Home Blog Page 357

Chinese Yuan Devalued at Three-Year Low

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Chinese Yuan Devalued at Three-Year Low

The Chinese yuan has been devalued to its lowest rate against the US dollar in almost three years.

China’s central bank said the move was a “one-off depreciation” of 1.9% in a move to make the exchange rate more market-oriented.

It comes in the wake of a string of weak economic data from the world’s second largest economy.

At the weekend, China reported a sharp fall in exports and a slide in producer prices to a near six-year low in July.

Exports fell by 8.3% in July, far worse than expected and the producer price index was down 5.4% from a year earlier.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The midpoint for the yuan is now set at 6.2298 to $1, up from 6.1162 yuan on August 10.

The People’s Bank of China (POBC) manages the rate through the official midpoint, from which trade can rise or fall 2% on any given day.

Until now, it had been determined solely by the central bank itself.

Making the rate more market-based will mean the midpoint will now be based on overnight global market developments and how the currency finished the previous trading day.

The POBC’s move comes amid speculation that China is preparing to widen the trading band for the currency from the current two percent range.

China has long kept tight control of the yuan value on concerns over financial volatility and losing its policy control.

Yet it is also under pressure to reform its currency policy as it pushes to become one of the International Monetary Fund’s “special drawing rights” (SDR) reserve currencies.

These are currencies which IMF members can use to make payments between themselves or to the Fund.

Asian equities outside of China slipped on the news as investors weighed the implications of the surprise move.

King Bhumibol of Thailand Treated for Hydrocephalus

Diane A. Wade
-
0
King Bhumibol of Thailand Treated for Hydrocephalus

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has been treated for hydrocephalus and is now recovering, say Thai authorities.

Hydrocephalus is a condition consisting in an excessive build-up of fluid on the brain.

King Bhumibol, 87, who has been in hospital since May 31, also had a lung inflammation which has since subsided.King Bhumibol hydrocephalus

The king has had frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.

He is seen as a pillar of stability in Thailand which saw political strife culminating in last year’s coup.

Though the king has no formal political role, he is seen by Thais as a symbol of unity, having ruled since 1946, and his health is closely watched.

In October 2014, King Bhumibol had his gallbladder removed.

The monarch was in Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital for seven months, and was discharged in May this year, only to return to the hospital a few weeks later for medical tests.

Tyrone Harris Shooting: Ferguson Declares State of Emergency

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Tyrone Harris Shooting: Ferguson Declares State of Emergency

The city of Ferguson has declared state of emergency amid protests marking the first anniversary of the death of black teenager Michael Brown.

Ferguson is reported to be tense after another black teenager, Tyrone Harris, was critically wounded in a gun battle with police on August 9.

Tyrone Harris, 18, was later charged with assaulting police officers.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has appealed for protests to remain peaceful.

Michael Brown was shot in August 2014 by white police officer Darren Wilson, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury and the DoJ.

The 18-year-old’s death triggered a wave of protests over alleged racism and the use of excessive force by police officers.

On August 10, police arrested several protesters who blocked a traffic lane on West Florissant Avenue – the site of previous unrest. Witnesses said some people in the crowd threw water bottles at officers but there were no reports of violence.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Police also arrested about 50 protesters – including civil rights activist Cornel West – who staged a sit-in outside the main courthouse in St Louis.

Other protesters also briefly blocked a major highway – Interstate 70 – during the afternoon rush hour and a number of arrests were made.

The demonstrations were part of a day of civil disobedience called by activists in St Louis and other major US cities.

The state of emergency was issued on Monday afternoon by St Louis County Executive Steve Stenger and authorized county Police Chief Jon Belmar to take control in and around Ferguson.

Sunday’s shooting came after a day of peaceful and somber commemorations in memory of Michael Brown.

According to police, a gunfight erupted between two rival groups in West Florissant Avenue and a suspect, whom they identified as Tyrone Harris, then shot at plain-clothes police who returned fire.

Police Chief Belmar said those who had opened fire on the officers “were criminals, they weren’t protesters”.

However, Tyrone Harris’s father described the police account as “a bunch of lies”, saying his son had been unarmed and was “running for his life”.

Attorney Loretta Lynch denounced Sunday’s violence.

“As we have seen over the recent months and years, not only does violence obscure any message of peaceful protest, it places the community, as well as the officers who seek to protect it, in harm’s way,” she said.

There have been a number of high-profile shootings of unarmed black men in US cities in recent months.

The most recent case involved 19-year-old Christian Taylor who was shot dead by a white police officer after he was spotted on surveillance footage vandalizing cars in Arlington, Texas, on August 7.

Tyrone Harris Charged with Assaulting Officers at Ferguson Protest

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Tyrone Harris Charged with Assaulting Officers at Ferguson Protest

Tyrone Harris, who was shot by Ferguson police during events marking the first anniversary of the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, has been charged with assaulting officers, prosecutors say.

Tyrone Harris, 18, was critically wounded in a gun battle with police on August 9.

The authorities have declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, Missouri.

Michael Brown’s death triggered a wave of demonstrations over the use of excessive police force by officers.

The 18-year-old was shot in August 2014 by white police officer Darren Wilson, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury and the DoJ.

On August 10, some 50 people were shown on local news networks being arrested after blocking the main courthouse in St Louis, including civil rights activist Cornel West.Tyrone Harris Michael Brown protest in Ferguson

Rallies were due to take place in parts of St Louis and other major US cities as part of a day of civil disobedience called by activists.

Hundreds of people stood silent on August 9 for four-and-a-half minutes at the spot where Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, representing the number of hours that his body lay in the street unattended.

However, the day of peaceful and somber commemorations turned violent late at night when, according to police, a gunfight erupted between two rival groups on West Florissant Avenue.

Police say Tyrone Harris was armed and opened fired, but his father has described their account of events as “a bunch of lies”.

Prosecutors filed 10 counts of charges against him, including assaulting an officer.

Police said Tyrone Harris was among six people who fired at an unmarked SUV with plainclothes detectives inside, who then fired back.

Tyrone Harris’ father told the AP news agency that his son, a close friend of Michael Brown, was shot between eight and 12 times as he was running away.

The gunmen “were criminals; they weren’t protesters,” he said, adding that the officers were not wearing body cameras – a major concern cited by protest groups.

Four police officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Photos from the scene showed a young black man lying bloodied on the ground. He was face down and handcuffed.

Announcing a state of emergency on August 10, the authorities in St Louis county placed police chief Jon Belmar in charge of Ferguson and the surrounding areas.

US attorney Loretta Lynch denounced the incident on Sunday, saying “not only does violence obscure any message of peaceful protest, it places the community, as well as the officers who seek to protect it, in harm’s way”.

It also drew criticism from protest groups, including the Ferguson Action Council and Organization for Black Struggle which described the police response as “excessive”.

John Gaskin III, a member of US rights group NAACP, told AP he did not expect unrest to escalate in Ferguson in the same way it has over the past year.

However, he warned, not many people would believe the police officers’ account of Sunday night’s events as “there’s still a tremendous level of distrust between law enforcement and the community”.

There have been a number of high-profile shootings of unarmed black men in US cities in recent months.

The most recent case involved 19-year-old Christian Taylor who was shot dead by a white police officer after he was spotted on surveillance footage vandalizing cars in Arlington, Texas, on August 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbfGuo9jm4

Cecil the Lion: Robert Mugabe Blames Foreign Vandals for Lion’s Death

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Cecil the Lion: Robert Mugabe Blames Foreign Vandals for Lion’s Death

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has blamed foreign “vandals” for the killing of the country’s most famous lion, Cecil.

The president has also said his compatriots failed in their responsibility to protect Cecil.

Cecil the lion was killed last month by American dentist Walter Palmer.

Robert Mugabe said Zimbabweans should protect their natural resources from what he called foreign “vandals”.

In a speech for National Heroes Day he said: “Even Cecil the lion – he is yours. He’s dead!”

Cecil – a favorite at Hwange National Park – died after he was shot by Walter Palmer using a bow and arrow.

The dentist from Minnesota has said he believed the hunt was legal.Robert Mugabe on Cecil the lion death

It is thought Walter Palmer paid about $50,000 to hunt 13-year-old Cecil, who wore a GPS collar and was being studied by Oxford University for conservation purposes.

Robert Mugabe used a speech in Harare to make his first public comments about the lion, whose death sparked international condemnation.

The president said: “He was yours to protect and you failed to protect him.

“There are vandals who come from all over of course… some may be just ordinary visitors, but [there are] others who want to vandalize, to irregularly and illegally acquire part of our resources.”

Prosecutors have said the lion was shot with an arrow after being lured out of its protected zone, and died from a bullet wound inflicted 40 hours later after it had suffered major blood loss.

Zimbabwe is battling to curb illegal hunting and poaching which threatens to make some of its wildlife extinct.

The country is seeking Walter Palmer’s extradition.

Some commentators have criticized the attention that the death of an animal has received when the nation has endemic poverty and unemployment, and political strife and repression are commonplace.

Much of Robert Mugabe’s speech was spent remembering those killed in the struggle for independence.

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

Who Gained from Greece’s Debt Crisis?

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Who Gained from Greece’s Debt Crisis?

According to a German IWH institute study, the Greek debt crisis has saved the German government some €100 billion ($109 billion) in lower borrowing costs because investors have sought safety in German bonds.

The IWH study says that even if Greece defaults on all its debt, Germany would still benefit.

Greece is hoping to reach a third bailout agreement, worth up to €86 billion, with its creditors this week.

Germany has funded €90 billion so far and wants tough conditions for a new deal.

Greece missed two key payments to the IMF in June and July, before a deal on a bridging loan was thrashed out by EU leaders.Germany and Greece debt crisis

The terms of the third bailout need to be reached by August 20, when Greece’s next debt repayment to the European Central Bank becomes due.

Greek officials said negotiations were in the “final stretch”, prompting shares in Athens to jump more than 2%. But leading figures in Berlin were cautious that a final deal was close.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said “thoroughness comes before speed”.

German officials are keen for Greece to sign up to credible pension reforms and privatization plans, while the Athens government is looking for urgent funding to recapitalize the country’s ailing banks.

Any deal will have to be ratified by German parliament, many of whom object to handing more funding to the left-wing Syriza government of Alexis Tsipras.

However, the study by Halle Institute for Economic Research said Germany had made interest savings of more than 3% of GDP between 2010 and 2015, and much of that was down to the Greek debt crisis.

Greece sought its first EU-IMF bailout in 2010 and Germany provided funding over the past five years either directly or through the IMF or the European Stability Mechanism.

The IWH study says every time this year there was a spike in the Greek debt crisis, which made Greece’s exit from the euro appear more likely, German government bond yields fell. Whenever the news looked better, Germany’s bond yields increased.

Even if the situation were to calm down suddenly, Germany would still be expected to profit from the situation, the IWH argues, because medium- and long-term bonds issued in recent years are still far away from maturing.

How Human Resources Recruitment Works

Dana R
-
0
How Human Resources Recruitment Works

When businesses need highly skilled employees or even a top executive, they’ll often turn to recruitment companies to find those people. It’s usually not cost-effective to advertise for a skilled worker through traditional routes because candidates simply won’t fit the mold. Businesses might look for a particular HR professional, such as Jason Hanold online, to take advantage of their industry contacts. Recruitment is a complex process, but works brilliantly to fit the right person to the perfect job position.

Initial Recruiter Meeting

As businesses narrow down their employee needs, they’ll meet with a recruiter to convey these necessities. This recruiter meeting gives HR professionals a detailed view of company needs. A master’s degree and five years experience in an executive position might be sought, for example. Recruiters will go over the range of skills a person must have to even qualify for an interview. Businesses must offer as much detail as possible during these meetings, allowing them to receive the best applicants for their company requirements.

human-resources
Photo Source: sdhrlimited.com

Works Through Networking Contacts

Recruiters take that meeting information and apply it to their current pool of applicants. They’ll access their database and touch base with networking contacts to see who is possibly in the running for this position. There could be more than two positions open, so recruiters often make it a team effort to narrow down their candidates for the given business. This networking period can take a few days to several weeks, depending on the business’s ultimate demands.

Possible Headhunting

Even with strategic networking, recruiters could still come up short with their candidate pool. Many businesses resort to headhunting to find key applicants. For example, an executive employed at an unaffiliated business may be interested in changing industries. A headhunter could schedule this person to meet with the hiring company and see if a new match can be made. Today’s executives tend to move around after only a few years to allow fresh ideas to flow from new hires.

Sitting Down for Interviews

Only when the HR professional has all the candidates selected does interviewing take place. The hiring company sees all the candidates, meeting with the recruiter afterwards. Both sides will talk about the positive and negative aspects of each candidate. The hiring company may ask for several candidates to return for further interviews. If even a few applicants are strong candidates for the position, the HR recruiter performed well.

Evaluating the Candidates

Background checks on all the final applicants can be performed by the recruiter or hiring company. This process is often negotiated, based on each company’s comfort level. In the end, one applicant stands out above the rest for a successful recruitment process.

More people than ever are using recruitment processes to find their next job. You might want to join a social media website that’s geared toward matching professionals with the right networking contacts. These sites are growing in popularity, allowing you to follow and meet all the perfect people for continued business success.

Gazprom Announces Rise in Profits Thanks to Weak Russian Ruble

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Gazprom Announces Rise in Profits Thanks to Weak Russian Ruble

Gazprom has announced a sharp rise in profits thanks in large part to a weak Russian ruble.

The Russian energy giant’s net profit for Q1 2015 was 382 billion rubles ($5.9 billion), up 71% on a year earlier. Total sales rose 6% to 1.65 trillion rubles.

Gazprom sells its gas in dollars, so a weak currency means the price of gas in rubles rises.Gazprom profits 2015

The weak ruble helped to offset a fall in the volume of sales of almost 10%, to 132 billion cubic meters of gas.

This fall was partly due to sanctions imposed by the West following Russia’s actions in the Ukraine.

It meant Gazprom shares were down almost 2% in trading in Moscow despite the jump in quarterly profits.

With the price of oil – which is a key determinant of the price of gas – back below $50 a barrel, many analysts believe Gazprom results for the rest of 2015 will be weaker than the first quarter.

French Parents Forget 3-Year-Old Girl at Drome Highway Stop

Nancy Clayson
-
0
French Parents Forget 3-Year-Old Girl at Drome Highway Stop

A French family heading for a holiday in the south of France drove 93 miles before finding out they had left their 3-year-old daughter behind at a highway picnic area.

Even then, they only realized because of an alert broadcast on the radio.

The girl was abandoned on Sunday afternoon at the Bras de Zil rest-stop south of Valence.

By the time another family had found the girl, her parents were already well on their way to their destination.French girl lost on autoroute du soleil

The girl was apparently left at around midday near Loriol, at a picnic stop beside the A7 highway known as the “autoroute du soleil” (highway of the sun).

The family who found the girl waited some time for her parents to return, but then alerted local police.

The girl told officers she was on her way to the beach, had a brother and sister and had seen her dad’s car drive off.

It was not until police broadcast an appeal on a highway radio channel that her father contacted them at around three o’clock. The family had already driven past Aix-en-Provence on their way south.

The family was eventually reunited more than two hours later.

Local prosecutors were considering whether to take action against the parents.

IKEA Knife Attack: Two People Killed at Vasteras Store

Diane A. Wade
-
0
IKEA Knife Attack: Two People Killed at Vasteras Store

Two people have been stabbed to death and another seriously injured in an attack at an IKEA store in Vasteras, Sweden.

According to a Swedish police statement, the dead are a man and a woman.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Photo AP
Photo AP

IKEA spokeswoman Anna Pilkrona-Godden said that the Erikslund shopping centre containing the store had been closed.

Vasteras is about 70 miles west of the capital Stockholm.

“We found a man and a woman who had knife injuries and who later died of their wounds,” police said.

The victims were “ordinary shoppers” in the kitchen accessory section, Mattias Johansson, the store manager, told local newspaper VLT.

Several ambulances were at the scene and the area was cordoned off by police, eyewitnesses told local media.

“Our thoughts are with those affected,” said Anna Pilkrona-Godden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7aB8A6pgag

Netzpolitik Treason Case Dropped by Germany’s Chief Federal Prosecutor

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Netzpolitik Treason Case Dropped by Germany’s Chief Federal Prosecutor

The German chief federal prosecutor has dropped the treason investigation into Netzpolitik journalists suspected of revealing state secrets.

The Netzpolitik website case sparked a huge political row about freedom of speech. Last week the Justice Minister, Heiko Maas, sacked chief prosecutor Harald Range.

Public rallies had backed Netzpolitik.

The chief prosecutor’s office said it now accepted the justice ministry’s assessment that Netzpolitik did not leak state secrets.

However, German media said investigations against unnamed state officials bound to secrecy were continuing in connection with a suspected breach of confidentiality.Netzpolitik treason case Markus Beckedahl and Andre Meister

In February, Netzpolitik alleged that Germany’s domestic intelligence agency wanted additional funds to increase its online surveillance program.

A later article in April investigated the spy agency’s plans to set up a special unit to monitor social networking websites.

In the high-profile case, Netzpolitik founder Markus Beckedahl and blogger Andre Meister were accused of treason.

The decision to drop the investigation had been “long overdue”, Markus Beckedahl said on August 10, but added that “this doesn’t go far enough for us”.

“We want to know concretely whether, as part of the almost three-month-long investigation, we were victims of surveillance. And we want clarity about who knew what, and when, in the German government,” German media quoted him as saying.

Markus Beckedahl called the investigation into his website “a judicial misjudgement”.

“We hope that the intimidation attempt against us and all other journalists who cover surveillance activities… has collapsed big-time,” he said.

Many Germans were outraged by the scale of US National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden, who is now a fugitive in Moscow.

Data protection is always a hot topic in Germany, because of the abuses inflicted by the Nazi dictatorship and the former communist regime in East Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix3FEdUS410

Turkey: At Least Five Killed in Istanbul and Sirnak Attacks

Roy Siemens
-
0
Turkey: At Least Five Killed in Istanbul and Sirnak Attacks

At least five people have been killed in three separate attacks in Turkey’s south-east and Istanbul.

Four police officers were killed by a bomb on a road in Sirnak province and shortly after, gunmen opened fire on a military helicopter, killing a soldier.

Tension between the Turkish government and Kurdish militants has been rising.

One of the Istanbul attacks, on the US consulate, was carried out by two women and linked to a far-left group.

One of the female assailants in Monday’s attack was wounded and detained, and a rifle and other weaponry were seized, Istanbul’s governor said in a statement.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

She is said to be a member of a radical Marxist group, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKP-C).

The DHKP-C previously claimed a 2013 suicide attack on the US embassy in the capital, Ankara.

The US consulate said in a tweet that it was closed until further notice.

In the other attack in Istanbul, on a police station in the district of Sultanbeyli, a car bomb was detonated, injuring 10 people, including three police officers.

Two suspected militants were killed in ensuing clashes with police and an injured police officer died later in hospital, reports say.

Following the attack on the military helicopter in Sirnak province, Turkish helicopters bombed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in retaliation.

A ceasefire in the long-running conflict with the group appeared to disintegrate in July, when Turkey began bombing PKK camps in northern Iraq, at the same time as launching air strikes on IS militants.

PKK leader Cemil Bayik has accused Turkey of trying to protect ISIS by attacking Kurdish fighters.

Kurdish fighters – among them the PKK – have secured significant victories against ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq.

Turkey, like a number of Western countries, considers the PKK a terrorist organization.

India Stampede: At Least 10 Killed at Deoghar’s Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

Diane A. Wade
-
0
India Stampede: At Least 10 Killed at Deoghar’s Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple

At least ten people have been killed and 20 injured in a stampede at the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, officials say.

Pilgrims have been marking a Hindu religious festival in Deoghar town.

It happened as pilgrims tried to make their way into the complex, a district official said.India stampede Deoghar

The stampede at the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple began after pilgrims surged towards the shrine shortly after the doors opened on August 10, an official told the AFP news agency.

Monday is considered an auspicious date to visit the shrine, which includes a main temple and 21 smaller ones devoted to Shiva, the god of destruction.

Pilgrims sleeping in the 4 miles long queue were trampled as others pushed towards the doors, senior police official SN Pradhan said.

“Many tried to rush to the head of the queue which led to chaos and as some of them fell, the devotees got trampled.”

“Ten people including one female devotee are now confirmed dead. Another 15 to 20 people have received injuries,” he said.

Deadly stampedes are common during Indian religious festivals, which attract large crowds with few safety measures in place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djrg2bgsDGQ

Tyrone Harris: Man Shot by Police at Michael Brown Protest in Ferguson

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Tyrone Harris: Man Shot by Police at Michael Brown Protest in Ferguson

A man, who was later named as Tyrone Harris, was shot by Ferguson police at the protest to mark the first anniversary of the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

Ferguson police said the man had opened fire on them and now is in a “critical, unstable” condition and due to have surgery.

Police also said he was armed with a stolen gun and they had been tracking him. Four officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Photos from the scene showed a young black man lying bloodied on the ground.

He was face down and handcuffed. In a video posted on Twitter, a man can be heard urging the police to “please, get him some help”, as the injured man lies still.

The wounded man’s name and age have not been released by police.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The St Louis Post-Dispatch identified him as 18-year-old Tyrone Harris, having spoken to his father, the paper said.

The shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson by white police officer Darren Wilson in August 2014 sparked demonstrations across the US.

It fuelled a national protest movement against racial bias by police officers.

Shots were heard at about 23:15 local time on August 9 as a large crowd gathered on West Florissant Avenue, at the end of a sombre, peaceful day of commemorations.

St Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told reporters that after “an exchange of gunfire between two groups” the suspect, believed by police to be armed, left and encountered officers in an unmarked SUV.

The suspect fired on the vehicle, Jon Belmar said, and the plainclothes detectives returned fire from inside the van.

There was then a further exchange of fire after the officers left the vehicle.

The officers were not wearing body cameras, he added.

President Barack Obama announced a federal program to help pay for lapel-mounted cameras for US police to record their interactions in the wake of the nationwide protests on perceived policing injustices.

In the early hours of the morning, police used loudspeakers to urge people still gathered at the scene to disperse, saying “this is no longer a peaceful protest”.

Before this incident, hundreds of people stood silent for four-and-a-half minutes at the spot where Michael Brown was killed, representing the number of hours that his body lay in the street unattended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vcDlStA0gM

Frank Gifford Dies in Connecticut at 84

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Frank Gifford Dies in Connecticut at 84

NFL legend and broadcaster Frank Gifford has died aged 84.

Frank Gifford died at his home in Connecticut of natural causes, his family said.

He won the 1956 NFL title with the New York Giants and was inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

After his playing career Frank Gifford moved into TV commentary, working for ABC’s Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1997.

Giants President John Mara said: “Frank Gifford was the ultimate Giant. He was the face of our franchise for so many years.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Bob Iger, chairman of ABC’s owner, the Walt Disney Company, described Frank Gifford as “an exceptional man who will be missed by everyone who had the joy of seeing his talent on the field, the pleasure of watching his broadcasts, or the honor of knowing him”.

Frank Gifford made 367 catches for 5,434 yards with 43 touchdowns, whilst also running for 3,609 yards and 34 touchdowns.

He was the MVP in 1956 and was an eight-time selection to the Pro Bowl.

In a statement released to NBC News, the Gifford family said: “We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers.”

Frank Gifford married Kathie Lee Gifford, a host on NBC’s Today show, in 1986.

In a Twitter post, Kathie Lee Gifford said: “Deeply grateful to all 4 ur outpouring of grace. We r steadfast in our faith and finding comfort in knowing where Frank is.”

Vegemite Sales Won’t Be Limited in Australian Remote Communities

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Vegemite Sales Won’t Be Limited in Australian Remote Communities

Australia’s PM Tony Abbott has announced that Vegemite sales will not be limited in remote communities, amid reports the spread was being used in home-brewed alcohol.

The prime minister said he did not want a “Vegemite watch”.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion had earlier described Vegemite as a “precursor to misery”, according to local media.

However, Tony Abbott said for most people Vegemite, made from brewers’ yeast extract, was “reasonably nutritious”.Australia Vegemite sales ban

“This is a deregulatory government and the last thing I want to do is to have a Vegemite watch,” he told local media on August 9.

A Queensland newspaper had reported that Vegemite was being made into alcohol in large quantities in some remote Indigenous communities.

Nigel Scullion was quoted saying the spread was being bought in bulk to make moonshine.

“Businesses in these communities… have a responsibility to report any purchase that may raise their own suspicions,” he said.

The minister added that in some cases, children were failing to turn up to school because they were too hung-over, and that Vegemite was an increasingly common factor in domestic violence cases.

Dr. John Boffa of the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition, who is based in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, said the problem was not widespread.

David Conley Charged with Capital Murder over Texas Killings

Nancy Clayson
-
0
David Conley Charged with Capital Murder over Texas Killings

Texas police has found six children and two adults handcuffed and fatally shot in the head in a Houston-area home, following the arrest of a man who exchanged gunfire with officers.

The gunfire broke out when officers who had been called to the home late on Saturday spotted the body of a child and tried to enter.

A man surrendered about an hour later, after talks with police negotiators.

Police said the suspect, David Conley, was later charged with capital murder.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the bodies were found after “a welfare check was conducted on the premises” by deputies at about 21:00 local time.

A man inside opened fire when the deputies tried to force their way in.David Conley Houston mass murder

The dead were identified as Dewayne Jackson, 50, his wife Valerie Jackson, 40, and children Nathaniel, 13, Dewayne, 10, Honesty, 11, Caleb, 9, Trinity, 7, and Jonah, 6.

Nathaniel was believed to be the son of David Conley, 48, and Valerie Jackson from a previous relationship.

Chief Deputy Tim Cannon of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said: “We… cannot fully comprehend the motivation of an individual that would take the lives of so many innocent people. Especially the lives of the youngest.

“The killer’s motives appear to be related to a dispute with Valerie.”

David Conley is being held in jail without bond.

The officials had previously said the bodies of five children and three adults were found in the house.

Court records showed that David Conley’s criminal history dated back to at least 1988, the Associated Press reports.

Last month, he was charged with assault of a family member, the news agency says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbk6HNHzDs

Donald Trump Defends His Relation with Women After Attacking Megyn Kelly

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Donald Trump Defends His Relation with Women After Attacking Megyn Kelly

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump has defended his relations with women, calling them “tremendous”, but stopped short of apologizing for attacking Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly.

Donald Trump was criticized for seeming to suggest that Megyn Kelly was tough on him in Thursday’s first GOP debate because she was menstruating.

In an interview with ABC’s This Week on August 9, the tycoon said that only a “sick person” would interpret his remarks that way.

Donald Trump is running for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The billionaire, who spoke to a number of news outlets on August 9, said he had an “amazing” relationship with women in business.

“They are phenomenal. And I have many executives that are women,” he told ABC’s This Week.

“They are doing a phenomenal job. I pay them a tremendous amount of money. Donald Trump scandal with Megyn Kelly

“They make money for me. They make money for themselves. And in many cases, they truly are really talented and they can be killers.”

On August 6, Donald Trump was one of 10 Republican hopefuls taking part in a debate on Fox News, co-hosted by Megyn Kelly.

Megyn Kelly asked Donald Trump why voters should elect a man who has called women “fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals”, a question the tycoon later said was “nasty”.

On August 7, Donald Trump told CNN: “You could see there was blood coming out of her [Ms Kelly’s] eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.”

Many of his challengers called on him to apologize, and a major US conservative forum dropped him as a speaker in the wake of the remarks.

In the ABC interview, Donald Trump repeated his assertions that he had been misunderstood, saying he had “nothing against” Megyn Kelly, while declining to apologize.

Donald Trump also attacked rival Jeb Bush, who himself is under fire after having to backtrack on comments that the US government was spending too much on women’s health.

“What he said about women and women’s health issues was ridiculous, and I’m the exact opposite,” said Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is ahead of the 16 other Republican candidates in several recent polls despite a string of controversial remarks since launching his campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0Prg-PD2E

Donald Trump Fires Campaign Adviser Roger Stone

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Fires Campaign Adviser Roger Stone

Donald Trump has announced on August 8 that he fired his campaign top adviser Roger Stone.

However, Roger Stone insists that he really dumped the GOP presidential font-runner.

Roger Stone said his departure was spurred by Donald Trump’s decision to continue trash-talking Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly after Thursday night’s debate.

The veteran political consultant tweeted on August 8: “Sorry @realDonaldTrump didn’t fire me – I fired Trump.

“Disagree with diversion to food fight with @megynkelly.”

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

With Donald Trump insulting Megyn Kelly via Twitter and in a damaging interview, steered attention “away (from) core issue messages”, Roger Stone tweeted.

Donald Trump was told by organizers to stay home Saturday from the RedState Gathering, a high-profile Georgia meeting of influential conservative activists, after one particularly noxious remark.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Donald Trump said that he fired Roger Stone in an effort to rid his campaign of “publicity seekers”.

“I want to surround myself only with the best and most serious people,” the billionaire said.

“We want top of the line pros.”

Donald Trump added that he would not apologize to Megyn Kelly, and was moving on from his campaign’s latest verbal conflagration.

His remarks about Mexicans, Senator John McCain and Rosie O’Donnell have defined his presidential run as much as any policy positions.

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

Haiti Elections 2015: Tight Security for Long Awaited Parliamentary Elections

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Haiti Elections 2015: Tight Security for Long Awaited Parliamentary Elections

Haiti is voting in general elections that have been repeatedly delayed since 2011.

Thousands of police have been deployed as voters are choosing two-thirds of the senate and the chamber of deputies. A presidential poll is set for October.

President Michel Martelly, who is barred from running again by the constitution, has ruled by decree.

The opposition has accused Michel Martelly of abusing his powers.

Polling stations across Haiti are due to open at 06:00 local time and will close at 16:00.Haiti elections 2015

Nearly six million eligible voters are choosing 119 deputies and 20 senators from more than 1,800 candidates registered from different political parties.

The run-off round will be held on October 25 – the same day as the presidential election.

Several people have been killed since campaigning for Sunday’s poll opened in July.

Haiti’s police are being helped by UN police and peacekeepers to ensure safety during the voting.

Haiti’s parliament was dissolved in January over its failure to hold elections, leaving Haiti without a functioning government.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, and is still struggling with the legacy of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Nagasaki Marks 70th Anniversary Since Atomic Bombing Attack

James J. Williams
-
0
Nagasaki Marks 70th Anniversary Since Atomic Bombing Attack

Nagasaki has marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing attack on Sunday, August 9.

Speeches at the ceremony criticized the attending PM Shinzo Abe for his plans to loosen the restrictions on what Japan’s military can do.

At least 70,000 people died in the US forces attack, which came three days after another bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Nagasaki was only chosen after a cloud obscured the original target, Kokura.

A solemn ceremony in front of guests from 75 countries, including US ambassador Caroline Kennedy, began with a declaration read out by children.

A minute’s silence and bells marked the time of the explosion in 1945 at 11:02.Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing 1945

Nagasaki mayor Tomihisa Taue then delivered a peace declaration to the ceremony. He said there was “widespread unease” about PM Shinzo Abe’s bid to alter the country’s pacifist constitutional.

A survivor of the Nagasaki attack, 86-year-old Sumiteru Taniguchi, described the injuries he had suffered and said he could not accept Shinzo Abe’s new legislation.

The legislation would allow Japan to engage in combat – in defense of an ally which comes under attack – for the first time since World War Two.

In his address to the ceremony, PM Shinzo Abe said Japan remained “determined to pursue a world without nuclear weapons”.

In a statement read out on his behalf, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: “Nagasaki must be the last – we cannot allow any future use of nuclear weapons. The humanitarian consequences are too great. No more Nagasakis. No more Hiroshimas.”

The effects of the atomic bomb were instant and devastating. It destroyed a third of the city, killing thousands instantly and condemning more to death from radiation sickness.

Days later, Japan surrendered, ending World War Two, although the necessity of the two bombs has been debated ever since.

SG50: Singapore Celebrates 50 Years Since Becoming an Independent State

Diane A. Wade
-
0
SG50: Singapore Celebrates 50 Years Since Becoming an Independent State

Singapore is celebrating 50 years since it became an independent state with nationwide events.

Tens of thousands of people are expected on August 9 to attend an outdoor parade, complete with flybys by the air force and a Singapore Airlines A380 airliner.

People are also being asked to join together in reciting the national pledge and singing the national anthem.

Singapore became an independent state when it was ejected from the Federation of Malaya amid social unrest.

In 50 years, the former British colony has transformed itself into one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

However, its critics say the rapid development has been accompanied by a strict control on free speech and politics.

The city state celebrates its independence day in style every year, but this year’s SG50 events are being billed as Singapore’s biggest ever celebration, with months of build-up in shops, schools, work places and in the media.

Singapore has declared a four-day weekend for the anniversary.Singapore 50th anniversary

There were long queues at the crossing points into Malaysia on Thursday and Friday evenings, as thousands of Singaporeans chose to go away for the weekend.

This year’s parade includes a special tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, who led Singapore into independence and was its prime minister until 1990.

Lee Kuan Yew, a much-respected leader in Singapore, died in March this year, prompting public mourning.

A recording of Lee Kuan Yew reading the Proclamation of Independence was played on radio and TV at 09:00 local time.

Speaking on the eve of the celebrations, PM Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew’s son, said: “At 50 years, as we stand at a high base camp, we look back and marvel how far we have come. We are grateful to those who made it happen.”

Key figures attending Sunday’s celebrations include Malaysian PM Najib Razak and Australian Deputy PM Warren Truss.

Despite achieving such goals as 90% home ownership and per capita GDP above $56,000, critics continue to point to the strict political controls.

Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been in power for more than 50 years and the opposition hopes to make more inroads in elections that could be called in September.

The last election saw the PAP suffer its worst performance, though it still kept 80 of the 87 seats.

It will hope the boost of the anniversary and recognition of the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew will help it at the next election.

The National Day Parade usually features a military march past with fighter jet displays, large-scale performances by community groups, and a retelling of Singapore’s history. It ends with a massive firework display as the country recites the pledge and sings the national anthem.

In its early years, organizers used it to push social messages such as courtesy and diligence.

These days it’s a more sophisticated, glitzier affair, held by the shiny skyscrapers of Singapore’s Marina Bay.

Though the propaganda still gets heavy, Singaporeans love it anyway for its pomp and splendor. Tickets for the parade and its rehearsals run out every year.

Michael Brown’s Death: Ferguson Commemorates First Anniversary

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Michael Brown’s Death: Ferguson Commemorates First Anniversary

People in Ferguson, Missouri, are commemorating the first anniversary of the killing of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

On the eve of Sunday’s anniversary, several hundred marched through Ferguson in his honor, led by his father.

The shooting of Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson sparked demonstrations across America.

Along with killings of unarmed black men elsewhere in the US, it also fuelled a national protest movement against racial bias by the police.

Activists and religious figures from across the country are among those who have gathered this weekend in Ferguson, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri.

Saturday’s rally was peaceful and heavily policed.

Michael Brown’s father, also called Michael, said: “Some families got justice through Michael Brown’s legacy, and that helped them. But I’m still trying to get through.”Michael Brown Ferguson shooting anniversary

On Sunday, a march is planned from the site of the shooting to a local church.

Participants are expected to observe a four and a half minute silence to reflect the approximately four-and-a-half hours that Michael Brown’s body lay in the street.

The protests, which sometimes involved violent clashes between demonstrators and police, continued in Ferguson for weeks after the killing.

The protest movement gained fresh impetus in November, when a grand jury decided not to charge Darren Wilson.

Officer Darren Wilson, who argued that he was acting in self-defense, resigned from the police force in November.

In March, a justice department investigation found evidence of widespread racial bias in the Ferguson police department.

The report led to several high profile resignations, including the chief of police.

The “Black Lives Matter” movement that emerged in the wake of 18-year-old Michael Brown’s death has focused attention on the troubled relationship between black communities and police forces in a number of US states.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ASkSjgxaWk

Vegemite Sales May Be Limited in Australia

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Vegemite Sales May Be Limited in Australia

Australia is proposing banning the sale of Vegemite in some communities because it is used to make alcohol.

The government says the popular yeast-based product is contributing to anti-social behavior in some remote communities.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion described the salty spread as a “precursor to misery”.Vegemite Australia

Nigel Scullion said Vegemite was being bought in bulk to make moonshine, sometimes being brewed in bathtubs.

In communities where alcohol is banned because of addiction problems, Nigel Scullion said Vegemite sales should also be restricted.

The minister added that in some cases children were failing to turn up to school because they were too hung over, and that Vegemite was an increasingly common factor in domestic violence cases.

Vegemite, which is something of an Australian culinary icon, started as a wartime substitute for Marmite.

Sean Price Dies in His Sleep Aged 43

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Sean Price Dies in His Sleep Aged 43

Rapper Sean Price has died at the age of 43.

According to NPR, the Brooklyn hip-hop veteran died in his sleep on August 8.

No official cause of death has been confirmed.Sean Price dead at 43

Sean Price was famously one half of Boot Camp Clik duo Heltah Skeltah in the ’90s under the moniker Ruck. He has a solo album, Songs in the Key of Price, dropping on August 21.

According to Pigeons and Planes, DJ Premier was the first to confirm Sean Price’s death, via Instagram, writing: “R.I.P. Ruck….Love and Respect to The Duck Down Family!!”

Details surrounding Sean Price’s death were not immediately available, but a statement from his reps confirmed his death, while adding that he died in his sleep.

“It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is sadly confirming that Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment, Saturday, August 8th, 2015,” read the statement.

“The cause of death is currently unknown, but it was reported that he died in his sleep. He’s survived by his wife, and his three children,” BallerStatus.com reported.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLWa6oKf53c

1...356357358...1,245Page 357 of 1,245