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China Stock Market Returns to Positive Territory on US Rebound

Clyde K. Valle
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China Stock Market Returns to Positive Territory on US Rebound

China stock market returns to positive territory after massive losses there earlier in the week rocked markets around the globe.

The Shanghai Composite was up by 0.6% to 2,942.94 points.

The turnaround though does little to make up double-digit percentage losses made so far this week.

Shares elsewhere in Asia also made gains in early trade on the back of a jump on Wall Street on August 26, which saw its biggest rise in 4 years.China stock market returns to positive trends

In other Asian markets on August 27, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up by 2.5% at 21,613.48 points; the region’s biggest stock market, Japan’s Nikkei 225, finished trading 1.1% up at 18,574.44, building on strong gains made the previous session; South Korea’s Kospi also notched up gains for a second day. The index closed 0.7% higher at 1,908.0 points.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 wrapped up the day 1.2% higher at 5,238.70 points.

Severe losses on the Chinese market over the past week had sent shockwaves around the globe.

A move by the country’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China, to cut its key lending rate on August 25 initially failed to calm the Chinese market.

Concerns about China’s slowing economic growth have been rising for months with a constant trickle of poor economic data, the latest of which last Friday suggested that factory activity shrank in August at its fastest pace in more than 6 years.

Analysts believe the tentative share market rebound indicates fears over China’s woes may have somewhat eased.

Vester Flanagan: WDBJ Shooter Sent Fax to ABC News After Attack

Nancy Clayson
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Vester Flanagan: WDBJ Shooter Sent Fax to ABC News After Attack

Vester Lee Flanagan, who shot dead two Virginia journalists on live TV, apparently sent a rambling fax to ABC News describing himself as a “human powder keg” shortly after the attack.

Vester Flanagan, who had been dismissed by the WDBJ7 TV, killed himself after a police chase.

In the fax, a man said to be Vester Flanagan describes suffering discrimination and bullying for being gay and black.

The White House said Wednesday’s attack showed the need for better gun control.

The two people killed were WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27.

WDBJ7 manager Jeff Marks said: “I cannot tell you how much they were loved.”

He said Vester Flanagan was an “unhappy man” who had to be escorted from the WDBJ7 building after being dismissed in 2013.

Alison Parker was conducting a live interview with a guest on tourism early on August 26 in the town of Moneta when the incident occurred.Vester Flanagan Virginia TV shooting

Suddenly, shots rang out, and viewers saw the camera fall to the ground. Screams could be heard and the footage captured a brief glimpse of the gunman.

The station cut back to the studio – journalists would later have to continue broadcasting on the deaths of two of their colleagues.

Hours later, Vester Flanagan posted footage online of himself opening fire at close range, although this was later removed.

The woman who was interviewed at the time of the attack, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, is in a stable condition in hospital following surgery.

ABC News said it received a 23-page fax, apparently sent by Vester Flanagan under his professional name Bryce Williams later on Wednesday, in which he said his anger had been “building steadily” and that he had become “human powder keg” that was “waiting to go BOOM!!!!”

The writer says he suffered racism and homophobia at work, and expresses admiration for the teenagers who killed 13 people at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999.

Vester Falanagan also said the attack in Charleston, South Carolina, in which nine black churchgoers were killed in June this year, was what “sent me over the top”.

Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton said the ABC fax was being used by investigators, adding: “It’s obvious… this gentleman was disturbed in some way.”

Late on Wednesday, a representative for Vester Flanagan’s family issued a statement expressing their “deepest condolences to the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward”.

“Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with the victim’s families and with WDBJ television station family,” the statement added.

President Barack Obama repeated his call for tougher gun laws after the attack.

“We’re willing to spend trillions of dollars to prevent terrorist activities, but we haven’t been willing so far at least to impose some common sense gun safety measures,” he said.

Chelsea O’Donnell Leaves Home to Live with Birth Mother as She Turns 18

Lisa.Felice
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Chelsea O’Donnell Leaves Home to Live with Birth Mother as She Turns 18

Chelsea O’Donnell, who went missing earlier this month, left home once again, this time to go live with her birth mother.

Rosie O’Donnell’s adopted daughter turned 18 this week.

According to TMZ, Chelsea O’Donnell’s birth mother Deanna, who gave her up for adoption in 1997, drove from Wisconsin to New York to pick Chelsea up on August 24, the day she turned 18 and is legally an adult.Rosie O Donnell and adopted daughter Chelsea

Rosie O’Donnell allegedly cautioned Chelsea against leaving with Deanna and TMZ reports that the comedian has cut her off financially.

Deanna’s response to all questions about her daughter has been the same: “Leave my daughter out of Rosie’s stuff.”

Chelsea O’Donnell was found on August 18 in the company of 25-year-old Steven Sheerer.

Steven Sheerer was charged on August 24 with third-degree distribution of obs**nity to a minor and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, as Chelsea was only 17 at the time.

He remains in jail and his bail is $40,000.

4 Fall and Winter Decorating Tips for the Upcoming Holidays

Nancy Clayson
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4 Fall and Winter Decorating Tips for the Upcoming Holidays

As spring and summer end, it’s time to break out your creativity and get ready for the upcoming holidays with new decorations. It’s not an easy task if you want your decorations to stand out and be memorable. Gear up by taking a look at these four decorating tips to get you through the fall and winter.

Halloween Decorations

Jack-o'-lanterns

Image via Flickr by wwarby

Halloween is really a holiday for kids, so get them involved in the Halloween decorating. Go to a pumpkin patch to handpick a pumpkin for your front porch. If your kids are a little older, let them carve a nice jack o’ lantern face on the front. Next, pull out the paper and start crafting Halloween decorations for your home. It’s easy to make spiders, ghosts, witches, and other cutouts to place around your home. Remember to have fun with Halloween because snow is not too far away and your kids will start spending a lot more time indoors.

Thanksgiving Decorations

zimtsterne - cinnamon stars

Image via Flickr by dolcedo

The point of Thanksgiving is to get your family together for good food and company. Therefore, base your decorations around your food because that’s what everyone is looking for. For instance, create a beautiful table centerpiece surrounded by candles or buy lovely placemats or dinnerware specifically for Thanksgiving. If you’re worried about a budget for Thanksgiving, focus entirely on the food as your decorations. For instance, make leaf-shaped sugar cookies and place them on a tray near the entry of your home. It will be the first thing everyone sees.

Christmas Decorations

La Vie en rose

Image via Flickr by Nieve44/Luz

When Christmas comes around, all you see is red and green decorations. Challenge yourself with a new color palate this year. There’s no reason why you can’t use frosty blue or royal purple to decorate for the holidays. Also, don’t waste your money on expensive Christmas decorations. Instead, make your own or buy some inexpensive strands of Christmas lights and ribbon. Then, string them all over your home to create a festive look. Ribbon and lights look great along a banister or over a fireplace mantel. If you’re looking for rope lights, ChristmasLightsEtc.com has some inexpensive options.

New Year’s Decorations

Christmas decorations

Image via Flickr by warrenski

There’s not much time between Christmas and New Year’s, so it makes sense to decorate to accommodate both holidays. You’ll save yourself time if you avoid the Santa decorations and instead opt to use snowflakes, pinecones, and other items that fit with a winter theme. Then, you can just take down the Christmas tree and leave all your other decorations up to be ready for New Year’s. Of course, you’ll probably want to add something sparkly to finish the look before guests come over to help you reign in the New Year.

These are just a few ideas to get you going with your holiday decorating. Use your creativity to make your home beautiful and festive. There are no limits, so try to do something different this year.

Go Big with Videoconferencing

Ricky Robinson
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Go Big with Videoconferencing

At some point your business will most likely want to start investing in videoconferencing, and with good reason. Videoconferencing brings a whole new level of interaction to your company both inside and out. The software available for videoconferencing today has changed the playing field by offering high end cloud support and the ability to connect to the conference using any number of different devices. One of the greatest things, especially with services like Blue Jeans videoconferencing, is the ability to leverage employee devices so that you do not have to issue tablets or mobile devices. The benefit of living in the digital age is that virtually everyone has a smart device, and they can easily connect into your videoconferencing network.

Go Big or Go Home

Another great thing about video conferencing, at least today, is the ability to connect with a large number of people simultaneously within your business, and even outside if it is necessary. Some of the higher end services will actually support up to 100 endpoints in a meeting, making it easy to contact a global team or even conduct HR interviews via the conferencing software. To make it even better, you will find that it is fairly simple to record the events of each meeting, and the cloud will even allow you to store those events at your leisure. You will then be able to access it every single time you need it along with any notes that had been entered. This is a great way to conference and a great way to reflect back on the events that happened during the meeting. Of course, there is always the opportunity to go just a bit bigger with your videoconferencing service.

Scale it Down, Scale it Up

The majority of videoconferencing software today runs in the cloud. So what does that mean exactly? Does that mean your software is in the upper atmosphere? Not in this case, but it does meant that it is stored off-site, and you won’t have to worry about any sort of configuration, other than making sure the software is completely customized to you. If you should choose to upgrade or downgrade your package, however, you will need to do nothing more than simply head to the retailers website and arrange for an upgrade. You can add additional licenses or virtual ports, and your service will be expended. This, is just one of the benefits of using a videoconferencing service like this, and there are several others, namely the ability to go big.

Go Bigger or Go Home

You’ve already gone big; you know what it is like to connect with one hundred people at any given time, but what if that isn’t enough? What if you need to connect with even more? Well, you know what they say, go big or go home, and in this case, you’re going to connect with more than three thousand people. Can you imagine going much bigger than that? Maybe you can, but you don’t really need to. Going bigger gives you the opportunity to host more varied events, such as seminars or massive company wide meetings. It might sound farfetched, but the future is here, and we are living in it. What will you make of it?

In the traditional webcast, it is impossible for attendees to interact with the streamer, which has always been a problem. After all, connecting with your audience can really be one of the most important things that you do within your company. High end conferencing software, on the other hand, has a new trick up its sleeve. Rather you can actually extend the podium and allow everyone at the conference a chance to speak, and to convey their message to a potentially global audience.

Because of the nature of the software, anyone will have the opportunity to participate regardless of where they are so long as they were able to successfully connect to the network. Users can connect from their homes, their offices, cars, stores, broom closets, or even in the middle of the wilderness. Access is available for everyone and it is all highly interactive. Whether it is a full system, or a mobile device, the choices are virtually unlimited, and provide endless opportunity for all who wish to connect.

Going big with videoconferencing is a great way to change the dynamic of your business, and change the way that people communicate. Now would be a great time to start considering how you will integrate it into your business, and how it will change the way that you interact with your employees. The future is now, and video is the way of the future for any business that chooses to take advantage of it. Will you be one of them?

Vester Lee Flanagan: WDBJ Shooting Suspect Confirmed Dead

Nancy Clayson
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Vester Lee Flanagan: WDBJ Shooting Suspect Confirmed Dead

Vester Lee Flanagan, the man who shot dead two journalists on live TV in Virginia, has died after shooting himself, police confirmed.

Vester Lee Flanagan, 41, a former employee of WDBJ7 TV known professionally as Bryce Williams, was in a car that was surrounded by police following a chase.

WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were killed some seven hours earlier during an interview in the town of Moneta.

Vester Lee Flanagan later uploaded a video of himself opening fire at close range.

The White House has urged Congress to rapidly pass gun control laws in the wake of this latest shooting in the US.

Virginia State Police said Vester Lee Flanagan’s car had been spotted on I- 66 following the shooting, and crashed off the road after being pursued by officers.

“Troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the force said in a statement.

The suspect later died in hospital, a police spokesman said.

Vester Lee Flanagan’s Twitter account suggested he had held a grudge against Adam Ward, 27, and Alison Parker, 24.

Police said his utterances on social media the previous evening suggested the attack was pre-planned.

The attack on the journalists took place at a large shopping centre, Bridgewater Plaza, near Smith Mountain Lake.

Alison Parker was starting a breakfast TV interview about tourism at the shopping centre when suddenly shots rang out, the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and her screams could be heard.Vester Lee Flanagan dead

The footage then captured what appeared to be a fleeting image of the gunman, who was wearing black trousers and a blue top – and holding a handgun.

The woman who was being interviewed, later identified as Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, survived the attack and is in a stable condition in hospital following surgery.

Bryce Williams’s Twitter and Facebook feeds, which have now been suspended, subsequently showed video shot by the gunman.

Videos showed him raising a handgun, training it on the trio, and opening fire 14 times. The TV station’s own footage of the attack recorded only eight of the shots.

Staff at the WDBJ7 TV, which continued broadcasting after the live report, expressed shock and sadness at the loss of their colleagues.

The station’s president and general manager, Jeffrey Marks, announced on air: “Alison and Adam died this morning at 06:45 shortly after the shots rang out.

“I cannot tell you how much they were loved by the WDBJ7 team… our hearts are broken.”

Jeffrey Marks described Bryce Williams as “an unhappy man” who was “difficult to work with” and had to be escorted from the TV station by police officers when he was finally dismissed.

A complaint filed against the station with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by the suspect had been dismissed, Jeffrey Marks added.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst revealed that he and Alison Parker had been in a relationship and had planned to marry.

“We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday.

“She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.”

Chris Hurst added that Alison Parker had worked on a regular basis with Adam Ward, and that he was heartbroken for his fiancée, a producer at the station.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest, speaking to reporters, urged the passing of new gun control laws.

“There are some common sense things that only Congress can do that we know would have a tangible impact on reducing gun violence in this country,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTPlNI0sA1g

Wall Street Trades Higher After Losing Ground over China Crisis

Clyde K. Valle
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Wall Street Trades Higher After Losing Ground over China Crisis

Wall Street shares opened sharply higher on August 26, with the Dow Jones 1.3% up, after losing ground on August 25.

At the same time, European stock markets lost ground as fears persist of a China-led economic downturn.

London’s FTSE 100 closed down by 1.7% , with markets in Paris and Frankfurt finishing down by 1.4% and 1.3% respectively.

Experts expect more market volatility until the Federal Reserve meets in September to set US interest rates.Wall Street during China crisis

The Shanghai index fell 1.27% to 2,927.29 on August 26, after veering in and out of negative territory.

Elsewhere in Asia, the region’s largest index, Japan’s Nikkei 225 finished 3.2% higher on Wednesday at 18,376.83 points.

The Nikkei’s gains come after a painful week for the Tokyo index, which had shed more than 8% in the past two sessions.

South Korea’s Kospi index was also in positive territory, closing 2.6% higher at 1,894.29 points, while in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 finished 0.7% up at 5,172.80.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aa9UjJtVEY

WDBJ Shooting: Suspect Vester Lee Flanagan Reportedly Kills Himself on I-66

Nancy Clayson
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WDBJ Shooting: Suspect Vester Lee Flanagan Reportedly Kills Himself on I-66

Vester Lee Flanagan, the suspected gunman who shot dead a Virginia TV reporter and a cameraman during live report, has killed himself on the I-66 in Fauquier County, state police are quoted by WDBJ7 TV as saying.

WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, both were killed and a woman interviewed at the time of the attack was wounded.

The woman, identified as Vicki Gardner, is reportedly out of emergency surgery.Vester Lee Flanagan Virginia TV shooting

“She is currently recovering and is in stable condition,” a spokesman for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is reported by local news paper The Roanoke Times as saying.

Vicki Gardner was being interviewed about the 50th anniversary of the founding of Smith Mountain Lake, a resort area near the Bridgewater Plaza, when the attack took place.

Williams was reported to have joined the WDBJ news channel “as a multimedia journalist and general assignment reporter” in April 2012. He previously worked as a reporter at a number of local news stations in the southern US.

Vester Lee Flanagan, known professionally as Bryce Williams, was a former WDBJ7 staff member, police said.

The attack took place at a large shopping centre, Bridgewater Plaza, near Smith Mountain Lake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3xBvoTdWao

Virginia TV Shooting: Reporter and Cameraman Shot Dead on Live TV

Nancy Clayson
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Virginia TV Shooting: Reporter and Cameraman Shot Dead on Live TV

Virginia’s WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward have been shot dead during a live report in the town of Moneta.

Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, were killed during an interview, the TV station said.

A man, apparently a disgruntled former employee of WDBJ7 TV, uploaded a video of himself shooting the reporter at close range on social media.

Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has named the suspect as Vester Lee Flanagan.

Known professionally as Bryce Williams, Vester Lee Flanagan is a former WDBJ7 staff member and described by police as a “person of interest”. His Twitter and Facebook accounts have now been suspended.

During the live broadcast, shots and Alison Parker’s screams could be heard, and the camera fell to the ground.

State police have denied reports that a pursuit is under way.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a statement: “We believe it was a disgruntled employee who fired at the TV crew. Not a case of terrorism. It is a criminal case.”

The attack took place at a large shopping centre, Bridgewater Plaza, near Smith Mountain Lake.

Alison Parker was starting a breakfast TV interview about tourism at the shopping centre when suddenly eight shots rang out, the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and her screams could be heard.Virginia TV shooting

The footage then captures what appears to be a fleeting image of the gunman, who is wearing black trousers and a blue top – and holding a handgun.

The station said the woman who was being interviewed, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, had survived the attack but was in hospital and required surgery.

“Alison and Adam died this morning at 06:45 shortly after the shots rang out. We do not know the motive or who the suspect or the killer is,” the station’s president and general manager, Jeffrey Marks, announced on air.

“I cannot tell you how much they were loved by the WDBJ7 team… our hearts are broken,” he said.

Jeffrey Marks added that the station’s building was in lockdown, under police protection.

“Police have advised us that as long as this person is on the loose, we should stay in the building. We have police protection,” he told the Associated Press news agency.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst revealed that he and Alison Parker had been in a relationship and had planned to marry.

“We didn’t share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb,” he said on Twitter.

“We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday.

“She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.”

Chris Hurst added that Alison Parker had worked on a regular basis with Adam Ward, and that he was heartbroken for his fiancée, a producer at the station.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H07rMdr-KE

Dust Lady: 9/11 Survivor Marcy Borders Dies of Stomach Cancer Aged 42

Nancy Clayson
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Dust Lady: 9/11 Survivor Marcy Borders Dies of Stomach Cancer Aged 42

9/11 survivor Marcy Borders, who is known as “Dust Lady” after being photographed covered in dust while fleeing the World Trade Center, has died of stomach cancer at the age of 42.

Marcy Borders’ death was announced by her family on Facebook.

The woman was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2014 at the age of 41.

The iconic 9/11 photo of Marcy Borders was taken by AFP photographer Stan Honda as the attacks on the Twin Towers unfolded.

Marcy Borders, who was 28 at the time of the attacks, was working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower when the first plane hit.  She fled down the stairwell and emerged from the building as the South Tower fell, covering her in dust and debris.

Photo Jersey Journal
Photo Jersey Journal

She said a stranger pulled her to safety in a nearby building, where Stan Honda took the now-famous photo.

Marcy Borders kept the clothes she was wearing – still covered in ash – in a plastic bag in her wardrobe, but as of 2011 had never looked at them, the Telegraph reported.

In the next 10 years following 9/11 attacks, Marcy Borders grappled with depression and substance abuse. She checked into a rehab center in 2011.

In an interview with the Jersey Journal in 2014, Marcy Borders speculated that her cancer was related to the attacks.

The number of cancer cases linked to 9/11 attacks has grown in recent years.

As of May 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 4,000 first responders, rescue workers and survivors who have been diagnosed with cancer linked to the attacks.

The CDC said skin cancer, prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are among the most common illnesses among those individuals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isAcUowF-7M

Barack Obama Apologizes to Japan After WikiLeaks Spying Claims

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama Apologizes to Japan After WikiLeaks Spying Claims

President Barack Obama apologized to Japan after WikiLeaks claimed Washington had spied on Japanese politicians, a government spokesman said.

Barack Obama held a telephone conversation with Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe on August 26, spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, adding that the pair agreed to work together on global economic issues in the wake of a stock market meltdown sparked by fears over China.

“President Obama said he was very sorry… as the case caused a big debate in Japan,” Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference, without confirming the spying claims.

He added that PM Shinzo Abe reiterated his “serious concern” over the case.Barack Obama apolgizes to Shinzo Abe after spying claims

“Prime Minister Abe told [Barack Obama] that, if the Japanese people concerned were subject to these activities, it would risk jeopardizing trusting relations between allies,” Yoshihide Suga said.

In an earlier conversation with VP Joe Biden, Shinzo Abe voiced similar concerns if the spying claims were confirmed.

Last month, WikiLeaks said it had intercepts revealing years-long espionage by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Japanese officials and major companies.

Tokyo’s response has been widely seen as muted compared to the anger expressed in France and Germany following similar NSA spying allegations.

Japan is one of Washington’s key allies in the Asia-Pacific region and they regularly consult on defense, economic and trade issues.

Caitlyn Jenner Crash: Prosecutors Reviewing Evidence in Traffic Collision Case

Lisa.Felice
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Caitlyn Jenner Crash: Prosecutors Reviewing Evidence in Traffic Collision Case

According to new reports, Los Angeles prosecutors are reviewing evidence and considering whether to file charges against Caitlyn Jenner over a traffic collision on a coastal highway that killed a woman earlier this year.

The case was presented on August 25 and is being reviewed by the agency’s Major Crimes Division, Los Angeles County district attorney’s spokesman Greg Risling said.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

There’s no timetable for when prosecutors will decide whether they will file charges against Caitlyn Jenner.

Bruce Jenner, who became Caitlyn Jenner, was driving a sport utility vehicle February 7 when it slammed into two cars on Pacific Coast Highway, pushing a Lexus driven by 69-year-old Kim Howe into oncoming traffic.

Kim Howe died from her injuries.

China Stock Market Closes Lower Despite New Rate Cut

Clyde K. Valle
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China Stock Market Closes Lower Despite New Rate Cut

China’s stocks have closed lower despite a fresh interest rate cut by the country’s central bank.

Shanghai Composite fell 1.27% to 2,927.29, after veering in and out of negative territory.

It had fallen about 16% this week, rocking global markets.

On August 25, China’s central bank cut its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.6% in a bid to calm stock markets after the past days’ turmoil.

The dramatic losses and volatility in China have shattered investor confidence and led to sharp falls in Asia and the US over the past days.China stock market plunges August 2015

European markets were down by about 1% in morning trading on August 26, after rallying on the previous day.

The interest rate cut was the fifth by the People’s Bank of China since November 2014.

A rate cut will make it cheaper for banks to borrow from the central bank and will in turn make it easier for businesses and private people to borrow money from those banks.

Given China’s central role in world trade, a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy would be likely to reverberate around the globe.

Japan’s Nikkei gains come after a painful week for the Tokyo index, which had shed more than 8% in the past two sessions.

South Korea’s Kospi index was also in positive territory, closing 2.6% higher at 1,894.29 points, while in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 finished 0.7% up at 5,172.80.

Overnight, European and US markets saw another session of volatile trading. Wall Street’s Dow Jones closed 1.3% down, marking the sixth consecutive day of falls for US stocks.

London’s FTSE 100 index closed up 3% as major markets in France and Germany both gained more than 4%.

Donald Trump Removes Jorge Ramos From Iowa News Conference

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Removes Jorge Ramos From Iowa News Conference

Donald Trump attacked Univision anchor Jorge Ramos during a news conference in Iowa on August 25, and asked his security to remove the well-known news personality from the room.

Jorge Ramos stood up and began to ask Donald Trump about his immigration proposal, which includes ending automatic citizenship for infants born in the US to parents in the country illegally.

As Jorge Ramos began to speak, Donald Trump interrupted him, saying he hadn’t called on Ramos before repeatedly telling him to “sit down”.

Donald Trump pounced on the Univision anchor: “Sit down. You weren’t called sit down. Sit down.” Then saying: “Go back to Univision.”

Photo AP
Photo AP

As Jorge Ramos continued to speak, Donald Trump appeared to glance at his regular, traveling bodyguard and click his lips. The bodyguard then approached Jorge Ramos and escorted him out of the room.

As Donald Trump’s bodyguard approached Jorge Ramos, the anchor continued to speak, saying: “You cannot deport 11 million people.”

Jorge Ramos was referring to Donald Trump’s proposal to deport all people in the country illegally before allowing some of them to return.

As he was taken from the room, Jorge Ramos said about another proposal in Donald Trump’s plan: “You cannot build a 1,900-mile wall.”

Moments later, Donald Trump justified Jorge Ramos’ removal, saying: “He just stands up and starts screaming. Maybe he’s at fault also.”

When a reporter asked him about the exchange, Donald Trump said: “I don’t really know much about him… I didn’t escort him out. Whoever security is escorted him out.”

Donald Trump added: “Somebody just walked him out, I don’t know where he is, I don’t even mind if he comes back, frankly… He’s obviously a very emotional person.”

Ten minutes later Jorge Ramos was allowed back into the news conference. Donald Trump greeted him politely, though they quickly resumed their argument, interrupting each other during an extended back-and-forth.

Jorge Ramos began: “Your immigration plan, it is full of empty promises. You cannot deport 11 million people.

“You cannot deny citizenship to children born in this country. You cannot.”

Donald Trump cut him off: “Why do you say that? Excuse me, no, no. A lot of people think that’s not right, that an act of Congress can do that,” referring to citizenship by birth, a constitutional principle that grants citizenship to children born in the United States.

The Republican presidential frontrunner interrupted Jorge Ramos several times, continuing to make his argument: “Excuse me, no. No, no, some of the greatest legal scholars, and I know some of those television scholars agree with you.”

During the five-minute exchange, Jorge Ramos claimed that 40% of people in the country illegally enter through airports, not over the Mexican border.

“I don’t believe that. I don’t believe it,” Donald Trump responded.

A 2006 report by the Pew Hispanic Center found that as much as 45% of the people in the US illegally entered with legal visas but overstayed them.

Donald Trump said he did not believe that a majority of immigrants in the US illegally were criminals, or in the country to commit crimes.

“Most of them are good people,” he said. But he described recent cases where people had been killed by assailants later determined to be in the country illegally.

In the end, Donald Trump reminded Jorge Ramos that he was suing Univision, which dropped his Miss Universe pageant after he described immigrants in the US illegally as “criminals” and “rapists.”

“Do you know how many Latinos work for me? Do you know how many Hispanics work for me?” Donald Trump said.

“Thousands. They love me.”

Univision CEO Isaac Lee responded to the confrontation with a written comment: “We’d love for Mr. Trump to sit down for an in-depth interview with Jorge to talk about the specifics of his proposals.”

Donald Trump Attacks Megyn Kelly Again

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Attacks Megyn Kelly Again

Donald Trump has renewed his feud with the Fox News host Megyn Kelly.

Republican presidential frontrunner said Megyn Kelly, who returned to her show on August 24 after a break, “must have had a terrible vacation” because “she’s really off her game”.

Fox News chief Roger Ailes has demanded an apology, describing Donald Trump’s verbal attack as “disturbing”.

It comes two weeks after controversy over Donald Trump’s remarks about Megyn Kelly following the first Republican debate.

In a CNN interview, Donald Trump said the Fox presenter “had blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever” to describe the way she questioned him during the debate over comments he had made about women.Donald Trump Attacks Megyn Kelly Again

Donald Trump was subsequently dropped as a speaker at a major conservative forum, and his comment was denounced by rival Republican candidates.

But it did not stop him from continuing his verbal attack of Megyn Kelly during her show on August 24, tweeting: “Kelly File was much better without Megyn Kelly. Her replacement while she was out on vacation was much better!”

Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who had cleared the air with Donald Trump after the debate, reacted strongly to the “surprise and unprovoked attack” on his news host. In a statement read aloud on the channel, he said it was “as unacceptable as it is disturbing”.

Megyn Kelly “represents the very best of American journalism and all of us at Fox News Channel reject the crude and irresponsible attempts to suggest otherwise,” he added, demanding an apology.

Some of Megyn Kelly’s colleagues also came to her defense, including Bret Baier, her co-host for the debate, who tweeted “this needs to stop”.

Donald Trump seemed unfazed by the criticism, saying he disagreed with Roger Ailes’ statement and that he did not consider Megyn Kelly “a quality journalist”.

Donald Trump has taken the lead in the polls ahead of the 16 other Republican candidates, despite a string of controversial remarks since launching his campaign.

Serial Case: Adnan Syed’s Lawyer Reveals New Evidence

Nancy Clayson
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Serial Case: Adnan Syed’s Lawyer Reveals New Evidence

Adnan Syed’s lawyer, Justin Brown, has submitted new evidence that he says casts doubt on his client’s case.

Adnan Masud Syed, 35, who is the subject of the hit podcast Serial, is serving a life sentence for the murder of ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999.

Justin Brown says key mobile phone data used to convict Adnan Syed of killing his ex-girlfriend in 2000 was unreliable.

Adnan Syed’s defense team is trying to reopen the case based on some of the questions raised in the Serial podcast over whether Syed had received a fair trial.

Serial, which was released in weekly installments at the end of 2014, became a global hit, breaking records as the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads on iTunes.Adnan Syed trial 2015

In the 2000 trial, prosecutors weighed heavily on mobile phone records that allegedly placed Adnan Syed at a park in Baltimore where Hae Min Lee’s body was buried.

Adnan Syed, who was 17 at the time, has always maintained his innocence.

However, a motion filed in court on August 24 by Justin Brown said a newly recovered mobile phone document showed “the cell tower evidence was misleading and should have never been admitted at trial”.

In it, Justin Brown says mobile phone carrier AT&T had issued a warning about the accuracy of mobile tower data, which he argues would have made the phone records inadmissible as evidence.

“Outgoing calls only are reliable for location status. Any incoming calls will NOT be considered reliable information for location,” reads a note on a cover sheet from AT&T for Adnan Syed’s phone records.

Justin Brown says prosecutors presented incoming calls as evidence to determine Adnan Syed’s location.

It “is an extremely important piece of evidence, and we are bringing it to the court’s attention as quickly as possible,” Justin Brown told The Baltimore Sun.

Adnan Syed’s lawyer is also seeking to reopen court proceedings to allow testimony from a key witness who may be able to provide Syed with an alibi in the case.

Asia McClain, a friend of Adnan Syed’s who was not heard in the original trial, claims to have seen him in a library at the time of the suspected killing.

The fact that Adnan Syed’s first lawyer, Cristina Gutierrez, failed to submit this evidence in the original trial was one of the arguments used to win him the right to appeal in February.

Adnan Syed’s lawyer has since filed a motion for appeal, though the court in Maryland has yet to respond.

Resume of good financial planner

Dana R
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Resume of good financial planner

If you are looking to hire a financial security advisor like Robert Yancovitch, you should look at the process like hiring an employee.  What’s the first thing you do to weed out potential candidates from those who simply don’t fit the bill?  You look at their resume.  Here’s what the resume of a financial security advisor worth hiring should look like.  Even if you don’t see the person’s actual resume, these are the same types of things you should look and listen for when you interview a potential financial security advisor.

Objective

Under this headline, the financial security advisor should have key phrases such as “To help each client reach his financial goals through educated and experienced financial planning advice.”  Steer clear of resumes that promise grand things such as “guaranteed financial success” or “no-fail advice.”

How-a-Significant-Other-Can-Be-A-Significant-Financial-Partner

Education

Look for a financial security advisor whose resume includes a university degree in a related field as well as professional certification in financial planning.  Find out which professional designations he has (is he a Certified financial security advisor?)  Earning a professional designation is an indication that the financial security advisor has passed rigorous standardized tests that exhibits his ability to understand and apply the principles of his field.

A CMA designation is recognized around the world as an advanced-level credential earned by those in the financial business who have demonstrated professional expertise in areas such as financial planning, analysis, decision-making, and control as well as professional ethics.  These are the hallmarks of a competent and knowledgeable financial security advisor.

Experience

Find out what kind of professional experience the financial security advisor has.  Do they have any specializations?  How long have they worked in the industry?  Do they have experience in dealing with clients like you?  Getting a clear picture of the level of experience a financial security advisor has will give you a good indication as to whether he is a good fit for you.

Employment history

Before hiring a financial security advisor such as Robert Yancovitch, find out about his employment, both past and present.  Has he always worked for large corporations (and is he tied to a corporation now?)  Has he always worked in an independent practice?  Does he have partners or associates? This will give you good insight into the type of practice the financial security advisor works in, and whether you will be in a small fish in big pond, or whether your needs will get a higher level of personal attention.

Interpersonal skills

This is a very important section to which you should pay close attention.  Look for words like patience, honesty, dedication, good communication skills, easily reachable, commitment to making clients feel comfortable and involved, etc. These skills are just as important as the financial security advisor’s education and professional experience. You do not want to work with an FO who makes you feel rushed, neglected, uncomfortable or who talks over your head with industry lingo and terms that you don’t understand, without taking the time to explain. When it comes to your money and investments, it’s important that you feel involved and that you understand what is going on.

Contact information

Ensure that the financial security advisor will be easily reachable.  If you have questions or directives you’d like to give regarding your investments, you don’t want to have to put on your private detective’s hat to track down your financial security advisor.

French Train Attack Was Premeditated and Well Prepared, Says Prosecutor

Diane A. Wade
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French Train Attack Was Premeditated and Well Prepared, Says Prosecutor

According to a French prosecutor, the Thalys train attack on August 21 was premeditated and well prepared.

Moroccan Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25, was carrying 270 bullets for his assault rifle and a bottle of petrol, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters on August 25.

The suspect’s phone showed that he had watched a jihadist video shortly before launching the attack, Francois Molins added.French prosecutor on Thalys train attack

Ayoub El-Khazzani was overpowered by passengers on the Thalys train. No-one died.

Three Americans and one Briton who tackled the gunman were awarded medals for their bravery.

“Ayoub El-Khazzani had watched YouTube audio files whilst already on the Thalys train in which an individual called on the faithful to fight and take up arms in the name of the Prophet [Muhammad],” Francois Molins told a news conference.

Francois Molins said a formal terrorism investigation had been opened, adding that other European authorities had passed on information about the suspect’s travels and links to radical Islam.

Heinz Ketchup Must Be Sold as Tomato Seasoning in Israel

Kathryn R. Bown
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Heinz Ketchup Must Be Sold as Tomato Seasoning in Israel

Heinz tomato ketchup must be sold as “tomato seasoning” in Israel, the health ministry has ruled.

Rival ketchup maker Osem, the top selling brand in Israel, had said the Heinz product did not have sufficient tomato content to be called ketchup.

In January 2015, Osem said it had Heinz ketchup tested and found it contained 21% tomato concentrate.

Israel requires ketchup to have 41% tomato concentrate.Heinz ketchup to change labelling in Israel

Osem controls about two thirds of the market for Israeli ketchup, leaving Heinz in a distant second place in terms of sales.

Heinz’s Israeli distributor is reported to be seeking a change in regulations.

Commenting on its product for sale in Israel, a Heinz Europe spokesman said: “The word ketchup is indicated in English on the front of the bottle while recognizing that the Israeli standard for ketchup has yet to be brought in line with US and European accepted international standards, the back label of our ketchup sold in Israel reflects current local requirements for ingredient labeling and the Hebrew name for the product.”

The company added: “The original, quality recipe for Heinz Tomato Ketchup sold in Israel and the standard for ketchup around the world remains unchanged.”

Heinz ketchup was first created in 1876.

According to Haaretz, Heinz’s distributor is currently petitioning to change the Health Ministry’s standards in order to allow the product to qualify as ketchup once more.

Israelis have long complained that local monopolies distort the economy, and especially the food market, leading to high prices on products like cottage cheese and Milky brand pudding.

China Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate to Calm Stock Markets

Clyde K. Valle
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China Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate to Calm Stock Markets

In an effort to calm stock markets after two days of turmoil, China’s central bank has cut its main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.6% to boost growth in the country’s economy.

It is the fifth interest rate cut since November and will take effect on August 26.

The People’s Bank of China’s move has boosted global share prices further, with Wall Street’s Dow Jones index opening more than 1.7% higher after the move.

In mid-afternoon European trading, London’s FTSE 100 was up almost 3%, while Germany’s Dax and the Paris Cac were ahead nearly 5%.

Other European markets, including Lisbon, Madrid, Moscow and Milan, were all sharply higher.People Bank of China cuts interest rate August 2015

The People’s Bank said that the interest rate cut was to reduce “the social cost of financing to promote and support the sustainable and healthy developments of the real economy”.

The Chinese central bank also acted to increase the flow of money in the economy by cutting the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve, effectively freeing them to lend more cash.

Its move was broadly welcomed by economists.

A research note from JP Morgan stated: “China’s decision to cut… will be regarded by many investors as overdue. The litmus test will come overnight, however, and the efficacy of the… cut in boosting the domestic stock market.”

The Chinese authorities have taken a number of steps to help stem stock market losses since the market began a series of heavy falls in June.

Earlier, China’s falling stock market had hit markets around the globe on August 24, and – although Asian markets were again hit overnight – European stocks had already opened in a more optimistic mood on August 25.

The main Shanghai Composite index closed Tuesday’s session down 7.6% at 2,964.97 points. Japan also saw more sharp falls, sending Tokyo’s Nikkei index down 4%.

The global sell-off has been driven by fears that China’s slowing growth means less business for everyone else.

China’s booming economy of the last 30 years has seen the country suck in supplies of raw materials for manufacturing and, increasingly, manufactured and luxury goods from other countries.

Fear the Walking Dead Had Biggest Premiere in US Cable TV History

Sonia Pantiss
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Fear the Walking Dead Had Biggest Premiere in US Cable TV History

The Walking Dead spin-off series, Fear the Walking Dead, has had the biggest premiere in US cable TV history.

AMC’s 90-minute series opener of Fear the Walking Dead delivered a record-breaking 10.1 million viewers, the network said.

Set in Los Angeles, the prequel focuses on a group of characters in the early days of the zombie apocalypse.Fear the Walking Dead premiere

Fear the Walking Dead Season 1 will run for six episodes and will return for a second season of 15 episodes in 2016.

Sunday’s opening episode beat The Walking Dead‘s premiere viewing figures of 5.35 million in 2010.

The first episode of Fear the Walking Dead delivered 6.3 million adults in the 18-to-49 demographic which is favored by advertisers. The previous record in the same demographic was AMC’s Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul – 4.4 million – earlier this year.

The Walking Dead has been a huge hit for AMC. Season 6 is due to begin in October.

Spain and Morocco Arrest 14 People Accused of Recruiting ISIS Fighters

Roy Siemens
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Spain and Morocco Arrest 14 People Accused of Recruiting ISIS Fighters

Fourteen people have been arrested in a Spanish and Moroccan joint operation targeting suspected recruiters for the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) group.

One arrest was made close to Madrid, the others in various Moroccan cities.

Those arrested are suspected of involvement in a network to send fighters to areas of Syria and Iraq under ISIS control.

On August 21, a Moroccan who had lived in Spain was arrested following a foiled attack on a high-speed French train.

Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25, originally from Tetouan in northern Morocco, arrived in Spain in 2007 and lived there for seven years, in Madrid and Algeciras, before moving to France.

He is suspected of having had contact with radical Islamists and had been put on a list marked as “potentially dangerous” by Spanish authorities. They flagged this up to French counterparts in February 2014.European ISIS fighters

Spanish counter-terrorism sources quoted on August 24 by the Spanish Cadena Ser radio network said that some 800 people with a radical Islamist profile were in Europe and ready to strike, having returned from Syria and Iraq.

The latest Spanish arrest took place in San Martin de la Vega, close to Madrid, and the others were in the Moroccan cities of Fez, Casablanca, Nador, al-Hoceima and Driouech.

The Spanish interior ministry said the operation was ongoing, without giving specific details.

In June, Spain raised the terrorism threat level from three to four out of a possible five, increasing the number of armed police at sensitive sites across the country.

Level four means the intelligence services believe there is a high risk of a terror attack happening.

Both Spain and Morocco have arrested dozens of suspected radical Islamists in recent years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq2kpivE4PA

Quick Look at the ZTE Nubia Z7 and My Prague

Dana R
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Quick Look at the ZTE Nubia Z7 and My Prague

Last year we had the pleasure of getting our hands on another flagship from Nubia, the slim and stylish Z7, which boasted a 5.5-inch display featuring 1440 x 2560 rezolution with the beautiful Nubia UI 2.0, a 13MP main camera with 2160p@30fps video recording, Bluetooth 4.0, and active noise cancellation with dedicated microphone. The phablet came equipped with 3GB RAM and powered by the Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 chipset, quad-core 2.5GHz Krait 400 processor and the Adreno 330 GPU, while running Amdroid 4.4.2 KitKat.

Although the phone has no card slot, you get plenty of capacity on the built-in 32GB for storing high-resolution photos, high-quality videos, selfies taken with the 5MP frontal camera, documents, and others. Additional specs include dual SIM with dual standby, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, Glonass, DTS sound, HTML5, and a 3000mAh Li-Ion battery.

ZTE Nubia Z7 4G Phablet
Photo Source: gearbest.com

The ZTE Nubia Z7 phablet is a popular model this year, along with the newly released and more advanced model from ZTE, the Nubia My PRAGUE. This time is about an elegant-looking phablet coming with silver or gold accents that you can match with any business outfit. It’s attractive, makes you stand out and packs high-end feaures like 4G, 3GB RAM, dual SIM, an AMOLED display with 16M colors, a 5.2-inch screen of 1080 x 1920 pixels, the Nubia UI 3.0 user interface, Android 5.0.2 Lollipop operating system, 32GB internal storage, up to 128GB external storage, a 13MP camera with full HD video recording at 30fps, an 8MP secondary camera, Bluetooth 4.0, Glonass, HTML5, and active noise cancellation for crystal-clear phone calls.

ZTE Nubia My PRAGUE
Photo Source: gearbest.com

Compared to the previously described model, the Nubia My Prague has a smaller capacity, 2200mAh, Li-Ion battery. As for the hardware part, the phablet comes equipped with a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset, Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processors and Adreno 405 GPU.

If you’re in doubt and don’t know which one to pick, I can tell you the Z7 is cheaper, being available at around $300, while the My Prague has a price of $360. The good news is that you can get your hands on a new ZTE Nubia My PRAGUE with a $40 discount if you use the coupon code PRAGUE at Gearbest.com.

China Black Monday: Chinese Shares Plunge for Second Day

Clyde K. Valle
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China Black Monday: Chinese Shares Plunge for Second Day

China stock market has plunged for a second day after worries over the country’s slowing growth triggered a global sell-off.

The Shanghai Composite, China’s main stock exchange, fell 7.6% on August 25 – after losing 8.5% on what state media have called China’s “Black Monday” on August 24.

It was the worst fall since 2007 and caused sharp drops in markets in the US and Europe.

Tokyo’s Nikkei index had a volatile day, closing 4% lower.

The Shanghai index ended the day 245 points lower at 2,964.97.China Black Monday August 2015

After decades of rapid growth, China is slowing down, and investors globally are worried that firms and countries which rely on high demand from China – the world’s second largest economy and the second largest importer of both goods and commercial services – will be affected.

Chinese shares had experienced a year-long rally – mainly fuelled by investors borrowing money to buy shares – which came to an end in June.

The government then intervened in financial markets, to try to maintain momentum in the economy.

Two weeks ago China’s central bank devalued the currency, the yuan – this raised fresh concerns that China’s economy could be in worse shape than previously thought.

A cheaper currency lowers the price of China’s exports, making them more attractive to global companies.

Elsewhere in Asia and Australia on August 25, markets beat expectations, opening lower but then returning back to positive territory: Korea’s KOSPI gained almost 1% and Australia’s S&P ASX/200 ended the day 2.7% higher.

The dollar remained weak at 119.15 yen, up from a seven month low of 118.51 yen in New York on August 24.

Commodity prices also recovered after Monday’s falls, although oil remains under pressure because of a global oversupply.

Overnight, the Europe and the US saw dramatic falls, but are expected to show some signs of recovery when they open on August 25.

Wall Street’s Dow Jones fell 6%, but then almost recovered its losses before closing 3.6% lower.

London’s FTSE 100 index closed down 4.6% as major markets in France and Germany were down by 5.5% and 4.96% respectively.

Roxana Baldetti: Former Guatemala VP Appears in Court over Corruption Charges

Diane A. Wade
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Roxana Baldetti: Former Guatemala VP Appears in Court over Corruption Charges

Guatemala’s ex-VP Roxana Baldetti has appeared in court accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes in a scandal that has rocked the government.

According to prosecutors, Roxana Baldetti took a 50% cut of illegal payments channeled to officials helping businesses evade customs duties.

Roxana Baldetti was arrested last week over the scheme and denies wrongdoing.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Addressing the nation on August 23, Otto Perez Molina rejected any link to the scandal and said his conscience was clear.

Eight members of his government have resigned over the allegations and nearly 30 people detained.

In court, Roxana Baldetti – who resigned in May – spoke to confirm her identity, taking notes as prosecutors played some of the wiretapped conversations that led to her detention.

The bribery scam has become known as “La Linea”, or “The Line”, after the hotline businesses allegedly rang to clear their imports through customs at cut-price rates.

Presidential elections are being held in early September, but electoral law bars Otto Perez Molina from standing for another term.

President Otto Perez Molina has faced calls to stand down from across Guatemalan society and investigators are seeking to end his immunity from prosecution.

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