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Typhoon Koppu Brings Heavy Rains and Floods in Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Koppu Brings Heavy Rains and Floods in Philippines

Typhoon Koppu hit the northern Philippines killing at least two people and forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

Heavy rain and floods are affecting dozens of villages.

Troops have been deployed to help residents trapped on rooftops, but are struggling to access more remote areas.

Koppu has now been downgraded to a severe tropical storm by the Japanese Meteorological Agency, which is responsible for naming and tracking it.

However, the Philippines’ own weather agency, which calls the weather system Lando, is still characterizing Koppu as a typhoon.

Despite weakening, Koppu is expected to keep dumping rain on the country for a considerable time to come. Some forecasts suggest it may not be until October 21 that it moves past the Philippines and on to Taiwan.Typhoon Koppu Philippines floods

Typhoon Koppu made landfall near the town of Casiguran on the main island of Luzon on October 18, bringing winds of close to 124mph and cutting power to vast areas.

A teenager was killed by a fallen tree in Manila which also injured four others. A concrete wall also collapsed in the town of Subic, northwest of Manila, killing a 62-year-old woman, officials said.

On October 19, wind speeds were down to 93 mph in the northern town of Santiago, according to the state weather service.

However, floodwaters are preventing even military vehicles reaching many of the worst-hit villages, and rescuers report a shortage of boats.

“We haven’t reached many areas. About 60% to 70% of our town is flooded, some as deep as three meters,” said Henry Velarde, vice mayor of Jaen, a town in Nueva Ecija province.

“There are about 20,000 residents in isolated areas that need food and water.”

While the Philippines is no stranger to typhoons and tropical storms, the slow-moving nature of Koppu means heavy rain will fall for longer than usual, bringing greater risk of flooding and landslides.

Typhoon Koppu is the second strongest storm to hit the Philippines in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyfP1oknV5E

Canada Elections 2015: PM Stephen Harper Fighting for Fourth Term

Diane A. Wade
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Canada Elections 2015: PM Stephen Harper Fighting for Fourth Term

The Canadian federal elections, formally known as the 42nd Canadian general election, will be held on Monday, October 19.

Canadians vote to elect members to the House of Commons of Canada.

Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper is fighting for a rare fourth term but the frontrunner is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, son of late PM Pierre Trudeau.

The performance of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) could also be decisive, analysts say.

Opinion polls have suggested many people are still undecided.

On October 18, party leaders made their final pitch for votes after one of the longest and possibly closest election campaign in Canada’s history, criss-crossing the country to try to sway undecided voters.

Stephen Harper, 56, is selling himself as the steady hand who can steer Canada’s troubled economy back on track.

His campaign has run TV advertisements saying that Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, 43, is “just not ready” to take office.Canada elections 2015

Justin Trudeau started the race in third place but the Liberals took the lead in opinion polls in a late surge.

The Liberal leader is promising change, and investment over austerity.

Although he supports the fight against Islamic State (ISIS), he believes Canada should stop air strikes in Syria and Iraq, and focus on training local forces on the ground.

Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre, is considered the father of modern Canada.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair, 60, is hoping to build on his party’s second-place finish in the 2011 elections.

However, support for the NDP appeared to have fallen in recent weeks.

An opinion poll released on October 18 showed the Liberals on 37.3%, seven points ahead of the Conservatives at 30.5%. The NDP had 22.1% according to the Nanos survey taken on October 15 to 17. The margin of error was 2.2%.

Power, uninterrupted

Dana R
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Power, uninterrupted

If you are a business owner, you understand quite clearly the importance of a reliable, constant source of power.  If you don’t, all it takes is one power outage to really magnify just how much most companies rely on power to run their business every day.  It’s no secret, then, that power losses can be a serious detriment to a company.  To avoid the inevitable pitfalls associated with power outages, it’s a good idea to invest in an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) from a specialist source such as UPS Rental.

Without getting too technical, basically a UPS will serve as a stop-gap power source in the event that the main power supply experiences a surge, a drop or – even worse – a blackout.  If you’ve never purchased or rented a UPS before, you may find the idea daunting.  The truth is, however, the process doesn’t have to be intimidating.  All it takes is knowing which questions to ask to ensure you are getting the product you need.

Questions to ask

Do you back up your products with a service package?  This is important in case something goes wrong with your product.

surge-protectorDo you offer 24-hour emergency service, support, and repairs?  Just as with anything else, UPS systems can break down.  Your company’s productivity and data are too important to have to wait to have issues with your UPS addressed and fixed.  In situations like that, every second matters.

What are your prices? Although it’s always a good idea to try to find a good price when you purchase or rent something, never choose a UPS based solely on price.  Be sure you understand exactly what you are getting for that price and choose the company that offers the best value, not just the best price.  Prices should be competitive.  Be wary of prices that are much lower or much higher than average.  Something questionable could be behind the variance in the price.

UPS services are offered by a host of different companies, but those companies aren’t all the same.  Do your research to understand not only what each company’s products are offering, but also what your company’s particular needs are.  Only pay for those services you need – nothing more, nothing less.  Otherwise, you run the risk of either your needs exceeding the capability of the UPS service or of paying for services that you don’t need.

Power surges or breaks can be very detrimental to any size business.  Although there is not much that can be done to recover data once it is lost, there are things business owners can do to prevent problems in the first place.  Having an uninterrupted power source in your corner means you can rest easy knowing that if there ever comes a day where the power source to your business is negatively affected, you will have the backup in place that you need.  You won’t have to scramble to figure out what to do in the event of power surges; you’ll already have things covered.

McDonald’s Unveils Modern Chinese Burger with Silver Bun

Nancy Clayson
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McDonald’s Unveils Modern Chinese Burger with Silver Bun

McDonald’s has launched Modern Chinese Burger featuring pork patties in a steamed silver bun.

The limited edition sandwich appears on McDonald’s China menu last week.

Photo McDonald's China
Photo McDonald’s China

Modern Chinese Burger’s fillings are pork patty, bacon and salad topped with Thousand Island/Sichuan-inspired dressing.

The meat and condiments are wedged between an unlikely choice of bread – a slightly metallic gray bun.

Reviewers at Time Out Beijing were initially grossed out by the burger’s appearance, but they reportedly sampled it and enjoyed its taste.

The Modern Chinese Burger will be available at select locations in China until November 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsvkHztSH-w

Number of Moles on Right Arm Predicts Skin Cancer Risk

Kathryn R. Bown
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Number of Moles on Right Arm Predicts Skin Cancer Risk

According to a recent research, having more than 11 moles on the right arm indicates a higher-than-average risk of skin cancer or melanoma.

Counting moles on the right arm was found to be a good indicator of total moles on the body. More than 100 indicates five times the normal risk.

The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, used data from 3,000 twins in the UK.

Doctors could use the findings to identify those most at risk, it said.

Melanoma develops from abnormal moles, so the risk of being diagnosed with the disease is linked to the number of moles a patient has.

Researchers from King’s College London studied a large group of female twins over a period of 8 years, collecting information on skin type, freckles and moles on their bodies.Mole and skin cancer risk

After repeating the exercise on a smaller group of around 400 men and women with melanoma, they came up with a quick and easy way to assess the risk of skin cancer.

Females with more than 7 moles on their right arm had nine times the risk of having more than 50 on their whole body.

Those with more than 11 on their right arm were more likely to have more than 100 on their body in total, meaning they were at a higher risk of developing a melanoma.

The findings could help doctors to identify those with an increased risk of developing a melanoma.

Israeli Soldier Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack

Roy Siemens
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Israeli Soldier Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack

A Palestinian attacker armed with a gun and a knife has killed an Israeli soldier and wounded other ten people in a bus station in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva.

Israeli police said the attacker was killed.

Eight Israelis have died in attacks by lone Palestinians this month. More than 40 Palestinians, including several attackers, have been killed.

The upsurge began amid tensions at a flashpoint holy site in East Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities have imposed tighter restrictions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and there have been clashes with Palestinian protesters.

Israel has begun erecting a16ft high concrete barrier between the Palestinian district of Jabal Mukaber in East Jerusalem and the neighboring Jewish Armon Hanatziv.Beersheva bus station attack

Israeli officials in Jerusalem insisted the wall was a temporary measure in an area “where there is a history of rock and Molotov cocktail throwing at Jewish homes and vehicles”.

Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and, separately, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, this week in a bid to help restore calm.

The attack on the Central Bus Station in Beersheva came on Sunday evening, October 18.

Initial reports said there had been a second attacker, who was critically wounded, but he is now believed to be an Eritrean migrant.

The city’s Soroka Hospital said it was treating 10 shooting victims – two who arrived in a critical condition, two with serious wounds and the rest with moderate to light wounds.

Among the injured, all said to be in their 20s, were at least four police officers.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military removed Jewish worshippers it said had illegally entered a religious site in the occupied West Bank.

Thirty Israelis arrived at Joseph’s Tomb in the city of Nablus and were assaulted by Palestinians before being handed over to Israeli forces by Palestinian police, reports say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFs_JGo8yrk

Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

Diane A. Wade
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Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

The speaker of Brazil’s lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, is being accused of keeping millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts, Brazilian prosecutors say.

According to prosecutors, the money was obtained illegally and not declared.

Eduardo Cunha denies the charges and says he is being unfairly targeted by the Prosecutor’s Office.

He has been leading calls for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, but he is now facing calls from other parties to step down.Eduardo Cunha corruption

As speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha holds the power to allow impeachment proceedings against Dilma Rousseff.

The main opposition parties made public a demand last week for Eduardo Cunha to resign.

A request for his resignation had already come from government supporters in Congress.

Eduardo Cunha is being investigated for alleged corruption in a kick-back scheme at the state run oil company, Petrobras.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled on October 15 that the Prosecutor’s Office was allowed to investigate allegations of corruption against Eduardo Cunha.

Prosecutors said on October 16 that Eduardo Cunha hid millions of dollars in Swiss accounts opened in his wife’s and his children’s names.

“There is sufficient proof that the foreign bank accounts were not declared and that at least in relation to Eduardo Cunha the money was obtained illegally,” said a Prosecutor’s Office statement.

A Brazilian audit court ruled earlier this month that President Dilma Rousseff broke the law in managing last year’s budget.

Dilma Rousseff was accused of borrowing money illegally from state banks to make up for budget shortfalls.

Government supporters say calls for an impeachment less than a year after Dilma Rousseff was re-elected are tantamount to a coup attempt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enk1umWPtLI

North Korea Rejects Barack Obama’s Offer for Nuclear Negotiations

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Rejects Barack Obama’s Offer for Nuclear Negotiations

North Korea has declined President Barack Obama’s offer for nuclear negotiations, Reuters reported.

Barack Obama made the statement during a joint news conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday, October 16.

The next day, the North Korean Foreign Ministry declined the opportunity to open negotiations, but it again demanded a peace treaty in place of the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War.Barack Obama offer for North Korea rejected

The ministry said in a statement: “No issue in which the countries concerned, including the U.S., are interested can be settled unless a peace treaty is concluded before anything else.

“If the U.S. insists on its hostile policy, it will only see the DPRK’s limitless bolstering of nuclear deterrence and the growth of its revolutionary armed forces.”

Barack Obama and Park Geun-hye Friday reaffirmed the strength of their alliance.

Park Geun-hye called the US-South Korea relationship a “lynchpin of peace and stability” for Asia and the Korean Peninsula where tensions have been high in recent months.

Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization: St. Theresa of Lisieux’s Parents to Become Saints

James J. Williams
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Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization: St. Theresa of Lisieux’s Parents to Become Saints

The first ever canonization of a married couple will be conducted by Pope Francis in a ceremony in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 18.

The French couple, Louis and Zelie Martin, who lived in the 19th Century, were the parents of the much venerated Saint Theresa of Lisieux.

Louis and Zelie Martin had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. The remaining five, all girls, became nuns.

The youngest daughter, Therese, died of tuberculosis aged 24 in 1897 and was canonized in 1925.Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization

Theresa of Lisieux is widely venerated for the simplicity of her spiritual life.

Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, has inspired generations of modern Catholics.

In July, the Vatican’s Cardinal Angelo Amato, said the canonization gave testimony to the couple’s “extraordinary witness of conjugal and familial spirituality”.

It will be one of the highlights of the meeting of cardinals and bishops currently going on at the Vatican.

It is focusing on how the church can better minister to modern families, including gay Catholics in same-gender unions, couples who cohabit and those who divorce and remarry.

Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

Diane A. Wade
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Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

Egyptians are voting in the first round of long-delayed elections to choose a new parliament.

Today’s parliamentary elections are the first since the previous chamber was dissolved by a court ruling in 2012.

The authorities say the poll is the final step in a transition to democracy.

However, critics say most candidates are supporters of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and the new parliament is likely to strengthen his control.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who led the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, following months of unrest.

Mohamed Morsi’s party, the Muslim Brotherhood, won about half the seats in the last parliament but is now banned and its leaders are in jail – some facing death sentences.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

However, many figures from Hosni Mubarak’s regime are on the ballot paper.

The election consists of two rounds of voting and results are not expected to be known until early December.

Voters are choosing 596 lawmakers for the lower house, the House of Representatives.

Security has been tightened across the country with at least 185,000 troops supporting police, Egyptian news agency Mena reported.

On October 17, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi made a televised appeal for Egyptians to vote.

“Line up in front of polling stations and plant with your votes the hope for a bright tomorrow for our new Egypt,” he said.

While the new parliament appears to have broad powers, it is not expected to challenge the president.

Analysts say turnout is expected to be low, with many Egyptians disillusioned with the democratic process.

Typhoon Koppu Hits Northern Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Koppu Hits Northern Philippines

Typhoon Koppu has hit the northern Philippines forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

According to local reports, homes have been flattened and power lines toppled.

Typhoon Koppu made landfall near the town of Casiguran on the island of Luzon on Sunday morning, October 18.

It brought winds of close to 124mph and whipped up coastal surges 12ft high.

Three days of torrential rain has been predicted, triggering major flooding and possibly landslides.

Alexander Pama, head of the government’s main disaster agency, said 10,000 people had been displaced in north-eastern Luzon but no casualties had been reported so far.

“Initially, we are getting [reports that] many houses were destroyed, power lines toppled and trees blocking major roads,” he said.Typhoon Koppu Philippines

The eye of the storm was moving west at a speed of just 2mph.

“It has slowed almost to a crawl. We were hoping it would speed up and spare us sooner,” Alexander Pama added.

Flights and ferry services in the north have been cancelled and some bus services in mountain areas suspended due to the threat of landslides.

On October 16, President Benigno Aquino made a televised warning, the first time he had done so since Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people.

Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is up to 400 miles across and producing winds of up to 155mph. It is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time.

Rain has also reached the capital Manila, though winds are not expected to be strong enough there to cause damage.

In his TV address, President Benigno Aquino urged the estimated six million people in the typhoon’s direct path to listen to government warnings and be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary.

He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations.

Typhoon Koppu is not due to leave the Philippines until October 20, when it will be heading towards Taiwan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GagZahtN4y0

Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

Diane A. Wade
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Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

Alpha Conde has won a second term as Guinea’s president, the country’s election commission has announced, six days after polling ended.

The 77-year-old won in the first round with about 58% of votes cast.

Main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, who has denounced the vote as fraudulent, won 31%. He has called for peaceful protests against the outcome.

EU observers said the vote was valid despite some logistical problems.

Candidates now have eight days to file complaints before the constitutional court validates the results.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

However, Cellou Dalein Diallo said in a statement he would not appeal to the court.

“I will invite the other candidates and all the citizens who are the real victims of this electoral hold-up to organize, conforming to the law, peaceful demonstrations to express our disapproval of this situation,” he said.

Cellou Dalein Diallo pulled out of the elections on October 14 alleging fraud.

The allegations included ballot boxes being stuffed and some 400 polling stations staying closed.

Figures released on October 16 showed a turnout of about 66% of Guinea’s six million registered voters.

It was Guinea’s second democratic presidential election since independence from France in 1958.

Clashes during the election campaign claimed several lives.

Alpha Conde became president in 2010 in Guinea’s first democratic election after decades of fighting authoritarian regimes, during which he was sent into exile and prison.

In that election, Alpha Conde defeated Cellou Dalein Diallo in a run-off.

Kweku Adoboli: UBS Trader Banned from Working in Financial Services

Clyde K. Valle
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Kweku Adoboli: UBS Trader Banned from Working in Financial Services

Convicted former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli has been formally banned from working in the financial services industry.

Kweku Adoboli, 35, was jailed for seven years in 2012 for fraud.

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had banned Kweku Adoboli, who was released from jail earlier this year.

His actions resulted in losses of £1.4 billion ($2.2 billion) for the Swiss bank, the FCA said.

UBS was fined £29.7 million ($47.5) for systems and control failures related to the unauthorized trading losses.Kweku Adoboli UBS trader ban

Kweku Adoboli said the ban marked the end of a difficult chapter in his life.

“I fully recognize the reasons for my prohibition and thank the FCA for their restraint. My hope now is to move forward in a positive way to help others learn from the mistakes I’ve made,” he said.

Kweku Adoboli’s lawyer said he wanted to repay his debt to society by using his own experience to explain how risk management controls might be avoided.

The rogue trader was arrested in September 2011 and was held in custody for nine months until his trial.

After serving almost half of his sentence for two counts of fraud, Kweku Adoboli was released from jail in June 2015.

During his trial at Southwark Crown Court, Kweku Adoboli told the jury that UBS staff were encouraged to take risks until they got “a slap on the back of the wrist” by senior managers.

Tracey McDermott of the FCA’s predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, said in 2012 that the bank’s faulty controls had allowed Kweku Adoboli’s losses to mount to what was the largest trading loss in the UK.

“UBS’s systems and controls were seriously defective,” she said.

“As a result, Adoboli, a relatively junior trader, was allowed to take vast and risky market positions, and UBS failed to manage the risks around that properly.”

He is facing deportation to his native Ghana after an immigration tribunal this week ruled that he should be removed from the UK.

According to the UK’s law, foreign nationals who have been sentenced to more than a year in jail should be considered for deportation.

Kweku Adoboli, the son of a UN diplomat who was educated at a Yorkshire boarding school, said he would appeal against the “heartbreaking” decision.

Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

Diane A. Wade
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Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party has ditched Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for the island’s presidential election in January 2016.

At an emergency congress, party members voted overwhelmingly to drop Hung Hsiu-chu following a series of poor ratings in opinion polls.

Hung Hsiu-chu will be replaced by the KMT’s chairman, Eric Chu.

Before the decision, the two favorites for the presidential poll were, for the first time, both women.

Hung Hsiu-chu, the deputy parliament speaker, was the KMT’s first female candidate. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate is Tsai Ing-wen, who lost in the presidential race in 2012.

Photo CNA
Photo CNA

Taiwan has never had a female president.

Hung Hsiu-chu’s approval ratings were lagging far behind those of Tsai Ing-wen – partly because she had lost support by advocating stronger ties with China at a time when some Taiwanese voters are wary about the island becoming too close to Beijing.

Eric Chu, the mayor of suburban New Taipei City who is considered a moderate on China, has more experience in governing, leading many party members to hope he will stand a better chance against Tsai Ing-wen, despite his late entry in the race.

The KMT suffered a crushing defeat in local elections in 2014.

Taiwan’s outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou resigned as party chairman after the poll, which was widely seen as a rejection of his push for close ties with Beijing.

Ahmed Mohamed Meets Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum

Nancy Clayson
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Ahmed Mohamed Meets Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum

Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old Texas student who made headlines after being arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school, has met Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The boy and his family were received at a presidential compound in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on October 14, according to state-run radio.

Ahmed Mohamed was pulled out of class and handcuffed because a teacher mistook his clock for a bomb.

His arrest was sharply criticized and the police declined to file charges.

Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Hassan al-Sufi, is a Sudanese immigrant to the United States and a former presidential candidate who ran against Omar al-Bashir in two elections.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

President Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies.

Ahmed Mohamed said he was pleased to meet the president and vowed to return one day with a new invention, according to the radio broadcast.

The boy has also been invited to the White House by US President Barack Obama, who tweeted his support after the incident.

NASA scientists and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also praised Ahmed Mohamed’s initiative.

The police rejected a suggestion by Ahmed Mohamed’s family that he was detained because he was Muslim.

Ahmed Mohamed is due to meet President Barack Obama in Washington, after attending a Muslim gala on October 17.

On October 19, Ahmed Mohamed is expected to visit the White House for an evening of stargazing, as a special guest of the president.

Jamie Zimmerman Dies in Hawaii Aged 31

Lisa.Felice
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Jamie Zimmerman Dies in Hawaii Aged 31

ABC News doctor Jamie Zimmerman died while on vacation in Hawaii at the age of 31.

On Monday, October 12, Jamie’s mother, Jordan Zimmerman, confirmed her death in a Fecebook post.

Jordan Zimmerman wrote on Jamie’s Facebook page that she had “slipped on some rocks at the mouth of Lumahai River” on the island of Kauai and was swept out to sea.

“Life guards and paramedics rushed to rescue Jamie,” her mother continued, “but were not able to resuscitate her.”

Jamie Zimmerman researched stories for ABC’s medical unit and offered mediation sessions for news staff in New York, according to ABC News President James Goldston, who told staff of her death in a note on Thursday, October 15.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

According to James Goldston’s note to staff, Jamie Zimmerman was attempting to cross the Lumahai River on Kauai’s north shore when she lost her footing and was swept out to sea.
Jordan Zimmerman wrote that her daughter’s accomplishments included helping Congolese refugees in Zambia, volunteering in a hospital in India, building classrooms in Uganda, and working with indigenous people on the Amazon in Peru. She also served as a United Nations Global Health representative in Haiti.

Jamie Zimmerman’s mother added: “My little girl was always trying to do too much.

“She wanted to write books and already had a literary agent. She just couldn’t stop taking on more. It’s as if she knew her time was limited and she was trying to fit it all in!”

Jordan Zimmerman said she hopes that Jamie’s life will inspire people to make the world a better place.

SeaWorld to Challenge Orca Breeding Ban

Nancy Clayson
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SeaWorld to Challenge Orca Breeding Ban

SeaWorld has announced it is planning to challenge a ruling banning the company from breeding captive killer whales.

The announcement comes a week after the California Coastal Commission backed a $100 million expansion of SeaWorld’s orca tanks in San Diego.

However, the enclosure improvements also outlined a series of restrictions, including a ban on breeding the whales.

SeaWorld said it would “pursue legal action” over the ruling.

Company President Joel Manby said: “The Coastal Commission went way beyond its jurisdiction and authority when it banned breeding by killer whales at SeaWorld.

“It simply defies common sense that a straightforward land-use permit approval would turn into a ban on animal husbandry practices – an area in which the Commissioners have no education, training or expertise.

“To say that this is a dubious decision with no legal basis is an understatement, which is why we must and will challenge the Commission’s decision.”SeaWorld orca breeding ban

SeaWorld has come under criticism since the release of 2013 documentary Blackfish, which suggests its treatment of captive orcas provokes violent behavior. The company’s stock price also has dropped over the past two years.

The company has called the documentary “false and misleading”.

Several celebrities have recently suggested they’re not happy with SeaWorld’s treatment of its animals.

Noaki Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the commission said it received more than 120,000 emails about the SeaWorld proposed expansion, mostly from people opposing the plans.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said the Coastal Commission hadn’t overstepped the mark with the ruling and that “SeaWorld is blowing smoke”.

SeaWorld, which plans to build two new tanks for viewing and research, said breeding is “a natural, fundamental and important part of an animal’s life and depriving a social animal of the right to reproduce is inhumane”.

The commission said it had not seen a legal complaint and could not comment.

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

EU Refugee Crisis: Hungary Closes Border with Croatia

Diane A. Wade
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EU Refugee Crisis: Hungary Closes Border with Croatia

Slovenia is bracing for a refugee influx after Hungary shut its border with Croatia to try to stem the numbers arriving en route to Western Europe.

Refugees have already begun to arrive in Slovenia by bus from Croatia.

Hungary closed its Croatia frontier on October 16 and now says it will reintroduce controls on its Slovenia border.

Many of the refugees aim to continue north to Austria and Germany.

Nearly 600,000 refugees have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many travelling from Turkey to Greece.

However, more than 3,000 have perished trying to cross the Mediterranean. Many refugees are Syrians fleeing the civil conflict there.Hungary border fence

Hungary said it shut the border with Croatia after EU leaders failed to agree its plan to send a force to prevent migrants reaching Greece.

The closure of Hungary’s border with Croatia comes just a month after it shut its frontier with Serbia, which was another transit route to Western Europe.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said border controls with Slovenia would be temporarily reinstated to safeguard Hungary from a “mass wave of unidentified, uncontrolled refugees”.

Hungary and Slovenia are both part of the passport-free Schengen zone, but Croatia is not.

Until October 16, 5,000 to 8,000 people were being allowed across Hungary every day, without registration, bound for Austria.

There are fears in Slovenia, a nation of some two million people, that the latest border closure will channel many more migrants through the country.

Extra police had been deployed to the border with Croatia, Slovene Interior Minister Vesna Gjorkos Znidar said.

However, Slovenia will keep accepting refugees as long as Austria and Germany’s borders remain open, she said.

Slovenia’s national security council is due to meet on October 17.

All passenger rail transport from Croatia has already been stopped.

Those arriving by road will be transferred to a migrant centre near the Austrian border after a registration procedure, AP quoted police spokeswoman Suzana Raus as saying.

The past month has seen some 3,000 refugees pass through Slovenia, Reuters news agency reported. Slovenia has said it was in a position to accommodate up to 8,000 refugees per day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg1v5Jl_X-k

Apple Ordered to Pay $234M to University of Wisconsin in Patent Infringement Case

Nancy Clayson
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Apple Ordered to Pay $234M to University of Wisconsin in Patent Infringement Case

Apple has been ordered to pay more than $234 million in damages to University of Wisconsin-Madison for patent infringement.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the patent licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the verdict was important to guard its inventions from unauthorized use.

The jury had earlier decided that Apple incorporated patented microchip technology into some iPhones and iPads without permission.

Apple said it would appeal and declined to comment further.

The jury set the amount – about $165 million less than the foundation had claimed – after about three hours of deliberations.Apple patent infringement case University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Madison computer sciences professor Gurindar Sohi, one of the inventors of the microchip technology – designed to boost the performance of computer processors – was in the federal court in Madison, Wisconsin, for the decision.

“For Dr. Sohi, I hope you felt that your invention was vindicated,” District Judge William Conley said.

Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, said: “This is a case where the hard work of our university researchers and the integrity of patenting and licensing discoveries has prevailed.

“The jury recognized the seminal computer processing work that took place on our campus.”

The patent infringement case relates to use of the technology in the iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus – but an additional lawsuit making the same claim against Apple’s newest models, the 6S and 6S Plus, has also been filed.

In 2008, the University of Wisconsin sued Intel over the same patent. That case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Apple’s annual revenue in 2014 was $182 billion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9UkujrwHA

El Chapo Guzman Suffers Face and Leg Injuries in Recapture Bid

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman Suffers Face and Leg Injuries in Recapture Bid

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman suffered face and leg injuries as he narrowly evaded a police operation to recapture him, Mexican officials have confirmed.

The operation happened in north-west Mexico in recent days but few details have been released.

El Chapo Guzman, aka Shorty, head of the Sinaloa cartel, escaped from a high-security prison in July through a specially dug tunnel.

His escape was an embarrassment for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The Mexican government said in a statement that efforts to recapture El Chapo Guzman had been focused in the north-west of the country, not far from Guzman’s native Sinaloa state.

“As a result of these actions, and to avoid his capture, in recent days, the fugitive engaged in a hasty retreat, which, according to the information received, caused him injuries to one leg and the face,” the statement said.El Chapo Guzman recapture Mexico

“It’s important to clarify that these injuries were not a product of a direct clash,” it added, without giving further details.

The statement added: “The security cabinet continues to conduct all actions that will allow the recapture of this criminal.”

Mexico has arrested several prison officials since El Chapo Guzman’s escape.

Investigators said El Chapo Guzman had inside help to flee through a tunnel that ran one mile from under a shower in his cell to outside the prison.

After his escape, El Chapo Guzman took to Twitter to taunt the police and insult President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The drug lord was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and spent nearly a decade in another maximum-security Mexican jail before escaping, reportedly in a laundry basket.

El Chapo Guzman was on the run for 13 years before being held again in 2014 after a series of high-profile arrests of associates and covert surveillance by the US authorities.

Saudi Arabia: ISIS Kills Five People at Shias Mourning in Saihat

Roy Siemens
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Saudi Arabia: ISIS Kills Five People at Shias Mourning in Saihat

At least 5 people have been killed and nine wounded in an attack on a Shia gathering hall in Saihat, eastern Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry says.

The killings, in Saihat in Eastern Province on October 16, come two days after the start of Ashura commemorations, a holy occasion for Shia Muslims.

A group claiming links to Islamic State (ISIS) said it carried out the attack.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry said a gunman opened fire at random before police intervened and shot the attacker dead.

Later, a group calling itself Islamic State-Bahrain State said that one of its “soldiers” had attacked “a Shia infidel temple” with an automatic weapon.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The group warned that “infidels will not be safe in the island of Mohammed”.

Correspondents say the name of the group appears to be a reference to the historic area of Bahrain, which once encompassed parts of what is now Saudi Arabia.

Other, smaller attacks against the Shia community in the east of Saudi Arabia were also reported on Friday evening.

The minority Shia community in Saudi Arabia is increasingly being targeted. Most live in the oil-rich east, and many complain of discrimination.

In May, ISIS said it had carried out a deadly bomb attack outside a Shia mosque in the city of Damman.

A week before, more than 20 people were killed in the village of al-Qadeeh when an ISIS suicide bomber struck during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque.

That attack was the first to be claimed by a Saudi branch of ISIS.

Hardline Sunnis regard Shia Muslims as heretics.

Saudi Arabia, which is part of a US-led coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, has previously been threatened by ISIS.

The Saudis are also leading a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen.

In the Ashura commemorations, Shias mourn the death of Hussein, a venerated grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4R1Z7Wtl7w

Typhoon Koppu Heading to Philippines

Nancy Clayson
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Typhoon Koppu Heading to Philippines

The Philippines is preparing for Typhoon Koppu that is forecast to dump heavy rain and cause severe flooding when it arrives at the weekend.

On October 16, President Benigno Aquino warned people living in the path of Typhoon Koppu to be ready to evacuate.

In a TV address, Benigno Aquino said the storm could bring up to 12 hours’ torrential rain and cause severe flooding.

It was Benigno Aquino’s first such appeal since Typhoon Haiyan struck in 2013, leaving more than 6,000 people dead.

Typhoon Koppu is due to hit the northern island of Luzon early on October 17.Typhoon Koppy Philippines

Forecasters say it is packing winds of up to 115mph and is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time.

In his address, Benigno Aquino urged the estimated six million people in the typhoon’s direct path to listen to government warnings and be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary.

He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centers.

The state weather service warned residents on the east coast of Luzon to be ready for possible storm surges of more than 6ft.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations.

Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is not due to leave the Philippines until October 20, when it will be heading towards Taiwan.

In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan – the strongest storm ever recorded on land – swept into the Philippines, destroying entire towns and leaving more than 6,300 people dead and more than 1,000 missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX8ng6dmIik

Lamar Odom Wakes from Coma after Three Days

Lisa.Felice
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Lamar Odom Wakes from Coma after Three Days

Lamar Odom has regained consciousness three days after he was found unresponsive inside a Nevada motel.

The former NBA star spoke and gave a thumbs-up greeting from his hospital bed on October 16, said JaNean Mercer, a spokeswoman for the Odom family said.

Lamar Odom, 35, had been on life support after being found on October 13 with blood coming from his nose and mouth.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star has long struggled with addiction.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Police said that an employee of Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, told emergency services dispatchers that Lamar Odom had been taking cocaine and libido enhancers.

Motel employees said Lamar Odom had spent several days at the location.

Lamar Odom’s estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, had been making medical decisions on his behalf.

The sportsman and Khloe Kardashian were married in 2009 in a ceremony that was taped for E! channel.

Although Khloe Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, it had yet to be processed.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Reveals He Had Gentleman’s Agreement with Michel Platini

Clyde K. Valle
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FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Reveals He Had Gentleman’s Agreement with Michel Platini

Sepp Blatter has revealed he had a “gentleman’s agreement” with Michel Platini over the 2 million euro payment he made to the UEFA president in 2011.

The 79-year-old FIFA president faces a criminal investigation over the payment, made nine years after Michel Platini, 60, carried out consultation work for the Swiss.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini deny any wrongdoing.

“It was a contract I had with Michel Platini, a gentleman’s agreement that was followed through on,” Sepp Blatter told Swiss broadcaster RROTV.

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has imposed a 90-day suspension on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini while corruption claims concerning the payment are investigated.Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter FIFA corruption scandal

Former France international captain and coach Michel Platini says the money was an unpaid additional salary due from the time he served as Sepp Blatter’s advisor between 1998 and 2002.

Following a UEFA meeting on October 15, the Football Association (FA) suspended its support for Michel Platini’s bid to become FIFA president “until the legal process has been concluded and the position is clear”.

UEFA issued a statement saying Micehl Platini should be given the opportunity “to clear his name” and urged the FIFA ethics committee to conclude its investigation by mid-November.

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place on February 26, 2016.

Meanwhile, FIFA says it will investigate “very serious allegations” that a 6.7 million euro payment was made to it by Germany’s 2006 World Cup organizing committee.

The bid, led by former World Cup-winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, edged out favorites South Africa in the July 2000 vote to win the hosting rights for the 2006 tournament.

FIFA said the allegations would be reviewed “as part of the independent internal investigation currently being conducted by FIFA under the direction of its legal director with the assistance of outside counsel”.

Germany’s Football Association is also investigating the payment, saying it had found no indication of wrongdoing in the overall bid process but that the payment “may potentially not have been used for the intended purpose”.

Largest African Elephant Killed by German Hunter in Zimbabwe

Nancy Clayson
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Largest African Elephant Killed by German Hunter in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s Conservation Task Force has criticized the killing of a “majestic” 60-year-old elephant by a German hunter, calling it “unethical”.

The unnamed hunter, who was pictured with the corpse, reported paid $60,000 for the legal hunt.

It comes months after American dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil the lion.

There was international outrage after Cecil, a 13-year-old lion, was killed during another legal hunt in July, also in Zimbabwe.

Walter Palmer found out earlier this week that he will not face charges over the shooting.

The death of the elephant also took place during a hunt in Zimbabwe’s southern Gonarezhou National Park.Zimbabwe elephant killed by German hunter

The Zimbabwe Association of Safaris Operators (Zaso) said the elephant was the largest seen in Zimbabwe in 100 years. Its tusks, which were so large they almost touched the floor, weighed 120lbs.

Zaso chairman Emmanuel Fundira said the hunter should have thought twice before shooting.

Walter Palmer was vilified after being identified as the killer of Cecil the lion and he closed his dental practice in Minnesota temporarily after campaigners gathered outside.

Animal rights charities criticized the decision not to prosecute him.

Earlier this week, rangers at Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, where Cecil the lion was killed, discovered the carcasses of 26 elephants killed by cyanide poisoning.

Poachers are known to poison salt pans with the drug in order to steal the elephants’s tusks.

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