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VW Warned over Emissions Test Cheating

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Warned over Emissions Test Cheating

According to German media, a VW engineer warned the automaker about cheating over its emission tests as early as 2011.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung says the warning emerged during Volkswagen’s current investigation into the scandal.

Separately, Bild am Sonntag said the internal inquiry had found that parts supplier Bosch had warned VW not to use its software illegally.

Last week VW apologized for cheating on emissions tests in the US. Some 11 million VW diesel cars built since 2008 are affected by the scandal.VW emissions test cheating 2015

They had devices which could detect when the engine was being tested and could change the car’s performance to improve results.

Citing unidentified sources, Bild said Bosch had warned VW as early as 2007 that its software should only be used in company tests and not for normal driving.

Last week VW CEO Martin Winterkorn was forced out over the scandal and replaced by Matthias Muller, the former head of Porsche.

As well as shocking VW customers, the scandal has stunned investors in the world’s largest automaker.

The debt products issued by Volkswagen are under review by the European Central Bank (ECB).

The ECB has been buying debt products from big companies, including VW, as part of its scheme to boost the eurozone economy.

Following VW’s admission that it cheated emissions tests, the ECB is reviewing its purchase of debt from the automaker.

In particular, the ECB is examining debt backed by loans to buyers of VW cars.

The products, known as asset-backed securities, have been popular investments as they offer a relatively high rate of return in an era when interest rates are low.

Such debt is also very important to car makers and allows them to finance loans to customers.

The indication of concern by the ECB will be a worry for other investors in that debt and could affect VW’s ability to raise money.

On September 25, Switzerland temporarily banned the sale of VW diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests.

It said the move could affect 180,000 cars – not yet sold or registered – in the Euro5 emission category.

The Swiss authorities have also set up a taskforce to fully investigate the issue.

In the US, the EPA’s findings of the scandal cover 482,000 cars, including the VW-manufactured Audi A3, and the VW brands Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat.

VW has admitted that about 11 million cars worldwide are fitted with the so-called “defeat device” – 2.8 million of them in Germany – and further costly recalls and refits are possible.

Mars Mystery Solved: NASA to Announce Major Scientific Discovery on September 28

James J. Williams
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Mars Mystery Solved: NASA to Announce Major Scientific Discovery on September 28

NASA has announced it will reveal a major scientific discovery related to their continued exploration of Mars.

The findings will be detailed during a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, September 28 at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The event will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.NASA Mars announcement 2015

A brief question-and-answer session will take place during the event with reporters on site and by phone. Members of the public also can ask questions during the briefing using #AskNASA.

NASA won’t give too many details on what exactly the big reveal is.

According to the space agency’s website, the news conference participants will be:

  • Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters
  • Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters
  • Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta
  • Mary Beth Wilhelm of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California and the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Alfred McEwen, principal investigator for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) at the University of Arizona in Tucson

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse 2015: Rare Combination of Astronomical Events to Occur on September 28

James J. Williams
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Supermoon Lunar Eclipse 2015: Rare Combination of Astronomical Events to Occur on September 28

A rare combination of a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse is set to occur at 02:11 GMT on Monday, September 28, 2015.

It is the second total lunar eclipse this year.

The entire eclipse will be visible from eastern North America, South America, West Africa and Western Europe.

Skywatchers in the western half of North America, the rest of Europe and Africa, the Middle East and South Asia will see a partial one.

From Europe, observers will see the Moon pass through the Earth’s shadow in the early hours of Monday morning. In North and South America the eclipse will be seen on Sunday evening.

In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth, Sun and Moon are almost exactly in line and the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.

As the full Moon moves into our planet’s shadow, it dims dramatically but usually remains visible, lit by sunlight that passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.

As this light travels through our planet’s gaseous envelope, the green to violet portions get filtered out more than the red portion, with the result that light reaching the lunar surface is predominantly red in color.

Photo NASA
Photo NASA

Observers on Earth may see a Moon that is brick-colored, rusty, blood red or sometimes dark grey, depending on terrestrial conditions.

A supermoon occurs when a full or new moon coincides with a Moon that is nearing its minimum distance (perigee) to Earth.

The Moon takes an elliptical orbit around Earth, which means that its average distance changes from as far as 405,000km (its apogee) to as close as 363,000km at the perigee.

The coincidence between a supermoon and an eclipse means that Earth’s lone companion is expected to look 7-8% bigger.

The supermoon should also not be confused with the Moon Illusion, which causes the Moon to appear larger near the horizon than it does higher up in the sky.

The eclipse will start at 00:11 GMT, when the Moon enters the lightest part of the Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra, and adopts a yellowish color. At 02:11 GMT, the Moon completely enters the umbra – the inner dark corpus of our planet’s shadow.

The point of greatest eclipse occurs at 02:47 GMT, when the Moon is closest to the centre of the umbra. The sky show is over by 05:22 in the morning on September 28.

Unlike the solar equivalent, a total lunar eclipse event is safe to watch and needs no special equipment.

During the eclipse, the Moon lies in front of the stars of the constellation Pisces.

Chris Brown Is Unlikely to Get Australian Visa

Sonia Pantiss
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Chris Brown Is Unlikely to Get Australian Visa

Chris Brown has been told he is unlikely to be given a visa to perform in Australia because of his record of domestic violence.

The 26-year-old singer is scheduled to go on tour in Australia in December, and tickets are due to go on sale on September 28.

Chris Brown now has 28 days to appeal.

In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He has toured Australia twice since, but the government is under pressure to refuse him this time.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Australia’s immigration department has issued a “notice of intention to consider refusal”, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

Chris Brown has 28 days to present a case as to why he should be granted a visa, after which a final decision will be made.

Minister for Women Michaelia Cash, who was until recently assistant immigration minister, had urged Peter Dutton to take a stand on the issue.

“People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, <<You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia>>,” Senator Michaelia Cash said.

The decision about chris Brown’s visa follows the government’s decision earlier this year to refuse a visa for world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather on similar grounds.

New Zealand has already ruled that Chris Brown is unsuitable for entry into the country.

Nobukazu Kuriki Drops Everest Summit Bid

Nancy Clayson
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Nobukazu Kuriki Drops Everest Summit Bid

Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, who lost nine fingers to frostbite in 2012, has abandoned his attempt to climb Mount Everest.

In a post on his Facebook page, Nobukazu Kuriki wrote: “I tried hard taking all my energy, but it took too much time to move in deep deep snow.

“I realised if I kept going, I wouldn’t be able to come back alive.” Nobukazu Kuriki abandons Everest climbing

Nobukazu Kuriki, 33, took the decision after attempting a final push to reach the 8,848m (29,029ft) summit.

The climber was the first person to attempt the climb since Nepal’s devastating earthquake in April.

It was the fifth time he had tried to reach the summit in the past six years.

Nobukazu Kuriki wrote that he decided to abandon his attempt after leaving “the final camp” on Saturday evening.

“Thank you so much for all your support,” he said.

Nobukazu Kuriki was following the same route used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they became the first people to reach the summit in 1953.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Investigated by Ethics Committee

Clyde K. Valle
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FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Investigated by Ethics Committee

Soccer’s governing body chief Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini are facing an investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee.

The move comes after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against 79-yar-old Sepp Blatter.

Sepp Blatter is accused of signing a contract “unfavorable” to FIFA and making a “disloyal payment” to UEFA President Michel Platini, 60.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The FIFA president denies wrongdoing and his lawyer says he is co-operating fully.

The ethics committee is looking into the circumstances of a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) that Michel Platini received in 2011 for work said to have been carried out more than nine years previously, reported the Press Association.

Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Sepp Blatter on September 25.

Michel Platini – who worked as Sepp Blatter’s technical advisor between 1999 and 2002 – was interviewed as a witness by officers from the attorney general’s office.

Michel Platini is yet to explain the nine-year delay in payment but he too denies any wrongdoing.

Catalonia Elections 2015: Nationalist Parties Join Forces for Independence

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Elections 2015: Nationalist Parties Join Forces for Independence

Catalonia is voting in regional elections that nationalist parties hope will set them on the road to independence from Spain.

Two separatist parties have joined forces, and are aiming to secure a majority of seats in parliament – 68 out of 135.

They say this would allow them to unilaterally declare independence within 18 months.

Spain’s central government in Madrid has pledged to block in court such moves.

Polls suggest a majority of Catalans favor a referendum on independence but are evenly divided over whether they want to secede.

Polling stations in the wealthy north-eastern province have opened open at 09:00 local and will close at 20:00.

More than five million people are eligible to cast their votes.Catalonia elections 2015

Artur Mas’ ruling Convergencia party and Esquerra Republicana have created a single list of candidates – under the banner “Junts pel Si” (Together for Yes).

They say that September 27 vote is a de facto referendum on independence from Spain.

They argue that the Spanish government has consistently refused to allow a legally recognized referendum, ignoring an unofficial vote backing independence in November 2014.

The anti-independence vote in Catalonia is split between a number of groups, including Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party.

The centre-right government in Madrid has described any breakaway plans as “a nonsense”.

Mariano Rajoy argues that because the loss of Catalonia would affect all of Spain, the democratic approach would be for all of the country to vote in a referendum on Catalonia’s future.

At the same time, if “Together for Yes” fails to gain a majority it would be tantamount to a serious defeat for the pro-independence movement.

Xi Jinping Announces $2 Billion China Support for Developing Countries

Diane A. Wade
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Xi Jinping Announces $2 Billion China Support for Developing Countries

Addressing a UN summit on development goals, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to establish a $2 billion fund to assist developing countries and to significantly increase investment.

Xi Jinping said investment would reach $12 billion over the next 15 years.

He also said China would cancel debts to the world’s least developed nations, including small island nations.

Beijing, the Chinese leader added, would assist in 600 overseas projects in the next five years and offer more scholarships.Xi Jinping at Un General Assembly 2015

“Looking around the world, the peace and development remain the two major themes of the times,” Xi Jinping said.

“To solve various global challenges, including the recent refugee crisis in Europe, the fundamental solutions lie in seeking peace and realizing development.

“Facing with various challenges and difficulties, we must keep hold of the key of the development. Only the development can eliminate the causes of the conflicts.”

Xi Jinping’s pledges of aid give a big boost to the launch of the UN’s new Global Goals for Sustainable Development – the day after all members states committed themselves to a hugely ambitious program.

The plan aims to eradicate poverty and hunger by 2030.

It was China’s extraordinary record shifting so many families out the ranks of the poor which ensured that the overall global record in poverty reduction under the previous Millennium Development Goals was substantial.

Now China is offering to help other countries – particularly in Africa.

This new initiative also suggests China is willing to take on more of the responsibilities that go with its status as emerging superpower.

Bangkok Bomb Attack: Thai Police Stage Bombing Reenactment with Main Suspects

Diane A. Wade
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Bangkok Bomb Attack: Thai Police Stage Bombing Reenactment with Main Suspects

Bangkok bomb attack suspects Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili have been forced to reenact their alleged role in bombing the Erawan Shrine, Thai police say.

Such re-enactments are standard police procedure in Thailand.

Earlier police said one of the men, named as Adem Karadag, was suspected of planting the bomb in the attack on August 17, contradicting what they had previously said.

The motive for the bombing, which killed 20 people, remains unclear.

Fourteen foreigners were among those killed.Bangkok bomb attack suspect Adem Karadag

Authorities now say they have enough evidence to prosecute the two men and say that Adem Karadag has confessed.

This contradicts earlier statements from police that neither of two men were the main suspects for the attack.

Adem Karadag, who has also been named as Bilal Mohammed, was arrested in late August in a raid on a flat on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok. His lawyer says he was not in Thailand at the time of the attack.

Police have released warrants for a total of 17 people over charges stemming from the attack.

The suspects are believed to carrying Chinese, Thai, Turkish and Pakistani passports, though their exact origins are unclear as some are thought to be using fake documents.

Many of the suspects named by Thai police have Muslim-sounding names, prompting speculation that they may be linked to jihadist networks or to Uighur separatist militants from China.

However, the police have not suggested that the attack was politically motivated.

The Erawan shrine – with its four-faced golden statue of the Hindu god Brahma – is considered sacred by Thai Buddhists, and attracts many foreign visitors.

Burkina Faso: Gilbert Diendere’s Assets Frozen after Failed Coup

Diane A. Wade
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Burkina Faso: Gilbert Diendere’s Assets Frozen after Failed Coup

The assets of General Gilbert Diendere, the leader of Burkina Faso’s failed coup, have been frozen by state prosecutors.

Another 13 people suspected of involvement have also had their assets frozen, the state prosecutor says.

Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated on September 23 after an intervention from the army and West African leaders following last week’s coup.

On September 25, Michel Kafando’s government ordered the presidential guards’ unit that carried out the coup to be disbanded.

At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured in clashes during the take-over which Gilbert Diendere described as “the biggest mistake”.

In a statement announcing the latest move, state prosecutor Laurent Poda said that the assets of 14 people, including Gen. Gilbert Diendere and his wife Fatou Diendere, a lawmaker for the former ruling party, would be frozen for three months.

During this period, they would only be able to withdraw 300,000 CFA ($512) a month.Gilbert Diendere assets frozen after Burkina Faso failed coup

On September 25, the first full meeting of the government since Michel Kafando’s reinstatement decided to disband the presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss the minister in charge of security.

The RSP – a unit of 1,200 well-armed and well-trained men – is loyal to Blaise Compaore, the country’s long-time ruler who was ousted in a popular uprising last year. They were unhappy about being integrated into the regular army.

Members of the unit stormed the cabinet room on September 16, seizing the interim president, the prime minister and others.

A week later, when it became clear they did not enjoy popular support and after a threat from the regular army to step down or be ousted by force, the RSP withdrew.

An emergency meeting of the regional bloc ECOWAS earlier in the week also helped to bring a smooth end to the crisis.

Blaise Compaore is currently in exile and was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FORgDm1ztPg

Nobukazu Kuriki: One-Fingered Climber Nears Everest Summit

Nancy Clayson
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Nobukazu Kuriki: One-Fingered Climber Nears Everest Summit

Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, who lost nine fingers to frostbite in 2012, is nearing the final stage of an attempt to climb Mount Everest.

Latest contact suggests that Nobukazu Kuriki, 33, has reached the South Col, where he will rest before a final push on September 26 to reach the summit.

Nobukazu Kuriki is the first person to attempt the climb since Nepal’s devastating earthquake in April.

It will be his fifth try at reaching the summit in the past six years.

Nobukazu Kuriki is expected to rest on the South Col for about seven to eight hours before attempting the final leg of the climb.

Tackling the final stretch overnight allows climbers to reach the summit and descend in daylight, and the lack of heating from the Sun can mean lower winds.

Nobukazu Kuriki, who arrived in Nepal more than a month ago to begin acclimatizing, is so far the only person scheduled to climb Everest during the challenging autumn season.

He is following the same route used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they became the first people to reach the summit in 1953.

Nobukazu Kuriki prefers to climb in winter, alone and with minimal gear.Nobukazu Kuriki nears Everest summit

“This is the purest form of climbing and it is worth the extra danger,” he has said.

He has taken on Everest alone four times in the previous six years but has been forced to abandon the climb each time with the summit in view.

In 2012, Nobukazu Kuriki lost all of his fingers and one thumb after spending two days in a snow hole at 27,000 feet (8,230m) in temperatures lower than -20C.

His injuries present significant challenges in even the most basic climbing maneuvers.

“I do feel nervous and afraid,” he told Reuters shortly after arriving in Nepal.

“This is only natural before attempting the challenge of climbing Everest, particularly after the earthquake and at this time of year.”

Nepal’s lucrative climbing industry was destroyed by the April 25 earthquake which killed more than 9,000 people and the avalanches that followed.

If Nobukazu Kuriki is successful, his climb may help to reinvigorate the ailing industry, correspondents say.

Caterpillar Plans to Cut 10,000 Jobs by 2018

Clyde K. Valle
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Caterpillar Plans to Cut 10,000 Jobs by 2018

Construction and mining equipment maker Caterpillar has announced it could cut its workforce by more than 10,000 by 2018.

The US-based company – which employs more than 126,000 worldwide – said it would cut up to 5,000 jobs by the end of 2016.

Caterpillar is looking to reduce annual costs by $1.5 billion by the end of 2016.

The company has been hit by the collapse of commodity prices which have affected its key customers in the mining and energy sectors.

It has reduced its revenue forecast for this year by 2% to $48 billion and says 2016 earnings will fall 5%.

It will be first time in Caterpillar’s 90 year history that sales revenues have fallen for four years in a row.Caterpillar job cut

Caterpillar shares were the biggest faller on the Dow Jones index on September 24, losing almost 6% as the market opened.

Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar chairman and chief executive, said: “We are facing a convergence of challenging marketplace conditions in key regions and industry sectors – namely in mining and energy.”

The company has reduced its total workforce by more than 31,000 since mid-2012.

Caterpillar warned there could be a “total possible workforce reduction of more than 10,000 people” and said it expected to close some 20 manufacturing facilities over the next three years.

Doug Oberhelman said: “While we’ve already made substantial adjustments as these market conditions have emerged, we are taking even more decisive actions now.

“We don’t make these decisions lightly, but I’m confident these additional steps will better position Caterpillar to deliver solid results when demand improves.”

Japan’s Core Consumer Price Index Falls for First Time in Two Years

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan’s Core Consumer Price Index Falls for First Time in Two Years

Japan’s core consumer price index (CPI), fell on an annual basis for the first time in over two years in August.

The CPI, which includes oil but not fresh food prices, declined 0.1% from a year ago – the first drop since April 2013.

The headline consumer price index rose 0.2% from a year ago, but remained flat from the previous month.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Deflation fears have plagued Japan, putting pressure on policymakers.

PM Shinzo Abe and Bank of Japan have pledged to get the economy out of the deflation it has been battling for years.

Even though the fall in prices in August was expected, economists said the latest reading would result in Japan’s central bank stepping up its pace of easing in October.

Japanese Economics Minister Akira Amari told the media on September 25 that it was up Bank of Japan to take appropriate steps on monetary policy after the data came out.

Nike Profits Jump on China Rising Sales

Clyde K. Valle
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Nike Profits Jump on China Rising Sales

Nike’s profits have beaten expectations, helped by rapidly rising sales in China.

For Q3 2015, the world’s biggest sportswear maker reported a profit of $1.18 billion, up 23% from a year earlier.

Total revenues rose 5.4% to $8.41 billion, with sales in Greater China up 30% to $886 million.

The rise comes despite the slowdown in China’s economy, which is heading towards its weakest growth in 25 years.Nike profits on China sales

Several global retailers have been hit hard by slowing sales in China.

However, Nike said sales in China were “amazing” and it had seen a strong performance in all categories.

“While we are very mindful of the macroeconomic volatility in China, our brand has never been stronger and our marketplace has never been more healthy,” said CFO Andy Campion.

The results mark the ninth consecutive time that Nike has beaten expectations for its profit.

Nike’s New York-listed shares were up 7.5% in after-hours trading in reaction to the results.

Mecca Stampede: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Says Mina Tragedy Was Beyond Human Control

Diane A. Wade
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Mecca Stampede: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Says Mina Tragedy Was Beyond Human Control

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin-Abdullah al-Sheikh has said Thursday’s stampede that killed 717 people at the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca was beyond human control.

The country’s most senior cleric told the interior minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, that he was not to blame for the tragedy.

Iran and several other countries have criticized Saudi authorities for the way they handled safety issues.

It was the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has ordered a safety review.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin-Abdullah al-Sheikh was visited by the crown prince, who is also deputy prime minister and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, on September 25, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

“You are not responsible for what happened,” the grand mufti said, the SPA reported.

“As for the things that humans cannot control, you are not blamed for them. Fate and destiny are inevitable.”

The cleric’s remarks came after Iran’s Supreme National Security Council accused the Saudis of “incompetence” and urged them to “take responsibility” for the deaths.Saudi Arabia Grand Mufti

Iran has so far reported the greatest number of deaths among foreign nationals – 131.

Voices from other countries are also demanding answers from the Saudis, and the king’s promise of an investigation and review has done little to still the clamor for greater accountability.

The crush occurred on September 24 as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite.

The pilgrims throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which stand at the place where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham.

With temperatures around 46C, two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other at right angles at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina, a large valley about 3 miles from Mecca.

It is also the second disaster to strike in two weeks, after a crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 109 people.

Xi Jinping Meets Barack Obama at White House

Diane A. Wade
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Xi Jinping Meets Barack Obama at White House

Chinese President Xi Jinping met President Barack Obama at the White House during his trip in the US.

The two presidents have said they will take new steps to address cybercrime.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the White House, Barack Obama said they had agreed that neither country would engage in cyber economic espionage.

The deal covers the theft of trade secrets but not national security information.

Xi Jinping also pledged to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Barack Obama said any escalation in China’s alleged cybercrimes against the US would prompt sanctions.Xi Jinping state visit White House

“It has to stop,” he said.

“The question is now, are words followed by action?”

Reflecting on the use of sanctions against either individuals, businesses or state-run companies, Barack Obama said: “We will apply those, and whatever other tools we have in our tool kit, to go after cybercriminals either retrospectively or prospectively.”

Both countries deny taking part in the cybertheft of commercial secrets.

Xi Jinping said the two countries would not “knowingly support” such practices and said they would both abide by “norms of behavior” in cyberspace.

“Confrontation and friction are not the right choice for both sides,” said Xi Jinping, speaking through a translator.

The cybertheft of intellectual property designed to benefit Chinese industry was described by former National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander as “the greatest transfer of wealth in history”.

US officials have alleged that the Chinese state was behind a massive data security breach of government databases as well as attacks on private firms. That kind of breach is not covered by this deal.

Barack Obama thanked Xi Jinping for introducing a cap-and-trade emissions trading system to limit greenhouse gas production.

The White House on September 25 put out a fact sheet on the US and China’s joint national carbon emissions trading scheme set to launch in 2017.

The “cap-and-trade” scheme would see Chinese companies charged to emit pollutants beyond a certain level.

China said it would commit $3.1 billion to help developing countries reduce carbon emissions, along with other initiatives outlined in the fact sheet that would align China’s climate work with that of the US.

There were also areas of sharp disagreement.

Barack Obama expressed concerns about the growing tensions in the South China Sea and criticized China’s human rights record, saying that preventing lawyers, journalists and others from operating freely is an obstacle to China living up to its potential.

Bangkok Bomb Attack: Adem Karadag Is Erawan Shrine Bomber

Roy Siemens
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Bangkok Bomb Attack: Adem Karadag Is Erawan Shrine Bomber

Adem Karadag, who was arrested in Thailand over a deadly bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan shrine in August is indeed the bomber, say Thai police contradicting earlier statements.

A police spokesman said the man Adem Karadag was the figure in a yellow shirt seen on CCTV leaving a bag at the Erawan shrine.

Thai police had earlier said neither of two men in their custody were the main suspects for the August 17 attack.

The motive for the bombing, which killed 20 people, remains unclear.

Fourteen foreigners were among those killed.Adem Karadag Bangkok bomb attack suspect

Police have released warrants for a total of 17 people over charges stemming from the attack.

The suspects are believed to carrying Chinese, Thai, Turkish and Pakistani passports, though their exact origins are unclear as some are thought to be using fake documents.

Adem Karadag, who has also been named as Bilal Mohammed, was arrested in late August in a raid on a flat on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok.

Thai police had said DNA samples taken from him did not match the DNA found on evidence that the bomber is believed to have left behind on the night of the attack.

Police also appeared to rule out that a second man in their custody – identified as Yusufu Mieraili – was a main suspect in the attack.

However, on September 25, police spokesman Prawut Thornsiri said one of the warrants issued was for “Bilal Mohammed, who is the man in yellow who placed the rucksack at the Erawan shrine”.

“All the information we have leads back to him.”

Many of the suspects named by Thai police have Muslim-sounding names, prompting speculation that they may be linked to jihadist networks or to Uighur separatist militants from China.

However, the police have not suggested that the attack was politically motivated.

The Erawan shrine – centered around a four-faced golden statue of the Hindu god Brahma – is considered sacred by Thai Buddhists, and attracts many foreign visitors.

VW Emissions Scandal: Countries Investigating Dieselgate

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: Countries Investigating Dieselgate

About 11 million VW vehicles worldwide have diesel engines with software “irregularities”.

The automaker plans to set aside 6.5 bn euros ($7.3 bn) in Q3 2015 to cover the costs of addressing the issue. The amount of provisions it needs could still change as the investigation continues, VW said.

United States: Scandal emerged following findings by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Department of Justice and New York regulators have launched criminal investigations

Germany: Transport Ministry to send fact-finding committee to VolkswagenVW Dieselgate scandal 2015

Canada: Environmental Agency investigating some 100,000 Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars

Switzerland: Task force set up to investigate. Switzerland has temporarily banned the sale of VW diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests.

Italy: Spot checks to be carried out on at least 1,000 diesel vehicles, transport minister says

United Kingdom: Vehicle Certification Agency to re-run lab tests and compare with “real-world” driving emissions

France: Random checks on 100 diesel cars aimed at “ensuring the absence of fraud”, says Environment Minister Segolene Royal

South Korea: Environment Ministry to investigate 4-5,000 Jetta, Golf and Audi A3 vehicles, could extend to all German diesel cars if problems found

Norway and India opening fraud investigations

VW Emissions Scandal: Switzerland Temporarily Bans VW Diesel-Engine Models Sales

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: Switzerland Temporarily Bans VW Diesel-Engine Models Sales

The sale of VW diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests has been temporarily halted in Switzerland.

The move could affect 180,000 cars – not yet sold or registered – in the Euro5 emission category.

This comes after VW, the world’s largest automaker, admitted cheating on emissions tests in the US.

Meanwhile, Matthias Muller has been named new VW CEO in the wake of the scandal.

He succeeds Martin Winterkorn, who resigned on September 23.

The row erupted after it emerged that some VW cars being sold in the US had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the engine performance to improve results.Switzerland Temporarily Bans VW Diesel-Engine Models Sales

The ban was announced by the Swiss Federal Roads office on September 25.

In a statement, it said vehicles that have 1.2-litre 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines of VW models – including VW’s Audi, Seat and Skoda brands – could be affected.

The ban does not apply to vehicles that are already in circulation or cars with Euro6 emission category engines.

The Swiss authorities have also set up a taskforce to fully investigate the issue.

After his appointment, Matthias Muller said restoring the company’s reputation was his top priority.

“My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation.”

He also announced sweeping changes to the way the company was run, including handing greater autonomy to regional divisions.

Matthias Muller said he would tighten up procedures at the company: “At no point was the safety of our customers in danger. We will now have even stricter compliance. Our objective is that the people continue to use and drive our vehicles with confidence and pleasure. That’s 80 million people driving our cars worldwide.”

The EPA’s findings of the scandal cover 482,000 cars in the US only, including the VW-manufactured Audi A3, and the VW brands Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat.

But VW has admitted that about 11 million cars worldwide are fitted with the so-called “defeat device” – 2.8 million of them in Germany – and further costly recalls and refits are possible.

Half of VW’s sales in Europe – the company’s biggest market – are for diesel cars.

VW shares plunged around 30% in the days after the scandal broke.

Transport authorities in several countries have announced their own investigations.

US Economic Growth Revised up in Q2 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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0
US Economic Growth Revised up in Q2 2015

According to revised official figures, the US economy expanded more than previously estimated in Q2 2015.

The US Commerce Department said the economy expanded at an annualized pace of 3.9%, rather than 3.7%.

The overall US economic growth was due to strong consumer spending, business investment and residential construction.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

It rate is much higher than the 0.6% rate recorded in Q1 2015.

The growth rate is expected to have slowed in the current quarter, but in a speech on September 24 Federal Reserve head Janet Yellen said economic growth appeared “solid” and the US remained “on track” for an interest rate rise this year.

Janet Yellen said as long as inflation was stable and the US economy was strong enough to boost jobs, the conditions would be right for a rise.

US interest rates have been held at near-zero since the 2008 financial crisis. When they finally do rise, it will be the first interest rate increase in nine years.

Stocks on Wall Street made a bright start in the wake of the GDP figures and Janet Yellen’s comments, with the Dow Jones rising 1% in morning trade.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Under Investigation in Switzerland

Clyde K. Valle
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0
FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Under Investigation in Switzerland

Switzerland has opened a criminal proceedings against FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

The Swiss attorney general’s office said Sepp Blatter was suspected of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal and of a “disloyal payment” to European soccer chief Michel Platini.

Sepp Blatter, 79, was being questioned, and his office was searched, it added.

The world’s governing body said it was co-operating with the investigation.

Sepp Blatter has run FIFA since 1998 and has always denied any wrongdoing.

The attorney general’s office said the investigation surrounds a TV rights deal Sepp Blatter signed with former Caribbean soccer chief Jack Warner in 2005.FIFA President Sepp Blatter under investigation in Switzerland

“Swiss criminal proceedings against the president of FIFA, Mr. Joseph Blatter, have been opened… on suspicion of criminal mismanagement… and – alternatively – misappropriation,” it said.

Sepp Blatter is also suspected of making a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs ($2 million) in 2011 to Michel Platini, the head of the European soccer body UEFA, the statement said.

It said the payment was “at the expense of FIFA, which was allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002”.

Sepp Blatter is due to step down in February and Michel Platini is widely expected to replace him.

In May, Swiss authorities arrested seven FIFA officials in Zurich at the request of the US. They face extradition.

The US then unveiled indictments against seven other people in their corruption case, nine of whom are high-ranking officials.

Among them was Jack Warner, president of the Caribbean football association CONCACAF and one of the most powerful men in world football. He is currently in Trinidad awaiting extradition to the US on charges of corruption.

The Swiss opened their own investigation into FIFA hours after the initial arrests.

FIFA owns the TV rights to the World Cup and sells them to regional federations which then sell them on to broadcasters.

Sepp Blatter’s lawyer, Richard Cullen, said he was confident the inquiry would clear Blatter of any wrongdoing regarding the contract with Jack Warner.

“We are confident that when the Swiss authorities have a chance to review the documents and the evidence, they will see that the contract was properly prepared and negotiated by the appropriate staff members of FIFA who were routinely responsible for such contracts, and certainly no mismanagement occurred,” he said.

Sepp Blatter won a fifth consecutive FIFA presidential election on May 29 but, following claims of corruption, announced his decision to step down on June 2. He is due to finish his term at a FIFA extraordinary congress on February 26.

FIFA canceled its news conference on September 25 only minutes before it was due to start.

Sepp Blatter would have been speaking in public for the first time since general secretary Jerome Valcke was suspended last week amid allegations regarding ticket sales at the 2014 World Cup.

Newspaper reports implicated Jerome Valcke, 54, in a scheme to sell tickets for above face value.

Jerome Valcke, who describes the allegations as “fabricated”, has been released from his duties pending an investigation.

FIFA also announced earlier that it had moved its next executive committee meeting from Tokyo to Zurich.

Correspondents say that, although Sepp Blatter has not been indicted, he might be more vulnerable to an extradition request outside of Switzerland.

Matthias Muller Succeeds Martin Winterkorn as VW CEO amid Emissions Scandal

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Matthias Muller Succeeds Martin Winterkorn as VW CEO amid Emissions Scandal

German businessman Matthias Muller has been named as Volkswagen’s new CEO in the wake of the scandal of rigged emissions tests in diesel cars.

Matthias Muller succeeds Martin Winterkorn who resigned on September 23.

VW admitted cheating emissions tests in the US.

Some VW cars being sold in the US had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the performance accordingly to improve results.

Matthias Muller, who has been Porsche AG CEO since 2010, said restoring VW’s reputation was his top priority: “My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation.”Matthias Muller VW CEO

He also announced sweeping changes to the way the world’s largest carmaker was run, including handing greater autonomy to regional divisions.

Matthias Muller, 62, said he would tighten up procedures at the company: “At no point was the safety of our customers in danger. We will now have even stricter compliance. Our objective is that the people continue to use and drive our vehicles with confidence and pleasure. That’s 80 million people driving our cars worldwide.”

The US’s Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) findings of the scandal cover 482,000 cars in the US only, including the VW-manufactured Audi A3, and the VW brands Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat.

The automaker has admitted that about 11 million cars worldwide are fitted with the so-called “defeat device” – 2.8 million cars in Germany – and further costly recalls and refits are possible.

Half of VW’s sales in Europe – the company’s biggest market – are for diesel cars.

VW shares plunged around 30% in the days after the scandal broke.

Transport authorities in several countries – including the UK and Germany – have announced investigations in to the scandal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzIhPv2bQi8

Pope Francis’ Speech at UN General Assembly

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis’ Speech at UN General Assembly

In a speech in front of the world’s leaders at the United Nations in New York, Pope Francis has urged them to respect humanity’s “right to the environment”.

The pontiff also called on financial agencies not to subject countries to “oppressive lending systems” that worsen poverty.

In an allusion to the Church’s teachings on s**ual minorities, Pope Francis called for respect for the “natural difference between man and woman”.

Pope Francis went on to visit the 9/11 memorial for a multi-faith service.

He said the universe was “the fruit of a loving decision by the Creator” and that humanity “is not authorized to abuse it, much less to destroy it.”

The Pope also said he hoped a forthcoming summit on climate change in Paris would produce a “fundamental and effective agreement”.

In a wide-ranging speech, Pope Francis addressed topics including girls’ education drug trafficking, and welcomed the deal between Iran and world powers on its nuclear deal, calling it “proof of the potential of political goodwill”.

Earlier, he addressed UN staff after being greeted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, telling them their roles were very important.

“Thank you for all you do… I bless each one of you from my heart. I will pray for you and your families,” the Pope said.

“I ask each of you to remember to pray for me. If anyone is not a believer, I ask you to wish me well.”

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Later on Friday Pope Francis will visit a school in the heavily Hispanic neighborhood of East Harlem.

About 80,000 are expected to watch the procession as Pope Francis makes his way to Mass at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

Nearly 20,000 are set to attend the service at the major sporting and concert arena.

Thousands lined Fifth Avenue on September 24 as Pope Francis made his way to St Patrick’s Cathedral for evening prayers.

The Pope arrived in New York from Washington, where he delivered the first-ever papal address to the US Congress.

In the speech, he urged a humane response to refugees, an end to the death penalty and better treatment of the poor and disadvantaged.

Next Pope Francis will go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he will speak in front of Independence Hall and have Mass at a Catholic families’ rally.

Refugee Crisis: Europe Gets a Daily Flow of 8,000 Syrians and Iraqis

Diane A. Wade
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0
Refugee Crisis: Europe Gets a Daily Flow of 8,000 Syrians and Iraqis

The United Nations warns that a daily flow of about 8,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees to Europe is likely to continue.

The figure came from UN regional coordinator for refugees Amin Awad, who spoke to Reuters news agency.

More than 5,000 refugees are arriving daily in Greece.

That flow could continue during the winter if the weather remains good and the borders open, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

About half a million migrants – mostly from Syria and other conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa – have arrived in Europe this year.EU refugee influx 2015

The refugee influx has caused tensions between EU neighbors in Central Europe, which continued on September 25 despite a visit to Austria by Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban.

Viktor Orban and Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann did not appear together in public after their talks.

Werner Faymann had earlier likened Hungary’s tough handling of migrants to the policies of Nazi Germany – a comparison angrily dismissed by Hungary.

Speaking in Vienna, Viktor Orban said Hungary had to build a fence on its border with Croatia like the razor-wire fence completed on its border with Serbia.

What happens on the Croatia-Hungary border will be “decisive in the next few days” for the refugee crisis, he said. Hungary has nearly completed the fence on that border.

Hungary’s traditionally good relations with Austria must be maintained, Viktor Orban said, urging Vienna to show “clear support” for protection of the EU’s external borders.

Croatia – the EU’s newest member state – has struggled with an influx of migrants from Serbia, since they were blocked at the Hungarian border. Croatia-Serbia tensions escalated into a war of words.

On September 25, Croatia’s PM Zoran Milanovic said he was working to lift the country’s border restrictions “today or tomorrow”.

Vehicles have been blocked and Serbia – a candidate to join the EU – angrily compared the restrictions with “those of the World War Two fascist regime”.

Scars remain from the Serb-Croat fighting of the 1990s, when Yugoslavia disintegrated in inter-ethnic conflict.

The EU’s Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, Johannes Hahn, visited a refugee camp in the border zone on September 25 with Serbia’s PM Aleksandar Vucic.

Deep divisions surfaced in the EU this week when ministers agreed to relocate about 120,000 refugees across Europe.

The refugees – from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea – will be transferred from Greece and Italy, to ease the pressure on overcrowded reception centers there.

However, there is still a dispute about the distribution plan. Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia voted against it. They resent the imposition of quotas, arguing that they are ill-equipped to integrate non-EU rrefugees.

Many of the refugees are determined to reach Germany, whose Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged EU partners to take in more refugees. Germany expects to have at least 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015.

Germany’s federal government has pledged €4 billion ($4.5 billion) to its regional states, double the current levels of funding, to help them cope with a record refugee influx.

Prince Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia Arrested in Los Angeles

Nancy Clayson
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0
Prince Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia Arrested in Los Angeles

Prince Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly abusing a worker at a Beverly Hills mansion.

According to LAPD, Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud, 28, was arrested on September 23 and released the following day after posting a $300,000 bond.Prince Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia Arrested in Los Angeles

The prince is scheduled to appear in court on October 19.

Majed Abdulaziz al-Saud does not have diplomatic immunity, police said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a neighbor had spotted a bloodied woman calling for help and trying to climb over a wall surrounding the $37 million estate.

The Saudi Arabian embassy is yet to comment on the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHcdtJZv3Y

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