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China Stock Markets Volatile After Four-Day Weekend

The Chinese markets were volatile for much of September 7 as mainland stock exchanges reopened following a four-day weekend.

The Shanghai Composite traded erratically, but closed down by 2.5% to 3,080.42 points.

The market volatility in China came as the country’s National Bureau of Statistics revised its annual economic growth rate for 2014 to 7.3%, down from 7.4%.

Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng index closed down 1.2% to 20,583.52.

Mainland shares have fallen 40% since mid-June when the sell-off began, while Chinese regulators continue to take more steps to stabilize erratic trading.

China’s central bank governor, Zhou Xiochuan, told financial leaders at the G20 summit over the weekend that the markets had almost completed their correction after a steep rise in the first half of the year.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“The stock market adjustment is already roughly in place and financial markets can be expected to be more stable,” Zhou Xiochuan said in a statement from Turkey.

Other Asian markets were mixed on September 7 despite stocks in the US, which headed lower on before weekend after US jobs figures were released.

Friday’s much-anticipated jobs figures showed unemployment fell to 5.1% last month, the lowest since April 2008.

The jobs report is the last before the Federal Reserve meets later this month to decide whether to increase interest rates.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei opened lower on September 7, down 0.65%, but finished the day closing up 0.38% at 17,860.47.

In Australia the S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.2% at 5,030.40, while South Korea’s Kospi benchmark index closed down 0.15% at 1,883.22 points, after closing down 1.5% on September 4.

Guatemala Elections 2015: Jimmy Morales Leads Presidential Vote After Early Results

Guatemalan actor Jimmy Morales is leading in the country’s presidential poll, early results have showed.

Jimmy Morales, who has campaigned against corruption, has about 25% of the vote so far, with a centre-right businessman, Manuel Baldizon, on 21%.

If no candidate wins more than half the votes, a second round will be held.

Voting took place on September 6, days after the resignation and arrest of President Otto Perez Molina over corruption allegations.

A new congress is also being elected.Guatemala elections 2015 Jimmy Morales

Many voters had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations.

If no candidate wins 50% of the vote, the second round of voting will take place on October 25.

“Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts,” said Jimmy Morales after voting near Guatemala City.

“Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections,” Manuel Baldizon told journalists after casting his vote.

There had been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid skepticism that the poll could achieve political change.

Voters queued from the early hours to cast their ballots.

Electoral authorities said 50% of voters had cast their ballots five hours after polls opened.

Some 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the polls.

Prosecutors accuse Otto Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. The former president denies involvement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBy6hK-imGw

North Korea and South Korea Hold Talks on Organizing Family Reunions

South Korea and North Korea are conducting talks on organizing a rare reunion for families separated by the Korean War.

The talks are being held at the border village of Panmunjom by Red Cross officials from both sides.

Thousands of Korean families have been separated with little contact made since 1953 when hostilities ended.

The sporadic reunions depend hugely on the state of relations, and North Korea is known to have canceled a few. The last reunion was held in February 2014.Korean family reunion

Each meeting gets deluged by tens of thousands of applications from South Korea, but only a tiny percentage gets selected. The last meeting saw 100 from each side attending, in a hugely emotional event.

The discussions come after a tense few weeks on the Korean peninsula, which saw exchanges of fire at the border and the evacuation of thousands of South Koreans from the border region.

The tensions began when a border landmine injured two South Korean soldiers – South Korea responded by broadcasting propaganda messages into North Korea.

The two sides reached an agreement to defuse the situation after marathon talks.

North Korea, which denied planted the mine, agreed to express “regret” about the incident – though later clarified this was an expression of sympathy not an apology.

South Korea and North Korea remain technically at war as the Korean War only ended in an armistice.

New Test Shows How Your Body Is Aging

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Scientists at King’s College London say they have developed a way of testing how your body is aging.

They say it could help predict when a person will die, identify those at high-risk of dementia and could affect medicine, pensions and insurance.

The team says that looking at “biological age” is more useful than using a date of birth.

However, the work, published in Genome Biology, provides no clues as to how to slow the aging process.Ageing test study

The test looks for an “ageing signature” in the body’s cells by comparing the behavior of 150 genes.

It was developed by initially comparing 54,000 markers of gene activity in healthy, but largely sedentary, 25 and 65-year-olds and then whittling them down to a final 150.

The team said “health” and “age” were two separate entities.

While some lifestyle decisions, like spending all day on the sofa, could be bad for your health they do not appear to affect the speed your body ages.

The team believes combining lifestyle factors and your biological age would give a more accurate picture of your health.

The researchers tried the test out on samples from a group of 70-year-old men in Sweden.

They worked out who was ageing well and who was ageing very rapidly and were able to predict who would die in the next few years.

The researchers say it could also alter cancer screening, with people who are ageing rapidly needing to be screened at a younger age.

The test could also form a “useful tool” in predicting the onset of dementia.

The research group at King’s College London are aware that being able to check your biological age could have wide-ranging consequences from pensions to insurance premiums.

War on Terrier: Amber Heard’s Australia Dog-Smuggling Case Adjourned

An Australia case to hear dog-smuggling charges against Amber Heard has been adjourned.

Johnny Depp’s wife had been ordered to appear in an Australian court on September 7 on charges of failing to declare her terrier dogs to Customs officials.

Amber Heard failed to appear but the case has now been adjourned until November 2.

She faces a possible 10-year jail term or a hefty fine for illegally importing the dogs into Australia and of producing a false document.

The discovery of the dogs in a Gold Coast mansion where Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were staying earlier this year sparked a public spat with Australia’s Agriculture Minister, attracted international media attention and was dubbed the #WarOnTerrier by social media.

Photo Today
Photo Today

Johnny Depp does not face any charges over the dogs.

Australia has strict quarantine laws to prevent diseases being imported into the island nation.

Amber Heard was spotted over the weekend supporting her husband at the Venice Film Festival.

The dogs, Boo and Pistol, are understood to have arrived in Australia on board Johnny Depp’s private jet in April this year.

Johnny Depp was in Australia filming the fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise on Australia’s Gold Coast.

At the time, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the dogs would be put down if they stayed.

The dogs left the country unharmed a few days later.

Johnny Depp recently took aim at Barnaby Joyce at a press conference in Venice.

“I killed my dogs and ate them under direct orders from some kind of, I don’t know, sweaty, big-gutted man from Australia,” Johnny Depp said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCw0M3q1T8

Europe Migrant Crisis: Austria to Restore Spot Checks

Austria is planning to phase out special measures that have allowed thousands of migrants to travel freely from Hungary to Western Europe, Chancellor Werner Faymann said.

The emergency measures for asylum seekers will be removed “step by step”, the chancellor added.

The easing of rules has meant thousands have been able to leave Hungary for Austria and Germany over the weekend.

Germany, where most of the migrants are heading, warned that its willingness to help “should not be overstretched”.

The German interior ministry said the decision to allow migrants in over recent days was an exception and that the EU’s rules requiring asylum seekers to be processed in the first country they arrived in remained valid.

Chancellor Werner Faymann issued his statement after speaking by phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban on September 6.

Photo AP
Photo AP

“We have always said this is an emergency situation in which we must act quickly and humanely,” the Austrian chancellor said.

“We have helped more than 12,000 people in an acute situation. Now we have to move step-by-step away from emergency measures towards normality,” he added.

The change means that Austria will restore spot checks on those entering the country, as it had before the weekend.

On September 6, a group of cars driven by German and Austrian activists travelled to Hungary to pick up migrants and distribute food.

Hungarian police said anyone taking people across the border was breaking the law on people smuggling – although the activists were able to collect migrants without being stopped.

The crisis took a dramatic turn on September 4, when Hungary removed restrictions on transit and helped migrants reach the Austrian border.

On September 5, about 10,000 people travelled by bus, train and on foot to Vienna, with many continuing to Munich and other German cities.

Thousands more were allowed to travel from Hungary to Austria and Germany on September 6.

The migrants had travelled north through the Balkans – Greece, Macedonia and Serbia – before arriving at Hungary’s southern border.

Sarah Palin Wants to Be Named Energy Secretary Under Donald Trump Presidency

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has said she would like to serve as energy secretary in a Donald Trump administration in order to abolish the department.

Sarah Palin told CNN that “energy is my baby”.

“Oil and gas and minerals, those things that God has dumped on this part of the Earth for mankind’s use,” the conservative activist said.

Donald Trump said in July he would be open to the possibility of Sarah Palin serving in his government.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Sarah Palin said she wanted individual states to “start having more control over the lands that are within their boundaries” with respect to their energy policy.

“If I were in charge of that, it would be a short-term job,” she said.

Sarah Palin also defended Donald Trump over recent criticism of gaps in his knowledge of foreign affairs.

“I think I’d rather have a president who is tough and puts America first than can win a game of Trivial Pursuit,” she said.

“But I don’t think the public gives a flying flip if somebody knows who, today, is a specific leader of a specific region or a religion or anything,” Sarah Palin added.

Donald Trump has recently been leading polls for the Republican presidential nomination.

Sarah Palin was the Republican nominee for vice-president in 2008.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gejROvp2bxg

Guatemala Elections 2015: Voters Heading to Polls amid Political Crisis

Voters in Guatemala are heading to the polls in presidential elections amid a deep political crisis.

Former President Otto Perez Molina resigned this week and was swiftly arrested over a customs fraud scheme.

Many people in the Latin American country have called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Leading contenders include centre-right businessman Manuel Baldizon and comic actor Jimmy Morales.

If no candidate wins 50% of the vote there will be a second round of voting on October 25.

There have been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid skepticism that the poll can achieve political change.

Prosecutors accuse Otto Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. The former president denies involvement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLPAY_8xg4g

Netflix Declined to Sign up Top Gear Trio Because “It Wasn’t Worth Money”

Netflix declined to sign up Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May because they “weren’t worth” the £160 million ($256 million) said to have been paid by rival Amazon to air a new version of Top Gear, a senior executive for the streaming service said.

The former presenters of Top Gear left the BBC earlier this year after Jeremy Clarkson was fired for hitting a producer.

Netflix was known to have been in discussions with the former Top Gear trio but decided against taking things further after analyzing its own viewership data of past Top Gear episodes, according to the company chief product officer Neil Hunt.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May recently signed a “very, very, very expensive” deal with Amazon Prime.Top Gear trio rejected by Netflix

However, Netflix has claimed the presenters “sold themselves for way more money” than they are worth.

“We have past episodes of Top Gear, so we have a pretty good gauge of what audiences like,” Neil Hunt, told Digital Spy in an interview.

“Our buying decisions tend to be somewhat data-driven. We have a lot of data to get the deals we want.

“Clearly it wasn’t worth the money to make the deal.”

Neil Hunt later clarified his comments in a statement, saying: “There is an audience for everything and it is not up to us to judge if Amazon has paid too much or not.”

British broadcaster BT Sport previously said it, too, had declined to bid for the Top Gear trio.

Managing director Delia Bushell told the Guardian: “To be honest I didn’t consider it. It just wasn’t right for us.

“It’s a fantastic franchise, but it made more sense for a global player like Netflix because Top Gear has huge US revenues as well.”

Jeremy Clarkson was suspended in March, following an “unprovoked physical attack” with a Top Gear producer in a Yorkshire hotel. It was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided following a day’s filming.

Following an internal investigation, the BBC decided not to renew the presenter’s contract.

Jeremy Clarkson’s co-hosts then followed him in leaving the show.

They have now signed up to Amazon Prime to make a new car-themed program, along with producer Andy Wilman, who also quit the BBC following Jeremy Clarkson’s “fracas”.

Top Gear will continue on BBC Two, with Chris Evans in charge.

Cate Blanchett to Star as Lucille Ball in Biopic Written by Aaron Sorkin

Cate Blanchett will play Lucille Ball in a biopic penned by West Wing and Social Network writer Aaron Sorkin.

The biopic will revolve around the life of the comedy actress, who starred in such classic TV sitcoms as I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show.

The film will chronicle Lucille Ball’s 20-year marriage to Desi Arnaz, with whom she starred on I Love Lucy.Cate Blanchett to play Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball had two children with Desi Arnaz before they divorced in 1960. She married Gary Morton the following year.

Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. will produce with Escape Artists, whose executive Jenna Block will oversee development of the project on behalf of the Sony-based company, The Wrap reports.

Aaron Sorkin, writer of upcoming biopic Steve Jobs, has yet to start work on the script, so there could be a long wait for Lucille Ball biopic.

Cate Blanchett won the first of two Academy Awards for playing another Hollywood icon, Katharine Hepburn, in Martin Scorsese‘s The Aviator.

West Point Cadets Injured in Annual Pillow Fight

At least 30 cadets have been injured in a pillow fight at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The cadets were marking the end of summer training.

At least 24 cadets were reported to have been left unconscious because pillows were stuffed with hard objects.

One cadet suffered a broken nose, while others had dislocated shoulders.

West Point academy said the fight was designed to build “espirit de corps”. None of the injuries was severe and all cadets have returned to duty, it said.West Point cadets pillow fight

Details of the injuries sustained in August emerged in The New York Times, which reported that video of the fight posted online shows crowds of yelling cadets, some wearing body armor as well as helmets, surging together in a central quad.

Although pictures of the August 20 brawl have been circulated on social media, West Point did not confirm it took place until recently.

The annual night-time event has been described as a harmless way of blowing off steam at the end of a grueling summer of training.

However, this year’s event seems to have been a little over-exuberant, with pillow cases reported to have been stuffed with hard objects, thought to have been helmets.

West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen said in a statement: “While these spirit events do occur, we never condone any activity that results in intentional harm to a teammate.

“Although the vast majority of the class appears to have maintained the spirit of the event; it is apparent that a few did not.”

Military police were investigating the incident and would take appropriate action when the inquiry was complete, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen added.

There are no plans to end the annual pillow fight, which has taken place since at least 1897.

China’s Bohai Leasing Buys Irish Aircraft Leaser Avolon for $2.5 Billion

Bohai Leasing, a unit of China’s aviation giant HNA, is buying the Irish aircraft leasing company Avolon Holdings for about $2.5 billion.

The leasing group will pay $31 per share in the deal that includes the assumption of debt and has a total enterprise value of about $7.6 billion.

The price is lower than the $32 discussed by the firms in August due to the “volatility” in the equity markets.

Chinese leasing companies have expanded as local carriers introduce more routes.

Most of them are backed by state-owned banks.Bohai Leasing buys Avolon

The two companies had been in negotiations about a deal since July and shares of Avolon have risen more than 20% since the talks began.

Avolon chairman Denis Nayden said in a statement: “We believe Bohai will enhance Avolon’s profile, positioning and relationships in the Chinese aviation market – a market which we believe offers one of the most compelling growth opportunities in global aviation over the next two decades.”

The Dublin-based company owned or managed 152 aircraft and had more than 100 more on order as of June.

Meanwhile, HNA is China’s fourth-largest aviation group and has interests in airlines such as Hong Kong Airlines and Hainan Airlines.

Bohai Leasing and Avolon deal is expected to be finalized by Q1 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsMGrKFSW8k

More Migrants Expected to Arrive in Germany and Austria from Hungary

Germany and Austria are expecting thousands more migrants to arrive from Hungary after Budapest government eased restrictions on their travel on September 5.

Thousands of migrants traveled to the Austrian border by bus, by train and on foot before moving on to Vienna and Munich.

Austrian officials are laying on more trains as needed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to hold talks with her coalition partners on a crisis that has divided the EU.

After days of confrontation and chaos, Hungary opened its borders with Austria and bussed thousands of migrants to the frontier.

Up to 10,000 arrived at the border on September 5, according to the Austrian authorities, who have said they do not plan to limit the numbers crossing into the country.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Many traveled straight on to Munich, southern Germany, where locals greeted them with applause, giving sweets to the children among the new arrivals.

They have been sent on to reception centers to be registered and receive food and clothing.

Both Germany and Hungary have said the current measures are aimed at averting a humanitarian crisis, and will not set a precedent.

The rules requiring refugees to apply for asylum in the first country they land in “are still valid, and we expect other European Union member states to stick to them”, a German government spokesman said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany can cope with the influx of newcomers without raising taxes or jeopardizing its budget.

Germany is the key destination for arrivals on European shores, and expects to take in 800,000 people this year.

Syrians fleeing a brutal civil conflict are the largest group travelling, followed by Afghans and Eritreans.

There is little sign of a co-ordinated EU response to the crisis, despite more than 350,000 migrants having crossed the EU’s borders in 2015 alone.

Germany, backed by the European Commission, has been pushing for a quota system for dividing the people reaching Europe between member states.

However, this has been opposed by several eastern members.

On September 5, Hungary said that while it had temporarily relaxed restrictions on the transit of asylum seekers, it was pressing ahead with plans to tighten border controls and could send troops to its southern frontier if parliament agreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1axQH00Uow

Thailand’s Draft Constitution Rejected by Junta-Backed Council

A Thailand’s junta-backed council has rejected the controversial new constitution drafted after last year’s coup.

A new committee must now be appointed to write another draft, further setting back elections.

The draft has been widely criticized, in particular a clause which enables a 23-member panel to take over government during a “national crisis”.

Thailand’s army ousted the elected government after months of political unrest.Thailand draft constitution

The 247-member National Reform Council rejected the draft charter by 135 votes to 105, with seven abstentions.

Correspondents say that it met strong opposition on practically all sides of the political divide.

Another committee will have 180 days to write a new one, which will later be put to a nationwide referendum.

Until a new constitution can be drafted, the military government retains its substantial powers.

It had said elections could take place in late 2016, but analysts say the delay means 2017 is more likely.

Critics of the draft constitution say it would erode the power of political parties in favor of the army and prevent a genuine democracy from being established.

Thailand has seen numerous different constitutions since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.

For years Thailand has been divided between pro-democracy parties that support former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and an alliance of conservatives, including members of the military, the judiciary and royalists.

Thaksin Shinawatra’s allies have prevailed in every election since 2001, but have faced two coups and the removal of three prime ministers by the courts.

 

Argentine Man Locked Wife and Adult Son in Cell for Two Years

An Argentine man has been detained after police found he kept his wife and adult son locked up in a dungeon for several years with unlawful imprisonment.

They say the filthy cell at the back of Edgardo Oviedo’s home in the coastal city of Mar del Plata had an iron door, locked from the outside.

The room had plates of dog food police believe was given to the woman and her son.

Edgardo Oviedo, 66, put up no resistance when police raided the house on September 4. He denies the charges.Edgardo Oviedo arrested in Argentina

The authorities say the woman has psychiatric problems and her son, who is 32, can barely speak.

Edgardo Oviedo, a construction worker and a former union leader, was arrested after a tip-off from two other sons, who live in the same neighborhood.

They said they had initially been too scared of their father to report him.

Prosecutor Alejandro Pellegrini said the house had “a room in the worst of human conditions”.

Alejandro Pellegrini said he was shocked by what he found: “You read the report but we can’t believe it until you get there.”

Germany: Migrants Arrive in Munich After Hungary Journey

At least 10,000 migrants have arrived in Munich after an arduous journey through Hungary and Austria.

German members of the public applauded and offered sweets as some 450 migrants arrived on a special train service.

The plight of the migrants has highlighted the EU’s struggle to deal with a surge of asylum seekers.

Earlier this week there were chaotic scenes in Budapest as Hungary blocked them from travelling onwards.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Many migrants refused to be taken to camps in Hungary to register for asylum, insisting they wanted to travel on to Germany and Austria.

Crowds broke through security lines and began walking 108 miles to the border, many with small children.

Under mounting pressure, Hungary opened its border with Austria, which expects to have received some 10,000 people by the end of the day on September 5.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany can cope with an influx of newcomers, without raising taxes or jeopardizing its budget.

Austria has also said it will not limit the number of migrants crossing its borders.

However, there is little sign of a coordinated EU response to the crisis, despite more than 350,000 migrants having crossed the EU’s borders in 2015 alone.

Germany, backed by the European Commission, has been pushing for a quota system for dividing the people reaching Europe between member states. But this has been opposed by several eastern members.

On September 5, Hungary said that while it had temporarily relaxed restrictions on the transit of asylum seekers, it was pressing ahead with plans to tighten border controls and could send troops to its southern frontier if parliament agreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQuGYU3lGIg

Poll: Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Head-to Head Matchup

According to a SurveyUSA poll released on September 4, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump leads Democrat Hillary Clinton head-to-head.

The poll finds that matched up directly, Donald Trump garners 45% to Hillary Clinton’s 40%.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In other head-to-head matchups, Donald Trump beats out Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by 44% to 40%; Vice President Joe Biden by 44% to 42%; and former Vice President Al Gore by 44% to 41%.

The SurveyUSA poll also found that 30% of respondents believe Donald Trump will eventually be the Republican nominee, leading the field.

Jeb Bush came in second, with 20% saying they expect him to win the nomination. Following the former Florida governor in order were retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida).

The poll surveyed 1,000 adults across the United States between September 2 and 3, and it had a margin of error of 3.3%.

Hillary Clinton Paid State Department Staffer Bryan Pagliano to Maintain E-Mail Server

According to an official from Hillary Clinton’s campaign, the presidential hopeful and her family personally paid a State Department staffer to maintain the private e-mail server she used while heading the agency.

The arrangement helped Hillary Clinton retain personal control over the system that she used for her public and private duties and that has emerged as an issue for her campaign, the Washington Post reported.

However, according to the campaign official, it also ensured that taxpayer dollars were not spent on a private server that was shared by Hillary Clinton, her husband and their daughter as well as aides to the former president.

That State Department staffer, Bryan Pagliano, told a congressional committee this week that he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination instead of testifying about the setup.Hillary Clinton paid Bryan Pagliano to maintain server

The private employment of Bryan Pagliano provides a new example of the ways that Hillary Clinton — who occupied a unique role as a Cabinet secretary who was also a former and potentially future presidential candidate — hired staff to work simultaneously for her in public and private capacities.

Cheryl Mills, Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff, and Huma Abedin, a close confidant who served as deputy chief of staff, both spent time working for the State Department, the Clinton Foundation or the Clintons personally.

Bryan Pagliano had served as the IT director of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and then worked for her political action committee.

The Clintons paid Bryan Pagliano $5,000 for “computer services” prior to his joining the State Department, according to a financial disclosure form he filed in April 2009.

Even after arriving at the State Department in May 2009, Bryan Pagliano continued to be paid by the Clintons to maintain the server, which was in their Chappaqua, New York, home, according to the campaign official and another person familiar with the arrangement, the Washington Post reported.

The private pay arrangement has not previously been reported. The State Department has declined to answer questions about whether the private system was widely known within the agency or officially approved.

Asked in early August about whether Bryan Pagliano had been paid privately to maintain the server, a State Department official said that the agency had “found no evidence that he ever informed the department that he had outside income”.

This week, a different State Department official said he could not clarify Bryan Pagliano’s pay situation, citing “ongoing reviews and investigations” of Hillary Clinton’s e-mail setup.

Bryan Pagliano did not list the outside income in the required personal financial disclosures he filed each year.

The State Department has said Bryan Pagliano concluded his full-time service in February 2013, which coincides with Hillary Clinton’s departure as secretary.

Bryan Pagliano remains a State Department contractor doing work on “mobile and remote computing functions,” according to a State Department spokesman.

Rico Rodriguez of The Specials Dies at 80

The Specials’ trombonist Rico Rodriguez has died at the age of 80, the ska band has announced.

Rico Rodriguez was a ska and reggae musician who played with the band on songs including the 1979 hit A Message to You Rudy.

The Specials announced Rico Rodriguez’s death in a tweet on September 4.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

The statement said: “Our dear friend Rico passed away today. We offer our deepest condolences to his family. His legacy will go on forever. RIP dear Rico.”

Rico Rodriguez was born in Cuba and grew up in Jamaica, before moving to England in the 1960s, according to the Jamaica Observer.

As well as playing with The Specials, Rodriguez performed as a solo artist, recording albums including Man from Wareika, Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat with his band Rico and the Rudies.

He worked with many different musicians and producers during a lengthy career, including Prince Buster, Karl Pitterson and Jools Holland in his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

Rico Rodriguez was made an MBE in 2007 for services to music.

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Tоdау’ѕ соnѕumеr wаntѕ a biggеr ѕizе phone fоr playing gаmеѕ аnd watching mоviеѕ. Thiѕ hаѕ rеѕultеd intо the еvоlutiоn оf рhаblеtѕ. Phаblеtѕ are 2 in 1 devices whiсh аrе a соmbinаtiоn оf a phone аnd a tаblеt соmрutеr. Mоrе аnd mоrе соnѕumеrѕ are getting attracted tо bigger size phablets. Every mоbilе manufacturer thuѕ have ѕtаrtеd making bigger ѕсrееn ѕizе рhоnеѕ аnd ѕеlling thеm in thе mаrkеt. ZTE is one оf thоѕе manufacturers who hаѕ intrоduсеd a nеw рhаblеt in thе mаrkеt named ZTE Axon.

ZTE Axоn iѕ a 4G LTE enabled Android 5.0 phablet. Thiѕ рhаblеt ѕроrtѕ a 5.5-inсh ѕсrееn with a rеѕоlutiоn of 1920 x 1080 HD IPS 2.5D сurvеd diѕрlау. Thе phone screen iѕ mаdе uр of Cоrning Gorilla Glаѕѕ whiсh рrоtесtѕ it from breaking аnd scratches. The processor оn thе phone is a 2.0GHz Octa-core Quаlсоmm Snарdrаgоn 810 64-bit рrосеѕѕоr, thеrе iѕ аlѕо an Adrеnо 430 GPU оn thе phablet. The 3GB RAM оn the рhоnе contributes in giving a smooth еxреriеnсе. Mеmоrу on thе phone iѕ 32GB intеrnаl whiсh саn bе еxtеndеd uр tо 128GB.

Thiѕ phablet iѕ a grеаt device for аll thе shutterbugs. Thеrе are duаl rеаr-fасing cameras whiсh аrе 13MP Sony IMX214 primary camera + 2MP OV secondary саmеrа with duаl LED flаѕh. The frоnt camera оn the рhоnе is 8MP. A  fingеrрrint ѕеnѕоr is also рut uр оn thе рhаblеt to kеер your dаtа ѕесurе. Thе Axоn runѕ оn Andrоid 5.0 Lollipop OS аnd is a 4G enabled рhоnе.

A 3000mAh nоn-rеmоvаblе bаttеrу is рrеѕеnt оn thе phone whiсh роwеrѕ it аll dау. If уоu loved thiѕ dеviсе аnd аrе planning оf buуing it, thеn уоu can bооk уоur ZTE Axоn from GеаrBеѕt whеrе it iѕ аvаilаblе for рrе-ѕаlе аt a price роint of $465 for аn Unlосkеd version. You can use the Flash Charge option where just 2 minutes of charging will get you power to last a two hour long phone call. How about that for a feature?

And remember if уоu don’t оrdеr the ZTE Axоn Elitе 4G from Gеаrbеѕt, уоu саn find it anyplace else, аѕ thеу аrе сurrеntlу thе еxсluѕivе аgеnt fоr it, ѕо grаb one nоw, and gеt уоur pre-order in bеfоrе Sерtеmbеr 23rd, fоr thе firѕt ѕhiрmеnt batch tо diѕраtсh on  Sерtеmbеr 30th, after that уоu dоn’t knоw hоw lоng уоu might be waiting fоr nеxt rоund, аnd you will bе in envy оf аll уоur friends using thеir nеw ZTE Axon Elitе 4G, ѕо whу nоt grаb twо of thеm, аnd givе оnе аwау to a ѕресiаl love one оr сlоѕе family mеmbеr, they will be ѕо thаnkful fоr уеаrѕ tо соmе.

Tom Brady Breaks His Silence on Deflategate Scandal

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Tom Brady breaks his silence on the Deflategate scandal by posting a statement on his Facebook page on September 4.

His statement comes a day after District Judge Richard M. Berman vacated the New England quarterback’s four-game suspension in the scandal.

Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots will open the season at home Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“The regular season starts tomorrow morning and I can’t wait to fully commit my energy and emotion to focus on the challenges of the 2015 NFL season,” he said in the statement.

“I want to thank my family, my friends, all of the fans, past and current players and my teammates for the support they have given me throughout this challenging experience. I also want to thank Judge Berman and his staff for their efforts to resolve this matter over the past five weeks. I am very grateful. My thanks also to the union’s legal team who has fought so hard right along with me.

“While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure this. I don’t think it has been good for our sport — to a large degree, we have all lost. I am also sorry to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt as I have tried to work to resolve this situation. I love the NFL. It is a privilege to be a member of the NFL community and I will always try to do my best in representing my team and the league in a way that would make all members of this community proud.

“I look forward to the competition on the playing field and I hope the attention of NFL fans can return to where it belongs — on the many great players and coaches who work so hard every week, and sacrifice so much, to make this game great. Most importantly, I look forward to representing the New England Patriots on Thursday night in our season opener. I hope to make all of our fans proud this year … and beyond!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MbX-BnQRz0

Hungary: Migrants Cross Austrian Border After Budapest Government Provides Buses

Thousands of migrants have arrived in Austria, after Hungary’s surprise move to take them by bus to the border.

For days, Hungary had blocked them from travelling by train to northern and Western Europe.

On September 5, about 4,000 people crossed the Austrian border. They were received by the Red Cross and are now moving on towards Vienna and Germany.

Austria says the migrants, many of whom had initially fled Syria, can claim asylum there or carry on to Germany.

The move comes as EU countries are struggling to agree on how to deal with an unprecedented surge of asylum seekers.

The Hungarian government eased restrictions on transit after many frustrated migrants overwhelmed police cordons and set off towards the border on foot on September 4.

Buses began picking up migrants from Keleti train station in central Budapest, where thousands had been camped.

Vehicles were also sent to take those who had decided to walk along a motorway to Austria.Hungary migrants at Austrian border

On September 5, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said there would be no more buses or trains to take the migrants on to Austria.

He said the transport had been arranged as a one-off, because of fears for the migrants’ safety.

As the migrants crossed the border on foot, some Austrians displayed welcome signs.

Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted them with blankets and tea.

The migrants are now being taken by train and bus from the Austrian border town of Nickelsdorf to the capital Vienna.

Many hope to travel on to Germany, which says it expects 6,000 people to arrive over the weekend.

The German government has said Syrians can apply for asylum.

Germany has said it expects to take in 800,000 people this year.

Austria’s Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, the two countries would allow in the migrants due to the “emergency situation” in Hungary.

However, he said he expected Hungary to respect any EU quotas for asylum seekers – something Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, has rejected.

Hungary has become a major transit nation for people fleeing the Middle East and Africa, and seeking to reach north and west Europe.

The Hungarian parliament on September 4 approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants, underlining divisions within the EU on how to tackle the crisis.

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban has said the surge in arrivals was “Germany’s problem”, since that was where most people wanted to go.

However, Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for refugees to be fairly divided among EU members.

Wall Street Stocks Close Lower After Mixed Jobs Report

Wall Street closed lower after reports that the US unemployment rate fell to 5.1% last month, the lowest since April 2008.

The latest Labor Department figures also showed the US added 173,000 jobs in August. The figure was below expectations, but the totals for June and July were revised up.Wall Street after jobs report

The Dow Jones fell 272.38 points, or 1.66%, to 16,102.38, while the S&P 500 dropped 29.91 points to 1,921.22.

The NASDAQ was down 49.58 points at 4,683.92.

The latest jobs report is the last before the Federal Reserve meets later this month to decide whether to increase interest rates.

Hillary Clinton Is Sorry for Using Private Email

Hillary Clinton has said she regrets using private email account while serving as secretary of state.

She has also said she wished she had made a “different choice”.

“I’m sorry this has been confusing,” Hillary Clinton told MSNBC.

Her use of private email has generated a barrage of criticism as Hillary Clinton runs for the Democratic presidential nomination for the 2016 election.

Critics say that Hillary Clinton’s set-up was not secure, contrary to government policy, and meant to shield her from oversight.

Photo MSNBC
Photo MSNBC

Political analysts – including fellow Democrats – have said the Clinton campaign has stumbled in its response to the controversy and Hillary Clinton had not seemed contrite – at times even making jokes about the email issue.

A more somber Hillary Clinton took full responsibility in Friday’s interview, saying she didn’t “stop and think” about how use of a private email account would be perceived.

It has been a major issue in the presidential race. Polls show an increasing number of voters view her as “untrustworthy” due in part to the questions surrounding Hillary Clinton’s email use.

Under US federal law, officials’ correspondence is considered to be US government property.

Government employees are encouraged to use official email accounts although some top officials have used personal accounts in the past.

In March, Hillary Clinton said she and her lawyers made the decision over what would be considered work-related email when the state department asked for records from former secretaries of state.

The emails deemed work-related were about half of the 60,000 emails she sent in total during her time in office. The emails she deemed personal were deleted, Hillary Clinton said.

Since then, the state department has been releasing the emails to the public in batches about once a month.

Guatemala: Jailed Otto Perez Molina Appears in Court

Former Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has appeared in court after spending his first night in prison.

Otto Perez Molina, 64, rejected allegations that he was the mastermind of a customs corruption scheme dubbed La Linea, or The Line.

At least 100 people are being investigated over the scheme.

A judge in Guatemala City ordered his detention on September 3 while hearings over the corruption allegations took place.

After a second day of hearings, Otto Perez Molina was again taken from court to a military prison in the capital.

Otto Perez Molina addressed the court on September 4.

“The first thing I want to deny: I don’t belong to La Linea,” he said.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

The former president denied taking any bribes and promised to co-operate with the investigation.

“Your honor, I am not going to risk my dignity, my work, nor all the effort I have made for Guatemala in return for $800,000,” he said, in reference to the amount prosecutors say he received illegally.

Investigators say the scheme involved businesses paying bribes to government officials and customs officers in return for being allowed to evade import duties.

Otto Perez Molina reminded the court that he had rejected much higher bribe offers from the fugitive Mexican drug lord, Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman in 1993.

The former president led the operation that led to his arrest in Guatemala.

“After his capture, I was offered 10, 15 times more than that amount in bribes [to let him go]. I didn’t do it because that goes against my principles,” Otto Perez Molina said.

Shorty Guzman, who is the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to Mexico, but escaped from a high security jail for a second time earlier this year.

Guatemala’s Congress stripped Otto Perez Molina of his immunity from prosecution on September 1.

That opened the way for criminal charges to be brought against him.

Vice-President Alejandro Maldonado was sworn in as interim head of state ahead of elections on September 6 after Otto Perez Molina resigned on September 3.

Alejandro Maldonado is expected to govern until the new president is sworn in on January 14.

Guatemalans go to the polls on September 6 to take part in scheduled general elections.

Otto Perez Molina is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.

Alejandro Maldonado had only been in the post of vice-president since mid-May, when his predecessor Roxana Baldetti resigned.

Roxana Baldetti is accused of involvement in the same corruption scheme that Otto Perez Molina is said to have masterminded. She is also being held in prison.

Otto Perez Molina’s resignation on September 3 and arrest are a huge victory for an unprecedented anti-corruption protest movement that had swelled in recent months, with regular marches in Guatemala’s major cities.