrypted and the video resolution changes depending on the speed of your connection.

Like FaceTime on iOS, Duo only requires a person’s phone number to connect.Google Duo video app

Many other services require both people to have account logins to use the video calling options.

Google’s been offering video calling through Hangouts since 2013, but the company’s now tailoring that service for business meetings and it won’t plug into the new video chat service.

Duo is being billed as a simpler, more reliable way to see friends and family as you talk to them.

The new app is rolling out around the world over the next few days.

Duo is the first of two new mobile apps that Google has planned for the next few months.

Apple is also preparing to unveil a new messaging app called Allo featuring a robotic assistant that will suggest automated responses to texts.

That includes commenting on pictures sent by friends, thanks to its use of image recognition algorithms.

Google announced a conversation-based tool – Google Assistant – to control smartphones, smartwatches and other devices earlier this year.

Google Assistant can be used to find information, play media and carry out tasks via a chat between the user and the software.

Apple also announced a voice-activated device with a built-in speaker called Google Home to deliver the tech to living rooms.

Donald Trump Would Enact Extreme Vetting of Immigrants

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Would Enact Extreme Vetting of Immigrants

In a speech in Ohio, Donald Trump has said that he would enact “extreme vetting” of immigrants.

The Republican presidential nominee outlined his plans to combat Islamic extremism, including a new screening test for arrivals to the United States.

Applicants will be tested to determine if they share Western liberal values like LGBT and religious tolerance.

Donald Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton poured scorn on his plan, labeling it a “cynical ploy”.

“This so-called <<policy>> cannot be taken seriously,” said her spokesman.

“How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposes marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man [Mike Pence] who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana?”

Under Donald Trump’s plan, citizens from countries with a history of terror will be banned but it is not clear which nations.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In the speech, the New York billionaire did not lay out his own military strategy for defeating ISIS.

He did repeat his claim he was opposed to the Iraq War before it began, which fact-checkers say is untrue.

Donald Trump also said that the oil in Iraq should have been seized by the US government to prevent it from becoming the property of ISIS.

In his speech, he also promised to:

  • Ban immigration from countries where terrorism is widespread and vetting is poor
  • Make alliances with all countries fighting against terrorism
  • Introduce an ideology test for new immigrants arriving to the US
  • Keep Guantanamo Bay prison open
  • Establish a presidential commission to investigate Islamic terror
  • Work with NATO, despite previously calling it “obsolete”

Donald Trump initially proposed a blanket ban on all Muslims but has changed it to one that is based on an unspecified list of countries that export terror.

The latest proposal includes creating an ideological test for immigrants entering the US, with questions addressing how each applicant views American values such as religious freedom, gender equality and gay rights.

“Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into the country,” Donald Trump said.

The Republican nominee said that the test will not only expose terrorist sympathizers, but also will “screen out any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles”.

Donald Trump heavily criticized Hillary Clinton, saying that she lacks the “mental and physical stamina” to defeat ISIS.

He attacked her plan to increase the rate of Syrian refugees arrivals, which he claimed would cost $400 billion.

Donald Trump is still facing a backlash for repeatedly describing President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as “founders” of Islamic State.

Vice President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign event with Hillary Clinton said that Donald Trump’s claim that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had “founded” ISIS proved his views to be “dangerous” and “un-American”, and that it had made US soldiers in Iraq less safe already.

Recent polls show Donald Trump significantly trailing Hillary Clinton in key battleground states.

Sylville Smith Death: Shots Fired During New Milwaukee Protests

Diane A. Wade
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Sylville Smith Death: Shots Fired During New Milwaukee Protests

Shots have been fired at several locations during new protests in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, police say, as demonstrators took to the streets for a second night.

Protests erupted on August 13 after 23-year-old African-American Sylville Smith was shot dead in a police chase.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Sylville Smith did not drop a gun he was holding when told to do so.

Police violence against the black community in the past two years has prompted huge protests.

The Milwaukee Police Department tweeted that shots had been fired at several locations before and after midnight on August 14, local time.Sylville Smith death Milwaukee protests

Rocks were also thrown at police as they attempted to disperse crowds in the Burleigh area. Officers were making “multiple arrests” in the Sherman and Burleigh districts, police said.

One civilian had earlier been taken to hospital after he suffered a gunshot wound.

Local news footage also showed a car on fire.

On August 13, cars and buildings, including a petrol station, had been set ablaze.

According to Milwaukee police, Sylville Smith had fled from a car after being stopped by officers in traffic on Saturday afternoon; he died from his injuries at the scene.

Sylville Smith had a “lengthy arrest record”, police said on August 14.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported the man had been charged over a shooting and witness intimidation, charges that were eventually dropped.

Milwaukee police chief Edward Flynn did not say what prompted officers to stop Sylville Smith’s car, saying only that he was “behaving suspiciously”.

Footage of the shooting was captured by a body camera worn by the officer who fired the shots, who was African-American.

On August 14, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker made the National Guard available to Milwaukee police should more violence occur later in the day.

Khalif Rainey, who represents the area where the violence hit on Milwaukee’s city council, said people were “tired of living under this oppression” in a city that is 40% black.

In 2014, police shot dead an unarmed black man, Dontre Hamilton, in Milwaukee, leading to protests in the city. Prosecutors chose not to charge the officer responsible.

In December, the DoJ said it would carry a full review of Milwaukee’s police department, at its request, to look into areas for improvement.

Rio 2016: Surprise Marriage Proposal at Medal Ceremony

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Rio 2016: Surprise Marriage Proposal at Medal Ceremony

Chinese Olympic diver He Zi has been surprised with a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Qin Kai while receiving a silver medal for the women’s 3-meter springboard at the Rio Olympics on August 14.

Luckily for Qin Kai, who himself won bronze in the men’s 3-meter synchronized springboard last week, He Zi said yes.Russia banned from Rio Olympics 2016

“We’ve been dating for six years, but I didn’t expect him to propose today,” He Zi said.

“He said a lot of things, made a lot of promises, but I think the thing that touched me the most is I think this is the guy I can trust for the rest of my life.”

However, some viewers have suggested that Qin Kai’s shock proposal stole the limelight from He Zi’s Olympic medal.

The moment was one of the biggest trends on China’s Twitter-like Weibo service with some calling it “sweet and romantic” but others weighing in with more skepticism: “What a way to add pressure to her, having the entire world watch her as she makes such a private and life-changing decision.”

Boko Haram Releases Video of Captive Chibok Girls

Roy Siemens
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Boko Haram Releases Video of Captive Chibok Girls

Boko Haram has released a second video showing some of the schoolgirls they abducted from Chibok, northern Nigeria.

The footage released by the Nigerian Islamist group shows some 50 girls and a gunman who demands the release of fighters in return for the girls, and says some girls died in air strikes.

The Nigerian government says it is in touch with the militants behind the video.

Journalist Ahmad Salkida who had contact with Boko Haram has been declared a wanted man by the Nigerian army.

Boko Haram is said to be holding more than 200 of the 276 final-year girls it seized from a school in April 2014.Chibok girls Nigeria

Non-Muslims were forcibly converted to Islam, and it is feared that many of the schoolgirls have been abused and forced into “marriage” by their captors.

Parents of the missing girls have described their anguish at seeing their daughters in captivity.

The video begins with a shot of a masked man, carrying a gun, speaking to the camera. He says that some of the girls have been wounded and have life-threatening injuries, and that 40 have been “married”.

Speaking in the Hausa language, the gunman says the girls on display will “never” be returned if the government does not release Boko Haram fighters who have been “in detention for ages”.

The footage concludes with footage of bodies, said to be the victims of air strikes, lying on the ground at another location.

The militant also carries out a staged interview with one of the captives, who calls herself Maida Yakubu, in which she asks parents to appeal to the government.

Maida Yakubu’s mother, Esther, is one of several parents of Chibok girls who recently published open letters to their daughters detailing the pain they feel at their children’s absence and their hopes for the future.

Another girl among those standing in the background can be seen with a baby. Some of the girls can be seen weeping as Maida speaks.

Boko Haram has waged a violent campaign for years in northern Nigeria in its quest for Islamic rule, and a faction of the group recently pledged loyalty to ISIS.

Thousands of people have been killed or captured by Boko Haram, whose name translates as “Western education is forbidden”. Many of the girls abducted in Chibok were Christian.

Nigerian Information Minister Alhaji Mohammed insisted the government was doing everything possible to secure the girls’ release.

“We are being extremely careful because the situation has been compounded by the split in the leadership of Boko Haram,” he said.

“We are also being guided by the need to ensure the safety of the girls.”

The video is the first to be seen since CNN obtained footage in April purportedly showing 15 of the girls.

The Nigerian army declared journalist Ahmad Salkida a wanted man after he published details of the new video before it was released.

Ahmad Salkida, who moved to Dubai a few years ago, has written extensively about the inside operations of the group.

The Chibok girls had been thought to be in a heavily forested area of northern Nigeria.

A girl said to be one of those captured, Amina Ali Nkeki, was found wandering in the Sambisa Forest in May by an army-backed vigilante group.

Louisiana Flooding Kills At Least Three

Nancy Clayson
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Louisiana Flooding Kills At Least Three

Three people have died and thousands have been rescued after “historic” flooding swamped Louisiana.

The National Guard and emergency teams have used helicopters to rescue people stranded in their homes or cars.

Searches are continuing for missing people, as the rain is expected to continue over the weekend.

The heavy rainfall started on August 12 where some areas received more than 17ins of rain.

Neighboring Alabama and Mississippi are also experiencing severe weather.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on August 12.

On August 13, the governor said: “This is an ongoing event. We’re still in response mode.”

John Bel Edwards and his family were relocated after water flooded their basement.

JR Shelton, the mayor of Central City told The Advocate newspaper: “This is a flood of epic proportions.

“When we talk about floods now, we’ll talk about the great flood of 2016. Everything else pales in comparison.”

Several rivers in Louisiana and Mississippi are overflowing. Gov. John Bel Edwards expects some of the rivers will rise 4ft above previous record levels.

Baton Rouge is one of the worst hit areas where as much as 11.3in of rain was reported. New Orleans has reported 2.34in.

While the worst of the rain appears to have passed, the weather system is expected to move north on August 14, hitting central and northern Louisiana.

Louisiana is prone to bursts of extreme weather; thousands of acres in the state were flooded in 2011 to divert water from the flooded Mississippi River and to spare cities, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, that lie downstream.

In 2005, New Orleans suffered one of the worst natural disasters in US history, when Hurricane Katrina hit the city. Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people and displaced one million. Thousands of homes were flooded and destroyed in Louisiana and along the Gulf coast.

Fidel Castro Makes Rare Public Appearance at 90th Birthday Event

Diane A. Wade
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Fidel Castro Makes Rare Public Appearance at 90th Birthday Event

Cuba’s ex President Fidel Castro has made a rare public appearance at an event to mark his 90th birthday on Saturday, August 13.

Fidel Castro appeared at a gala in Havana’s Karl Marx Theatre with his brother, President Raul Castro, and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

In his first public appearance since April, Fidel Castro appeared frail and remained seated during the event.

Fidel Castro, who stood down in 2008, had earlier attacked President Barack Obama in a newspaper column.Fidel Castro criticizes US before embassy reopening

The former Cuban leader criticized President Obama for not apologizing to the people of Hiroshima for the nuclear bomb dropped there by the US in World War Two.

Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in May.

Fidel Castro wrote: “He lacked the words to ask for forgiveness for the killings of hundreds of thousands of people.”

Ties between the United States and Cuba have been restored under Raul Castro’s presidency, but after a visit by Barack Obama to Havana in March, Fidel Castro wrote that “we don’t need the empire to give us anything”.

The gala in Havana focused on key moments of Fidel Castro’s life, including the CIA-backed invasion attempt in the Bay of Pigs in 1961.

A large street party was also held in Havana on August 12, and fireworks exploded when the clock hit midnight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNYXtc6HdbM

Venezuela and Colombia Reopen Border After Nearly A Year

Diane A. Wade
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0
Venezuela and Colombia Reopen Border After Nearly A Year

Venezuela and Colombia have reopened their common border after nearly a year.

Thousands of Venezuelans began crossing into Colombia in the early hours of August 13 to buy much-needed supplies. Long queues had formed before dawn.

Venezuela is facing a severe economic crisis, with shortages of many goods. It had closed the border with Colombia nearly a year ago on security grounds.

Five border crossings will remain open for 12 hours every day.Nicolas Maduro imposes visas for Americans

An agreement to reopen the border was announced on August 11 by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro.

The two leaders said that during the first stage only pedestrians would be allowed to cross.

“We are going to open the border gradually,” said Juan Manuel Santos.

The five main crossings along the 1,370 miles-border will be open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 local time.

The authorities expect the queues to disappear as people realize that the situation has been normalized.

President Nicolas Maduro ordered the border to be closed in August 2015 after former Colombian paramilitaries attacked a Venezuelan military patrol and wounded three soldiers.

Many Colombians were expelled, and bilateral trade has since fallen.

When border crossings were allowed briefly in July, nearly 200,000 Venezuelans poured across to stock up on items including cooking oil, sugar and rice.

Venezuela has suffered severe shortages for months as a result of the falling price of oil which is the country’s prime source of income.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXQS9Vl9XWw

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