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Suzuki Buys Back Nearly 20% Stake Held by Volkswagen for $3.8 Billion

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Suzuki has bought back a nearly 20% stake held by Volkswagen for 460 billion yen ($3.8 billion).

The Japanese carmaker bought almost 120 million shares at 3,842.50 yen each in after-hours trading on September 17, ending a partnership between the carmakers.

The deal between Suzuki and Volkswagen soured soon after it was formed in 2009.

Last month, an international arbitration court ordered the German carmaker to sell its holding.Suzuki buys back stake held by Volkswagen

The tie up, which resulted in Volkswagen becoming Suzuki’s biggest shareholder, included co-operation on technology and expansion in emerging markets like India, where the Japanese carmaker had a leading position.

However, Suzuki filed for arbitration in November 2011 after the partnership failed.

The carmakers had agreed to work together on fuel-efficient cars, but Suzuki accused Volkswagen of withholding information it had promised to share.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, had objected to a deal Suzuki made to buy diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat.

In a statement, Suzuki said that it did not see a need to change its earnings forecasts for the business year ending in March 2016 in light of the share purchase.

Shares of Suzuki, Japan’s fourth largest carmaker, jumped as much as nearly 5% in Tokyo after the announcement.

Steve Rannazzisi Admits Lying About Surviving 9/11 Attacks

Steve Rannazzisi has admitted lying over escaping from the twin towers during the 9/11 terror attacks.

The comedian has previously described working at Merrill Lynch’s offices on the 54th floor of the South Tower when the first plane struck the North Tower.

However, Steve Rannazzisi, who stars in FXX show The League, told the New York Times, it was a fabrication.

“This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry,” he said.

Steve Rannazzisi had claimed in several interviews over the years that he had fled to the street just minutes before a second plane hit his building.

He said he had decided that life was too precious to waste opportunities, so left his desk job to pursue a career as an entertainer.

Steve Rannazzisi was confronted by the newspaper ahead of his own one-hour special due to be broadcast this weekend on Comedy Central and admitted that it was all a lie.Steve Rannazzisi  fake 9-11 story

In a series of tweets, the comedian apologized saying: “For many years, more than anything, I have wished that with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man. It only made me more ashamed.

“How could I tell my children to be honest when I hadn’t come clean about this?”

Alongside his TV work, Steve Rannazzisi also has a commercial endorsement with Buffalo Wild Wings, which gave a statement to the NY Times saying it was “re-evaluating our relationship with Steve pending a review of all the facts”.

Saturday Night Live comic Pete Davidson, who lost his firefighter father on September 11, 2001, posted and later deleted a tweet which read: “It’s ok @SteveRannazzisi people make mistakes … Can’t wait to meet my dad for lunch later.”

Pete Davidson later tweeted: “We all sometimes lie and exaggerate a story to seem cooler …Unfortunately this is a very touchy topic n very near n dear 2 peoples hearts. Its years later but he apologized n owned up 2 it like a man.”

Comedy Central has not yet commented on Steve Ranazzasisi’s future with the network.

The comedian blamed his fabrication on “an early taste of having a public persona”.

Steve Rannazzisi added: “It is to the victims of 9/11 and to the people that love them – and the people that love me – that I ask for forgiveness.

“It was profoundly disrespectful to those who perished and those who lost loved ones. The stupidity and guilt I have felt for many years has not abated.”

Burkina Faso Coup: General Gilbert Diendere Named Country’s New Leader

General Gilbert Diendere, a close ally of former Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, has been named the country’s new leader after presidential guard officers have seized power in a coup, with shooting reported in the capital, Ouagadougou.

French President Francois Hollande condemned what he called a coup in the former French colony.

Presidential forces opened fire to disperse protesters in Ouagadougou, and some were arrested, reports say.

The coup leaders have imposed a night-time curfew across Burkina Faso, and have ordered the closure of land and air borders, AFP reports.Burkina Faso coup 2015

The headquarters of Blaise Compaore’s Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party were ransacked in Ouagadougou as news of the coup spread, it adds.

Francois Hollande called for the immediate release of interim President Michel Kafando and PM Isaac Zida, who were detained at a cabinet meeting in the president palace on September 16.

Their transitional government was due to hand power to a new government after elections on October 11.

Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising last year after 27 years in power, and is currently in exile.

Some of his key allies had been barred from contesting the election.

A statement issued by the coup leaders said Burkina Faso would be led by Gen. Gilbert Diendere, Blaise Compaore’s former chief-of-staff.

An earlier announcement on state television said wide-ranging talks would be held to form a new interim government that would organize “peaceful and inclusive elections”.

Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy said the move was “clearly a coup”.

Cheriff Sy said the presidential guard had “sequestrated” the interim government, and he urged people to protest on the streets.

“We are in a resistance situation against adversity,” he added.

Earlier, there was heavy shooting by presidential forces at the capital’s Revolution Square, where protesters had gathered to demand the release of the interim leaders.

The elite presidential guard has been trained, in part, by the US. It is the most powerful armed group in Burkina Faso and often disrupted the activities of the transitional government as it tried to cling to the privileges it enjoyed under Blaise Compaore’s rule.

It is seen to be close to him, and is not popular on the streets. So its seizure of power could be a recipe for serious violence.

The transitional government might have made two mistakes – preventing politicians loyal to Blaise Compaore from running in next month’s elections and allowing the Reconciliation Commission, formed to heal wounds after the end of his authoritarian rule, to release a report calling for the presidential guard to be disbanded.

Some argue that a newly elected president would have had greater legitimacy to take such action.

Refugee Crisis: UN Condemns Treatment of Asylum Seekers at Hungary-Serbia Border

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is “shocked” after Hungarian riot police used tear gas and water cannon against refugees at Serbian border.

According to Ban Ki-moon, such treatment of asylum seekers was “unacceptable”.

Hundreds of refugees were involved in clashes at the Hungary-Serbia border on September 16, trying to breach a razor-wire fence.

More than 5,000 refugees have entered Croatia so far – avoiding Hungary – police say, and another 7,266 entered Germany on September 16.

German police said this was more than double the number that crossed the previous day, adding that most were picked up on the border with Austria.

Germany is the final goal of many refugees, as the EU remains divided over how to deal with the crisis.

Hungary defended its action, saying that 20 police officers were injured as refugees tried to break through a gate, and a spokesman accused migrants of using children as “human shields”.

At least two refugees were also injured, Hungarian and Serbian officials said.Hungary police fire at refugees

Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on September 15 after making it illegal to enter the country or damage the border fence. The Hungarian courts have started fast-track trials of arrested refugees.

More than 200,000 people have already crossed into Hungary this year to enter the EU’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions.

Many are now heading for the Croatian border. Croatian police said 5,650 had crossed into the country.

Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic told national TV that the police were currently in control of the situation but if refugees continued to arrive in large numbers the authorities would have to think about taking a different approach.

On September 16, the Croatian officials said the country would allow migrants to travel to northern Europe.

Several hundred left the border by train, but thousands more have gathered to wait for further trains.

On September 16, there were chaotic scenes near the town of Horgos, with fires burning and police vehicles and ambulances arriving on the Serbian side of the border, across from massed ranks of riot police on the other side.

Some refugees threw missiles, including stones and water bottles.

The firing of tear gas and water cannon created a stampede of refugees away from the border.

Several people received treatment from the Serbian ambulance service, some suffering the effects of tear gas.

Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic accused Hungary of being “brutal and “non-European”.

Serbia has said it will send additional police to its border with Hungary.

Chile Earthquake 2015: One Million People Evacuated as Tremor Triggers Tsunami Alert

More than one million people have been evacuated in Chile after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s central region.

At least five people died when the quake hit at 19:54 local time.

A tsunami alert was originally issued for the entire Chilean coast but has been partly lifted since.

Chile’s deputy interior minister said it was the sixth most powerful quake to hit the country. Seismologists have reported dozens of aftershocks.

Three people died of heart attacks and another two were crushed by falling walls and masonry, officials said.

A local mayor reported a sixth victim, a 19-year-old who was crushed to death in the town of Monte Patria, although this has not been confirmed.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck off the coast of Chile’s Coquimbo region, 29 miles west of the city of Illapel.

The USGS said it was at a depth of 16 miles, while Chilean seismologists calculated its depth at 7 miles.

Residents of Illapel fled into the streets in terror, local media reported.

Photo AP
Photo AP

People in coastal areas sought shelter on higher ground while those in cities sought safety in the streets.

The earthquake caused buildings to sway in cities as far away as the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

The tremor struck as thousands of Chileans were travelling to the coast ahead of a week of celebrations for Independence Day.

The authorities were quick to issue tsunami alerts keen to avert a repeat of the slow response to the 8.8-magnitude quake in 2010, which devastated large areas of Chile.

More than 500 people died in the quake and the tsunami it triggered and memories of the tragedy are still raw.

Tsunami alerts were issued shortly after the earthquake struck for the entire Chilean coast as well as Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.

They remain in effect in some of the worst affected areas, but have been lifted in those further away from the quake’s epicenter.

President Michelle Bachelet said that “once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature”.

The president will travel to the affected areas on September 17.

Officials said 1,800 people in the worst hit town of Illapel were left without drinking water.

Electricity providers said hundreds of thousands of their clients had no power.

Chile is one of the most seismically active locations on the globe.

It runs along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juzNPM7wRbg

GOP Debate 2015: Donald Trump Still Dominates Second Republican Debate

Donald Trump has dominated a second Republican debate between the top GOP presidential candidates in the 2016 election.

The front-runner has come under attack from all sides in a debate with an outsider candidate – former tech executive Carly Fiorina – challenging Donald Trump in a way few rivals have.

Donald Trump, a billionaire businessman with no political experience, refused to apologize over comments about the wife of Jeb Bush.

And he was on the receiving end when Carly Fiorina drew huge applause facing up to his recent jibe over her looks.

Fifteen Republicans are vying to be the party’s White House nominee in 2016.

With more than a year until polling day, the second Republican debate in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California saw Jeb Bush and Donald Trump trading blows several times.Donald Trump second Republican debate 2015

Their most notable clash in the debate, hosted by CNN, came when former Florida Governor Jeb Bush demanded that the tycoon apologize to his wife for saying he was weak on immigration because she is Mexican. Donald Trump refused.

But the loudest audience response of the night came when Carly Fiorina was asked about an interview in which Donald Trump said she could not be president because: “Look at that face.”

Carly replied, to thunderous applause: “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.”

Moderator Jake Tapper gives Carly Fiorina the chance to respond to Donald Trump’s comments about her in Rolling Stone magazine in which he said: “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that. Can you imagine that as the face of our next president?”

Donald Trump later said he was talking about her persona, not her appearance.

If Donald Trump predictably took plenty of punches, as the candidate who has held a commanding lead for much of the campaign, he gave as good he got throughout the debate in his trademark style.

Donald Trump returned fire on Kentucky Senator Rand Paul with an oblique personal insult about his appearance, mocked the fiscal record of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and introduced himself with the words: “I say, not in a braggadocios way, I’ve made billions and billions of dollars.”

A second-tier debate for the four other Republican candidates happened on the same stage earlier.

In a combative atmosphere, the four were split over the case of Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples due to her Christian faith.

The Democratic Party will hold its first debate in Nevada in October, also hosted by CNN.

By next summer, each party will have a presidential nominee who will do battle in the race for the White House.

Votes will finally be cast in November 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8sEy7DJIZQ

Robert Mugabe’s Deputy Submits Correct Speech to Zimbabwe Parliament

Zimbabwe’s Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has submitted to parliament a speech that President Robert Mugabe was supposed to deliver a day after the 91-year-old leader accidentally gave the wrong one.

On September 15, Robert Mugabe read a state-of-the-nation address he gave in August.

The error has been blamed on a mix-up in the president’s office.

It took Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa two hours to submit the correct version because of demands from opposition members of parliament for an apology.Robert Mugabe wrong speech 2015

Today’s extraordinary session was called so that Robert Mugabe’s speech could be officially recorded. The state-run Herald newspaper has printed the speech in full.

It says that the government plans to introduce legislation requiring senior public officials to declare assets as part of measures to tackle corruption.

The speech mix-up has prompted questions from the opposition over whether President Robert Mugabe remains fit to lead.

The state broadcaster had canceled its live feed of the opening of parliament on September 15 fearing further disruptions.

Opposition members of parliament belonging to Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) reportedly kept quiet during the speech, as Zanu-PF supporters clapped at regular intervals.

However MDC spokesman Obert Gutu later told the Reuters news agency that it was “a historic blunder”, adding: “Anyone who is still of a sound mind would have quickly picked it up that the speech was the wrong one.”

Robert Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, is Africa’s oldest leader.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml8U3RNtN5Q

Ahmed Mohamed: No Charges for Clock-Making Student

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Police have decided not to charge Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old Muslim student who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school.

Officials at MacArthur High School in Irving alerted police because they thought the device was a “hoax bomb”.

Ahmed Mohamed’s arrest has been sharply criticized, and the boy has received an outpouring of support including an invitation to the White House.

The teenager’s family believes he was detained because of his name.

“We have always had an outstanding relationship with the Muslim community,” Irving Police Department chief Larry Boyd said on September 16.Ahmed Mohamed clock making student

“Incidents like this present challenges. We want to learn how we can move forward and turn this into a positive.”

Ahmed Mohamed was placed in handcuffs and fingerprinted. He was released after it was determined there was no threat.

Under the hashtag “#IstandwithAhmed,” thousands of Twitter users praised the boy’s initiative and questioned why he was detained including NASA scientists, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and President Barack Obama.

“Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great,” Barack Obama wrote on Twitter.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations says it is investigating the incident.

Ahmed Mohamed said that he had made a clock at home and brought it to school to show his engineering teacher.

He said his engineering teacher had congratulated him but advised him “not to show any other teachers”.

Ahmed Mohamed said another teacher became aware of it when the device beeped during the lesson.

“She was like – it looks like a bomb,” he said.

The homemade clock consisted of a circuit board with wires leading to a digital display.

Later in the day Ahmed Mohamed was pulled out of class, interviewed by the head teachers and four police officers, and put into juvenile detention.

The school issued a statement saying it “always ask our students and staff to immediately report if they observe any suspicious items”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq7hBuvb5KU

Refugee Crisis: Hungary Police Use Tear Gas and Water Cannon at Serbian Border

Hungary police have used tear gas and water cannon to force refugees back from the Serbian border.

Hundreds of refugees have massed at a closed crossing point near the Serbian town of Horgos, and are involved in a tense stand-off with police on the other side of the border.

Some migrants threw missiles, including stones and water bottles.

Many of the refugees want to reach Germany, amid divisions within the EU over how to deal with the crisis.

Tens of thousands of people have crossed into Hungary to enter the EU’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions.

Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on September 15 after making it illegal to enter the country or damage a new razor-wire border fence. The country’s courts have started fast-track trials of arrested migrants.

Serbia’s foreign ministry – which has protested over the firing of tear gas and water cannon into its territory – says Hungary has now closed the main border crossing between the two countries to all traffic for 30 days.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

There were chaotic scenes near Horgos, with fires burning and police vehicles and ambulances arriving on the Serbian side of the border, across from massed ranks of riot police on the Hungarian side.

The Hungarian government says 20 police officers were injured as migrants tried to break through a gate.

The firing of tear gas and water cannon created a stampede of migrants away from the border.

Several people received treatment from the Serbian ambulance service, some suffering the effects of tear gas.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is “shocked” by the treatment of migrants.

Serbian minister Aleksandar Vulin, visiting the scene, said the migrants’ frustration was understandable after Hungary closed the border.

“Hungary must show it is ready and capable to accept these people,” he said.

Serbia has said it will send additional police to its border with Hungary and try to distance migrants from the fence.

“The aim is to prevent further attacks on the Hungarian police from our territory and in a humane and respectful way distance the migrants from the fence and the Hungarian police,” said Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic in a statement.

Meanwhile, Croatia has said it will allow migrants to travel on to northern Europe, opening up a new route a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.

A steady stream of migrants is crossing into Croatia from Serbia, with some of those stranded on Serbia’s border with Hungary now using the same route.

Croatian PM Zoran Milanovic said: “We are ready to accept and direct those people… to where they apparently wish to go.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8ZRapsZIFA

AB InBev Makes Takeover Approach for SABMiller

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Beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced it had made a takeover move for SABMiller.

The combined value of the world’s two largest brewers is likely to be at least $230 billio based on September 15 share price.

AB InBev’s brands include Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona, while SABMiller owns Peroni and Grolsch.

If the deal is successful, the merged company would produce one third of the world’s beer.AB InBev Makes Takeover Approach for SABMiller

AB InBev said it had approached SABMiller’s board about a “combination of the two companies”.

However, the company added that there was no certainty the approach would lead to an offer or an agreement.

Earlier, SABMiller said it had been informed that AB InBev was planning to make a bid, but that it had no details as yet.

“No proposal has yet been received and the board of SABMiller has no further details about the terms of any such proposal,” the company said.

Shares in SABMiller jumped 20% on the news to close at 3,614p, while AB InBev’s shares were 6% higher in New York.

Given the size of the deal both parties would be likely to have to sell off parts of their operations to get it past the regulators, and that may mean sacrificing some of their US and Chinese businesses .

The merged company would be likely to move aggressively into faster growing markets.

AB InBev has an eye on the African markets where SAB Miller dominates in 15 countries, and has a presence in a further 21.

A merger would also strengthen its grip on South America and Mexico which are by far its most profitable markets.

This deal has long been anticipated but analysts believe AB InBev was held back from making an offer because of high levels of debt built up through a string of other purchases.

SABMiller has also been trying to do deals. Last year it made an unsuccessful offer for its smaller rival Heineken in a move that was widely seen as an attempt to ward off a bid from AB InBev.

Beer companies global market share:

Anheuser-Busch InBev – 20.8%

SABMiller – 9.7%

Heineken – 9.1%

Carlsberg – 6.1%

China Resources Enterprise – 6%

Source: Euromonitor, based on 2014 figures

KitKat: EU Court Rejects Nestle Claim to Trademark Four-Finger Shape in UK

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Swiss food giant Nestle has failed to convince European judges that it has the right to trademark the shape of its four-finger KitKat bar in the UK.

The European Court of Justice said that Nestle had to demonstrate the public relied on the shape alone to identify the snack.

The judges concluded this was difficult to prove if goods also showed a brand name such as KitKat.

Rival Cadbury has battled to prevent Nestle obtaining the trademark.

Both Nestle and Cadbury said they were “pleased” with the ruling.KitKat four finger shape trademark

The case will now return to the UK High Court for a final decision.

Nestle claimed that in the 80 years since the chocolate bar was introduced, the four fingers have become almost completely associated with KitKats.

In June, a senior European court lawyer, the advocate-general, disagreed saying such a trademark did not comply with European law.

Nestle has not sought to trademark the two-fingered bar.

Today’s ruling is the latest development in a more than 10-year legal battle between Nestle and Cadbury, which started when Cadbury tried to trademark the purple color it uses on its Cadbury chocolate wrappers.

Nestle objected and finally had the original decision allowing Cadbury to trademark the color overturned in 2013.

Now it would appear Cadbury, which is owned by Mondelez International, has scored a significant but not final victory in the continuing chocolate war.

It has always argued the shape alone was not distinctive enough for consumers to associate it with the rival snack.

A bar called the Kvikk Lunsj, meaning “quick lunch”, launched in Norway in 1937 is available in some UK stores, and although less well known, looks similar to the four-finger KitKat.

A ruling in favor of Nestle would stop other confectionery producers making chocolate bars of the same shape or size.

The most effective method to Have A Remarkable Terrace Open air Motion picture Night

Have you ever needed to re-experience the experience of a mid year night spent at a drive-in motion picture? A terrace motion picture occasion is the ideal opportunity to appreciate a motion picture under the stars with loved ones, without expecting to leave the solace you could call your own yard. Here is the means by which to make an exceptional motion picture occasion in your own particular patio.

What kind of occasion would you like to host? A night out to praise a Commemoration, an area piece party, a birthday, family gathering or graduation are only a couple events you can celebrate with a terrace motion picture night. A normal family film night can even be made additional exceptional by making it into a terrace motion picture night with an inflatable motion picture screen.

Photo Source: mymovielab.com
Photo Source: mymovielab.com

When you settle on the kind of occasion you need to have and the visitor show, you can pick a proper film. On the off chance that you are praising a birthday or graduation, let the honoree pick the motion picture. For a sentimental night out, pick a most loved sentimental film. On the off chance that you are having children at your terrace motion picture night, make sure to pick a family benevolent motion picture.

Gear When you have chosen a film, the time has come to make a financial plan and get in contact with a neighborhood outside motion picture generation organization. Numerous sound/visual creation organizations work with a wide mixture of customers; from people who wish to host a little occasion at their home, to customers who need immense inflatable film screens to suit a great many visitors.

The outside film generation organization you pick ought to have a screen measure quite recently ideal for your terrace flick night. The organization ought to likewise have the capacity to give you a projector and sound hardware to make your film night an extraordinary, stretch free experience much like a drive-in motion picture or motion picture theater.try this website MyMovieLab

 Nourishment It’s not film night without sustenance. You have a few alternatives here. You may make your motion picture night a potluck and request that everybody convey a most loved film nibble to share, or you may give snacks or a light feast like popcorn, sausage or motion picture theater style confection. To truly get the drive-in film experience, you may significantly consider leasing concession hardware like a popcorn or sausage machine. You could keep the snacks straightforward or have somewhat more fun with it. Consider themed snacks to run with your film; chocolate to run with “Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing plant” or a meatball hors d’oeuvre with “Shady With a Possibility of Meatballs”. Set the Scene

Finishing and setting up your yard are different regions you can have a great time. Utilization lighting like Tiki lights or even Christmas lights to set a lovely scene and make it more secure for visitors to stroll around oblivious. Consider making a beeline for a neighborhood gathering store or putting your specialty abilities to great utilize and setting up themed adornments to compliment your film. Lights, for instance, would add an additional exceptional touch to a “Tangled” patio motion picture night. On the off chance that you have a pool, a poolside motion picture is simply ideal for a hot summer night. You may have a late evening pool gathering and grill, trailed by an unwinding poolside motion picture night.

Seating There are a few approaches to set up the seating for your motion picture night. For children, covers or bean sacks are a fun decision. Grown-ups may incline toward seats or agreeable pads. On the off chance that you don’t have enough seats for the greater part of your visitors, you could either lease seats or request that visitors bring a most loved seat. Consider low seats like shoreline seats so that everybody can see the motion picture.

Ahmed Mohamed: Irving MacArthur Student Arrested over Clock Mistaken for Bomb

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A 14-year-old Texas student was arrested after a homemade clock he wanted to show his school teachers was mistaken for a bomb.

Ahmed Mohamed told media that he had made a clock at home and brought it into MacArthur High School in Irving to show his engineering teacher.

Another teacher saw it and, concerned it looked like a bomb, alerted school authorities who called the police.

Ahmed Mohamed’s father fears the incident happened because of his son’s Muslim background.Ahmed Mohamed hoax bomb

The Council on American-Islamic Relations says it is investigating the incident.

There was a strong reaction to the story on social media.

Ahmed Mohamed told the Dallas Morning News that he loved engineering and wanted to show his teachers what he could do.

The boy said his engineering teacher had congratulated him but advised him “not to show any other teachers”.

Ahmed Mohamed said another teacher became aware of it when the device beeped during the lesson.

“She was like – it looks like a bomb,” the teenager said.

The homemade clock consisted of a circuit board with wires leading to a digital display.

Later in the day Ahmed Mohamed was pulled out of class and interviewed by the school’s principle and four police officers.

Police spokesman James McLellan said that, throughout the interview, Ahmed Mohamed had maintained that he built only a clock.

The school has not commented on the case, but issued a statement saying it “always ask our students and staff to immediately report if they observe any suspicious items”.

The boy’s father, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, who is originally from Sudan, said his son had been mistreated because of his name “and because of September 11”.

Alia Salem of the Council on American-Islamic Relations agreed: “This wouldn’t even be a question if his name wasn’t Ahmed Mohamed. He is an excited kid who is very bright and wants to share it with his teachers.”

Refugee Crisis: Croatia Becomes New Route to EU as Hungary Seals Border with Serbia

Dozens of refugees have reached Croatia – opening up a new route to northern EU countries, a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.

The refugees crossed into Croatia, an EU member, from Serbia.

Croatia says it is ready to receive them or “direct” them to where they want to go. Many migrants – mainly Syrian – are hoping to reach Germany.

New border restrictions and a row over allocating migrants have shown bitter divisions in Europe over the crisis.

Hundreds of refugees remain stranded outside or in makeshift tents near the Serbian border with Hungary.

On September 15, Hungary declared a state of emergency in the border area, with hundreds of army and police deployed to enforce new laws making it an offence to breach a razor-wire border fence.Croatia refugee crisis

Police sealed a railway crossing point near Roszke which had been used by tens of thousands of migrants to enter the European border-free Schengen zone.

The move has all but stopped the inflow.

On September 16, Hungarian police said they had detained 367 refugees entering illegally – and the first criminal proceedings have been launched.

The EU’s border agency says more than 500,000 refugees have arrived at the EU’s borders so far this year, compared with 280,000 in 2014.

Many are fleeing conflict and poverty in countries including Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011.

The refugees have been crossing from Turkey, with about 1,000 in the city of Edirne on September 16, waiting to organize a crossing into Greece. Their journey would then take them to Macedonia and Serbia.

Until September 15, most poured into Schengen member Hungary and crossed into Austria to reach Germany. Both Germany and Austria have introduced tighter border controls to control the flow.

A group of about 40 refugees arrived in the border town of Sid in Serbia on September 16. They had travelled by bus from the Serbian town of Presevo near the Macedonian border in the south.

They crossed into Croatia where police began registering them.

Croatia’s PM Zoran Milanovic told parliament that authorities were “entirely ready to receive or direct those people where they want to go, which is obviously Germany or Scandinavian countries”.

“They will be able to pass through Croatia and we will help, we’re getting ready for that possibility,” he said.

A meeting of the Croatian National Security Council has been called to co-ordinate the response.

Croatian media have warned of the dangers posed by landmines dating back to Croatia’s war of independence in the early 1990s, even though experts say the areas are clearly marked.

The Serbian minister in charge of the government’s working committee on migrants, Aleksandar Vulin, argued that the closure of the border by Hungary was unsustainable for Serbia.

Hungary has said it could extend its fence to the border with Romania – a possible new route.

Romania said this would violate the “European spirit” of co-operation.

Cheng Boming: CITIC Securities Chief Executive Under Investigation

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China’s CITIC Securities stocks fell as much as 4% after the state-owned brokerage said three executives, including its president, were under police investigation.

The executives of China’s largest brokerage are being investigated for suspected insider trading and “leaking inside” information.

The investigation comes as Beijing intensifies the scrutiny on irregular stock trading that has rocked Chinese shares.

Mainland Chinese shares have lost about 40% of their value since mid-June.Citic Securities chief Cheng Boming under investigation

Those being investigated are Cheng Boming, the general manager and president of CITIC since 2012, Wang Jinling, the vice manager of information technology, and Yu Xinli, the head of operational management, the company said in a statement on the Shanghai stock exchange website.

In August 2015, four other senior executives admitted to insider trading, according to state media.

CITIC’s Shanghai and Hong Kong listed shares were down over 2% on the news on September 16. Its Shanghai listed shares have lost over 60% of their value so far this year.

Chinese regulators have been cracking down on alleged market manipulation intensely among other restrictive measures since mainland shares started their steep slide downwards in June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTIbL8gxxZk

China Stock Market Closes Higher on September 16

China stock market led gains across Asia on September 16, with the Shanghai Composite closing up 4.89% at 3,152.26.

The index recovered much of the ground it lost on September 15 when the mainland benchmark index lost 3.5%.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index also ended the day higher, up 2.38% at 21,966.66.

Investors shrugged off news that shares in China’s largest brokerage, Citic Securities, had fallen as much as 4%.

Photo Reuters/China Daily
Photo Reuters/China Daily

The share fall came after it was announced three of the company’s executives, including its president, were under police investigation for suspected insider trading and “leaking” inside information.

Elsewhere, investors continued to remain cautious ahead of a decision by the Federal Reserve on whether or not it will raise US interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended up 0.8% at 18,171.60.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 1.6% higher at 5,098.90, also recovering from yesterday’s losses.

South Korean shares were up despite tensions in the region, the benchmark Kospi index finished 2% higher at 1,975.45.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taSBw03M3a0

Vladimir Putin Did Not Speak to Elton John, Kremlin Says

President Vladimir Putin did not have a phone conversation with Elton John, who has said he wants to talk to him about gay rights, the Kremlin says.

Elton John had said he wanted to talk to Vladimir Putin about his “ridiculous” stance.

Later, a message on Elton John’s Instagram account thanked Vladimir Putin for “reaching out” in a phone conversation.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no conversation between Elton John and the Russian president had taken place – and hinted that the call could have been a hoax.Elton John and Vladimir Putin gay rigts row

Elton John’s Instagram message added: “I look forward to meeting with you face to face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia.”

The pop star’s office said that the two men had spoken.

But Dmitry Peskov told reporters that reports of a conversation were “not true”.

“I don’t know who spoke to Elton John but President Putin did not speak to him,” he said.

“I don’t know [what happened] but President Putin did not speak to Elton John and most importantly we didn’t receive any proposals to meet.”

Dmitry Peskov added: “If the president does get such a signal from Elton John, the president has always been open to discuss any… human rights problems, any issues. He is always ready to clarify the real situation.”

Russia has faced international criticism for its homophobic laws.

A report by Human Rights Watch in 2014 said Russia was failing to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence amid a rise in attacks against minorities.

During a recent interview, Elton John admitted he thought it was unlikely he would meet President Vladimir Putin.

“It’s probably pie in the sky. He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried.”

White House Warns North Korea over Yongbyon Nuclear Complex Provocation

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The White House has warned North Korea to refrain from “irresponsible provocation” after it announced its main nuclear facility, the Yongbyon reactor, had resumed normal operations.

The Yongbyon reactor has been the source of plutonium for North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

The White House said North Korea should “focus instead on fulfilling its international obligations”.

The Yongbyon nuclear plant was shut down in 2007 as part of a disarmament-for-aid deal.

However, Pyongyang vowed to restart it in 2013, following its third nuclear test and amid high regional tensions.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the international community would not accept North Korea as a nuclear state.North Korea Yongbyon nuclear site

“We will work with our partners in the context of the six-party talks to try to return North Korea to a posture of fulfilling those commitments that they have made,” he said.

“We will repeat our call that North Korea should refrain from the irresponsible provocations that aggravate regional tension and should focus instead on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments.”

Six-nation talks involving South Korea, the US, China, Japan and Russia aimed at ending the North’s nuclear program have been stalled since 2009.

Experts believe that, when fully operational, the Yongbyon reactor can make one nuclear bomb’s worth of plutonium per year.

A US think-tank said this year that satellite images suggested work had started at the Yongbyon complex.

Yesterday’s announcement was the first official confirmation from North Korea that it had restarted operations there.

The state-run news agency KCNA said North Korea was improving its nuclear weapons “in quality and quantity”.

It said that North Korea was ready to face US hostility with “nuclear weapons any time”.

However, experts say North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are unclear.

Pyongyang claims it has made a device small enough to fit a nuclear warhead on to a missile, which it could launch at its enemies. But US officials have cast doubt on the claim.

North Korea has made bellicose threats against its neighbors and the US before, often to coincide with annual joint military exercises held by South Korea and US forces.

Hewlett-Packard to Cut up to 30,000 Jobs Ahead of Split

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Hewlett-Packard is planning to cut between 25,000 and 30,000 jobs, the company has announced.

The move is part of an effort to split Hewlett-Packard into two units, which is set to take place in November.

The losses will come in Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which is splitting from the company’s printer and personal computer business.Hewlett Packard split job cut

The tech company says the cuts will save it $2.7 billion in annual costs, but it will take a $2.7 billion charge to execute the plan.

At a meeting for Wall Street analysts, chairman and chief executive Meg Whitman said: “We’ve done a significant amount of work over the past few years to take costs out and simplify processes and these final actions will eliminate the need for any future corporate restructuring.”

The company has struggled over the last decade to keep up with changing demands as customers move away from desktop computers.

HP already plans to lay off 55,000 employees as part of the restructuring process that started in 2012.

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

Facebook Dislike Button Coming Soon

Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook is adding a “Dislike” button to its social network.

In a Q&A session held at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Mark Zuckerberg, 31, said the button would be a way for people to express empathy.

The Facebook founder said the social network was “very close” to having it ready for user testing.Facebook adds Dislike button

A “Dislike” button has been constantly requested by some users since the introduction of the now-iconic “Like” button in 2009.

“People have asked about the <<Dislike>> button for many years,” Mark Zuckerberg told the audience on September 15.

“Probably hundreds of people have asked about this, and today is a special day because today is the day that I actually get to say we are working on it, and are very close to shipping a test of it.”

However, Mark Zuckerberg went on to say he did not want the “Dislike” button to be a mechanism with which people could “down vote” others’ posts.

Instead, it will be for times when clicking “Like” on “Sad” posts felt insensitive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhLAa3EfhEg

The Lenovo Zuk Z1: the dark horse of smart phones

Lenovo’s newest iteration of 4G smartphones is quietly becoming higher demand. Why? Because it does everything the iPhone 6 gets right and fixes all the things it doesn’t. The Zuk Z1 is a smartphone and phablet combination which manages this careful balancing act with surprising precision. It does both of these things and clearly beats on price. The iPhone has developed a cult following and a large percentage of the $700 or so you’ll spend on a new one, reflect this changed reality. But Lenovo has the same quality phone for less than half that. Isn’t that worth checking out?

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There are some areas where the Z1 actually puts the iPhone 6 to shame. Its battery life for example is a far cry better than the status quo over at apple. You can surf online for over 12 hours before it putters out and even manage 15 hours of watching video before a recharge. Lenovo designed the battery to be trapezoidal and fit neatly into the back arc of the phone. This allowed them to enlarge the battery without compromising the contour of the frame, so it’s still comfortable to hold.

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The Z1 also manages a 5.5 inch display; larger than the 4.7 iPhone 6 Plus and with an equally impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution with a very comprehensive color palette. These combine to give the interface some extra “pop” when you’re using the phone. The other technical specs make the Z1 great for gaming as well; you’ll be blessed with 3 GB of RAM and a lightning fast processor that stacks up very well against Apple’s own chips. It’s double impressive that this device s1441072931241-P-2971191atisfies against a wide range of categories, because people use their smartphones for literally everything these days.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a user experience better as well. Though it has a large screen, it can be comfortably held in one hand and easily navigated with your thumb. Lenovo has smartly designed a small port at the bottom, like Apple, for charging and syncing. It’s also ultra-thin which allows it to comfortably balance in your hand.

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If you’re a dedicated smartphone user that sees the overpriced iPhone as a need to break free, you’ve found your calling. With the ability to run both Android and Windows operating systems, you get a phone that’s bigger, better and more reasonably price than the competition. You get your choice of operating systems (instead of being forced into one) and will feel at home with more phone for your buck. Can anyone say win-win?

Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch FHD Screen,1920×1080 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm 8974AC Quad Core
GPU: Adreno 330
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 64GB ROM
Camera: Back camera 13.0MP OIS anti-shake + 8.0MP front camera
Features: USB Type-c 3.0
Bluetooth: 4.1
GPS: GPS/GLONASS
Sensors: Accelerometer/Proximity /Gyro/Ambient Light/Hall/Magnet
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, Dual Nano SIM
Network:
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 1800/2100/2600MHz

Robert Mugabe Delivers Wrong Speech at Zimbabwe Parliament Opening

President Robert Mugabe has read out the wrong speech at the opening of Zimbabwe’s parliament.

The 91-year-old president gave the same one during his state of the nation address on August 25, when he was heckled by opposition members of parliament.

Robert Mugabe’ss spokesman told the state-run Herald paper the error was because of a mix-up in president’s secretarial office.

Tensions were high ahead of the speech and the state broadcaster canceled its live feed fearing further disruptions, correspondents say.

At least six members of parliament from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received a text message from sender called “Death” warning them to behave.Robert Mugabe wrong speech

“Warning: Immunity ends in parliament… act wisely by not disturbing the proceedings of parliament,” the message on opposition MP Nelson Chamisa’s phone said.

Before Robert Mugabe spoke, the parliamentary speaker also warned against disrupting proceedings.

After Robert Mugabe began speaking, it was not long before it dawned on those present that they had heard it all before, our reporter says.

During the speech, the MDC members sat quietly, while ruling Zanu-PF party supporters clapped at regular intervals, Reuters reports.

Robert Mugabe made reference to Zimbabwe’s amending labor laws to protect workers from arbitrary termination of employment, efforts being made to stimulate investment and the country registering modest growth in tourism and agriculture, our correspondent says.

The first time Robert Mugabe read the speech opposition members of parliament sang protest songs against his 10-point plan to solve the country’s economic crisis.

Presidential spokesman George Charamba said the error in delivering the wrong speech was “sincerely regretted”.

George Charamba added that President Robert Mugabe would read the correct speech later at a hotel in the capital Harare, Reuters reports.

Mary Poppins Sequel in Development, Disney Announces

Disney has announced it is making a sequel to its 1964 classic Mary Poppins.

The live-action movie will be based on P.L. Travers’ series of books about the no-nonsense but magical nanny, Entertainment Weekly reports.

According to EW, Mary Poppins sequel will be directed by Rob Marshall and will see Mary return to the Banks family in London.

Anne Hathaway is already favorite to land the lead role, according to bookmakers William Hill.

She is the 6/1 favorite ahead of Emily Blunt at 7/1 while Anna Kendrick, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep are all 8/1.Mary Poppins sequel in development

“Hollywood’s leading ladies will all be vying for this role but given her striking resemblance to Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway is the early favorite,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.

The action will take place about 20 years after the original, which was set in Edwardian London. The new story will be set in the Depression era.

EW reports that composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will write the songs for the new movie.

The original movie, starring Julie Andrews, was based mainly on the first volume of P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins series.

The new movie will take inspiration from all eight volumes written by P.L. Travers, including Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins in the Park and Mary Poppins in the Kitchen.

1964’s Mary Poppins won five Oscars, including best actress for Julie Andrews, best song – Chim Chim Cher-ee – and best visual effects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC3F_lw8IUM

Refugee Crisis: Hungary Declares State of Emergency at Serbian Border

Hungary’s government has declared a state of emergency at the Serbian border as tough new laws to stop refugees entering illegally took effect at midnight.

Hungarian police said they had arrested 60 people accused of trying to breach a razor-wire fence on the border with Serbia.

The state of emergency gives police extra powers and would allow troop deployments if parliament approves.

The EU states are facing a huge influx of refugees, many fleeing conflict and poverty in countries including Syria.

Meanwhile, Germany and Austria are calling for a special meeting of EU leaders next week to discuss the crisis.Hungary state of emergency refugees

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference that “this problem can only be solved together. It is a responsibility for the entire European Union”.

The EU’s border agency said more than 500,000 refugees had arrived at the EU’s borders in 2015, compared with 280,000 in 2014. The vast majority have come by boat across the Mediterranean.

A boat following the most popular recent route, between Turkey and Greece, sank on September 15 leaving 22 people dead, Turkish media reported.

Starting on September 15, the European Union has agreed to relocate 40,000 migrants from Greece and Italy to other EU states. However, it has yet to agree on mandatory quotas for a further 120,000 asylum seekers.

After the new Hungarian laws came into effect at midnight, police sealed a railway crossing point that had been used by tens of thousands of migrants.

Around midday there were tense scenes as hundreds streamed towards the fence, some searching for a way through and others starting a sit-down strike, throwing down food and water in protest at not being granted passage.

Hungarian authorities said more than 9,000 – a new record – crossed into the country before the border was closed on September 14. Some 20,000 crossed into Austria.

From September 15, anyone who crosses the border illegally will face criminal charges, and 30 judges have been put on standby to try offenders.

The laws also make it a criminal offence – punishable by prison or deportation – to damage the newly-built 13ft fence along Hungary’s 110 mile border with Serbia.

Egypt: Mexican Tourists’ Families Travel to Cairo

The families of the Mexican tourists who were accidentally killed by the Egyptian security forces are travelling to Egypt.

Twelve people were mistakenly killed by Egyptian army in an anti-terror operation on September 13.

Egypt says it mistook the tourists for Islamist militants, whom its forces were pursuing in the Western Desert.

The country has apologized, but has insisted the group were in a restricted area. Local sources deny the claim.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Egypt has been battling Islamist militants for years, with attacks escalating since the 2013 ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Until recently most of the fighting has taken place in the Sinai Peninsula with occasional attacks taking place in Cairo and other cities.

Egyptian officials put the number of Mexicans killed at eight, but Mexico has so far only confirmed two dead.

They are Luis Barajas Fernandez and Maria de Lourdes Fernandez Rubio.

The relatives of Rafael Bejarano Rangel, another Mexican who was part of the tour group, said they had been told by tour organizers that he was among those killed.

Ten people, among them six Mexicans were also injured in the attack.

The tour group had been travelling in a convoy of four 4x4s near the Bahariya oasis, a popular tourist location. The organizers said they had stopped for a picnic when the group was attacked.

The interior ministry said an Apache helicopter targeted the tourists “by mistake”.

Egypt’s ambassador to Mexico City, Yasser Shaban, said the tourists’ 4×4 vehicles resembled those used by the militants the security forces were chasing.

According to relatives, Rafael Bejarano Rangel was the one who had been organizing the trips from Mexico to Egypt for a decade.